Nico's PoV:

"Guys!" Annabeth calls to us. "Over here!"

Me and Will walk over to Annabeth and look at everyone sitting on the lunch table.

"Nice to see you guys again," Annabeth says.

"You too," Will says.

"Oh yeah, this is Jason." She points to a blonde with glasses. "Piper, Leo, Frank, Calypso, Reyna, and you've met my boyfriend, Percy. (A/N: I know I didn't say Hazel.)
"Guys, this is Nico and Will."

Everyone says hi and waves, and we say hi back.

"Well come on, sit down." Annabeth says. Will and I sit down next to each other, Annabeth on my right.

"So," the one Annabeth said was Leo, starts. "Are you two dating?" He wiggles his eyebrows.

I nearly choke on my own spit.

Will just coughs awkwardly.

Everyone is staring at us, and Calypso slaps the back of Leo's head, and mutters, "Nice job, repair boy."

"Ow!" He says.

I'm not sure who's blushing more, me or Will.

Who would ever think that a guy like me would ever be able to date a guy like Will? He's probably straight, anyway.

A voice in my head hopes he wasn't. A voice in my head told me of different lives, worlds, where me and him were dating.

You stupid faggot, no one would ever date you. No one.

I stare at my plate.
Then the voices laugh.
Wow, you really are stupid if you ever think that anyone-- especially Will-- would ever date you.
I feel myself on the verge of tears.
No. I can't cry. Crying is for the weak.

Oh but Nico, you are weak.
We thought you already knew that? Guess we have to try harder.
This time, I feel a small tear slide down my cheek.
They laugh.
You are weak.
You've always been weak.

"--Nico!"

I snap out of my daze and look up from my plate.

Everyone is staring at me.

"Are you okay?" Percy asks.

"Look man, I didn't mean to offend you or anything by that 'dating' comment," Leo says.

I stare at them.
Did I really, just cry in front of everyone? I look at Will and he has a mix of confusion and concern on his face.

"I-I'm fine," I manage, and wipe my cheek.

"Doesn't look like it," Will says.

"What happened?" Frank asks.

"Nothing."

"Doesn't look like nothing," Will says.

"I said I'm fine!" I snap at him.

He stares at me, hurt written across his face.

I sigh. "L-look, I'm fine. Just.. Bad memory popped into my head."

He still seems hurt, but nods his head. "Okay. ."

I eat in silence. Every now and then, Will would look at me, then look away.

I finish eating.

Everyone else finishes.

Then we get up, and walk to class.
Leo follows me.

"Hey Nico. ." Leo says, while following close behind me.

"What?" I say, slightly irritated.
I turn around, and Leo smacks into me. I step back. "Just, stop following me." He gives me an elfish smirk.

I turn around, and continue walking to class. "Who says I'm following you?" I walk into Mr. Riordan's class, and remember, Leo has this class too.

I sigh.

I go take my seat, and Leo takes his, of course, it's next to me.

He grins at me, I shake my head, irritated, and turn my attention to Mr. Riordan.

-

I walk out of school, and sigh with relief. No one tried to follow me; not even Will. He probably doesn't want to be friends, he saw me cry. He doesn't want to be friends with someone so weak. When he found out I self harmed, he probably just took me to therapy out of pity.

I continue walking, lost in my thoughts.

He just feels pity for me.
That's all.
That's it.
Is it?

I feel a tap on my shoulder. It's probably Leo. Maybe Will. I turn slowly and see a blonde, but it's not Will. It's Jason. He's smiling.

"Hey Nico."

"Erm. ." His smile falters lightly.
"Hi Jason," I say quickly.

His smile goes bigger, if that even is possible.

I turn to walk away, but he grabs my shoulder, and I flinch. He lets go quickly, and his smile fades.

"Nico?"

I take a shaky breath. "Yeah?"

He eyes me suspiciously. "Never mind.."

I sigh.

"What is it that you want?" I ask.

"Huh? Oh, yeah! I was just wondering if you just wanted to hang out?" He asks.

"Um.. Okay?"

"Great!" He smiles enthusiastically.

"Now?" I ask him.

"If that's okay with you."

I nod my head. "Okay."

-

Piper whispers something in Jason's ear, and they giggle hysterically.
You see, when Jason invited me over, I didn't realize he'd invited Piper, too.

"Nico. ." Piper says with a mischievous smirk.

"Whatever it is, I'm out," I say.

"Aww, come on Nico!" Piper pouts.

I look at them suspiciously. "Fine. ."

They grin.

"Nico, let's play.. Truth or Dare."

My eyes widen. "Um. ." I sigh. "Okay.."

"Nico, truth or dare?" Jason asks.

I hesitate. "Truth."

Their grins grows.

"Who do you have a crush on?" Jason asks, and they giggle like maniacs.

I feel myself blush furiously.

"N-no one," I say.

"Aww, come on Neeks. You have to like someone," Piper says in a singy voice.

I don't like anyone. I can't like anyone, especially after him. Nope, it isn't going to happen.

"No one. And don't call me Neeks."

"Are you sure you don't like anyone?" Jason asks.

"Yes."

Jason whispers something in Piper's ear, and she nods her head.

"Alright Nico. We believe you," Jason says.

"For now," Piper adds.

I roll my eyes. "Can we just do something else?" I ask.

"Okay," Jason says.

"Why don't we do homework?" I suggest. They groan. Reluctantly, they agree.

After a while, I leave. I say my goodbyes to Piper and Jason, and walk out the door. I actually enjoyed that.

That was actually slightly fun.

Fun? That was something new. I've never actually really enjoyed something, except for when Bianca and Mama were alive.

I shiver. Their deaths were my fault, I remind myself. I know that. He showed me that they were my fault. But even if he hadn't, I would've known.

I realize that I've made it to my house. I unlock the door, walk inside, and close the door. I put my backpack on the floor, walk inside my room and flop on my bed. I wish I had more days like this-- besides the moment in the cafeteria. That is something that I don't want to relive, but I know it'll happen.

I know I'll relive many things, and no one will be there to help me.

Two months later..

A/N:

Alright I needed something to change, I'm not going to be writing every day of their life.

Hope you enjoyed this chapter!

Word count: 1148

edit: i'm literally dying of cringe help me