Chapter 5

I wake up with a start. This is not my bed. I realize where I am just in time to not wake up the sleeping body beside me; Jason's small snores fill the darkness. Last night floods into my mind, and I shake my head. I can't believe I let any of that happen, but looking beside me, I can't help but smile. I actually made a friend, I think. We'd gone upstairs after saying goodnight to his mom, I made sure to thank her profusely, and we went straight to sleep.

My cracked phone screen is too bright when I pull it out. I have to squint my eyes to read the numbers 5:20. Based on his completely resting body I can tell Jason doesn't wake up this early, so I quietly slip out of his bed and over to his desk chair. Normally I barely get any sleep, so I'm feeling pretty rejuvenated, even with waking up this early. I tug my book out of my bag, and open it to the bookmark. I figure I've got at least an hour before Jason gets up, so with the small amount of light coming in from his window, I start reading.

"Good morning." I hear and I jump. I turn to the voice sheepishly. "Hi." I mumble, he is just sitting up, "How long have you been up?"

"Uh, a while." He raises an eyebrow, but says no more.

"You wanna borrow some clothes, or are you fine with wearing yours?" He stands and rummages through the dresser.

"If I wore yours I'd look like a toddler all day, so pass," I pause for a moment, "Plus I think your mom said something about washing mine last night." He looks up to me, "Yeah, I wouldn't be surprised if she did. I'm gonna shower real quick--unlike some people, I like to shower inside." The little jab at my craziness from the day before makes me giggle a little, to which he smirks before walking into his ensuite bathroom. His voice comes in from the other room, "If you head downstairs, mom probably already started breakfast, and there's always coffee." I nod to myself, and after a few more pages I get up with a stretch. As a little thank you for letting me stay the night, I make Jason's bed. Just as I'm finishing up I hear the shower stop. Coffee sounds hella nice right about now, so I exit the bedroom.

"Who the hell are you?" I am a little shocked, and turn around, "And why are you wearing my sweatpants?" There is a girl standing right in front of me. She's tall and goddamn intimidating.

"Um, I'm Nico." She raises her dark eyebrows, and I'm more than a little confused. With her sharp features and jet black hair, she looks nothing like Mrs. Grace or Jason; they both have strong, but smooth builds with light hair to complement their features. Though this girl does have the exact same brilliant blue eyes as the other two.

"Well, Nico, your name doesn't explain the pants." I look down. I thought Jason gave me his clothes.

"Oh lay off him, Thals. He needed a change of clothes, and none of mine would have fit. Nico, meet my personal annoyance: Thalia." Said girl takes a soft swing at Jason, but before any contact is made, he is already out of the way.

"Yeah, Jason's older sister." Jason scoffs, "By less than a year."
"Still older," her voice is all sing-songy as she walks away, effectively ending the conversation. I give Jason one hell of a confused look.

"Same dad, different moms. He was a bit of a manwhore apparently." Jason shrugs, but I can tell he's a little tense, so I don't ask anymore questions. "Common, I need some food." He drops an arm around my shoulders and ushers me downstairs to the kitchen.

"Morning ma," He gives her a kiss on the cheek and grabs two mugs from a cabinet looking to me for confirmation.

"Coffee please." I turn to Mrs. Grace, "Thank you again for letting me stay here last night, and all your hospitality." I tell her sincerely. I see Thalia fake puking at the table, but so does her mother, who gives a dirty look in the direction of her daughter.

"Of course, Nico. Any friends of Jason are welcome here any time." She pats my shoulder before motioning towards the table. "Now, have some food before you all have to leave." She putters around the kitchen as the three of us eat. Thalia and Jason bicker back and forth, but I can tell it's all harmless. Their smiles say it all. I remain mostly silent, not too sure how to interact in this environment. They feel like a real family, and it's something I haven't experienced in a long time.

"Alright, we should get going." Jason finally says.

"You gonna wear my pants all day, Nico?" My face gets a little red, I'd forgotten I was still in the borrowed clothes, "Oh, um, I--" my stuttering is cut off

"Nico, dear, I washed and folded your clothes. Jason, can you grab them from the laundry room. You should get dressed quickly too, you'll have to leave soon." I thank her before following Jason.

