Love Me Forever Or Love Me Never
Chapter 8: Hero

Nico felt strange standing outside the mansion like house with Thalia, bathed in the glow of the porch lights, feeling anxious and worried. Perhaps he should just head back home, leave behind the dazzling building that was roaring with music. Maybe Thalia should have gone without him. Nico was about to step away from the porch when suddenly the door opened with a clatter. The boy looked at the two, a plastic cup clutched in his hand, before bursting into a broad smile.

"Hey Travis!" Thalia called slapping the boy a high five. Nico leaned back awkwardly, feeling strange and kind of left out. Quickly the boy turned his attention to Nico gazing at him curiously.

"Who's this?" He asked with a slight smirk.

"Travis, this is my friend Nico." Thalia said waving a hand towards him with a cheerful smile. The boy nodded before once again focusing his attention on Thalia. Nico grimaced at the fact that he had lost the boy's attention so quickly. He had to admit it felt awful, being left out in the way that he was, not that that hadn't been happening a lot lately. Nico stood there silently for a moment, watching as Thalia chattered away with the boy about random topics and such, until he finally got tired of the act. Clearing his throat loudly he captured Thalia's attention once again. She looked at him curiosity before opening her mouth realization flickering in her eyes.

"Oh. Sorry Travis, I think we better finish this conversation inside. Nico is getting pretty eager to go in. " Thalia said with a light laugh.

"Yeah, we should. It is kind of cold out here. But first I have a question for you." Travis said his gaze shifting to Nico.

"What?" Nico asked irritably,

"You know who's party this is right?" He ask raising a eyebrow.

"Ummmm…. Should I?" Nico asked meekly although his curiosity was truly peaked.

The boy grinned at him wildly before looking him up and down. "You'll have fun here. Trust me." With that Travis walked back into the house leaving Nico and Thalia alone on the porch.

"What did he mean by that?" Nico asked feeling the tension gather in his stomach. He watched as Thalia shrugged, a pit of dread forming inside of him. Was he suppose to know who this guy was? Nico shook his head gently, eyes gazing down at the porch. Finally, Thalia step towards the door pulling it open with one swift flick of her hand.

As soon as Nico entered the house he felt as though his head was going to explode. The pounding music echoed through out the entire house, shaking the very ground under his feet. The lingering smell of cigarette smoke filled his nose, overwhelming him, and causing a gag for breath as he choked. Kids stumbled through the room looking hazy and disoriented. One girl clambered pass him, grabbing his shoulder to support herself for a moment. Nico looked at her as though she was a new species of creature that was yet to be discovered. He didn't understand it. How could one small drink cause someone to act so? Immediately Nico felt as though he didn't belong with these people and he also had a feeling Thalia didn't either. Nico just felt so out of place. He didn't drink, he didn't smoke. This was actually new to him considering he had been friends with Percy and Grover for so long and neither of them had ever tried any of this. Well, as far as he knew. Nico would never go near any of it. He swore when he was much younger that he would never try it. Yet there he was, Thalia standing in front of him holding out a beer. Nico took it from her hesitantly. He was unsure that he really wanted to try it.

He watched in silence as Thalia took a big drink from the bottle. Slowly Nico raised the bottle up to his lips. He began tipping it back when suddenly some grabbed him from behind. He hadn't even tasted it yet. Nico was pulled back harshly, the bottle shaking in his hands as he moved, spraying beer down the front of his shirt. Nico thrashed in the person's arms, who quickly let go. Nico wheeled around furiously. He already had an idea of who was attacking him before he turned around but now he knew for sure. Nico glared at the boy angrily.

"Luke!" He hissed with a sneer. "What the hell do you want?!"
Luke stared at Nico a small smirk curving on his lips. "What's wrong Nico? Your boyfriend not here to protect you? Hey, where is Jackson anyways? Is he with his girlfriend instead of you?" Luke taunted.

"Fuck you!" Nico cried lunging forward.

"Stop!" Thalia screamed from behind him, wrapping her arms tightly around his shoulders, pulling him back. Thalia stood there trying her best to pull Nico away.

Luke howled with laughter at the sight of Thalia pretty much carrying Nico away. Nico fumed loudly, pushing the girl back.

"Thalia, I can take care of myself!" Nico cried as he wrangled out of her grasp. He whirled around to face her when suddenly ice cool liquid poured down his back. Nico let out a small cry and shivered at the feeling of ice running down his skin. Once again he turned at Luke, who was laughing like a maniac holding a empty beer bottle.

"You bastard! Burn in hell!" Nico cried.

"You better watch your mouth!" Luke yell quite startled by the sudden viciousness of the boy.

"Hey bastard!" Someone else cried across the room. A boy stepped towards the two of them, eyeing Luke evilly. Nico watched him closely. Who was he? Nico had never seen him before and he sure didn't know him from school or anywhere else for that matter. Although Nico had to admit he wanted to know him. The boy was cute in a strange kind of way. His short curly brown hair tumbled over into his eyes. A small glint of rage shone in those beautiful brown eyes.

