ALRIGHT HERE IS THE NEXT CHAPTER. I AM SO SO SOOOOO SORRY THAT THIS IS SO SO SOOO VERY LATE I JUST GOT STUCK AND COULDN'T THINK OF A GOOD CHAPTER BUT HOPEFULLY THIS ONE WILL DO. AS I SAID IT'S NICO'S P.O.V. I APOLOGIZE IN ADVANCE IF HE'S OOC I'M NOT SUPER GREAT WITH GUY P. O. Vs. I HOPE YOU ENJOY THIS CHAPTER. PLEASE R&R. :)


NICO

I hate my life. My sister leaves me for the Hunt, and she dies, then a bunch of other stuff happens to prove the Fates hate me. Sure, I'm the 'Ghost King' but my life is screwed up. I've never exactly 'fit in'. Why? Why does all the bad stuff happen to me? Me fall in love? Has the whole world gone mad?!


NICO

Let's backtrack a little bit, to when I shadow traveled away with Aiden. Most children of Hecate are pretty okay if not a little snobby. To say Aiden was snobby would be the understatement of the year. He didn't appreciate one dang thing. I brought him to the safety of camp and what's the first thing that comes out his mouth?

"Take me back!"

I clenched and unclenched my fingers a few times before I ended up smacking the kid across the face. I don't think Hecate would like that too much.

"For the last time, I am not taking you back!" I growled.

"Why not?" He demanded.

"Because I said so that's why!" I shouted.

"Well, that's a stupid reason!" He shouted back.

Why did I help save this kid?

Because you like Thalia.

What? No I don't! Ugh! Why am I talking to myself?

Because you're-

"Shut up!" I yelled.

"I didn't even say anything! Weirdo." Aiden whined.

"Not you! Just- Ugh! Just...follow me." I ran my hand through my midnight black hair, a habit I picked up from hanging around Percy and Thalia too much.

I started walking up the hill to Thalia's Pine when I hear a slightly girlish scream come from behind me.

So much for making sure it didn't follow us, Thalia, I thought sourly.

I grab my Stygian Iron sword and spin around to see a hellhound trying to grab Aiden who was screaming and running away from it.

"This is why I didn't take you back." I muttered.

I ran at the hellhound, which was still chasing Aiden. That kid could run fast! As I reached them Aiden skidded to a stop. He faced the hellhound and muttered something incoherent. I stopped and stared at him, as did the hellhound. Aiden reached a hand out to the hellhound and it eagerly came forward. I began moving forward as if in a trance, the second Aiden touched the hellhound's snout a small orb of light passed through it's body, about the size of a marble, when it reached the tail it doubled back and turned the hellhound to dust from the tail forward until it hovered in front of Aiden's finger and dissipated.

I shook my head at clapped his shoulder, "Beginner's Luck."

I began walking back towards Camp with Aiden silently in tow. When we crossed the border, Chiron greeted us and pulled Aiden away to the Big House, with Aiden firing questions at him the whole way through. I decided I needed a nap after shadow traveling with Aiden. I walked back to my Cabin and flopped face first onto the mattress. I was asleep before I was even halfway to the mattress.


What seemed like second later Percy woke me up.

"Nico, get up!" He shook me roughly.

"Five more minutes!" I moaned into my pillow.

"Get up! Get up! Pwease?" It was Bree now. Pinching my cheek and wiggling it. Percy was in the background laughing.

"Alright. Alright. Fine. I'm up." I said sitting up and rubbing my face.

"Dude, I need you to watch Bree for the rest of the afternoon. Annabeth and I have to show the new kid around, since we are senior camp members." Percy explained.

"Why can't Thalia do it? She's here somewhere." I whined.

"Because I can't find her so...have fun." Without further conversation he ran out the cabin and left.

"Alright, Bree. What do you want to do?" I asked the little girl in front of me.

"I can make a wave! Wanna see? Come on!" She squealed and ran out the cabin.

Still groggy I ran out the cabin to find her. I was still looking for her when I started jogging towards the beach and crashed into Thalia.

"Hey sorry 'bout that." She said.

"It's ok. Have you seen Bree? I'm supposed to be babysitting her and I..ahem kinda...um...lost her." I scratched my neck sheepishly.

