Note: Posted With Permission

Warning: This is rated 'M' for a reason, I don't make light of the rating system, and it gets progressively more mature as these go on.

Summary:Nico never allowed himself to touch, only to be touched, it was better that way. Percy/Nico

Chapter Twenty-Six: Party Fervor

"I don't like it," Nico said sitting Indian style in his computer chair at his study desk. He was facing Percy and Rachel who were sitting on the couch opposite of him arbitrarily watching television and eating popcorn that had been microwaved not too many minutes ago. "Don't like her, more like it," He said pointedly.

"What's not to like about her, babe?" Percy asked turning a quizzical eye at his boyfriend.

"You're not jealous of her, are you Nico?" Rachel asked with a large grin, leaning over so she could see Nico properly. Her hair had become an arduous task so she cut it. Of course she had done it herself so it sat in flat, uneven layers on her head. The back slightly longer than the front tickled the sides of her neck and her new, nearly jagged fringe didn't look as bad as one might have thought, it just barely swept above her eyebrows. When it grew back in it would probably look phenomenal, such was the luck of Rachel Elizabeth Dare, but now it just looked like she had cut her own hair. Not horrible but certainly it wasn't as lustrous and flowing as it had been before. Rachel loved it, considering she had just done it this morning she hadn't had time to style it but it certainly was a change. Ethan on the other hand found it amusing and shocking, he still wasn't exactly sure if he liked it and Percy had laughed at his slack jawed reaction. The brunet teen had warned the muscular RA but he hadn't listened and now he was witnessing firsthand Rachel's quirkiness, like her waking up at dawn only to begin her first of several mugs of coffee, the fact that she would parade around in her pajamas unless it was absolutely necessary to put on anything else and under those same circumstances she refused to wear make-up as well.

Nico shrugged and sighed, "Not jealous, no," He said, very clearly jealous. "I just think you guys spend an awful lot of time together." It was true, Percy and Calypso did a lot of things together without Nico, they had lunch and dinner, Percy went over to her room to study while Nico was in class or she would come over to theirs, she just seemed to be inserting herself into their life and Nico wasn't sure how to say that without looking petty.

"That's crazy," Percy said with a small smile. "I'm not jealous of Jason,"

"That's different!" Nico replied. "Jason's got a boyfriend, and you guys actually get along, you hang out with Jason, remember?"

"So if I got you to hang out with Callie it'd be okay?" Percy asked with an upraised eyebrow.

"I don't think I want to," Nico said, diverting his eyes. "I can't tell you not to hang out with her, but I seriously don't like her. I don't have to like all of your friends," Rachel nodded, her uneven locks slightly bouncing along with her movements.

"He's right you know," She said and then she smiled. "If it's any conciliation I don't really like her that much either. I think she's trying to get in your pants."

"Callie knows Nico and I are together, and that he and I are happy; she wouldn't mess with that. Are you trying to say that a guy in a committed relationship can't hang out with a single girl?" Percy asked her. "Isn't that like anti-feminist or something?"

"More like anti-male," Rachel rolled her eyes. "And no, that's not what I'm saying, I'm saying I don't really know her well enough to like her, and from what I've seen I'm not too impressed." Percy sighed and sank back into the seat, crossing his arms.

"Do my friends have to impress either of you?"

"Percy, I don't know why you're getting upset," Nico said from his chair.

"Because I don't like the fact that you guys are sitting here talking about how you don't like Callie, neither of you have even ever really spoken to her, and you've never made the effort to. How do you know you don't like her if you don't give her a chance?" Both Nico and Rachel were quiet then. "Exactly, I really didn't expect this out of either of you, you're both always so understanding."

"It's just a bad vibe," Rachel shrugged. "I'll talk to her at this party tonight, see if I can get a better read on her, then I'll decide about whether or not if she's a good person, alright?"

"Hey, if I say she's a good person that should be more than enough," Percy replied, his lips drawn thin. Nico had to admit than when Percy befriended someone they were in and it took nothing short of a miracle for them to be let go. He sighed.

"I'm sorry," He said shrugging again. "I shouldn't have just been making judgments about her, she's your friend and I should give her a chance. Better?" The tall brunet feigned a look of annoyance then he grinned.

