*Already 25 followers and 7 reviews. Thank you all for the support, it means a lot to me. This is where things are going to start getting interesting. This chapter was so fun to write. :-)

Important thing to note... This will be yaio (boy-boy). Don't like? You do not have to read.

Disclaimer- I do not own Percy Jackson and the Olympians or the Heroes of Olympus series. (One can dream though) All rights go to the proper parties.

Percy POV

We spent the entire afternoon at the beach. I could hardly remember the last time we had that much fun. We organized a 3 on 3 game of volleyball. The teams ended up being me, Hazel, and Nico verses Piper, Jason, and Frank. Hazel struggled a little but Nico had a knack for it. Our team ended up winning 15 to 13.

Nico had eventually broken down and decided to come for a swim with everyone and I made sure that I kept my promise.

I was very proud of him for facing his fear. I stayed beside Nico the entire time so that he wouldn't get too nervous but I could tell that he was still a little uncomfortable. Jason was clearly surprised by Nico's actions as he kept gave him a strange look.

Hazel and I were in the process of building a sand castle together when Jenn finally found us.

Honestly, it was only a matter of time. I was mostly surprised that we had managed to avoid her for the majority of the day. She immediately spotted Nico sitting beneath his tree and ran towards him

"Neeks, where were you? I've been looking for you all day," she pouted.

"I've been busy."

"Doing what? You should have told me, I would have come and kept you company."

Nico visibly shuttered. I felt bad for him, that girl was a leach. I decided that I needed to save him. I stood up and brushed the sand from my swim trunks. "Hey Nico, come on. We have to get going."

Nico looked at me in confusion but he decided to play along. "Alright, let's go. We wouldn't want to be late."

Jenn looked at me and the back at Nico, "Okay where are we going?"

"Sorry Jenn, it's just the six of us."

"Why can't I come?" Jenn pouted looking between all of us.

I was drawing a blank. I couldn't think of any reason that would be able to keep Jenn from stalking us.

"Oh, well..." I should have thought this part through.

Piper stepped up next to me and came to our rescue. "Sorry Jenn. Percy's mom invited us to dinner at her house. We can't bring you with us."

"Oh, okay. Have fun." Jenn looked down like she was trying not to cry. She may have been annoying but I still felt a pang of guilt for upsetting her.

My pity however faded into amusement as she tried to wrap her arms around Nico. I swear that I saw Nico's hand twitch towards the hilt of his sword before she decided she had best back away. I felt bad that she annoyed him but, Gods, his face was priceless.

"Okay we should get going. See you later Jenn." She nodded and watched us walk away.

I was feeling pretty smug. Piper and I had just freed Nico from the inescapable grip of Jenn. As soon as we were out of ear shot however Hazel spoke. "So should I mention that now we won't be able go to dinner tonight?"

I frowned. We had already skipped out on lunch in favor of staying at the beach. "I see your point, that kind of sucks."

O well, it won't be the first time I've skipped a meal.

Piper and Jason shared a smile. "Actually that won't be a problem. Piper and I have dinner solved. Follow us."

ΩΩΩ

We followed Jason into the Zeus cabin. As soon as we walked in I started to smile. There were six sleeping bags arranged in a circle on the floor.

Piper smiled at all of us. "We were going to surprise everyone with a sleep over."

"And best of all, we have pizza!" I looked behind me to see Jason smiling at all of us as he held out two open boxes.

I grabbed a slice, "How did you guys manage this one?" I was impressed. Junk food was forbidden in camp. Yet the two of them managed not only to get us pizza, but it was even still warm.

Piper laughed, "We bribed the Stoll brothers."

Hazel smiled and grabbed some pizza. "Thank you guys this is amazing." We all nodded in agreement.

As we ate our forbidden dinner, we kept joking and laughing with each other. I swear that I even saw Nico smile when Frank told us a story about the time that he went to sleep as a human and woke up as a chinchilla.

It was nearly a perfect day. The only dark spot had been Jenn. Apparently I wasn't the only one who was thinking about her.

Hazel frowned at her brother. "I really wish that Jenn would leave you alone Nico." She hated the way Jenn stalked her little brother.

Nico looked like his mood had taken a nose dive at the mention of the blonde girl. "Trust me Haze, I wish for the same thing." He sighed and ran a hand through his black hair.

Frank looked at me and then smirked. "I guess it could be worse though. You could be Percy, and have girls literally throwing themselves at your feet."

I winced at his choice of words. "For the last time, she tripped. She wasn't purposely throwing herself at me."

"Sure she wasn't. And that's why as soon as you helped her up she tried to kiss you, right?" I felt my cheeks burn. "You know, you two are probably the only guys at camp who get mad when a beautiful girl is begging you to go out with them." Hazel looked down and Nico glared at Frank. His eyes widened as he realized how she would have taken his words. Frank put his arm around his girlfriend and pulled her close. "Of course, none of them are anywhere near as wonderful and perfect and beautiful as Hazel of course, but you get what I mean." Hazel blushed at the complements but leaned into Franks embrace.

Piper laughed at Hazel's expression and Jason put his arm around her shoulders.

I shook my head and rubbed the back of my neck. "I know I should be happy, and I guess I am a little flattered, but I desperately wish that they would just stop already."

Jason smiled at me. "I'm fairly certain that people will keep coming onto you as long as you're single. And I have a feeling Jenn will never stop following Nico."

