A/N: Who is dreading going back to school? *raises hand* Still, I have my Ultimate New Book Reading List for Fall of 2010. Ready?:

The Lost Hero by Rick Riordan (duh)
The Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare (*happy dance*)
Maximum Ride (manga) Vol. 3 illustrated by NaRae Lee (Fang looks just like Kanda from D-Grayman)
Kuroshitsuji/Black Butler by Yana Toboso (...well it's new to me)
and Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins (PEETA! GALE! FINNICK!)

I do not own Percy Jackson and the Olympians or any related characters. I do not own Helena by My Chemical Romance.

The answer was a complete and utter yes.

The afterthought was an 'oh-no what have I done'.

But first of all, the question was 'will you accept this quest?'

It started with me at the arena: practicing the sword and trying not to think about last night. Needless to say I was failing at both. I nearly decapitated myself when I realized I owned Nico my life. Talk about terrifying prospects. I had no idea what came over me yesterday. Because something had come over me. I would never think such things. I would never take such measures. Would I?

Cause see, I never thought I would fall for Nico di Angelo. Yet I had and I still was. And the hole was only getting deeper and darker. The worst part was I couldn't run away anymore. I was getting tired and I couldn't pretend there wasn't anything wrong with me.

Nico, I thought and nearly dropped my shield. I felt stuck in a bad, over dramatic, teen written fanfiction. Yesterday, he had said somethings I didn't think he could ever say- and I had too. But in the end I dragged myself up- ignoring his protests- and fled. I tried to keep my distance today but he seemed determined to talk to me. To my surprise it was Sara who came to my rescue. Well, she came to tell me off for missing campfire, however it kept Nico away. I guess Sara repelled everyone. I wondered what Nico had meant truthfully and what he'd lied about. I wondered what I had meant.

So it was also a wonder that, with a mix of teenage angst and point object, I hadn't injured anyone but myself. I was sitting in the front row seats, making an effort to patch my right arm with my left hand when he found me.

"Here. Let me do it," Percy offered. I didn't object. I handed him the bandages and my arm.

"How chivalrous."

"I know, right," he winked, "Though I must say that I'm surprised to see you around here."

"I'm surprised with myself, too. I had no idea I was so masochistic."

"Ah, someone's been hitting the dictionary."

"Indubitably. Nevertheless I'm sure you're not here for vocabulary lessons. What do you want to talk to me about Jackson? If you and Annabeth are having problems I'm here for you..."

Percy gwaffed, "Good try, newb. Do me a favor and play nice?"

I feigned horror, "Are you implying I was making a move? And I thought I was no longer a newb when Connor and Travis flipped me off my mattress..."

Percy laughed again.

"Ooh," I muttered, "those little devils are going to get it..."

"Still smiling, Percy shook his head, "You're all fixed up. I came to get you because we're needed at the Big House."

My eyebrows shot up. I started sweating, thinking someone had seen me last night, "A- am I in t-trouble?"

"Not in the least. Let's go," Percy got up and kindly waited for me to catch up.

Assembled around a table tennis table were the camp directors, some satyrs, and a bunch of campers. Most of them I couldn't name, excluding Thalia, CG, and Nico. Yah. The gang was all here.

"Thank you for fetching her, Percy. Please take a seat, Aline," Chiron said to the two us. Thalia patted the chair next to her. I hesitated- thinking of what I'd heard last night- but only for a second. Thalia was my friend. I sat down, avoiding the dark eyes that were inevitably locked on me.

"We have called this meeting of cabin counselors because we have a position open on a quest."

The room broke into hat I like to call the sound of madness. Everybody started talking at once and gesticulating wildly. It was amazing nobody lost an eyeball. Though Clarisse looked like she wanted to tear out a few. Thalia looked chill beside me.

"Should I be joining in?" I asked, gesturing to the madness.

"Nah."

Chiron cleared his throat but they continued. He did it again and again until finally, Thalia snapped her fingers. Just like she did before a teacher forgot to give test. Hmm. Everyone shut up. Chiron went on,

"The quest was delivered to Miss Grace-"

"-Hey!" Kyo from Nemesis cut in, "She's not even a camper anymore! How can she get a quest?"

"Ask the Oracle, Mister Sohma. As I saying, the quest was delivered to miss Grace and being a demigod she can- and has- accepted. Now she will choose her companions."

Thalia stood up with all the confidence and black eyeliner I'd loved.

"This is easy enough. It's a simple quest, more of a re-con mission than anything. So I don't need any heavy artillery," she glanced at Jake Mason, "or some heavier sorcery," she nodded at Joss, "so I'll take Annabeth-"

"I accept," she said smoothly.

"-and Aline."

It took my a good three minutes to process that because: everyone else looked surprised and Nico stood up, slamming his palms against the table. He started arguing like I'd seen before but Chiron stopped them before it got violent.

