AN. Hey, sorry about taking so long! I've had a lot of writing to do, though. But here is chapter two! Sorry it's so short. Anyway, please review! I hope you like!

Coffee

Nico was barely holding my hand anymore. His fingers were just laced threw mine. Every couple minutes, he'd tighten his grip, so that our hands wouldn't pull apart completely. I still have no idea why I wanted to hold his hand. I guess I feel bad for him. He's the strongest demigod I've ever known. Heck, not just demigod, anyone! He is stronger and braver than anyone I've ever known.

With Nico's other hand, he brushes his fingers threw his hair, fussing and cursing under his breath about how people will notice that we were holding hands. The only other time I've ever actually seen Nico nervous was when we were at Cupid's. He is a lot less nervous now, but it is still strange to see him like this. He is almost always seen as the one in the background, who either has no problems at all, or no one notices them. I know so many people at out table will be shocked to see Nico so worried. I think that Nico shouldn't worry to much. I mean, I know that he doesn't want anyone to know that he is gay, but if we don't mention it, no one will know. Besides, I used to hold hands with boys, and it wasn't meant as a romantic thing at all. It just depends on who you are. But it means a lot more to Nico, I can tell. Not holding hands with me personally, but holding hands in general seems to have a much deeper meaning to Nico.

"You know, we don't have to do this if you don't want to" I said. Nico did nothing for a few minutes.

"I don't know how they'll react" Nico said.

"Hey, this is only romantic if both of us want it to be. If you want, this can totally just be a friendly thing. I've done this before, a lot" I said.

"I know. I just don't want them to find out" Nico said, with anxiety, and a scowl on his face.

"Cheer up. They won't" I said. Nico took a deep breath, and stopped fidgeting about.

We near the restaurant. Nico's hand tightens around mine, but the look on his face is normal. Well, normal for Nico, that is.

Nico and I walk into the Restaurant. I don't let go of Nico's hand. We walk to the table where everyone else sits. Reyna looks stunning. Her hair is down. It is very wavy. I've never noticed that before. She wears a lacy white dress with spaghetti straps. I forgot how nice Reyna's laugh is, or how pretty her smile can be. Hazel and Frank are both chatting. Leo is playing with his spoon, and talking intently to Hazel, who doesn't seem to hear him. Percy's arm is around Annabeth's shoulders. I look at Nico's face, which looks pained. Piper sits next to Reyna, and across from Annabeth. Piper smiles and talks with both girls. Hazel's eyes dart up when she sees Nico and I walk in. A smile creeps onto her lips. She looks at our hands, and for a second her eyebrows raise, than a sly smile. Hazel seemed like to only person who noticed us.

"Hey, guys" Hazel said, drawing everyone's attention to Nico and I. Everyone said hi, and Nico dropped my hand. I sighed. The only two seats left were right next to each other, so Nico and I were going to be sitting closer than planned. I don't know what to say about that. I don't know if I'm happy or not. I'm not angry about it, that's for sure.

Nico took the seat that was beside Hazel, and I sat next to him. Piper sits across from me. She takes my hand and starts to chat away about stuff. I try to listen, but my ADHD clicks in, and I can barely. The only thing that is catching my attention is Nico. He is the perfect example of feeling alone in a crowd. Even though almost everyone is happy to see him, he doesn't take notice in the face. He stares at the table, paying no attention to the rest of us. Piper stops to take a breath, and turns to talk to Reyna. They get along surprisingly well. I let go of Piper's hand, and I turn to Nico.

"You okay, man?" I asked.

"Yeah" Nico said. I look up, to see Hazel's vibrant gold eyes staring intently at Nico and I.

"Jason, can I talk to you for a moment?" Hazel asked, causally.

"Sure" I say, with a small smile.

"Outside" Hazel said, impatient.

"Okay" I said back, backing off slightly. People usually deny how scary Hazel can be when she gets mad or impatient, but she is a child of Pluto, but she can become terrifying when she wants to. I stand up, and Hazel does too. Nico had a pained look, and stared down at the table. He kicked his feet away, and nestled in the shadowy corner of the table. No one seemed to notice. I gave him a half smile, when Hazel beckoned me away. We walked outside, and her eyes scanned me.

"You have been really kind to my brother. Ever since you two got back from Croatia, you've been acting weird. I usually like weird, but Nico never just...walks inside of a restaurant holding hands with someone, or talks to them, or even smiles usually. Only if it is someone seriously special" Hazel said. "I know my brother. I know him better than you know him. He may have told you a secret of his, because Olympus knows he has a lot, but that doesn't make you a friend. But, he does consider you one, and this is a very new look on Nico. So spill it out. I've put this puzzle together."

"We're friends. He's just a good friend, and I'm trying to be friendly" I said.

"Please" Hazel exclaimed. "Before Croatia, you were terrified of him. Tell me."

"No" I said. "If I tell you this, I have to tell you everything, and I promised him I wouldn't say a word."

Hazel raised an eyebrow at me, and scanned me again.

"Jason, do you like him? Like, have a crush on my brother?" She asked. "Piper has taught me how to sense this sort of thing, and you look at him different. You're cheeks turn brighter, and your pupils grow bigger every time Nico enters a room. I never thought you were bisexual or anything, but the way you look at him is very suspicious."

