Disclaimer:: I don't own Percy Jackson and the Heroes of Olympus or its characters. They are the property of Rick Riorden, and are not my intellectual property. There is no financial gain made from this nor will any be sought. This is for entertainment purposes only.

"Hey Nico, wait up!"

"What's up Thalia?"

"I wanted to talk to you." Thalia took his arm and led Nico into an empty stairwell. "About what happened with Percy?"

"Oh Gods, not this again."

"No, I'm not talking about what happened in the hall. I mean at the party."

Nico swallowed. Oh Gods what did Percy say? Did he know Nico wanted to kiss him? Could he see the lust in his eyes?

"Percy said you just took off. He thinks he did something or said something to upset you."

"Wait, what?"

"Look I'm not trying to force you to be friends with him. That's your choice. He's just worried he hurt your feelings or something."

With a sigh Nico sat down on the step. "He didn't do anything. I just realized I was late for curfew. That's why I took off."

"Oh, well he'll be glad to know that."

"He was really worried he hurt me? Even after how I treated him?"

"Oh course he is. I know Luke talks a lot of shit about him, but he actually is a nice guy."

"I guess that makes me even more of an ass. I really didn't mean to hurt his feelings. He just caught me at a bad time. I was upset about something else and kind of blew up."

"If you feel bad why don't you apologize?" She asked, "Not that I'm pushing you." Thalia added,her hands up in front of her in mock surrender.

"I don't know. At first I was just pissed, and I didn't think he actually cared what I would say. Then I was too embarrassed."

"It's not too late. Apologizing doesn't mean you have to be friends with him. Although, I don't know why you wouldn't want to be."

"It's complicated."

"I'm not pushing. I get it; you're not the sharing type. I'm just saying you'd feel better if you talked to him."

"What would I say?"

"Just what you told me, that you didn't mean to be so harsh, you were upset about something else and you took it out on the wrong guy."

Nico nodded. He knew Thalia was right. And avoiding Percy wasn't helping him forget the way he made him feel anyways. It was time to grow some balls and apologize.

"Okay. You're right. I should talk to him."

Nico didn't get a chance to talk to Percy until the following Monday. He had spent all weekend agonizing about what he would say and how Percy would respond. And when he wasn't thinking about that he was thinking about Percy in other ways. He had never touched himself as often as he had since he met that boy.

After history he ditched Luke, telling him he'd meet him at the cafeteria, and ran off to find Percy. He was glad the others quickly excused themselves when they saw Nico approach.

"Hey Percy, you got a minute?"

"Sure, I guess." Percy stared at his shoes.

"Look, I've realized I was a little short with you the other day. I had a lot on my mind; I didn't mean to snap at you like that."

The older boy glanced up with hope in his eyes, Nico tried not to stare. "I'm just saying, you know, I didn't mean to be harsh."

"But you meant what you said?" Percy pouted.

Nico blinked. He hasn't expected Percy to question him on that. He wished he could be friends with Percy, but it was too hard to be around him.

"I just wanted to say I don't hate you or anything. That's all."

Percy looked dejected. "Oh, yea. Okay then. That's cool. Thanks, for you know, saying sorry." Nico nodded, unsure what to say. With a weak smile Percy walked away. Nico hit his head against the locker. How was he ever going to get through this year?

His friends grew silent as he joined them at their regular table in the cafeteria. They looked at him expectantly.

"So... what happened?" Percy noticed Thalia was also sitting with them that day.

"What did he say?" Reyna urged.

Percy sighed, "He apologized for being harsh."

"That's it?" Jason looked confused. "I mean, he said he didn't mean it right?"

"No, he defiantly meant it. I guess he just didn't want to look like an ass."

"He doesn't know." Thalia laid her hand on top of his.

"Doesn't know what?"

"That you were trying to kiss him. I asked him what happened, and when I said you were worried you did something to upset him he was genuinely confused."

"Great, so that means he just doesn't like me as a person. At all." Percy laid his head down on the table.

"It means you have a shot at changing his mind." Thalia patted his hand one more time before sliding out of her seat and catching Nico as he came in the cafeteria doors, heading to their own table together.

"Thalia is right Percy. You have two choices; let him go or change his mind."

Percy watched Nico slide in next to Luke, who threw his arm around his shoulder. He noticed how Nico stiffened and gently pulled away. Piper said something and they all laughed. Percy's chest hurt. Nico looked up and their eyes met, Percy gave him a small friendly smile. Nico looked away quickly. Percy frowned.

"I don't know if either is possible."

"We'll help you." Reyna said with a smile.

"Yea man, we got your back!" Leo jumped up from his seat in excitement.

"Count me out. That little dweeb isn't worth your time Percy." Everyone stared at Drew in surprise; she just inspected her nails ignoring her friends.

Percy smiled at the rest of his friends, "Thanks guys." Maybe, with a little help from his friends, he would be able to win Nico's heart. He was never one to give up before. He looked across the cafeteria at the boy he couldn't get out of his head and smiled to himself. That boy definitely was worth his time, and he wasn't going to let him go without a fight. With that Percy dug into his lunch, suddenly he was starving.