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.

It was the hardest thing Nico had ever done. The look on Percy's face nearly destroyed him. When Nico saw the pain in those sea green eyes it took everything he had not to pull the older boy close and tell him it wasn't true. Anything to make the pain go away. He almost skipped gym, dreading seeing Percy again so soon. It would have been a waste; both Leo and Percy were absent that afternoon.

He slid into his seat in computer science, and was almost disappointed that Leo still hadn't arrived when the bell rang. He was starting to worry a little bit. He could hear Travis and Connor arguing with Katie behind him.

"Gods! Why do you have to be so annoying?" She whispered harshly.

"Aw Katie, love, you wound us so."

"We were just trying to make you smile."

"Really? And you thought that would work?"

"What do you think Nico?" He turned when Travis (or maybe it was Connor, he really couldn't tell them apart) addressed him.

"Sorry?"

"These idiots painted a smiley face on the hood of my car, in peanut butter!"

Nico tried not to laugh, Katie looked like she was ready to throttle someone. "Well, it sounds like their hearts were in the right place." He couldn't even say it with a straight face.

"Laugh all you want Nico! I was in the hall at lunch. I saw what happened."

Nico's smile dropped, "What's that supposed to mean?" The Stolls looked uncomfortable and wouldn't meet Nico's eyes.

"We all knew Luke was an ass, but no one realized it was contagious."

"Travis, Connor, what is she talking about?"

"Percy. You were kind of harsh dude." The first twin mumbled.

"He was pretty upset." The second agreed.

Nico was saved from responding when the teacher called the class to attention. He hadn't meant to hurt him, but he knew he had. And it was kind of killing him. Why was he so upset anyways? They had only talked a few times. It wasn't like they were BFFs. He didn't pay attention for the rest of the class and made his way to his locker after wards like a zombie. He didn't even notice when his friends were calling him until someone grabbed his shoulder. He felt like he jumped three feet in the air before he twirled around to face them.

"Holy shit guys, give me a heart attack."

"We've been calling you from down the hall." Thalia pointed out.

"Sorry, I was kind of lost in my own world."

"I bet. Are you going to tell us what happened? Or just let the rumor mill twist it around?" Piper crossed her arms and glared at him. He'd never met such a small girl with such a deadly glare.

"Ummm..."

"And don't pretend you don't know what we're talking about." Frank leaned against the locker, Hazel at his side.

"I didn't mean for it to come out so harsh." Nico mumbled. "Besides, he over reacted. We barley know each other."

"Look, Percy may seem like a tough guy, but really he's kind of soft." Thalia's face softened. "Maybe you should apologize."

"Why? I meant it. We're not friends. I have no interest in being his friend. I'm sorry if he can't accept that the world doesn't fall at his feet." Nico was suddenly angry. They were his friends, they should be supporting him. Why does everyone always act like he's the bad guy?

"You really don't get it do you?" Hazel asked quietly.

"No, I don't and I don't care." Nico slammed his locker closed and stormed away. He didn't need friends; he'd survived without them long enough. They wanted to coddle the poor puppy because the mean emo boy was a little harsh then fine.

By the time he got home his anger had calmed. He was suddenly exhausted. Knowing he hurt Percy was breaking his heart. And he was still confused as to why the boy cared so much. Nico was a nobody, a shadow in the corner. Percy was a prince, with the world at his feet. He could do better, he deserved better. Nico groaned and tried to shake himself out of the self pity party he seemed to have started throwing himself. He peeled his clothes off and jumped into a hot shower, to try and clear his mind.

Unfortunately, his mind refused to be cleared. He couldn't stop picturing the way those sea green eyes shone in the moonlight last weekend. Or the way he pouted when Nico said he didn't drink. The salty sea smell of his skin as he leaned in close and dumped his own beer down the drain. Or the way his voice sounded when he pleaded for Nico to come. For him. He hadn't noticed when his hand had drifted down his body to grasp himself, but suddenly he spilled his seed all over the tiled wall. Surprising himself back to reality. With a groan he slid to the bottom of the tub and laid his head on his arms. He was so screwed.

Percy didn't have much experience avoiding people, not since the fiasco with Luke two years ago, but he thought he was doing a pretty good job. Or maybe it was just so easy because Nico seemed to be avoiding him too. It had been a long week, and he managed to only see the brown eyed Italian in gym class. Which, of course, was the worst time to see him because as good as Nico looked in his skinny jeans and leather jacket Percy had a hard time not staring when the boy was being active. The way his lean muscles seemed to ripple under his shirt, a thin sheen of sweat on his skin. Percy shuddered just thinking about him. Which he was doing far too often. He just couldn't get the guy out of his head. Nico had made it perfectly clear he wanted nothing to do with him, so why couldn't he just let it go? He had never been so infatuated with someone in his life.

