The Day He Accepted Himself

Full Summary: Nico di Angelo is finally having a new start, but he is never going to reveal his sexual preference after what happened at his old high school. However, when he comes across an annoying blond-haired boy, will Nico finally change and let his feelings take over, or will he forever hide his true self in the shadows?

Rating: T for profanity, and some sexual influences

Pairings: Solangelo, and some other canon ships (Percabeth, Jasper, Frazel etc.). However, they will not be the main point of the story.

Disclaimer: I do not own the Percy Jackson series or HoO series in ANY WAY! This story is not used for profit and used for entertainment purposes only. Rick Riordan owns all characters and the book series.

A/N: Hello guys! This is my second fanfiction ever, and I am so glad to present to you it! I honestly ship Solangelo so hard, and I am so glad that Riordan finally gave Nico someone to be with forever and ever! Solangelo is one of my favorite ships, and I think that their relationship is so beautiful! LOL. Anyway, enough of my blabbering. I hope you enjoy this as much as I enjoyed writing it!

Please review, favorite, and follow this fanfiction so I know that people are reading my fanfiction!

…

Chapter 1

Backpack? Check. His favorite black leather jacket? Check. A straight face? Check. His exceedingly large stash of binder paper? Check.

He was prepared… no… over prepared. So why was his fingers still tingling, and his palms clammy? Oh right, it's because just like any other cliche new student, he was nervous. Nico definitely didn't want another disaster to occur at this high school like the other one. He hit so hard at the last day of school at his old high school, that it took him a whole summer to finally be able to leave the hospital and decrease the amount of therapy he is required to receive.

Do you want to know how he got over his shit? Nah, you probably don't want to know. But let's just say that Nico is putting that probably in the back most part of his mind, and burying it under fifty pounds of dirt and letting it sink and die.

Nico received his schedule beforehand and arrived at school twenty minutes earlier than usual so he could take his time finding his first period classroom and not ask anyone for help.

He didn't want to be inserted into a typical high school life movie , nor does he want anything unexpected to happen. The less change, the better.

The black-haired boy wandered around the empty classroom hallways. The white tiles reflected the white lights that were mounted on the top and blinded his eyes. It was clear that everything was cleaned before school ended, and all the papers were removed from the bulletin boards.

Nico sighed deeply as he finally found his first period classroom. Science, just what he wanted to start the day, and his freshman year. He peeked inside the window and saw that the lights were already open. The black lab tables and the shiny sinks were all lined up, with a wide alleyway in the center. The wood was also clean and in pristine condition.

He slid down the wall, and pulled over his hoodie as the sun shined in his eyes. He hated the sun too. He hated the way it burns his skin and the way it makes his face hot.

You could probably already tell Nico is probably going to be one of the most pessimistic people one could ever meet. But Nico didn't care, he just wanted to get his high school years over with so he could move on and try to forget what happened.

A half an hour later, the passing bell finally rang. Nico walked into the classroom and chose the last row in the room and plopped himself down on the stool, and placing his cheek against his hand, showing a bored expression. No one sat next to him.

The teacher walked into the classroom, her heels clicking against the ground and her lab coat stained with red and green. Nico noted to himself not to ask what those things on her lab coat is. was kind, and he could tell that she was extremely passionate about science. Everything was just fine until-

"Oh! We have a new student! Nico di Angelo? Nico?" she called and Nico reluctantly raised his hand. She smiled, "Meet Nico everyone, and treat him nicely." He dropped his hand after they settled down.

Suddenly, the door busted open and a boy with blond hair blasted in, his backpack almost falling off his one shoulder, and his hand clinging onto his phone and the packets that was slightly wrinkled. His yellow-blond hair was blew backward from running and his cheeks slightly red from the sudden attention. Nico suddenly felt more awake.

Mrs. Cady raised her eyebrows. "Will, what is your excuse for being late?"

Will laughed uneasily, "Sorry Mrs. Cady. I promise that it won't happen again."

"Mhm, just sit down next to Nico. You finally have a partner," scribbled something quickly on the clipboard and continued her lab instructions.

Will looked at Nico and Nico's stomach rose and felt like it's elevated. His tan skin glowed under the light and his blue eyes pierced through his glassy black ones.

