[Private] Of All Places...

Wendy Moss

Why the beach?

Twiddling my thumbs absentmindedly, I crossed my legs and rolled my neck. I kind of had to go to the washroom. I don't know why I came to the beach. Staring at water when you have to go to the washroom is not the greatest idea. Staring in the direction of the main part of camp, I wondered whether I wanted to get up or not. Eh, maybe later. I didn't really want to get up now.

It just hits me sometimes, how strange I am. I mean, I realized that I had to go to the washroom, but for some reason, my brain decided to send me to the beach instead. Honestly. I just didn't understand myself most of the time.

Wendy Moss

Surveying the beach around me, I leaned back and sighed for a moment. Just another boring day at-..

Wait, was that Dell?

Head snapping back around, my eyes widened considerably and I processed the fact that Dell was sitting a small distance away from me (and he was surrounded by a little horde of both empty and full wine bottles). That was one of his distinguishing traits, I heard, his little army of wine bottles. That and his silver hair and red eyes, of course - I had heard that they might have been brown once. Realizing that I had been staring, I hastened to turn my gaze away and painfully cracked my neck. "Ouch." I mumbled, rubbing my neck and grimacing. I hated it when that happened. Imagine if I liked books, then I'd have that happening to me all the time.

What should I do? Should I confront him about the rumours or scooch away subtly? It seemed like he was pretty immersed in drinking and his own private thoughts. But... I was really curious and I kind of wanted to know what type of guy he was. I mean, rumours were circulating about him being a pedophile, but that was just one side of the story. He probably knew that wasn't the case and knew what had actually happened... But then again, I had heard that he'd been drunk at the time. People did things when they were drunk that they regretted, right? I wouldn't know, I full intended on only drinking alcohol when I was of legal age.

"Um.. hi. Your name's... Dell, right?" I greeted, voice wavering slightly. Okay, I knew it was wrong since I barely knew the guy, but I had to admit, he kind of scared me. I wish Eridian were here. Also, how would I bring up the rumours without sounding like a rude little teenager?

Wendy Moss

Somewhat surprised that he was aware of the rumours (although, I really shouldn't be, they were spreading through camp like a wildfire and who else would be more aware than the victim of the rumours?), I smiled sheepishly. "Yes, yes, I did." I admitted. "Is it true that she was really five years younger than you?" I blurted before immediately reddening and raising my hands.

"Not that it's a bad thing or anything! Five years is perfectly alright in my book. Even though she is a minor and you're well... Um. I don't know! I wouldn't freak out if I were the others unless you were ten years older or anything." I rambled, raking my fingers through my hair nervously. "Plus, I heard that you were both under the influence of alcohol at the time, so that must have been part of it, right? I mean if you were sober you wouldn't even think of... doing that, right? Or are the rumours just a load of... Because that wouldn't be entirely unsurprising, rumours are rumours after all." I stammered, pressing a hand to my forehead in a flustered way.

Wendy Moss

"I wasn't having a heart attack." I muttered indignantly, furrowing my eyebrows as I listened to him tell what had happened. Well, you had to hand it to this guy, he gave me the full, uncensored type of recap. "Oh, I see..." I said, eyes darting sideways quickly before returning to look at Dell. I felt kind of sorry for the guy, although, honestly, I felt that he brought it down upon himself. Shouldn't someone have more self-control over how much they drink? And really! He was still drinking. You would think that he might stop for at least a little while after what had happened between him and the 15 year old.

But oh well. Who was I to judge? "Well, that isn't... so bad." I said hesitantly - it wasn't entirely a lie but it also wasn't entirely the truth. It was somewhere around the midway point. At least I knew now that the rumours weren't true for the most part. He wasn't a pedophile, I could be sure of that in the least. But how do I know whether he was lying or not. Squinting slightly, I peered intently at him for a moment before nodding to myself. It wasn't really that he looked trustworthy or anything (because to be entirely honest, he didn't at all) but I figured he didn't really have anything to gain from lying to me. Except, well, his reputation, but if he had wanted to save that, he could have lied a lot and denied that the whole thing had ever happened.

"Gods, Dell, ask the person how old they are before giving them drinks." I commented, shaking my head in mock-disapproval but grinning at him. "Imagine if she had been a very mature looking 12 year old, things could have been worse." I said lightheartedly, squishing the sand between my toes and running my fingers through my bangs to fix them. I still wasn't entirely comfortable around him, to be honest, and there was still something slightly frightening about him, but I guessed I should at least try to see how he would react before judging.

Wendy Moss

Slightly disturbed, I frowned at him and gave him one of those looks. "Your life is only what you make of it." I said, rolling my shoulders and leaning back. "Don't let the rumours get you so down. Rumours give your life a little drama! A little flair, a little fun. It all just gets you a little worked up one day and then they'll be behind you the next." I said, shutting my eyes before whacking myself in the forehead.

"Sorry! I forgot to introduce myself before asking you about... yeah." I coughed awkwardly. "Anyways, I'm Wendy! I'm a daughter of Calliope so I chill in the Muses cabin. It's pretty empty lately. I wish mom and her crew would give me more siblings and cabin-mates." I mused (( haha )), shaking my head before looking back at him. "I um... already know who you are." I admitted, laughing a little bit.

(( Sorry about the late reply! ))

Wendy Moss

People always thought they had reasons. All they ever had was excuses. Excuses for what they did, what they wouldn't do, why they did or wouldn't do them. "Wow, must be great." I replied, twiddling my thumbs as he drank some more wine. I shifted uncomfortably, not particularly bothered by having someone drink in my presence but just a little bothered that he kept doing so. Was it me or... did he usually drink like this? "I'm not much of a party person..." I said, furrowing my eyebrows slightly.

"Not too interested in the types of stuff they have there." I said, smiling and nodding towards the wine bottles. I stood up and stretched luxuriously before looking back at him. "Do you swim or are you the type of person who needs to be pushed in?" I asked, laughing.