Chapter 4

Nico's POV

I don't understand why I felt the need to fix myself but I did anyways. My hair still looked like a mess, and my eyes were very dull. There was nothing I can do to change them. Sigh.

Slowly I opened the bathroom door and spied Percy pacing back and forth. His face was covered with worry and uncertanty. Then his intense eyes landed on me. My breathing stopped as we watched each other. His eyes trail over my body, I was helpless as he examined me.

"Nico, you want to go to dinner with me tonight?" A soft blush filled Percy's cheeks.

Did he ask me out or was it just dinner as a friend? Either way I couldn't say no.

"Yeah, sure, why not." I sounded stupid.

Percy smiled widely and I was like a deer in the headlights.

We walked to the bus and sat together. I could feel my heart pounding the whole way to the restaurant.

Tonight was the Hermes cabin's choice as to where we ate and they chose Pizza Hut. It's a nice place with ok food. However we were seated in booths in sets of six. Percy sat next to me, trapping me against the wall.

Grover, the Stoll brothers and Mitchell joined Percy and I at the booth. The twins smiled at Percy like they were planning trouble.

"Hey Nico, whats it like rooming with the camps most desired batcheleor?" Oh yep they wanted trouble.

I ignored them and looked at the menu. There were many different Pizza's and some Pasta dishes. I went with something simple. The rest of the table ordered more fancy meals.

The other guys started goofing and laughing about being being single. Their faces were red from laughter.

"Why so glum chum? Haven't you dated a girl Nico? I bet some of those dead chicks are hot. You must be all the rage in the underworld." Conner proclaimed.

"Not realy, they just complain and want you to pity them."

"Sounds no different than living girls." They all started laughing again.

"Ok, ok, so Percy whose your next victim?" Travis grinned.

"Not sure I don't feel like anything long term."

"So a fling?" Conner asked.

"Messing around!" The twins shouted together. Percy just didn't seem the type to mess around with someones feelings, maybe I couldn't wrap my head around the idea that percy might have been messing with my feelings. No that didn't seem right because 1. I did't have those feeling anymore and 2. Even if I did he dosent know. Still something felt wrong.

Percy laughed out of embarassment. I didn't understand what he really meant.

Our waitress came with our drinks. She reached down the table to hand Connor and I our drinks. She placed Connor's on the table then grabed mine off the tray full of drinks, however, Travis made a quick movement and bumped the waitress causeing her to lose blance. The drinks came crashing down on me. Luckly, the cups where placist so they didn't hurt to badly, but I was soaked in pop and water.

Percy grabbed my hand and took me to the washroom. I was ready to cry from embarrassment. Thankfuly, percy lead me away from the situation.

Percy begain to help me wash up but I was still sticky.

"Take your clothes off." Percy demanded. I cant believe percy said that.

"Get in the stall and give me your wet clothes. I can wash them quickly." I was in such a state of shock that I did as he said.

"Underwear too?" I asked.

"Yes."

Percy's Prov

I cant believe I asked that! My mind was clouded with the thoughts of Nico's naked body behind the stall door. I knew very well it be creepy if I broke the door down just to stare.

Quickly, I washed his clothes in the sink with the hand soap and water and dried them. Then gave them back.

It seemed like forever before Nico changed back into his clothes or maybe it was just my nerves, but finaly he came out. We went back to our table. The waitress had cleaned up the mess and was getting new drinks as we sat down. Nico was really embarrassed and it was easy to tell by the blush on his face. It was funny to me that Nico acted so tough but he's actually shy. He's so cute.

I talked with the other guys after we got our food. The nice thing about talking to guys is they aren't girls! They don't talk about hair or makeup they talked about jokes and pranks, well those who did talk. While we ate Nico stayed quiet. We tried to include him but he didn't want to talk.

Slowly he ate his pasta and always conveniently had his mouth full when I tried to get him to talk. I knew something was wrong I just couldn't place a finger on what it was. He just always seemed to be upset like he was dealing with some inner turmoil, knowing Nico he probly was. What I didn't get was why he doesn't tell anyone. He knows he can talk to me. I wanted him to talk to me, it's so frustrating!

