Author's Notes: Hey, you guys. I'm back with a new fanfic. Although this'll only have a maximum of two to three chapters. Probably only two. I wanted to post this sometime later near Halloween but the urges were strong. For this chapter, the music referenced somewhere below is Pan's Labyrinth Lullaby (Music Box).

Disclaimer: I do not own Percy Jackson nor the characters. All rights go to their rightful owner.

Dance In The Dark

Orange and yellow orbs drifted to and fro in the distance. Its light reflecting off Percy's eyes as he stared at it, lying down on his bed. The window provided a good view of the street outside of his apartment. Ever since he and Annabeth, a blonde and intelligent girl with steel gray eyes and wavy hair, decided to take a break from this sorry excuse they call a "relationship", Percy Jackson moved farther away from her and bought an apartment costing most of his savings plus the help of his mother near his friends' place. Sally was an understanding and caring woman. So when she heard of the broken couple, she did everything to help her son.

It's been a year and everything was calm. He was calm. The eighteen year old didn't get the usual heartaches and migraines anymore a few weeks after their break-up. He knew he was getting nowhere if he sulked the whole year about.

Four days. Four days before the masked party Jason planned begins. What with his huge house and all, he definitely didn't get the idea of inviting his friends to a masked party. It wasn't like any old teenage party you'd go to. This was all class and mask. Who knew the blonde had it in him?

"I don't even know how to dance," Percy chuckled dryly, his eyes never leaving the dancing lights on his window. Percy was many things. He was the best at swimming. He had the ability to gain friends with a simple wave of 'hello'. He's loyal and trusting. But there was one thing Percy Jackson failed at and that was dancing. Of course, it wasn't that he couldn't dance. It was just that he sucked at it.

He tossed and turned in his bed at night, thinking of leaving the party when the dance starts or if he should go at all. Jason was going to be there with Piper, his girlfriend. They've been through a lot yet nothing deterred their relationship. A golden couple, one would say. Piper was beautiful with her kaleidoscope-like eyes that ranged from brown to blue and sun-kissed skin. Her hair came in choppy cuts and she always braided the hair framing her face. Yes, she was beautiful to an extent where most boys would drool over her but not Percy. They were better friends. Close friends, in fact.

Then there's Leo with Calypso. Now after he moved, this Calypso girl with caramel hair and dark almond-shaped eyes took an interest in him. Least to say, he liked her back but not as much as she did. She was heartbroken, yes, but Leo Valdez lit up her world when he introduced himself to her. Ever since then, they were attached at the hip.

There was also Hazel and Frank. He had met these two when Jason came over to introduce them to him. They seemed really happy with each other. All of them did, and Percy wanted something like that in his life. Sadly, the light of his life didn't seem like the right bulb at the moment.

Percy yawned at shifted one last time in his bed. His vision is fading but before he could close his eyes, he swore he saw a blurry figure move from the corner of his room. Darkness consumed him as he was late at keeping his eyes open for a moment to see the white blur.

...

The next day couldn't have gotten any better.

He sat around the classroom, listening to his friends talk about the incoming masquerade party, as Leo dubbed it. Apparently, there were other people coming as he overheard. "Percy! Got anyone you want to invite this weekend? It's in three days. I heard this Rachel girl seemed hopeful." Jason smiled. He was a good friend and he and Percy understood each other well, just not when it comes to this. Yes, Jason and his friends knew that he was bi but that didn't mean they could hook him up with whoever meets his eye.

It was strange when Percy figured out he had an interest on boys as well. It started when he met this blonde boy. He freaked out for a while but eventually got over it. Said apple of his eye was Luke Castellan but he was over him. He was happy for Luke and Thalia, Jason's sister.

"Nah, dude. Rachel isn't my type." Percy shrugged. An involuntary yawn escaped his mouth as he used a hand to hide it. Piper was the first to notice. The girl was observant, at some cases. "Trouble sleeping?" She asked, concerned for Percy's well-being. Percy nodded absently and blinked. She was like a sister to him, really. Sure, they didn't talk much but there was something there that gave Percy the feeling they knew each other longer than intended. He got along with her pretty well.

