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Ever:

"Wha-Huh?" Ever mumbled incomprehensibly. Was what she hearing actually happening? "Say that again? I think my ears are broken."

Mrs. Jackson (oops, Mrs. Blofis) laughed and leaned closer. Even through the Iris message, Ever could tell she was a very beautiful woman. Not only that, but she reminded her of Edward, her older brother. They both had calming voices and reassuring smiles, something Ever missed. "What are your arrangements for the winter?" Although that wasn't the question Ever had been stumped by, she played along.

"Uhm, well, I dunno. That idiot Andrew didn't wait for Chiron's ok before he faked my death. Although I have to say, he has a very impressive dramatic flair. If anything, I'm glad he decided to shoot me during a bank robbery." Ever tapped her fingers against her chin.

Where am I going? Hayden wants me to come to his boarding school, but I don't think he realizes that his school is for orphans. I'm pretty sure everyone would be stumped when a certain Everett Jeremy Elwood comes back to life. Well, actually, I could change my name and dye my hair green…

"Actually, I've got nothing planned."

Mrs. Jackson smiled and clasped her hands to her chest. "Well, Percy's told me so much about you, so I'd be glad to welcome you to my home."

Is she…inviting me to live at her house?!

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Ever and Nico sat next to each other outside the bus station. Percy had left for his home earlier to help set up Ever's room, so she was going into New York with Nico for company. After a week of planning and thinking things over, she was moving into the Jackson's (Blofis') home for the winter until Camp started up again. Chiron had given her the option of being an all year student, but Ever just didn't feel like that was the right option, even thought it meant being with Nico all year.

That's probably the thing I'll miss the most about going back to school. Nico won't be there.

Suddenly, a thought came to her.

"Hey Nico," She started. He turned from his daydreams and gave her a questioning look. "Where are you going for the winter?"

Nico hesitated before looking into the distance and sighing. "I think I'm just going to roam. There's nothing tying me to Camp now that you're leaving, so yeah." H e shrugged like it was nothing, but Ever knew better. He hid a melancholy look behind that poker face. She knew that Nico had only stayed at Camp Half-Blood because she was there. Ever had heard plenty of stories about Nico's wanderings and mishaps. She felt sad imagining him alone, wandering the globe. The loneliness would have drove her insane, so she commended Nico for being such a strong person.

"Why don't you live with someone, like I am. Hazel, maybe? Wait, no…that's at Camp Jupiter…but you could still go there! That'd be far though…"

"Hazel asked me that yesterday." Nico muttered as he lounged back against the bench. "I've been thinking about that, but I'm not sure."

Nico turned to look at Ever and smirked. "Besides, it'd be harder to visit you if I was all the way in California."

California…that's right. I used to live there. To think, Cam Jupiter was literally only 45 minutes away from my house. I wonder what would have happened if I went had gone there instead of Camp Half-Blood.

She grinned at Nico and said, "Well, if you decide to go to Cali, say 'hi' to my family for me. But don't knock on their door or anything, that would most likely freak them out."

Nico snorted and shook his head in amusement. He opened his mouth to say something, but the bus turned a corner and stopped at the bench. It's door opened, and a hairy man sat behind the wheel. He faintly smelled of smoke. Ever crinkled her nose and walked into the bus with Nico behind her. They chose a seat near the middle. The bus was strangely vacant. The only people in it were Nico, herself, a cat lady, and three rowdy-looking teenage boys. The boys eyed Ever, then eyed Nico and scoffed with smirks on their faces.

"Maybe we shouldn't have sat across from high school delinquents over there." Ever muttered in Nico's ear. He glanced warily at the boys and shrugged. The bus started moving and everything was quiet for about five minutes before one of the boys made a move.

"Hey sweetheart, why don't you dump Mr. Goth and come hang with some real men." The biggest boy, probably the leader, said flirtatiously to Ever.

"I would, except the only men I see are the bus driver and Mr. Goth over here." Ever replied. "Between the two, I'd rather go with gloom than hairy old guy."

