Chapter 6

Percy's prov

I never throught that Nico would react like that to being forced into the pool, or having a girl check me out. Then again I never throught I have these sorts of feelings, atleast not for Nico. Maybe I am rebounding, since Annebeth and I ended it. I do miss her but not romanticly, but I miss the girl who was one of my closest friends. I don't understand how I feel right now all I know is I feel confusion and pain.

I dived head frist off the dock into the lake that the hotel backed onto. The sun had just set but the the sky was still painted with soft tones which were slowly turning more blue and soon black. The water washed over my body numbing all feelings in me as I willed my self to get wet.

Am I hurting Nico by acting this way? I am pretty sure I am. The way he got so agnry, there was pained mixed in as well. Maybe I am just rebounding and hurting him deeply. I couldn't imagine Nico likeing me like this, but then again how much attenion did I ever give him, or how often did I see him? He never really spends time at camp, but how's that my fault. Well I guess it could be. When he is I am off with other people. I know he doesn't feel accepted at camp, but he comes when I ask him. Why is that?

I could ask questions till my head exploded, but that doesn't give me any answers. The only thing I know is that I need to make peace with Annabeth, to help me move on and make sure I am not rebounding.

I sat at the bottom of the lake for a while thinking of what I should say to her. The cool current ran through my hair as ideas settled into an explaination. I was just done being on my toes with her. We used to be great friends and had unbelieveable adventures together. The adventures were still unreal but it was no longer with his whitty female sidekick who would consently point out things he never think of, lately its been with his naggy girlfreiend.

My mind was made up as I emerged from the lake. I did't waste anytime finding the room Annabeth was in. With full confidence my fist powerfully knocked on the door. I can do this! I can tell annabeth why I broke up with her then we can start working things out. As soon as the door open to annabeth stareing at me my confedince was drain from my body along with my streangth as my knees began to shake.

" hey, umm can we you know talk?"I rubed my arm as I waited for a response.

" sure, I been meaning to talk to you aswell." Her grey eyes looked like shiny silver in the moon light.

We walked to the picnic tables that were hiden behind the trees. The walk was quiet and neither of us wanted to start the conversation as we sat slince across from eachother. I took a deep breath.

" Look Annabeth, I still want to be friends but dateing you was a mistake. I don't know why we got together or why I kissed you the first time, maybe it was the stress and happyness of the day. But you were my best friend and really the only close relationship with a girl I have ever had maybe I confused that for love. What I a trying to say is I relaized that I miss my friend, but you were a horrible girlfriend. You always stressed me out and expected too much of me." I was breathless as I waited for a response.

" I agree with you completely" I was shocked. " we didn't understand our feelings back then and maybe I almost projected misplaced feelings on to you. I do miss just being friends, truth betold breaking up was the best thing for us. I have found someone else Percy, someone who I share more commonalities with." She smiled as she looked out on the lake thinking of that someone.

"so your not mad?"

"no, but we wont be able to pick up our friendship from where we left off it will take some time." I noded in agreence. "Oh and for the record you werent the best boyfriend either." we share a playful glare as we sit under the stars.

The cool night brezzed became cold causeing us to call it a night. I walked Annabeth back to here room a bid her a good night then headed to my room. While walking to my room I kept thinking what Nico said and became worried at the conversation that may happen. The only thing worst then the conversation was never talking about it, which could be a likely option knowing Nico.

I entered a dark room. Carefully, I made my way to my bed. Unsure whether or not Nico was asleep, I paused to listen. Even strainng my ears, I could not be sure if he breathing signified he was asleep or awake. Gentally I walked closer to his bed hopeing to get in a better hearing rang without seeming like a creep.

Flash. The lamp on Nico's bed side was turned on illuminating Nico's irritated face. His eyes narrowed and jaw clenched. I must have woken him dispite my best attemp to be quite.

"Percy, what are you doing?"

"I just got back from talking with Annabeth, So now I am getting ready for bed. How about you?"

Nico's glare intesified as his eyebrows knited together. "I was almost alseep."

"Sorry about earlier…." Before I could even finish what I was saying Nico pulled the covers over his head and gave me the cold shoulder. " Nico, did she really make you jelouse?" there was no reply. I walked over and sat on his bed and waited for a bit. I crawled beside him. " NIco she ment nothing to me. I sware."

" why would I care if she ment something to you or not. Now go to your own bed." I smirked because there was a clear blush in his voice.

" Why would I do that? Your bed is comfy and big enough for two." I pulled back the cover and slide in beside him. Oomph, a pillow hit me in the face and was then layed between us.

Nico glared at me." What do you think your doing jackson?"

"settling in for bed. "

" this isn't your bed."

" Don't be like that." Their was a shift in Nico's mood, I finally got close enough to hear the time bomb ticking. I had no idea how much time was left on the clock; the fuse was short.

Nico got out of the bed and gathered up some clothes. Quickly he changed before my eyes, however, I could not focus on that as I sensed the bomb was seconds from deteinating. He headed for the door.

"Nico? Where are you going?"

" I am done Jackson. I am done with you teaseing me. I am done with your crap. If you have not put it together yet that I like you in a way I shouldn't then your… why do you do this teaseing in the bed , at the pool, being near me. Why wont you leave me alone and go back to your perfect life, your perfect girlfriend, and being the loved hero! Just leave me out of this. I can't take this painful desire anymore!"

Boom. I had less time than I thought he was half way out the door and I knew if I didn't stop him he was never comeing back. My body kicked in to auto-pilot as I chased him out the door and down the lawn to the beach.

At any moment he could shadow travel and be gone for good. How did I not notice? I knew there was something, but how did I not see the pain?

I closed in on him as we ran across the beach. Nico was running blind and that was what gave me the advantage to over take him. We hit the sand hard. The surf crashed angist my back. I pinned his hands over his head. My body was running on adrenalin, it was not until some of it burned off that I noticed I had pinned Nico with his under the surf. The water was came to his waist and he was not just fighting agnist me, but for air. I watch as the waves rolled passed us to the beach before it sunk in.

I jumped off of him and pulled him way from the tied. His body shivered aginst mine while he coughed up lake water. My griped tighten around him as we sat on the beach in the moonlight. What have I done? I never knew I caused him pain, and now I almost killed him when I wanted to only stop him.

Nico felt light and limp in my arms. The emotional out burst, the run, and near drowning had drained his energy. Looking down at him, Nico kept his head down and his hands over his face in some pathtic attpemt to hide. I didn't have the heart o push him anymore. I carried him across the beach, across the lawn, and back to our room.

Gentaly I shut the door behind us then proceded to his bed. I placed his weary body on the bed. Nico was out of it, unaware at what had taken place. I removed his cold wet clothes, while atlest to his underwear, then I fetched a towel. I also found and extra blanket to wrap him up in while I dryed his hair.

Nico started to come around , but didn't quit get there. He must have still been light headed judgeing from his glossy eyes. He stared at me like I might have been a figment of his imagenation. I wonder if what he saw caused him pain or joy as his face stayed blank and unreadable.

A smile akwardly came to my face in hopes of a reaction from Nico, but was recived with a slow blink. He still did not see to be quiet with it. Maybe he was under the water to long, or maybe his blow up took more enegry than I thought.

Nico managed to crawl under the blankets and did not move till morning. I stay up thinking of what have I done to hurt someone without knowing it. How could I have known he had these feelings for me? I guess looking back on it there were signs, that I choose to overlook. Now they are catching up to me.