"Earth to Percy?" Jason waved his hand in front of his face, making Percy blink. He hadn't even realized it but he had been staring at the back of Nico's head from across the cafeteria. "Dude, I've never seen you like this. I'm starting to get worried."

"You should just talk to him." Reyna said with a smile.

"I tried that, he made his position perfectly clear."

Drew snorted, "Come on, there's nothing special about THAT BOY. He's such a freak." Percy glared at her, even if Nico was cruel to him he couldn't help but get upset to hear someone talk bad about him. "Really thou, he's been kicked out of five different schools in the last three years. I heard he's even been arrested a few times." Suddenly she had everyone interest.

"What are you talking about? Where did you hear that?" Leo asked.

"You know my Dad works for the school board. He's on probation. No other schools in the district would let him in, if he even gets a detention they will throw his ass out. It's military school for that one. If he doesn't go to jail first."

"Why did he get kicked out?" As much as Percy hated gossip, he couldn't help but be curious about the boys past.

"For starting fights. I heard he was a major bully; even put a couple guys in the hospital."

"What? No way, I don't believe it." Percy dropped the fork he had been holding.

"Way. My Dad told me to stay away from him." Drew smirked; Percy was disgusted that she actually seemed proud of herself.

"Jason? Could you..."

"Grab my sister? Yea I was thinking the same thing. I'll catch her on the way out."

Percy waited by the library with Leo for Jason and Thalia. He couldn't stand still. He had to know, could he be wrong about Nico?

"Alright, I'm here. What's this all about?" Thalia crossed her arms and gave Percy a pointed look.

"I'm sorry Thalia, I'm usually not one to listen to gossip but..." Percy trailed off, he wasn't sure how to continue.

"Thals, Drew said some things. And we wanted to defend Nico, but we really don't know him that well. And after what happened last week..."

"You're worried she's right?"

"No!" Percy nearly shouted. "There's no way."

Thalia raised her eye brows. Percy blushed.

"Why don't you just tell me what she's saying? It will be easier to squash the rumors if we know about them before hand."

Percy hesitated. He wasn't sure if he could get the words out. Leo pulled him down next to him on the stairs and wrapped his arm around his shoulder. Jason filled his sister in on everything Drew had told them.

"Oh. Well, some of that might actually be true." Percy stared at her in shock. "But out of context. He did mention he's gotten in a lot of trouble. Been in a few fights. But he wasn't the bully, he was being bullied. And it sounded like it got pretty, violent. That's why he started working out and stuff. To defend himself. He mentioned people usually laid the blame on him, because he refused to let himself get beat."

Percy stared wide eyed, his stomach twisted. He felt his blood boil at the thought of people bullying Nico. He could see the small boy, before he grew strong, scared and alone facing bullies. He squeezed his hands into fists.

"Why? Why would they bully him?"

"He wouldn't say. I shouldn't be telling you this, and if it was anyone else I wouldn't. But I know you...care about him. You can't let him know you know. He'd be embarrassed."

"It's not like he'll talk to me anyways. He hates me."

"Well, you could repay me by telling me why? What exactly happened at that party that pissed him off so much?"

Percy groaned and his cheeks flamed. He kept his eyes on his feet as he mumbled his response, "I tried to kiss him."

Thalia couldn't help but laugh. Percy buried his face in his arms and prayed the earth would open him up and swallow him whole.

"It's not funny. I messed up and now he's joined Luke in the 'we hate Percy Jackson club' . Even thou Frank told me he was straight, I just couldn't help myself."

"Yes, it is. Relax Perce, I'll talk to him. Without Luke around. I don't think he hates you as much as you think he does. And Frank isn't exactly the guy you go to for romantic advice."

"What do you mean?"

"Let's just say his mom was a little too calm about two girls being in her teenage sons room while he got changed."

"You watched him change?" Percy snapped.

"Relax Romeo, it was only his shirt. The point is she didn't even bat an eye when we went in there and closed the door. And she's Italian."

"So you think, maybe, Frank was wrong?" Percy was scared to get his hopes up.

"I'm not saying for sure either way. But I'll talk to him."

"Thanks Thals!"

"Hey, I can't stand to see those baby seal eyes all mopey. It could melt even the coldest heart."

And with a wink and a smile she slipped away.