Stirring of the Wind

52: Stirring of the wind
Max wandered out onto the beach. Her dark hair was flung about her face with each salty breeze. Her toes sunk into the soft sand and made her miss home even more. Tears filled her eyes briefly when she saw a coral pink shell. Marcus loved wearing that color. The dog tag chain flew off the resting spot in the crook of her neck. It tugged at her throat as if beckoning her to go with the wind. She sat on the sand and gazed at the frigid water. Her blue scarf followed the dog tag to the side of her throat.
"Are you busy?" asked Lee, behind her. She turned to see him drop beside her. His blue eyes looked gray in the current sky light.
"Nope," she replied. They lapsed into a comfortable silence. To anyone else, the scene in front of Max would have made one long for sunshine. The dreamer inside of Max took this opportunity to think up a small setting for a story. She fumbled in her pockets for a pen only to look up to see Lee holding one out. She smiled slightly at his half-smile.
"You know me too well," she laughed. Lee did not respond but merely wrapped his arms around his legs.
"You know Percy's been gone awhile," said Lee, breaking the gentle sounds of water lapping at the shore. Another gust of wind blew Max's hair to one side.
"So?" prompted Max, peering closely at her notes that she had scribbled down on her palm.
"Hazel, and Frank are gone too." he added. Max turned her head in his direction and gave him her full attention.
"And?" she added. Lee's eyes never met her's.
"Dakota and Reyna are scared," he said. Max frowned and tried to catch his eye.
"What are you getting at, Lee?" asked Max, wondering what was wrong with him. Realization hit her with a cold blast.
Lee was scared.
Instinctively, Max wrapped her arms around his shoulders.
"It's going to be okay, Lee," she said, hoping that he was being comforted. He relaxed up against her.
"Gaea is taking over, Marcella," he said, in a small voice. "I don't know what to do." Max rested her head against Lee's shoulder.
"It's going to be alright, Lee," she said, wishing that she did not doubt her own words. If Percy and the others failed, there would be chaos. There would not be any civilization left. The gods would topple. Even the Titans would not stand a chance.
"If the world was ending, Max," began Lee, wiping his eyes that had gotten suspiciously misty. "What would you say to the person you loved the most in the world?" Max, without even considering who it was, responded.
"I would tell them that I loved them." she replied, letting go. Lee turned to look her in the eye, but the sea reflecting into her golden eyes stopped him.
"Okay," he replied, sniffling. "Just wondered."