Nico read the letter over again. Why did he want to go to the wedding? Why did he have this gut feeling that something would happen if he didn't?
Percy dragged Nico to the doors of the Aphrodite Cabin, where Mitchell stood waiting..
"Oh no!" Nico exclaimed "I don't think so Percy!" he said. Percy looked at him with a sly smile across his face.
"I thought you might chicken out," he said, his smile getting wider. "That's why I called in a favour from Frank and Hazel." He clicked his fingers and out of nowhere two giant boys appeared behind Nico grabbing his arms. What?! He thought, they were wearing full Roman Legionnaire armour, Nico recognised them from his days as Senator of Pluto, Marcus and Brutes, both belonging to the 2nd Cohort and personal guard to the Praetors of the 12th. There was no point trying to escape from these two.
Mitchell had a team of Aphrodite kids waiting for him.
"Well, we have been given the task of making this boy look presentable for a wedding," Mitchell told them "As you know Clarisse and Chris are getting married."
"You still owe me $50 for that!" Tommy said getting a few laughs, that made Mitchell scowl.
"We have been given the most challenging task, yet, and your all giggling?" That earned a few giggles in itself. Mitchel gave that heart-warming speech before the 'battle of beauty as if it was his last day on earth.
Nico couldn't take it anymore, they were there for five hours! The whole of the Aphrodite Cabin was chaos, the little kids running around carrying an assortment of different hair products, garments and scissors. The older ones stood around Nico, preparing him for the 'transformation'. Nico thought the rest of the century had past before Michell declared proudly, with a huge smile that he was done. Nico walked to the wall-to-ceiling mirror and saw his new look, his hair for the first time was cut short, waxed slightly so the front spiked up. His eyes locked upon him, Amy Belle wolf whistled.
"We should go out sometime di Angelo," she said with a wink.
Nico's breath caught in his throat. He hadn't thought about dating since his sister, Bianca, had died. He never forgot her face the day he confessed to who he really was. That was the day his family had fled Italy and moved to the USA. The memory stirred a deep sadness within him, and he felt a tear running down his cheek.
"I know your hot, but there's no need to cry at your own reflection!" Amy laughed along with her siblings. Nico was left to decide his own suit. He chose a white buttoned down shirt, black trousers, a matching blazer and a bow tie to fit. He took one last look at himself in the mirror, he wondered what his mother and sister would say? Nico stepped out of the changing room and was greeted with oo's and aaa's Percy's smug face was staring out at him from the door.
"Yeah, yeah...whatever." Nico shrugged off the compliments. He redressed into his usual black T-shirt and aviators jacket, and met up with Percy at the Mess tent.
"Hey handsome!" Percy said as he rised and approached him. Nico scowled at him.
"I suppose you won't be coming to the wedding on account of Clarisse hating you?" Nico asked, he hoped Percy wouldn't be there. It's not like he didn't like Percy, it was just...awkward being so friendly with him. No matter what he did to act comfortable around him, he would just tense up. Nico took his plate to the hearth and scrapped a portion into the fire, he whispered under his breath...
"Immortals preserve me...".