Hey everyone. Sorry for the update being so late. I've been busy with school and my other fanfiction (which you should definitely go check out). Honestly though I haven't had much motivation to write the next chapter. I'm appreciative for the comments I get but it just doesn't seem like enough people read this story or like it. I know it's going slow but the first half is strictly Nico and his problems, and second half is Percy and Nico and Nico's problems. I'm debating on doing a time skip but that just seems wrong. Idk… I guess I would like more feedback and for my story to attract more people. But anyways… here is the next chapter! Hope you enjoy. We got some Percy and Nico in this chapter *winks*.
Percy's POV
"Hey Jason, how's leading the gym classes going?"
"Mostly boring," Jason tells me, momentarily pausing from stuffing food into his mouth, "Unless I participate with them, I just tell them what to do." All around our lunch table laughter can be heard.
"Obviously genius," Annabeth comments to Jason sarcastically, "You're the teacher. You're supposed to tell them what to do."
"Ha ha. I know that," Jason replies, an annoyed look in his eyes. I chuckle at their interaction. Annabeth and Jason and I have been best friends since freshman year and I've been trying to hook them up for ages now. In freshman year when we all came together Annabeth had confessed to having a crush on me, and if I admit it to myself, I liked her some too. But freshman year was a complicated time for me and although I liked Annabeth, I could never imagine dating her. Then Jason came along and everything fit to me. I've tried to get the two together multiple times, amused by their sarcastic interactions, but on no occasion have my attempts worked. Jason claimed to be infatuated with a girl younger than him and swore off giving anyone else a chance. I couldn't blame the guy either though, if I had had as bad relationship troubles as he did, I wouldn't give anyone a chance either.
Our table was filled with mostly seniors, and a few juniors. Jason –gym full-time substitute, football team captain, senior-, Annabeth –leader of the History club, the Math club, the Debate team, the Physics club, AND the Chess club (We all had different bets on which club she would lead next), senior-, Will –junior, nurse fill-in, vice-president of the GSA, Erin –everyone's favorite gay best friend, president of the GSA, flaming flamboyant senior-, and simple me. The only interesting things I did to gain any sort of reputation was go to every GSA meeting and become a "loyal converted success" as Erin called me, and was captain of the Boy's Swim Team and led the swim gym classes. All of us seniors had more than enough room in our schedule to fill with leading or helping to lead other classes so it became a trend. Others sat at our table sometimes too, like Thalia –soon to be leader of the girl's swim team, sophomore, butchy goth member of the GSA (many had tried to ask her what her sexuality was, but each time it changed. One time she answered saying that she was sexually attracted to sexy potatoes)-, Clovis –the most tired boy anyone has ever known-, Butch –also repeatedly asked what his sexuality was and have failed to receive an answer although Erin is determined to say that he is a dominant bear. Which is probably only for Erin's own sexual fantasies-, Chris, and Mark. We always had seats open for others, but it was nice just having a few of my closest friends. Will and I were not as close as Annabeth and Jason but he was still a good friend of mine.
"Percy, how are the swim classes going," Will chimes in.
"Actually really well, not boring at all," I tease, glancing over at Jason mockingly. He just rolls his eyes and bites his taco. "We're almost finished with the basic techniques and I'm about to start on laps and then flipping against the wall to go backwards."
"You might want to wait a bit longer before you move on from the basics," Jason comments.
"Why?"
"You know Nico Di Angelo," Jason asks me.
"Yeah," I nod, thinking back to the couple times I had run into him in the halls. He always seemed to be upset about something or embarrassed. I never bothered him about it although I tried to be his friend. Each time he pulled away from me or was silent, not that I mind his silence I just wished he would acknowledge my attempts.
"I'm sending him to your swim class instead of gym. He never participates and I'm hoping that in the swim class he will be more comfortable. I would hate to fail him."
I raise my eye brows, "For some reason it doesn't surprise me that he doesn't participate."
Jason nods, "He's a good kid though. Goes through a lot."
