Nico's POV (1.5)

The only girl I ever talked to until now was Thalia Grace. Of course I talked to Annabeth too but she was like a sister to me, you know? Not the one you sneak up with before daybreak to watch the sunrise. Thalia was kind of like me in some way. She wears all black, even if it's really hot. She listens to rock music even though she's a girl. She likes gore movies even though Annabeth would usually just cover her eyes and bury her face into Percy's chest.

And Thalia hates the world for whining over simple problems.

My friends (if I really have any) say that it's like we're cousins or siblings because we somehow look alike and think alike, too. And we have the same emo-like personality. Others say that it's like we're a couple because we have common interests so we'll be perfect for each other (like that'll ever happen).

But in all honestly, I just think we're simply friends. Okay, so the best of friends. Who else can I talk to about Black Veil Brides and their awesome screechy music? You know, the first I do in the morning after I wake up is listen to her iPod playlist and sing in the shower, thanking God that I have her as a friend.

Now, I'm sitting on a chair, holding a paintbrush with blue paint dripping from it. I shakily brushed the canvas with the tip of the paintbrush and sighed. Shit, this is so gadsdamned ridiculous, I thought. See, the thing is, Rachel is teaching me how to paint, no matter how impossible it is.

"Rachel," I laughed, "this-this isn't working. It's stupid. I'm never going to learn how to paint. It's not my style."

"Oh come on, don't give up," she urged, "it's not that hard once you've set your heart to it."

"See, that's the thing, I don't have a heart."

She gave me a look and I chuckled. "Oh pish-posh, you're just saying that because you want to tease me but it's not working, emo dude-"

"Emo dude?"

"-and you know why? Because you have a talent and you have me as teacher."

"Well, you're a pretty bad teacher if you ask me."

She fumed and slapped my hand again, only harder this time. She crossed her arms and glared at me. I laughed and continued working on my canvas. You might think that we're working on this for a week but guess what? We've only known each other for five days and she's been trying to teach me how to paint ever since."

"Ah, Nico!"

"What?"

"You spread paint all over the canvas."

"Oh shit."

She stifled a giggle and grabbed the paintbrush from me. I stood up and she took over. I looked around the room and for the first time since I've visited, I saw a SLR camera. You know, the ones that real photographers use? "Hey, Rachel, is that you camera?"

She looked at it and nodded. "Yeah. Do you want to borrow it?"

"Yeah. I just want to try using it."

"Sure. Go ahead. Feel free to use it."

I grabbed it from the wooden table and tried to take pictures with it. My dad was a photographer, he's in France right now taking picture of Italian Vogue models. He's pretty popular, I guess. He used to teach me how to take good pictures from his camera. We would take walks in the back garden at night and take pictures of cyclamens and tulips.

I took a picture of the room then looked at Rachel and smiled. She's pretty with her hair tied back in a loose bun and her face smiling with a constellation of freckles. She was concentrating so much on my painting that she didn't notice me until I pressed the shutter.

Her head shot up and I grinned. "What?" I asked innocently.

"Did you take a picture of me?"

"No, I didn't."

"Yes, you did."

"No, I didn't."

"We're not playing this game, Nico. It's still my camera."

I shrugged. "I have plenty at home. I'll just bring it tomorrow."

She smiled a bit. "You're coming tomorrow?"

"Yeah, I mean, you're fun to hang out with."

She laughed softly. "You are, too."

My cellphone rang. It was Thalia.

"Yo, Thals. What's up?"

"Where are you?"

"Um," I hesitated, "at the mall. Why?"

"At the mall? Who's with you?"

I looked at Rachel. She was subconsciously fiddling with her fingers.

"With my friend, Rachel."

"Rachel? You never told me you had another friend that's a girl."

"Yeah, well, you've been busy lately, you know? We never have enough time to talk anymore."

"Yeah, you're probably right. Say, why don't we spend time tomorrow? At your house? Let's watch this movie, 127 Hours."

I sheepishly rubbed my neck. "Geez, I'd love to, Thalia but I have plans tomorrow."

"Oh."

"Yeah."

And she hung up. I stared at Rachel and she stared at me. And I couldn't even recall my conversation with Thalia.

(1.6)

"Hey, Perce," I said, "Do me a favor."

He opened the car door. "Where to, kiddo?"

"Central Park."

"You're kidding, right?" he said, disbelieving.

I shook my head. "Nope. Not kidding."

"No wonder why it's like you're wearing winter clothes."

I looked down at my outfit. I was wearing a long-sleeved black t-shirt, a biker jacket, thick denim pants and black leather boots. I was carrying my camera on my neck.

Percy started the engine and drove down to Central Park. He handed me my black cap with a skull as a design. "Don't forget your hat, Nico."

"Thanks, Percy."

"So, why Central Park? That's like the hottest place in the city."

"A friend."

"Girlfriend?"

I blushed. "Seriously, Percy? She's a girl and she's my friend."

He laughed. "No need to get all defensive. But Nico, what about Thalia?"

"What about Thalia?" I asked back, scrunching my eyebrows, confused.

"You know . . . shit, Nico, you're dense."

"Am not!"

"Thalia's-"

"Here!"

"What?"

He parked the car and let me off. I saw Rachel crouching over a flower I don't recognize. She didn't notice me so I covered her eyes from behind, earning a small yelp from her. "Nico!" she hissed.

I laughed and tickled her. Until she laughed like a maniac that most of the people passing by were staring at us. Until my hands felt like thunderbolts every time I touched her skin. Until I finally realized that I was under the sun, exposed and burning, for the first time in my life. Until I realized that the reason I was here was because she is.