IT's been almost a week since I updated. Hey, that's a long time for me. Anyway, I have so many story plots in my head it isn't even funny anymore. I don't know what to do with them all. But I decided to ignore of the few really outrageous ones and type up a new chap of this story instead. Lucky you guys.

…

"So you mean to tell me?" Principal Blofis said, pinching the bridge of his nose. "That Will Solace has told the whole school you boys are gay, and is bullying you to top it off? And no one thought to tell me sooner?" When put like that, it did sound bad. Jason gripped Nico's hand still, and he was glad the smaller boy was with him. He didn't think he could do this without Nico. Nico was swinging his legs and staring at the floor. For some reason, Nico's feet didn't reach the floor. Maybe these were exceptionally tall chairs.

"That sounds about right sir," Jason replied. "Your stepson Percy would probably tell you the same story if you asked him about it." Principal Blofis sighed and leaned back in his chair, closing his eyes.

"So now my stepson is a part of this too?" he asked to no one in particular. "That's wonderful. What am I going to tell his mother? Percy isn't normally part of things like this." Nico whimpered and ducked his head. "Oh, I didn't mean any offense to that," Paul said, wincing. "Percy must think highly of the both of you if he's willing to throw himself into this mess."

"With all due respect sir, Percy has been a gigantic help," the blonde interrupted. "He fought off Will for both of us and always made sure Nico and I had some…alone time after gym." The blonde flared red and Paul cocked an eyebrow. Nico chuckled at Jason's reaction to that. It's not like it was a secret the blonde and the dark-haired boy disappeared into the back of the locker room together from time to time. "Percy also makes Nico feel wanted in gym, and in other classes," the blonde added, turning and smiling down at the dark-haired boy. Nico smiled back at him and then stared back at the ground, swinging his legs. He was still too small for the chair.

"I'm glad you boys told me," Paul finally said. "And I am dearly sorry I have to say this, but for the time being, I can't do anything."

"What?!" Jason exploded. "You're the principal. You're supposed to enforce the no tolerance policy. Nico and I have been bullied, and I demand something be done about it!" The blonde slammed his fist against the desk, and Nico jumped. "Sorry baby," Jason said over his shoulder. Paul winced. It really did sadden him to see the normally happy youth brought low enough to come to the principal himself. He liked Jason, he really did. But he didn't see the bullying first hand, and no teacher had come forward with any information. "Come on Nico," Jason growled, moving toward the door. "There's obviously nothing more to see here." Nico scrambled off his chair and shot a cold look at Paul before striding after Jason. Paul went to his doorway and watched the two boys. Jason was a little ahead, but a quick glance over his shoulder made him slow down until Nico caught up to him. Then they walked side by side. Paul had to smile. He'd never seen a couple do that before, if Nico and Jason were even an official couple.

"Why didn't you mention the coaches?" Nico asked Jason on the way back to the locker rooms. Both boys needed their things. The blonde sighed and shook his head.

"He wouldn't believe me anyway," he replied. "They would deny like their lives depended on it. My coach never said I couldn't swim though. I chose not to be humiliated any further. Will swims varsity, you see, and he was mocking me."

"Aww my poor superman," Nico said, standing on his toes and brushing his lips against Jason's. "Will's no fun is he? Let's say you and I skip school tomorrow. You can hang out at my apartment and we can watch scary movies all day long while you sing to me." Nico flashed the blonde a grin, and the blonde chuckled. The way Nico put it sounded very appealing, doubly so because they'd be away from all the torment and tears at school. But Jason shook his head.

"I'll see if I can spend the night," the blonde replied. "But we have to go to school baby." He hooked his arms around the dark-haired boy's waist outside of the locker room. "It wouldn't look good if we stayed home tomorrow after all the bullshit that's been going on. We have to face this sooner or later, and I'd rather get it over with as soon as possible." Nico pouted, but he nodded all the same. He knew that. It didn't mean he liked the fact though. "Besides, tomorrow will be bearable, as long as you're by my side." Jason leaned down and kissed the smaller male, pushing him against the wall and slipping a hand behind his head. Nico wrapped his hands around Jason's neck.

"Whoa." Both boys sprang apart as Percy came out of the locker room, drying his spikey hair with a small, white towel. "What the hell did I just walk out on?" he asked the blonde, giving him a lopsided grin. "Sorry to spoil the moment Jay, but coach wants to see you." Jason's stomach dropped through the floor. He wasn't ready for this. "He's in the locker room." The blonde took a few deep breaths.