I nod, remembering the time that Nico had a seizure in the cafeteria. I move my head and look for the table Nico regularly occupies in the back of the cafeteria. Gazing among the scene, emo, and goth kids around I can't pick out which bundle of black is him. I turn my attention back to Jason.
"Has he said more than a few words to you," I ask him.
Jason shakes his head.
"I've had a conversation with him… well… I'm not sure it was much of a conversation," Will explains.
"The day I brought him down after Luke beat him up?"
"Luke beat him up," Erin questions.
"Yeah," Will answers him, "quite badly actually."
"Was it cause he's gay," Erin grumbles, "I swear if he beats up another gay kid I'm going to pummel him."
"Oh please Erin," Jason chuckles, "You couldn't hurt anyone even if you tried. You're a tooth pick. Leave the violence to me." Just to emphasize his point, Jason dramatically flexes his arms.
"Regardless on if he's gay or not," Annabeth interrupts the show of masculinity, "The kid obviously has problems. Nico, you're able to get anyone to talk. Out of anyone here, you would likely be the most successful in helping Nico."
I highly doubt it but no one ever objects to any of Annabeth's analysis.
"Hey! I can get anyone to talk to!" Erin wines.
"Not true," Will teases him.
"So true."
"Noooo," Jason adds, "because you're the one always talking."
Erin shows a dramatic scene of him flipping Jason off then pouts. We all laugh.
"If Nico is going to be in your swim class…." Will begins to say, his tone a bit reserved, "He'll have to wear only shorts, right?"
I blink at him, what a stupid question. "Uhm…. Yeah? That is the required attire."
"Or he could wear a speedo," Erin slips in. I sigh, always thinking sexually that one.
"Yeah… That might not go over well." We all stare at Will, waiting for him to explain. "I mean, uh," Will begins a bit flustered, "He may not be comfortable in only shorts. He seems to never take off his jacket."
"True…" Jason adds, "He never changed the few times he did participate in my class."
"Well, I'll talk to him," I say.
"Okay…. Just….." Will begins to say, his face clearly upset, showing his obvious concern over Nico.
"What is it," I persist.
"It's just that…. Nico…." Will looks to each side, as if worried someone might hear him. He looks at his food and then back to me, a sparkle of fear in his worried sad eyes, "I'm just worried about the kid. That's all."
"I think we can all agree that everyone at this table is concerned for Nico," Annabeth says. A small chorus of mumbled "yeah"'s and nodding heads go around our table.
"I really can't stand Luke," Erin growls, moving onto a new topic of conversation, "He's the biggest asshole of the school. The way he walks around like he owns the place. Do you know how many freshman this year have come to me upset and scared because Luke and his gang threatened them or already beat them or pushed them into lockers or humiliated them or SOMETHING! All that simply because he thinks they are gay. It's only been like three or four months of school!"
"He always does this," Jason tells him, "Every year Luke finds out which freshman aren't straight. He's homophobic."
"Homophobic? He's not scared of gay people? What are we going to do? Spread our rainbow fairy dust everywhere and make everyone sing Lady Gaga and Beyonce? Pah-leaze. The guy is just an asshole," Erin replies, rolling his eyes and placing his hands out at his 'please'.
"Homophobic people are ignorant," Annabeth chimes in, "They just don't understand. It's either the way they've been raised or because they think it's abnormal. But truly the only thing that is abnormal is homophobia. Bisexuality and Gay relationships are found in every species on the planet. Homophobia is only found in one species, humans."
"Thank you know-it-all, you've finally told us some actually useful information. Owe!" Jason rubs his shoulder gingerly as Annabeth sits back down in her chair, a satisfied smile on her face.
"Luke wasn't always like that," I mumble.
"Doesn't matter," Will tells me sternly, "Luke is like this now. And now is where we are."
I nod, knowing that it's disastrous for me to say anymore. Once upon a time, Luke and I came to high school together as friends. We've lived in the same apartment building together since middle school. We both went to the same public school together before coming to this high school. I look over to Annabeth, hoping to see any signs of remorse. Annabeth became close friends with Luke our freshman year, closer than her and I at first to be honest. But when I look at her angry hard grey eyes, I know she does not care to think about the past. Luke hurt her personally. I'm sure that deep down Annabeth still remembers the real Luke, but right now all she sees is the monster Luke has become.
