Leo Valdez's POV

'FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL … and no one to sit with.'

Leo looks around the crowded cafeteria, searching for a table where there was room for him to eat. Sadly, he had made no friends during his earlier periods. He didn't know how that was possible, I mean look at him! He was funny, smart, humble…

But no one noticed.

Leo sighed, defeated as he walks away from the laughing and smiling faces in the lunchroom. He takes his lunch and heads out the double doors, hoping he can find a private place to eat lunch in peace. As he walked down the halls, he looked for hidden nooks and crevices his slim form could fit into. He had always had an eye for this thing, and eventually he finds a spot under the stairs where no one at his vantage point could see him.

When Leo got to the nook, he stopped in his tracks. It seemed someone else had the exact same plan as his own.

It was boy, with black, shaggy hair like batwings and an aviator jacket. His eyes were closed as he listened to some music on his headphones, so he hadn't seen Leo. He wasn't eating lunch either, which probably wasn't good with the boy being as skinny as he was. He was so pale… Kind of beautiful, actually, and –

The boy's eyes snapped open and turned to Leo. They were the color of midnight, and so… very cold.

"What do you want?" the boy snapped at him, his black eyes now filled with irritation.

Leo looked away, blushing furiously for staring at this guy. He wasn't anyone anyways. Who was he talking to Leo Valdez like that? That's when Leo got mad.

"I was just looking for a place to eat. Obviously this isn't the place." Leo replied snarkily, staring the boy down.

"Obviously not. You can leave now."

Leo was furious.

"Dude, what's your problem?"

"What's MY problem? Right now, YOU. You're bothering me, and I don't need some snot-nosed kid to come and bug like everyone else does."

Leo stopped at that. "Who'd wanna bug you?"

The boy looked away, staring at his IPod and rubbing its surface. "Everyone."

Leo sat down beside the boy and handed him his paper bag lunch. It had a sandwich, a bag of chips, and a cupcake from Mom.

"Y-you want some lunch?" Leo asked hesitantly.

The boy bit his lip in concentration, and what a nice lip it was and Leo what.

Finally the boy took some of the sandwich and said a small "Thank you" in return.

They sat there in silence, eating their respective lunches in their hide away when Leo spoke up.

"Hey, what's your name?"

"Nico Di Angelo." Nico replied bluntly.

Leo smiled and put out his hand to shake, replying with, "Hello, Nico. My name is Leo Valdez."

After staring at the hand for what seemed forever, Nico returned the gesture, shaking Leo's hand slowly. His lips turned up at the ends as he said, "Hello Leo. It's … interesting to meet you."

Oh, he had no idea.

Notes: Hey, guys! Comments, concerns? Tell me all about them.