"Even if you don't get to bring anyone, you can join us." Hazel smiled warmly at him. Percy smiled back at her. Whatever situation they may find themselves in, Hazel brings out the best in them. She was there to make sure life had its fair share of happiness. "Thanks, Hazel. I'll think about it." Percy replied.

As she turned her head, Calypso nudged him. "Still don't know how to dance?" She whispered. Percy nodded dejectedly and watched as the girl tried to catch Piper's eye. "Don't worry about it. I could ask Piper to give you dance lessons or something before the party. It's easy, don't worry," she smiled kindly. Percy hummed and thought about it.

"We'll see." He mumbled.

He saw her smile sideways at him before turning to her boyfriend. As the teacher entered, they ceased their conversation for later and listened.

...

"It's a pleasure doing business with you, Jackson." She smiled.

Piper practically pranced back to Jason who looked slightly amused at her. "See? I told you she'd be enthusiastic about the idea." Calypso giggled as she met Percy at the entrance of the school with Leo in tow. "Don't worry man. I'll be your wingman in the party. With a face like that," he gestured to Percy's lost look. "The girls would be crowding you the moment you step foot." He smirked at him. Percy shook his head in disbelief and bid them farewell as he headed towards home.

As he entered his apartment, he sighed and heaved the bag from his grip onto the floor with a thump. The sunlight streamed through his windows where the curtains were tied back. Blue curtains, to be exact. The boy removed his shoes and walked in his room to retrieve new clothes. He got the blue shirt and gray sweatpants and headed quickly to the shower.

His shower was one of those with the glass doors. It wasn't like anyone else was going to see him anyway, excluding sleepover purposes. As he stripped, he hummed a tune and stepped into the shower. The glass door clinked softly as he closed it. He turned the water down to warm and bathed in it. If only I could live my life underwater, he thought to himself as he washed his hair and soaped his body. He whistled, scrubbing the suds out of his hair when he saw it.

He nearly slipped trying to open the glass door but knew better than to actually do it. There, covered by the steamy fog the shower created, the white blur with a mix of black stood on the other side of the shower. Percy knew he had seen it last night but dismissed it as hallucinating. After quickly rinsing the shampoo and soap out, he grabbed the towel hanging nearby and opened the door. Disappointment washed over him as the blur of white and black had gone.

Percy was getting nervous. Was he slowly losing his mind? He shook his head, the drops of water dripping on the carpet beneath him. After drying himself with his towel, he dressed up and went to check his phone. Piper told him she was going to send him a message regarding the dance lessons they'll be having. It's not likely I'll dance anyways. All my other friends have someone to dance with. Percy thought as he checked his messages. True to her words, Piper had sent in a dozen while he was bathing. Did he really take that long? Needless to say, he replied back to her.

Percy: Yeah, I'm here. Just took a shower.

Piper: Great! Now, about those dance lessons... ;)

Percy: Ugh! Do I have to?

Piper: Yes! And that's from both Jason and I.

Piper: It's not that hard, I promise :)

Percy: I don't need the assurance, thank you. I'm pretty content with just sitting around, y'know

Piper: But you and I know you'd still jump at the chance for lessons just in case anyone you like you see comes by

Percy: Not helping -_-

Piper: Now, hush. We'll start tomorrow around 5 after school. Get home, get changed, and then meet me around the ice cream shop nearby. We can't practice in Jason's place but we can practice in mine

Percy: Sure, okay.

Piper: You better not be late! I'm bringing Hazel, btw :D

Their conversation went on like that until Piper said she had to go eat dinner. Unknown to him, it had reached 7 in the evening already. Percy pocketed his phone and walked to the kitchen to heat up some leftover pasta Leo brought in the day before.

11 PM. The digital clock blinked beside him. He frowned and turned once in his bed. He squint his eyes to look out the window. The yellow lights continued to move aimlessly around. He distracted himself from sleep for a couple of seconds that felt like minutes when he felt a change in the atmosphere. A small gust of cold air swept over him, making him shiver under the covers. What unnerved him was that the window he had been staring at for seconds was shut tight. No gap for cold air to come rushing in.