"Yeah," Jason mumbles softly, "Someone needs to do something about him."
"Oh I love a good fight," Erin perks up, "Can I record it? Luke defiantly deserves it. Maybe I'll put the video on YouTube, that would cause him so much humiliation." Erin giggles mischievously.
"You're one devious little guy, aren't you," Will comments, staring at Erin with wide eyes.
Erin blushes, "Guilt is charged."
Will, Jason, and Annabeth chuckle. I smile, glad that these are my friends.
Nico's POV
"Nico, I'm glad you're here today," Jason says, coming over to the bleachers where I sit as the boys begin their warm-up jog. He smiles up at me as if we're both friends having a conversation.
Why would you be glad that I'm here today; it's eight in the morning and I'm skipping your gym class to sit and read. I don't do anything in your class. So why would you be happy that I'm here today?
I keep my head down as Jason jumps up onto the bleachers and sits next to me. "What book are you reading?" I look at the page number I'm on and then close the book, showing him the cover. "Oh…. Good book? It must have over a thousand pages."
One thousand, four hundred and five to be exact. But you're not really interested in my book. Just say what you wanted to and stop acting like you like me.
"So… It finally went through the school system and scheduling. And you officially have swim class during this block." I freeze. Swim class? I had completely forgotten about that.
"If you want, I could take you to the boy's swim locker room and pass you off to Percy, he leads those classes."
My stomach does a flip.
Percy…. Percy leads the swim classes….. no no no… This just got so much worse….. I'll be in a pool with multiple other guys….. All of them naked except for shorts… I feel heat rush to my cheeks . I lower my head so my hair falls around my face, blocking Jason's view.
"Nico?"
I feel as though I'm going to vomit.
"No… It's fine. I'll go there myself."
Jason is quiet for a moment before responding back, his tone cautious, "okay… well It's down the hall and the third door on the right. There will be a sign on the door saying the boys swim locker room."
I nod and walk out of the gymnasium, ignoring the set of eyes I can feel following me. I walk down the hall and into the boy's swim locker room. It's bright with full size lockers going along the room in rows, drains in the ground are everywhere. I open one of the lockers to see the bottom half open at the bottom for a drain and hooks for wet clothing along the metal walls. The top half has two shelves for whatever else. I close the locker and walk farther into the tiled room, it is warmer than I thought it would be. A set of shower heads come out of the walls lining the end where a door leads out to what I assume is the pool. Standing in the doorway looking into the pool room is none other than Percy. I walk back the way I came and go into the hallway.
I can't do this. I can't do this. I can't do this. Percy is the teacher. He'll be watching me swim. He'll expect me to wear swim trunks. I didn't bring any with me!
I look for any shadowy area to travel back home with but none are in sight. I wander down the hall to the large weight room; glancing in through the door window I see it's dark and empty. I walk in and step into the shadows and appear outside my Father's mansion. I walk up the steps and into door. Voices echo throughout the house.
"Hades! If he causes any more trouble, you're the one who will be reprimanded!" I vaguely recognize the shrill woman's voice but can't seem to remember the owner.
"I know that Persephone," my father responds, his voice a monotone.
Persephone…
"He's not stable at all! Have you ever spent more than five minutes watching him? One of these days he will kill half the school. Then you will have multiple Gods angry with you. They are already hard enough on you and refuse to give you any chance. You need to get rid of your mistake or make him better."
Mistake… Is that what I am to you? You want to bring up Gods giving other chances? You never gave me a chance.
"My son," my father began in a stern voice, "will not act out again, I will make sure of it. And if by some… chance… he does. Then I will be the one to deal with it, not you."
"You don't know him at all. How can you be so certain? He's an abomination. He makes you look like someone to be mocked. He-"
"Nico," my father's voice booms, "Come out from behind that wall."