"See, it's not that hard to be sorry," Percy smirked, then he patted his leg motioning for Nico to come sit. "Why are you still all the way over there?"

"Because I'm supposed to be finishing my homework up early since you expect me to go to this thing," Nico said with a scowl. "If you want to do these algorithms for me then please be my guest."

"Uh…no, that's alright," Percy laughed and Rachel grinned.

"You know just because he says he's sorry doesn't wrap up the fact that he's jealous of Callie,"

"Shut up, Rachel," Nico threw over his shoulder and then turned back his to math. The young Italian teen heard footsteps and he knew before he looked that Percy was coming to loom over his shoulder. There was a warm cheek pressed against of his face, and lips ghosted over his the side of his mouth.

"Are you jealous?" Percy asked in a smirking manner, Nico felt himself becoming red and he nearly erased a hole into his paper from trying to ignore his boyfriend.

"You're not going to give me a reason to be jealous of her, so no," He replied knowing Percy could feel his how hot his face was. He cursed his expressiveness when he was around any of the Jacksons, current or ex. Then the looming young man kissed his cheek.

"You're so cute," He said massaging Nico's shoulders, the receiving teen gripped his pencil tighter as Percy worked out a knot in his back and he closed his eyes, stifling a groan.

"I have to finish this, Perce," Nico said in a voice that betrayed any actual desire to get his work done. "It's due tomorrow,"

"You're almost done," Percy laughed in his ear, running his tongue down the shell of it. Nico shivered.

"And I'm still here," Rachel replied. "How about this? I'll help you clean up in here a little bit while he finishes up his last few problems, don't you guys have room checks today?" Percy sighed and leaned forward giving Nico a soft squeeze at his middle and smiled to himself when the boy took air in threw his teeth. Then he stood to his full height and turned to Rachel.

"Your boyfriend's the RA, I'm sure he'll let us slide," He smiled.

"No sir," Rachel replied. "I expressly told him to grade you guys harder, you know the worse you get on cleanliness the more it adds to the cost of living in these things?" Then she grinned evilly. "I thought it was a good incentive to make you actually pick up after yourself since I knew Nico wouldn't enforce that rule,"

"I tried," Nico said over his shoulder. "You better be glad I finally got him to appeal the "clothing prohibition law" I just barely got him in pants before we answered the door, and it was in no small part to me making a lot of promises that will most likely embarrass not only me, but anyone who might catch us."

"My God, Percy, is there no end to your sexual deviancy?" Rachel asked with a smirk. "What did you have to promise?"

"Me and him," Percy answered before Nico could promptly tell the girl to mind her own damned business. "On the quad against that big willow tree that hides anyone that goes underneath it later tonight no matter how drunk I am."

"We're going to get caught," Nico groaned and laid his head against the desk. "The night groundskeeper is going to come walking by and Percy knows I can't keep quiet, God. We're going to get kicked out, Paul's going to be shamed. Sally'll have to move you guys to Milwaukee where no one's ever heard of the exhibitionist formerly known as Percy Jackson, you'll have to change your name, see? God! I'll have to change my name! My father's going to disown me—"

"We get it Nico, you're not into the idea," Rachel laughed. "But I've seen you with a few drinks in you; I hardly think you'll mind so much later tonight."

"No," Nico said. "I refuse to get drunk tonight,"

"Wine coolers make his clothes fall off," Percy smirked and nibbled Nico's ear. "I'm afraid to see what a mixed drink might do to him,"

"You're such a bad influence," Nico sighed. "I should have made you wait for sex till we were married then you wouldn't have such a hold over me!" Percy laughed.

"You know Nico," Rachel said. "It's you that's got the hold on him. I mean think about it, you could do what he does to you by yourself, you've got finger," Nico's face became horribly red and suddenly his last math problem required his full attention. "But Percy, well a hand just won't work for that will it Perce?" Then Percy raised an eyebrow.

"Are we doing this?" He asked.

"Doing what?" Rachel answered with a question.

"Alright, then, tell me Rach, have you let Ethan hit it yet?" Now, Nico had never seen Rachel blush he figured that she was so far beyond any sort of prudishness or virtue that it just couldn't happen but at that moment her face flamed hotter than her hair and he had to smile widely. "That's a yes,"

"How was it?" Nico asked.

