Author's Note: You guys need to seriously remember what Nico does when he lies. Sorry if it's been awhile since I updated so I'll tell you now: Nico plays with his fingers or his feet whenever he lies. Just a reminder because Nico is going to be lying a lot in this fanfiction. Bad Nico.
Also, I apologize for such a short chapter. It just seemed like the right time to end it.
Note: Sorry for any kind of mistakes! I do not have an editor/beta reader, so this fanfic isn't perfect in terms of grammar, punctuation, etc. I am all on my own on this fanfic…how sad.
Warning: Bullying, violence, language (I'll add more along the way)
Disclaimer: Pshh, you think I'm Rick Riordan? Please. Also, "Yancy" for the school name is from the first book The Lightning Thief. The actual school name is "Yancy Academy".
Depression
Author: Loving Healer
Chapter Seven
I closed the door behind me as Nico waited for me to lead him to the kitchen where the delicious food and fumes awaited me.
When we arrived at the dinner table, I was surprised that Sally only prepared three dinner plates. Wouldn't she always prepare dinner for the guest too? She never forgot the guests.
She was setting up the rest of the table with utensils when Paul noticed us.
He raised an eyebrow at us, setting down his The Sword of Shannaranovel. "Nico, are you hungry? I told Sally here that you might not be hungry, so I told her to not prepare you any."
Sally glanced up. "Oh! Nico! If you arehungry, them we still have some leftovers for you."
He shook his head, shoving his hands deeper into his pockets and murmuring, "I'm fine."
Sally stared at him worriedly. "Are you sure? I'm not sure if Maria would like it of you didn't eat."
Nico shook his head again. "She doesn't mind if I skip a few," he said, looking down at his feet as he toes rubbed against each other as if they were cold.
My mom smiled sincerely. "Alright then. Just sit down where you want then."
We both sat down - Nico to my right - and the rest of us ate our food. Nico stayed silent the whole time, so silent that sometimes I forgot he was even there.
I didn't want Nico to leave. Usually, I would say: "See you tomorrow at school!" or something like that. I could've totallysaid the same thing to Nico, but it didn't feel right to let him leave. It didn't settle in my stomach very well just thinking of it. I think my dinner was going to come back out soon.
We were on the front porch just staring up at the sky. There weren't many stars to be seen that night, but it was still worth it to be finally reunited with my best friend from elementary school who I haven't seen for five years or so.
"Hey, Perce," Nico started, his eyes still on the stars. I glanced at him in surprise. Nico stillremembered the nickname Grover gave me in elementary school. It made my heart beat faster knowing that.
"Can I...stay..." Nico's next words were so quiet that I couldn't even hear what he was saying, but I already heard enough to know whathe wanted to say.
I smiled brightly. Looks like I didn't have to worry about leaving Nico today then.
"Sure you can." I patted his shoulder and he shook slightly, but I didn't bother to mention it. "What about your parents though?"
He rubbed two of his fingers together. He tore his gaze away from the sky to look at me. "They won't mind if it's for a day or so. After all, I haven't had a friend to be with for awhile."
I knit my eyebrows together in confusion. "Wait, you haven't had a singlefriend since me and Grover?"
Nico averted his gaze, staring at the floor of the porch instead. "Never mind."
"You can't just 'never mind!'" My voice suddenly got louder. "You haven't had one, single friendsince Grover and I left?"
Nico glanced at me with mixed emotions - anger, sorrow, and was that guilt?
"Percy - " he tried to say, but I cut him off.
"Answer me, Nico," I demanded. He went to intermediate school, right? Surely there would've been new people that were willing to become his friend. Or at least classmates. I mean, no friends at all?Nico couldn't make one friend?
He clenched his teeth, so I could tell that this was a sensitive topic for him. It would have been for anyoneif you couldn't have a friend. But, I needed to know; I wanted Nico to confirm it.
"Yeah," Nico muttered, purposely hiding my face from his view with his bangs.
I stared at him in both confusion and shock. "What about a classmate?"
"No one would bother talking to a murderer," Nico snapped, glaring up at me. But, he already realized the mistake he made as he glanced back down at the floor.
"A - what?" I exclaimed, but Nico shook his head.
"Just forget it," Nico said quickly, but before I could even react he pushed open the front door and disappeared.