Oh god, why does he, of all people, have to sit next to me? Nico covered his face with his eyes, Can he at least not radiate shit? When Will sat down, he looked at Nico and grinned at him. Nico looked to the side through his hands, and sighed with relief when Will finally looked forward. He realized that his fingers tapped against the surface, and his chin rested against the palm of his right hand. He was wearing a light blue shirt and black jeans, and every time he shifted his weight, the stool creaked. Even his body radiated heat that warmed the right side of Nico's body.

Can you not observe and look at him Nico? Nico yelled at himself, he mentally face palmed. He's not worth my time, and people might think I'm…

Gay.

Yes, Nico was gay, and he hated to show it. It wasn't because he denies that he likes boys, but because what other people might think. When he opened up and showed it publicly in his old high school, the results wasn't so great. Nico sighed deeply, forcing himself to stare at again.

He's probably straight anyway. He told himself and the teacher's voice went back into focus.

…

"Today we are going to do something that's my favorite science experiment." explained, "We are going to extract our DNA. I hope you remember our normal lab procedure-Nico I'm sure Will can explain to you about it well. The lab instructions are in the drawers, and the materials needed is already set up for you. Please get started. The lab report is due tomorrow-yes you have to answer all questions." Everyone groaned and noise increased from the talking.

Will turned to Nico. "Hi, I'm Will Solace. I guess I'm your lab partner."

Nico nodded to him. "I guess. So what do we do? I'm not spitting in that cup." Nico pointed to the plastic cup that was placed in the middle of the lab table. Will raised his eyebrow.

"Aren't you a shining ball of sunshine?" Will smiled and Nico's stomach started to rise again, but Nico didn't show any signs of emotion.

"Sorry to disappoint you," Nico said and Will rolled his eyes. Nico took out a piece of paper and started drawing the table that was required for the lab. Will left his paper blank.

"It's not that, Mr. Underworld-"

"It's Nico."

"Mr. Underworld." Will teased in a sing-song voice. Nico scowled. "I'm going to call you that, 'cause it's funny." Will nudged him and electricity sparked from Nico's shoulder and down to his spine.

"You're impossible," Nico mumbled, ignoring the feeling that just jolted him.

"Come on, be a little happier." Will cheered, spreading his arms out for exaggeration, which ended up almost knocking over the blue liquid in the beaker. Nico's lips slightly curved upward, but he quickly covered it again.

Will noticed his 'almost-smiled' look, but decided not to comment at it. At least he was going somewhere. He shrugged, "I guess I'll spit in it," Nico didn't comment, but Nico could see Will down the glass of saltwater and swish it around his cheeks.

When Will spit in the cup, Will presented the cup in front of Nico, making him wrinkle his nose in disgust.

"Gross," Nico commented, and Will chuckled.

"Come on, it's not that bad," Will swirled it around in front of him and Nico grabbed the cup from him. Their fingers brushed slightly.

"Just finish the lab," Nico growled, and Will rolled his blue orbs again. They didn't talk for a while, and they could only hear the background chatter in the classroom. Nico peeked at his paper and Will's handwriting was a neat loopy print that flowed across the page. He then looked at his own handwriting and saw scribbles that was splattered across the page.

"So… where you from?" Will broke the ice carefully. Nico looked at him again.

"I came from Las Vegas." Nico responded, "Moved here to San Francisco last week,"

"Las Vegas?! Dude, that's hella cool!" Will exclaimed, and Nico's lip slightly curved upward again. "I always wanted to live in Las Vegas, even though everything there isn't exactly moral."

Nico's smile disappeared. "You're right." Will didn't seem to notice his tone, so he went back to staring at the blue cup. Nico joined in, taking observation notes.

"Mr. Underworld-"

"It's Nico."

"Well what else do you want me to call you? Flaming hot ball of stars?" Will raised an eyebrow.

"Or you could just call me Nico, you know?"

"That's so cliche." Will complained, "How about… oh! How about Hot Pink Bra?" Will laughed when Nico wrinkled his nose.

"How do you come up with all these shitty names?" Nico said, exasperated.

"Language, Mr. Underworld. And I guess it's one of the perks of having ADHD. Things just pop up out of nowhere."