"I am not going to discuss—!" Rachel began.

"Au contraire," Nico said with a large, victorious grin. "You're all too happy talking about me and Percy together, so I want to hear it. Gory, gruesome details and all."

"Nico…"

"Spill it Rachel," He turned around in his chair with a smile. The girl looked to Percy for help and he only shrugged, she had gotten herself into this situation. Then she sighed, she wasn't a shy girl but it was more out of thought for Ethan, she wasn't sure how he would feel about her divulging on their alone time.

"You really want to know?" She asked.

"I kind of do now that you say it like that," Nico replied, interests piqued.

"Don't you have math you should be finishing?" The dark haired teen swiveled in his chair, finished his problem and turned back to her within a matter of seconds.

"Done," He smiled, the choppy haired redhead rolled her eyes.

"Well, we haven't exactly gone all the way yet," She said looking perturbed.

"What's that mean?" Nico asked. "'Not exactly?'"

"It means she's gone down on him," Percy shrugged. "Seen the goods but not felt them properly, y'know?" The next thing he knew Rachel's palm was connecting with the back of his head quite furiously. "Fucking ow! What did I do?"

"Shut up Percy," She glared. "I wouldn't say it like that,"

"That doesn't make it less true," Percy leered back. "You didn't have to hit me."

"You deserved it," Rachel returned.

"Why? Nico's gone down on me like a million times and he's never—ow!" Percy yelled as a dictionary connected with the side of his face. "Nico, what the hell?"

"I can't believe you Percy," Nico scoffed.

"What the hell did I do? I thought we were all talking about this kind of stuff!"

"Idiot," Rachel and Nico huffed at the same time. Percy settled hard back into the couch, crossing both arms over his chest.

"Whatever," He sulked and his boyfriend smiled at the pouting, it made him forgivable. Standing and walking over to him he kissed him. Then he settled against the older brunet. "I'm not an idiot," Percy said very seriously to Nico, the boy knew that Percy hated being called dumb and suddenly he was apologetic.

"You're not," Nico said, kissing him again. "I know."

"So should we go back to pestering Rachel then?" Percy asked and wrapped his arms around the slighter young man's waist, both boys turned to look at the redhead who met them with a smile.

"You guys really want to know the details?" She asked running a hand through her hair and mussing the locks against her head. "Because if it's that big a deal then I'll tell you," Nico chuckled and grabbed the remote out of Percy's hand.

"We're just kidding, Rachel," He shrugged.

"I'm just saying, I could tell you all about his big di—"

"That's more than enough!" Percy interrupted. "The only dicks around here I'm worried about are mine and Nico's," Then the younger man found himself chuckling at how flustered Percy looked.

"I was going to say his big dice collection, perv," Rachel said with a devious smirk.

"Yeah, sure," Nico chuckled.

"It's a nice collection, long and thick and—"

"Long and thick a dice collection does not make," Nico said and Rachel's grin just grew. "Alright, note to self, you're really not shy about these things. You just lulled us into a false sense of security to gross us out."

"Oh please, you think he's sexy," Rachel laughed, Nico considered that but didn't let it show on his face, instead he shrugged. "And you know what's weird? He's strangely really intelligent, like, I thought guys that looked like him were all big airheads, no offense Percy."

"Hey!"

"It was a double sided compliment, baby," Nico said with a small smile.

"Anyway," Rachel smirked. "He's a Physics major. Like, seriously? Hot and brainy? I'm melting over here,"

"If that's the case why haven't you guys…you know?" Percy asked and Rachel shrugged.

"The time's not right; unlike you two we can keep it in our pants for a while before we do the nasty."

"We did our waiting," Nico said. "Eight years of it,"

"That doesn't count, that's friendship years," Rachel laughed. "The point is I won't be giving it up for a while and he knows that, and also," She turned a dark eye on Percy. "I've only "gone down" on him once, he returned the favor; it was spectacular. He's got an incredibly talented tongue,"

Nico cleared his throat, "Oh…kay, quick topic change, what time is this party supposed to be tonight?"

"Ten," Percy said and checked his watch. "It's eight now, still got two hours to kill," Then he smiled deviously. "I can think of something for us to do that'll make that time fly right by."

