Sign {A Pernico Story AU} ✔

Nico - Used To It

To say I was nervous was an understatement.

If I had to rate my anxiety from a scale of 1 to 10, It'd be a 70.

Percy and I had agree that the night before the movie, I'd come hang out with him and his friends at some restaurant so they'd at least know about me and my deafness when I showed up for the movie.

If I showed up.

The second I said yes, I was having second thoughts. It was only Wednesday when Percy asked me to come with him. That left me 2 and a half days to rethink my decision.

Over and over and over again.

When I told Hazel I was coming because Percy invited me, she insisted on hearing all the details on how it happened. I told her everything, but left out anything about Percy and I being together. He asked me not to say anything, and while I knew Hazel would keep quiet if I asked, I didn't want to betray Percy that way. He seemed genuine about wanting to figure himself out and I was going to respect that.

Speaking of Hazel, I was glad she was going to be there. At least if things got really rough, I'll have someone. As school let out, I walked with Hazel down the street. Usually, I would've stayed to tutor Percy, but that was over. Chiron told us both that Percy's average went up from a D- to a solid B+, which meant he was allowed to go back to swim meets and volleyball practice. Percy was really sad about it though. He offered to let me sit in during his swim meet so we could go together, but I declined. Seeing him shirtless for an hour might kill me.

Hazel took of her jacket and draped it over my shoulders. I looked at the jacket, then my sister

I would've told you if I was cold

Hazel smiled. We both know you wouldn't.

As we got closer to our house, I noticed something was off. Our front yard had a bunch of flowers in it, but most of them had long died because Dad always forgot to water them. Now, the flowers were in full bloom, colorful and bright. I looked over at Hazel, to see she was just as confused as I was.

"You don't think?"

"But it's a month early!"

I opened the door. Instead of Dad, a women stood there. Her curling dirty blond hair was pinned back in a messy bun. Despite it being super cold, she was wearing a white sundress covered in flowers that almost looked like they were blooming. When she saw us, her carmel eyes brightened and she flashed us a smile.

"Persephone?" Hazel asked, giving her a hug. "I thought Auntie was hurt and needed you around a little longer?"

Persephone laughed and came over to hug me too. "That's what she said, but my mother was just trying to keep me away, you know how she is. I caught her walking on her 'broken leg' perfectly fine yesterday, can you believe that?"

I smiled. I like Persephone. She never tried to act like she was my mom, but she did always try to help the way a mom would. I appreciated that. Plus, she was the one who taught my dad ASL, bless her soul.

"Does Dad know yet?" I asked.

Persephone motioned to the kitchen. It was covered in baking supplies. "Not yet. I wanted to surprise him with this cake but... it's not going fantastically."

Hazel laughed. "Don't worry, I'll help you, favorite step-mom."

She smiled. "Thank you, favorite step-daughter."

I slipped off my shoes as Ms. O'Leary came running towards me. I gave her a head pat and started upstairs. I got a text, assuming it was from Percy. However I was wrong. The number wasn't saved on my phone