Chapter 5: "Nico"
Here we are in the car, just waiting for dad to come and we'll go to the orphanage to pick up Nico. He's been there for 3 months and I believe he's the oldest. That's why people don't adopt him because they think it's now hard to mold the personality of a teenager.
It's been a short trip. We're at the orphanage in a jiffy. I was asked to stay outside but my father insisted them to let me enter the building. We've been asked to wait for a while because Nico is still not done packing his things. We just sat there in the lounge. My mom's talking to my dad about Nico. I wasn't interested in their conversation. The words are still clear in my mind. Is Annabeth isn't ENOUGH?
I am dying of boredom. Finally, when the moment came that my patience can't hold the waiting any longer, Nico comes out. My father stood up, hugged him and whispered something to him. Nico laughed. It's a kind of charismatic laugh, you know. Nico doesn't look like me at all. He's so pale or maybe not so pale. But it looks like he's really pale because all of his clothings are black. He looks like a teenage rebel. He wears a skull ring, for Athena's sake! We're so on the opposite side of the spectrum. Here I am wearing an orange shirt and a white jean, trying to give color in this black and white world, and there he is showing me that the dark side can't be beaten.
I was lost in my thoughts about him. I am always lost in my thoughts. I didn't actually hear him say hi to me. I was just staring at him. "Annabeth," my father said, "It's time to say something."
"Oh, yeah, right. Hey, uhmm, Nico. How d'you do?" I said, finally focusing on his face.
"Oh, I'm grand," Nico said and he smiled. So this is a kid who experienced the demise of his mother a year ago. I was shocked. He was so calm. He doesn't look depressed at all. My dad was waiting for my mother to do or to say something. So was I. My mom stood up, a heartbeat late for a sign of warm welcome. She hugged Nico and said, surprisingly welcoming, "Welcome to our family, Nico."
"Thank you, Ma'am," Nico said, as polite as ever. "Oh, gods, you've got to be kidding me, Alex. We can't have a son who calls me 'ma'am'," my mother snapped at my dad, emphasizing the word "ma'am". We all laughed. Maybe this is a good thing after all.
We decided to eat dinner at a fancy restaurant around the block. It's weird that I didn't hear of it. It served Greek cuisines! They were eating, telling stories and cracking up jokes. Take note 'they'. I'm quiet because I was thinking. Nico finally noticed that I'm quiet.
"Hey, Annabeth. Are you really that quiet?" He asked me. The statement is harsh but he said it with such gentle that you'll just let the harshness pass.
"Uhh, no. Let me give you a clue why I'm quiet," I said, "I love anything that is Greek."
He looked at my plate. I'm halfway through with my meal. They were just, I guess, twenty-five percent done. "Oh, that explains it," he said and we all laughed. I suddenly remembered the announcement we saw in the bulletin board so I tell my family about that.
"Uh, there will be a halloween party in school on the 30th. It's costume-thingy party," I said.
"Oh, what do you want to wear?" my mom asked.
"I think it'll be a good idea to be one of the furies," Nico said.
"WHAT?" I said. THAT'S GREEK!
"I thought you love Greek stuff,"
"I do. You're suggesting that I'll be one of the furies? I'LL WEAR A RIDICULOUS COSTUME?" I said, emphasizing on the word 'ridiculous'.
"It's cool," he said.
"No, it's not. Besides, I'm not really a fan of Hades. My favorite is Athena,"
"I LIKE HADES!"
"Uh, whatever," I said, rolling my eyes.
"So, what do you want to wear?" my father asked.
"I want to dress like a Greek Goddess or something,"
"Nah. You should be one of the furies," Nico said again.
"Shut up," I said, laughing at him.
"Okay. How 'bout I'll give the money then you go shopping with Thalia to buy your clothes? Is that okay?" my mom suggested.
"Oh okay,"
"You better go tomorrow. It's Sunday,"
"Who's Thalia?" Nico asked.
"Oh, she's my bestfriend," I said. "Is Nico going to school?"
"Yes, I am," Nico said.
"When? Where?"
"On Monday. I'm going to study in your school."
"Oh, so you mean you're going to the party?"
"Yes, I am."
"What're you gonna wear?"
"Okay, Annabeth, I'm not gonna wear anything special or something. I'm just going to attend the party wearing my usual clothes."
"Ugh, you're a wet blanket,"
"I am not."
"You are."
"I am not. I just want to go against the tide."
"Yeah, right."
"Shut up."
The bickering continued for the rest of the meal. Mom and Dad looks at us with that happiness no one can ever replace. I'm happy with my family.
"Thalia, let's meet tomorrow. Central Park. 9:00 AM." I called her the moment we got home.
"Ugh, why?"
"I want you to come with me. I'll be buying clothes for that costume party thing,"
"Oh okay. I guess I'll just buy myself one too,"
"Okay. See you tomorrow,"
"Hey. How's meeting Nico?"
"It was fun. Let me tell you more about it tomorrow,"
"Okay. Bye," Thalia said and line went dead.
After how many weeks in New York, I finally slept soundly.
A/N: SO HERE IT IS! I never thought I'll be updating this again. Sorry for making you guys wait. x