Camp Half-Blood hasn't been attacked by monsters for years now and Percy cannot express how thankful he is to the gods of Olympus. But he knows that something is up, which he has been trying to figure out for months.
He gets up and puts on his favorite Camp Half-Blood shirt. From where he is, he can see Annabeth Chase, her girlfriend, sitting in a chair next to Nico di Angelo, and Percy feels kind of weird at the sight of them, talking to one another. Yes, Nico and Annabeth haven't talked to each other since the day she discovered Nico's secret feelings for Percy.
Percy makes his way toward them to hear what they are talking about, but for some reason, they stop talking as soon as they see him, as if afraid he might know their secrets.
"'Sup, people?" he asks, giving Annabeth a peck on the lips - yes, in front of Nico di Angelo! "Why are you two acting like that?"
Nico winces, seeing how sweet Percy is to Annabeth. "Nothing much, Percy, Okay, I've got to go."
He stands up but Annabeth says, "No, Nico. The three of us have to talk about this right now!"
"What is it? Tell me," Percy says in a worried tone. When Annabeth talks like this, he knows that something is up. And since Nico di Angelo is here and they - Annabeth and Nico - have been talking for, like, hours, he smells something fishy.
Annabeth shakes his head as if irritated. "I caught this guy doing something crazy while looking at your photo, Percy," Annabeth says, pointing at Nico whose head is away from Percy's direction. "And I caught him . . ."
"Please, Annabeth," Nico pleads, "I didn't mean to. I mean, I just couldn't control myself. You know I like him and I am TRYING to move on, but I just can't . . ."
"Nico, what is Annabeth talking about?" Percy asks, looking him in the eye. "TELL ME, NICO!"
"First off, Percy, sorry for everything I've done . . ." he says, looking down. "Annabeth caught me watching you take a bath days back and we had a fight. I just couldn't control myself, Percy. And earlier, she caught me doing something nasty while looking at your photos. I am so sorry, Percy."
Percy shakes his head, signaling he's disappointed at him. "WHAT THE HELL, NICO!"
Percy doesn't know what to say. He wants to punch him square in the face for doing this to him, but he can't because he sees Nico as his brother. Bianca told him to take care of him before she died, and he does not want to break his promise. But what shall he do now? Now that he has just discovered that Nico has been secretly checking him out?
Annabeth's still annoyed, her hands on her waist. Nico, on the other hand, starts to cry.
"Look, Nico," Percy finally says, "I just don't want that to happen ever again, okay?"
He nods. "I promise."
Annabeth leaves the two of them, still furious at Nico.
Percy says, "Let's meet up later."
Nico smiles at him ecstatically.
"Nice acting anyway," he says, giving him a wink.
