Previously in Half Blood High~~
Thank you for all the great times, Luke.
I'll see ya soon Scar-face,
Grey Eyes
Annabeth wiped her eyes, grabbed her bags and headed out the door. She grabbed her ipod and played Autumn Leaves by Ed Sheeran. It was a slow song, but she loved it. The song was sweet and a bit bouncy and cute. It made Annabeth reflect more.
"Do you ever wonder if stars shine out for you?
Float down
Like autumn leaves
And Hush now
Close your eyes before the sleep
And you're miles away
And yesterday you were here with me."
Annabeth felt enlightened, and she felt like she understood life.
•
"Thalia, hey!" Grover said, walking up to Thalia who was sitting next to a tree in the courtyard. "How are you holding up?"
Thalia gave Grover a look. And then looked away. "I'm sorry Grover. I'm just not feeling it today. I think I'm gunna skip today."
"But—"
"I'll see you later, Goat boy." Thalia sighed, getting up and leaving. The strings on her combat boots click-clacked on the pavement and her fluffy white skirt flounced in the saddest way.
•
"Um. Vodka on the rocks, please." Thalia had made it to the bar a couple roads down. "And keep them coming."
•
When Percy was walking to school, he got a call from his mom. Percy and his mom told each other everything. She did everything for him. At one point, when they were living together in New York, his mother married this horrible guy so that she could keep the apartment and keep Percy off the streets, homeless. But then after many years, Sally divorced him because the guy 1) smelled horrible and 2) abused her and Percy. Percy was forever in debt of his mother.
Sally called him in the morning.
"Hey mom."
"Hey, honey. How are you? I got your text last night about that friend of yours."
"It'll be alright mom. So what's up?"
"Percy, do you remember Maria Di Angelo?"
"Of course. Is Nico coming today?"
"Yes."
"Cool."
"Great!" Percy could hear the smile in her voice. "I know you'll take care of him."
"Mom. Nico is 16. He'll be fine." He sighed. "But yeah, I'll watch out for him. We're good friends anyway." He smiled, thinking about Nico and his stupid jokes. They haven't seen since a year ago.
Percy was walking down the hall, looking for Annabeth when someone caught his eye. A boy stood in the corner.
He was wearing all black. A black leather jacket hung loosely around his bony frame. A dark shirt was probably under the jacket, and the kid wore black skinny jeans with combat boots that screamed grunge. His wavy black hair flowed around his olive colored face. His eyes were dark and his lashes made them even dark and deeper. Almost as deep at the pits of Tartarus.
"Di Angelo!"
"Jackson. Hey." Nico pulled the earbuds off his ears "Your mom called me earlier, making sure I was safe. Typical Sally." He smiled.
Sally treated Nico as a second son. Ever since Nico's mother, Maria and his sister Bianca left to Italy, Nico had been living with his Dad in Boston until Hades decided to move Nico closer to family.
"So the other night when you freakin' emailed me… dude, no one emails anymore. Seriously. WTF. But anyway, you told me that it's kind of a bad time… what's going on?" Nico asked, with one thick, arched brow. Nico was what people would call model-material. He used to be scrawny but now he was skinny in a way that looked very editorial… according to Sally. Percy didn't care much for Vogue and all that crap. Nico's haunting handsomeness only heightened since the last time Percy saw him.
"Yeah… this guy who was close to my new friends here passed away." Percy lowered his voice.
"Oh shiz, dude. That sucks… I think I read about him on the local paper on the plane… Luke Castellan right? I've seen him before… I just don't know where. Maybe camp or something… Aw crap. It is a bad time for me to come right now. Daam." Nico blabbered. Even though he used to be called the 'emo kid', Nico was anything but. Okay. Nico dressed in all black and used to look really PO-ed or disgruntled a lot, but when it came to sentiments, Nico could get emotional easily. He once cried in kindergarten when he witnessed a classmate giving flowers to a girl. Bianca used to love watching chick-flicks with him just to watch him tear up and then pretend to be all tough…
Percy shrug-nodded and walked with Nico to class.
