THALICO: Stay With Me

• 7 •

When we broke apart, I looked into his dark obsidian eyes. They were happy., sparkling with love and joy.

But then let go of me and got up.

"Nico? Where are you going?"

I asked, worryingly looking at him and getting up. He looked at me sadly.

He started walking away, I yelled, "Nico! Come here! Please! Don't leave me!"

At that, he froze, turned around and came back to me.

He took my hand and squeezed it, pecking me on the lips before whispering, "I'm so sorry, Thalia."

And before I could do anything he ran off, into the shadows of a tree and disappearing.

"Nico? Nico!" I shouted, running over to where he had shadow travelled.

"Nico!" I screamed, slumping against the bark of the tree, my head in my hands, trying to process what had just happened.

"Nico. Nico. Why did you leave? Why?" I whispered.

Maybe he was coming back, he was just getting a drink or something?

I tried focusing on that, but I knew it wasn't true. He wasn't coming back. I could feel it.

Big, fat, tears started streaming down my face.

Rain began to pour and I pulled my knees up to my chest, tugging my hair. I was frustrated, confused, angry, happy, all of them at once.

Millions of questions popped up in my head and everything was all over the place, nothing was clear.

But there was one thing that was clear to me.

I was in love with Nico di Angelo.

---

My eyes shot open as I felt someone shake me awake.

Annabeth. Oh. I was hoping it'd be Nico. Wait. Nico.

"Thals what are you doing out here?" Annabeth asked.

I sat up and stared sadly at the spot where Nico and I had sat as we kissed under the stars. It felt amazing, his lips against mine, it was per-no, stop Thalia.

A tear dropped down my face and I wiped it away, hoping Annabeth hadn't seen. But she had and she sat down beside me, putting an arm around me.

"What's wrong? Has something happened?"

I stared straight at that spot and then whispered so quietly that I was surprised Annabeth could hear, "Nico's gone."

I felt her eyes stare at me, then followed my gaze to where we had sat last night.

"W-what do you mean?" She asked.

I sniffed and wiped my eyes again as I could feel more tears coming. "He-he left. Last night. We were just sitting and talking, then he got up and walked into the shadows. He hasn't come back since."

Annabeth sighed and then said, "Thalia. What really happened? You two kissed, didn't yas?"

I froze and touched my lips, still the taste of his lips on mine hung in my mouth. I stared at her.

"W-what are you talking about?"

She laughed. "C'mon, Thalia. I'm the daughter of the goddess of wisdom, what do you expect?"

I nodded a bit. I put my head in my hands sadly.

"I want him back Annabeth. I want him back so badly. But I don't know where he's gone or why he's gone. But I need him back Annie, I need him."