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Chapter 12- Lovers Eyes

Nico P.O.V

It took a while but I felt my strength come back to me. Leo was there every he would come into my room and grab the same old book he had been reading now for a few days. I would sit up and listen to every word.

"I've been spending a lot of time with Patrick these days." Leo said in the same tone as always. "I really haven't said much. I just kind of listen and nod because Patrick needs to talk. But it isn't like it was with Mary Elizabeth. It's different.

It started out on the Saturday morning after the show. I was in my bed trying to figure out why sometimes you can wake up and go back to sleep and other times you can't. Then, my mom knocked.

"Your friend Patrick's on the phone."

So, I got up and wiped away the sleep.

"Hello?"

"Get dressed. I'm on my way."

Click. That was it. I actually had a lot of work to do since it was getting closer to the end of the school year, but it sounded like we might be having some kind of adventure, so I got dressed anyway."

Leo finished and looked up at me for a while. I was confused as to why he stopped reading and yet even more confused as to why he was looking at me in such a way. It wasn't a look to check if I was asleep or ok it was more. It mirrored the expression I had on my face when he first told me. One of loss and longing that I wish could be true. I mean he was a good friend and a shoulder to lean on- literally. I wanted more. I wanted it to be like when it was his birthday and he interrupted my sleep just to tell me. I wanted to see the childish joy on his face once again. I wanted the stolen kisses and the I love you's no matter how insignificant they seemed to be. I stretched and placed my arms loosely on the cover with my palms facing the ceiling with just then hope he would grab my hand and then… But he wouldn't. I knew he wouldn't but the look in his eyes told me otherwise. I found the voice in my throat and quietly said,

"Leo, what time is it?"

He snapped out of his trance and glanced at the clock for a second and yet looking at it for too long as if it was a distraction. "About 3, why?"

I grabbed the woollen blanket around me and pulled it over my shoulders. Swinging my legs off the bed, I began to walk to the door. It felt strange considering I had been bed- bound for ten or so hours but after a few steps, I felt alright.

"Because" I said still walking, "It's time for dinner and I'm going to join my friends."

I opened the door and walked to the mess hall extremely aware of Leo's presence behind me.

I plodded into the dining room to see the rest of the crew sat at the table. I wondered why no-one had cooked until I realised that it was Leo's turn. He must have been too busy looking after me but I let out a small laugh and walked over to his seat while he sheepishly walked over to the kitchen. Leo glanced over his shoulder when he reached the kitchen and looked at me, the same look he had given me earlier. I pretended not to care and talked to my friends when I could feel his eyes burn through me as if he were examining, absorbing every detail of me. As though he was breathing in my very existence. I'd done this to him before and I can remember the fuzzy details of it. The drunken night and how after, when we were wrapped up in each others arm and how he slept. I didn't sleep that night until it was late. I looked at him in the dim moonlight that managed to shine through the small crack in the curtains. I stared at him and every little detail. The slight point of his ears, the curl of his hair and how there was that one piece on his hairline that seemed longer than the others and I remember his skin, and how it seemed to glow in that small crack of moonlight. And yet still, it seemed fuzzy. I looked back up to see Leo was gone and that Piper was gone too. I quickly pretended I was part of the conversation just to forget what I had remembered.

"So Percy told me as always that of course he could jump over the bed and clear it. So after about five minute of 'mental preparation' he jumped, hit the ceiling and managed to also find a way to fall off the bed. But hey, at least I made some money out of it." Annabeth said cheerily while she held out the two golden drachmas that she had won. When she did this, Percy sulked and nudged her. You could see the happiness on their faces and I was envious. 'Leo and I could have been like that' I thought bitterly. I pushed myself off the table and slid out of my chair, the five pairs of eyes watching me.

"Excuse me." I said quietly and walked over to the kitchen, my footsteps echoing throughout the hall.

I walked into the kitchen to see Piper and Leo cutting up the vegetables quietly. I cleared my throat and said,

"Piper would you mind if I talked to Leo alone?"

Piper was taken aback for a second but regained herself.

"Of course not Nico, I'll be in the dining room if you need me"

She put down her knife and left quietly.

"Leo, we need to talk."

Ohhhhhh

we shall see mwahahah. Love you guys xxx