"If you're suggesting a threesome I'll break your face," Rachel growled.

"Everything's more fun in threes!" Percy exclaimed laughing, Nico punched him in the arm.

"Stuff it, Percy," The aforementioned shrugged and rubbed his arm, then his smile became devious.

"Hey Rachel," He looked over Nico's head. "You should go though 'cause me and Nico really do need some alone time."

"You're so tactful about this sort of thing," Rachel glared.

"Look, Nico's got a very nice ass. I get jealous if other people see it," Percy grinned. "You'll want to steal him from me." The aforementioned boy rolled his eyes.

"Oh this is so putting me in the mood," He deadpanned. "I think I'd like to be able to walk around the party without limping, so that idea is out." Then he thought for a second. "What we should do is invite Jason and Leo…I don't even know if Leo's on campus or not but we should at least see if they want to go."

"Don't tell me you guys are doing that four's company thing? Going on like double dates and stuff?" Rachel asked.

Percy shrugged, "Not really, we all had dinner together the other day,"

"I just like them," Nico said. "Leo especially,"

"He's a pretty talkative guy," Percy laughed. It was true, when Jason wasn't making Leo blush beyond all reason he was very, very social. It was as if he were trying to make up for a lot of shortcomings in how amiable he could be. Smile too confidently; laugh a little too loudly for a little too long. But, Nico still liked him; he saw something of himself reflected in the other boy, though where Nico turned his any feeling that wasn't happiness into a cold loathing which he projected onto others it seemed most times Leo seemed to take it all in and leave it there, letting it eat away at his self-esteem and self-confidence. The young Italian teen could understand that, a lot of times in the world it felt like no one understood you. Like you were the only person to have ever gone through your trials and endeavors; and, to some extent that was true and there was no belittling anyone else's problems but Nico knew that somewhere in the world someone had at least gone through something similar to whatever ailed someone else. It was inevitable. As humans we are bound to repeat the same emotions, actions, and ideas as our predecessors and not even know we were repeating them.

Leo was an enigma to Nico, not because he knew the boy had some kind of pain behind his eyes—everyone has pain behind their eyes, this was again inevitable—but because he wondered what hurt Leo so much that he had to make up with it by being so boisterous. It seemed like when there was no one else around Leo would revert back into himself, and Nico had noticed that when Percy and Jason had gotten up to get their pizza the other day. It was then that Leo had turned quiet, but not a few minutes after that the small Mexican boy seemed to remember Nico was sitting there and he gave a small smile and attempted conversation. "Call Jason up and see if he wants to go," Percy said seeing Nico fall into his thoughtful pattern, he was getting used to that introspective look that come over his boyfriend's face.

"Oh, uh, yeah, alright," Nico tried to blink thought away and he pushed out of Percy's lap then he made his way over to the bed where his phone lied upon the nightstand. He dialed Jason's number.

"Hello?" The voice asked after a few rings.

"Hey, Jason," Nico said. "This is sudden, I know, but me and Percy wanted to know if maybe you and Leo wanted to go to a party with us tonight?" Nico took a seat on the bed and sat Indian style.

"Oh—uh—yeah, sure. Leo can't come, he's working late tonight," Jason replied. "But I can go and Thalia's here too she'll probably go."

"Tell him to get his ass over here; he's, like, right down the hall," Percy laughed from across the room. Nico smiled and relayed the message, Jason agreed to it and they said their byes. Closing his phone he made his way back over to the couch and sat between Rachel and Percy and the older boy smiled down on him.

It occurred to Nico how he had been taking that smile for granted. Introspection always made him more aware of things. Percy was beautiful in just about every way; he took his boyfriend's hand in his own and settled against him. So comfortable in his abilities to just reach out and touch. The older teen leaned down and kissed him on the top of his head and Nico closed his eyes. He wondered if he had he told Percy that he loved him today? "I love you," He said, and he knew it sounded sudden to both people in the room but he didn't care. It was true. Percy grinned and touched his lips to the boy's forehead and Nico tried not to revel in the warmth of them but he pressed himself against Percy harder.