•
Thalia sat on a bar stool, watching the door as people came in and out. She looked down at her half finished 3rd drink, sighing. Luke wouldn't have wanted this.
'I'm out.' She sighed heavily and got her bags.
"Yo. Thalia. You're back!" The bartender who just changed shifts came in.
"Alec. Hey…"
"Dang girl. You're drinking again? I thought you quit."
"You're one to talk, Alec the Bartender." Thalia retaliated with all the attitude she could muster. "You know… my friend just died. "
"Aw shiz. I'm sorry Grace." Alec groaned. "Do you want to talk about it?"
"If he was still here, I'd tell him how sorry I am… for everything." Thalia said softly. Alec nodded encouragingly. "He totally screwed up his own life and none of his friends understood him enough to really know what was going on in that gay-azz head of his." Thalia scoffed, reaching for her drink.
"Nuh-uh." Alec swooped the drink out of her hand, smiling kindly. "Come on now Grace."
"I'm just so…I don't even know the words…" Thalia let a loud sob out. "I'm sorry, Alec. I should go now. Back to school and that kind of stuff, ya know?"
"Stay in school kid." Alec said. Thalia gave him a grateful look.
"Thanks for listening." She smiled as he handed her a napkin to wipe her eyes. Alec reached over the bar and wiped her smudged mascara. From an outsider's point of view, the two had a thing. But Alec was just a friend to Thalia. And Thalia was practically his sister. "I'll go now, haha." She slapped a 20 on the table. "Thank you."
And she walked out the door, without looking back.
•
Nico fit in pretty fast. He met everyone at the table and even smiled. Percy could see the dramatic change in his friend. He remembered the days when Nico was the sullen, angry kid who stood at the corner, eyeing everyone, hating them for no reason.
And everyone liked Nico too. Percy was glad that Half Blood High was his school. He was proud to be there.
"Hey Percy." Nico nudged Percy. "Who's that hot blonde chick walking over here?"
"Annabeth! Hey." Percy pushed off from his locker. The school day was done and he was getting his gym clothes for football practice. They had a game against the West-High Wolves.
"Percy." Annabeth bounded over and wrapped her arms around Percy. "Hi." She smiled broadly.
"You okay there Wise girl?" Percy pulled back, holding her by her hips.
"I need to move on. I'm figuring it out. And I'm making progress. It's what… it's what Luke would've wanted." Annabeth smiled softly, her hands making their way up to Percy's shoulders.
"Dude. Are you guys, like, dating?" Nico asked from beside them. Annabeth gave him a curious look.
"No, Nico. We aren't." Percy said going red. Nico rolled his eyes. Percy totally likes this girl. "Annabeth, this is Nico, my annoying other best friend who moved here from Chicago. Nico, this is Annabeth, the 'hot blonde chick' who is smart, funny and an amazing tour guide."
Annabeth laughed out loud. "It's good to meet you Nico. I believe Seaweed brain here mentioned you in a conversation once or twice. You're the one who used to be all emo right?"
"I was NOT emo!" Nico said loudly. "I was simply too cool for school."
"Whatever helps you sleep at night, kid." Percy grinned.
"Hey. I'm staying in your dorm. Watch what you say. I can kill you in your sleep anytime!" Nico threatened.
"Chill. No need to get so touchy and violent." Percy laughed. Nico gave him a death glare.
"Oh my gods, you would totally love Thalia. You two are so alike." Annabeth said. Nico perked up at the mention of another girl's name. "Speaking of which, Percy, can Thalia and I come with you to watch your game with the Wolves?"
"Of course. You're my lucky charm." Nico wanted to gag.
"Dude, Thalia ditched school today, but came to her senses at like the 2nd last period… Anyway, Nico, do you want to come with us?" Annabeth smiled. A subtle hook-up.
"Yay!" Nico bounced. "I mean. Yeah. I mean, sure. I mean, that's cool. I mean, um if you want me to."
