Chaos Descends

Nico Plays Basetball

"Your hair looks good stop being stupid." I said reaching up and ruffling what was left of it.

"Stop." He complained glancing in a store window to fix it while we walked by.

"So, are you going to thank me?" I asked touching the newly shaved sides of his head. Nico batted my hand away but he was grinning while he did it.

"I don't need to thank you."

"Oh you so do. This look is really hot on you by the way." He grabbed my hand and we stopped walking as he pulled me into his chest.

"Oh is it?" He asked his voice sent chills down my spine. My eyes grew wide. Was he really going to kiss me in the middle of a crowded street? Somehow having strangers see us kiss was weirder than friends.

"I.. Uh.." I stuttered out before his lips were on mine. I kissed him back, running my hands through his newly cut hair. "Gods yes." I murmured pulling away. Nico laughed.

"I'll take you word for it." He said as we continued to walk hand in hand down the street. "I never thought much about how I looked until you came around." I blushed red.

"How come?" He shrugged.

"Didn't seem important. Now I always think about it, thanks for that." He said, rolling his eyes. I hit his chest with my free hand.

"Hey, wait until everyone sees you." I teased squeezing his hand. He cursed in Greek. "Oh come on it won't be that bad."

"They made fun of my hair when I first came to camp remember?"

"Well yeah, because it was long." I replied, rolling my eyes as I. Remembered how he looked popping up out of the ground. "Hey, who cut your hair? You had it cut not long after that I remember." Nico licked his lips, looking down at the ground. "Nico?" I questioned. He huffed.

"I did it myself."

"Are you ashamed of that?"

"I dunno." He muttered, kicking at a rock.

"You shouldn't be. Look at Piper's hair. It looks awesome." He shrugged.

"I guess I just didn't like that I didn't have money to go to an actual barber." He shrugged. I pursed my lips as he let go of my hand, shoving it into his pockets like a brooding teenager. I sighed, looping my arm through his.

"It's okay Nico. None of us have money. At least a third of the kids at Camp Half-Blood don't have parents. You shouldn't be ashamed." He shrugged again. "Besides, you did a good job." I kissed his cheek and I could have been mistaken but his cheeks bloomed with a slight pink color.

--

"Are you serious!" I exclaimed jumping up and down. Percy laughed at my enthusiasm.

"Nope! The petition worked so we're going to start pouring concrete. By the end of the week Camp Half-Blood is going to have a basketball court." I was way more excited about this than I should have been since I wasn't athletic in any way. I had just jokingly suggested to the Stoll brothers that there should be a basketball court, not a volleyball one. But they took the joke seriously and got enough campers to sign a petition.

"I don't know why you're so excited. It's a basketball court. Can you even play?" I punched Jason in the arm. "Oh god I didn't mean like that, I meant.. I mean I'm sure you can play.. You just don't like physical activity." I rolled my eyes at him.

"I was on a team back in the day, excuse you." I said dismissively.

"Really?" Percy asked with surprise. I rolled my eyes.