Nico

The first night has always been a date night. So we went out for dinner, has a really nice time. And then we got back in time for campfire. Went to his cabin for a while. And now I'm back at my cabin, no longer a virgin.

It was a fun night. My ass hurt. But alas, I still have to walk.

Nights like these, I'm greatful that Percy's only sibling lives with Poseidon.

I'm not a screamer, but Percy's pretty fucking huge and he likes hearing his name.

Don't worry, we switched it around. It was kind of fun. I like being a tease.

Especially when he's almost there.

But anyways, I'll spare details.

I got back to the cabin and Frank, Hazel, Jason and Piper we're all in there. Just in the living area. And Leo knows everything. Outside of you know, me getting laid.

They're trying to 'figure out' who Percy would set him up with.

They look at me as I walk in, and thank gods Percy gave me foundation because he really liked leaving hickeys. I mean, I won't complain. Hickeys are fun. But Hazel doesn't know yet.

"Nico." Jason suggested, knowing that Hazel doesn't know, but also knowing that the plan was to tell her this week and like if it came from somebody else, so be it. "Has Percy talked to you at all tonight?"

"I mean, he has." I said, shrugging. "What about?"

"A date on Friday? Possibly blind?"

I shook my head.

"Not for me to go on." I clarified, giving Frank a sorry look. "It's not me. Sorry. But that'd be weird. You kind of dated my sister."

"You'd also have to be into guys." Piper said. "And you're not, so..."

"Yeah..." I slowly said. "I'm gonna go take a shower."

Leo

I don't want to assume they had sex. I won't. But they must've gotten pretty hot.

"He looks like he's not telling us something." Piper remarked after Frank had to leave because of early bedcheck or whatever from whoever isn't Clarisse that runs the cabin now. "Nico, not Frank."

"That's because he's not." I said with no shame.

"So... What?" Hazel asked me. "Does he know why Percy rejected him or...? It took me an hour to convince Frank to talk to him."

"Oh, he knows. He fucking knows."

"Do you know?"

"I found out, yes."

"May I ask what happened?"

I gave her a warning look.

"Do you really want to know?" I asked Nico's older sister. Knowing he'd be okay with it, but he planned this to go down otherwise. "It's gonna uh... You're gonna look at your brother just a little differently."

"It's not like he murdered somebody this afternoon, Leo " Hazel insisted. "What is it?"

"So word got out somehow," I explained to the three of them as I'm in the floor and Hazel's kind of behind me on the couch, Jason and Piper in front of me on the loveseat. "I think from Will, about when he asked Nico out and Nico rejected him. Percy heard this news."

"Wait," Jason said, because he's known for a while. "Percy knows?"

I nodded my head.

"Knows what?" I don't know how Piper missed this. But she did.

"You'll find out in a minute, chill out."

I took a breath.

"So, we took the last of the kids, Percy and Nico we're in the big house and Percy brought him in his office." I explained furthermore. "And out of nowhere he tells Nico that he heard this rumor about him. Not a big deal, he just wanted to know if it was true or not."

"Okay." Hazel said, still following.

"Nico asked what the rumor was." I told them, and sighed. "So Percy tells him that somebody told him, or he overheard, that Nico's gay."

Piper and Hazel have never been through a bigger loophole in their lives.

"He's what?"

"Oh, it gets better." I promised. "Because then then they shared some lip to lip contact and Nico was not the one who started it. So if you thought this was because Percy's straight, you're wrong. Nico, who's had a crush on Percy for...?"

I looked at Jason for help.

"A long ass time, that's all I know." Jason ended that sentence. "A long ass time."

"A long ass time." I repeated. "Was thrilled but this and they definitely made out until Chiron needed help and Nico left, texted me, freaking out. And then Percy finished whatever Chiron needed and be leaves and this is when Frank shows up. 20 minutes after that happened. So that's why he said no. So now I'm supposed to go on this date with Frank and it'll definitely be awkward."

"Oof." Piper remarked. "That's rough. Poor Frank."

"Yeah, my gods." Hazel agreed. "Is Nico ever going to tell me? Because I figured out that he had a crush on Percy a year and a half ago when Percy had amnesia so he could look him up all he wanted when he thought we wouldn't notice. We did."

"So can we finally assume that Nico got his head out of his ass and that they're a thing?" Jason asked me. "Because he doesn't listen to me when I try to help."

"That's because you're the straightest guy I know," I was honest with him. "And you have no idea how the gay thing works."

The others laughed.

"Also, he'll probably talk to you sometime this week." I told Hazel, responding to that question. "Unless he can hear us and knows you know. But I doubt that."

"Wait, what about Percy?"

"What about him?"

"Well I mean," Piper remarked. "I didn't know he was bi."

"Nobody did." I assured her. "Outside of maybe Frank. I don't know what he's going to do about this. That's his problem."

Percy

The next day was... Chaotic. Now that everyone was here, it'd take a few days to get everything to a completely normal schedule. And on top of it, Frank was constantly asking me about his date on Friday.

"Frank, don't worry about it." I told him as I was trying to direct a kid towards the arts center. A son of Hermes, around 15. "You'll get your date. I've already talked to them. If you want to ask around, go ahead. It ruins the fun, though."

