Note- Thank you to everyone who has followed or marked Could Never Imagine as a favorite. This chapter was so fun to write. I hope you all enjoy this chapter as much as I do. :-)

Important thing to note... This will be yaio (boy-boy). Don't like? You do not have to read.

Disclaimer- I do not own Percy Jackson and the Olympians or the Heroes Of Olympus series. (One can dream though) All rights go to the proper parties.

Percy POV

"Wake up Percy."

I groaned and opened one eye. "You know on Saturday's, some people do this weird thing called sleep in."

Nico smirked, "You're right, that does sound weird."

I rolled my eyes at the son of Hades and sat up. "Alright, I'm up." I stretched and rubbed the back of my neck. I looked over at Nico who was examining his shoes as though they held the secrets of the universe. "You might as well head to breakfast without me; I have to take a shower."

Nico glared at the floor and nodded. He spun around a left without another word.

I did not understand that kid. One moment he would be almost smiling, the next he looked like I had just punched him in the face. I thought about it but I couldn't think of any way that what I had said would be offensive. I sighed and shook my head. I could never imagine that the day would come that I would understand what was going on in that boys head.

I grabbed some clothes and went to go get ready.

ΩΩΩ

It had been four days since Drew had spread her lovely rumor about me. I was at my wits end. Thank Poseidon it was Saturday. If I had to endure one more day of girls batting their eyes at me while I tried to work, I could not be held responsible for my actions.

I found myself with a lot more sympathy for Nico's plight. If Jenn was even half as annoying as those girls, then I couldn't believe the Nico was still here.

I quickly ate my breakfast and left the dining pavilion.

Hazel wanted to go for a swim but she was too uncomfortable to go alone. Apparently the children of the underworld really do have a higher likelihood of drowning.

So Frank, Jason, Piper and I had agreed that we would all go with her on the weekend. I went back to my cabin to change. I was going to do it before breakfast but I didn't feel like opening myself up to more flirting. I changed into my swim trunks and headed to the beach.

I'm not sure as to how, but Jason had even convinced Nico to come with us. I was surprised at that. I had spent nearly an hour trying to convince Nico that it would be more fun if he came. I tried telling him all the fun things that we could do at the beach that he would miss out on if he didn't come. Beach volley ball, swimming, and (I don't care if it's childish) building sandcastles, all with no success.

Then Jason leaned over and whispered something in Nico's ear. I couldn't hear what he had said but Nico gave Jason a death glare and then, after a few moments, grudgingly agreed that he would come on the condition that he didn't have to actually get in the water.

I really wished that Nico felt as comfortable around me as he did around Jason. He was still an introvert but I believe that the son of Jupiter knew more about Nico than almost anyone. It kind of made me jealous that he felt he could be so open with Jason or at least what would be considered open for him.

I was the last to arrive at the beach. Hazel and Jason were in the water with Frank who was in the form of a dolphin. Piper was just dropping her towel before going to join them. Nico was already sitting in the shade of the closest tree.

I stood there for a second trying to decide if I should head straight to the water or if I should go talk to Nico first. I looked to see Frank turn back into a human so that the two couples could have a chicken fight. Well than it's decided.

I didn't really want to spend time in the presence of the two perfect couples when they were being all lovey-dovey. It made my heart hurt.

So I smiled and went to go sit by Nico for a while. "Hey Nico, how is it going."

Nico glanced at me and quickly looked away with a frown.

Wow, I feel the love. I resisted the urge to sigh and sat down next to him. I looked out on the ocean and smiled. Being near the water always makes me feel better.

After a few minutes Nico spoke, pulling me from my thoughts. "Why are you on the beach? Go for a swim, you know you want to."

"Already trying to get rid of me hey Nico?" I joked. He locked eyes with me and glared. Wow, tough crowd. "Well, because you asked, I uhh... I don't really want to be the fifth wheel at the moment."

Nico glanced at the water in understanding.

As we sat there, he seemed to be looking everywhere but at me. He seemed really uncomfortable but I wasn't positive as to why. And suddenly it hit me, "Nico, I think I know why you're so uncomfortable right now."

