Nico still gave Percy the cold shoulder. Brushing off all his advances to make amends, crushing all hopes to rekindle their friendship.
And Percy was getting sick of it.
The green eyed boy laid on his bed forlornly, staring up at the ceiling. He contemplated going to Annabeth for advice but dismissed it quickly. That girl had enough on her plate without having to deal with my troubles. He thought with a melancholy smile. He of all people knew the massive amount of hardwork the young blonde did on a daily basis. The pensive son of Poseidon sighed and swung his legs off the bed, landing on the floor with a thud.
He'd go to Chiron and see what the wise old centaur would tell him.
"Hmmm." Chiron hummed in response at the long winded explanation that Percy had given about his diminished friendship status with Nico. The teen looked up at the centaur stone-faced.
"I pour my heart out and all you say is 'hmm?' He asked dryly and began playing with a few loose strings on his ripped jeans.
Chiron laughed heartily and clapped a hand on Percy's shoulder. "Well ma' boy, I can't exactly become that little voice in your head that tells you to do. You should figure it out yourself." The old horseman said smartly.
"I guess..." Percy said with a sigh, "I'm gonna go find Annabeth and maybe go to the Pavilion." With that the green eyed boy got up and left Chiron's company, a brooding look on his face.
Annabeth laughed hysterically at the corny joke Percy just told and the teenage boy couldn't stop grinning. He found himself unable to be upset when he was around the young blonde. She just lightened up his day in general.
"O-Oh my God I c-can't breathe! Hahah! That was the worst joke I've ever heard!" She said between breaths and laughter, clutching her stomach hysterically.
Percy began to join in on her laughing fit and the two eventually tired themselves out. "It wasn't even witty funny, it was stupid funny." Annabeth panted as she wiped a tear from her eye.
A half crescent smile graced Percy's face,"Yeah but it-" He cut himself off when he saw a figure walking by the monster-populated forest.
"Who is that...?" The dark haired boy mumbled and squinted to get a better view.
"Nico!" A loud booming voice echoed from behind him, making Percy and Annabeth jump about 2 feet in the air.
Percy turned around with a startled yell to see a centaur towering over him. "What the heck Chiron, I almost died!" The green eyed boy protested. How did he even sneak up on us? He has freaking HOOVES. We should have been able to hear him from like, a mile away.
Chiron grinned in response and pointed towards the figure that Percy saw skirting around the edges of the forest. Upon closer inspection, Percy now identified the figure as Nico from the stygian iron blade he brandished.
"I must speak with you two." The centaur explained, beckoning Nico to come over.
Once his name was called, the distant figure whipped around and seemed to mutter a curse as he dragged his feet and made his way over.
When Nico had arrived, it was him, Percy, Annabeth, and Chiron all standing together in the field. Many passerbys staring curiously at them and muttering under their breath.
"Did you need us for something?" Percy asked, facing Chiron with a puzzled expression.
"Yes, indeed I do." The brown haired centaur replied, nodding his head thoughtfully.
"Ah-ah, where do you think you're going Mr. DiAngelo?" Chiron scolded, grabbing hold of Nico's arm before the younger male could escape.
Nico let out a sigh, then spun around to face the centaur once more.
"Now that I have you both here, I can tell you you're mission. Aphrodite has requested someone to retrieve a certain flower from the Botanical Gardens so she can make a special perfume. Now, since you two are having issues, I have decided to have Nico and Percy perform this simple task."
"WHAT?!" The two boys said in unison. Nico immediately scowled at the prospect of going ANYWHERE with his sister's murderer.
"Can't you pick someone else?" Nico asked bitterly.
"Now, now, you two have already been chosen for the task. Besides Aphrodite requested you personally as well. We can't have you two angering the Gods now can we?" Chiron chided, staring at the two boys as if saying you-couldn't-get-out-of-this-even-if-you-tried.
Both males groaned once they finally figured out that there was no way to decline and acquiesced the argument.
A moment later, a tentative hand shot into the air, catching everyone's attention.
"I'd like to go as well." Annabeth stated confidently, her stormy gray eyes were alight with determination.
Chiron's eyes widened and he seemed taken aback by this, shifting his weight from hoof to hoof. Nonethless, he shook his head a second or so later and laughed, "Don't fret my dear. It's only a silly request for some perfume, I'm sure the two boys here can handle it.
Annabeth seemed crestfallen, but said no more. She just hoped that it was JUST a silly task and that Aphrodite wasn't planning to mess with their lives, as she's done so many times before.
Though, to be honest...the young and skeptical child of Athena was not convinced.
