That very next day, as Nico walked through the doors he could see people looking at him and whispering nonsense to one of their friends. How he hated gossip, especially when it pertained to him. Usually the gossip was false and no one ever dared to ask him if it was true or not, and he supposed it was his fault for causing that. His personality didn't scream come and talk to me. He just ignored it most of the time, unless he caught on to what was being said and that's when he could put a stop to it.
He just kept walking and started his daily routine with his locker. He was one of the few people who took the time to decorate the inside of his locker, with a few pictures. One of his mother and him when he was little, Bianca, and a few others like a Game of Thrones sticker or a Twenty-One Pilots logo on a magnet. It wasn't much but he found solace in the tiny things he could do. He reached into his pocket and pulled out headphones which he remembered to bring to school. Usually he forgot them, and hated it when he wanted to drone out whatever other people were saying.
Once his headphones were on he blasted the music, grabs his books, and began to make his way to class for yet another boring day. Occasionally he would see someone staring at him, and he would glare at them breaking the eye contact. For once his day started off better than others. Once in his class he sat in his usual place and then waited for the bell to ring, and the class to be over with. That's when they walked in and ruined everything.
The whole gang simply walked in as if nothing was wrong, made their way to the back towards him and made a protective bubble around him. He found it extremely unnerving and the others in the class began to talk vehemently with those around them. He felt someone tap him a looked over to see none other than Will motioning for him to take his headphones out.
"Piss off." He said.
"Nico, I need to talk to you."
"I said, piss off."
"Not until you talk to me." Wil demanded.
"Do you not understand English? I said piss off."
"Oh, understand it just fine, I'm just incredibly stubborn." Will smiled.
"Incazzare cazzo stronzo." Nico muttered.
"Ok, that I don't understand. I only know English and some Spanish, and even that is limited."
"How do you know Spanish?"
"I use to live in Texas, you tend to pick up a few things." He smiled again.
"Perche io."
"What?" Will asked.
"Nothing."
"Two can play at that game. Tu hermana es muy preocupado para tu. Es muy intersante escuchar todas sus historias sobre ti."
Nico looked at him utterly confused at what Will had just said. He picked up on a few words and knew he was talking about him and Hazel but that was about it. Will looked very pleased with himself and turned his attention to the front as Chiron walked in. He noticed the change in seating and said nothing of it, which was unusual. He usually questioned someone before they could move seats.
It was very strange but he put it aside as the announcements came on. He took the other headphone out and thought that he might as well listen. It would be something to keep his mind off Will, who kept looking at him every few seconds.
"Good morning students, today's announcements have been amended. As you know the school has a strict no bullying policy. Recent events have come to the faculty's attention that that rule is not being upheld by certain students. We will keep those individuals anonymous, but the new punishments are as followed. One offense will result in one week's detention and a notification to one's parents. A second offense will result in a three-week suspension from the school and a notification sent to the police. A third offense shall result in an immediate expulsion from the school and an official police report will be written.
There is one exception, should any of these offences be a result of physical violence the offender will be immediately expelled and turned over to police custody. The full extent of the law will then be dealt upon the offender form which a multitude of results could occur. I encourage other students to vigilant and inform Reyna RamÃrez-Arellano immediately. Also, a meeting will occur twice a week on Tuesday and Thursday for any students who have been bullied and wish to discuss it without fear of repercussions.
Any questions or concerns can be asked of your teachers at any time as they have been given all necessary information on the matter. Thank you and have a nice day."
The regular announcements came on but Nico was too distracted to pay attention to them. He even didn't notice Will poking him to get his attention. All he could think that it was because of him that this was happening and he feared what might happened to him should he run into Octavian or any of his friends. He could only imagine what they would do to him, and they would no doubt blame him for the new rules.
Nico just ignored the rest of the class, and moved on to the next one as if he was a puppet. All he could focus on was what was waiting for him at some time later during the day. He managed to get to his locker and to the next class without incident which wasn't surprising. Octavian would never be so arrogant to try something that out in the open, he would wait for lunch, or even after school had let out to try anything. Nico would just have to be extra careful when he left the building at the end of the day.
When he sat down in his next class he looked out the window and saw the snow gently falling onto the ground. Just as he had predicted there was a fine layer of snow on the ground from the day before and there was more on the way, if the weather was predicted correctly. He thought it was fitting that a snow storm would hit, especially with the dreaded winter dance coming up. Soon the extravagant displays of affection would litter the school.
Nico had yet to go to a single dance, which the school started off early with one in sixth grade. He never bothered to ask someone as he would get a no, and no one had dared to ask him. He wondered if Will had ever gone, and if so who did he go with. Will didn't have any friends outside of the group as far as Nico knew. He couldn't imagine someone like Will not going to one of them, especially with his happy, positive attitude. Nico quickly shut that train of thought down, not understanding how he had gotten there. He would never go down that path again, it had already caused him enough heartache to last a lifetime.
