The One That Got Away... (A Jasico fanfic)

Chapter 11

Jason pov

Nico was avoiding me even more now.

It all started when I had pecked his cheek goodnight and jumped into the bed next to him. We were all sharing a bed now, even though I would be squished between the son of Hades and the son of Hephaestus.

Anyway, he got this weird expression on his face and grimaced and turned his back to me. I frowned and tugged his shoulder so he was laying on his back.

"Is everything alright?" I asked gently. He just nodded and turned his back on me again. I put him on his back again and wrapped an arm around his waist. He glared at me and slipped out of my grasp.

"Nico, what's wrong?" Was I being too clingy? Was there even such thing? We weren't even dating yet.

"Nothing... go cuddle with Leo." I thought for a moment, then smiled. "Is little Neeky jealous?" He turned over to glare at me, then shoved me towards Leo. "Go on."

I sighed and crossed my arms and stared at the ceiling. Nico had turned his back to me, and Leo was curled up under the blankets, his mop of curly hair peeking out.

Why was Nico being like this? He had been perfectly fine yesterday. Did this have something to do with the issue? What was the issue?

Questions swirled around in my mind, and it was like that for an hour or two. Questions, dead ends, what ifs. Annoyingly persistent.

I glanced at the clock. 12:38. Ugh. Leo started murmuring to himself in his sleep, and he turned over so that he was facing me.

"No... mom... not... I'm over... Jason... Nico... do anything..." I frowned, then wrapped my arms around his small, curled up frame. It worked. Leo relaxed instantly in my arms, and stopped muttering.  Odd.

Nico stood up and left the room. I felt my eyes widen. Did he see what I did? Didn't he know that it was just because me and Leo were best friends? I slowly took my arms off Leo, careful not to wake him up.

"So what are you doing out here?" I asked Nico, who was leaning on the kitchen counter.

"Fresh air and space. I get claustrophobic sometimes." As if to emphasize his point, he took a deep breath and started playing with his hands.

"Sorry I take up so much room. I shouldn't - " "Oh, no, it's fine. S'not your fault anyway." I surveyed Nico, who was determinedly staring at the ground. How his hair hid his eyes, and a good portion of his cheeks. How he would take a long deep breath in, then exhale with a little puff that sent his bangs flying forwards. How he chewed his lip nervously, and tapped his long fingers on his arm.

"Is there anything you wanted to tell me?" I asked. He was still avoiding my gaze. "No," he stated flatly. "I'm just going to Iris message my sister, get a glass of water, then go to sleep." He turned his back to me for the millionth time that day.

I decided to be blunt and blurt out, "Why are you ignoring me? Is it something that I did? Are you trying to get me with Leo? He's with Callie. And I thought I was with you." I waited for an answer.

Nico pretended he didn't hear me. "Do you have a drachma?" he asked. I fished one out of my pocket. "Here."  

"Thanks. You should get back to bed."

"No." It came out harsher than I meant, and Nico blinked. "Okay. Sorry if I woke you up," he said, voice devoid of emotion.

"What are we? And don't tell me demigods, I know that, but what are we? Together? Friends?" I needed to get a answer to this. It had been nagging at me all night.