Luke looked at the boy, rolling his eyes.

"Get the fuck out of my house!" The boy roared. Nico looked at him curiously. So he this was his party?

"Come on Leo. Calm down. We were just having a little fun." Luke protested.

"I don't fucking care. Get out. Now! I don't want you causing trouble like you did last time. I swear to god if another window gets broken in this fucking house my parents are going to send me out in front of a firing squad!" The boy, Leo, cried. Nico smiled to himself over the way the boy was talking. He was a little all over the place.

"Fine! Alright, well leave. See around Nico." Luke hissed as he walked away heading towards the front door.

Leo shook his head letting out an aspirated sigh. "Fuck." He mumbled under his breath. "I'm sorry about that. God, I wish I had never meet him."

Leo turned around a small smile playing on his lips. He glanced at Thalia who was standing back quietly. He gave her a slight nod and a warm smile. Then his gaze landed on Nico. Nico shifted away, feeling uncomfortable about the way the boy's eyes were boarding into him. Leo gazed at him for a few long moments that seemed to drag out for a eternity. His expression remained neutral the whole time. Finally Nico gathered enough courage to meet his gaze. Leo quickly ducked his head down, avoiding his eyes.

Thalia stood back watching the two exchange awkward glances. A small smile broke out across her face. She could tell Nico liked him. The way he was fidgeting and shifted his weight back and for the was a true sign that something was going on with him.

"Leo." She broke in suddenly. "I would like you to meet my friend Nico di Angelo. I figured since none of us have met before I should go ahead and introduce him. Oh, and my names Thalia by the way." She added quickly. Thalia extended her hand to the boy, who completely ignored her.

"Nico." He mumbled under his breath. He said it hazily as though he had all of the sudden become drunk. "I really love you name."
Nico shivered as Leo advanced on him, looking directly into his eyes.

"Thanks." Nico muttered awkwardly, his face become splotched with pink.

"Hmmmmm… Nico come with me. I think I have a jacket you can borrow upstairs. You look kind of cold. Plus I want to talk to you a little bit." Leo said gently taking Nico's wrist. Nico shivered again at the tender feeling of Leo's hand on his arm.

"Wow, look at this hero." Thalia muttered.

Nico glanced back at Thalia who gave him a small smile before pulling out her cell phone. He didn't know or care who she was calling.

Percy lay on his couch watching TV, his head loping to the side. He was nearly asleep when suddenly his cell phone rung. Fishing in his pocket he pulled out the phone. Percy looked down at his cell phone wondering who would be calling him so late.

"Hello?" He called into the phone.

"You'll never guess what happened earlier!" The girl on the other end called into the phone. For a minute Percy sat there perplexed, unsure of who was on the other end. Finally, as the girl begun to speak again, Percy recognized the voice: Thalia.

"I was at that party with Nico and he finally found someone else! I mean he and this guy just started talking and suddenly they just seemed to be connecting! I think he might have found someone he really likes! That would be so great! I'm so glad you suggested I take Nico with me. That was a great idea, Grover." Thalia said taking a mile a minute, not waiting for a reply.

"The boy's name is Leo and him and Nico looked so cute together. I really hope things work out between them. He really needs to get over Percy." Suddenly Thalia's voice darkened. "He..He was so upset about Percy a-and I think he might…I think he might have started cutting his wrists."

Percy took a loud intake of breath as he listen to Thalia's words. No, he thought, not my Nico. Nico could never do anything like that could he? Suddenly his worry turned to anger. Who was Leo?!

"I'm really glad he has something going on with that boy Leo. I mean the way Nico looked when this boy grabbed his hand. You would have thought he was drunk!" Thalia gave a loud snort on the other end.

"Thalia!" Percy suddenly cut in. "Maybe you should check who you call before you start talking."
Thalia gasped on the other end.

"P-Percy!?" She stammered meekly. "Oh god! You and Grover are both on speed dial. I called you instead!"

Percy listened to Thalia's voice. She sounded like she was in despair, about to cry even.

"You know what, it doesn't bother me at all!" Percy sneered into the phone, "So don't worry about it, alright? Bye Thalia!" Percy heard her crying out to him, begging him not to hang up, as he jerked the phone away from his ear. He clenched his teeth. Why the fuck was everything so messed up? Why did everything have to go so wrong? Why did Nico have to find someone else? Most importantly, why did he care?!
With a growl of anger Percy threw his phone on the table in front of him, watching as it skidded across the surface and hit the ground with a loud thump. Why did he have to feel so angry?

Who was he mad at anyways? Nico? Thalia? Himself?

A/N: Okay, I just wanted to say that this story is not going to turn into a Nico/Leo fan fiction. It's still Percy/Nico. Leo is just kind of there. :D