Chapter 6

Rachel's lips were soft. As I kissed back, I got a bad feeling in my stomach and pulled away. She was grinning at me, I smiled and looked around. I couldn't see Annabeth, or Luke. Rachel pulled me in again, but this time, hungrier. I started finally enjoying the party, or, at least, the girl I was making out with, when I heard a yell.

I pulled away and looked around. Two people were fighting. Rachel went on her tip-toes to see what was going on. I saw a flash of black here a cursed, rather loudly. I pushed through the crowd to see what happened.

Nico was glaring at Nathan with his hands clenched on his side. Nathan had his hand firmly interlocked with Thalia's, he was smiling smugly. Thalia looked like she wanted to cry. The girl that was with Nico was trying to pull him away, but not succeeding.

"You really wanna go again, Nathan? You want something else broken? How's your nose?" Nico taunted, getting closer by the second.

"That was pure luck, diAngelo." Nathan sneered

"Nathan." Thalia warned.

"Stay out of this, Thalia." Nathan growled.

That made Nico so much angrier. He turned red and was about to go in, when I slid through the crowd and pulled him back. Not really pulled him back, I almost popped his arm out of his socket. Annabeth appeared at my side and helped me take Nico away, who was yelling and cursing at Nathan. Nathan was being held back by Thalia and Luke.

"Nico! Calm the fuck down!" I yelled angrily. "I'm fed up with you fighting that kid all the time, what exactly have you got to gain? Thalia will come around!"

He pushed himself from mine and Annabeth's grasp. "Whatever." He muttered. He grabbed his hair angrily, and then stuffed his hands in his pockets. He started to walk ahead, and then stopped and turned around. "You know why he's after Thalia, right?" He asked me.

I furrowed my eyebrows and thought for a moment. "Zoe?" I questioned.

He smiled evilly. He really did look intimidating. Now I get why guys are afraid of him. "Because of Zoe." He repeated.

"Who's Zoe?" Annabeth asked, concerned.

Nico glanced at her, and then back at me, "Guess who called me earlier today, saying she was coming back?"

My eyes widened, "No, is she really?" I asked, in disbelief.

He nodded, "He wants Thalia, fine. He can have her. I have something better. In his opinion, anyway." Nico shrugged.

It's hard to believe Nico was about to fight someone just a few minutes ago, he seemed so calm now. "Nico, aren't you tired of playing this game?"

Annabeth nodded, I distanced myself from her casually. "Nico, stop playing around. It's not funny anymore." She said.

Nico smirked, glanced at me, and then looked back at her, "Oh, I'm not the only one playing around, princess." He said, winking at her.

We both frowned, "What do you mean?" She asked.

He shrugged, "Don't mind me." He said and walked ahead, leaving us behind.

We stopped a few houses away from Luke's. I sneaked a look at Annabeth. She was biting her lip worriedly. For some reason, the feel of Rachel's lips came back. I felt my neck go hot and turned around. I thought about Annabeth and Luke. Did she really kiss him?

I got that uncomfortable feeling in my stomach again.

"Percy," Annabeth started.

"Percy!" A voice rang out through the darkness.

We both turned. There was Rachel, speed walking towards us. I swallowed back a groan and forced a smile. Rachel reached us and linked her arm around mine. She grinned, looked at Annabeth, and then smiled even wider. I studied Annabeth's face for a reaction.

"Hey, Annabeth. Luke's looking for you." Rachel commented.

Annabeth glanced at me, opened her mouth, and then closed it. She sighed, "Bye, Percy."

She walked away, leaving me with the red-headed nightmare. Rachel dragged me down the street, talking about nonsense. I realized I never listen when she talks. Her voice was unlike Annabeth's. Annabeth's voice was smooth and calm, with just the right amount of girliness. Rachel's voice was more excited, loud, and higher pitched.

Rachel laughed at something, and my thoughts went back to Annabeth. Annabeth's laugh was cute. She would lean forward slightly when she laughed, and cover her mouth. I don't get why she covers her mouth, she's gorgeous. And she's got good teeth.

"Rachel, have you been drinking?" I asked.

She picked her words carefully, "I've had about six cups." She said, her voice small.

I chuckled, "Thought so."

Maybe I can learn to tolerate Rachel

The following Monday, I was dead. I felt like a zombie, just moving around school automatically. At lunch, I was glad to finally sit down and relax. I put my head down, and felt others sit in the table. The smell of food filled my nose and I hurriedly got up and got my lunch.