"How would you know?" Frank asked me. "Mr. Has Dated One Girl."

"Uh, I've gone on dates before." I informed him as the arts and crafts building was now in sight. "I once went on a blind date with our schools quarterback and while he was hot, he was kind of a dusche. I've gone on dates with a few others, too, just not serious enough to be dating. Serious. So I would know, Mr. Has Dated One Girl."

He just scoffed and walked away.

"Sorry about him," I apologized as we continued walking. The kids name was Tyler. He looked vaguely familiar. I don't know. "Frank's cool, just impatient."

"Yeah, he gave me my tour yesterday." Tyler told me. "He was cool."

I approached the arts building.

"Alright, this is it." I told him. "The arts building."

He thanked me and I was called to the Big House after that. All of the council was. Because we had guests.

Like, Chiron and Mr. D invited a school for a week long field trip here. To expierence the life.

Like, no. Because it was Yancy Academy and I get it, they knew Chiron from when he taught. They paid a lot of money for it.

But no.

I don't want to deal with those assholes.

But did I have a choice?

No, I fucking didn't.

I don't know who was more bitter: Grover or me.

We hated that school.

And then I remembered who Tyler was as the kids were all showing up. And by kids, I mean juniors and seniors. So my grade. And the grade below me.

Tyler was Nancy's little brother. I stuck up for him once. Nancy liked me for a whole ass day after that.

That was it.

"You look salty about this." Leo remarked, noticing my expression as we waited for the buses. "I thought you'd love this."

"I'm going to stab someone if they say a fucking word to me or Grover." I told Leo, not afraid of jail. Throw me in. I don't give a shit. And that had my friends attention. Frank looked like he was reconsidering the whole asking me out thing. Nico wasn't. Not at all. He's seen this before. "We went to school with those fuckers when we were younger and I hated all of them."

"They can't be that bad." Piper insisted.

"They're... No offense to you, Piper, I don't think of you like this." I clarified for them. "They're a bunch of spoiled brats from rich families. I was the poorest kid in that school, in like 4 scholarships, and my mom still had to pay. It sucked."

Of course they bring their stuff up and they don't have much, being we provide food and clothing. But they were super excited to see Chiron. Or Mr. Bruner, I guess.

Either way, they missed him a lot.

"Hey, Nancy," I recognized Jaden's voice right awake. A guy. A friend of Nancy's. Sporty dude. "Wasn't it on that field trip when whatever his face was got you soaked?"

It's been like five years. Get over it.

"I mean... It was, yeah." She remarked as they walked by us. "He's not gonna be here. Percy and Grover? Didn't they like, die that summer?"

"No, just went missing." Somebody else corrected them. I didn't know her. "And they were found after like two weeks."

Oh boy, I didn't want to deal.with this. Nico noticed my built up anger and subtly grabbed my hand, giving it a squeeze.

I can't fuck up again. Strike 3 means jail.

I'm not going to jail.

"It's alright." Nico whispered just loud enough so I could hear it. "Breathe."

I saw one of Nancy's friends look at our hands. Not really at us. Just the fact that we were holding hands.

I wasn't at that school long enough to know how redneck they were. So I just held on. Praying that they weren't all rednecks.

Its New York. They can't all be.

"Hey, Jack." Nancy's friend was the one that said it, but Nancy was also noticing this. Which made me feel weird. "Look. There's like, gay couples here."

"We're still in New York, Harbor," jack pointed out. "Of course there's gay couples. It's New York City. They had a little safe LGBT place on the corner of the Flyer they gave us."

"Well I don't know, it's just cool that it's chill." Harbor remarked, shrugged.

"Yeah," Nancy agreed, nodding her head as more kids piled in. "Even in safe places, they're not always like that. Under the radar and whatever."

Do you mean me at school? Because yeah.

But once everyone was in, we introduced ourselves by first name and cabin so nobody really realized I was the same dude from middle school.

And thank gods. Because I ended up with a group of seniors.

As in, Nancy and her friends.

So as I'm giving the tour, they just went all in for questions. Which isn't normal. Most kids don't ask questions. Ever.

"So like, you're here all summer?"

"Mhm," I answered for them as we kept walking along. "We all came yesterday or the day before and I think we end on the 15th or 20th of August. I don't know off the top of my head. It's a while, but I enjoy it."

Let's take a moment to appreciate the fact that Jack definitely store at my ass and I did notice pretty quickly.

But moving away from that.

"What's the whole like gay scene like here?" Nancy, of all of them, asked. "Or just like LGBT? I know there was a safe space thing on the flyer they gave us but..."

"I get it," I assured them as we passed another group going the other way. I was bringing then towards the sweordfighfing arena. "It's pretty chill here. Every once in a while we have a kid that doesn't like it and they'll cause a scene but..." I shrugged. "not that often. If you're looking for people... Will from Apollo is single. A sophomore. Frank and Leo. Juniors. They're both bi. Kids in Aphrodite know a lot more. Um... Grover. We don't know what he is, it's just not straight. Kayla I think, too. I think she's gay. Everyone in Artemis is ace. It's interesting."

