You lucky people! I felt like doing two updates because I feel like this chapter the and the previous chapter kind of link together so yeah. Enjoy!
Rachel POV
Annabeth has been doing worse everyday. She hadn't cried in a day, which is good. But she stopped eating and wouldn't leave her cabin. Just like Katie, she was growing depressed. I didn't know what was up with Katie- I mean, since when was she close to Malcolm?
I passed the Hades cabin and was surprised when I heard… crying? For as long as I knew Nico, he did not cry. I'm not even sure if it was possible for him to cry but sometimes- people change. I opened the door quietly and saw Nico sitting on the ground leaning against bunk bead. Head in his hands, his body shaking.
"Nico?" I asked softly.
Nico looked up and I almost melted on the spot. His brown eyes were full of misery. I carefully made my way towards him. When I approached he spoke.
"Don't come near me Rachel," he spoke quietly.
"What are you talking about?" I asked, slightly hurt.
"Don't."
"Nico, what's wrong?"
"It's nothing that you need to know."
"But I care about you."
"No you don't. Your just saying that."
What had happened that turned Nico even more depressed than usual? He was acting weird and… what was the word…. Melancholy.
"Nico, I do care about you not matter what you say."
Truth is, I didn't just care about Nico. For some reason... I had fallen for the guy. I know- artsy, happy and honest Rachel fall for Nico Di Angelo that depressed emo kid? It was hard to explain, but there was something about him that I liked.
"You're really stubborn Rachel," Nico said, wiping his eyes. "Reminds me of me when I was ten."
"I remind you of a ten-year-old?" I asked, smiling. He smiled back.
"Whatever tickles your pickle," he said and I couldn't help but laugh. But then his expression turned back to sad.
"Nico," I said, putting a hand on my cheek. "What happened?"
"It's… hard to explain," Nico stuttered.
"Hey, I have all the time in the world."
"I… I was walking back from- something, I don't really know- but I passed by the Demeter cabin and I saw Katie doing something," Nico started to say.
"Doing what exactly?"
"Cutting," He said, and I gasped.
"She was cutting her arms. Katie took Malcolm's death hard. She's beyond depressed."
"But why?" I asked. "She was never close to Malcolm." Nico stiffened and I sighed. "She was close to him wasn't she? Something happened between them and Katie never forgave him? Something to do with a certain Stoll brother?"
"How did you figure all that out from me stiffing up?" Nico asked.
"I am the oracle Nico, I guess looking into things deeply comes naturally," I said.
"Well yeah, she and Malcolm use to be best friends. Anyway- I found her cutting and I got her to stop. She's a wreck Rachel. Thin as bone. When I was leaving her cabin… she… she…" Nico's voice broke. "She kissed me."
Anger and jealousy flared up in me. Katie Gardner kissed Nico? I tried to keep my voice level. "She kissed you?" I managed to say.
"Yeah," Nico said, looking down at his hands. "And I kissed her back Rachel!"
"So this is what's making you go delusional…" I said.
"But you don't get it," Nico took a deep breath like he was making the decision of his life. "I tried to kiss Thalia the other day. I don't know what's going on with me."
I was shocked. Nico Di Angelo was getting more action than I had ever gotten in my life. Who knew?
"Well…" I said trying to remain calm. "Did you feel anything with Katie?"
Nico looked at me and shook his head, "Not really. I don't even know why I kissed her back. I don't even know why she kissed me! If she wants someone to love her like that she can just call Travis!"
"Nico, she just went through a loss. Imagine being in her shoes. Your friend that you didn't give a second chance just killed himself because he was depressed over you. You think it's your entire fault. You still love him but yet you have a boyfriend. You go into deep depression- no food, no contact, and no hope anymore. You resolve to cutting. Then a guy you don't know bursts in and tells you to stop. He helps you cope. He's the only one who's helped you in the past week since your lover's death. Who wouldn't kiss that guy? For the past week you've been depressed and angry- no hope or love- your desperate for some type of feeling, right?"
Nico's jaw dropped.
"I mean, your life isn't easy either Nico," I said.
"Well thanks for the reminder," he grumbled.
I nudged him and he smiled. But something was wrong. It was a forced smile.
"Nico, I need your advice," I said. Here goes nothing.
"About what?"
"A guy."
"Try me."
"Well I like this guy. He's different. I like him a lot he likes this other girl that he has no chance with because of a rule. And he's been through a lot. Should I be an idiot and just kiss him making his life more confusing or do I wait till' he's ready for more girl drama?"
Nico looked at me and I could tell he was starting to realize who I was talking about. Himself. Nico may act like other people disgust him but he's smart and he can catch onto things pretty quickly.
"Rachel," he said quietly, like he was scared someone was listening. "Why didn't you tell me about this earlier?"
