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

Chapter 17

Nico pov

Pink assaulted my eyes as I walked into the Aphrodite cabin. The usual yelling and makeup flying everywhere trickled down to a stop as everyone turned to stare rudely at me. Cue the whispers.

"Nico! Anything I can help you with?" Piper was standing at the head of the cabin, waving me forwards. She glared at her sisters and brothers and smiled at me.

"Ahem... It's something I'd rather talk about in private," I said. The mutters grew louder; to the point where I could hear them.

"Is he going to ask her out?"

"Ugh. Black is so yesterday."

"Ooh! Nico and Piper! I ship it!" (I shot a death glare at whoever said that one)

"Oh. Okay." Piper followed me out the back door of the cabin.

"So?" she said expectantly. I twisted my ring around my finger.

"Well... Leo was possessed by and eidolon - you know that - and while he was possessed, he told Jason that me and Will kissed. Jason came back here from New Rome and punched Will in the face. I'm kinda giving him the cold shoulder - Jason, not Will - so what do I do?" Piper blinked, then started laughing.

"What? It's not funny, Piper. I need help," I said crossly. She stopped laughing, then stared me straight in the eye.

"Jason needs attentions, Nico. He's apologized at least a million times, from what I've heard, and you're still ignoring him?" I nodded. "Duh. He punched Will! What if he punches me next time?!"

Piper rolled her eyes. "Jason's a softie. I'm surprised he even knows how to punch. But you need to give him attention. He clearly was just jealous, so his man-instincts took over."

"Man instincts?"

"Yes, Nico. Man-instincts," she said seriously, then burst out laughing. "Gods," she gasped, "I've been spending too much time around Reyna." I blinked. "Reyna?"

Piper's eyes widened, then she hastily tried to correct herself. "I mean, all of Reyna's sayings have been passed to Jason, then to me?" She said it more like a question.

"Piper, are you still single?" Piper rubbed the back of her neck. "Er... no." I grinned. "So it's Piper and Reyna," I muttered. "I ship it!" Piper laughed and swatted my arm, then grimaced and looked me in the eye.

"Promise you won't tell anyone?" she said, her multicoloured eyes peering into mine. I felt myself shrinking. "Of course," I promised. "Just... let me know when the wedding is. I dibs on helping you find the dresses." I turned on my heel and ran, but not before I heard Piper mutter, "Gay as Apollo's flippin' rainbows."

*T I M E  S K I P

"Hey, Jace," I said, plopping into the seat next to Jason. He blinked, then started talking - fast.

"Nico! You're talking to me again! Thank the gods, I wasn't sure if this would ever happen. Anyway, I did apologize to Will, and he forgave me, which I think is really cool of him, and I promise next time something like this happens I won't be so quick to judge. And I'm really really really really sorry, and I swear on the Styx that I mean it."

"Okaay..." Jason grinned, then wrapped his huge, warm arms around me. I immediately melted into the touch. I'd forgotten how amazing his hugs were.

"So Reyna and I were wondering if you'd like to be praetor," Jason said, his voice muffled by my shoulder. I blinked, then pulled away.

"Me? Praetor?" Jason shrugged. "Yeah, why not? You're responsible, and you look great in purple." I laughed. "The last reason doesn't count." Jason also laughed and threw an arm around my shoulders.