On Saturday morning, I joined Carmen at one of the camp borders. She was counting heads as several people who looked to be a few years younger than me ran around and bothered each other.

"Hey Haley!" She grinned and waved at me. Everyone else whipped around to stare at me.

"'Sup?" I shoved my hands in my pockets and tipped my head a little. "So where are we going?"

"No one's got any specific recommendations yet, but we were thinking of going down to the beach in the San Diego area. I figured you'd be okay with that."

"Yeah, I'm always down. The beach is great."

"Will you show us how to surf?" One of the kids asked excitedly.

I paused, thinking about it. "I suppose, but I kind of cheat so I don't know how well you'd be able to do it."

Carmen laughed and began to usher everyone out of the way as a little old school bus came rolling down the street in our direction.

It rolled to a stop in front of us and the doors slid open. "Oi, Carmen, we ready?"

I chuckled, recognizing the voice immediately. Carmen's fiance Freddie grinned at us, waving. "Everybody on!" 

Carmen ushered the kids onto the bus, then glanced at me and motioned for me to get on. "Well? Get in there, I'm taking the seat behind Freddie so claim whatever other one you want."

I shifted my grip on the backpack Hazel had provided me for anything I'd need to bring with, then got on the bus, taking the seat across from Carmen's. With enough seats for everyone to get their own, I was able to sprawl out over the seat and stretch my legs.

Carmen got on, the doors closed, and Freddie shifted the bus into gear, turning on the little radio to get a staticky rendition of some Eighties song.

We wound our way out of the camp, then Freddie merged onto the freeway. The teens in the back began to scream along with the next song playing, and I chuckled and closed my eyes.

"Mr. Haley?"

I opened my eyes and looked up. One of the girls was leaning over the back of my chairs, peering down at me.

"Aw, you don't have to call me that. Haley is fine. What's up, Quinn?"

"This might be a weird question... can I braid your hair?"

I sat up, running a hand through said hair in question. I hadn't cut it since I left New York, and it was already pretty shaggy when we set out.

"Eh sure, why not."

She grinned and moved up to sit next to me in the front seat, kneeling so she could see my head properly.

---------------

Everyone piled out of the bus at the beach, cheering. Two of the guys immediately raced for the water, and Carmen yelled after them to be careful and watch out for each other.

"Buddy system, everyone! Haley, I don't mind if you go off by yourself, but be careful okay?" She grinned at me.

"I'm always careful. Trouble just finds me anyway, I'll call if I need help."

Carmen nodded and slipped her hand into Freddie's. The two walked off and I stood there for a few moments, just taking a deep breath.

I missed this.

"Why don't you just back off because I'm trying to do my job and you are not helping." A familiar voice cut through the relative silence.

I chuckled, opening my eyes and looking over.

A mop of brilliant red hair bounced as a thin girl wearing a charity clean-up shirt sharply directed two typical surfer dudes away from her.

One of them grinned and moved in a little. "What are you gonna do if we don't, Red?"

"She'll punch you in the face, if I don't first." I spoke up, crossing my arms.

All three turned to look at me, the two guys bristling automatically and Rachel grinning.

"Hey, Percy!" She shifted her grip on the trash-poker she was holding. "I wasn't expecting to see you out here!"

"I thought you were still in New York." I chuckled, glancing at the guys again as they began to slink off. Definitely two to keep my eyes on.

Rachel shrugged, smiling. "Mr. Brunner lets me have occasional vacations. Dad asked me to come home for the week, I wanted to get some volunteer work in, here I am."

"Here you are... need some help?"

She raised her eyebrows. "You want to spend your Saturday cleaning up trash?"

I chuckled. "Rach. It's a beach. You know who my dad is."

"Fair point. Why don't we go find the coordinator and see what she says." She motioned for me to follow her.

"Oh by the way," I added as we began to walk off. "People around here call me Haley. You don't have to if you don't want to."

"Haley? I like that."