"You have ADHD?"

"That's right." Will looked at the cup. "Look it's my DNA!"

Nico didn't respond. Other than Bianca, he never really met another person with ADHD like him. He saw Will's eyes brighten at the sight of his DNA. Suddenly, those eyes made his mood lighten up. That light mood was something that he never really felt for years.

Great. I'm thinking too much now. Nico sighed to himself, covering his eyes with his face.

"Alright class! Time is up! Please clean up after yourself, and finish those problems at home." Mrs. Cady stood up and walked around the classroom once the bell rang.

Nico stood up and quickly lined up all his papers and shoved them in his folder. Suddenly, something stung his finger.

"Shit." Nico looked at his finger. The papercut got him again. They were his archenemy.

His finger bled a little, but Will then grabbed his hand and stared at it with hard eyes. Nico's hand fluttered and his face turned hot.

"What happened? Are you hurt? Did something happen? We should go to the nurse's room or else you'll die."

Nico pulled his hand away from Will's. He noticed that the room got silent and they were whispering. Nico's face turned redder with embarrassment.

"Shut up Will. You're causing a scene." Nico whispered lowly to Will. "It's just a fucking papercut."

"Papercut?! Do you know how much bacteria could go into that cut? You could get an infection!" Will whispered back. Nico rolled his eyes.

"You're so annoying, holy shit." Nico growled. "This is stupid. I'm going to the next class." He grabbed his backpack and walked out the door with everyone else.

"I'll be watching you!" Will shouted from the distance. Nico turned around, and he could tell Will wasn't lying. He was giving Nico the I'm watching you look. Somehow, that eyebrow scrunch, and that playfulness in his eyes was imprinted in Nico's mind as he finally found his next period.

…

The black-haired boy yawned as he finally survived through his 4th period. He took off his leather jacket since his teacher, Mr. Brandon, really liked the heater nice and toasty. He shoved his hands in his pockets and started wandering down the halls to find the cafeteria.

Will Solace was not in his sight, which was good.

However, what was that strange feeling that was stirring in his body every time he saw Will pass by from the distance? I mean, they only talked for 20 minutes, and Nico was already trying way too hard to maintain his composure.

Stop it Nico. He's straight. He's straight. He's straight. Nico repeated to himself.

"Mr. Underworld. Are you hiding from me?" Will asked, casually placing an arm around Nico's shoulder.

Nico grabbed his arm that was around his shoulder and dropped it to Will's side. "Yes."

"Well, you suck at hiding from people. I could see you a block away." Will rolled his eyes.

"No I'm not." Nico denied.

"Oh please. Anyone can see the new kid wandering lamely around the hallways during lunch."

"I'm not lost." Nico denied again. Will stopped walking and pointed the opposite direction.

"The cafeteria is that way." Will smirked and Nico's face slightly turned red.

"You're so annoying." Nico said and started walking the opposite direction. Will laughed and followed him.

"That's not the way to talk to your friend, Nico."

Friend. Somehow, that made him feel uncomfortable. What are friends? Why does he suddenly feel happier? But then he shook his mind out of the thought that they would ever become friends.

Acquaintances. Nico thought. Only Acquaintances.

"So, let me see the papercut." Will grabbed Nico's hand, and much to his surprise, he didn't pull away. Will gasped. "You didn't even put a band-aid over it? What are you trying to do? Kill yourself?"

Nico rolled his eyes. Will made a tsk sound.

"Because of this, you are going to have to sit with me during lunch every day until your paper cut gets better so I could look at it. You will not be let off the hook. Doctor's orders." Will declared and Nico face-palmed himself. What was he getting himself into?

But he didn't protest when he got dragged into the cafeteria by the overly friendly blond-haired boy.

…

Sooo… how did you like it? It's pretty boring right now, but I ensure you that it will get interesting as the story progresses. There will also be pretty long chapters later on as well. Anyway, thank you guys for reading this fanfiction.

Please review, favorite, and follow this story so it gives me motive to continue updating! Construction criticism is gladly accepted! Please tell me if any of the characters are OOC, or if I'm going too fast, or too slow. This way I can improve my story! Thank you so much!

Have a nice day! :)

Cause I ship me and my pillow,

~Cillow