Nico
The school cafeteria. So often in movies, each table houses a specific type of group. Not at my school. Only the members of the basketball team sat together and only those in the same class.
Usually, I sit at a table in the left corner of the cafeteria that is closest to the exit door, along with Annabeth, Thalia, and Piper.
"I heard a teacher sent you and Will to the principal's office again," Annabeth says as soon as she arrives at the table.
I'm already eating so I just nod, not giving too much importance to the subject. It's not worth getting even more stressed about it:
"What's the punishment this time?" She asks, worried.
I finished chewing before answering.
"Don't know yet. Lisa said she will tell us after the summer vacation. So, I won't even try to figure out what she's planning," I sigh. "My punishment is going to be worse than Will's anyway."
"Maybe, maybe not," Thalia says, entering the conversation. "Anyway, Will is going to get what he deserves. Jason always punishes him when this happens."
Jason is the captain of the basketball team and Thalia's twin brother, and, unlike Will, he was never an arrogant jerk and was never disrespectful to me.
"And Principal Lisa is quite fair with punishments as far as possible," Piper comes in defense of the principal. "The only reason she doesn't give Will worse punishments it's because of the team coach."
"This is ridiculous! We are almost in our senior year and Will continues to behave like a child. When will he grow up and stop it?" Annabeth asks, indignant about the situation.
As always, Annabeth opposes rule breaking, immaturity and, of course, discrimination towards any individual, no matter the reason for said discrimination.
"When will he grow up? Let me see." I look at my watch for a moment. "Never"
"I think he's trying to spend more time with you." Thalia says, as if she's stating a fact.
I choke on my food, and Annabeth lightly slaps my back, trying to help. As soon as I recover, I look incredulous at Thalia:
"What the hell! Are you crazy, Thalia? Come on, answer me. That was a genuine question."
Thalia rolls her eyes before leaning in my direction to argue with me.
"Just think about it. He's been obsessed with you since kindergarten," she leans back with a dreamy look on her face. "I'd say it's… love. A childlike love, like when you mess with the person you like to get their attention. Buuuut it's still love." Thalia concludes.
I can't believe what I'm hearing.
"And I'd say you need psychological help." I say as I ignore my stupid heart that has sped up with her statement. What's happening to me?!
"I think love is a bit much, don't you think? Infatuation would be a better word," says Annabeth.
"Ohooo Will has a crush on Nico!" Chimes in Piper.
"You are all crazy."
"Maybe we should talk to someone about it. The punishments are clearly not working. I could talk to Percy and maybe he could talk to Will." Annabeth suggests, trying to be rational, but all her suggestion does is leave me alarmed.
"By the Gods, let's all just stop! Please. I don't need help. I can deal with Will. I've been doing it for years. I don't want anyone getting into this. I can take care of myself." I say.
"And honestly..." Piper says looking at Annabeth "Percy?"
"What's wrong with Percy?" Annabeth asks defensively. Oh, a fight, that's just great.
"Absolutely nothing. But I think Jason would be a better choice to talk to Will. They are best friends." Piper says, as if it were obvious.
I can see the flush of anger appearing on Annabeth's face. Piper has done it, may god have mercy on her soul:
"Bullshit! During all those years, do you really think Jason never talked to Will? Of course he has! And guess what?! It didn't work. And Percy could certainly talk to Will." She says defending her boyfriend.
"Stop!" I say before Piper's retort, not wanting the situation to escalate. "No one is going to talk to anyone. In fact, everyone will be quiet." I say firmly so that they'll stop arguing.
"I still think it's love." Thalia says.
I roll my eyes.
"He's not gay, Thalia." I state the obvious.
"How do you know?" She asks.
"I just do."
"I don't think so," says Piper. "You've never been very good at detecting whether a guy is gay or not."
My head is starting to hurt. I take a deep breath before answering.
"Whatever. I don't care if he's gay or not. And even if he was, it woudn''t make a difference. Nothing will ever happen between me and him."
"If you say so." says Thalia.
I roll my eyes and as soon as I look ahead, behind Thalia, my eyes meet Will's.
Will
As soon as I enter the cafeteria, my eyes immediately locate Nico. It seems that, whenever Nico and I are in the same room, my eyes are pulled toward him, which irritates me to no end since I can't understand why this happens.
I walk to our usual table in the center of the cafeteria, and as I sit, I can see Nico rolling his eyes at something and then he looks ahead and our eyes meet.
Smack!
Someone suddenly slaps me on the back of my head.
