Chapter 7
"Annabeth!" Nico cried, running towards the Athena cabin,
"Annabeth, I need help!"
The son of Hades dashed to Cabin 6 and hammered on the door, praying to any god out there that she'd answer. Thankfully she did, a rather annoyed look on her face.
"What is it, Nico?"
"I need advice."
"Nico, I'm kind busy right now. I was in the middle of designing buildings for Olympus. Can it wait?"
"It's really important, Annabeth." he said desperately.
"Really, really important!"
She sighed but then nodded, stepping aside and letting him in.
Nico went and sat down in a chair, holding his head in his hands.
"What's wrong, Nico?" Annabeth asked, genuinely worried now.
"You weren't attacked or anything, were you?"
Nico shook his head numbly and she continued,
"Then what happened?"
"I was kissed."
Annabeth giggled, earning her a death stare from Nico. She put a hand over her mouth to keep from laughing again and then said,
"Aww, Nico, that's sweet! There's no need to be embarrassed. Who was it?"
"Definitely not who you'd expect." Nico muttered.
"Was it Jenny, that new girl in the Demter cabin? I heard she has a crush on you."
"What? No!"
"Then who was it? You can tell me."
"It was Hestia."
Annabeth just stared at him for a few seconds, letting that sink in. Finally, she said,
"Hestia- as in, "virgin goddess Hestia?"
Nico nodded, his eyes bleak.
"Well- that's astounding."
"What do I do about it?!"
"When did this happen?"
Nico told her the whole story and once he'd finished, Annabeth smacked his arm,
"Nico!"
"What! What did I do wrong now?"
"You just let her run off like that? You didn't even talk to her about it?"
"Um- no?"
Annabeth heaved him up and dragged him towards the door.
"Go. Now."
"To do what, exactly?"
"To talk to Hestia about the obvious feelings she holds for you! You can't just pretend that it didn't happen, Nico."
"But-"
"But what?" Annabeth said, exasperated.
"I'm scared."
And he truly was terrified. Annabeth's eyes softened and she quickly hugged him, saying,
"You? Nico di Angelo, the Ghost King, scared? Never!"
Nico mustered a smile and then left the cabin. Annabeth laughed to herself and said aloud.
"Well, Hestia, it was about time you made a move!"
Nico looked all over for Hestia, but he couldn't find her anywhere. He knew that Hestia could technically leave camp whenever she pleased, but he hoped she never really would. In desperation, he went to the shore line of the beach adjoining camp, thinking maybe she'd go where no one would ever look for her. Hestia hated water.
"Hestia!" he called, looking up and down,
"Where are you?"
He heard a weak cry and then saw the goddess stumble out from behind a sand dune, cheeks tearstained. His heart lurched at the sight of her; partly from guilt, party from nerves, but mostly because he remembered how her lips felt against his. Nico walked towards her, keeping a safe distance between them.
"Hi." he said simply, eyes watching her carefully.
She said nothing, trying not to cry again.
"Why did you run away?"
"Can we just forget that this evening ever happened? Please?" Hestia pleaded.
Nico shook his head and pressed on, repeating,
"Why did you run away?"
"Why do you think?" Hestia said at last.
"I'm embarrassed!"
"Over what?"
"You know what!"
"You kissing me? Was it really that repulsive?" he said, managing to grin.
Hestia tugged her hair, head bowed. She said something inaudible and Nico walked closer, trying to hear her.
"What was that?"
"It was everything I ever dreamed it would be, Nico!" Hestia yelled.
"And it can never, ever happen again, because I took vows of maidenhood, and the gods would probably exile me! And that's really terrible for me, because I'm actually in love with you!"
Hestia clapped her hands over her mouth, cursing in Ancient Greek. Nico stared at her, wondering how many times she'd surprise him today. He went closer, pulled her hands away from her face and clasping them between his own. She looked up at him, her normally warm eyes tense and miserable.
"Say something." she whispered,
"Even if it's goodbye."
"I'm not sure how I feel, Hestia." Nico admitted,
"I have trouble with love of any form, you know that."
Hestia nodded and Nico went on,
"But there's one thing that I do know."
"And what is that?"
"That I want to kiss you again."
Hestia' breath caught and she stared straight at him wonderingly. Nico leaned closer, until they were eye-to-eye,
"May I?" he breathed, asking permission first.
Frozen, Hestia nodded, privately wondering whether or not this was real. Then she decided to not care and kiss the boy she'd loved from a distance for so long.