Nico jumped for a moment before he looked at me with narrowed eyes. "Oh really, and why do you think that is?"

"It all makes sense now," as I looked at him he seemed to be getting more nervous. "Don't be upset Nico, there's nothing you can do about it. It's perfectly fine. I mean, obviously I don't feel that way but I know a few who do."

Nico visibly paled. "Percy... I, I didn't want to tell you."

I smiled at him, "Don't worry about it Nico. Lots of people are afraid of deep water."

ΩΩΩ

Nico POV

I looked at him and my mouth fell open in shock. For a moment I couldn't move. I had been so certain that he had figured out that I was in love with him. As I sat frozen he started to furrow his eyebrows in confusion. He looked like he was wondering if he was wrong. I had to get him away from the train of thought immediately.

I shook my head and looked away. "Uhh ya. I'm afraid of deep water. How did you know?"

"It's obvious Nico. I don't know how I didn't see it before. You never come down to swim with us, and you've been glaring at the ocean the entire time I've been here."

I had to stop myself from rolling my eyes. Sometimes I truly questioned my taste. How could someone add two and two and get seventeen? Percy was not stupid, but once in a while he would do a very good imitation of it. Of course I had been glaring at the ocean this entire time. My only other option was to allow my eyes to ogle the beautiful, shirtless demigod beside me. And I am fairly certain Percy would notice something was up if I started doing that.

"I'm really sorry Nico. Don't worry, I won't tell anyone your secret. I wish you had told me though. If I had known I wouldn't have tried to force you to come swimming."

"It's fine Percy," I nearly started laughing. With all the times that he had unintentionally hurt me, he was apologizing for this. However I couldn't laugh. Percy looked really upset about hurting me. I felt like a jerk. True I hadn't started this conversation, but Percy was now hurt because I lied to him. "Really Percy, it's fine. I just don't like being in deep water when I'm alone."

"That wouldn't be a problem." I looked at him and raised an eyebrow. He seemed to understand what I was asking. Percy smiled at me and my heart started to stutter. I had to look away. "It wouldn't be a problem if you wanted to go for a swim. You wouldn't be alone, I would be right there with you."

I narrowed my eyes at the ocean trying my hardest, and completely failing, to not imagine Percy with his arms around my waist as we floated on the ocean.

Percy clearly misinterpreted my glare, "Don't worry Nico, I won't force you to come with me. I was just saying that if you would like to come swimming with me I wouldn't leave u on your own. You wouldn't need to worry. Besides, no one drowns when the son of Poseidon is on lifeguard duty."

Out of the corner of my eye I saw Percy give me a huge smile. My breath caught in my throat.

Oh gods...

He needed to leave, immediately. There were far too few people around for me to be able to sit next to a shirtless smiling Percy. If he didn't leave right now I was going to do something stupid and embarrassing. "Thank you, but I'm good for now." My voice came out as an unintentional growl. "Why don't you go without me. I will call if I change my mind."

"Alright, see you Nico." Percy put his hand on my shoulder as he stood up. I pulled away at once. I knew if I didn't, I would never pull away. Percy frowned but didn't say anything.

He started walking away and my lungs started working again. He suddenly turned back like he had just thought of something. "Hey Nico, can I ask you something?"

"Are you going to ask regardless of if I say no or not?"

"Yes."

"Very well then, what is it."

"Does Jason know your secret?" That's a strange question. I raised an eyebrow. I knew that we were talking about different secrets but I didn't want to lie to him again.

"Yes. I was telling someone else and Jason over heard me."

"Oh. Okay. I was just wondering." Percy looked hurt that Jason knew my secret when I hadn't told it to him. The thought that Percy might be jealous, even if it was only of my friendship, gave me a warm feeling in my stomach. "That's how he convinced you to come to the beach isn't it? He knew your secret so he told you that you didn't have to come swimming?"

The warm feeling I had evaporated. "Ya, something like that." I tried very hard to keep the blush from my cheeks. Jason had mentioned to me that swimming meant a wet shirtless Percy.

"Thanks for telling me, have fun Nico."

I nodded as I watched him was to the water, and tried very hard to not think of how Percy arms would feel around me as we swam.