Leo Valdez

"Why do..." He started off and took a big interest in the ACDC shirt he had. "I want to say it's a long story but it's not. We brought him here. He had an older sister. We had a quest. His sister went on. I kind of promised him I would watch after her. And she died on the quest. He didn't take it very well, misunderstood what happened, accused me of killing her, and ran away. He's over her now and I mean, he knows I didn't kill her. That was cleared up. But that.... Just never went away, I guess. He stopped screaming at me. You know how he is with me. And if he doesn't like Annabeth, I couldn't tell you why it's like that. His sister died and it's been rocky ever since."

I opened my mouth, making an oh sort of sound. That's... I didn't know Nico had another sister. It would explain why he's so, not depressed or scary. But it explains why he is how he is. He was left alone and when you're left alone, to fend for yourself like that, you stop trusting people. You stop making everyone your friend. It's just how you survive.

So whilst he's like this, he finds out he's gay or whatever. Likes Percy. But too bad, the damage has been done and he thinks you hate him and he loves somebody else already. Of another gender, at that.

I suddenly felt really bad for Nico. That's how I was the hear I found out I was bi. Had my first guy crush. It was terrifying. I was kind of an asshole to the guy because I didn't want him finding out I liked him. And he never did. And I kind of regret it. I don't know why. I just do.

"Yeah." Percy commented, shrugging. "It is how it is and it's beyond the whole changing and fixing stage. For me, at least. I tried, dude. I did for years."

I can believe that.

Well uh, Percy just got out of school. That's why we met up. Today had been his last day and all. So he got his ACT test scores today.

Stopped at the school to get them later on, after leaving the mall. And everyone's excited because how did he do. Annabeth tutored him and everything. This was a big deal. This was his future. I did mine this year at camp and got a 27.

"How'd you do?"

Most of us had somewhere in the late 20s, aside Annabeth. She had a perfect score of 36. Us who have taken it. Nico did this year, he made the cut by a few days. He had a 27, too.

"20/36." He told us and the silence just turned eerie. Because that's pretty bad. That's barely half. It's not failing. But colleges will think that it's basically failing."55%."

Nobody said anything at first. Until Annabeth uh... I mean, she didn't make it any better.

"What?" She questioned her boyfriends test scores, taking the paper before he could do anything. "that can't be right! I... I tutored you for a month. Just for you to barely not fail."

"Not everyone is smart like you are, Annabeth."  Percy reminded his girlfriend and that started... It started a fight between the two love birds. "I can study for years. If it's timer and I can read it right because of my dyslexia, I'm going to suck. I still didn't fail. It's not like I planned on going to college anyways."

"You're not going to college?"

Annabeth did not like the sounds of that plan he had. It was kind of her... Make it or break it deal. And he didn't care that he wasn't going to college. You can get plenty of jobs that pay well without college.

The fight stopped there. In public.

Little did we know that night at camp...

Perseus Jackson

"I can still—"

"It's college, Percy."

"Well no shit."

She was making me feel like shit right now. I thought I did good considering I could read most of the problems. All I wanted was to get half right. Not fail. And I did that.

Wasn't enough for her. Paul was... He wasn't happy. But he understood, at least. He just wants me to try a little harder for my SAT.

"You can't just not go." She insisted. "If you don't go, we're apart again and I won't be able to go to camp to see you and—"

"Then why don't we just break up?" I snapped at her, knowing that this would screw me over. But I just... I was feeling like shit and my arms were begging for attention and I wasn't thinking. I never do, according to Annabeth. "You don't seem to very fucking happy with me anymore. If you're really upset that I'm not going to college, it's easier if we just break up."

"Percy—"

I didn't want to listen. I was moments away from losing it and I didn't want her to be there when it happened.

She can't know. Nobody can find out that I have depression. That I want to kill myself. They'd all hate me. Assuming they secretly don't already.

"No," I refused to listen. "Just get out. Go to your fucking Ivy League School and meet someone on your own level that can actually understand you and just... We're done, Annabeth."

"Is this because of what Nico said earlier?"

"Just shut up and leave me alone."

She left the cabin, and it took me 30 seconds to show how bad I was actually doing to absolutely no one. To just...

I store at the knife on my counter. And um... I took it.

Cutting my arms. My legs. My stomach. That was easy. I'm used to it. I've done it for God's know how long.

But then I thought what if I slit my throat.

They wouldn't miss you anyways. I told myself. Nobody actually likes you. They're just afraid of being mean to you. Even the gods. Dad. Tyson. Grover.

...

Nico.

I accidently nicked my finger when I dropped the knife as his face surfaced in my mind. What Leo asked earlier. What Nico told Annabeth. My ACT score.

He hates me.

And it's just not fucking worth it anymore.

I tried to Of before going to bed.

Nico di Angelo

Percy was... Quiet at breakfast the next morning. Word spread. He broke up with Annabeth. That was done and over with.

Good for him. It was a toxic relationship in the first place.

But Leo broke the rules at breakfast, and sat down by me. I was alone as Hazel and Frank were at the Ares table today. Scared me being I had zoned out for a minute.

"My gods," I remarked when I noticed him at my table. "What are you doing, Leo? You're not supposed to sit here."

"And Chiron and Mr. D are gone." He pointed out. "Percy doesn't really seem like he cares at the moment."

"Fair point." He remarked. "What brings you to sit here of all places?"

"Well," I started off. "I'm going to be honest. I wasn't trying to be nosy. Jason was just standing next to me yesterday and I wasn't talking to anyone so I heard the entire conversation between you guys about your crush on Percy. And don't worry, I won't say anything. I'm not an asshole. But you do know that he thinks you hate him, right? I asked why you guys don't get along. He said that your sister died or something and it just didn't work after that. And I get it. I was that way after my mom died and I had my first guy crush. I was a complete asshole to him. But you should ask him out."

Nico sighed.

"He has a girlfriend, Leo."

"No, he doesn't." I corrected that son of Hades, which got his attention. "They broke up last night. Annabeth freaked out about the entire college thing. Percy told her if she wanted to like freak out about it or something about her freaking out then it's better off if they just break up. Told her to get out, they were done. Annabeth's not at breakfast, dude. She didn't think he'd ever do that. He... I mean, he's doing better than she is. By a lot."

And I think Percy was starting to get suspicious of me because when we glanced over at him, he was sort of looking at us. Confused. Like he was trying to figure something out. Like Nico yesterday.

But his attention was diverted when Grover asked him something and he returned to his meal and best friend.