"Alright, I'll be in in just a second," the blonde replied. Percy gave him one last lopsided grin before disappearing inside the locker room. "Fuck Nico," the blonde said, sagging against the wall. "I don't want to go in there. Please come with me."

"Okay," the dark-haired boy said, taking Jason's hand. Jason gave him a thin smile and squeezed his hand, moving toward the door. He paused and took a few deep breaths. Fuck he didn't want to do this, not now. He squared his shoulders and pushed his way in. A few scattered conversations stopped as everyone turned to stare at the approaching couple. Will sneered, but he said nothing. Jason moved and wrapped his arm around the dark-haired boy's waist. There was a low murmur through the assembled boys, and Jason squeezed Nico tighter. Now that they knew, he wasn't going to shy away from Nico.

"Jason," Coach began, and once again the conversation died away. Percy moved to the blonde's other side while Jake stood on the other side of Nico. Both boys crossed their arms in unison and stared at the coach. Will gaped at Jake, but said nothing. He set his jaw and pointedly turned away. Out of the corner of his eye, Jason saw Jake wince. "Percy, Jake, maybe you could take…um…"

"Nico," Percy supplied. Coach nodded vigorously.

"Yes, Nico, away for me. I would like to speak to Jason in private." Jason's grip on Nico's waist tightened further. They weren't taking his Nico away from him. Not that easily, anyway. But Percy and Jake didn't move, so Coach just sighed and shook his head. "Fine," he said. "I guess you all get to hear this. Jason, I'm kicking you off the team."

"What?" Jason asked faintly. Nico turned his head and buried his face in Jason's shoulder, talking softly to him. "You can't do that Coach, the rules…"

"Don't specify what to do in this situation," Coach interrupted. "So for the time being, you're off the team." He lowered his voice so only the four boys in front of him could hear. "Just until this whole thing blows over."

"Count me out too Coach," Percy spoke up. "I won't be a part of this if Jason isn't. This is his team too."

"I'm out too," Jake piped up. "I won't stand by and watch my teammate be humiliated. I've always been proud to be a Hurricane, but this isn't what we're about. Hurricanes are supposed to have each other's back, no matter what. We're supposed to support each other and love each other, not in that way William!" he added when Will opened his mouth to speak. "Hurricanes don't turn their backs on each other when they need it the most." He turned to Nico and stuck out his hand. "Nico, I'm proud to call you a teammate. You're a great example of what we're all about." Nico grinned and shook Jake's hand.

"Well put Jake," Percy said, turning to Coach. "Now, I think we're going to leave. If you change your mind, you take it up with my stepdad. I'm sure he'd love to hear all about this." Coach stepped back like he'd been slapped. Percy ushered the small group of boys out into the hallway, snatching things up as they went. "That went well," Percy said with false cheerfulness.

"Did you mean what you said?" the blonde asked, addressing Jake. The other brunette turned to look at him. "About teammates. About Nico. About…" He spread his hands. "Everything." Jake smiled.

"Of course," Jake replied. "I really am sorry for what I've done to you Nico. You and Jason are a better representation of our school than Will and those guys could ever be." Nico beamed at him. Jason wrapped his arm around the dark-haired boy's waist and kissed his temple. He was suddenly grateful for Jake as well, because he'd done something no one else really had. And that was make Nico feel like he was a part of their school. A proud Hurricane.

…

Jason was allowed to spend the night with Nico, mostly because the blonde's mother felt sorry for both boys. Thalia told her what happened as soon as she got home from a Student Council meeting. When Jason got home, he was greeted with hugs and brownies, neither of which he minded. Nico looked mildly uncomfortable, holding a smashed brownie in his hand while Jason's mom fussed over him, making sure he was okay. He held up his brownie questioningly, and Jason shook his head, smiling. He stuffed another bite of his in his mouth. Thalia didn't bother them the entire time they were there, which meant she actually cared.

Now, they were in Nico's apartment. Hazel was nowhere to be seen, so they had the place to themselves. Jason packed extra shirts on the off chance Nico wanted to steal one. Good thing he did, because this time Nico stole his blue Hurricane's shirt. Huh? Must be some pride thing, the blonde thought. Maybe Nico was finally starting to feel like he fit in. Funny how something good could come out of something so horrible. The dark haired boy was in just the Hurricanes shirt, sitting with his back against the arm of the couch, laptop balanced precariously on his knee. Beside him was a plate of brownies the blonde's mom packed for them. Jason had been in the shower, but now he leaned against the dark-haired boy's doorframe and watched him. Nico was wiggling around with his headphones in, so that meant he was dancing. He hadn't noticed the blonde yet, which was probably a good thing.