We finished with our main corse and waited on dessert. Slowly I scooted closer to Nico traping him between me and the wall, no one seemed to notice. When the others got caught up in their conversations I had a chance to get Nico talking.

"So, Nico, are you enjoying dinner?" He just stared at me like I couldn't have possibly asked a dumber question.

"I guess so."

"You seem kinda sad. Are you ok?"

"I am not sad, I am uncomfortable being around… people." I knew Nico was still dealing with how people saw him because of who his dad was. I thought that they had gotten over it and saw he was a good kid.

Nico looked down at his hands and avoided eye contact with me. He quietly sat there and waited for dinner to be over. All of this avoiding and keeping to himself challenged me to get him to open up more.

Finally dinner came to an end as we all headed back to the hotel for free time. Lots of campers went to the beach next to the hotel. While others went to check out the town and do some shopping. I decide to do something with Nico. First I needed snacks.

When I got back from the vending machine he was in bed reading a book. A cloud of disappointment loomed over me because I wanted to do something with him. Reading? Come on!

" Hey Neeks, you want to go swimming with me?" I playful jumped on the bed in hopes of getting his attenion.

"No." He didn't even look up from his book.

"Why not?" I whined.

He told me he just didn't want to , but I wasn't going to accept that answer. I kept bugging him, pokeing him and just being plain annoying.

"Percy, stop. I don't want to swim because I can't swim ok… you happy?"

I wasn't expecting him to explode like that, but that gave me an idea on how to get closer to him.

"I will teach you." I said enthusiastically.

"No." He said bluntly.

I pouted and asked him why. He scoffed and said that he didn't want to. I sat there quietly gathering my thoughts and figured out a strategy; to get him to go swimming. It was rather difficult because which ever path I played out in my mind ended the same way, with him more closed off. Trying to guess how Nico thought was the main issuse. I just didn't know him that well.

He kept reading like I wasn't there. That annoyed me more then anything. I sought his attenion and wanted to spend time with him. I wasn't sure of what activties he liked that we could do on vacation.

"Get out of bed and put your swim suit on, before I put it on." Maybe acting like I was in chrage would impress him.

"You got to be kidding." When I examined his face I knew that if I didn't follow through he would never think I have power over him. I don't mean I want to control him, but for him to listen would be nice.

He didn't budg. Well I hope I can make it up to him after.

I grabbed him off the bed and kept a tight grip on him as he struggaled. Removeing Nico's clothes was difficult, but some how I managed to strip him to his underwear.

" What do you think your doing pervert?" I knew I get that reaction.

" I told you if you didn't put it on I would." I handed him the swimming trunks and told him he could finish changing and he had 2 minutes to do so. I position my self in front of the bathroom so he couldn't run in there and lock the door. While he changed I covered my eyes like he asked and soon he was ready.

Nico's body was toned and was perfect porcieln with a youthful look. My eye stayed on his delicouse pink nipples for a bit before I forced them to turn away. The scowl on his face told me he was not pleased with me at the monment, but I didn't care he looked perfect.

Nico's Prov

I felt so embarrass standing there in front of Percy. It was like he was looking over me like a pice of I crossed my arms to cover my chest and stood their waiting for what he planned to do next.

The voice in my head remended me that I wanted to spend time with Percy and I wanted his attenion. Now that I am stuck in this situation I realised spending time ment on his truff and what really got me was what kind of attenion did I want from him?

Percy quickly snached up my wrist into a tight hold and dragged me to the door. This may seem dumb to some and make perfect sence to others. I was born in the 1940's Washinton back then it wasn't known for its beaches and being the son of hades water and I simple do not mix. This all means it shouldn't be shocking to know that I can't and don't know how to swim. However, whether Percy knew that or not didn't matter to him because he had only one goal. To get me into the pool.