Nico sigghed, and he stood up from his bed. Jason had gone away since two hours, and the son of Hades had stayied alone in his cabin. He felt like the day passed too quickly. He whished he had been able to stop the time, but he wasn't. He had to go to the dinner with all other guys of the Camp.

He had to eat at the table of Hades with her sister, and after that he would hae to pay his punishment. It wouldn't have been a problem if he hadn't to stay with Percy, alone. He would have preferred washing the stable of pegasi or the toiletes with everyone, even with Leo. He only wanted to avoid Percy. But he didn't have choices, he had to to that, or Hazel, Percy and Leo would be expelled from the Camp, also he wasn't interested about the fate of the last one.

So he opened the door of his cabin with a sharp snap of the wrist and he moved to the mess very slowly. He saw that everyone had already started to eat. He sit on his table and he looked aroung. Hazel hasn't come yet. The sons of Hermes were ating and laughing while they were playing pocker. The sons of Aphrodithe, that were more girls than boys, looked more busy to make their make up than eating, and Piper was talking with one of her sisters, Lacy. The sons of Athena were eating and reading. The only ones that were alone were Nico, Jason and Percy. The son of Poseidon seemed the only demigod that was suffering the solitude. He looked like he was forcing himself to eat the food, but everybody knew that Percy used to eat as a satyr.

Suddenly the guy looked up and, seeing that Nico was looking at him, smiled and waves to him. But Nico blushed. Percy surpraised him looking at him.

The son of Hades forced himself to look at his dish and he took two sausages and a pomegranate.

He offered a sausage to his father and he started eating.

While he was picking the pomegranate, Hazel came. She took lots many cheese and a lot of fruit.

:-A pomegranate?-the sister asked, confused. -Seriusly? How can you do it after everything that is happened?

:-It's good-Nico answered.

:-As you whish-Hazel said. -Then, after the dinner there will be the punishment.

:-Yes-Nico answered. -So..what?

:-You and Percy will be together, totally alone-Hazel said. -Do you want to tell it to him?

:-What?-Nico asked, who stopped trying to fake eating.

:-Do you want to tell it to him or not? Ehy, Nico, you're smitten with him, madly in love with him!-exclaimed her. -So, what do you will do?

:-No, I won't tell it to him-Nico answered. -There would be no sense. He's in love with Annabeth. Why should I humiliate myself?

:-I think you should speak to him-Hazel said. -Nico, Percy is a good guy. Also he don't reciprocate your feelings, he can understand you. He loves you, and I'm sure he would accept you as you are. He wouldn't despice you, he treasure you, I can see it. And if you do it you will take a weight away from your heart. Trust me, you must admit to forget.

:-I don't know, Hazel-Nico replied, standing up. -Maybe. Now I go, or I will be late.

:-Oh Jupiter, you're right!-exclaimed his sister. -It's already late. We must be fast, or Bac...Dyonisus will triple the weeks of the punishment.

:-And we don't want it to happen-whispered Nico, that maybe he hoped in it a little bit.

He has gone into the kitchens of the Camp very slowly. He was trying to avoid that moment. He didn't want to see Percy. When he came to the kitchen, he felt bad. He couldn't come in, he wasn't brave enough. Enter the kitchen meaned coming to who made him feel sad. The only one solution was run, run away. He was going to disappear in the shadow, when he remembered Silena's words.

Silena was right. Nico had become the new game of Aphrodite. He had to make her tired if he wanted to be free.

So he took a deep breath and he opened the door. One of the arpies drived him to the skink. Percy was already here, wearing the protective gloves and he was washing a big cooker with the lava spray, and singing a very funny song.

:-Hello, Nico-Percy said, smiling to him and giving to him the gloves. -Come here, I've already started.

Nico nodded and he came next to him, trying to look not at him and he started to wash a dish with the lava. It was dangerous, but the arpies thought that the lava could give the divine clean to everything. Percy stopped to sing but he was washing a glass.

After a while Nico asked to him:-So...what did you want to tell me today?

:-When?

:-When we came here and you saw Annabeth.

