How to save a life (Percico/pernico)

Chapter 15: Teach me to swim

Percy's pov- Monday

"Oww!" I yell. "That's the fifth time you've hit me today. What's going on?" Annabeth has not stopped hitting me since seven this morning. Why? I didn't know. However, I was bound and determined to find out.

"You're such a seaweed brain," she said, pulling me out of my thoughts. "How could you be so clueless"
"Well if you'd tell me what's going on then I wouldn't be" I reply. She gave me a long exasperated sigh of frustration. "The camp dance is coming up. Isn't there anyone you'd like to ask?" I tried not to laugh but a grin slipped out anyway. "Annabeth, you and I broke up. We see each other as friends, remember?"

She gave me a look that could kill. "Uggghhhhh. I can't work with this" she said storming out of the room. "I wonder what that was about" I said to Jason, who was sitting on the bench next to me. He laughed and muttered something under his breath. "What was that Grace?" I asked.
"All I said was that Annabeth was right. You really are clueless" i shot him a glare. "Annddd that's my cue to leave. See you later kelp head"
"Bye sparky" and with that he left, leaving me to wonder what the Hades is going on. I laughed at what i said. Nico is always telling me to stop using his dad's name as a curse word. But how can you not?

Speaking of Nico, he'd been acting really strange lately. Everyone had but mainly him. I didn't understand why. I got up to go find him. Maybe I'd ask why. I checked his cabin but he wasn't in there so I just walked around camp looking. Eventually I gave up. I walked down to the dock and there was Nico. I probably should've checked here before walking around camp. I walked to the edge and sat down next to him. Like we were that one day when I threw him in. I still felt bad about that.

I wait for Nico to say something but he doesn't. "Hey Nico?"
"Hm?" he replies without even looking at me.
"What happened to you?" I forced myself to ask. He sighed as if he was expecting this question. And after yesterday, he probably was. "It's a long story" he says.
"Can I see it?" I asked. He gave me a panicked look but I grabbed his hand. "It's okay. You don't have to if it's too hard." he moved his hand from mine, his face turning a little pink.

He pulled off his hoodie and just like before, my breath caught in my throat. All over his back, chest and arms were scars. That I saw yesterday. but I noticed there were fresh bruises all over his stomach. "These bruises are new. What happened?" I asked, starting to get angry. "I-i tripped in the woods this m-morning" he stuttered. Usually I wouldn't push him, but I was pissed. "That's bull. Who did this to you?"
"I told you, I tripped. I'm clumsy you know" he gave a laugh. He's not clumsy.
"Nico. You're the most careful person I know. Who did this to you?" he pulled his knees up to his chest, as if trying to cover everything, but it wasn't possible. "I don't want to talk about it" he said looking at me for the first time since I sat down.
"Okay," I said, "then can we talk about how you got all the scars?"
"Tartarus" he said. "The monsters down there were not kind" I nodded. I pulled his knees back down and took another look. There wasn't one place on him that was the soft pale skin that was once there. I took one of his arms and looked at it. Carved deep into his skin was the word 'disgrace'.
"That one was personal. Not orders from Gaea" he said softly. I noticed a few new scratches on his inner arm. I pointed to them. He shrugged. "Hey Nico?" I asked again. "Yea Perce?"
"The other day, in your cabin. What was wrong?"
"Oh," he said. "It was nothing."
"It didn't look like nothing. One minute we're laughing and the next you look upset. Please tell me."
"It's just... You guys are so close. Always there for each other. Always having fun with each other. I...I wish I was part of that" he said.
"You are part of that." I said. He gave me a look that broke my heart.
"You don't get it. I'm not. I don't get your jokes. I'm not in any of your pictures. I don't belong here." it was at that moment that I understood. I understood why he always looked so sad. Why he always kept his distance. Everything. "Nico, I'm so sorry. We didn't know you felt that way."
"It's alright. You were right to stay away. Who would want to be around the son of Hades?" he said, grabbing his crutches and getting up. "I would" I say. "We all would. I have an idea." shot me a nervous look. "How about we have a sleepover. All of us. Tonight. We can sleep in my cabin" he paused. "Why with me?" he asked as he sat back down. "You're my friend neeks."
He stares at me with an unreadable expression. Confusion, sadness, maybe love? No. It couldn't possibly be love. He went back to staring at the sea.
"Hey Percy?"
"Yes Nico?"
"Will you teach me how to swim?" the question caught me off guard. "Of course," I said. "but why?"
He gives me another look. Yea. It's definitely love.
"I'm tired of looking at the water and not being able to jump in"

Hello my fishiez. Happy to see I updated? Probably not but I'm updating anyway. I'm getting better at this! Not my writing, we all know that sucks. But updating sooner. I love you guys! I'll see you with my next update. Could be today. Could be next week. It's me though so ya never know.
~Skye