Chapter Three—Jealousy Masks Judgement

"—you can't be serious, Piper! He can't be that idiotic…"

"Yeah that's what I thought too but apparently we're both wrong. And Hazel? It's imperative that you tell Nico in a soothing manner. We don't want anymore misunderstandings—"

"Yup I got it! I'll break it to my brother as best as I can!"

"—wait! I'm not done yet—"

"Goodbye Piper!"

Hazel hung up on the call and flopped on her bunk bed, sighing exasperatedly. She stared at the ceiling for a few minutes, cursing the nameless dude who was going with Percy on a date. They had been so close to getting those two together and Nico had spent so much time courting Percy yet this arsehole had to go intrude and ruin their plans. What the heck? Are there no gods in the world?

Okay, rhetorical question. Now, the real question was how Hazel was going to tell Nico without causing the Apocalypse.

…Yeah she had nothing.

Okay. First, I have to explain the entire situation to him. I can't have him getting the wrong idea. Secondly—

"Hazel? Are you in here? I've got to tell you something," Nico's voice echoed from outside Hazel's cohort cabin.

Drats. Looks like she'll have to wing it.

"I'm in," she called out a little shakily. But you couldn't exactly blame her. She was about to confront her brother, who was one of the most powerful demigods she knew, with bad news. Who wouldn't be a bit nervous? Especially since she hadn't exactly had time to prepare what she was going to say.

"Okay then. I'm coming in," was the only warning before Nico burst in. He was wearing his normal, daily wear but there was something different about him. He had the biggest grin possible on his face. He looked so happy. Hazel swallowed harshly. It was going to be twice as bad to break the news to him then.

"Oh Hazel! I think I'm going to tell him today. Isn't that great? And I also have to thank you for the bo—what's with the look on your face? Is something wrong?" Nico's tone soon turned worried and Hazel wondered how she must look to cause his mood to change so drastically.

Taking in a deep breath, Hazel started, "I have to tell you something Nico. Piper just informed me that—she just informed me that Percy is going on a date with someone."

There was silence as Hazel waited for Nico's reaction. Loud silence. It was unnerving. Hazel couldn't stand it.

"Nico? Are you alright?"

"W-What? Did you just say that—that Percy is going out with someone?"

"Yeah but it's really not what you—"

"Percy is going out with someone." That wasn't a question. It was said so flatly that Hazel's heart ached for her half-brother. She continued, trying to ease some of the pain.

"Yes he is. But there's more to it than that I'm sure—"

"No stop!" Nico interrupted and he had shifted around so Hazel could not see his face. However, by the shaking of his shoulders and the sound of his voice, she had a strong feeling that he was crying. "Don't try to make me feel better, Hazel! I knew I shouldn't have let you convince me—who was I trying to kid? Of course Percy doesn't like me. If he's willing to go out with someone while I'm still courting him—I was such a fool…"

Hazel had to stop this. This was all going wrong.

"No Nico! You can't just give up. I know Percy likes you. You've just got to—"

"No! Shut up Hazel! I've had enough of this!" And Nico shadow-travelled away, leaving a distraught Hazel behind. Damn, she now really wished he had never mastered that talent of his. It made it so hard to hold a difficult conversation with him without him escaping.

Betrayed. Nico felt betrayed. And it was so unreasonable. Why should he feel that way? He knew that he had thought Percy was as good as his, that Percy liked him too. So finding out that Percy was going out with someone else…? It hurt. Of course it hurt.

But Nico had no reason to feel betrayed. He should only feel that way if Percy had been his in the first place. And Percy wasn't his in the first place, was he?

So what Nico was feeling right now was stupid. And yet, he couldn't help it.

Maybe…Nico just had to avoid Percy for awhile. He just couldn't bear to look at Percy at the moment. Knowing that Percy didn't like him, would never belong to him—it hurt too much.

It was for the best to steer clear of him. At least for the time being, until all of this blew over and all of Nico's feelings settled down.

Whether Nico could stay for that long was not part of the equation. Soothing his hurt was more important at the moment.

And it wasn't just because he didn't want to see Percy kissing and hugging someone else. No…no…it was not because of that. Not at all…

Denial was a mysterious and helpful thing.

Percy has spent about twenty minutes on a date with Hilliary and he most definitely felt that something was wrong. It wasn't that Hilliary was bad. Far from it. In fact, Hilliary was quite charming and funny. What you would expect of a Son of Hermes. It's just…something felt off. He didn't feel like Percy's Secret admirer.

In the letters, his Secret admirer would always be blunt yet sweet and awkward at the same time. Hilliary was just too…perfect. He didn't seem to stutter or stammer on his words like how Percy imagined his Secret admirer would. He didn't act like how Percy imagined his Secret admirer would. Which meant one thing.

Hilliary wasn't his Secret admirer. He had lied to him.

Percy pursed his lips and paused in his tracks. Since they had been walking down the beach hand in hand, Hilliary was jerked back as well and was currently staring at Percy with a confused look on his face.

Percy decided to just go for it. What point was there to delay the questioning?

"You're not my Secret admirer, are you?"

Hilliary didn't answer. Percy strove on. "You lied to me. To what? Get me to go on a date with you?"

Finally, Hilliary spoke up. "I just wanted to have a chance to date you. I was hoping that you'd like my company and want to go on another date. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to lie."

"But you did," Percy said strictly, eyebrows creased in disapproval. "And you lied. I don't like people who trick me and treat me as if I'm dumb. I'm not stupid."

Percy walked up closer to Hilliary and slapped him hard across the face. The red mark shone bright like a homing beacon on the Son of Hermes' face and Hilliary was holding his cheek in his palm with a shocked expression, as if he couldn't believe that Percy had just smacked him.

"I'm sorry about the slap but you seem to have forgotten that I'm not just a weak camper. And like I said before, I do not appreciate being treated like the fool. But," and Percy's expression softened, "I do believe you're not a bad person Hilliary. Just—don't mess with me. Consider this slap a warning. There'll be more where that comes from if you persist in attempting to lie to me. Understood?"

Hilliary nodded his head quickly, eyes darting to the sides as if looking for a fast escape.

"Good. And I hope we can be friends," Percy said, sticking out his hand in offering. "I've had enough enemies before to last a lifetime. Friends?"

There was hesitation from Hilliary's end, but in the end he took Percy's hand and uttered a soft "okay".

Percy smiled before saying goodbye, stalking towards his cabin. His forehead was scrunched up in concentration, his mind now focused on one matter.

If Hilliary hadn't been his Secret admirer—then who was?

Okay! So I've finally gotten 'round to writing this chapter. Thanks to all those who reviewed (you make me one to write more)!