Heyyy! I'm gonna do a bit of Reynico for now... Because its number hasn't come for quite a while... please comment and review my story... I love hearing from you people... Happy reading!

After breakfast, the school students had been arranged to go into a zoo. So, in they went in the school buses excited for another outing, hopefully more interesting than the museum they had seen the day before.

Luke had got hold of Annabeth again and dragged her to his seat. Reluctantly, Annabeth had followed cringing at his touch, though unnoticed by the others. Percy watched her go from the corner of his eyes, as he sat with Rachel, with anger bubbling inside him making him want retribution.

Rachel meanwhile was trying to get Percy to focus on her. "Percy, what do you say if after lunch we go somewhere in a mall."

"In a mall? You won't get permission for that." Percy said, not quite wanting to go shopping.

"Oh, darling, wait and watch. I'll make him give me permission." Percy shrugged it off, distracted. He still couldn't believe that Annabeth could so easily be fooled by Luke's words. Or maybe Luke was forcing her to do this? No, of course not, how could he?

As Percy sat thinking these disturbing thoughts, the others were having fun playing and talking. Reyna, who was sitting beside Nico, noticing her partner's silence approached him.

"Hey, why so silent?"

"Aren't I always silent?" Nico asked raising his eyebrows.

"No, you opened up to me at the party."

"Well, you're... different." Nico said, struggling to come up with a suitable word. Reyna raised her eyebrows. "A good different, I mean."

"And what do you have against the others?" Reyna said, laughingly, a twinkle in her eyes that warmed Nico's heart. "Have they all made you cow down?"

"Nah. I just don't fit in. I'm not their type. I don't smile and I don't-"

"Why don't you? Why don't you smile?" Reyna asked. "Doesn't everybody like to smile?"

"At least, I don't. I'd rather stay gloomy all day, lost in my own thoughts." Nico said. "It's my way, my style."

"Well, I think you should change it. Do something positive. Stop staying gloomy and laugh with the others." Reyna said with a smile. "I don't mean to sound preachy but it is the best way to forget the past and enjoy the present."

Nico cocked his head on one side. "It's hard to smile. I can't really find a reason that can make me smile, much less laugh."

"Aw, that's easy. Look around yourself, hear all the jokes and laugh," Reyna shrugged.

"What if you're alone?" Nico challenged, though a faint smile was playing on his lips.

"Hmm. That's hard. Well, you could think of jokes you heard before and-"

"What if the pain in your heart is making you crazy? Do you still think of jokes?" Nico asked, suddenly serious.

Reyna was silent for a while. "You still blame yourself for your sister's death, don't you?"

Nico nodded. "If I hadn't run, she would still be alive, with me," he said, bitterly.

"Nico have you heard the quote; 'The past is history, the future is a mystery but today is a gift- that's why we call it present.' You have to think that God has given you the chance to improve on your mistakes and forget the past. Be understanding and loving, not recluse and bitter."

"As I said, that's not easy."

"You have your friends. We can take care of you. Just approach us and we'll help you forget your misery."

"I'm not forgetting Bianca." Nico said, glaring at Reyna.

"And I'm not telling you to forget her. All I'm saying is stop blaming yourself and start living life well." Reyna said, patiently. When Nico didn't reply for a while, his gaze away, she added gently. "I'll help you, if you want."

Nico turned to her with sad eyes. "I want to be happy. But I can't forget what happened to my sister and that it happened because of me."

Reyna sighed, a little exasperated. "Don't forget her. But be happy and remember that if she was here she'd want you to be happy."

Nico thought about it. "I guess so." With a bit of hesitation he added. "Will you help me?"

"Of course I will. Is that even a question?" Reyna smiled.

With that, they both embraced each other in a hug. Reyna smiled, feeling satisfied that she had helped her best friend. Nico smiled because he now knew he had a friend.

So, I know this is a short chapter but make do with it and the next chapter is Frazel! Please please please please please comment and vote on my story... I love it when I have notifs!