Chapter6:

Bianca was going to kill him. She was. He had disappeared about an hour ago just when a fresh load of Hermes boys had broken through the forest and grabbed the flag. Luckily, Annabeth had already captured the other team's flag, thanks to a certain redhead not being present to defend it. It was easy for Annabeth to take the other guard down, all she had to do was kiss him and he melted into a pool of seaweed on the ground (well not exactly, but close). But that was still no excuse for Nico's irresponsibility. He had failed and she was going to tell him so! That is- if she could find him.

The game had finished long ago and no one had seen him or Rachel since. Odds were that they were together but where? She had asked Percy but he swore he didn't know, saying instead that Rachel had gone to have some "artistic fulfilment" whatever that meant. He was such a lame liar! Honestly, "artistic fulfilment!" She could have come up with better shit when she was-

"Hey B! What's up?"

-NO WAY!

She spun around and glared at her younger brother. "Nico DiAngelo, where in Hades have you been? Oh, hi Rachel!"

"Hi!" Rachel gave an embarrassed smile, and Bianca couldn't help but notice the purple marks on her neck or that her bra strap was re- attached wrong or that they were both pretty out of breath.

"We were just out in the woods and we got a bit lost, that's all" Nico folded his arms and glared his sister defiantly. Unimpressed, Bianca glared right back. Stare downs with her brother were common.

"So, how did the game go?" Rachel interrupted, trying to lighten the mood.

"We won, if that's what you're wondering!" Bianca muttered, not taking her eyes off Nico. "Annabeth sprung Percy and got the flag! Of course, it would have been a lot easier if dead boy here had stuck to his post!"

"Yea, whatever B, we won, that's the important thing." She could tell he was getting annoyed. "Besides, I don't think Annabeth would have been able to get the flag if Rachel had been there to keep Percy's head on his shoulders; so in a way I was doing the team a favour."

"You were what? Shit Nico!" Rachel turned on him, "Are you telling me that you planned that? You had so totally better not have!"

"What! No! Honestly Rach, I didn't plan anything!" Nico's raised his hands in surrender, "don't take it the wrong way, I'm just saying it so she can stop nagging at me" he nodded towards Bianca.

Bianca didn't think she would ever be able to get over the way Rachel could control Nico. Sometimes he had these moods where he would just shut off to everyone, and spend days moping around the place feeling sorry for himself. Rachel could always set him straight with her very empathetic nature. Right now though, she didn't look very empathetic. Hair blazing red, green eyes electric, she stood with her hands on her hips, glaring at a rather uncomfortable, annoyed black boy.

"Well then, Nico, why did you do it?" Bianca heard her ask. She looked over at her brother, who appeared to be nervously racking his brain. Just then, a smug little smile played along his lips and he looked up at his girlfriend. In a few strides he had reached Rachel's side and, pulling her close, he whispered something in her ear. Her eyes widened, and she pulled away.

"I can't believe you still remember that! That was like a year ago! Seriously, you hold grudges for way to long" Rachel looked up at Nico and saw his eyes twinkle. She scoffed, "Revenge, my ass! You just wanted to….." she good-naturedly punched his shoulder. He smirked and slid his arm around her waist.

"Come on, don't act like you didn't enjoy it."

Rachel rolled her eyes, "Yeah, whatever!" she smiled.

Okay, when her brother and his girlfriend started getting sloppy, Bianca knew it was time to go. She turned and started walking away. Obviously, she was no longer needed in this conversation. Just then Percy came running up.

"Rachel! Where have you been?" he puffed, " I've been looking everywhere for you! I mean- I know I told you to distract him but I didn't think it would take this- what? - What did I say?" Bianca turned around to see Percy looking awkwardly at Nico who was in turn glaring at Rachel.

"Just exactly what does he mean, "I told you to distract him?" Nico asked, staring daggers at his girlfriend.

"Oh, come on," she huffed, throwing Percy an exasperated look, "it's not like you didn't enjoy it!"