Disclaimer: I do not own Percy Jackson or any of the characters. All rights go to Rick Riordan. I own only the plot.

Nico stormed out of the office, grabbing the key away from the shocked figure of his father, never once looking back over his shoulder. He had no reason to be sorry. Nico had been nothing but honest during that 'conversation.' Every last word had been the cruel, brutal truth. Nico stomped through the hall, up two flights of stairs, and finally entered his room, slamming the door as hard as he could.

Nico went over to bed and collapsed onto it. His eyes happened to fall on the calendar and he groaned inwardly. Tomorrow was Monday, which meant another week of school. He rolled over onto his side and fell asleep, glad that there were no assignments due the next day.

Nico pulled up to the school on his motorcycle. Getting off, he pulled one strap of his black backpack over his shoulder and made his way to the front entrance of Half-Blood High.

Nothing exciting happened. At all. It was all so monotonous it really was a miracle Nico didn't fall asleep during class. He would probably get away with it too, as he always sat in the back of the class.

He had one run in with Thalia in the hallway. He glared at her, daring her to address him. She stared at him, then continued walking down the hallway, laughing with her little group of friends. Well, maybe not so little. Thalia Grace was popular, but whether it was because of her personality or her father's money, Nico wasn't sure. It was one of the reasons Nico was glad he didn't have any friends, and why he was glad no one knew who his father was. You never knew who was actually your friend, and who just wanted to end up in your will when you died. 'Friends' were so overrated. Nico was glad that he was a loner.

He sat alone at lunch. Sure, sometimes he got a little lonesome, but it was a lot better than sitting on one of those seats, surrounded by people talking obnoxiously loud. He shuddered. He honestly didn't know how anyone could stand that.

Overall his day was pretty average, until he exited the building to go home.

People were crowded around a limousine parked up front. Nico didn't understand why these idiots still crowded around limousines when Percy, Jason, or Thalia arrived or left school. Yeah, they were rich and liked to show it by riding in limousines. Get over it.

Nico was walking toward where he had parked his motorcycle. He froze. His motorcycle was gone.

He stared uncomprehendingly at the place where his motorcycle had been only this morning. He knew no one from this school would dare steal his motorcycle. Then he heard laughing. Nico got a sense dread in his stomach as he turned around.

Thalia was standing by the limo, openly laughing. Jason was smirking next to her, and he said to the crowd, "It's not for us."

Percy was standing with his friends from the swim team, and when everyone looked at him expectantly, he announced, "It's not for me, either."

Simultaneously, they all looked at Nico. He glared at them, his fists clenched. Slowly, the crowd followed their gazes and stared at Nico. They were unsure and confused, their eyes full of disbelief. Nico, warily, looked at the limo. He hesitantly walked through the crowd and met the gaze of the driver, who was standing outside the limo, looking bored.

Just then Percy broke the silence. And the rule Nico and his cousins followed very closely. "Hey, Nico, I didn't know you booked a different ride for today."

Thalia and Jason were holding in more laughter. Nico glared at each of his cousins in turn. "Shut. Up. Jackson."

Thalia was nearly crying from trying to hold in her laughter. Jason was shaking quietly.

Just then the driver got out. Of course. Because Nico's luck was great that way.

"Mr. di Angelo, your father sent me."

People were snickering. Nico heard someone say Mr. di Angelo? He sent a glare in their general direction. Bracing himself, Nico turned to face the driver.

"What did you do with my motorcycle, Jules-Albert?"

He tried really hard to ignore the laughter and disbelieving chattering that followed his statement. All of his cousins were laughing audibly now.

Jules-Albert shrugged, dismissing the matter. "Your father sent someone earlier to drive it back to the manor. It's in the garage there, among your other vehicles."

Nico wanted to strangle the guy for implying even further that his father had a lot more money than Nico let on. He heard people whispering.

Suddenly Nico felt an arm loop itself around his shoulders. He yelped, jumping out of the embrace. Percy was standing there. He knew that Nico hated physical contact.

"Sorry," Percy said, not sounding sorry in the slightest. "Hey, Nico? I was wondering why you're so opposed to riding in the limo."

"I don't like it."

Percy's mouth twitched at his curt reply. "It's not going to bite."

"Shut up. I don't like being driven places."

Percy knew the meaning behind those last six words. If he didn't, well, he should.

Nico couldn't believe this was happening. He turned to Jules-Albert. "I'm walking home."

He made to walk away, but Jules-Albert blocked him.

"Oh, no. Your father specifically told me to make you ride home in that limousine. And I will not disappoint your father. I will call the security chief at the manor and tell him to send a couple men over here if I have to."

Sadly Nico knew that Jules-Albert wasn't lying.

Too bad Nico didn't listen to reasoning.

"I will not willingly get into that limousine to save my life."

Jules-Albert grabbed his upper arm and whipped out his phone. He speed dialed someone.

"Send some guys over, Tony."

Nico didn't have time to comprehend that that was really happening, in front of the whole school, before two members of security showed up.

Nico broke away from Jules-Albert just to be seized by these guards, each grabbing one of his arms. They were really strong, and Nico knew there was no use in struggling. So he tried bargaining.

"If you let go of me I'll make sure Father raises your paychecks. By a lot."

Nico knew there was a very slim chance of this working. Both guards had worked for Hades di Angelo for a long time. They were tall, dark skinned and dark haired, and both were known for their ability to deal effectively with Nico.

"Nico, you tried this last time, remember?" The guard to his left sighed. His name was Bryan, and he was used to Nico's...reluctant behavior.

Nico remembered the last time this had happened. Last year, his father tried to pick him up from a concert Thalia had dragged him, Percy, and Jason to. He had agreed to go only if he didn't have to ride in a limo with them (Nico really had a thing against limos). So Percy drove them in a van. His father sent one to pick him up after Percy drove some kid to the hospital after an asthma attack (don't ask him how you got an asthma attack at a concert. Maybe it was the excitement of seeing your favorite band in person and the close proximity to people. Nico didn't want to know). Nico had struggles in the limo then too. Thankfully there were hardly any people there then due to the fact that people were obsessed with getting autographs.

"You know that doesn't work on us, kid. That's why Tony sent us." The guard on his right, Jesse, continued.

Nico complained, "C'mon, Bryan, Jesse, cut me some slack."

He hoped that maybe they'd play the sympathy card. If anyone in that manor vaguely understood him, it was Bryan and Jesse. Not that he wanted their sympathy, in fact he despised it, but he did not want to get into that limousine.

"Your dad'll grill us, kid. Nearly as much as he's gonna grill you." Bryan looked at him pointedly. Jules-Albert was opening the door to the backseat of the limo.

So his father was going to lecture him about something.

Percy, having some kind of pity for Nico, called out, "Is it really necessary to force him into the car?"

"Well, he's not getting in any other way." Bryan called over his shoulder.

Percy seemed to accept this and stayed quiet.

Nico struggled as they shoved him inside. Before he could open the door, Jules-Albert locked it.

"Bye, Nico!" Thalia called after him, the limo driving away from the school.

Nico sent one final death glare at the student body, then slumped in his seat, humiliated.

Why.

Then he remembered the conversation he had had with his father the previous night.

One day people will know that you are my son, Nico.

A/N: Thanks for reading! Please, feel free to leave comments and questions.