Darkness's Flower: Pulling It Together

Chapter 39: Dresses For Gabby

~Nico~

I slipped my fingers in Lilly's and we made our way back downstairs. Gabby was still at the table.

"Did you check on her?" Lilly asked.

"Yeah. She's in bed and asleep," Gabby replied.

"Thanks. I know that's definitely not what you wanted to do while you're here at the West Residence."

"Huh. West Residence. I like it," I mumbled.

Lilly glanced up at me. "Wow. Anyway, I'm sorry about that."

"Hey, it's fine. So when can I meet your dad?" Gabby asked.

"When he gets home at around fourish." Lilly sat down. "He can be pretty cool when it comes to my friends. But obviously with this one," she motions back toward me, "he doesn't seem to like Nico very well."

I sat down beside Lilly. "I've told you, people always think I'm some sort of creep, just because my dad is Hades. Yeah, I love the darkness and shadows, I used to like being with the dead more than the living, but I'm a bit different now."

"Nico, people make assumptions. Big assumptions that lead straight into judging someone. Trust me, I know first hand. Even you said something to me once, I think when we met. I was wearing my dark purple and red and you asked me if I was sure I was a Demeter kid and not a Hades kid. You thought that because I wasn't wearing super bright and cheery clothes that my mom wasn't who she said she was. Everyone at school always thought I was the freak. I still get called that. They assume that what you look like is how you act. Yeah, I'm a bit more bubbly than I used to be, but I'm still me. I might dress in some darker clothes, but that doesn't make me a freak or anything. And you, Nico di Angelo..."

"What? What did I do now?" I asked.

She giggled and kissed me on the cheek. "You didn't do anything. But you have dark hair, you're pale, and you always wear black or super dark grey. But that doesn't make your personality any different. I know you used to be more on the darker side when you were younger, and you still can be. But I know you, the real you, and I've brought him back."

I smiled. "Yeah, you have. I've found that I like this Nico a little bit more than the Nico I was when I was younger."

Lilly smiled and looked over at Gabby. "Now you on the other hand, Gabriella Marie, you're just a big ball of everything."

"And I except it because I'm just all over the place," Gabby stated.

"Well, alright then!" I said. "So what are we gonna do exactly?"

Lilly glanced over at me. "Well, does it look like I know?"

"Ok, I love your sass because it is super hot, but you need to get it under control. Because you, Lillian Michelle, are a big ball of sass today."

Her head fell onto my shoulder. "I know, I know! Stop pressuring me. It doesn't help."

I kissed her on the forehead. "I'm sorry."

"It's not your fault. It's not anyone else's fault but my own."

"And why is that?"

"We already discussed it the morning and I am not talking about it again."

"Oh... Right. Yeah, no."

"Alright. So we're on the same page. Gabs, what do you want to do?"

I looked over at Gabby. "Yeah, you pick."

"Well, since I'll probably be catching up with Lilly tonight, maybe we can start looking through some magazines for dresses and stuff. Oh, and we have to find costumes for Halloween," Gabby said.

"Why Halloween? We still have another, like, two months," I said.

"Because Chiron said that on Halloween, there's gonna be some huge party at camp. But it's only for campers eighteen and older."

"Oh. Alright. But I hate dressing up."

"Well, you're probably gonna have to. If I know Lilly, then I bet she'll make you dress up."

"Gods, dang it. Alright, whatever."

"Lilly, are you up for doing that? I have all kinds of magazines and it'll be really fun!"

Lilly lifted her head from my shoulder. "Yeah, sure. Have you picked out your dress yet?"

"No. I need help from you with that too," she replied.

"Alright, awesome. We can up to my room. Nico, you can just hang out up there with us."

I kissed her on the forehead like I did earlier. "Alright. It doesn't really matter to me. But then again, I have nothing better to do."

We all got up and went into her room. Gabby took the Nike backpack she had and pulled out a crap ton of bridal magazines.

"Oh, gods, no," I muttered under my breath.

I plopped down on Lilly's bed as her and Gabby each grabbed a magazine. Gabby sat on the floor and Lilly sat up by me.

"What do you want me to look for, Gabs?" Lilly asked.

Gabby looked up at us. "Start with helping me look for bridesmaids dresses."

"Any specific color?"

"Turquoise. If possible. And maybe, just maybe, if you find something in a different color, it may come in turquoise. Do you get what I mean?"

"Yep! I'll work on it."