Disclaimer:: I don't own Percy Jackson and the Heroes of Olympus or its characters. They are the property of Rick Riorden, and are not my intellectual property. There is no financial gain made from this nor will any be sought. This is for entertainment purposes only.
For once Nico was glad this schools rumor mill ran ramped. Nico tried not to listen in to the whispered conversations around him, but every time he heard Percy's name he couldn't help but tune in. Before lunch he had learned that Percy was captain of the swim team and the top competitor in the sword club. He made an educated guess that the blond he had seen with him was Jason Grace, fellow member of the sword club and captain of the football team. The girls in this school were swooning over them both, but neither had been seriously linked to anyone. Although rumours of hook ups were numerous. Nico mentally kicked himself, he had to stop thinking about the green-eyed beauty he met this morning.
In his second class, history, Nico met the only other guy in the whole school who not only recognised his Misfits T-shirt, but also seemed to prefer a dark wardrobe. Luke Castellan had short sandy hair and pale blue eyes. His black cargo pants hung loose on his hips. Nico tried to focus on every little detail, if only to distract himself from the thick white scar that ran from just below his eye to his jaw. The short conversation they shared before class revealed they shared many interests, so when the bell rang and Luke invited Nico to sit with him and his friends Nico nodded and followed the boy to the cafeteria
Percy had his eyes glued to the doors as he sat with his friends. His lunch untouched in front of him. Nico never actually said he would meet him there, but Percy dared to hope. When he saw a head with dark curly hair he stood and waved at him. Percy couldn't help but smile when the Italian met his eyes and gave him a slight nod. The smile slipped from his face when Nico turned away and followed Luke to a table on the other side of the room.
"Your new friend not joining us after all?" Percy's friend Leo Valdez said with a smirk, scooping the blue chocolate chip cookie off his tray.
"He never actually said he was going to." Percy sat down and stared at his tray, he didn't really feel like eating anymore. He shook his head and pasted a smile on his face as he looked around at his friends. "What ever. So how's the planning for home coming?" Who cares if the new kid didn't want to sit with him, not everybody needed to like him. It wasn't the end of the world. Besides, Percy had lots of friends. Jason Grace sat next to him talking football with Tyson who sat on his other side. Across the table Leo sat with Travis and Conner Stoll horsing around. Reyna Ramirez-Arellano and Drew Tanaka were engaged in a friendly argument over some reality t-show. Nico seemed to be having a good time with Luke and his friends anyways. Percy watched as Nico chuckled at something that was said and Thalia Grace threw her arm around his shoulder. Her black leather jacket blending in with his black t-shirt as she leaned towards him, you couldn't see where she ended and he began. He would fit in better with them anyways.
It took all of Nico's will power to turn away from Percy and allow Luke to lead him over to his friends on the other side of the cafeteria. Nico risked a glance back, the older boy looked almost disappointed, then with a blink the look was gone and Percy was smiling and laughing with his friends again.
Luke introduced Nico to the group; on his right side Thalia Grace had smooth pale skin that contrasted with her short choppy black hair, eyes were draw to the electric blue streak that ran through her bangs. Her leather jacket was two sizes too big, and her tight black pants were covered in chains. Next to her was Hazel Levesque, who had caramel skin and long chocolate hair that fell around her face in ringlets. Hazel had kind eyes and a soft voice. Her boyfriend Frank Zhang had one muscular arm around her shoulder. Piper Mclean with feathers braided into her hair and Clarisse Le Rue in her army fatigue sat across from him. Luke sat on his left with a proud smile. They were an eclectic bunch, and were ready to except him with open arms. Maybe for once Nico would be able to fit in, make some friends. As long as he can keep his secret.