How to save a life (Percico/pernico)

Chapter 19: Irony strikes once again

Nico's pov- Friday

12 pm:
I have a date with Percy Jackson. I have a date with Percy fucking Jackson. Oh my gods. My brain was here there and everywhere this morning. Piper and Annabeth dragged me to the Aphrodite cabin once again. What is with these girls and taking all day to get ready?

2 pm: They're curling each other's hair now. What do I do? I'll literally get ready in like five seconds

4 pm: Time to pick out dresses. They picked out my clothes earlier so I have nothing to do. I'm so bored. Please help.

5 pm: Why are they putting this stuff in my hair. Oh my gods. I have to wear a bow tie? Oh gods I'm so nervous.

6 pm: Time was ticking. I had to get dressed then. I kind of just wanted to go home. I'm going to screw this up. I'm going to do something wrong. What if he doesn't even like me? What if this a joke? I don't like being a joke. I don't like being laughed at. Maybe if I slipped out now, Annabeth wouldn't notice.

6:30: I snuck out from the bathroom and blended in the shadows until I got to the middle of the room, where Annabeth spotted me. "Where do you think you're going mister?" I was about to burst into a sprint for the door when her and Piper jumped on me, almost knocking me over. Instead, I kept walking until one of them kicked the back of my leg to knock me down. I shadow traveled outside the cabin and started running. I ran until I was out of breath. I ran until it hurt. I ran until I ran into someone else. I thought I was going to fall but instead a pair of arms wrapped around me. I looked up and was met with a pair of sea green eyes. "Woah there," Percy said, "where are you going that you need to run so fast on a bad ankle?" I tried to answer but I couldn't breathe. Instead I plopped down on the sidewalk and held a finger up signaling for him to wait. He sat down with me. Catching my breath was really hard and it took awhile but eventually I did. "Do I get an answer now?" Percy asked, flashing me a goofy grin. I just looked down and shrugged. "Hey, what's wrong?" I put my defenses up, carefully to make sure he wouldn't notice. "Nothing's wrong. Just tired. Probably not the best time to go for a jog, is it?" I try my best to give a believable laugh. He does not need to be worrying about me. "Jog? You were running like your life depended on it. Tell me what's really going on" he answered. I gave out a sigh as I pulled my knees up to my chest. "I was leaving" he looked at me with a frown that broke down all the barriers I put up. "Leaving where? How long?"
"I don't know. I just needed to get away and it wouldn't have been for all that long. I just needed away from tonight."
"It's because of me. Our dates tonight"
"Perce, it wasn't because of you. I like you. I've liked you since I was ten and I haven't been able to handle that," he tries to say something but I cut him off. "Stop. Let me say what I need to say. Stop being the hero just this once and try listening instead. For years I have liked you without hope of you ever liking me back. So when you asked me to the dance, I got excited. That excitement turned into caution and that caution turned into fear. I don't want to be a joke Percy. I don't want to go with you to this dance and get my hopes up if this is some kind of sick joke. I wouldn't be able to handle it" I had never been this open with my feelings and frankly, I was terrified. I'd spent so many years running. Running from the hurt and the rejection. And in this moment, I was that scared ten year old who thought he had a hold on his heart and that he had nothing else to learn. But I learned. I learned what heartache felt like. I learned how it feels to be truly alone. To lose control. To not know how things would work out. I learned how to be scared. But I also learned how to love. These people, my friends; They taught me that I am worth it even when I don't feel like I am. I looked over at Percy who was staring at me. "I never knew you felt that way. I would never do anything to hurt you. This is not a joke. You're not a joke. I like you Neeks. It took a slap across the face to realize it, literally. Annabeth slapped me. But I really do like you. And I hope you'll give me a chance to prove it to you" he said. I sat there for a minute taking in what he said. "Okay" I said. He smiled. I went to get up but he pulled me into his lap, wrapped his arms around me and rested his chin on my head. "Percy, we're going to be late to the dance."
"I don't care" he said. I let out a happy sigh and allowed myself to melt into his embrace, not realizing that this was the calm before the storm.

Percy's pov

When Nico and I finally got up, we walked to the dance hand in hand. As we walked in the door we were greeted by Hazel and Frank. Nico kissed Hazel on the temple and wrapped her in a protective embrace. He said hello to Frank, shaking his hand but it was affectionate for Nico and the smile on Frank's face showed he knew it. We walked around the dance for awhile, finding people we knew. "I need to find Annabeth." Nico said. "I kind of ran out on her earlier" I nodded and allowed myself to be led by the smaller boy. When we finally saw her, Nico stopped dead in his tracks. He backed up a little. "Nico what's wrong?" I asked. "N-nothing" he said back to stuttering. He put a smile on his face and walked forward. "Nico!" Annabeth said. "I didn't think you were going to come" she glanced down to our combined hands and gave me a knowing smile. "Hi" Nico said shyly. Annabeth grinned broadly and pulled some guy with her to talk to us. "Nico, this is Jake from the Apollo cabin. He's my date"

Duh duh DUHHHHH!!!!! Plot twist! How many of you knew it was coming? I did! Wonder why. Sorry about the cliff hanger (not really) but I actually know where I want this story to go now so this is the result. I love you my blue fishiez. Hang in there and try not to freak out about this small little detail. It'll be fixed shortly. I promise. Until next time!
~Skye
Qotc: What do you think is going to happen at this dance? What do you want to happen?