"Ow!" I say, rubbing the place where I took the slap.
I look back and see that it was Jason, who was now walking to the chair opposite me.
"That hurt." I complain.
"It's supposed to hurt."
"Why?"
"Why?! Because you're an idiot. How many times have I told you? 'Stop messing with Nico' or 'Don't get sent to the principal's office again'? I am tired of having this same conversation with you!"
I lower my head as I feel guilty and a little embarrassed by the sermon I'm receiving. Jason continues to speak.
"God! I feel like a father, and I don't even have children. Please, Will. I'm begging you, stop acting like a child. This is not how you'll get Nico's attention."
Upon hearing the last sentence, I lift my head and look Jason in the eyes, trying to understand, through his expression, what the hell is he talking about.
When I get nothing, I'm obligated to ask. "What the hell are you talking about?"
Jason rolls his eyes and sighs in exasperation.
"Don't play stupid. You're not Percy."
"Hey." Percy, who just arrived in time to hear the last part of Jason's speech, complains.
"Sorry." Jason apologizes.
"So, I'm a little slow." Percy says, sulking, as he sits down. "That doesn't make me stupid."
"I'm really sorry, Percy. It's just that Will drives me crazy." Jason explains.
"Hey! Don't blame this on me."
Jason snaps his attention back to me; his frown makes me lower my head again:
"Will. For once. Only once. Listen to what I'm saying. We're practically in our senior year. Stop behaving like a kindergarten bully! It's annoying. I know you're not a bully, so stop acting like one. You've been bothering Nico for years. Stop it. For all that is holy. Stop it!"
"I get it, already. Except, this is not any of your business. You are not the boss of me," I say.
It's not that I couldn't stop messing with Nico. I could. But where's the fun in that?
I mean, whenever I tease Nico, he gets all flushed with anger. It's so cute and funny.
Jason puts his hands on his face, takes a deep breath, removes his hands from his face, and looks at me.
"I'm sure what you want from Nico is not what you're going to get behaving like that."
"I don't want anything from him."
"Don't interrupt me. Anyway, as I was saying, to Nico you are an arrogant and stupid idiot. Is that really how you want to be seen?"
"Have you heard him say this?" An unpleasant sensation arises in the pit of my stomach, the left corner of my mouth leans down and my eyes narrow. Has Jason been talking to Nico?
"Yes, I did."
"Since when are you friends with the nerd?" I ask suspiciously, analyzing Jason.
Jason sighs before he answers. "Nico is a good person. He's a cool guy and a lot of fun."
I choke on nothing, just from the chock that sentence brings me:
"A lot of fun? He's the dullest person I've ever met! He is so stuck on the rules he doesn't even customize his school uniform."
"Says Will, the rule breaker." Percy says.
I roll my eyes at Percy:
"Whatever. I'm not trying to get anything from Nico. I cannot stand him, and that's why I enjoy teasing him."
"Well, then you will also enjoy running around the basketball court 20 times today. And, of course, staying after training to collect all the equipment and balls and help with cleaning, because that's what you're going to do today and for the next 2 weeks," says Jason.
My eyes widen in surprise.
"You cannot be serious!" I protest.
"Will, you are the Vice Captain of the Team. You have to set a good example, but since you refuse, you will be punished. So, yes, I'm serious!"
"I agree with Jason. Enough is enough. It's time to grow up." Percy says.
"Will, you are smart, fun, and a good friend. Totally the opposite of this stupid and arrogant idiot you show Nico. Stop hiding who you really are from him." Jason says.
"I'm not hiding anything." I say, embarrassed by the compliments.
"Of course you are. You are able to get 1st place in the general examination of the school, but instead you settle for 10th place." Percy says.
"I'm not interested in 1st place. And there's no way you can say for sure that I can get 1st place."
"Of course I can. You're a freaking genius." Percy says.
"You know it's true, and I hate to see someone with a brain like yours spoil it." Jason says.
Leo comes to the table and sits down next to Jason.
"What are we talking about?"
"About Will behaving like a child with Nico and not use his brain." Jason sums it up.
"So ... nothing new." Leo comments.
I throw a piece of hamburger on Leo; he dodges and gives me a mocking smile.
"Listen, I'm not wasting my brain! I'm going to an excellent college. And I understand what you mean, but I'm not a child. I just like to mess with Nico."
"You like him. A lot." Leo says.
I look at Leo, exasperated.
"I hate him. And enough of this conversation. Let's talk about the championship." I change the subject.
