"Do you ever eat?" Asked Leo casually. He was staring up at the ceiling as Nico changed into another black t-shirt. It wasn't the first time that Leo had managed to singe Nico's clothing while inventing and the younger boy was glowering heavily. Leo had decided to steadfastly stare at the ceiling, lying on his back, while Nico changed, doing his best not to glance over at the skinny, pale boy. His 'crush' hadn't been getting any better and he felt a bit pervy staring at the shirtless boy when Nico had no idea about Leo's feelings. Leo wasn't planning to tell him, Nico was probably straight and he didn't want to push away Nico. It had been difficult enough becoming friends to begin with and Leo wasn't planning on ruining that. Of course, a quick, stolen glimpse never hurt anyone but it had revealed how ridiculously thin Nico was, nearly every bone visible through his almost translucent skin.

As soon as the words left his mouth he regretted it as out of the corner he saw Nico tense up. Slowly, the boy dropped his shoulders and weakly joked, "You sound like Hazel. She's alway bugging me eating." He shrugged his shirt on and turned to Leo with a sigh. "But seriously dude, you look like you need to eat. I can't remember ever seeing you properly eat, even at meals actually. You just pick at your food. Even on pizza night!" Leo protested, slipping off his bed. Nico ignored him and walked out of the room. Leo followed him, hurrying to keep up with Nicos long strides. They were the same heights but Nico walked like he was trying to clear as many of the yellow circles on the carpet as possible while Leo practically tried to step in every single one.

"Do you ever eat? Or are you some kind of vampire that feeds on the blood of messed-up kids?" Leo asked jokingly. "Actually, the vampire thing would kind of make sense," he mused, teasing Nico slightly, "You know, with the dark, mystery thing going on and how you kind of avoid direct sunlight. Maybe I should start eating more garlic bread, just in case." Nico rolled his eyes but gave a small smile. With how rarely Nico smiled a grin like that made Leo's heart flutter in an entirely cringe-worthy way. He just hoped no one on the ship was a secret mind reader. Hey, if Nico was a vampire Leo wouldn't be suprised if he could read minds as well. Gods, that would be embarrassing.

"If you want to know," said Nico, breaking Leo out of his revery, "If I get hungry I go to Stoll brothers. They always have a supply of food." Leo stared at Nico in suprise, still following him down the yellow-lit corridors. "What! Connor and Travis? The ones that got on the ship by accident?" He questioned Nico. Nic gave a sarcastic snort before replying, "Accident my ass. They might say they thought it was just a 'casual misunderstanding about the nature of the trip' but trust me - I've never met a bunch of guys more talented at stealing stuff than they are. Honestly, I don't know where they get half their stuff; I mean, we're on a bloody boat." Leo stared at Nico, confused. Frowning, he asked, "So you're telling me that the two most normal, funny guys on this ship are actually running some kind of smuggling business?" Nico nodded. Leo raised his eyebrows but decided to just accept the fact. "Anything else I should know about?" He asked as the thought that any of his friends might be running a secret drugs cartel which he just hadn't realised, hit him. Nico smirked and shook his head. "I can't believe you didn't know about the Travis and Connor though. They're the ones supplying Dakota with Kool-Aid. It's not like Katie's yelling at them about that every two minutes or anything." Leo humphed with annoyance and glared at Nicos smug face. "I just assumed that was cause she liked Travis, it's obvious they have a massive crush on eachother. He and Connor are always pranking her and Miranda."

Their conversation fell quite as they entered the lounge, as it probably wasn't best to get on the bad side of Katie Gardener and her temper - especially if it had anything to do with Travis Stoll. As they made their way over to where their friends were sitting Leo and Nico noticed that Percy was holding an ice pack to his jaw. Annabeth was sitting beside him, an irritated look on her face. "Hey what happened here?" Asked Leo as him and Nico sat down his hands already fiddling with a bunch of pipe cleaners he had pulled from his yellow tool belt. Annabeth sighed an answer, "Percy, like the freaking genius that he is, got into a fight with Clarisse. She ended up winning." Percy scoffed and protested, "Hey! It wasn't my fault, alright? If she says that stuff about Tyson I'm going to hit her. She got herself into it!" Annabeth gave a high-pitched sarcastic laugh. "Definitely. Cause punching one of the most violent girls on this ship is a great idea! Well done Percy! You are such an idiot; Clarisse already hates you - the only reason she doesn't beat you up regularly is cause she hates Kronos and Gaia's group more. Stop trying to change that. Chiron's already given you a warning!" Percy scowled and angrily replied, "Well, just cause I want to stand up and help my friends!" Annabeth let out an angry groan and yelled "Fine! Get kicked off this ship. See if I care!" Before getting up and storming off.

