Author's Note: I took a bit of a break, and it's why I haven't actually updated in a million years. I realized, after writing my original fiction, that my writing style is ten times worse in my fanfiction than in my original stories, and it was then that I realized that I was literally forcing everything out of me to get chapters out for you guys. So, sorry about the random break.

I have a lot more inspiration for this story. It's pretty close to being over! Then I'll start on Ignorance next.

I must also tell you that I don't have anything more planned for this story. This story will most likely be ending in another five chapters or so? Damn, I'm going to miss this story... If there's any plot holes that I missed, please tell me! It's been awhile since I wrote for this story, so I don't remember much...

Note: Thank you to my friend for editing and beta reading my chapters and all of that. I really appreciate it!

Warning: Bullying, violence, language (I'll add more along the way)

Disclaimer: Pshh, you think I'm Rick Riordan? Please. Also, "Yancy" for the school name is from the first book The Lightning Thief. The actual school name is "Yancy Academy".

Depression

Author: Loving Healer

Chapter Thirty-Six

Nico laughed, bringing a hand up to his face. "I can't believe you actually drove us here."

I couldn't help the ridiculous grin that broke across my face. "Maybe I should've used the GPS after all."

Nico glanced at me with an eyebrow raised, a smile still gracing his lips that I had the urge to kiss so badly. "Just maybe."

Remember how I said that Nico should get out more and have a bit more fun? Yeah well, it turned out that Nico was going to have an adventure at an orphanage.

I felt kind of bad and guilty at first because Nico literallywas an orphan, but when we got here-by accident of course-he began to laugh at the stupid mistake I made. So, hopefully Nico was fine.

I ended up making some random turn at the freeway and we ended up lost. I drove a bit more and we ended up here, in front of this large, dark red, mansion-looking building. A sign stood at the gate which said "The Orphanage of Hermes."

This was probably the most interesting first date that I have ever had.

"Are we going in or not?" Nico asked, breaking me away from my thoughts.

"Wait, we're going in?"

He furrowed his eyebrows together. "Weren't we having an adventure? You were going to take me to wherever we ended up, and we ended up here. So, why not?"

I blinked blankly at Nico for what seemed to feel like an eternity. Nico really was the best person that I have ever dated.

I unbuckled my seatbelt and unlocked the car doors. "Well then, looks like we're going in. Our excuse for being here is that we took a wrong turn on the freeway and we're lost and we have no idea where we are or what we're doing because our GPS died."

"That's... Actually what happened Percy." Nico chuckled. "I don't really know if it's an excuse if that actually happened. Except for the GPS part. You just refused to use a GPS but I'll agree on making you look less stubborn."

I laughed lightly. "Then let's go in."

We opened the front double doors of the building and walked in. There were wooden benched scattered against the walls, and wooden poles rose from the ground to keep the ceiling in place. Two sets of stairs led up to another floor ahead of us, and a single lamp stood in between the sets of stairs, making the place look quite dim. It even smelled like some old, run down place.

"This place looks kind of creepy if you ask me." Nico scowled at the walls surrounding us. "They should really keep a place harboring kids more clean."

I shrugged, reaching over to grab Nico's left hand. "At least they have a place to stay, right?"

"I guess," Nico answered with a disapproving tone.

That was when a little girl wandered into the room from one of the staircases.

She had big, sea green eyes and long, dark brown hair that reminded me strangely of Nico's hair. I kind of wondered if her hair was as soft as Nico's. She had a thin, plain blue T-shirt and beige shorts. She didn't have any shoes, and she looked as confused as we were when we spotted her.

"Hello?" Her eyes were wide as she scanned us up and down.

"Uh, hey." I smiled as kindly as I could. "We're kind of lost, and we were wondering if there was anyone around here who could give us directions?"

The strange girl nodded. "I'll take you to our Mama. Maybe she'll know what to do for you guys." She turned on her heels and walked up the stairs without turning back to see if we were following.

"I guess we're going then," Nico said before tugging on my hand and pulling me along after the little girl.

"And what happened to your GPS?"

I could hear Nico's nonstop laughter from beside me. One of Nico's hands was in my own, but Nico's other hand clutched his stomach from the amount of laughter coming from him. His laughter was almost contagious-it really made me want to drop into the floor and laugh as well.

"It broke," I attempted to say without any laughter spilling, but I couldn't go the smile that crawled into my lips.

The older woman-I assumed she was the one in charge of the orphanage-stared at me suspiciously along with an expression of disbelief. I mean, I couldn't blame her; with two guys uncontrollably laughing over a broken GPS, it kind of made it seem like we threw it out the window by accident or something and didn't want to share the embarrassing event.

She soon chuckled, glancing between us. I noticed that her gaze eventually found out intertwined fingers, but to my surprise, she didn't make a comment.

"Okay then. Where did you want to go?"

Nico and I exchanged confused glances. Where didwe want to go?

"Let's just go back home," Nico said with an amused smile. "I had enough adventuring for today. This place is good for me."

I nodded turning back to the lady. I gave her Nico's address because there was another place that I wanted to bring him to at night. She smiled and left the room soon after I finished, saying that she'll look up the directions to get back home on her computer. She planned on printing out the instructions and giving it to us.

Now, that just left Nico and me in a room full of abandoned children-those poor kids.

The girl that took us here tugged on Nico's arm, trying to gain his attention. "Play with me!"

"Play... With you?" Nico furrowed his eyebrows at her as if she were speaking in a different language.

She nodded enthusiastically. "My name's Zoë! When I grow up, I'm going to be an archer! I'm pretty good already."

Nico raised an eyebrow. "Really? Why don't you show us?"

I couldn't help but feel the-manly-fluttering of my heart when he mentioned usand not just him.

She smirked. "Okay. Come over here."

Zoë dragged Nico lightly by the wrist, and since he was still holding on to my hand, I involuntarily came along as well. But it was okay; I would've followed them anyway since I had nowhere else to go in this huge building.

We eventually stopped in front of a dark blue door with stars on it. The name "Zoë Nightshade" was across the doorway, and at each joint there was a dot like a constellation in the night sky. I mean, the stars and the dark painted door had to be for somethingright?

"Here we are!" Zoë announced, pushing open the door resulting in a light creaking sound. "I bet neither of you can beat me at darts."

"Really?" Nico smirked. "Now I'm excited to see how good you are."

I chuckled in amusement. "Bring it on, Zoë."