"I love you too," Percy said in his ear and Nico thought maybe they should have thrown Rachel out. The girl was doing a good job of tuning them out as she watched television but he didn't think she would like it if they started doing it in front of her. She was happy enough to be done with studying for at least just a day; but now Ethan was studying for upcoming midterms so she had taken it upon herself to hang out with her friends, who were now being all couple-y again. Then there was a knock on the door and Nico thought it was best that they not do anything. When he and Percy were together he tended to forget his limits and more often than not lost himself to emotion.

His damn emotions, they were the problems. They reared their head at the strangest of times, and he couldn't really handle them when they came because for the longest time he had pushed them away. He loved the way they made him feel, warm down to his core, but sometimes his love felt overpowering like it was going to spill over out of him and that hardly ever happened when it was convenient, like when he and Percy were alone. Rachel was here and Jason was knocking and Nico just wanted Percy to take him on the desk. He felt Percy's reluctance to stand but finally the older brunet pulled away and went to the door.

"Hi," Jason said, standing there not necessarily awkward in the doorway but in that way that people stand when they're around new friends, not yet entirely sure of decorum and protocol but working one's way into it. Thalia stood behind him less awkwardly, she had no problem meeting people.

"Hey, guys, come on in," Percy said with a smile, ever the socialite. Nico looked between his boyfriend and Jason; they were similar in that jock sense. Both tall, broad shouldered and well chested, small muscles visible underneath form fitting tee-shirts. But where Jason was wearing jeans Percy was still in his practice shorts, the brunet stepped aside to let them inside and once they were Percy closed the door behind them. "How you guys doing?" Percy asked. It astounded Nico that his boyfriend never ran out of things to talk about, he had that in common with Leo. But where Leo seemed forced in doing it Percy made it look natural. Then the brunet pulled Nico's desk chair over beside the couch and told them to sit. "You guys want something to drink? Eat?"

"I'm cool," Jason smiled.

"What do you got?" Thalia asked and Percy showed her to the small fridge. Soon they were all situated in the room and Jason and Percy distracted themselves with video games; Nico was surprised to see that Thalia and Rachel were getting along, he figured that since the girl didn't seem to like him that she wouldn't be very fond of the redhead either. "I love your hair," She said fingering the choppy red locks.

"Thanks," Rachel smiled offhandedly. "How did you get this streak? Did you just bleach it?"

"Nope, it's natural," Thalia said touching the lightning streak in her hair. "Dad always said when I was a baby I was nearly dropped one day and it scared the color out of my hair," She laughed. "It's some weird lack of pigment right here, I cut it all off once and it grew back exactly the same, so I guess I'm stuck with it," There was a spark there, Nico noticed, but he shrugged and settled against Percy watching him race Jason in some supped up automobile. He was content with his head against that shoulder even if Percy's arm kept jerking around as he made turns around the circuit. Nico didn't want to party tonight, he didn't care if it made him seem like some old person who never did anything, he wanted to lay in bed with Percy listening to music, reading, making-out, watching TV, ordering a pizza and finally going to bed. But Percy was a social creature, Nico couldn't keep him under a microscope, couldn't keep him in a glass cage it wouldn't be right. Besides, if he voiced how he wanted to stay in Percy would say it was just because he didn't want them hanging out with Calypso. Which wasn't exactly true, he had to give her a chance at least for Percy's sake.

"Hey, baby," Percy said not looking away from the screen. "Will you get me a Dr. Pepper out of the fridge? Please?" Laughing the dark haired youth kissed Percy's cheek and ducked under his view going over to their small refrigerator. He pulled out a Dr. Pepper and thought better of it.

"Anyone else want something while I'm over here?" He asked.

"I'm still working on this Mountain Dew," Thalia replied indicating the can in her hands and Rachel shook her head no.

"No thanks man," Jason said, tongue sticking out the side of his lips as Percy passed him on a straightaway. "Damn it! No you don't!" He laughed. Nico shook his head and smiled, then he cracked open Percy's drink and took a sip. He moved back over to the couch and settled into it, handing Percy the beverage.

"You're so good to me," He smiled and kissed Nico absently, still not turning away from the race.

"Yes, I know," Nico rolled his eyes and hooked his arm through the crook of his boyfriend's. The killed another thirty minutes before finally Jason took the victory and he smiled over his shoulder snidely. "Don't you dare," Percy glared.