Jason smiled and kept watching him. Nico was furiously typing away on his laptop. Occasionally, Nico reached down to lift a brownie to his mouth. There had to be at least a dozen left, but Nico was really chowing down now that he didn't have someone watching him. Or so he thought, the blonde thought with a smile. Nico laughed at something on the computer and hunched over, scribbling something in a notebook on his other side. He went back to the laptop and tapped his pencil against his lower lip thoughtfully. Jason folded his arms over his chest and smiled. He could watch Nico all day. Nico finally caught sight of Jason. He extracted the headphones and grinned.

"Hey Jay," he said. "Whatcha doing just standing there?" The blonde moved and settled beside Nico, on the other side of the brownies. He took one of his own and bit down. It was still warm and chocolaty, and he practically purred with pleasure. "These really are good," Nico added with a grin of his own.

"Mom makes the best brownies," the blonde replied. "As to what I was just standing there for, I was just watching you." Nico looked up with surprise.

"I'm not that interesting, surely?" he asked the blonde, tilting his head to the side. "No one has ever just stood and watched me before."

"No one's been here long enough to appreciate it," Jason responded. He really wanted to say one thing, but he held back. He didn't want to frighten Nico. Not this early in their already rocky half-relationship. They hadn't even been out on a proper date yet. This weekend, instead of bumming around feeling sorry for himself, maybe the blonde should take Nico somewhere special. The carriage rides were out, since the last time they went to Central Park they ran into Will and his posse. Nico didn't like water much so boats were out. They'd already tried to movies. That left dinner. But where would he take him? Jason studied Nico. The dark-haired boy still had one ear bud in, and he was listening to something that he liked, because he was grinning from ear to ear. Jason listened closely for a couple seconds. "It's All of Me," he said.

"Correct," the dark-haired boy replied. "This will be our song, kay? Every time I hear it, it makes me think of you." Jason was too stunned to properly speak. Nico never appeared to the blonde as someone who would like sentimental things like having a couple's song. And with Jason's favorite song no less.

"I find no fault with that," the blonde replied at last, a slow smile spreading across his features. "That makes it extra special for our wedding someday. We can dance to our song." Nico gave the blonde a funny look and set his laptop aside. He plunked his head onto Jason's lap and gazed up at him.

"Are we going to get married?" the dark-haired boy asked quietly. "What if we don't last until senior year?" Jason glanced down at the dark-haired boy, horrified.

"I can't imagine such a thing!" he exclaimed. "I…" He stopped. He about said it! He couldn't say it. Not now. Nico might go scurrying away. The dark-haired boy gazed up at him.

"What were you going to say Jason?" he asked, reaching up and resting his palm on the blonde's cheek. "Please say what you were going to say." The blonde glanced away.

"I can't," I replied just as softly. "I can't say it Nico."

"I bet I know what it is," Nico replied. "And if you really cared about me, you would say it." I sighed and lifted him so he was sitting up. I leaned in and brushed my lips against his, seeking his eyes.

"Okay," the blonde responded. "I'll say it. Nico, I love you." The blonde ducked his head, refusing to meet Nico's eyes. "I'm head over heels in love with you. I have been since the beginning. I love you, I love you, I love you."

"I love you too Jason," the dark-haired boy replied, lifting his chin so they were eye to eye again. "Something about you is impossible not to love." Jason's eyes widened at Nico's words. The dark-haired boy laughed. "Yes Jason, I love you too."

…

Long after Nico was asleep, Jason lay awake, staring at the ceiling. He was too excited to sleep. Nico loved him! Nico really loved him! He'd be floating on air the rest of the weekend, the rest of the week, the rest of the month. I can't believe I actually said I love you to Nico. And he said it back. This had to be the best thing that has come out of his awful day. I held Nico tighter and he mumbled in his sleep. I smiled.

"I love you Nico," I whispered to his sleeping form. He smiled in his sleep. "That's adorable. I love you." I would never tire of saying that. I hoped he'd never tire of hearing it. I ran my fingers through his dark hair and smiled as he wiggled in his sleep, mumbling again. "Oh Nico, you make me so happy," I continued. "I can't believe you're really mine."

"You better believe it blondie," he mumbled, opening his eyes. "Now get some sleep. We have a big day tomorrow." I wrapped my arms tighter around him and pulled him close. He rested his head on my chest and fisted my orange shirt. I stroked back his hair and he murmured happily.

"Night Nico," I said. "I love you so much."

…

Well isn't that a big step forward for them!