"Please! Allow Aline to accept or decline and this meeting is over."

Thalia and Nico both reluctantly sat down. They didn't stop glaring at each other though. The campers looked at me and I squirmed under their quizzical stares. Annabeth looked up from her book long enough to make a 'hello' face and I stammered out, "Yes. I totally accept."

Mr. D, eager to hurry things along, stood and said, "If all is good and done then rest tonight and be prepared to venture in the morning. This meeting is adjourned."

Chairs were pushed back, looks and whispers were exchanged behind hands as the rest left. I got up, too, and turned to Thalia. But she was laughing with Annabeth about some monsters they'd fought years ago. I tapped her on the shoulder- I needed a lot of explanation- but she waved me away. I tried to hide the hurt on my face as Nico was standing in the doorway. I tried to slip past him but he stuck out an arm, trapping me between the him and the wall. I face-palmed myself internally.

"What do you want?" I said, refusing to meet his eyes. I kept my gaze planted on his black True Religion high tops and my scuffed up Converse.

"Maybe a thank you?" he lifted my chin so I had to watch him bat his eyelashes. I almost bit him. I swear. Instead of being flustered- because I really wanted to be- I stood on my tip toes and leaned forward until there were only inches between us.

"You're welcome."

"That's not what I meant," Nico leaned toward me, too. Centimeters. I could see the trail of the vein on his pale cheek, the ring of light brown in his eyes.

"What did you mean?" I didn't dare breathe, much less move.

"Why do you think?" he moved forward. I made a mental note not to let him talk again, lest he eliminate any space between us.

"I never know what you mean. Though you were pretty upset I'm going on this quest. Were you worried about me? You're not going to- gasp- miss me are you?"

Nico opened his mouth but I slapped my fingertips over it. He lowered his eyelashes and started talking fast against my fingers. It tickled. I pulled my hand away and hid it behind me.

"Maybe. Possibly," he said answering my previous questions, "Anything you want to add?" he said, dangerously close. Close enough to feel my heart breathing through my ribs, the heat from my burning face.

"Ali- ne?" someone called. I would have jumped out of my sneakers if they weren't tied so tightly. I looked over Nico's arm to see Mat, who looked very puzzled.

"Am I interrupting something?" said my poor, terminally clueless friend.

"No," "Yes," me and Nico said simultaneously and respectively.

Mat twitched, "I can come back later..."

"That would be nice," Nico agreed. Mat scuttled away. I took the time to smack Nico in the shoulder before ducking away and chasing down Mat.

"Dude wait!" I called, "Are you seriously going to make me run after you! You have a good ten inches on me! I already screwed up both of my arms today are you going to force me to break a leg!"

Mathias subsequently stopped. I sucked in air and probably looked like a fish out of water.

"What was that?" Mat asked.

"We were just- wheeze- talking."

"Ah. Talking."

"No. The type of talking that involves words."

"Really? I didn't hear very many of those."

"Why- wheeze- were you looking for me."

"I heard that you got a quest," Mat must have seen my expression when he said that word, "It's all around camp. Are you okay?"

"Dandy."

"Is someting bothering you?"

"Possibly."

"You want to talk about it?

"...yes please."

He started walking, slow enough for me to keep pace, "Go on..."

So I told Mathias about everything. Everything since leaving California, meeting Thalia, meeting Nico, falling for Nico, seeing that god, and all I'd thought that night. I left out the part about an accidental suicide- he was already looking at me funny.

Mat whistled, "You've got quite the baggage."

"Tell me something I don't know."

"Okay. You don't know that Thalia would never leave you behind. She's just her. Thalia's knows she doesn't have to worry about you here so she doesn't."

"But I'm just me. As pathetic as it sounds I need to know someone, just one person, cares enough to worry."

"Well, you've got one right here."

I looked up at Mathias and I knew he was telling the truth. I smiled,

"Thanks," was all I could really say.

"Anything else?"

Mat leaned against a tree trunk. His glasses were teetering on the edge of his nose. I reached out and pushed them back up for him. He didn't flinch away but I didn't dare take it as a sign.

"I don't think Annabeth likes me very much," I admitted, "I wish you could come on the quest instead."

" 'What's the worst that I could say?
Things are better if I stay
So long and goodnight' " Mat quoted, "You'd be a lot better off without me."

"Yeah," I contemplated, "I would."

I didn't mind as Mathias slugged me in the shoulder.

"So this is goodbye?" I asked, hoping he wouldn't say yes.

"Of course it's not."

I grinned for what felt like the first time in a lifetime, "Good. Very good."

Sorry. The end was kind of rushed and there were some mistakes but Mexican food beckons. Did you notice the Fruits Basket reference- which I do not own? Does it fit? Re-re-review? Plus, I feel like Nico is too bishounen.