"Don't I dare what? Do the winner dance?" Jason asked with a laugh. "Because I will, I will do a touchdown dance right now."

"Weren't you guys racing?" Nico questioned.

"Irrelevant." Jason laughed.

"Rematch! I call it right now, I had you on that last fucking turn, I didn't know you still had turbo left!" Percy exclaimed. Rachel cleared her throat and her and Thalia's quiet conversation seemed to cease all at once.

"Actually, Percy, it's about time to go," She said.

"We're not going to show up early, what kind of people show up to a college party early? The people who want to set up? Just one more round and we'll go," The brunet youth replied and Nico chuckled.

"He means if he wins then we'll go,"

"That's beside the point, babe," Percy smiled deviously.

"You guys go ahead and have one more round, I need to do my make-up anyway," Thalia said standing, a small clutch bag in her hands that Nico hadn't noticed before. "Come on Rachel, I've got some mascara that would look good on you," She smiled.

"I—uh, don't really do make-up," Rachel said, but Thalia grabbed her by the hand and with a pleading look the redhead was pulled off towards the bathroom.

"I've got hair gel too!" The boys heard Thalia remark and Percy and Nico were chuckling to themselves. Then Nico stood up and stretched as the door to the bathroom was closed and he kissed Percy on the cheek.

"I'm going to get changed too," He said. "Are you wearing that?" While Jason set up another game Percy looked down at his ensemble. Sweaty gym shorts and a dirty t-shirt with a pair of brown flip-flops; he shrugged.

"I don't see why not," He replied. "Should I change?" Nico smiled and pushed his lips against Percy's cheek again.

"I guess not, you look fine," He decided. "But I have got to get out of these jeans, I don't even know why I wear them, they're so uncomfortable."

"Because I like the way they make your butt look," Percy smiled.

"Oh, is that the only reason? Hell, I'll have to throw them away then," Nico laughed. "Jason, keep your eyes on the television,"

"Nico's shy," His boyfriend laughed. "He barely ever dressed out in gym,"

"Shut up Percy," Quickly Nico was out of his jeans which he promptly threw at Percy, then he was in his closet and he pulled down a pair of black, faux leather pants.

"Wait," Percy said, eyes torn between the game and Nico's sexy legs, his small rump jutting out just so from underneath the brim of his shirt. "You're taking off jeans and putting on leather pants?"

"Leather is comfortable," Nico said pushing a leg into the pants. "It breathes a lot more than people give it credit for," He pulled down an expensive looking lacy shirt that Sally had give him and he looked over it. Was Couture too much for a party? Nico didn't know, he didn't know anything about fashion to begin with but the shirt had small jewels sewn into it and sort of an Old English look to it around the shoulders and the hem of the arms. He sighed and pulled his other shirt off, then buttoned his new one over his thin chest. He felt Percy's eyes on him and cut his own gaze over to the boy. "What?"

"Nothing," Percy shrugged. "Just…maybe leather isn't so bad either," Nico looked down at his legs.

"It's not even real leather," He shrugged, but his boyfriend wasn't staring him in the face. "I really hate when you do that," Nico said feeling suddenly self-conscious, Percy rolled his eyes and motioned for the boy to come sit beside him.

"I don't see why," He said handing the controller to Nico. "Finish him off for me, I was a few laps ahead,"

"Shut up!" Jason said from the floor where he had scooted a lot closer to the screen as if it would give him an advantage. "I got turned around!"

"You were going the wrong way for like a lap and a half, how did that even happen?" Percy laughed.

"The track got confusing," Jason justified and Nico laughed and turn he face towards Percy for a second, then he wrinkled his nose a bit.

"Perce, babe, before we leave you should at least put on some body spray," He smirked. Percy rolled his eyes and got up off the couch, then he went to their dresser and opened it. Making an 'x' with the spray across his body the room suddenly smelled strongly of Axe. Collapsing beside Nico again he turned his eye to the screen and watched as the younger man crossed the finish line.

"Better?" He asked while Jason cursed from the floor.

"Better," Nico smiled and kissed him. Then the door opened to the bathroom and a glamorized Rachel Elizabeth Dare stepped into the room. She wrinkled her nose.

