Nico-

Saturday. I took a hot shower that morning and just replayed what had happened in my head. I

thought it was all a weird dream until I woke up the next day in Percy's house. God. I kissed him. I changed into the pair of clothes that he loaned me, a tank top and jeans, and rubbed the towel over my wet hair. Percy's clothes were a bit baggy and smelled a lot like him.

After hanging up the towel, I walked down stairs and made a cup of coffee, making him one

while I was at it. Percy walked down the stairs a few minutes later and I pushed the cup in front of him, "Morning." I said, sipping the steaming drink.

Percy smiled and drank his coffee, "Sleep well?" I caught a slight wink after he spoke and

nodded.

I smiled back, "Thanks again...For everything."

Percy just shrugged, "Least I could do." he said, taking another sip of his drink. "I...um...last

night was...um...yeah."

I nodded and smirked a bit, "Yup." I put my mug in the dishwasher, along with his, and we just

sat awkwardly in the kitchen. Every now and again we would make eye contact but then we would break off. My fingers subconsciously ran over my uncovered scars as I watched Percy closely.

In England, I had taken a class to become hyper-observant but I wasn't very good at it. All I

could tell from Percy was that he swam, chapped lips and a hunched back. He was left-handed and leaned on his right hand a lot. He bites his nails when he gets nervous and he never focuses on one thing for long. That kiss was probably the longest time he's ever concentrated on something. He kept his cool in awkward moments, like this one, and he often played with the hem of his t-shirt. He would run his hands through his hair occasionally and it would swipe towards the left side of his face.

I hadn't realized that he was looking at me until I stopped evaluating him. Percy looked confused and I bit my lip nervously, covering my mouth with my no-longer-covered hands. He just smiled and shrugged it off, kissing my cheek and walking back upstairs.

When he left, I ran my hand over my cheek and smiled, scrolling through my phone. I had a

couple of texts from Dad but he was drunk in all of them. The last one, however, was very interesting.

MUM'S COMING BACK. MOVE OUT.

I read it over and over again, taking deep breaths. I jogged up the stairs and walked into Percy's

room, "Percy? Dilemma."

He looked up from his book, wearing his very sexy reading glasses, and frowned, "What?" I

showed him the text and he looked at me, "Well? I'll help you bring your stuff over here. I don't know what the dilemma is."

I looked at Percy, a bit surprised, "Wait...what?" I hugged my torso, "I thought you were just

being nice and letting me stay for a day...I can't...I can't ask you to do that. My mum is coming back, Percy. She murdered people."

He smiled and hugged me, I hid my face in his neck, "It's okay Nico. Let's go and get your stuff.

I'll help you pack."

I hugged him back and smiled, "Thank you."

We got into his car and pulled up to my house. I unlocked the door, led Percy inside, and hurried

up the rickety stairs. My wardrobe wasn't very big so I didn't have many clothes to pack. I grabbed all of my books and my pictures. I looked at a framed picture of My sister and me on the beach. It seemed like such a long time ago but, really, it was only a couple of weeks ago. She had stayed in England to study zoology. I put that picture in the cardboard box I used to pack. After I finished, I looked around at my empty room. Just a bed and a wardrobe sat in the abandoned space now.

Percy helped me carry my things and I locked the door, putting the key under the mat. We

hopped into the car and drove. Rain started to pound against the roof. The streets got a light dusting of fog and, to be honest, it was really beautiful. The pitter-patter on the top of Percy's car matched the sound of my heartbeat as his free hand held mine.

When we got back to Percy's house, He helped me unpack and walked back into his room. I

stood in front of the window and leaned against the wall, watching the droplets dance across the rooftop. It looked so beautiful but, at the same time, it was filled with sorrow. My mum used to tell me that rain happened when the angels cried. I never believed her but rain always made me sad. I'd never liked thunderstorms and Dad used to call me a woos. I would sit under my bed and write stories while the water rapped against the ceiling. This rain brought back so many memories, good and bad, and it would continue to be the weather of my memories. My breath created a small fog on the window and I drew a smiley face in it. Eventually, it faded away but I stayed, inhaling the aroma of the rain that found its way through the vents. I felt arms wrap around me and I leaned back, taking in Percy's scent.

Percy-

Saturday night. He looked at me, leaning his head against my shoulder, and I kissed him, "It'll

be okay Nico. Everything'll be alright." My hands found his and we stood like that. My torso against Nico's back as we watched the rain shimmy down the roof.

Nico was wrapped in my arms and we sat on his bed now, my chin on his shoulder. This was

perfect. Nico's hair smelled like rain and we never moved. We stayed still and watched the droplets. Our fingers were intertwined and my fingers traced the veins down his pale forearm. This is what I loved about him. We both appreciated the little things. Watching rain together, reading in front of the fire, just talking seemed relaxing.

Nico broke the silence, his voice soft and slow, "Percy?" He looked at me on his shoulder, "Are

we boyfriends?"

I smiled, "Do you want us to be boyfriends?" I asked, lacing my fingers with his. Nico nodded,

"Then we're boyfriends." I finished, kissing his jaw. He smiled and went back to watching the rain. The clouds matched the beautiful shade of grey that occupied his irises.

Later that night, I was getting ready to sleep and thunder boomed across the sky. Lightning

flashed and I heard a crash come from Nico's room. Slowly, I got up and looked in the guest room. Nothing. Not even Nico occupied the space, "Nico? You okay?" I asked, hoping for a reply.

I heard shuffling and Nico came out from under the bed, "Sort of." He said, rubbing his head, "I

fell off when the thunder scared the shit out of me." He said this with a light chuckle, "Yeah thunderstorms aren't really my friends."

I sat down next to him and helped him out from under the bed. We climbed into his bed together

and cuddled. It felt good, to be responsible for someone. I had no siblings so it made me feel important. Like I needed to protect him. I wrapped my arms around his small shoulders and he wrapped his arms around mine. Our hair scattering and tangling together until you couldn't tell who's was who's. Our feet intertwined and we fell asleep in each other's arms. We would occasionally wake up because of the lightning but our looks would reassure each other. Our breathing mixed and our foreheads were pressed together. Inseparable. At that moment, I made a promise to myself. Protect Nico.