Percy turned around and gasped, nearly falling down when he jumped out of bed in surprise. The white blur was back. But it didn't seem much like a white blur now, he thought. Upon closer inspection without actually stepping closer, the blur formed into a small figure of a boy. The black blur was his raven-colored hair and the shirt he wore. He had gray pants, it seemed.

From this angle, the boy was a foot smaller. His eyes were hidden in his dark unruly bangs. Something seemed off about the boy. Just from the way his skin gleamed inhumanly pale made Percy think twice about approaching him. Not that he was thinking of approaching him.

"H-how did you get here?" Percy stuttered. The boy gave him the shivers. He couldn't even see his face as it was covered by his hair. The green-eyed teen stepped back in harmony with the mysterious boy when said boy stepped forward. He saw the boy hesitate a bit before finally glancing up. Part of his hair stayed covering half of his face so he brushed them back to reveal dark as night orbs. Even the boy's face was like porcelain.

"Who are you?" Percy asked, intrigued by the interesting dark shade of his eyes. The boy looked fourteen to fifteen, at least. The boy said nothing as he stepped forward once more.

This time, Percy didn't move back but neither did he make a move forward. He simply let the younger one come to him. Once they were face-to-face, the air around them felt cold as if they were inside a fridge. The boy's skin glowed in the moonlight and Percy found himself wanting to caress his arm. He smacked himself mentally on the head for thinking such lewd things.

Get a hold of yourself, Percy! He screamed inside. The boy's mouth twitched open as if he were about to say something but stopped. Percy expected the cold touch, seeing as his skin glowed unnaturally, almost translucent, but to feel no warmth at all worried him when the boy gently grabbed his hands.

Percy stared at their hands, inspecting how small the boy's hands are in his. He swiped a thumb over the front of his hand and smiled lightly at how smooth his skin was. "If you're not talking, I guess I will. I'm Percy. Percy Jackson." The boy said, continuously rubbing circles on his hand. The young boy looked up into his eyes. The height difference made Percy want to pick the boy up so he could look at him properly. He looked so innocent but there was something in those eyes that held themselves back.

Wait, what am I thinking? This boy comes in my apartment, practically watched me sleep, and just held my hands. Isn't that creep-worthy? Percy thought over and over but he was transfixed by the boy's never faltering gaze. Percy doesn't know whether or not it was a trick of the light but the room definitely seemed darker now that the young boy was in close range. "Don't you talk?" Percy asked quietly.

The boy let go one of his hands to bring one finger up to his lips, shushing him. The boy clasped their hands together again as he looked down, nearly embarrassed. Percy chuckled lightly at that. Then, as if in a dream, he heard soft music began to play. The room was dark now and the only light source was the two of them. It was just the two of them, now; this mysterious boy and Percy.

It was like a winding key being winded down at first. Then, as the music continued, the boy moved backwards, pulling Percy along with him. Confused, Percy complied. He moved one step back then tugged on Percy's hand. The teen followed with one foot step. When the boy moved forward, Percy stumbled a bit and righted himself quickly when he saw a small smile play on the younger boy's lips.

The music chimed softly as they followed the pattern of moving back and forth, stepping once or twice back then forward. Before he knew it, they had twirled around in a circle and moved about the room. The music slowed and the chiming toned down. They stopped moving as the music ceased. Percy was dense to the smile on his face but it dropped when the boy stepped back and let go of his hands. He bowed slightly and gave Percy a small smile.

"My name's Nico." He said quietly.

Before Percy could ask why he hadn't spoken before, the boy in all his glory stepped back and vanished out of sight. The darkness faded and light began to seep in again. Percy stood dumbfounded and stared at the place the boy was last seen.

It took him a minute before everything came back to him in a rush. The boy's name was Nico. The boy taught him how to dance in a matter of seconds. Nico seemed unnaturally pale because he wasn't human. If he is what Percy thinks he is Nico was either a trick of his eye or something else. Neither seemed appealing and both sounded surreal to be true.

Did Percy Jackson just dance with a ghost?