I walk into the unused dining room. My father and Persephone stand at the other end of the room. Persephone glares down at me as if I'm some cockroach with a grenade attached to my back. Father looks down at me with an unreadable expression. He is calm but Persephone is clearly annoyed I've interrupted her rant about me.
"Speak of the devil," she mocks at me.
Father ignores her. "What are you doing home from school?"
His question is less of a question and more of a demand to know.
Why do you want to know? So you can continue on with your secret conversation with me about me being an unstable failure of a son? Waiting to explode, right? I better not cause you any more problems or you'll be held responsible, right? You're just worried about your own skin, you don't care about me or why I'm really home.
"I forgot something that I need," I respond back, making sure to keep my tone leveled.
"Get what you need and leave. I expect you to complete a full day of school from now on. You may not return home until it is over."
A thousand retorts hang on the edge of my tongue but the only thing I say is, "Yes Father." I ignore the Persephone's disgusted stare as I walk out of the room and up the stairs.
Percy's POV
Nico is coming to join your class now
I reply to the text from Jason
Okay great
I stand on the edge of the pool looking down at the water. The water seems to call me and I want to jump in and swim around for fun, but I have a class to teach. I look to the line of boys sitting on the bench.
"Alright, today we're going to go over all the basics again before we move onto more next class. Everyone get in and get used to the water, move around a bit and stretch."
A chorus of grumbles go up from the group of about 20 boys but they get it. I walk over to the door that leads to the boy's swim locker room and lean against the frame. Nico should be arriving soon and I doubt he has a pair of swim trunks with him. Five minutes go by and Nico still doesn't appear in my view.
"Begin by doing laps along the width of the pool," I tell the boys in the pool, disrupting them from their water war.
Another five minutes goes by and still no sign of Nico. I can't leave the room to go look for Nico while there are people in the pool. Nico couldn't have gotten lost on his way here so he must be hiding somewhere…
I call into the locker room, "Nico? Are you in there?" A few of the boys in the pool look up at me curious, I ignore them. I don't receive a response back.
"Hey Percy," Eric calls from the pool, "Do we have a new student?"
I look at the boys in the pool, they've all stopped doing their laps and are looking up at me. No doubt they are wondering the same thing.
"Yeah," I reply, "I'm just not sure where he is."
"Do you want me to go check the locker room?"
I smile at Eric. From what I know about Nico, sending in someone to get him would not be beneficial, "No, I'm sure he'll find his way."
Eric shrugs and says something to Jordan next to him. The two boys laugh and begin their laps once more, the other following. I sigh and watch them. Will Nico show up at all? I wonder why Nico wouldn't come to class. My thoughts drift back to earlier that day with my conversation at lunch. Will did mention that Nico may not be comfortable in just swim trunks.
Just as I try to replay the conversation with Will, a shadow catches my eye in the boy's locker room. I look away from the swimming boys to the thin boy walking towards me. Nico's head in down, his hair covering his face as he takes small steps in my direction, wearing only dark green swim shorts. He walks as stiff as a board.
I smile although I doubt he can see my face, "Hey Nico! Glad you could join us! I didn't think you would have brought swim shorts. "
Nico doesn't respond, he stops a few feet in front of me.
"Right now we're just doing laps to warm up, I was going over the basics today so you'll do great. Come on in." I push myself off the door frame and walk into the warm room. Nico follows behind me.
"Guys, this is Nico. He's going to be in our class from now on," I gesture to the thin boy behind me, his head still down as if he's intentionally covering his face with his hair. I know Nico is reserved but I wonder if he is shy too. A couple of the boys say hi, others just nod.
"Alright Nico, you can say in the shallow end today. Why don't you get in and adjust to the water, it should feel warm though."
"It's like getting into a warm bath so your balls won't shrivel into nothing!"
The boys chuckle and I grin at them, many times before we had to pool heated did we fear that we would never be able to have children. I glance over at Nico, happy to see him laughing but that's not what I see. I never imagined that anyone could look more tense but after that joke Nico looks like if you pushed him, he would fall flat.
"Nico," I say gently, "are you going to get in?"
