Author Note: I hope you enjoy.

Disclaimer: I don't own PJO or HoO

Chapter One

Nico POV:

Nico barely made it through the elevator doors. Breathing heavily, he hunched over resting his hands on his knees. Trying to catch his breath as he nonchalantly pressed the button for the top floor.

"Are you okay, man?" A voice asked.

Nico froze completely still in, he forgot that he wasn't alone in the elevator. He avoids people lately, actually, ever since his sister… No. He won't think about that right now. He had an interview with the biggest magazine editor in New York. He turned to the voice and was shocked. It's was Leo Valdez! The most attractive, friendliest and easy-going guy (beside Percy Jackson) at Olympia High School. Letting out a breath he didn't know he was holding, Nico finally said

"Yeah…"

Leo smiled a dazzling smile at him. "That's good. I thought you was going to pass out or something." He paused looking at Nico from the bottom to the top making Nico blush a light tint of pink, Leo then added. "Are you Nico di Angelo?"

"Yeah. That's me."

"Awesome. What are you doing here?"

"I have an interview with the editor."

"Oh, cool!"

"How about you?"

"What?"

"Why are you here?"

"Oh, right. I'm here to drop off something for a friend."

"That's nice of you."

Leo grinned at him, making Nico blush deeper. "I just like helping out my friend, that's all."

And there was awkward silence. Nico was too embarrassed to go on with this conversation. He was talking to the Leo Valdez, King of Pranks, lady-man, the one of the most popular and attractive boys at school. And he knew if he even attempt to go on any further in this conversation, he'll blurt out something more embarrassing like, "I want to brag you." or "Your eyes are so beautiful". Couldn't take that chance. He wouldn't be able to either.

"Wait a second." Leo said suddenly, making Nico freeze again. Did he say all of that out loud, he turned to the very attractive Latino boy.

"What?"

"There's no sound."

"What?!"

"The elevator isn't making any sounds. Why is that?"

"I don't know. I'm not an elevator expert."

Leo laughed, pressing his ear against the wall. "I don't hear anything. This is so weird. Why did the elevator suddenly stopped?"

"I have the faintest idea." Nico scowled at the Latino.

"Press the red button and tell me if it lights up." He said with his ear still against the wall.

"But I was taught to never press the red button."

Leo turned towards Nico slowly, his expression changed from shock, annoyance and finally amusement, he bursted out laughing "How." He gasped "Cute." Now he was in a full-blown laughing fit.

Nico blushed crimson, completely and utterly embarrassed. Trying to hide his embarrassment, Nice glared at Leo, "What do you mean by cute? I was just stating I was taught to never press the red button." hissing at the Latino boy.

"It's just that…" He said breathlessly.

"Just that what?" Nico furrow his brow.

"It's just that… aren't you like sixteen years old?"

"Yeah. What does that have to to do with this?"

"Well, you should know it's okay to press a simple red button in an elevator." He smirked as he reached in front of Nico-making him nervous-and pressed the button.

For what felt like hours they both watched the light above the button, waiting for it to turn on, but it didn't. Leo sighed and sat on the ground.

"Now what?" Nico glowered at Leo.

"We sit and wait. Someone is bound to notice the elevator is offline now that I have press the scary big red button." Leo wiggled his eyebrows.

Just great. Nico was stuck in an elevator with one of the hottest guys in his school and what was even worse than that he was missing his chance for an internship here at Pheme magazine. Can this day get any worse?

An hour later, Nico was flustered. He had missed one of the most greatest opportunity in his life. It wasn't fair.

Nico sat across from Leo on the floor. He tried to avoid any eye contact with the Latino. This whole situation makes him uncomfortable. He didn't like being stuck in a small place, and the very cute boy sitting across from him didn't make it any easier with his brown curly hair swaying into of his eyes while he tinkered with his watch. His muscles-not very big but still impressive- flexed whenever he moved his arm to turn a dial or move a gear. Nico noticed he was staring at Leo too long and quickly looked away.

He needed to get out of this elevator soon or he'll do something crazy. He might tell Leo how he is feeling right now. How he wants to kiss him, or ask him on a date if the ever get out of this elevator, that is.

"Damnit." Leo said.

Nico raised his eyebrow. "What?"

"I don't think I can handle being in this elevator much longer."

"Me too." Nico hissed.

"What's taking so long? Help should have been here a long time ago."

"Maybe the red button destroyed everything, but the elevators?"

"And maybe pigs do fly." Leo growled.

"Oh, you're cute when you're flustered." Did I really said that, Nico thought. He tried to hide his blush pretending to yawn into his aviator's jacket.

"You think I am cute?" Leo asked with a confused expression.

"No, I'm just kidding." Nico forced a laugh.

Leo hung his head, tinkering with his watch again. "Oh…"

Nico looked at Leo with for a long time, trying to understand why Leo sound so disappointed when he said he was kidding. Could it be that he might like Nico? No, that's impossible. Leo was straight, a ladies-man. He couldn't possibly like Nico. Leo probably wouldn't think twice about Nico when he just passed him in the halls at school. Nico was a freak, goth-like but not really goth, and unnaturally attracted to the same-sex.

"N-Nico…" Leo stuttered.

"Yeah?"

"Nevermind." Leo shook his head. "Forget that I have ever said something."

"Uh… Okay."

What up with him? Nico couldn't read this guy. He's acting different from the Leo from earlier. It's like he has lost all confidence in himself. Why is that? He couldn't have anything to do with Nico's presence or could it? Gods, Leo is confusing.

Ding. "Hello? Um… Hello? Anyone in there?" A voice called out of the speaker.

Leo jumped up. All his confidence is suddenly back. "Yes! Yes there is. There's two of us here. Can you get us out?"

"Yes, we can. Just hold on for another fifteen to twenty minutes and we'll have you out of there." The voice said before the speaker went silent.

"Finally." Nico stood up stretching his arms, back, and legs.

"I'm going home right after they get us out. I need to be in a relaxing environment after all of this."

"I'm think I might go home too. I don't want to work here if the elevators do this."

Leo laughed. "Me too. It's a little shady for the biggest magazine editor to have elevators that stop so suddenly."

"Yeah."

Leo scratch the back of his neck and looked over to Nico with a goofy smile. "I know this is going to sound weird, but would you like to grab a coffee sometime?"

"What?!"

"Nico, I have always had a crush on you ever since you started at Olympia High School. I really like you. I don't if you are into guys or not, but would go get coffee with me anyway?"

Nico was shocked. This was too sudden for him. He had no idea that Leo even looked at him twice let alone liked him. "Yes, I will." Uh, what?

"Great!" Leo grinned "Here's my number." Leo pulled out a pen and piece of paper writing down his number before giving it to Nico.

Nico took the paper with Leo's number on it and put it in his jacket inner pocket. "Is this your cell phone number?"

"Yes. Text me whenever you want." Leo grinned widen, if possible.

"Okay." Nico smiled.

Ding. Ding. Ding.

The elevator started down to the lobby. Nico said bye to Leo until the meet up for their coffee date. Date! Nico couldn't believe it. He had a date with the cutest boy ever. And Nico was happy for the first time since the incident.

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