When the bell rang, Nico actually jumped not expecting it even though there is literally only five minutes in between each class. He was spared the wall of people he had somehow acquired as none of them were in this class, so there was another bright side to this relatively shitty day. The teacher droned on about something Nico either knew, or didn't care to learn now and most likely it was the first one. He watched as others occasionally look back at him, as if he wouldn't notice. This was starting to get rather annoying as he had no idea what they were talking about, and thus no way of stopping all the attention he was getting. He noticed one didn't show signs or curiosity, just simple hatred towards him.
He recognized her as Khione, a cheerleader and all around annoying girl. She was known for dating as many guys, just to sleep with them then break up the next day. As far as Nico knew no one had denied her for some reason, all except Percy. She hadn't gotten around to Jason, Leo, Frank, or Will because Percy wouldn't give her what she wanted. She never even thought of trying to seduce Nico, as he would never go for a girl. He didn't like girls in that regard, and that spared him a lot of embarrassment at trying to stave off Khione, if she would ever try.
Nico assumed Percy hadn't given in because of Annabeth, but the way Khione acted and talked, it was weird. She could literally get guys who were standing next to their girlfriends to do whatever she wanted with just the wave of the hand or the right words. Nico didn't understand how, and he didn't want to find out how she did it. He also didn't get her sudden hatred towards him, as he had never done anything to her. He supposed that whatever was being talked about him behind his back, it was enough to make her mad at him.
The bell rang and Nico continued his routine with not a single hitch in his step. The fact that this was happening was crazy enough as it is, but to have gossip on top of that, it was like he had won the lottery. Calculus was quiet when he entered and he saw that Annabeth had beaten him hear and was in the same seat as the day before, only she looked at him expectantly. He sighed and made his way back and plopped into the chair dreading what would come next.
"You hurt Will's feelings." She said.
"How could I possibly hurt Will?" he looked at her.
"He cares about people, and he cannot sit by when someone is hurting."
Nico grabbed the desk, "Well he can mind his own damn business."
"Act like that and he won't"
He glared darkly at her, "Yeah, like that will stop me, try again."
"He just wants to help."
"I don't need help."
Annabeth looked flustered for a second but then nodded and turned her attention to her notebook. She began to write furiously and Nico had to wonder what about. She didn't seem mad at him, or at anyone really. Nico had seen her frustrated, but never truly mad. Once she was done writing she quickly shut her book and then looked at him. He quickly averted his attention back to the front and waited for her to give the sign.
"Will wants to talk to you at lunch." She spoke after a while.
"Only Will?"
"Yes, don't worry the rest of us will leave you alone."
"Good."
She huffed at that but said no more and turned her attention to the lecture as it began. Nico realized in the class that that had been the first time he had ever spoken to Annabeth. He has known her since second grade and had never spoken to her until now. This day just seemed to be getting weirder and weirder as it went on. He supposed that it was just one of those days and that it would pass over soon enough. Once the class was over he noticed Annabeth had left a nicely folded piece of paper on her desk, and before Nico could call her back she was out of the room.
Nico picked the piece up and saw it was an origami piece, and it was very well done. It was the shape of an owl, and he supposed it was Annabeth's favorite animal. He then noticed writing all over the paper and carefully undid the owl to the flat sheet.
Nico,
If you ever need help or want to talk about anything, all you have to do is ask. It doesn't have to be Will or Percy, it can just be me. I will never tell anyone anything if you don't want me to. I'm here for you if you ever need it, and the gossip you see in school is about you supposedly having sex with Jason in the locker room yesterday, thought you might like to know.
Annabeth
Nico read the page over three times and each time he got more and more embarrassed. He didn't care about how Annabeth would listen, he was more concerned about the supposed sex with Jason. The only time he saw Jason was in the gym yesterday after he ran from Will. Someone must have seen Jason go in, then Nico and neither one of them came out until at least five minutes later. He wondered how Will factored in since he came in about two minutes after Nico did and then left with Jason.
He supposed it could have been worse, and he had no idea who had started it, so he guessed he would have to weather the storm. He had had stories like these float around him for years, and he supposed after all this time that meant he was the only virgin in the entire school. He knew that that was statistically impossible for that to be true, but there were always exceptions. That made him wonder what Jason thought of the situation, if he was shutting it down or letting it run its course until someone asked him if it was true. Nico liked to think it was the first one, but with his luck it would be the latter.
