Disclaimer:: I don't own Percy Jackson and the Heroes of Olympus or its characters. They are the property of Rick Riorden, and are not my intellectual property. There is no financial gain made from this nor will any be sought. This is for entertainment purposes only.


Nico ran until his lungs burned. He wasn't far from his house but he couldn't go home like this. His eyes stung and his face was streaked with tears. How could he have been so stupid, he almost KISSED PERCY. Nico leaned against a wall and took a deep breath. And of course he panicked and took off, with no explanation. Percy probably thought he was psychotic. He'd have to think of some way of explaining himself. He just hoped what he had wanted to do to that boy hadn't been written all over his face.

Luke had been right; he never should have gone to that party. He took another steadying breath and wiped his face on his shirt before heading back to his house to bury his face in his pillow and try not to think about Percy Jackson.


Nico groaned as him alarm woke him from a deep sleep. He was having a very good dream, where certain green eyed beauty had Nico against a wall, his hands clenched in his hair. His tongue exploring and tasting... Nico groaned again and shook his head. He really had to stop thinking about him. He rolled out of bed and headed for the shower. This was going to be a long day, he still hadn't figured out what he was going to say when Percy asked him why he took off.

He managed to avoid him all morning, but it was almost lunch and he knew he wouldn't be able to avoid him in gym class.

"You okay Nico, you seem tense today." Luke asked in a whisper, leaning towards his desk. Trying not to catch the teacher's eye.

"I'm fine Luke."

"Party was a bust eh? I knew it would be, you should have just listened to me."

Nico nodded. Part of him wanted to punch Luke for acting so smug, even thou he was right.

"Look, Percy and his friends pretend to be nice, but they aren't trust me. That is not a group you want to cross."

"You always say things like that, what happened?"

"Let's just say I've seen Percy's true colors. And they are not pretty." Luke said with a sneer. The bell rang and Nico gathered up his books and followed Luke towards the door. "But don't worry Nico, I got your back." He smiled, and Nico tried to give him a genuine smile back.

What did Luke mean he's seen Percy's true colors? What happened between those two? And if Percy was such a bad guy, how come no one else seemed to notice?


Percy leaned on Nico's locker. He hadn't seen him before class and he hoped to catch him when he came out of history. He really hoped Nico wasn't avoiding him.

"You okay Percy?" Hazel Levesque snapped him back to attention, she was opening a locker a few down from him.

"What? Yea, I'm just waiting for Nico. I have to talk to him."

"Oh, well, maybe you shouldn't right now." Hazel frowned.

"Why not? Did he say something to you?" Percy stepped towards her.

"No, Nico didn't say anything. But he's always pretty quiet. Frank said something happened at the party on Friday, I'm guessing that's why you wanted to talk to him."

"You don't think I should?"

"Well, I don't know what happened. But I do know Nico has history with Luke second period, so they will be together when he comes to his locker. I know you too sort of have a past."

Percy groaned, he knew Luke wouldn't make it easy for Percy to get Nico alone.

"Any suggestions?"

Hazel shrugged. "I can try and talk to him at lunch, I'm sure Thalia would keep Luke distracted for me."

"You'd do that for me?"

"Of course I would. Your one of Franks best friends. And a really nice guy. Luke's an ass, and while I have no idea what's going on with the three of you, I know Luke gets really mad anytime Nico talks to you. Or if anyone brings you up around him. Thalia has started talking about you and Jason all the time just to piss him off."

Percy couldn't help but laugh. "I thought you were friends with him?"

"We are, and that's why it's up to us to show him how much of a jerk he's being."

"Thanks Hazel."

"Sure. Just, one more thing, I promise not to say anything, but you do like him right? I don't want to help you out if you're just going to hurt him."

Percy nodded, "I really do." He said with a blush, "But I'm pretty sure you'd have a better shot with him than I would. If you get what I mean."

Hazel nodded, "I do. I don't know if your right thou. He hasn't shown interest in anyone since he's been here. He's never mentioned past relationships or joined the boys when they comment on the females. That boy is just a mystery. I guess that's part of the intrigue thou isn't it." Hazel gave him a smile and a wink.

Percy blushed again. "See you later Hazel." He mumbled.

He pushed off the locker and started down the hall. Just to smack into a hard body almost knocking the person of their feet, he reached out to steady the smaller boy before noticing it was Nico.

"Oh shit, sorry, I'm so... are you okay."

Nico pulled away and glared, "Watch where you're going." He had a glare that could stop a stampeding bull in his tracks. Percy swallowed.

"Hey, I said I was sorry." Percy frowned. "Everything alright, man?"

Nico sighed and rolled his eyes, "Look, Percy, I don't know what I did to make you think we're friends, but we're not. So just leave me alone, alright?" Brushing past him Nico took off down the hall. Luke just folded his arms and smirked.

"What's the matter Percy? You look a little lost."

Percy glared at Luke before staring after Nico. He felt like his chest had been ripped open, and he was having trouble breathing. He was in no condition to face Luke right now. He glanced at Hazel pleadingly, who had watched the whole thing. Her eyes were filled with pitty.

"Come on Luke, let's go get some lunch." She grabbed his arm and pulled him away. Looking back over her shoulder she mouthed to Percy "I'll talk to him". Percy nodded, but he couldn't answer. He couldn't move or breathe. He just stood there in the middle of the hallway staring after Nico until Jason and Leo showed up and dragged him out the side door into the empty courtyard.