"It just so happens that she tackled me to the ground a couple of minutes ago. We were headed to the beach. Wanna tag along?" She asked me.

"Sure." I shrugged.

We walked to the beach where Bree was tapping her foot impatiently. She was frowning. For the next half hour she paraded Thalia around Camp showing her everything she could as I tagged along behind her, basket weaving, archery, swordfighting, and the dryads and the Demeter cabin taught her about agriculture and wildlife. At the end of it all Thalia was thoroughly exhausted. When it was time for dinner, Thalia raced to the dining pavilion. I chuckled as Bree began running and I ran after her and picked her up. She climbed on my shoulders and I walked to the pavilion with her grasping my hair in a vice grip. I grabbed her plate and let her pick what she wanted to give to Poseidon. After I left her at the Poseidon Table with Brad, I got my own food tossed a brisket into the brazier and sat at my table, alone.


The next day, It was aimlessly around camp. Sometime in the afternoon I was passing the Poseidon Cabin and noticed Aiden hiding behind it. I snuck up behind him and covered his mouth with my hand.

"You are not a very good stalker." I commented.

He shoved my hand off, "I'm not stalking her! I'm simply watching from afar."

"Stalking." I said.

"Watching." He argued.

I smirked, "Stalking."

"Admiring." He insisted.

I coughed, "Stalking."

"Whatever." He grumbled.

"Go do something else." I steered him away.

"Like what?" He asked.

"Practice your spells or alchemy in your Cabin. Just stop stalking her. She'll find out and she'll find you and kill you." I told him seriously.

He huffed and headed in the direction of the archery fields. I went back to walking around and staring at my feet. I was so immeresed in my thoughts I didn't notice Thalia walking and we collided...again.

"Hey! Watch where you're...Nico?" She asked asked.

"Yeah." I sat rubbing my head.

"We have got to stop meeting like this." She states.

I laugh, "Yeah it's getting to be a bit painful."

Thalia laughs and then helps me up. We start talking about how we've been the past few years. I start to notice things like how her two electric blue eyes seem to analyze you and sparkle when they catch the light, or how when she talks about close encounters with monsters on the Hunt she rubs her Aegis bracelet. When she laughs it's contagious and I thought for the briefest moment what it would be like if I could hold her hands in mine. Or run my fingers through her hair. Or to press her body against mine and kiss her soft, plush- No, Nico. You can't think of her like that. She's in the Hunt. Eternal maidenhood. Forever! Suddenly her voice broke me out of my thoughts.

"Well, I'd love to stay and catch up but I need to go tell Artemis something." She say quickly. A faint blush sprinkled across her cheeks.

"K. Later, Thalia." I was kind of glad because I needed to sleep this off.

"Bye, Nico." She waves at me and races into the Artemis Cabin. After that I go to the sword arena where Brad is and we have a small duel. I win but Brad is definitely getting better. I told him so.

"Thanks, Nico." He smiles brightly.

"Your welcome." I say slightly out of breath.

I jog to my Cabin and turn my speakers to blast Green Day. I hop in the shower and quickly clean off all the sweat and grime. I get off I pulled on my black t-shirt and matching gym shorts. I flopped on my bed and slowly drifted to sleep. Only to be woken up with feet in my side and in mid-air.

"What the-" I shouted. Thump.

"Morning, sleepyhead." Thalia. I should have known.

"Was that really necessary?!" I glowered.

"Yes." She blinked a few times and pretended to look innocent. Pfft. Yeah, right.

"You're an idiot,Then I noticed something, "Hey wears your tiara thing?" I asked.

She took a deep breath as if bracing herself.

"It a circlet, first of all."

"Whatever." I waved it off.

"You too."

"What?" What?

"Nevermind. I have to tell you something." She rubbed her hands on her knees and exhaled.

"Ook. What is it?" I scratched my head, then got up off the floor and sat next to Thalia on the bed. She shivered slightly. She must be cold. I'll get coffee.

"Promise you won't freak out?"

"Sure." I got up and grabbed two mugs of black coffee and handed one steaming cup of coffee to her.

"Thanks." She took a sip.

"Soo..." I prodded.

"Right. Well, um...I left the Hunt." I was drinking from my mug and I was so surprised I dropped my mug.