"What about that kid from Hades? Nico?" Harbor asked and I swear she was a dumbass. They store at us for five minutes. Holding hands.

"I mean he's gay." I told them. "But he's also in a relationship."

"Shit." Jack said, possible joking. After he store at my ass and I started walking backwards, I don't know. "With who?"

"Me, bitch."

Nancy

Percy has definitely improved over the years, and the fact that he's proudly gay/bi makes it a lot cooler. He's chilled out.

Yeah, I knew it was him for the get go. Once he said his name and looked a little pissed off when we were all waking in, it was him. Which, I understood the anger. We were all sorta shitty to him.

Grover, too. He wasn't on the council. I wonder if he's here, too.

But I was in cabin 3. We got to room with who gave us our tours. So I mean we were excited after that tour to be here. It seemed cool. Percy seemed cool.

We were unpacking, though, in our own room. And we decided to wander around the cabin. Percy was doing something in his room, gods know what it actually was. Or what room was his.

Yeah, I accidentally wandered into his room. He was in there, clothed. Thank gods. Wasn't doing anything gross. Looked like he was going through notebooks.

"Is— oh shit, sorry." I said as I opened the door a bit more. I figured he might get a little pissed off that I barged in.

Nope.

"Hm? Oh, you're good." Percy told me, putting down the notebook in his hand. "I'm just sorting through stuff. What's up?"

"Oh, I'm just looking around." I explained to him, motioning around the cabin.

"Of course," he said and sighed. "Well, this is my room. Normally, I'd have to share it but... Well, I only have a brother here and he doesn't come here that often."

"You... Have a brother?" I questioned, not remembering that. "I thought you were an only child."

"Oh, I was." Percy assured me that I hadn't gone crazy. "Um, he's my half brother. Dad's side. I didn't meet him until like... A year after I got expelled. And I mean, my mom remarried and so I have a baby sister, too, but... Yeah."

"You sound like you've been very busy."

"I have been." He agreed, nodding his head. "between running this place with Bruner and Mr. D, and then home and school and having a job... I mean this is a job. But still. During the school year. Therapy, too."

"Therapy?" That caught me by surprise. "Anger management or...?"

"Nah, I'm a depressed piece of shit and if I don't go to therapy, apparently I get really bad and it scared my mom."

I uh... Didn't get into that. It wasn't my business, I knew that.

But we started talking about other stuff. School. Swimming. That's something we both do. He asked me if I ever dated Winston, being I had a huge crush on him in middle school. I did. Two years ago. And he cheated on me. Knocked another girl up.

At least I was a virgin.

So that was interesting. I asked him if he's ever really dated. That was my only relationship.

"Yeah. A little." Percy told me as Jack showed up, sensing a man. He's very gay. It's kind of fun hitting on guys with him. He likes the mall, too. "I dated one girl a while ago. Annabeth. from Athena. And that went... She found out I was bi, told me to shove it up my ass, because I'd enjoy it, and then she never spoke to me until yesterday. So yeah. And then I have a boyfriend now. Nico, from Hades."

"Ohhh, yeah." I said, feeling dumb. We saw them holding hands. We talked about it because like, gay couple. "Duh. Harbor pointed that out. Has it been a long time or...?"

"If you want to count yesterday as a long time being it was our first actual date.... Go ahead."

"Oh." I said. "Nice."

Percy smiled and somebody knocked on the cabin door. So Jack answered, being closer to the door.

"Percy!" Jack called from the door. "There's somebody here."

"Well I can figure that out." Percy told Jack, which made us snicker. "Who?"

"Uh...." Jack said as the guy told him his name. "Grover!"

"Wait." Jack said. "Grover? Like Grover Underwood?"

"You can't prove I'm an Underwood if my parents are dead."

Oh.

Okay.

We all shared a very concerned look.

"Anyways," Grover said, looking at Percy. "One, meeting tomorrow morning right before breakfast. Bruner just wants the two of us and like... Jason? Whoever the senior is there that isn't Reyna. Um... Yeah. Are you guys going to murder each other tonight?"

"I mean, probably not." I said sarcastically and they laughed.

"We're good." Percy insisted. "Why? Do you have people at your place that....?"

"I have the twins, a couple that needs to break up, and then one very mushy couple. One of them hates the twins. It might happen. The twins still hate me, too."

"The twins hate everyone." Jack commented, rolling his eyes. "they hated Bruner's class and everyone loved that class. Does he still teach?"

"Sometimes." Grover said, slowly nodding. "Mostly here. He subs here and there. He hasn't had time to recently. Also, you shouldn't trust Mr. D to run this place. He doesn't care enough to... To do anything."

"Yeah," Jack understood that. "He reminded me of your step-dad, Percy. Gabe?"

"Gabe?" Percy said, as if he hadn't heard that name in a while. "Eh. Gabe was worse."

"Did they get divorced?"

"Sorta. They were gonna. And then he like died, so... That was right after I left Yancy. Before my birthday. I don't know. I was here. Dealing with my dad who... He's kind of an asshole. Not as bad as Gabe but..."

"Still an asshole."