The boy blinked in surprise and glanced at Nico. Something like confusion crossed the boy's face, and he frowned. "What's this boy have that I don't? He's a scrawny little guy. Doesn't look a day over dead, and he ain't the best eye candy compared to me." The boy pointed to himself, and his cohorts nodded with the same confusion.

Sheesh, I forgot how stupid teenage boys can be. (NO OFFENSE TO ANY TEENAGE BOYS OUT THERE) This just makes me thankful that Percy and Nico aren't this outrageous.

Ever was startled when Nico arm snaked around her shoulders. He glared atomic bombs at the boys and snarled slightly. "She's mine."

The leader blinked. The boys blinked. Ever blinked.

HUUUH?

Nico leaned closer to than and growled. "Mine."

The three boys gulped and leaned away. The cat lady nodded in satisfaction and gave Nico a thumbs up.

He moved his arm from Ever's shoulders and sighed in exhaustion. Nico gave her a shy smile, and she laughed.

"Wow Nico, I didn't know you felt so strong about me." Ever teased with a grin.

"Surprised me, too." Nico rubbed the back of his neck and blushed crimson. Although she wouldn't admit it, Ever was glad Nico had stepped in. She knew he didn't mean what he said, but she had a small sliver of hope.

What am I thinking? We're just friends. Nothing more, nothing less.