I'm dressed and ready in a few minutes, meeting Jason at the door.
"Normally I'd walk to school, but the rain hasn't really let up," He pauses and turns to the staircase, "Thals, you want a ride?" He yells up to her.

"Yeah one sec!" Her voice is muffled, but she descends a minute later.

"Don't wanna deal with the weather today," she steps out with us.

"I figured." With that we get in the car, I let Thalia have shotgun, and we are heading to the school. My mind starts concocting all the possible horrible things that could happen today on the way there, and I huff at the absurdity of them. Anxiety is a bitch, and she's a long time visitor to the hotel de la Di Angelo. When we pull into the parking lot, Thalia practically runs out of the car.

"She doesn't like to be seen with me," Jason tells me, voice tense. I don't respond, because I doubt he wants to say more. I do surprise myself by actually being interested in wanting to ask Jason more about himself. I try hard to put up this indifferent wall, but I guess last night he climbed up and over it.

"So where's your first period?" He asks as we walk in the front entrance. I turn my head to him, "Oh Jacey, you gonna walk little ol' me to class? My poor heart might just burst!" I use my best southern belle accent--which admittedly is not very good--and watch him burst out laughing. His arm slings around my shoulders, "You are just full of surprises, aren't you, Di Angelo?"

"I like to keep people on their toes." I give him a wink. He stops walking, and I pause in tandem.

"Well this is me," he motions to the locker beside him, "I'll see you in english, yeah?" I nod, and wave while walking off. I've got to grab a few books out of my own locker too. By the time I get my books and start making my way to first period, the warning bell rings to let the students know there's ten minutes before classes start. I guess there's no rush for me to get there then. Just as I start to slow down, I see a familiar face.

"Good morning, Nico!" Percy Jackson is standing in front of me, and it's too early to pretend to care.

"Hey," I say, moving to keep walking.

"Where are you off to? I've got C.W.I.," The way he says it makes it seem like he doesn't like whatever C.W.I. is, but the hell if I know what that stands for.

"History," I say with a shrug.

"With Mr. Dion?" I nod, and Percy smiles, "That's on my way, we can walk together!" Gods, I don't know how this guy has so much energy this early in the day. I take a look at him, and he is almost glowing with happiness, but I notice something, "Why is your hair so wet?" I wouldn't have thought it was anymore than the rain, but after a closer look, his hair is absolutely soaked through whereas the rest of him is totally dry.

"Oh, I was swimming just now. I got here a little early, so I figured I could get in some practice before classes." I grimace at the mention of swimming, but am still a little curious.

"Practice for what?"

"The swim team, I'm the captain." His voice sounds simultaneously proud and hesitant to say that last bit. Modesty suits him, though honestly what wouldn't? I shake my head. Fucking hell Nico, now is not the time to be thinking about how insanely attractive Percy looks.

But who am I kidding, he's hard to get off the mind, what with his casual smile, and lanky build that you can just tell is complemented by muscle under his clothes... Fuck me this boy is too good to be true, and knowing that makes me trust his easy going attitude even less. There's no reason for someone who is so obviously popular to be hanging around some shithead like me. Then again, Jason seems to fall into the same boat, but I've decided Jason is an enigma to me. An anomaly at best, and a damn good liar at worst.

"You must not be too much of a morning person, huh?" Percy gives me a sheepish grin, and I shrug yet again, "Sure." His smile falters just the slightest bit, and I almost feel bad. As quickly as the emotion comes, I'm quick to push it away. Again, can't be letting anyone else in; it's bad enough with just the Grace's, I don't need to go on cozying up to anyone else. I haven't needed anyone for a long time, and I'll be damned if someone comes along and ruins that. I'm not going through the disappointment of losing anyone. Not again.

"Well I'm gonna go in, you should get going too if you don't want to be late." I motion towards the door to my history class. Percy nods, before turning to me once more. He gives me a big grin, "Hope you have a good day, I'll probably see you at lunch. Bye, Nico!" He pats my shoulder while saying this, before heading off down the hall. As he leaves I feel a weight come off my shoulders knowing I don't have to deal with anyone for the duration of this class period. Of course my solace won't last long, since I know Jason will be around to annoy me in my next period. But if there's anything I've learned the past few years, it's to take the small wins as they come. I plop down in the back row, watching the clock until the period begins. Here's to a "good day," I suppose.