"Oh, I need you here. Oh, you will always be my dear."

I'm sorry I took forever to write this up.

-

~Percy's POV~

Walking down the street, I felt. I know that sounds like bat-guanno talking, but I mean it.

For two years, I hadn't felt anything, not hot, not cold, not the bumpyness of the rusted metal on a lamp, not the soft push of the wind, not when a busy guy nudged passed me. I was a walking shield. Numb to the core.

Now, I stroll down the street, earphones in, beanie pulled over my head, hands in my pockets. Brisk air stinging my nose, where am I going?
To the library.

Why am I going to the library?

Because I need an excuse to see Nico at work.

Boy was that a mistake.

I listen to my music, a soft smile on my face, my eyes glued to the ground as I walked, but when I looked up after I got near the coffee shop. I saw Nico, sitting inside at a booth, with someone. A blonde. And admittedly, he didn't look bad.... what what the hell is he doing with Nico?

I saw them both laugh, and I bit back anger, jealousy, betrayal, and disgust.

Just a physical relationship. I walked into this, we aren't dating, its just..... sex. I bit down hard on my bottom lip and watched the boy I love from the window, talking to someone who'd never deserve Nico in a thousand lifetimes.

I don't even deserve him do I?

I clutched my bag and left, before I could let my anger get the best of me and probably ring the other guy's neck.

Too late.

I went into the coffee shop, the first foot touched the floor inside and Nico's eyes flew to me. The loud bustle of voices filled my ears, and the smell of coffee hit me, I could feel the moist warm air settle over my skin.

This place is nice.

I sauntered over to the ordering station and ordered a drink -- blended cinnamon chai ice latte, with whipped cream--. I smiled at the cash register and they went off to do their work.

I need something to distract me.

I want someone to distract me.

Nico said something and laughed a little before coming up behind me. He smiled at me like... like when we were just friends from the hospital room. Old friends.

"Hey Perce, what brought you here?" He asked.

I gave him a 'oh, like I wouldn't need to come here' look. But really, I could've just gone to some other place. I shrugged "I wanted to go check out the library."

Nico's eyes narrowed "Uh-huh, right." He grumbled.

I grinned, fake as it was it was I was glad to see Nico's face again... when he wasn't screaming my name or glaring at me while handing me the kids.

Not that I minded either of those things.

"Hey Nico,-" The guy Nico was talking with earlier, said, walking over with a smile on his gross-ass face. "-Oh hi," He said to me, just noticing me. Jeez, what a moron, didn't even see me. Must be half blind or something. Why would Nico want a guy who can't see with one eye?

He stuck his hand out in war. Imma cut that shit off if he doesn't get it away from me. "Hi, I'm Will, Nico's... friend."

I smiled with false sugar. It's poison. I wanna kill this mother fudger. "Percy. Nico's..." significant other. Important person. Lover. Ha, like that's true anymore. "Other friend." I said, unable to grasp at another way to say it.

The blonde laughed, taking back his hand, "Nice to meet you Percy." He said cheerfully.

Ugh, the halo above his head hurts my eyes.

Bzzzz. Bzzzz. Bzzzz. Bzzzz. "And he said, I wish that I could be like the cool kids, like the cool kids, like the cool kiiiiii-"

Will slapped his hand over the vibrating phone in his pocket, and answered, his face red, and snickers going all over the room.

He looked up at me and Nico, and seemed to apologetically shrug before pecking the top of Nico's head and ran off.

"What a sad song, poor boy. I hope his wish comes true." An old lady said, people burst into laughs, and continued talking like they normally would in a coffee shop.

Yet I stood paralyzed in the commotion of voices, reliving the moment I knew I'd see, yet dreaded to live.

I'm just his little plaything.

I looked away from Nico, his eyes looking at the door Will left moments ago.

Ok pretty boy I'll play your game.

But I don't play fair.