"I was scared it would ruin any chance," I said. "Nico… I… I like you a lot! I don't know why and I curse myself for making your life more complicated but I can't stop thinking about you. I… I think I love you."
He looked at me, stunned. What had I done?
"Rachel," he managed to squeak out. "You're an amazing girl but… are you sure you want to get involved with someone life me?"
"What do you mean?"
"I'm not like other guys."
"That's why I like you."
"I'll drive you crazy."
"What do you mean?"
"Rachel," Nico said. "I like you to."
"Are you sure?" I blurted out.
"I thought that's what you wanted to hear," Nico chuckled.
"But you like Thalia," I said.
"Like you said- she'll never like me. I…" his expression turned sad. "I don't have a chance."
It wasn't an awkward silence but it wasn't happy. We both sat there for five minutes, just staring at the floor. Not exactly how I planned admitting my love to him would go.
"Rachel, I do like you and I'm not just saying it," Nico said, breaking the silence. "But everything is moving too fast. I don't think I'm ready for a relationship."
My heart fell.
"I sound like a girl now, but can we just move on with our lives for a couple week and just see how everything goes?"
A lump rose in my throat. I let a tear slide down my cheek.
"Don't cry!" he pleaded.
I stood up, and looked away from those chocolate eyes. Don't loose control Rachel! I sniffled and walked towards the door.
"Wait!" Nico grabbed my arm. "Please can we be friends?"
"Nico," I said, my voice quivering.
Nico looked at me and I could tell his head was spinning. Trying to make a choice. I guess he chose because he let of my arm and nodded. The tears spilled out of my eyes even faster and I ran. I couldn't bear the thought I had just lost Nico. Maybe forever.
Percy POV
I was heading to the Mess Hall for lunch when Rachel ran into me. I fell over. She looked at me and I could tell something was up. She was crying.
"I'm sorry Percy," she said, grabbing my hand and pulling me up.
"What's wrong Rachel?" I asked. "You okay?"
"Yeah… yeah," she said waving her hand. "I… um… cut myself and it hurts."
"Where is it?" I asked. "Is it bad? I have some ambrosia-"
"I'm fine," she said hurriedly. "See you Percy!"
She ran off in the directing of the forest. I knew from the moment she ran she was lying. She wasn't okay… and she wasn't injured. Not physically anyway. I shook it off. If she was heading in the forest she was probably going to talk to Juniper. She'd be okay, right? Of course she was armed in case a monster popped out. I shook the worries off and ran to catch up with Grover who was up ahead.
Thalia POV
Stupid! Why did I just do that? Why did I just wave? I was sitting at the Artemis cabin and I had just waved at Nico. He had noticed but didn't react. He looked just as bad as Katie Gardner had but she had perked up in the last couple hours. I ran into her in the bathroom taking a shower and I even heard she asked the Aphrodite cabin for a makeover, "Completely Different" was her request.
Anyway. What was up with Nico? I was still upset and mad with him. The guy had tried to make a move on me for the gods sake! But something else had happened. I could tell. My inner girly-ness was screaming at me.
Suddenly all talk died down in the Mess Hall. A girl had just walked in. She had beautiful blonde hair that fell to her shoulders. Her eyes were green and her lips were full and pink. She wore a little make-up but not too much. She had on a camp shirt but it looked a thousand times better on her. She had on cute boots- they looked a lot like the kind Katie always wore. Wait a moment… the girl was super skinny- like she had stopped eating. I scanned her face and it looked familiar.
"Katie?" someone shouted from the Ares table.
She smiled and nervously walked towards the Demeter cabin, all heads following her every move. Some guys even whistled. I spotted Travis at the Hermes cabin. He looked shocked with Katie's makeover. She finally sat down and talked to her siblings like nothing had happened. The campers started to talk again and the Mess Hall was full of laughter and chatter.
"Thalia?" I snapped back to reality.
"Yeah Jenna?"
"Who's that guy?"
"What guy?"
"The one who's disrespectfully staring at you."
I turned and saw who Jenna was pointing at. Nico.
"It's fine Jenna, he's a friend." Was he really a friend though?
She pursed her lips, "Remember the oath…"
"Don't worry about me Jenna, I can handle men," I said.
She nodded her head.
So guys, I have come to the conclusion that Nico is just going to have more "scenes" with different girls. Then he's going to ask Percy for help and with Seaweed brain involved, the plan will just get sillier. Comment below if you like idea a, b or c better!
a. Nico goes to Percy for help with girls and he says get a girlfriend to make Thalia jealous
b. The camp has a carnival and Percy and Annabeth decide to put Nico in charge of the kissing booth
c. Chiron plans a dance. Each camper then must pick a card with a number on it and whoever has the same number is your date (of course Thalia and Nico but get the same #)
