Alright guys, so this is what I came up with in Creative Writing class the other day. It's my first attempt at Jasico, so be nice. Suggestions are always welcome too! I don't exactly know where this is going, this is just…let's call it the prologue.

…

Jason Grace found something about the new kid, Nico di Angelo, strangely alluring. Maybe it was the fact he was Jason's polar opposite. Nico wore dark clothing, kept to himself, and rarely talked. Whereas Jason was light all around, was immensely popular, and oftentimes was heard above all the others in his class. Nico also seemed to excel in class, while Jason excelled out on the track and in the pool. He was just as good as running as he was at swimming. Both teams fought to have him on the varsity team when he was still in middle school, and now, as a junior, he was the sort of team captain of both teams. School he did fine in, but the real place he shined was elsewhere.

Nico, on the other hand, did well in every subject he was in, Jason came to realize. He had a natural talent with words and the way they were put together. His brain was quick and calculating, perfect for both math and science. He remembered the most miniscule facts for history. The only place he didn't do well was gym, and Jason ought to know. Nico was in his gym class. Nico looked vaguely uncomfortable in the school issued white shirts and purple shorts, and he ran rather slowly for someone who had an athletic build. He didn't do much when they played other games, such as dodgeball or basketball or the occasional tennis. Maybe that was another thing Jason found alluring about the boy. He was just so . . . different from Jason himself.

"Hey," he said kindly, sidling up to Nico. The smaller male eyed him warily, and Jason felt bad for the kid. He'd obviously had bad experiences with jerks in the locker room. But Jason wasn't like that. No, Jason was kind to everyone he met. He didn't have a mean bone in his body. "What's up? Nico, right?"

"Um, yeah," Nico squeaked, fingering the hem of his white shirt. "You're Jason, right? All the girls talk about you, you know?" Jason made a face and shook his head. He didn't care one way or another what the girls were saying about him. He swung for the same team, so to speak. Girls held no particular interest to the blonde. Then again, they never really had.

"Yeah, I'm Jason," the blonde replied, choosing to ignore the second comment the dark-haired boy had made. "If memory serves me correct, you're relatively new here." Nico nodded as Jason gently lay his palm flat against the dark-haired boy's back and steered him out of the locker room. People were staring, but most likely it was at Jason himself. See, no one exactly knew that he was gay, and that he had a crush on Nico. He wasn't entirely sure himself about that second one. Sure, he found the dark-haired new boy fascinating, but it was more like the study of a new science experiment. He wouldn't go so far as to say he had a crush on him. Not yet anyway. Certainly feelings changed, and the blonde boy almost expected them to. He wasn't above liking a boy who was unlike himself.

"God, I hate gym," Nico said softly as they took their places at the painted red line. "I'm never any good." Whenever the boys got out of the locker room, they were welcome to do the beginning stretches at any time. Jason did then, raising his arms above his head, twining his fingers together, and holding them that way for fifteen seconds. Then he leaned down and rested his fingertips lightly on the tips of his shoes and holding it for another fifteen seconds. The stretches were a series of movements designed to make one both limber and loose, and Jason was both. Frankly, he found the stretches themselves to be rather unnecessary. But Mr. Holme preached physical fitness, and he found them every bit as necessary as breathing. Reluctantly, Nico followed suit, half a pace behind the other boys as usual. Jason waited patiently while the smaller male caught up, then did them with him, until they were the only two left. Nico shot him a look, which the blonde caught out of the corner of his eye. He winked at the shorter male before straightening, more or less standing at attention.

"Alright kiddies!" Mr. Holme boomed from his little corner, causing some laughter from the small gaggle of boys. "Today's activity is dodgeball. Select Captains and get to it!" He buried his face back into his Sports Illustrated magazine.

"Jason and Percy!" someone called out, steering the blonde boy and his brunette counterpart up front. Percy smiled at the blonde and shook his hand. They were on the same track team and the same swimming team. They would always be teammates first, opponents second.

"You pick first," Percy offered, stepping back a pace. Jason grinned easily at him. "Nico," he replied automatically, scanning the small crowd until he found the shock of dark hair he was looking for. "C'mere," he said, tilting his head to the side. Nico stumbled forward and halted beside Jason in a daze. There was a chorus of surprise from the boys assembled. Half hadn't even seen Nico before now, and they were a little disappointed by what they saw. Nico was nothing special, by gym standards. "Now, now ya'll," Jason drawled, slinging an arm over Nico's shoulders. "He's a good guy. Just give him a chance." Even Percy was looking at him skeptically.