Nico silently walks over to the pool ladder of the shallow end. Ever slowly and stiffly, he climbs down and stands in the water, keeping his arms close to his sides, his head still down. I wonder why he is so nervous but don't pester him about it. He stands in the shallow end, a yard or two away from the rest of the group.
"Everyone hold onto the ledge and practice your kicks. Keep your legs straight as you move them below the water."
The boys line up along the edge of the pool and stretch their bodies out and begin, no one near Nico. Nico slowly moves over to the edge and takes hold of the ledge. He looks over to the other guys and watches them for a moment before bringing his body up and copying them. His knees continue to bend.
"Make sure your knees are not bending," I address the whole class making sure not to put Nico on the spot. I walk along the pool and observe each person's kicks. Some splash their legs more than necessary above the water, "It takes ten times as more work to move when you're legs are bent. Keep them straight. Try not to splash the water behind you."
I reach the last person in the row then turn around. I look to the other end of the pool and watch Nico's legs, he struggles to keep them straight but by the time I walk back to him, he seems to be getting the hang of it.
"Now try pushing off from the wall and coming back to it with your kicks."
The class follows my instructions as I walk along them, watching as they push themselves a few feet away from the edge and come back. I walk back to where Nico practices alone in the shallow end and watch him. His kicks are more frantic than they others but I don't say anything, first time swimmers usually have frantic kicks. He keeps his head up in the air the whole time, trying to reach the ledge with his hands. A large red mark catches my attention on his shoulder and I stare. It has clearly been healed over but it looks recent, like someone tried to mug him a few weeks ago and slashed at him with a knife. Nico's eyes drift up towards me. I smile and his eyes go wide, he lowers his head but not before I notice a light pink shade dusting his face. I walk back down the row of boys.
"Time to do laps. Swim to the other end of the pool and wait. There is enough room for everyone to go at once. Make sure to swim in a straight line." The boys line up once more and wait for me to tell them. "Go."
About twenty teen males begin to swim the twenty feet to the other end of the pool. I plan to have them swim the hundred feet length within the next few classes.
"Keep your head down in the water while holding your breath. Come up for air every third stroke by turning your head to the side," I say, noticing Nico among a few others straining to keep their heads above the water.
I smile as I watch the few boys having trouble get used to having their face in the water and turning their head t come up for air. The boys swim back and forth and once I feel as though they all have the main idea, I call their attention back.
"Next we'll do the back stroke. It is the same motions except you swim on your back and bring your arms behind you instead of in front. Ready?"
I wait for them all to catch their breath and each of them to nod. I look over at Nico for his nod but don't receive it. Nico stands just as stiff as when he got in, his head down. The black locks look even darker as they fall around his head and stick to his face. They seem to shimmer from the water. Heat floods my cheeks and I blush. Quickly I look away from the Italian boy and cough, trying to recompose myself.
"Go."
The boys lay in the water on their backs and kick off from the wall, their arms swoop back behind them, go down and around and come back out of the water only to repeat the process. I walk along the pool, watching each of them and determining what needs to be worked on and what's good.
"Keep your feet straight just as before, kick from your hips."
"Come on ladies! Don't be pansies! Use those luscious hips!"
The boys fail at swimming backwards while laughing. I grin.
"Yeah Eric, use those luscious hips! I want to see them move!"
The swimming stops as we all watch Eric dramatically sway his hips above and under the water, right hip higher than needed then lowered as his left hip comes up. His shorts cling to his skin. I grin as I watch his hips moving, wondering what else they can do.
"Work it, work it, work it, FIERCE!" Eric shouts when he finally reaches the wall of the pool. I chuckle with the guys and look over to Nico. He stands in the water, looking up at me. I wink at him and notice a light blush before he quickly stares back down at the water. I laugh with the other guys, secretly chuckling at Nico's reaction. I never thought of him to be shy, but it explains so much now. I wonder what else I don't know about him.
"Save it for your boyfriend Eric," One of the boys call out.
"You are my boyfriend!" Eric shouts back and makes kissing faces at him.
"Pah-leaze. If I was gay, I would do SO much better than you for a boyfriend."
