Should've Said NO
By PrincipessaBel
Chapter 10 : Should've Said No To Camping Out (Leo & Athanasia)
==============================***(Leo)***=============================
"Alright, thank you guys! It's really fun with all of you around~" Pipes say to the other demigods filing out the Aphrodite cabin. I didn't get to enjoy the last part of the game because I felt like I was the reason why Atha walked out in the middle of the game.
"Beauty Queen, what am I going to do?" I asked Piper in desperation, I've been nagging her for the past hour. She sent Jason out to look for her. I hope she didn't get lost in the forest. I'm really such a stupid stupid-
"She'll be fine. Don't over think too- Oh, speaking of." She said, leaning on the doorframe of their cabin. I looked up seeing Atha laughing along with Jason. She looked so angelic, I wonder what they're laughing about? I frown as my imagination took over me.
What if she's flirting with him? No, Atha's a nice girl and she probably knew about Piper and Jason. . .
But Jason seemed to be the one who girls would like at first sight. .
She probably likes Jason much better than me now. . .
I snapped out of it, "Night Pipes, I'm going to go now. See you." I said quickly to Piper, trying to rush ahead but the two seemed to see me faster than I could run away.
"'Sup Leo. Heading out already?" Jason asked me while Atha stood beside him. She was blushing red. WHAT? BUT JASON ALREADY HAS PIPER! DON'T TELL ME HE- Ok, keep calm and laugh it off Leo. Bring in the jokes and smile.
"Yeah, been busy for the renovation of the Argo II. My sibs are helping me with it." I said casually, smiling at the two of them.
"Argo II?" Atha piped in, curious about what the Argo II is. Her eyes were like blue saucers to heaven. It's so magical every time I look into her orbs.
I blinked and said, "The ship I made when we first went to Camp Jupiter. I'm fixing and adding some more features because I'm going on a quest to Ogygia."
She frowned and nodded. She knows about Ogygia? Oh- stupid me, she likes Greek mythology and probably knew of it beforehand. Jason slung his arms around her, in a brotherly-like protective manner? He was looking at her with slight pity. What's with these two?
"Leo apparently wanted to go back to Ogygia. Which I think is so dumb of him." Piper went to us, eyebrows up. Someone, among us four, sobbed. I heard it.
What Piper said recorded in my brain and it processed, resulting me to say, "HEY! I'm right here! I can hear what you're saying! Plus, Calypso is worth coming back for."
"Th-That's good." Atha said, voice cracking. Wait- What exactly is happening? "I mean, you probably really like this Calypso girl." Is she. . jealous? She continued, it's hard to see in the dark whether she's teary or she just finished from crying. "I won't step in between you two, promise. N-Night guys, I'll-I'll head in." And with that, she stormed quickly to the cabin.
I raised an eyebrow at Piper and Jason, who was both looking at the door on the Aphrodite cabin. "Step in between-"
"Can't you see she's head over heels on you?" Jason exclaimed.
Piper nodded, "Yeah, and she probably was hurt when you said 'Calypso is worth coming back for.' It was really harsh of you to speak about this girl as if Atha is just some friend. I know you like Atha very much. . ." She said to me with a tinge of displeasure. Jason pulled Piper into a hug and whispered something to her.
"I-I'm sorry Beauty Queen, I didn't mean to hurt your sister. She- I do like her. . . a lot. . but images of Calypso's hunting me. It's as if she's testing my conscience. Father had told me there's no chance of coming back. Even your mom told me it's useless. . ." I explained. I really want this to get over with. I'm confused. I never wanted this, all I wanted was for someone to love me back.
I know my friends won't be there for me forever.
They have their own lives.
I can't just be the third party. .
I know it's selfish but. . . I envy them sometimes.
"Alright, good night Leo." Jason said, patting my shoulder.
=================================***(Athanasia)***==================================
Cheers greeted me in the cabin. My cabinmates glomped me as I stepped in. I'm not in the mood to party. Leo's words are still stinging in my ears.
Calypso's worth coming back for. . .