:-I wanted...I want say to you "thank you"-Percy answered. -I know you don't like being here and that you prefer stay alone, but you're here, with us. Thanks, Nico. You're an amazing friend.

Nico felt a pain to his cheast, while the other boy was talking.

:-So, how do you feel? Did you like your first day to the Camp?-asked Percy.

:-This isn't my first day-Nico said. -I'm not a newbie.

:-I don't know If that one of three or four years ago counts-replied Percy, laughing.

:-Yes, it does-answered the son of Hades.

:-Then we can say "the first day of this year", ok?-answered the boy.

:-It hadn't been so bad-admitted Nico. -And training fencing with you had been funny.

:-Oh, it had been really funny-Percy nodded. -But I must tell you that...you scared me.

:-And the strange thing is that you used to scared me before-said Nico, avoiding to say that he used to scared him even in that moment.

:-I can still remember it all too well, it was your very first day-Percy said, smiling with a dreamer's face. -We had just got off the Maserati of Apollo, and your face had turning so green that Echidna was pasty next to you.

:-It wasn't my fault!-Nico exclaimed, indignant. -The fault was on Thalina and on Apollo that let her drive the car. You shouldn't let somebody that suffer of dizzy to drive a flying car. And it's stupid: a daughter of Zeus that is afraid of flying? It looks like a son of Apollo that doesn't like music.

:-I know that, and I kidded her for many years for that. And I will never forget your face. And that you let Travis and Connor cheated you. Only a crazy one could play poker with them.

:-Please, Jackson, don't start to talk about old days with nostalgia-Nico asked, trying to look indifferent.

:-And I'm going to do that, di Angelo. I still remember when you used to torment me with all that questions and your gift of the gab, your red chubby cheeks, and your loved game, Mithomagic-the boy laughed, shaking off the remains of the lava from his hands. -You were a little persecutor, a baby stalker.

:-Don't call me "baby"-the son of Hades hissed.

:-And you were very cute-Percy said, upsetting his hir. -A little pest that was really nice, cute and sweet.

When Nico herded tht words, Nico felt his cheeks turning red without he could have avoided it.

:-And you're really adorable when you blush-Percy said, smiling to him with one of his sparkly smile that used to make Nico mad. -You'll see, someday you will find a beautiful asocial girl for yourself.

:-I don't want a girl-Nico replied, smirking. He couldn't believe the son of Poseidon was really so stupid. He hated him.

:-It's what all of children usually think, Nico, but you will see, you will change your mind someday-laughed Percy as Nico had just told him a funny thing.

:-I'm not a child-replied Nico, who was angry.

:-No', you aren't, you're right-Percy told him, suddenly seriusly. -You're not the same. I remember how you used to be, with your annyoing way and your glee, and your game, Mithomagic. Where are they now?

:-In the fire-Nico answered very cold, taking one other glass and washing it with lava.

:-I'm not talking about the card, Nico-Percy explained, with a very said and serious voice. -Where is everything? Where is your gift? Where is that boy that used to annoy me with his annoying questions? Where is your glee of living? Where is the old lovely Nico?

"He's died, Percy"Nico thought with the teadrops at his eyes. "He died when he met you at the first time, he died for your stupidity.

Nico forced himself to not tell it to him and answered:-I don't know, Percy. Sometimes you change, and there's nothing you can do. But now I'm better. I'm more mature and adult.

:-And with no happiness-Percy told him. -Listen to me, Nico...I...I am sorry for...for Bianca. I know I should have protect her and... I din't. I'm sorry, I know she was everything for you and...

:-Stop, Percy-Nico ordered to him, clenching his fists. -Stop apologizing, and stop talking about her. I know what happened, I talked with Bianca, and you know it. She sacrificed her life for you, for the quest, and I'm grateful to her. Surely I miss her more than everything else, every day, every minute, every second. But, please, stop make me remember her.

:-Nico, I...-the son of Poseidon tried to say, but Nico stopped him.

:-I've just finish my part-said the son of Hades, and he put his gloves off. After that he came out very quickly with the tears on his face.