Nico collected himself and made his way to the next class and then after that he would bet a break at lunch, and that's when he realized that Jason was in his next class, along with Leo and Percy. Most likely he would die of embarrassment, but he supposed there was no avoiding it. Once he got in the room he made his way to his normal seat, and saw that everyone was watching him make his way there. He simply held his head high and ignored their stares, and he then figured out why Khione was giving him that look. Jason was still on her hit list and he supposed that this story ruined her chances, but he was still dating Piper.
That just made the story all that more confusing, as he hadn't heard of them breaking up, or even arguing for that matter. Which was extremely suspicious in Nico's opinion. That's when they walked in. The room went silent and Nico directed his attention to his hands in his lap and refused to look up. He hoped they would sit where they normally did and not even talk to him, as it would just make his day even worse. Unfortunately, they did the exact opposite, sitting next to him and Percy trying to get his attention.
"Nico." Percy said.
"Piss off."
"You say that to everyone, and I need to talk to you."
"Non voglio parlare." He switched into Italian.
"I'm taking that as a yes. I'm assuming Annabeth talked to you earlier."
"Yes."
"Good, makes my job easier. Juist so you know it wasn't any of us that started the rumor and Jason is going to put a stop to it so you don't have to worry."
"Whatever, just leave me alone after this is all over."
"I don't think that's going to work."
"Why, the, hell, not?"
"Um, Hazel asked to keep an eye on you." Percy scratched the back of his head.
Nico got extremely angry at that instant and a flash of fear went through Percy. It suddenly felt a whole twenty degrees colder and Nico got an extremely calm look.
"I don't need anyone to take care of me, now let off or I will make you."
Percy held his hands up and looked over to Jason and Leo, giving them a knowing look. He would hear about this later from Hazel no doubt, but he didn't care. All he wanted was to be left alone, and life at this moment did not want to give him that pleasure. Thankfully they ignored him for the rest of the class and he left as quickly as he could. Unfortunately, his small reprieve was ended by Octavian waiting for him at his locker. He didn't see Nico approach as he was looking at his hands, as if he didn't have a care in the world.
"Um, can I help you?" Nico said when he approached.
"About time you got here faggot. I would hate to be disappointed. You and I have a few things we need to talk about." Octavian smiled.
"I'm all ears."
Octavian grabbed the front of his shirt, "I don't know who told, but I know it came from you somehow. Since you've made my life that much harder, I'm going to make yours a living hell, just you wait."
He was shoved roughly against the lockers and Nico grunted from the pain. Octavian walked off and Nico watched him go, just to make sure he wouldn't be blindsided. Once he was out of sight, Nico sighed and leaned back against the lockers now realizing how nervous he was. He pushed the thought of Octavian away and got ready for his next class, which once again he had all to himself and he wouldn't have to deal with Will, or Percy, or anyone.
However, when he walked into the room it became extremely quiet. All attention was on him as if he was some sort of superstar, but he knew the real reason. There were perhaps two openly gay students in the entire district that he knew of, and the fact that people now thought he was as well, it pissed him off. He glared at all of them and they went back to their conversations but that didn't stop the quick gazes he got every now and then. All he wished for now, was that he could leave and go home and to never have to deal with any of them.
He knew his wish would go unanswered, as did the rest of his pleas in life. He sat down and opened his notebook and looked through the various drawings and worked on a few, while the teacher droned on and on. Nico always used this time to observe others and listened to their conversations and learn. This was how he survived so long with how Octavian treated him. He knew some much dirt about almost everyone in the school, only Octavian would dare mess with him. With his memory, he would also never forget it, so no matter how much people could try he would always remember.
Nico noticed that most of the room had begun to talk with each other, and he looked up. He saw the teacher talking with Chiron and as to why, he had no idea. The teacher nodded and then looked over at him and motioned him up to the front. He knew that this would only make the gossip about him even worse having two teachers talk about him and him getting a private conversation with Chiron. Chiron was always viewed as the one who laid down the law to students, despite being in a wheelchair.
Once Nico was up at the front Chiron steered him out of the room and into an empty hallway. He shut the door behind him and Nico's nerves began to rise.
"Calm down, you're not in trouble. However, we do need to talk Mr. di Angelo." He said.
"Well, what about?" Nico responded quietly.
"There has been some talk of rather explicit activities between you and Mr. Grace. I've also heard rumblings of actual physical violence to your person."
"And?" Nico raised an eyebrow.
"Are they true?"
"The Jason thing, no, I have no idea who started that. But the bullying thing, who cares if its real or not."
"There are some who care about you all, and there are those, mainly Hazel, who is concerned."
"Well, she doesn't need to worry as its nothing I can't handle." He sighed.
"So, it is true, and that means there needs to be action, more than what the administration has done so far."
Nico's temper began to rise, "I don't need your or anyone else's help. I've been more then capable of taking care of myself for years. You don't have the right after so many years to suddenly appear and start messing with my life. If anyone wanted to do that, they should have stopped my mother and sister from dying, or my dad from walking out on me!"
