The Group Chat [Leico Valdangelo]

part six

• Nico •

Nico walked into the school, ignoring Luke glaring at him for not finishing his Italian homework. He looked away, trying to run before Luke got any ideas.

"Hey, di Angelo!" Luke called, causing Nico to freeze in his tracks. "Get over here, freak!" Nico turned, looking at Luke, who make his way over to Nico.

"I-I'm sorry-"

"No! I told you to do it. And you didn't do it. Do you know what that means?" Luke asked.

"No! Just...hit me instead. However many times you want. I won't tell anyone, I swear," Nico whispered and Luke's eyes widened.

"Can't take up an offer like that," he grinned. "Take what you deserve, di Angelo." Luke punched him in the face, before shoving him against the lockers. Nico's back dug into the locks, definitely leaving bruises. Another blow was delivered to his face.

"Luke!" Ethan called, grabbing Lukes arm. Luke elbowed him in the face.

"Stay out of this, Ethan!"

"Are you serious, Luke?!" Chris asked, looking at Ethan worriedly. "You just elbowed him in the face!"

"Yeah. Whatever. Leave me and this twat to our business."

"I'm telling one of the teachers if you don't stop," Chris warned, glaring at Luke. "This is getting out of hand."

Luke grabbed Chris' shirt, slamming him against the lockers, dropping Nico momentarily.

"You're gonna betray your friend like that, huh?" Luke growled.

"You just elbowed Ethan in the face! How's that for betraying, huh?"

"Okay, guys, stop," Ethan tried to get in between them, while holding his hand to his nose. Needless to say, it didn't work so well.

"Ethan, stay out of this," Luke said.

"You're a dickhead, you know that?" Chris growled, glaring at Luke. "Picking on people weaker than you. You know what, Luke? You're weak!"

"Don't antagonize him, Chris," Ethan said, trying to stop them from fighting.

"You pick on people weaker than you because they can't stand up to you and outrank you! What a pity case, you are!" Chris ignored Ethan.

"Seriously, Chris!"

Luke took his fist right to Chris' cheek.

"Luke stop!" Ethan separated them, glaring harshly. "What has gotten into you two?!"

"He called me a pity case!" Luke yelled angrily.

"Oh, you are!" Chris retorted.

"Okay, I'm done trying," Ethan stepped away, letting Luke tackle Chris. He kneeled down to Nico's height. "Let's get you to the nurse."

"But-"

"C'mon, kiddo," Ethan helped Nico up, helping him get to the nurse.

"What happened?" The school nurse, Mr. Apollo, asked, fussing over the two. Ethan's nose was still bleeding, and Nico had a black eye, his lip busted.

"Luke Castellan. He was beating up Nico, and when I tried to stop him, he elbowed me in the face," Ethan explained. "Him and Chris Rodriguez are still outside fighting."

"I'll go get the principal," Mr. Apollo left.

"You didn't have to stand up for me," Nico whispered.

"Well too bad, I did," Ethan muttered, leaning against the wall. "Chris is so fucking stupid," he whispered.

"You like him?" Nico asked and Ethan shook his head, laughing.

"Wish I didn't. He's about as straight as a ruler. Plus, he likes Clarisse La Rue."

"Hm..."

Suddenly, Mr. Apollo came back in with Leo Valdez in tow.

"Sit," Mr. Apollo commanded, rolling up Leo's sleeves to show burn marks. "How on earth did this happen?"

"I work with my dad a lot. He's a mechanic, so he and I both get burned a lot," Leo said.

"Oh. Well, you should really bandage them up. Don't want to get an infection, do we?" Mr. Apollo brought out some bandages and wrapped them around Leo's wrists. "Mrs. Hera called me. She said she was worried because she saw marks on your arms."

"Just mechanical accidents."

"Bad ones. Wow."

After Leo was fixed up, he looked over at Nico.

"What happened to you?"

"You look like trash, too."

It was sort of true. Leo's unruly hair was even more messier. He had bags under his eyes, like he hadn't slept in five years.

"Gee, thanks. You're so nice," Leo rolled his eyes.

"Luke Castellan."

"The guy bullying you yesterday? What a prick."

"Language," Mr. Apollo scolded.

"Sorry."

"Well, you three should head to class. Don't want to miss anything important." He filled out nurses passes for them. "No more fights, kiddos."

---

At lunch, Leo sat across from Nico again. This time, Nico had a salad and Leo had nothing.

Leo was looking out of the window, tapping on the table with his fingers.

"So..." Nico trailed off. "Those burns looked pretty bad."

"That's what happens when you're working with mechanical things and...fire," Leo looked withdrawn, like he was thinking of something else.

"You didn't kill your mom, did you?" Nico asked and Leo looked over, his eyes hollow and void of any emotion.

"What's it to you?"

"I just don't believe everyone."

"Well, if I wanted you to know, I would've told you."

"Right, sorry," Nico apologized.

"Yeah...I'm sorry too."

"If I wanted you to apologize, I wouldn't have done it myself."

"Sorry."

"Apologizing twice makes it worse."

"Well, shit, kid, what do you want from me?"

Nico just laughed lightly.

"Whatever, Valdez."