It really hurt me. I guess I'm just in the wrong place. . . at the wrong time. .
I started crying again so I headed straight to my bed. I plopped in and cried my eyes out again. I don't care if they gossip tomorrow. All I wanted it to let go of this feeling.
I remembered Nico. Was this his feeling? Have he been keeping all burdens on himself? I'm such a dummy to fall in love with Leo. How could I fall for his charms? How can I not know he probably already had a girlfriend? And worse, my only rival?
From there, I lose track of time and I didn't knew I fell asleep.
I apparently woke up in a familiar place. I stared around, the gloomy aura didn't matched me. This was the underworld. I saw a figure, curled up infront of a small Greek fire beside the banks of the River Styx.
Nico.
I walked up to him. "Hey." I said. I don't know what's happening but this is real. I can feel it.
He looked up at me, not surprised and replied, "Hi. What're you doing here?" He said with a frown. His pale ghostly skin was complimenting the dark palettes of the reflection of the Styx.
"I don't know either." I admitted with a shrug. I sat beside him, hugging my legs, just like what he's doing. Maybe he'll help me forget? ARGH. I can't believe I'm now expecting him to comfort me. What are these mortals doing with me?
He nodded nonchalantly but his eyes looked like he's anxious.
"Don't tell me you camp here every night?" I said, trying to open up a conversation. I wanted to stop weeping and take things lightly. Forget about it for awhile.
"No. Not much." He replied coolly.
Aw, come on, talk to me.
"You know what? I'm sorry about earlier." He said, confusing me. What did he do?
"What?" Then, I realized that he was probably talking about-
"The curse of Apollo." He confirmed. I knew it. "I shouldn't have removed the-"
"Oh, shush, I made you laugh and that probably was the best part of it." Taking pity to him wasn't easy. Anger was filling me each time I spare a glance at him. . but I always envision things that he probably had been through. . My conscience can't take it to add more of these burdens.
"Really? But- Oh, you're lying." He shook his head. "You probably did think of me as an idiot when I said-"
I cut him mid-sentence and said, "Can't you just listen to me for a while? I mean, yeah. . . we probably did have a wrong turn at first but. . . can't we be friends? I know that' against all odds, but. . life and death together as friends? Or cousins? Relatives? Acquaintances? I think it'd be nice. Percy did say you're a likeable person, Nico."
"What? You- You're serious?" He asked me, wide-eyed. I nodded and he smiled, color came up to his cheeks.
Uh-
Is that a-?
OH MY GODS.
IT IS.
"Nico, I can't believe you actually blush." I spout accidentally. Not that I wanted to embarrass him!
He gasped and hid his face under his hands. "I do not blush! It was just a mere reflection from the River!" He denied.
I can't help but laugh. I admit, I found it hilarious when someone is embarrassed. After a while, I stopped laughing, "AHAHA, Nico. . . That was epic!"
"Not glad you found my embarrassment 'epic'." He said grumpily, crossing his arms infront of him.
"Gee, stop sulking cousin. Want a hug from big sister Ana?" I teased him, opening my arms for a hug.
He blushed a bit more, "Stop it will you?!" I laughed again, but this time, Nico decided to follow suit.
"Oh. My. Gods. Nico." I said in between gasps for air. "You look so cute when you blush."
"You don't find it awkward?" He asked. What's awkward about this? It's actually fun 'spending' time with him.
"What awkward?" I replied innocently.
"That. . I like you?"
"So?"
"That. . It's only us here?"
"I don't get your point."
"That we're this close?"
"Should I care?"
"In the dark?"
There was silence between us, then, "Oh my gods, that just had a double meaning. Nico, you naughty- HAHAHAHAH!" I laughed again as he looked like he's about to explode from embarrassment.
"Atha!" He wailed in exasperation. "Be serious about this. Do I look like I'm joking?"
"No. . . but I don't want to take thing seriously again. I've just done crying." I explained. I told him about what had happened earlier infront of Cabin 10. He knew about my secret already and I wouldn't care now if he brings me to my doom. It's going to be his loss now.
