Percy walked into his apartment after school, throwing his bag in his room and grabbing a snack. His mom wasn't home yet, so he took advantage of the cotton candy ice cream in the freezer and sat down to work on his homework. He was supposed to meet Annabeth at the mall today at 4. He thought about it for a minute, and then texted Annabeth.

Should we invite Nico?

He got back to schoolwork and almost instantly was interrupted by his phone going off.

I wish we could, but I don't have his number on my phone.

I do, Percy texted back, I'll text him and ask.

He looked up Nico in his contacts and then texted and asked about the mall. Nico responded a minute later, saying he'd be there.

Percy looked at the pile of schoolwork. If he wanted to get to the mall, he better get started.

Hey Nico, wanna come to the mall with me and Annabeth 4:00? We're meeting at the froYo store at the east end.

Nico texted Percy back, saying he'd meet them there. His schoolwork was done, his room was kind of clean, and he had money. He could go. His parents didn't notice or care. He walked out of his bedroom and out the door. He'd get to the mall early, and wander around till four.

At 4, Percy showed up to the FroYo store with Annabeth in tow. Nico noticed him from across the room and stood up. Percy ran over to him and hugged him.

"Nico, we're gonna have so much fun! We're going to the arcade, and the comic book store, and the pretzel stand, and-"

"Percy. We're at a mall, I'm sure Nico expects to go to places in the mall. Also, I don't think he can breathe."

Percy let go of Nico, blushing and just looking sheepish. He looked good in his teal sweatshirt and jeans. Nico cursed himself for thinking that. He couldn't let it happen again. They left the FroYo shop, and started walking towards the arcade, but Annabeth pulled them into every bookstore there was. She would walk around, taking every interesting book off the shelf, reading a bit, and then putting it back so it took her fifteen minutes just to go through one store. Nico and Percy would glance at a couple of books and then go to the stores around the bookstore until they saw Annabeth waiting for them at the entrance.

They made their way down to the arcade like this, joking and laughing. Well Annabeth and Percy were, Nico just hung back a bit and laughed at a couple of jokes. When they got to the arcade, Annabeth got quarters and split them up between the three of them. Nico went towards Pac-Man, while Annabeth and Percy played Air hockey. After a while, Nico went to go watch them. Annabeth saw someone she knew across the arcade.

"Nico, here. Play with Percy while I talk to Rachel." She shoved the thingy that you use to hit the puck into his hand and ran off.

"I am going to beat you, you know. Annabeth is the only person I have ever met who can beat me, and that's a rare occasion." He smiled at Nico and put the coins in. The air came up, and he threw down the puck.

Nico turned out to be pretty good at air hockey, and by the time Annabeth came back, Nico had beaten him twice. Percy looked amazed each time.

"Annabeth he beat me! In air hockey! Nico beat me in air hockey!" Annabeth laughed, although Percy looked like he was about to cry, he started laughing too. They spent the rest of the day wandering around, until Annabeth had to go home and babysit her brothers. Percy and Nico walked out of the mall and sat on a bench.

"Sorry Annabeth had to go home early, Neek. Her stepmom kinda hates her and forces her to babysit."

"It's okay."

Percy looked over at Nico, admiring the younger boy. Nico seemed so strong, like he could handle anything life threw at him.

"Do you want me to walk you home? You look tired." Percy wondered how much sleep Nico got at home.

"I'm fine. I can walk places myself you know, and it's a long walk."

"It's night in NYC. I'm not letting you walk home alone." They started walking back towards Nico's house, talking about random things, or just not talking, enjoying being with each other, even if they would never say that aloud. When they got to Nico's apartment, Nico turned to face Percy.

"Thanks for inviting me to the mall and walking me home."

"No problem, Nico. Thanks for coming. I know you don't like people."

Just then, an ocean sound came out of Percy's pocket.

"Damn. I got to go Nico. I'll see you tomorrow."

"Bye."

Nico watched as Percy began running down the road, watching him until he disappeared.

Percy got home right after the clock in the church at the end of his road struck nine.

"Percy, I've been worried! Leave a note next time, and you know curfews 8:30 unless you have permission."

"Sorry Mom, I was talking to my new friend Nico. He went to the mall with me and Annabeth today. I walked him home because Annabeth had to leave early."

"Okay, Perce, I believe you. Now, it's a school night. Come eat and then you can go to bed."

Percy ate his food, showered, and the crawled into bed. He lay there for a while thinking about Nico.

He wears a lot of black.

Percy wondered why he looked so…broken.

Nico crawled into bed, trying to sleep, but he couldn't. He just kept thinking of Percy. He always looked at him as if Nico were interesting, or worth his time. That didn't happen to Nico a lot. He started thinking about the pouty face that Percy made when Nico beat him at air hockey. He was really cute- no, Nico couldn't keep thinking like that. He had promised himself he wouldn't fall for another person like Percy. Someone who only cared as friends. He wouldn't fall for someone like that again. Nico turned over and fell asleep.