I walked into the pavilion to eat dinner. I asked for tacos with apple slices and some cream soda. As usual everybody gave me weird looks as I walked towards the bonfire to give my dad some of my best apple slices and a bit of my cream soda. When I finally made it to my table, I looked around to see where Percy was, but he was nowhere in sight.
Suddenly I had this weird feeling that somebody was watching me. I looked behind me and saw piercing grey eyes staring straight into my soul. I almost jumped out of my chair. Annabeth didn't even look away when I looked right at her; it was really starting to creep me out. I decided that since Percy was not here and Rachel had some official Oracle business to attend to, that I would sit with Annabeth tonight.
I waved her over but she didn't seem to notice so I had to get up and walk over to the Athena table.
"Annabeth," I said as I waved my hands in front of her eyes hoping to break her trance. "Annabeth, you there?"
She blinked a couple of times before blushing and saying, "Oh, hey Nico, what's up?"
"I just came to see if you wanted to come eat with me over at the Hades table?"
Her facial expression went from one of confusion to nervousness and finally to happiness in the span of about five seconds before she answered, "Sure, I'll be over in a minute okay?"
"Okay, thanks." I said, flashing her my best smile.
I really shouldn't lead her on like this. I feel kind of bad for doing that, but at the same time I feel like I deserve some revenge for the pain she has caused me. I mean come on, she was with Percy even though she was into me. What was the point of that? And just to think that all that time that Percy and Annabeth spent sucking face just to get me jealous could have been spent with me and Percy making out! Well, since I had already got Percy back by messing with his emotions, it was time for a little Annabeth revenge.
She set her tray of food down at the seat right across from me. She sat down and started to avoid my eyes while continuing to eat. Then out of nowhere she looks up and says,"So, how've you been Skullboy?"
I choked on my taco as she said that, "You too?"
"What do you mean?"
"Skullboy?"
"Oh, that. Well, since I give pretty much everybody some sort of clever nickname, thought it was time to give you yours."
"Wow, you and Percy are so much alike." I said while shaking my head. The thought of Percy and Annabeth being alike disturbed me.
I could have sworn that she said something under her breath along the lines of "You have no idea."
"What was that?" I asked hoping to catch her off guard.
She looked up with pink-tinged cheeks and said, "Nothing."
We ate in silence for a couple of minutes before she looked up and said, "You never answered my question."
"Huh?"
"How've you been lately?"
"Oh, um…" I said trying to come up with an answer. "I've been okay, found out some interesting news the other day when I was walking through the woods."
Here's the thing, I was planning on telling Percy how I felt today anyways, so why not let Annabeth know that I had heard what they said?
Annabeth paled, but put on a brave face. "Why were you in the woods?"
Crap, how am I supposed to answer that? "Never mind why I was there, don't you want to know what I heard?"
"I guess; what did you hear?" Her voice was almost angry as if she knew exactly what I was going to say.
"Well, I was walking through the woods when I heard these voices. I headed towards the voices because I was curious to see who else was brave enough to venture so far into the forest. All of the sudden though, the talking changed to yelling. I finally came into range and heard clearly what the people were saying. It wasn't as if I was eavesdropping, I was just trying to see who it was."
By this time Annabeth started to fidget around in her seat. I had pity on her and decided not to drag it out any further.
"I know." Was all I said.
She stood up so fast that her chair toppled over behind her.
"Crap Nico! What the hell were you doing in the woods in the first place?" She yelled.
Annabeth and I were suddenly the main focus of everybody's attention at the moment. I was starting to think that telling her that I knew in public was a mistake.
"Maybe we should discuss this somewhere else." I reasonably suggested.
"No, I want to know now. What were you doing in the woods?" She dragged out each word as if she were explaining something to a kindergartener.
"You should know, considering you are the only one who knows my place of relaxation." I said venomously.
"H-how do you know that" She said looking scared that I had found out about her stalking me.
"Let's just say that you're not as stealthy as you think you are."
She looked around the room and as if she just realized that everyone was staring at me said, "Um, let's go."
She grabbed my wrist and pulled me out of my seat and away from the bonfire. Once we were out of range from all the other campers she whirled me around and kissed me. Whoa, I was not expecting that! I was so surprised that it took me a second to realize that I should probably pull away. I put my hands against her chest and pushed her gently away.
"I'm sorry." She said as she looked to the ground.
I didn't know what to say. I probably should have thought this through before I told her. Now I have to explain that I don't feel the same way and pray to my dad that she won't tell Percy before I get the chance to tell him myself.
"It's alright. I have to be truthful with you though. I like you, but not that way, just as a friend." I said trying to think of a way to make this better.
She kept looking at the ground but I saw her head shake in a small nod. When Annabeth looked up I saw tear tracks all down her cheeks and my stomach lurched knowing that I had caused them. I quickly took a couple of steps forward and pulled her into a hug.
About two seconds into the hug, she pulled back and said harshly, "I don't need your pity!"
The next thing I know Annabeth is running towards the woods, probably to take solace in her little tree house.
I felt horrible and I needed somebody to talk to before confessing my love to Percy. I decided to see where Rachel was. I figured she would be done with her Oracle stuff by now. I walked towards the Big House to see if she was there. There was no need to ever knock so I just stepped in and found Rachel talking quietly with Chiron on the couch.
I cleared my throat loudly to get their attention and when they both looked up at me I said, "Rachel, can I speak with you?"
She looked at me with a strange expression and replied, "Sure, what's up Nico?"
I looked over at Chiron and said, "Alone please."
I walked over to Rachel and pulled her out of the Big House by her hand and towards my cabin.
"Jeez Nico, that was kind of rude. I was kind of talking about something important with Chiron."
"Well, this is more important." I said not sorry in the least that I had interrupted their important meeting.
"Doubt it." She muttered angrily.
When we got to my room, I told her everything that had happened in the past few days. Her face went from surprise to disbelieving to excitement and finally to annoyance as I told her about what I did to Annabeth.
"You made her cry! That girl is strong; you must have done something really horrible to make her cry."
"I'm sorry! I didn't mean to make her cry, I just wanted her to feel as bad as she made me feel."
"Guys are idiots." Rachel said as she shook her head.
"So are you going to tell Percy how you feel?" She asked.
"Yup." I was starting to get a little nervous now. I mean I know he said he liked me too, but what if I misunderstood him. What if he didn't actually like me? That would suck. Stop, stop psyching yourself out. You can do this Nico.
"Good luck."
I spent the next hour with Rachel trying to figure out how I was going to tell him.
Next stop…Percy.
Sorry for the cliffy. I couldn't help it. I hope you guys liked this chapter… I tried to make it longer than the last couple of chapters. Again, thank you to all those who reviewed or favorited this story, it means the world to me. Anyways tell me what you thought about this chapter. See ya next chapter!