I swallowed the coffee in my mouth, "What?!" I spluttered. And no, I was totally not thinking of Thalia as single and free game. Not. At. All.

"Why would you do that! I thought you loved the Hunt!" I shouted.

"You promised not to freak out!" She objected.

"That was because I was groggy and thought it was something normal!" I argued.

"What about demigods is normal!" She threw her hands in the air in frustration.

"I...No argument there. But, this wasn't what I was expecting." I could see Thalia's face turning red.

I sighed and sat next to her again. I rubbed her back and she stiffened then relaxed.

"Sorry." I stopped rubbing her back.

She didn't respond.

"Thalia?" I waved a hand in front of her face.

She didn't respond, but she started biting her bottom lip.

"Penny for your thoughts?" I asked.

She took a shaky breath and looked at me. She seemed to be waiting for something or having an internal debate. I couldn't tell.

"You can't tell Annabeth. I'll do that. No one can know until I say so. Or I will beat you senseless." She jabbed a finger in my chest.

"Annabeth doesn't know? Who does know, besides me?" I asked her incredulously.

"Sarah. No one else knows about it. And I swear if you tell anyone I'll smack you back into the Underworld, Got it? Good." She promptly walked out my Cabin and I sat there stunned, confused, but almost...giddy.

I turned the music back up and flopped back on my bed. I smiled to myself. Thalia left the Hunt. Thalia left the Hunt. Thalia left the Hunt...Shit! Thalia left the Hunt! Thalia left the Hunt!

That continued for a good five minutes before I heard the screams of the Demeter Cabin being pranked...again. I needed to get out of camp. Just for a little while. Thalia can date now to that means- I really have to control my thoughts- getting out of Camp. Right. Even if I did like Thalia-And I'm not saying I do!- She would never like me back. Would she? Best not get my hopes up.


Later that Night

"Would you like to play a game?" A voice whispered creepily into my ear. I jerked away.

"That's pathetic, Nico." The voice continued.

"Nico! Dude! Wake Up!" Mark shook my arm.

"Go away." I groaned.

"Come on, sleepyhead, wake up." Sarah tugged on my hair.

"No."

"Stop rejecting society by sleeping, get up." She said, yanking my hair really hard.

"Ow." I mumbled. I opened my eyes and glared at her.

She glared back at me, "I will kick your ass. Get up."

I steadily glared at her, "Why?"

"Come on, the gang's getting together to play Truth or Dare, no exceptions, and I'm not taking no for an answer." She told me.

"You've forced our hand, Nico." Mark smiled.

"Bree!" He shouted.

"I'm up!" I jumped up and pulled my shirt over my head. Randomly tossing it somewhere, I grabbed a fresh one and pulled it on.

"Sike. There are new kids at camp. Percy and Annabeth brought them. They're British." Sarah snickered.

"You should have seen your face, man!" Mark laughed.

"You guys suck. Undetermined?" I asked.

"Yeah. Percy sent us to get you and Thalia." Sarah told me.

"Oh, joy. Where are they?" I yawned, running my hand through my hair.

"The Big House. And Nico?" Sarah asked.

"Yeah?" I said beginning to walk out.

"Be nice." She told me.

I nodded. I had this strange feeling though. Like she wasn't talking about the new kids. I felt like she was talking about Thalia.

I hope she's okay.

I really am a pathetic person.

A very pathetic, hopelessly in love, person.


AND ON THAT HAPPY NOTE I END THE CHAPTER. I KNOW IT'S SHORT. SORRY. I JUST NEEDED TO POST IT. THERE WILL BE ONE MORE CHAPTER AND MAYBE EVEN A BONUS ONE IF ENOUGH PEOPLE WANT IT.

SORRY IT TOOK SO LONG. FIRST I GOT STUCK ON THE STORY, THEN I GOT PRE-OCCUPIED, THEN I COULDN'T CHARGE MY LAPTOP AND AM FORCED TO USE MY SISTER'S BUT CAN ONLY USE IT WHEN MY BATTERY GETS LOW ENOUGH, AND NOW SCHOOL'S ABOUT TO BEGIN. GRR. SO MUCH STUFF. CHECK OUT MY OTHER STORIES PLEEZ AND REVIEW. THAT BOX RIGHT BELOW THIS SENTENCE. RIGHT THERE. VVVVVV.