"Leo," Percy finally said, breaking the tiny trance-like state of the boys. A lanky kid who, admittedly, was actually good at running around and throwing a ball, moved beside him, Jason grinned at his friend and gave him a little nod of thanks. Percy gave a tiny shrug of his shoulders in return and motioned to the rest of the eagerly awaiting boys.

"Frank," Jason said, and beside him, both Nico and Percy groaned. For different reasons, the blonde thought. Frank was, by the loosest definition, a giant. He towered above his classmates and had biceps bigger than Jason's head. But, despite his size, he was rather clumsy and awkward, albeit a good athlete. Frank moved to stand just behind Nico, and the dark-haired male involuntarily pressed himself against Jason in an attempt to escape the giant's gaze. A smile twitched at the corners of the blonde boy's mouth. He didn't say anything, and Nico seemed not to know exactly what he was doing. But the other boys did.

"Hey di Angelo!" Will Michaels called out, pointing. "Are you dating Jason now? Paws off him, you skinny fag!" Nico backpedaled, horror written all over his face. Jason rounded on Will, eyes blazing.

"Watch your mouth!" he demanded. "Nico's a good kid. Don't pester him." But Nico had run back into the locker room. "Aw man. Nico!" Jason ran after him. "Frank, pick the rest of the team!" the blonde called over his shoulder. "Nico, wait!" He shouldered his way into the locker room, glancing around wildly. "Nico, where did you go?" he asked, concern written all over his face.

"Leave me alone Jason," Nico mumbled, poking his head out from around the corner. "This is why I hate gym. Jerks like him make it impossible to actually enjoy being in that class." Jason went around the corner and found Nico slumped against the wall, head down. His dark hair was falling into his face, shielding his eyes. But the blonde saw the ever slight shake of his shoulders.

"Hey, it's okay Nico," Jason said, wrapping his arms around the dark-haired boys shoulders. Beneath him, the dark-haired boy stiffened. "It's okay. Why don't you just come back out? I'll make sure they won't bother you again." But Nico was already shaking his head, much to the blonde's dismay.

"I don't think so Jason," he said softly. "Not when they're out there. It'll never be safe for a guy like me. I'm just going to hang in here." He shoved away from Jason and sat down heavily on the bench, resting his head on his knees. Jason stood awkwardly at the doorway, arms hanging at his sides like ragdolls. He wanted to try and comfort the dark-haired boy, but he couldn't bring himself to do so. Instead, he turned around and pushed his way back out into the gym.

Jason Grace never got out during dodgeball, but his mind was so far away for the class period, a ball thudded dully into his chest and bounced away. He followed it with his eyes. Simultaneously, both sides stopped to stare at him. No one moved for the longest time. No one was entirely sure what to do. Finally, Jason shrugged.

"Guess I'm out," he said a little forcefully, moving off to the side. Still, neither team moved. "Frank," Jason prompted, making shooing motions at the other team. Frank caught the message and hurled the red rubber ball he was holding at the other team, knocking Leo back a pace. And so the game began again. Jason leaned back against the wall and observed them, although he acted like he was holding his head in shame for getting out. He kept most of his focus on Will, silently plotting his demise. Nico was a great kid, and Will had no right to pick on him like he did.

"C'mon Grace!" Frank called, and Jason looked up to notice the giant holding up a ball triumphantly. "You're back in the game." Sighing, Jason shoved off the wall and slowly made his way over. Without thinking about it, he dropped to his hands and knees, and a ball whooshed just centimeters above his head. "Not bad," Frank said approvingly, lobbing his ball back at the other team. Jason got up from his crouched position and continued across the gym until he was at the boys' locker room. He pushed his way inside and glanced around. Nico had moved from the back to the front, and was currently stretched out on his stomach on one of the many wooden benches, a book spread out before him. His feet were dangling off the edge and he seemed oblivious to the blonde's entry. Jason noted, with somee satisfaction, that the dark-haired male was still in his white shirt and purple shorts.

"Hey," he said, dropping down in front of the book. Nico jerked up, startled. "Didn't mean to frighten you buddy," he added apologetically.

"Buddy?" Nico asked, bristling. Jason was taken aback by the sudden hostility. "A real buddy would've stayed in here with me rather than go out there to those monsters. A real buddy would've stopped them before they said those awful things. You aren't my buddy. You're just one of them." Jason staggered back like he'd been punched, repeatedly, in the stomach. "See you never," Nico spat bitterly, gathering up his things and pushing his way out of the locker room. The blonde lurched after him, the words he wanted to stay stuck in his throat.