"What?!" I asked, my voice higher pitched than I expected, and it still was when I kept talking. "No! Of course not! I...I really like Piper. We're together...we're..."

"Not happy" Hazel said. "Piper explained. It's little things. Piper notices it, too. She'd rather you just tell her, than keep this going."

I slumped onto a bench.

"She...she's not happy, anymore?" I asked. "She told you this?"

"A few weeks after Percy and Annabeth had fallen, Piper and I became best friends. We tell each other everything. I taught her plenty about sword fighting, and she helped me grasp using the Mist. I'm sorry Jason" Hazel said. "But I know you aren't happy either."

"I..." I said, realization hitting me. She was right. I was happier when I was talking to Nico. I did smile brighter. My day brightened when his shadowy figure slumped into a room. With Piper...I don't know. I feel like I love her like I love Leo. She's my best friend. But I feel weird when I kiss her, or say I love her, and hug her romantically. But I was a lot happier when I carried and flew with Nico. It felt better that way. It's weird. I never considered being gay, or bi.

"Just tell her. And with Nico...don't try to do anything, unless he does something, first. Nico has threatened to disappear before, and I don't want him, too. I'm so scared that he's serious. So please take this slowly, and think about him, more than yourself" Hazel said.

"I don't care about Nico in that way. He's my friend" I insisted. Hazel gave me a sympathetic look.

"Want me to ask Piper to come out here?" She asked.

"Yeah" I said. Hazel nodded, and walked back inside, with a grim look on her face. I put my head in my hands, and I sighed. Well, I'm not going to stop being friends with Nico, no matter how awkward it gets. Why is Hazel clever? Why did Piper have to teach her this? Why did they have to make me realize that I like Nico? Just...why?

Piper walks out, with a look on her face as though she were deep in thought. I stood up, and I hugged her.

"Pipes" I started. "You're...you're amazing, beautiful, and my best friend in the whole world. But...after these couple months I just..."

Piper stopped me with a kiss.

"Okay, I get it. I know what you're going to say. Alright. But just as long as we can still be friends" She said, quietly.

"I wouldn't have it any other way" I said, with a smile.

"I have to...get something from the ship" She said, and starting to walk in the opposite direction. I nodded, and walked back into the Restaurant, down to the table, and sat again beside Nico. Everyone was silent, and they all looked at me.

"You look pale" Annabeth noted.

"Piper and I broke up" I said. Hazel nodded.

"Where is she?" She asked.

"She went back to the ship. Said she needed something" I said. Annabeth and Hazel's eyes flashed with anger as if to yell "YOU IDIOT!"

"What?" I asked.

"You are clueless" Annabeth said, as Hazel and her got up from the table, and got up. My eyes narrowed.

"What did I do?" I asked. Everyone was silent, except for Nico.

"She's a girl. You probably didn't comfort her very much. When daughters of Aphrodite break up, or just pretty much any girl, they need their friends. When a girl says I'll be right back, she usually means I won't be right back, I'm gonna go sob for hours. She'll be okay, but she was just looking for a bit more comfort" Nico said, quietly, looking at the ground. He said nothing else for the rest of the night. Piper, Hazel and Annabeth showed back up. Reyna snickered a bit, but didn't say much. Leo asked Piper multiple times if she were alright.

We all left eventually. Most were giggling, and running around, and celebrating random different things. I'm pretty sure Hazel and Frank followed Leo off to watch him jump into a river. Nico and I were the last two in the restaurant. I still hadn't finished my food, and neither had Nico. We had already paid, but we still were tired, and needed to finish eating. It was an awkward silence between us.

"Why did you break up with Piper?" Nico asked.

"It wasn't working out. We still like each other and all but we weren't happy and..." I said, trailing off.

"You're hiding something. There's another reason" He said.

"No, not really" I slumped.

"I don't give a rip what it is about, but you obviously have another reason for breaking up with her. You two were happy" He said. "I see much more than people think, and you two seemed to be like you were in love."

"Well, we weren't. There's...I guess there's someone else, thanks to Hazel for pointing it out" I grunted.

"Hazel?" Nico asked. "What did she point out? Who? What's her name?"

"Uhh..." I said. "No, doesn't matter. They aren't interested."

"They?" Nico purred. "It's a boy. You're trying to hide something. If it were a girl, you'd say 'she,' but you said 'they.'"

"Yeah" I said, not really willing to fight with him. I was really tired, and everyone was loud.

"Okay, say no more. Don't really care, anyway. Nice seeing you. And thanks...for tonight, with the hand thing...you aren't that bad, Grace. You and Hazel...I'll visit you two, someday" He said.

"Wait" I said, turning. "You're leaving now?"

"Not now. When we get back to the Camps. We'll be there in about a week" He said.

"Okay" I nodded. Nico got up, and walked away, saying a quick goodbye. One week to change his mind.

End Of Chapter.

AN. Please review! It will get better, I promise. I just needed this chapter for a little breakup, and I'm not good with that, but it will be better from here on in. Review please!

Coffee.

Also, JICO FOREVER!