"Fine. I will then!" Percy shouted after her. He turned back to the group, glowering sullenly, ice pack still pressed to his jaw. No one spoke a word. They sat in silence; all shocked by the sudden explosion from the usually affectionate couple. No one made eye contact with Percy's angry glare, Leo started steadfastly at his lap wondering what he had just walked into. He glanced towards Nico who had suddenly had found his hands very interesting. Leo stared momentarily at the way Nico's eyelashes cast shadows across his cheeks. He then shook himself - he might have a crush on a boy but there was no need to act quite that gay.

Eventually Frank broke the silence that had fallen. He was usually one of the quietest of the group but everyone had been so shocked by the usually happy couple exploding in such a dramatic way that he was the only person calm enough to start a conversation. "So how are people looking forward to spending the weekend in London?" He asked.

It wasn't that Leo didn't like Frank; it was just they were very different people. In most respects they were almost opposite. Frank was bulky and tall while Leo was small and elfin, Frank was a quiet, calm person while Leo was always hyperactive. Leo constantly joked around while Frank, although he did have a sense of humour, didn't make many jokes. This had meant that when they first met Leo, fueled with jealousy from seeing how close Hazel and Frank were, had made Frank the butt of many jokes and the victim of many pranks. He hadn't meant it to be malicious but in hindsight he could how it could be taken that way and he felt guilty. Taking jokes to far, sometimes to the point of cruelness, was one of his major flaws. It was probably guilt that prompted him to reply first.

"I think it will be awesome. I haven't been to England before so that's a new experience"

"I'm looking forward to seeing Wicked," said Piper, "Defying gravity is such a good song and I can't wait to see it live!"

"I want to see Hyde Park," said Grover - predictably since he loved nature and green areas. Being stuck on a ship had not been fun for him.

"My roomate is getting on the ship in London," mentioned Frank, "I think his name's Octavian or something like that. It's a shame; I'm going to miss having my own room."

"Are we going to Westminster Abbey?" asked Nico quietly.

"I don't know. You'd have to ask Chiron," replied Hazel but Jason cut in.

"Yeah I think he mentioned we'd visit there at the same time as the Houses of Parliment. Not that we actually get to go in those," he explained, "Why do you ask?"

"I'd like to see Poets Corner," replied Nico. He was met with blank stares. "You know, the place where all the famous British authors and poets are buried?"

"What, like Shakespeare?" Asked Percy, finally giving up scowling at his lap.

"No - he's buried in Stratford-upon-Avon," said Nico.

"I can't believe you actually know where Shakespeare is buried," teased Leo

"I can't believe you don't!" exclaimed Nico, "Seriously, do you ever read anything?"

Leo frowned. Unintentionally, Nico had done one of the worst things that anyone could do to Leo. He had made him feel stupid. Most of Leo's life people had been constantly making Leo feel like he was stupid, due to his ADHD or dyslexia. Nico hadn't done it on purpose of course but it still stung. Around him his friends babbled on about British literature and Wicked but Leo was silent.

Seeing how quiet Leo was, Nico leant over to Leo. "I was only kidding," he spoke quietly, "I know you do read - you recommended Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy, remember?"

Leo glanced up at Nico. "You actually remember that? That was weeks ago," he commented. He felt a bit less stupid.

The tips of Nicos ears flushed slightly. "Yeah, don't you? I mean- well yeah. I have a good memory," he explained, sounding flustered, "I have to go. To, um, the toilet. Yeah. I have to go to the toilet." With that he ran off. Leo's eyes followed him and the slightest flicker of hope dawned in Leo. The way Nico had reacted to a simple question - No, Nico wouldn't like Leo like that. He was just being overly hopeful.

But still, Leo could hope and wish. Couldn't he?

I'm sorry this took so long to get out. I was on holiday in morocco, where I got a cold so I've not been in much of a writing mood lately. I promise to update ASAP. Sorry :(