I call to them just before Eric goes over to him about to tackle him in the deep end. That would not end well. "Alright, alright! Come one guys. Back in your lines. Start over with the back stroke. I want to see perfect swimming now! We've wasted enough time."
Eric mumbles something to his friend and they laugh again. I ignore the two as everyone begins their swimming again. They know I'm not a very strict or annoyed person, but as a teacher I need to have more control over them. I'm not their buddy when I'm their teacher. I walk along the pool once again, making sure my face is serious as I watch each of them. I reach the deep end of the pool and look over at Nico. Something catches my eye.
I walk slowly back to the shallow end, glancing at the swimming teens as I go but truly paying attention to Nico. I watch him stroke back to the side of the pool I am on, knowing he will not be able to see me. I watch his arm movements closely, and then begin to gaze at the arms. I wait for him to bring an arm back and my eyes go wide.
All along his arm are dark red scars, some look lighter and faded, and others seem like recent scars. I walk slowly towards the shallow end to get a better look, observing each arm as it comes up out of the water. Both arms are marked all over with lines. I stop and stand a few feet away from him and gaze out at the other swimmers. I wait until I see Nico reach the other end of the pool and turn to come back around before I look at him again. Closer now, I am able to see even more. There are fresh cuts on his arms among the scars also, but each of them scabbed over. They look as though they were done within the past day but it could just seem that way because the chlorine irritating the wounds.
A horrible thought goes through my head but I push it out as I walk back towards the deep end of the pool. I ignore my growing curiosity and worry as I tell the class to begin the breast stroke and explain the movements. I refuse to allow myself to look at Nico as anything else but a student right now. I cannot be caught watching him and looking his body over as he swims.
"Alright," I call to them, glancing at the clock and noticing ten minutes left before the bell rings, "out of the water boys. You have ten minutes to prepare for your next class. Don't leave the locker room until the bell rings."
I walk over to the small table in the corner of the room by the door to the locker room and find the clip board for this class. The boys all get out of the water, shoving and joking with each other as they go into the locker room. Multiple squeaks echo into the room from the locker room as they turn the showers on to wash the chlorine off of them. I find the clip board and begin to check off the names and write down what we did today. Just as I turn around, Nico is getting out of the pool. I put the clip board on the table and walk over to the ladder where Nico begins to climb.
"Like the water," I ask, grinning at him. I lean forward and reach my hand out for him to grab it. Nico keeps his head down as he pulls himself up by holding onto the ladder. He comes out without my help and looks down at his feet, once again hiding his face. A pang of disappointment hits me by the obvious rejection but I let it go, knowing that Nico's shyness explains his closed-off behavior.
"You did well today," I tell him, "Have you ever gone swimming before?"
Nico shakes his head, still not looking up.
"Well that's going to change. I noticed you were a bit uncomfortable today. If you want to practice swimming after school, I'll stay after with you."
Nico stands still and silent. I smile lightly and crouch down. I look up at his face looking down on me. His eyes grow wide and his face becomes an obvious shade of pink. I see him shiver and quickly look away. I chuckle and stand back up.
"Nico, you don't have to be shy around me. I promise I don't bite. You're welcomed to say anything you want, as long as it's not about my girlish figure."
I grin as Nico looks at me out of the corner of his wide eye. "If you look down again I'm just going to crouch down to see your face."
Nico closes his eyes and turns his head to face me, sighing in defeat. He opens his eyes slowly and looks at me.
"That's better. We've established eye contact," I tease him, "Next step is for you to speak. But if you don't want to today, we'll work on that in time."
Nico's cheeks become a darker shade of red, his blush spreading from the tanned cheeks to all over his soft face. I smile at him, finding his nervous blush rather adorable. Nico stands frozen in place, obviously uncomfortable.
"So would you come after school tomorrow and I can help you with swimming," I ask again. Nico's eyes drift away from me as he glances at the wall, his eye brows coming together and his lips forming a small grimace.
"I… I don't know…" He mumbles. I decide that I've teased him enough and don't mention him responding.