"I'm sorry. . but, aren't you bothered? You know I had a crush on Percy -which, by the way, I did not know how know knew about." Nico kept frowning and worrying about things.
"I'm not. Not bothered at all. But what bothers me is that I will probably just hurt you."
He looked taken aback, "Hurt me? You?"
"I- Oh, I'm not going to fight you, idiot. What I meant is that, I like- I love Leo. Then. . You admitted you like me. Wouldn't I hurt you unconsciously if I pursue on trying -which I know I'm currently doing a lousy job- to get him?"
Nico smiled genuinely at me and it looked like he's teary-eyed. "T-Thank you for the concern. I didn't expect you'd think about me." He sobbed, obviously restraining himself to cry.
I smiled, too. He's such a frail character beneath his hard mask. "Oh, come here!" I said, tackling him into a hug. I'm aware he blushed madly, trying to push me away but I said, "You'll need a hug, Nico, I'm listening to what you're going to say. I know your sister left you unprepared but count me as another person you could cry all your tears on?"
He sighed and hugged me back. I feel protective for him, knowing the things he'd been through. I wanted to protect him like a big sister would.
He didn't actually told me everything about him.
Truth be told, this idiot didn't even told me anything.
He just hugged me.
I even thought he fell asleep. "Hey, Nico? You still there?"
"Hnn. . Five minutes. . ." He said. Uh. . . HE DID FELL ASLEEP. ARGH. I should've said no to camping out in the banks of the River Styx!
"Ui, wake up!" I shook him awake - it didn't actually help. Nico snoozed and slept a bit more. I sighed in defeat, maybe he thought I'm a good pillow?
Oh Hades, what's with your son? What did you do to make him this problematic? I looked down at him and smiled at his peaceful sleeping face. He got to work with removing his eye bags. It doesn't look good on him. He seemed to be like one of his minion zombies.
I took interest in caressing his unruly hair - it's so soft and ticklish. "Mnn. ." I hear him stir a bit. I took the chance to wake him up again, I need to go back to camp. "Nico~ Get uuuup! You're getting heavy!" I admit, he wasn't that heavy but my legs are getting numb.
Nico opened one eye than closed it again. "Uhh. . . Atha?"
"Yes" I replied with sweet sarcasm. I'm getting impatient now, Nico. Get uuuup!
After a few seconds, his eyes fluttered open and shot straight up. "I THOUGHT ALL OF IT WAS JUST A DREAM!" He screamed.
"Whoa, chill, couz. If it was a dream will this hurt?" I flicked his forehead and did it's expected result. He flinched in pain.
"Argh. . . How was this-?"
"-possible? I don't know but-"
"Athanasia. Nico. What brings you both here?" I looked behind us and saw my dearest, Uncle Hades. I glanced at Nico and he seemed petrified in shock.
"F-Father. F-Forgive me. . but I will go now if you-" He bowed at Hades with such respect.
Instead of being as terrified as Nico, I stood up from where we sat and smiled at my weird (emphasize: weird) uncle. "I don't actually know but Nico's camping out here, then I was suddenly here too. So we talked and he slept at me."
Hades looked at Nico, an eyebrow raised, "I see you've been properly acquainted with your cousin. Persephone and I felt your presence, dear niece, and she'd like to talk to you."
Nico, still bowing, said, "Shall I go, Father?"
"Oh, he's coming with us, Uncle." I suggested. . . well, more likely: I ordered.
Hades studied Nico and looked at me, "Very well."
Author's Note:
I wanted a Nico-Atha bonding moment. . . so here it is! I find it cute when these two are together. Thank you to those who reviewed and followed and favorite-d! I appreciate it especially because I know that you guys enjoy the story so far. :))
I haven't posted some pictures of Atha yet because of some technicalities with my Ipad. The camera's results were like crap. . . so yeah. Plus, I've got lots of crap doodles of Atha and the demigods. If I finish it without my laziness, the outcome might be good. But I don't have a pen tablet to draw digitally, so I draw traditionally (e.g. with the mighty PENCIL and PEN! :D)
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