If he was being honest with himself, what Nico said shouldn't have hurt him like it did. He should've just brushed it off and continued about his merry way, completely unfazed by this turn of events. But if he was being completely honest with himself, he would continue and say that what Nico said to him hurt him like nothing else ever had. More than anything, he wanted to befriend the smaller male he'd grown so fascinated and fond of. Maybe . . . no, that was just silly. But Nico's words hurt like you wouldn't believe. Jason felt like his heart had been ripped out of his chest and repeatedly stomped on by the football team. Tears blurred his vision until he couldn't see where he was going. Half-way to the locker door, his knees turned to jelly and he toppled to the floor, sprawling out on his stomach. He lay motionless while the tears made sticky tracks down his cheeks. Never before had he been so affected by the words someone had said to him. Perhaps it was time he faced facts. He wasn't just interested in befriending the little dark-haired male.

He was head over heels in love with him already.

…

"Jay, come on now," Percy said. "We need you today." Jason cradled the phone to his ear and curled up on his side, holding his stomach. He wasn't sure if he was really sick or if it was just the fact he kept hearing Nico's voice in his head as he slept. You aren't my buddy. You're just one of them . . . One of them . . . That had played in his subconscious the entire night, making sleep a painful memory. He woke up in cold sweat the first time they knocked around his skull, and every time after that he tossed and turned until he practically fell out of bed. So he'd been up almost twenty-four hours, making him dog tired in addition to heartsick.

"I think I'm coming down with something Perce," he said, coughing for dramatic effect. He could see Percy roll his eyes at the phone. "Besides, you don't want me today. My heart wouldn't be in it. I'd drown."

"We always need you Jay," Percy replied in utter sincerity. "You're the best backstroker we have. Coach says so all the time. Maybe you ought to reconsider?" But Jay shook his head at the phone. He just wasn't in the mood to swim. Actually, he wasn't in the mood to do anything except lay around and feel sorry for himself. Even though he barely knew Nico, he was already heartsick over his accusations.

"I'm just not in the mood Perce," he replied softly. "I'm not going to be at school either. Mom says I can stay home. Tell Coach I'm sorry with all my heart, but I just can't make it today." The blonde paused and thought for a second. "Also, tell him that it's not hard to beat Hassen High. My granny could do it in her sleep." Percy's musical laugh filtered through the phone, causing the blonde to smile unexpectedly. He hung up before the brunette could say much else and groaned, rubbing his upset tummy. He didn't want to move today. In fact, he didn't want to do anything today. He wanted to lay in his bed with one of the few books he read and watch swimming on TV and not change from his flannel pajama pants.

"Jay, are you sure you don't want to go to school?" the blonde's sister, Thalia, asked, poking her head in. She tilted it thoughtfully to one side. "If you aren't even out of bed yet that must be a no. What's wrong little bro, heartsick?" Bile clawed it's way up the blonde's throat and lodged itself there, and no matter how many times he swallowed, it refused to go down. "I'm taking that as a yes, since you won't really respond to me today." She disappeared as suddenly as she came, which Jason was thankful for. He hauled himself up and stumbled drunkenly down the hall, pausing at the bathroom door. The bile rose again, and he lurched inside, sinking to his knees and vomiting into the toilet. He then rested his head on the cool plastic and breathed deeply and evenly for a few minutes until his stomach was settled at last. Rising, the flushed the contents away and stumbled back to his room, sprawling out on his bed. He scrubbed at his face and rolled back onto his side, clawing his way up to his pillow and resting his head on the pillowcase, which was hot and sticky with sweat.

"Jason?" Jason cracked one eye open (unaware he'd closed them in the first place) and found himself face to face with his mother. He groaned inwardly and closed his eye again. "Jason, I heard you being sick sweetie. Is everything okay? Anything you want to talk about?" With great difficulty, the blonde sat himself up and scrubbed at his face once again. Mutely, he shook his head and willed away the pounding in his head and the rolling in his stomach. "You look sick sweetie," his mom commented, mostly to herself. "Just yesterday you were feeling fine."

"Well, today I don't feel good!" the blonde snapped. He took a deep breath and forced the anger away. "Can you please just leave me alone mother?" he asked. He watched as she wordlessly left. He lay back against his pillow, wincing as the wet material touched his bare back. He felt hot and cold and sick and fine all at the same time. There was only one explination for it.

He, Jason Grace, was in love. Head over heels in love. And it was all because of the mysterious new kid, Nico di Angelo.