"I fucking hate that cologne," She said coming more out, Thalia was next behind her. Even in her simple short jean shorts and tank top she looked party ready. Her hair had been tamed and gelled down against her head, almost making her hair cut look professional, it was what some people called a "pixie cut" and it looked really rather nice on her. Rachel tried not to think too heavily about the gunk on her face, as much as she loved clothes she didn't care much for make-up, it always felt like she was wearing someone else's face. Luckily all Thalia had forced on her was a subtle brownish-red lipstick and a light pink eyeshadow, which when combined with the mascara that lined not only her eyes but the shell of her lips as well, gave her green eyes a smoky look she had wouldn't have been able to achieve on her own.

"I kind of like it," Thalia shrugged. "Alright, kiddies, let's get going because I'm ready to get my drink on."

Alpha Phi Theta knew how to throw a party, Percy knew that much. He hadn't planned on being so drunk only two hours into it but when people are doing vodka jello shooters and the winner gets a lei then you just have to participate. Percy had four leis around his neck, all several different colors. He had lost Nico somewhere in the mass of people, but the younger Italian boy was with Rachel and Thalia so he was bound to be fine. Besides, they were about to start a game of King's Cup and he felt he was needed at the card table. Taking a seat down he was quickly dealt a hand.

The object of King's Cup is to be able to place a card under the tab of a Rockstarr, which was a very alcoholic carbonated beverage. The person to pop the tab had to chug the entire thing, and it was a lot to drink at twenty-five ounces. But, Percy was feeling confident—or drunk, really they were the same thing. "Deal me in," A familiar voice said and he turned in the way that people who are inebriated turn, whole bodied and quickly. For a moment his vision swum but it was singular again quite soon and he was staring at Calypso.

"Callie!" He said boisterously and she smiled at him.

"Hiya, Perce," She laughed. "A little drunk?"

"I'm well on my way," Percy said, returning the chuckle. "You not been drinking? Why not?" He drew the words out and she laughed again.

"I have been," She said. "I'm just a quiet drunk, or people tell me." She shrugged then she was handed a hand of cards and the people around the table began. Percy slid a card easily under the tab and waited for his next turn, when it came again to him he did the same, and again and again till he was only holding a few cards in hand. They nearly had the entire deck under the cap and it looked fit to bursting, it came back to him and expertly—or, just in some amazing drunken luck—he got the card to fit. Then taking a swig of an acquired Budweiser he watched Calypso deftly push the card under the tab, but it didn't seem to be at all her fate for the game to continue because the drink popped and fizzed and cards went flying all over the table. "Shit!" She laughed.

Suddenly a chant took over the table which was infectious and spread to the a few of the students gathered around them, it was an old chant, juvenile really, but tried and true. It went like this, "Chug, chug, chug, chug, chug, chug, chug!" The crowd rallied and she stood up, grabbing the twenty-five ounce can and popped the tab off fully then throwing it back like an Irishman on his best day she drowned the entire thing in nearly three large gulps. Percy stared at her slack jawed as did most of the other people around them, then there was a loud cheer as she belched deeply.

"Holy shit," Percy slurred. "That was amazing,"

"It was nothing," The girl smiled near modestly, but her eyes were hazed over now and she was clearly drunk to Percy. People began clapping her on the back and she laughed and thanked them as another Rockstarr was set up for another round. "You wanna go somewhere else?" She asked and Percy nodded, he really wasn't in the mood to be just sitting there anymore. Finishing off his beer he left the can on the table and they stood.

"Let's get another drink!" He called to her a bit more loudly than necessary, but she just nodded and they made their way further into the antechamber of the dorm-house. Coming up to a pool table with a tarp over it Percy quickly grabbed a mixed drink, though he wasn't exactly sure what it was, though at this point he didn't really care what he drank. Callie grabbed a Pabst Blue Ribbon from one of the coolers on the ground and then grasped Percy by the wrist.

"Come on, there's a balcony this way," She said and they continued walking, passing couples and tons of other people Percy had seen on campus but never really talked to. He knew a good deal of them too, but it seemed his recognition skills were lacking. Then the cool air was hitting him and he found himself standing on a verandah at the back of the dorm-house. The music was now a dull thud when Callie closed the door, then they turned towards the railing and Percy laughed.

"Not much of a balcony," He said, holding onto the beam. "we're on the first floor."