"Well I'm after school almost every day. Anyone of my friends know that I'll be hanging out up there," I point to the top half of the room where the small three-walled room resides with the bleaches for people to watch swim competitions. "Remember that office I took you to that one day? Thalia and her team were swimming? I'm either in there or in the pool after school."
"Okay…"
Excitement builds inside me as we make progress. "Well, you might want to go shower and get changed. The bell will ring in about two minutes."
Nico nods but doesn't move.
"Is something wrong?"
Nico's eyes meet my own and all I can see is sadness, fear, and something else… I can't identify the other emotion in his eyes but I want to. "No." Nico walks around me and into the locker room. I follow him in and shut the door behind me, locking it. I walk through the mostly empty locker room and to the other end where the group of boys wait for the bell to ring. I walk into the hall with them and go directly to the nurse's office. Will sits at the desk typing something into the computer, a freshman girl laying on one of the beds.
"Will," I address him, completely serious, "I need to talk to you. Privately."
Will looks up from the computer, his face blank. "Okay… Uhm… Come on," he says and leads me to the small room with a private bed. I walk in after him and shut the door.
"You knew about Nico's arms, didn't you."
Will brings his arm up to scratch the back of his head, "Wh-what makes you think that? What's wrong with his arms?"
"Don't pretend you don't know Will," I snap, "Earlier today at lunch you thought that Nico would be uncomfortable in swim but you didn't say a real reason why. I thought you were nervous but didn't think much of it. After seeing his arms in class, I realized you know something. Spill,"
Will frowns and glances at me nervously, his voice quiet. "I can't talk about it Percy… I'm sorry…"
"What do you mean you can't talk about it? You're a nurse! You know just as well as I do that you do not have to follow the doctor-patient confidentiality code when the person is hurting themselves or being hurt by others. Tell me what you know."
"I can't talk about it Percy," Will spits out exasperatedly, "I… I made a deal."
"A deal," I repeat, confused, "what does that mean? What kind of deal."
"I'm… not sure Percy. But I know that if I break my promise, then something horrible is going to happen to me. You weren't there when I made it Percy, it was like the whole room shifted and grew darker. It felt like the darkness was coming to life. I had to hold onto my bracelet for light."
I nod silently, it's not something we often talk about but many demi-god children are given a gift from their parents such as some form of jewelry. Each item is energized and has a special ability unique to that person and their godly parent. Not everyone in the school knows who the demigod children are, but as a senior I've learned who who's parent is. Will and I both know of each other.
"Well… If you made some sort of promise or deal with Nico, then I don't want you to break it. Not only because I don't want you to break his trust, but breaking a demi-god deal… That's risky."
Will nods.
"Alright," I sigh and open the door, "Thanks for your help though."
Nico's POV
"Alright," Percy shouts, "out of the water boys. You have ten minutes to prepare for your next class. Don't leave the locker room until the bell rings." I stand in the water and wait as the other boys joke around with each other while climbing out of the pool and heading into the locker room.
You can't follow them. If you see them in the locker room showering… changing… naked… No. Stop. Control. Don't be disgusting. Just look away from them. You're here for swim class. No one has noticed you earlier when they were all joking. You can control yourself longer. You barely looked at any of them and their muscular bodies… and wet hair... and swim shorts… STOP!
"Like the water?"
I snap my head up to see Percy offering his hand for me to take. Heat rushes to my cheeks and I look down at the ladder and climb up, ignoring his out stretched hand. My stomach does it's thousandth flip of the hour as I stand in front of Percy, analyzing my feet to make sure I don't look at him. He's dressed in swim shorts and a T-shirt, but I can't risk the chance of losing control of myself.
"You did well today. Have you ever gone swimming before?"
I did well? I completely failed! It was uncomfortable to move my arms at all because they were screaming in stinging pain and I kept bending my knees and I couldn't hold my breath long enough. I could barely do the kicking practice. I had to sneak a glance at the other to understand how to do things and more than once did I feel repulsive for blushing and wanting to stare at them. You of all people had to have noticed that I suck at swimming!
I shake my head and refuse to look up at him. I count the tiny tiles on the floor.