Something in Ever disagreed.

~~~{[()]}~~~~~{[()]}~~~~~{[()]}~~~~~{[()]}~~~~~{[()]}~~~~~{[()]}~~~

The two of them arrived at the Jackson's apartment building after the bus dropped them off, and they walked a few blocks. It wasn't too big compared to some of the other building, but Ever was still in awe.

"Why would someone make these gigantic buildings! What if you get an earthquake and everything falls over!" Ever hollered when she saw the Empire State building.

"Doesn't San Fransisco have big buildings, too?" Nico asked with amusement. He had a small smile on his face as he watched her gaze at the buildings.

"Well, yeah, but this is different!"

"How?"

"It just is!"

The two of them entered the apartment building and went to the floor Percy had told them. They walked down the hall until they came upon room 413. Ever raised a hand to knock, but the door opened before she could. There stood Percy in blue pjs, a sleepy look on his face. He yawned and opened the door for them to come in.

"Mornin'." He mumbled—even though it was noon—as they walked into the family room. Everything was suspiciously blue. Blue couch, blue coasters, blue curtains, blue carpet, if anything, this seemed more like Percy's dream house than his parents' home. "Want some pancakes?"

Ever carried in a single suitcase and backpack. She placed them by the door and threw herself on the couch, letting her legs dangle off the armrest. There was enough room for Nico to squeeze next to her head and sit without having her in his lap.

"Yes!" Ever told Percy. He nodded sleepily and walked into the kitchen. It was a small area with tile flooring and a marble counter. A shiny oven and microwave was imbedded into the counter, and a silver fridge stood off to the side. Percy popped some blue things into the microwave and came back with, surprise surprise, blue pancakes.

"Is everything here blue?" Ever asked as she stuffed a pancake in her mouth.

"Pretty much."

They sat there for a couple second, the only sound was Ever chewing on blue pancakes. Nico cleared his throat and stood up.

"Well, I should go."

"Nico?"

"Good-bye, Ever." Nico smiled at her and walked out of the room, slamming the door shut behind him. Percy yawned.

"Ah, sorry 'bout that. My mom made me stay up last night and get your room ready." Percy rubbed his eyes and slapped himself, trying to keep his eyes open. Ever nodded and sighed.

Why did Nico leave like that? He could have at least stayed a little longer and had a proper good-bye. I never got to give him his thank you present.

She glanced at her backpack, where Nico's present was.

Oh well, I'll have to give it to him when I see him again. But, when will that be?

Percy noticed that she was thinking about Nico, so he smiled and poked her. "C'mon, I gotta show you your room!" He jumped up and ran down the hall. Ever heard a bang and an 'OW!'. Laughing, she got up and followed him down the hall towards her new life.

Nico:

Nico wandered around New York. He didn't know what he was doing, only that he couldn't leave. Every time he got near the city's end, he just turned back and started walking. A couple times he ended up near the Jackson's apartment building. Each time he look up and tried to look into the windows to find Ever or Percy. He never saw them. There he was, right now, staring up at the building that had stolen Ever.

Stolen? What am I thinking? She wasn't stolen, she's just—

Gone.

Nico sighed and looked up at the building again, searching the windows. He was about to give up when a familiar face met him. Mrs. Jackson stared at him from one of the windows, smiling. His face blushed crimson at being caught. He scurried off into the crowd and disappeared. Nico wandered around some more, not even paying attention to where he was going, when the sky started to darken.

I'm an idiot. Now where am I going to go? There isn't anywhere close enough that I can shadow travel to.

Nico scowled and went into a cheap looking hotel, paying more money than the stinky building was worth. He lay on the small bed and stared at the ceiling, once again wondering why he was still in New York.

Maybe I just want to make sure she's safe. Yeah, that's it! I'll just stay here for a couple more days until I know she's fine. That's it. Then I'll leave.

Nico stayed in New York for a month before he remembered the conversation he had had with himself in the hotel room. He watched Percy and Ever laughing as they walked to school. Percy was no longer a high schooler. Both he and Annabeth were planning to become student at Camp Jupiter. The only reason Percy was in New York was because Ever needed to get used to the city.

"It's been a while, hasn't it?" A voice said from next to him. Nico jumped and raised his fists.

"M-Ms. Jackson!" He yelled in surprise. She waggled her finger at him.

"Mrs. Blofis now."

"O-oh, y-yeah." Nico rubbed his arm and sighed in relief. "What are you doing here?"

"I live here." She pointed to the apartment building across the street, and laughed when Nico blushed beet red. "What about you?"

"I-I…uuuh…"

She winked at him. "You don't want to leave Everett, do you?"

Nico found himself shaking his head.

Kill me now.

"Well, why don't you come out of hiding and get your breakfast?"

"Huh?"

Mrs. Jackson grabbed the edge of Nico's sleeve and pulled his across the street and into the apartment building, smiling the whole way. "You can't watch Ever from afar like that, so I'm extending my home to you."

Huh?

Mrs. Jackson smiled. "I'm inviting you to live with us."

Melpomene:

Melpomene walked through the streets of New York, looking out of place. Her young beauty caught the eyes of every male. She bathed in their awed stares. Her tracker had pinpointed this location. Melpomene was here to steal the condemned. They would be a beautiful present for Enyalius. Then, she, Melpomene, would become his main concern, and that hideous Enyo would be out of the picture.

A malicious grin spread across her face as she smelled the stench of demigod. She followed her nose until she came upon a large building. Two boys and a girl walked out of the building, merrily talking and laughing.

They smelled like demigod.

Melpomene felt the leaves in her hands and walked towards the building, following their scent the whole way. She walked up stairs until the smell went down the hall, and into a room labeled 413.

DUN DUN DUUUUN! FOLLOW, FAVORITE, AND REVIEW!

Hayden: Why is she so creepy? WHY CAN SHE SMELL PEOPLE?!

Sonic: I am quiet sure that goddesses do not have the ability to smell demigods...

Me: Shaddup. It is what is it, so LIVE WITH IT!

Hayden: Well, her weirdness sure is tragic!

Me: ?

Hayden: Ah, ah? Does no one get that joke?

Sonic: Melpomene is the muse of tragedy...oh, yes, I see!

Me: OOOOH!

Hayden: FINALLY! No one appreciates good irony any more.

THANK YOU MY PEEPS! REMEMBER, THE MORE REVIEWS THE FASTER I WRITE! BYYYYYYE!