The hallway was extremely cold suddenly and Nico's temper was flaring and he hadn't gotten this mad in years. Chiron just looked at him with a blank stare, as if nothing was wrong or he didn't care and Nico chose to believe the latter.
"What? Not going to say anything? You just don't care, I see. No one has ever cared, and I don't need anyone to."
He stormed off not waiting for Chiron to respond. He didn't know where he was going but he just couldn't stay there. Nico stormed out of the building and began to walk down the streets of New York alone. He passed by a few people but no one stopped him or said anything to him. He could feel the cold chill of the day and see the small amount of snow that had managed to stay on the ground. After nearly twenty minutes of walking he noticed the buildings got taller and he supposed he was nearing downtown Manhattan.
By this point, Nico was shivering slightly but he welcomed the cold and it helped him get his mind off everything. He supposed he could spend some time in Central Park and ease a little more before walking back to grab his things. While he was walking, he thought back to all the good times he had with his family. He had been so young when everything began to fall apart. His mother and sister died when he was just barely seven years old and that was when everything changed. He and his father stayed close for a few years, but eventually he was left by him when he was ten.
He never saw his father again after that day, and he never knew why he left. If given the chance Nico would ask him why and then yell at him to never come back. He had refused to cry over his father and he hasn't cried since he was put in foster care. Now his half-sister and her family were taking care of him after spending three years in the system. He hated all that time spent there alone, and he refused to speak of what he went through while being there. Despite being older than most, he was certainly one of the smallest and had a hard time defending himself.
Nico stopped at a break in the trees to see the towers overhead and he sighed deeply. The cold was really starting to get to him but he didn't want to have to walk all the way back just to face everyone again. So, he sat down on one of the benches and thought of what he could do next. However, he was ripped from his thoughts when someone sat down right next to him.
"You are certainly hard to find." Will said.
Nico looked over at him, "What are you doing here?"
"Looking for you obviously. Since no one else would."
"What do you mean by that?"
"Well you freaked Chiron out when you left so quickly, but the other staff didn't care. So, I took it upon myself to find you. No one knows that I'm here."
"How did you find me?"
"I have my ways, and here."
Will put a thick coat around him and kept his arm over his shoulders while he warmed up. Nico was shivering furiously and could not care enough to shove Will's arm off. He could feel the heat flowing from Will and it was nice after being in the cold so long. Nico didn't say anything to him, he just remained silent and it seemed Will understood why.
"You know I always wanted to New York, and now I live here, how's that for irony." Will joked.
"I use to live in Italy." Nico said quietly.
Will looked at him, "You really lost your accent then, I figured you had learned Italian just because. That's still really cool though, I've never been out of the country."
"I'd say Texas is pretty out there." Nico joked.
Will laughed softly, "Yeah, it is but still in the country. Hey, I wanted to ask why are you out here all by yourself."
"I don't want to talk about it."
"Fine, but I still want to know, and maybe one day you'll feel up to telling me."
"Maybe."
Will looked at him and smiled brightly and Nico offered a small grin in return. Will stood and helped Nico up as well and they began to walk in the park side by side. They stayed silent for a few minutes and Nico really appreciated the silence, but not the fact that it was silence. He found some solace in the fact that for once in his life someone seemed to care and wasn't disgusted by Nico's personality.
"I hope we can be friends one day." Will said.
"I don't think it'll be all that long as you seem to ignore my attempts at being alone."
"Well, you've been alone long enough and I see how much you mean to Hazel, plus what's the harm in having a friend."
"I wouldn't know."
"And why's that?" Will asked concerned.
"Never had a friend before."
"Really? Like never?" Will asked shocked.
"Yeah, I was really young when I left Italy and it took a while for me to get adjusted to living here."
"Well, then Nico, you and I are officially friends whether you like it or not."
"Don't expect me to be too happy about it."
"Never said you had to be." Will said smiling.
"Whatever." Nico rolled his eyes.
They walked on in silence with Will having a large smile on his face and Nico simply bearing his presence and soon they were out of the park. They slowly made their way back uptown and towards the school, despite how much Nico simply wanted to ignore the place. Once back at the building Nico grabbed his things and said goodbye to Will and began to make his way back home, dreading when he would have to come back the next day.
So these chapters are going to be rather hefty for a good while as I'm setting up conflict between characters and building the overall plot line. Now, I rather enjoy writing for Nico as he is a very interesting character and there is a great deal about his personality and mental state that I can really delve deep into. So, if these chapters aren't out quickly its not because of lack of interest, its either school or its taking longer to get everything into it that I want. That aside let me know what you think and if there are any portions of the story you think I could build on or add something new into the fray. Enjoy and review. -starwarswiz