Author's Note: Sorry, I have writer's block and I literally don't know where this chapter is even going at all, so the chapter this time is really, really short. So, enjoy?

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 Eight


Once Nico and I arrived at school the next day, I held onto Nico's wrist, who flinched and glared up at me.

"You're not going anywhere," I warned him, and he stayed quiet.

When we found Grover and Annabeth where we usually hung out at, Grover immediately grinned. Annabeth narrowed her eyes, as if expecting some kind of comment from Nico.

Nico ripped his wrist away from mine once we found them., shoving them deep into his pockets.

"Hey, Neeks!" Grover laughed. "Man, it is sofun to finally say that! I've been waiting five years, man! Five!"

Nico rolled his eyes, but he didn't reply.

"So," Annabeth started, "I guess you're one of us now?"

"He's always been one of us!" Grover exclaimed, throwing an arm around his shoulders, who in return tensed up immediately.

"Yeah," I agreed with a nod.

There was a silence that settled around us, until Annabeth broke it.

"You weren't like this before, were you?" Annabeth suddenly brought up.

I glanced at Nico, who hesitantly shook his head. Grover's arm was still around Nico's shoulders, and the back of my mind told me to shove it off. The more I stared at it, the angrier I became, which was weird because I had neverbeen angry at Grover. I mean, was it even possible to be angry at someone like him?

"Why did you change so...dramatically?" Annabeth questioned.

Nico had a murderous glimmer in his eyes. "Why do you fucking care?" He snapped.

Annabeth shrugged nonchalantly, completely ignoring Nico's murderous mood.

"Just wondering," Annabeth simply replied.

Nico's jaw tightened. "Everyone seems to be interrogating me these days."

"Well, maybe it's because you just seem so different is all," Annabeth answered. "Like I said before, I'm guessing there's a story behind it?"

If I concentrated very closely, I could see that he was shaking. His fists went down deeper into his pockets.

"Why would I tell you?" Nico's voice slightly faltered in the middle of the sentence, but I could barely catch it.

"Would you ever tell Percy and Grover?" Annabeth remarked. "Weren't they your friends in elementary school?"

Grover glanced worriedly at Nico; since his arm was around his shoulders, I could bet that Grover could feel Nico shake.

"Hey, Annabeth," I interrupted, attracting everyone's gaze. I felt as if something bad were to happen if Annabeth dug deeper into the conversation. And, Nico didn't seem very comfortable with the situation anyway.

Annabeth's eyes roamed my face, and I knew that she could read what I wanted to say just by looking at my expression. She sighed and nodded, taking the sign.

"Sorry, Nico," Annabeth muttered.

Nico's shoulders relaxed now that we were off the topic.

He shook his head, hanging it down low. I was so tempted to just run over there and hold him close, telling him that everything was okay and that he didn't have to say anything about why he was so different. I tried to deny it, but I really wanted to kiss him wherever possible to show that it was okay. It was weird thinking that, but I didn't feel weird inside. In fact, my heart began to beat faster at the image that played through my head of kissing him wherever possible.

Wow, okay there, Percy, getting a bit carried away, aren't you?A voice inside my head teased my own self.

It wouldn't be a bit bad to think of the scenery, right?Anothet part of my head countered.

And, what exactly would you be, kissing every single little part of his body? Like...his dick, for example?

I shook my head. This was getting wayout of hand now. This never happened to me before, so why was this happening now? Didn't I have Annabeth? Wasn't I dating her? Why do I keep having these thoughts and images about Nico? Why?

I was so confused, I thought my brain would explode. I hatedthinking. It was probably why I had such bad grades in school.

"Percy, are you okay?" Nico asked quietly with an arched eyebrow. You know, I could make his back arch in bed by doing something else...

God damn it, Percy! Why in the world do you keep thinking like this?!

I involuntarily swiped a hand down my face with a groan. I reallyneeded to find out why I kept thinking like this. It was so frustrating not being able to know. How did Annabeth figure out things so easily?

"Percy?" Annabeth asked with narrowed eyes. "You thinking too hard for your seaweed brain to handle?"

My head shot up and I could hear Grover attempting to cover his laugh - which obviously didn't work.

"Well, excuse me, Wise Girl!" I exclaimed, making Annabeth smirk. I took a glance at Nico, and it broke my heart to see Nico having such a lonely expression across his face.

You still want to kiss every single spot on his body?

I shook my head again. Stop it, Brain!I yelled internally at my own thoughts.

I know you want to, don't you, Percy?My other half of my brain remarked.

I shook my head again, making it seem to Nico, Annabeth, and Grover like I was mental.

"Percy, are you okay?" Nico asked again.

"Yeah, I'm fine," I replied, deeply exhaling and glancing up at them.

Annabeth looked completely perplexed - one of the rarest expressions on Annabeth's face because she knew pretty much everything.

"Would you mind explaining to us what was happening inside of that seaweed brain of your's?" Annabeth questioned.

I opened my mouth to reply, but my face heated up instantly at the thought of telling them about what I wanted to do with Nico.

"Er, not really..." I trailed off, averting my gaze.

Grover laughed at my embarrassed expression, but Annabeth and Nico looked totally confused. At least there was finally somethingthat they could agree on.

The bell rang throughout the school for the beginning of our first class, which I was absolutely thankful for because it saved me from any further embarrassing questions.

Grover and Annabeth bid their farewells and walked to their first class. Nico was about to leave as well until I grabbed his shoulder.

"Mind if I tag along?" I asked with a smile.

Nico stared at me for a little while, before nodding. My smile became wider as I swung my arm around his shoulders, and the back of my mind was happy that it was my arm and not anyone else's.

God...why did I sound so possessive? Wasn't Nico just my friend? But, the thought of calling Nico as just my friend didn't seem to settle right in my stomach.