"Thalia! Hey cuz." Percy shouted over to a figure walking over towards them.
When her tutu and combat boots came in sight, Nico gasped.
"Wait. Thalia as in Percy's cousin Thalia? WTF!" Nico practically screamed. Percy smiled wickedly. About 6 years ago, there was a giant family get together, and Nico, Percy and Thalia's families were all there. Nico and Thalia got into a huge fight over a cream puff. It ended in tears and pulled out hair. Nico was the one with the bald patches and tear stained cheeks.
Percy whispered the encounter to Annabeth's ear. Her eyes widened.
"Omg! She told me about that before!" Annabeth burst into laughter with Percy.
"What in the name of Hades are you doing here, you little snot face douche?" Thalia gasped.
"WTF HAPPENED TO YOU GRACE?" Nico said.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Thalia crossed her arms.
"You… you used to be UGLY!" Nico said. "You look HOT now."
"ALRIGHT YOU LITTLE DIPSHIZ!" Thalia tackled him. Even if she was almost half his size, she was still the same girl who fought over that cream puff 6 years ago.
•
A couple black eyes and bruised shins later (, needless to say, was Nico), they finally made it to the field. Percy went into the locker room and Nico followed him, unsteadily, due to his damaged limbs.
"That crazy *bleep bit me, Percy!" Nico whined.
"You don't just call a girl ugly, and then hot! Jeez Nico!" Percy laughed. "Serves you right."
"She is HOT now."
"Dude! She's my cousin! Please. Don't talk about her 'hotness' to me! Tell Grover or something." Percy moaned. Grover had met Nico before and they were pretty good friends.
Nico pouted, then his eyes glazed over. Percy figured he was having dirty dreams. Percy almost puked.
•
"I can't believe you just jumped at him like that!" Annabeth laughed.
"Ugh. Don't talk about that piece of crap to me." Thalia rolled her eyes. "I can't believe he's going to enroll here. How dare he!"
"He's kind of cute." Annabeth wiggled her eyebrows. "Plus, I heard that angry se* is the best kind."
"YOU DISGUST ME!" Thalia drew away and stalked off, Annabeth chuckling, following her.
But secretly, Thalia thought that yes, Nico was getting pretty good looking too.
•
"Alright team," Coach Hedge said in their pre-game group huddle, "Let's do this for Castellan. Let's do this cupcakes."
The whole team nodded in agreement.
•
The Half Bloods won, 20-9. When the game was over and the football players gave a shout out for Luke.
By the time Annabeth got onto the field, the football players had all taken off their helmets.
"I'm so proud of you, Seaweed brain." Annabeth smiled, running over and giving Percy an awkward high five. She almost ran over and kissed him. It was weird.
"Thanks!" Percy on the other hand, didn't even care about being careful, he picked Annabeth up and spun her in the air, laughing.
"Ewwww! Put me down. You're all sweaty and gross."
"No. I'm musty and very man." Percy grinned. Annabeth stuck her tongue out. Then the two looked to the side at Thalia and Nico glaring at each other. "That sexual frustration over there is so strong…"
"You are an idiot." Annabeth laughed. She loved when Percy made her laugh. "They are totally going to fall in love…" The two stood in silence as the rest of the players and fans started leaving the field.
"So…"
"So…"
"Hey, I was wondering if you could grab a quick bite with me." Percy asked shyly. It was almost like asking her out.
"Um… sounds great. Sure! Where?" Annabeth answered timidly. It was almost like she was being asked out.
"How about the Demi-Burger down town?" Percy said quietly, moving closer.
"Awesome-sauce." Annabeth said almost in a whispers, moving closer.
"PERRRCYYY! Thalia hit me again!"
"YOU DESERVED IT YOU LITTLE SHIZ."
Annabeth and Percy chuckled, but their eyes on each other the whole time.
Yay! Now Thalia and Nico are both here? THALICO?
AND PERCABETH IS ON A RISE HUEHUEHUE 333 reviews please