A/N: It's so weird now that I've reached chapter nine. It's weird seeing my own fanfic come into play as my ideas ramble along in my head wanting to add more more more. I can't wait to finish it up! Thank you all for reading! BTW the memory is from Percy's POV and the rest of the chapter is Nico.
Chapter Nine
Sunday
"You were supposed to be there!" Nico di Angelo screamed as tears pooled out of his eyes. "Where were you? How could you leave her behind? You're supposed to be strong and brave. You were a hero who could do anything. How could you not save her like you did the first time? How did you just let her die?"
The words Nico flung at Percy stung like a thousand bees. Where was he? How could this have happened? He should have known that same beast that had run from him before would be lurking in those woods. He should have known that and stuck close to his friend.
"I'm sorry," Percy whispered while approaching the small Italian. "I don't… I'm so sorry Nico," was all that he could manage to tell him.
"Non sei," he whispered. "I trusted you to protect her. To protect the both of us. I hate you," and with that the boy was gone.
…
The drive to the ice rink was completely and totally awkward and this time, Nico knew that he didn't create the mood, it was in everyone. Percy was driving the group with Hazel sitting shot gun, Nico and Annabeth were left in the back of the car with absolutely nothing to talk about.
Nico hated this. He hated how his sister got him to go outside of his comfort zone. The boy really should have made up a lame excuse and saved him from having to wheel around with Annabeth and Percy.
It wasn't really Hazel's fault though, she didn't know how Nico felt about Percy or Annabeth or anything about their past together. She only knew about his other sister.
"How's school going?" He heard Annabeth ask. Not thinking that the question was intended for him, he continued to look outside the window.
"Nico?" Percy asked, "Are you going to answer her question?"
"He sounded like an encouraging mother." Nico thought.
The boy turned his face towards Annabeth. "It's going great." He didn't add on after that, leaving a void in the conversation.
"Are you doing okay in your classes?" Annabeth tried again.
Nico gave her a nod, "I received the Festus Scholarship for next semester. I'll be over there for the rest of the year but I'll make sure to leave as soon as I'm done… for Hazel."
"Wow, that's amazing Nico." Annabeth smiled and patted the boy's knee, causing his initial reaction to cringe away from her.
"Thanks," he hissed.
…
When they arrived at the rink, the four of them quickly escaped from the overstuffed car and quickly made their way into the building. They rented a pair of skates and set out to get them tied on, Hazel and Percy leaving Annabeth and him alone when they decided to venture off to the other side of the building.
"I think this is a set up," Annabeth mused while looking over at Nico who was struggling to get his foot into his first skate.
"A set up?" He questioned.
"Isn't your little sister a bit of a match maker?"
"Not really…" Nico looked around for Hazel and caught her eye as she was gliding onto the rink. She gave Nico a wave and a wink. "Lately it seems so," he frowned while looking at Annabeth.
The blonde sighed and stood up after finishing the ties in her skates.
"What made her think that this…" Nico trailed off finally tying up his first skate and shoving his other foot in the last one.
Annabeth bent down to eye level with Nico, while resting her elbows on her knees. "Perhaps it's because she's noticed the way you're always looking at Percy and I, as if we had been something foul."
Nico shook his head and stood up. "I just wanted to spend some time with my sister, not get dragged into a love triangle of sorts."
Annabeth arose with him along with her eyebrow.
"I know you're still into Percy." Nico explained.
"I am not," She said as they made their way onto the rink, Nico stumbling and losing his balance here and there on the way.
"You are." He stated.
"What makes you so sure?"
"No one can ever get over Percy Jackson that's what. He's amazing and strong. He's kind and intelligent by his own means." Nico stopped as he rolled up a nice list of what makes Percy an incredible person in his head and instead started to direct it towards Annabeth. "I've seen the way you still look at him. You miss him but you just don't want to admit it."
Annabeth huffed as she helped Nico keep his balance on the ice. "Well he certainly doesn't seem to miss me. He treats me exactly the way he would any other friend but it's a bit more awkward now… Sometimes I'll reach for his hand or have to keep the urge to brush my hand against his arm or fix his hair. It feels weird with us being this way now."
"I'm sorry," Nico murmured as his gaze made his way to his sister and Percy. He couldn't help the jealousy that announced itself as he watched them smile together.
…
"Don't ever do that again," Nico growled at his sister over the phone, a few minutes after Percy had dropped him off. The boy seemed cheeky and ecstatic, as if something had gone completely right for him.
"Do what Neeks?" she asked innocently.
"You tried to set me up with Annabeth today at the rink," he retorted.
"You didn't have a good time?" Hazel asked, disappointed. "I felt sure you had a good time with her."
"Of course I didn't. I spent the entire time stumbling around the ice rink with Annabeth Chase." He seethed.
"You say her name as if it's rotten," Hazel mused.
"She's not exactly the kind of person I enjoy being around. I thought we were going to spend time together, sorellina, not you, me and some other people."
Hazel sighed, "It's healthy to spend time with people other than me, Nico. I'm sorry about springing Annabeth along with us; I just don't want to see you so… so…"
"So what?"
"So sullen all of the time. I want light in your world. I want you to be happy and healthy."
"I thought I was supposed to be the one who looks after you, sorellina."
"You need to learn how to look after yourself first."
Soon after Hazel said that, the two said their goodbyes and Nico got ready for his shift at The Coffee Hut.