I frowned at him. I had a feeling that he was right. No matter what, there would always be some strange girl coming up to me thinking that maybe she was what I was looking for. That maybe she would be the one that I said yes to. There was only one girl in the world that I would say yes to and she had left camp. But how was I supposed to stop them from doing it? It was not like they believed me, no matter how many times and ways I said it.

"I have to admit, I can't take it anymore. Jenn is driving me completely nuts. At this point, there is nothing that I wouldn't do if it meant that she would leave me be."

I looked at Nico. I knew that he was suffering as badly as I was. I wished that there was some way that I could help him, but I couldn't even help myself.

Suddenly, I had an epiphany. I felt my eyes widen. That wouldn't work, would it? I mean, it couldn't be that simple.

"Holy Zeus, I've got it! I know how to stop everyone from hitting on me! And I know how to make Jenn leave Nico alone!" I jumped to my feet. I was so excited! This was perfect. It would work, I was positive.

Hazel looked surprised at my outburst. She looked at her brother before she asked me, "What exactly is the plan?"

"Nico," He raised an eyebrow at me, curiosity burning in his eyes. I smiled at him, "Will you go out with me?"

ΩΩΩ

Nico POV

I felt the air whoosh out of my lungs. What? He has to be playing with me.

I narrowed my eyes him. I was furious. What kind of sick joke is this? Why would Percy mock me like that? I felt the ground beneath me start to shake. I didn't believe that Percy would ever be purposely cruel but I guess I was mistaken. The pain racing through my veins was unendurable.

"What?" My hiss was filled with venom.

Percy's eyes widened and he held up his hands. "Wow Nico, calm down. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to offend you. I should have worded that better. We don't have to actually date, I meant that we pretend like were going out. It would stop Jenn from following you everywhere and like Jason said, those girls won't leave me be unless I am going out with someone. I just thought that it was a good plan. Kill two birds with one stone, you know?"

I knew that Percy would never want to go out with me. Even when he had asked me I knew he wouldn't truly be asking me out. But hearing him confirm what I believed still felt like a knife to my heart.

I saw Jason jump up. "No Percy, that's a horrible idea." Jason turned to me and I saw pity in his eyes. I looked away.

"Actually I can see what Percy means," Piper stood up and tried to get Jason to back down. "He brings up a fair point Jason, if people thought that the two of them were dating, they would back off." Jason was now looking at Percy and clenching his fists.

I shook my head; I didn't need other people to fight my battles for me. I was more than capable of doing so on my own. I took a deep breath through my nose and tried to calm my pulse. It didn't really help. I closed my eyes.

"What about the fact that Percy is straight? Don't you think that anyone is going to question that part of the plan?" Jason asked.

My eyes snapped open and I nearly hit him. He might as well held a sign above his head saying, And Nico is not. I interrupted before anyone could pick up on his slip. "Jason is right. Percy was dating Annabeth for years." I ignored the flinch that Percy gave at her name. "They're going to question that one. I have never had a girlfriend, so they won't question me."

Percy looked at me and frowned, "Really Nico? You've never had a girlfriend?" I glared at him and he took a step back. "Sorry I didn't mean to offend you. I was just curious."

Gods, he was oblivious.

"No Percy, I have never a girlfriend." I really wanted to hit him for being so obtuse.

Percy scrunched his eyebrows in confusion. "If you don't have a girlfriend that what's the problem with the two of pretending to go out?"

I had to look away. I really did not want to be having this conversation.

"Drop it Percy," Jason warned.

"But why, even Piper said it's a good plan."

"You haven't even given answer as to how to get around the whole straight problem," Jason snapped at Percy.

I was surprised when Hazel spoke. "Actually that wouldn't be very hard to get around. The four of us could spread a rumor that they've been dating in secret. Sure a few people would question it at the start but people will grow to accept it if the saw them holding hands and stuff." I tried not to blush as I thought of 'holding hands and stuff' with Percy. "But that's not really important. If Nico doesn't want to do this then he doesn't have to. It's his choice."

"But do you think it's a good idea?" Percy looked at Hazel and waited for her answer.

"I think it might work. And I don't want to see Nico suffering anymore. Jenn's getting on my last nerve."

I looked down. I had no way to explain how this plan would hurt me far more than Jenn's attentions ever would.

"Frank? What do you think?"

Frank sighed and looked at me. "I agree with Hazel. It might work but it has got to be Nico's choice."

Jason looked around like he couldn't believe everyone was against him.

Percy on the other hand was watching me with a hopeful expression.

I didn't know what to do. On the one hand, this wouldn't be real. Any time that Percy touched me or held my hand, to him, it would be a lie. It would be nothing more than an act he was putting on to save himself from annoyance. That knowledge was cutting into my heart. The pain was already making it hard to breathe. Eventually Annabeth would return and I would have to watch them hold each-other again. But next time it would be so much worse than before because I would know how it felt to be held by the son of Poseidon.

"Come on Nico, what do you say? Will you be my pretend boyfriend?" Percy held his hand out to me.

I felt my heart start to break, I already knew what my decision would be. I grudgingly took his hand and allowed him to pull me to my feet.

"Alright Percy, I will be your pretend boyfriend." I tried to keep my voice even but my voice broke a little on the word pretend. Jason gave me a look but no one else seemed to notice.

Percy gave me a huge smile and I pulled my hand back and turned to glare at the door.

Perhaps I was just a masochist. Percy would hurt me. It was inevitable that my heart would be broken. But if this is what Percy was willing to give me, then I would take it. And I would try to treasure every second of time that I would be able to call him mine.