"Percy, about the other night, I didn't do anything too bad, right?" Rachel asked, as I sat down next to her.

Beside me, Nico stifled a laugh. I could tell Rachel remembered what happened that night, but she just wanted to see if it was alright with me. Was it alright with me? "No, no you didn't" I found myself.

Her hair was curled. It suited her better. Instead of something large, and flashy, she wore a band-t-shirt and jeans. She smiled, "Oh, alright." She looked like she wanted to say something else.

Grover and Juniper sat down. "I heard you guys were the life of the party," Juniper giggled.

I grinned and shook, my head, "I'm sure Nico and Nathan were."

Nico raised an eyebrow at Juniper and Grover, "Where were you guys the whole night?"

Juniper blushed and Grover munched at his apple, trying to hide his red face. The party left our conversation and we spoke about everything, really. Our chattering died down when Annabeth and Thalia approached the table.

"Hey, Annabeth." I smiled, I glanced at Thalia, ""Hey… Thalia."

Nico looked down at his food, smiling. They both looked at him curiously. The others greeted them, and they were about to sit, when we all heard someone's voice yell a certain name. We all turned. Half of the cafeteria turned. Walking towards us was a girl. She had long, shiny black hair, caramel skin, large dark eyes. She wore a simple gray, long-sleeve shirt and blue jeans, with black sandals. She had gold earrings, real ones, not fake, and a gold bracelet.

Zoe Nightshade was probably the greatest girl I've ever met. After… Annabeth. Of course. She had a great personality; she was funny, smart, flirty, and just fun to hang around with. You're never bored with Zoe around. She can be pretty stern, though. She's one to follow the rules. She's also insanely beautiful; she looks sort of like… a Persian princess. She's also incredibly rich, which is how she and Nico met.

"Nico!" She called out. She stopped a couple feet away, "You've gotten taller."

"It's only been a year. I think you got shorter." Nico commented.

She grinned and then wrapped her arms around his neck, giving him a hug. He hugged her back. They best friends, longer than me and him. She's really the only girl he's never really tried to get with. They were exactly alike, except, he doesn't follow the rules. At all.

She let go of him and glanced at me, a sly smile creeping across her face, "Don't tell me… Hair? You cut it! What else…" She glanced at Rachel, who was right by me. She smirked, "You have a girl!"

My face turned red, but I hugged her anyway. She was a good friend of mine, too. "Zoe, how great it is to see you!" I said sarcastically.

"Don't use sarcasm with me. I invent the language." She said, winking.

"Co-invented!" Nico argued, putting his arm around her. I laughed and shook my head. "Zoe! This is Rachel, Percy's girlfriend, Annabeth, and Grover and Juniper, and, uh, her." He carelessly pointed at Thalia.

The girls at the table looked stunned. Thalia had a scowl on her face, glaring at Nico. Zoe hit him lightly, "Nico, don't be rude. Honestly, I would have thought you changed a little." She grinned while saying this, making Nico roll his eyes.

She slipped away from him and held her hand out to Thalia. "Hello, I'm Zoe." She said, politely.

Thalia narrowed her eyes, but didn't take her hand. "Thalia. It's a pleasure." She purred.

Annabeth smiled, "Nice to meet you, Zoe."

"Likewise." Zoe smiled, frowning a bit at Thalia.

Then, Luke and Nathan stopped by. I could see Nico getting uncomfortable. Luke took Annabeth's hand, she blushed. I had to force myself to look away to keep from staring. Nathan slipped his arm around Thalia's waist. Zoe's face fell. She stiffened, everyone's moods shifted.

"Awkward…" Rachel muttered.

I grinned, jeeze, Rachel. Nico put his arm protectively around Zoe, Nathan glared at him. "Zoe… back in town?" Nathan said, uncomfortably.

She gave him a tight smile and nodded. Really, I don't get why anyone would like to cheat on someone like Zoe. Luke muttered something into Annabeth's ear; she nodded, and then waved at us, and left the cafeteria. Nathan and Thalia followed them.

I tried to keep my heart rate slow. I almost lunged at him. Zoe took a deep breath and sat down, and then started talking to the others. I suddenly realized something. I punched Nico in the shoulder.

"Rachel, Percy's girlfriend?" I hissed.

He chuckled, "Relax, I was just helping you out."

I glared at him. "I wish I let you fight at that party."

"Now, now, Nathan wouldn't have destroyed this pretty face of mine." Nico responded coolly.

"Nico, shut up." Zoe said.

"Okay."