"Well that's going to change. I noticed you were a bit uncomfortable today," of course you did, " If you want to practice swimming after school, I'll stay after with you."
Stay after school… With you... Just the two of us… swimming… barely clothed…
I'm quickly pulled out of my thoughts before they can get any worse to see a handsome face smiling up at me. Percy's eyes are an amazing shining green, reminding me of flowing pure water of the ocean. I mentally slap myself as I turn my head away from him, finding a spot on the wall to focus on. I ignore the shiver that goes through me and a friendly chuckle that seems to compliment it.
"Nico, you don't have to be shy around me. I promise I don't bite. You're welcomed to say anything you want, as long as it's not about my girlish figure."
I glance over at Percy.
Is he… joking with me? And shy?
I try to ignore Percy's grin as he stands, "If you look down again I'm just going to crouch down to see your face."
He's not going to stop. He's determined to talk to me. Why is he trying so hard?!
I look over at Percy's handsome face. His smiled grows wider; I can tell it's genuine. "That's better. We've established eye contact; Next step is for you to speak. But if you don't want to today, we'll work on that in time."
He wants me to talk. He wants to talk to me. He wants us to be friends. He's serious. And he's joking with me. He's being friendly. His smile is amazing… I want to talk to him… I want to talk to him and see him smile more. I want him to joke with me more. He's not nervous of me at all… I can't smell any fear or anxiety…
Percy's welcoming voice snaps me out of my thoughts, "So would you come after school tomorrow and I can help you with swimming,"
"I… I don't know…" I mumble. The simple response should be easy to say, it's not like he asked me anything personal. But my stomach does a flip and I feel my cheeks heat up even more. I hope that my cheeks aren't as red as they feel.
"Well I'm after school almost every day. Anyone of my friends know that I'll be hanging out up there," Remember that office I took you to that one day? Thalia and her team were swimming? I'm either in there or in the pool after school."
"Okay…"
"Well, you might want to go shower and get changed. The bell will ring in about two minutes."
I nod, my stomach doing flips at the idea of spending time with Percy
"Is something wrong?"
I take a glance at Percy's eyes. He's genuine. Something inside me stirs.
"No," I mumble and wal around him into the locker room, purposefully ignoring him.
Don't look at him. Don't look at him. Don't look at him. Do not look at him! How can you even think about feeling that way!? You're disgusting. Why can't you be normal! He's just being nice, that's it! Only being nice! Why do you have to take it to a different level!? What is wrong with you! Stop it!
I take my clothes off the bench and head into the bathroom stall in the corner of the locker room and change, my thoughts racing and my stomach flipping constantly. The bell rings but I don't leave. I want to scream.
Bianca, you would know what to do… I wish you were here…..
I spent a lot of time on this chapter changing it and changing it again and I'm still not satisfied with it. I'm sorry if it was a bit of a letdown. I haven't updated in awhile and I apologize for that. My statements in the beginning of the chapter were all true. If anyone has any ideas or something they'd like to see or some next event or something to add to the plot, please share it. I've got a few future events planned here and there but I'm having trouble getting to that point. I hope that you still like my FF and that more people will read it and review.
I must give a special Thank You to one of my fans. She always gives me feedback via messaging me and gives me both negative and positive criticism. She has helped improve the story and has told others about this fanfiction. She also recently helped me a lot for this chapter because honestly I hit writers block. So Thank you very much.
Speaking of writers block, PLEASE GIVE ME SOME IDEAS! lol. I know the direction I want the story to go but I'm kinda stuck on the 'how to get there' part. Leave me some reviews telling me some ideas or questions you have about the story (like an event explained or about a character, etc) and maybe something you would like to see in the story. I don't think people realize how happy and giddy I get when someone comments, whether is positive or negative criticism.
A link to a list of songs I think Nico would listen to and download onto his I-pod. I always listen to this playlist on shuffle when I am writing this fanfiction. To go to it, copy it and delete the spaces. (type in 'youtube. com' first)
/playlist?list=PLLCLm5h-crmlmCoX57i_nDKomUhAIaAbb