"Yeah, well it's better than taking you up to the second or third floor and you falling over the side," Calypso laughed and she stood close to him. Percy thought she was warm, and she smelled nice. Like guava melon, it was probably her shampoo he decided. Girls were always using scented shampoos and it made them smell like fruit. As he thought why anyone would want to smell like a fruit he hardly noticed when the girl picked up his arms and placed it around her shoulders.

She was warm.

"Nico doesn't like me very much does he?" She asked and Percy stared blearily down at her, sipping his drink that decidedly had rum in it, and pineapple, vaguely he wondered if they made a shampoo that smelled like pineapples. Then he blinked hard.

"What?" He asked.

"I said, Nico doesn't like me very much does he?" Calypso asked again and she leaned her head against Percy's chest. "You smell good,"

"Thanks," Percy smiled. "You do too," Then he shrugged as best he could with her holding herself against him. "Nico just needs to warm up to you, he's not receptive with everybody, you just flew in the wrong way on his radar."

"Mm." The girl said. Then she looked up at him with her big, round eyes. "But you like me right, Percy? I flew in right on your radar?" He smiled wider.

"You did, just right." He replied. "You remind me a lot of my old girlfriend, Annabeth. God, she's beautiful, and really smart. She's going to be an architect, but I didn't want to be an architect, I didn't want to go to art school." Then he paused and took a drink. "I cheated on her, you know? I wasn't thinking about it, and Nico was struggling with his emotions and he looked so lonely, and I was lonely." Another swallow. "It was good," He said. "Like, I always expected my first time be really bad, people always say it's really bad, but Nico was just so ready, and I was ready and it was amazing! It's still amazing," Calypso nodded.

"Why do you think he doesn't like me?" She asked.

"Because he's jealous of you," Percy said and shrugged, slurring rather badly now. "I dunno why, sure you're really hot but I love him, and he's hot too, y'know? Have you seen him? I've got naked pictures of him on my phone."

"I know," The girl laughed. "You told me that already." Then she pulled Percy's other arm around her waist and pulled him down. He was an inch away from her face.

"Hey," Percy smiled and hiccupped.

"Hi," She said.

"You are really pretty though," Percy admitted, searching her face. "I'm glad we're friends, Calypso. I told Nico you were a good person, he said he'd give you a chance," Calypso suddenly looked crestfallen and Percy cupped her face. "Hey, hey! Don't look like that, he's not all that scary. Actually he's a big baby if you get past his doom and gloom." A tear fell out of the girl's eyes and she blinked hard.

"Shut up, Percy, before I regret this anymore," She said.

"Wha—," Their lips were pressed together the next second, it was a drunken, harsh kiss and Percy leaned into it, his eyes fluttering closed. Calypso pulled back and the tall young man sobered up a bit from how hard their mouths had been pushed together, it sparked something in his mind that said there was something wrong. "What are you doing Callie?" He asked, his lips still ghosting over hers as he spoke. He couldn't remember how to pull away. She tasted like Pabst Blue Ribbon, a horrible beer, but on her lips it was sweet.

"Something I have to," She said kissing him hard again and she pushed his hand against her breasts, unconsciously Percy cupped and she moaned. "Fuck, Percy, I'm sorry," She said quietly and more tears fell out of her eyes. Percy was confused and not entirely sure what was going on, his head was trying to tell him to come to a full halt but his senses were dulled, his mind was felt askew as if it weren't set up properly, but he was coming into sobriety rapidly. Then all at once he pushed back and removed his hands.

He was hard, and his face was wet from her tears and all he could do was back up. "Calypso…" He said touching his lips.

"Fuck!" I'm sorry!" The girl yelled, her voice trembling. "I can't do this!" she screamed; and then she was gone, throwing open the door to the balcony that wasn't truly a balcony and running into the dorm-house. Percy head was reeling suddenly and he gripped onto the rail. What the fuck had just happened? Not three hours ago he was hanging out in his room, playing video games, getting ready for a kick ass party, and now he was unbelievably confused. He looked up when someone cleared their throat.

"What's going on?" Thalia asked, leaning against the doorjamb. "What'd you do to her?"

"She kissed me," Percy replied, his voice and mind both distant.