How to save a life (Percico/pernico)

Chapter 20: Unleashing Hell

So last chapter I left off with a huuggee cliff hanger. I'm not even sorry haha. But still, down to business. I think I'm going to be ending this story soon. Probably about 5 or 6 more chapters left unless I find something else to put in the story. So yea. That's all. Continue
Qotc: What's your favorite chapter of my story so far? I'm a curious person. Humor me
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Nico's pov

Everything in my body stopped working. My heart stopped beating and the rational side of my brain picked the wrong time to take a fucking vacation. As soon as I saw Annabeth with Jake, everything shut down and I panicked but then remembered I had to keep my cool. I walked over, Percy in tow, and talked to her. I didn't really feel like talking and I was pretty sure my voice was shaking so I kept my answers short. I stole a look at Jake while Annabeth was talking only to find he was already looking at me. My hand subconsciously tightened slightly in Percy's. I didn't think it would be noticeable but apparently it was enough because the green eyed boy spoke, "Hey guys, we better get going. We still have to find Reyna. We'll see you later" Annabeth smiled shyly, "Oh Reyna. Okay. Yea. Tell her I said hi"
"Will do. See ya later, wise girl" I waved and we left. We kept walking around and I finally began to relax and think when Percy led me outside. We sat outside on a bench. I kept my eyes trained on the ground. I couldn't bring myself to look at him. "Nico," He starts but I interrupt him. "Please don't"
"But Nico.."
"I know. I know I need to talk about it but you need to understand that it's hard and it takes time" at this he sighed.
"I know. But Nico, you can talk to me about anything. You read me like an a open book but I hardly know anything about you except what you put on the surface. I want to know how you really feel. I want to know when you're upset, when you're angry or scared, when you need help and don't you dare say you're fine or that you don't need help because everyone needs help sometimes." I let out the breath I was holding. He gave me a look as if daring me to argue. I don't.

I pull my knees up to my chest. "Why do you always do that?"
"Do what?" I ask.
"Curl in on yourself when we talk about things like this,make yourself seem smaller. It's like you're trying to hide" I frown. "You don't have to hide when you're with me" he whispered in my ear before pulling back and looking at my eyes, then my lips and back up to my eyes. He took my face in his hands and leaned in. He stayed like that a few moments, our foreheads touching and our faces centimeters apart, before going for a kiss.

Right as our lips were about to meet my ears perked up. I pulled back. Percy looked at me confused. "Nico.."
"Shh.." i said. "Do you hear that?" he paused and listened. "Arguing" he said.
"We should check it out" he nodded and followed me. I walked alongside the building, stopping as I reached the end. I peered around, careful not to be seen.

The sight before me was Annabeth and Jake. They were arguing in hushed tones. He raised his hand to slap her and she cowered back a bit. Everything happened fast but it felt so slow. One second I'm around the corner, the next I'm in front of Annabeth getting a hard smack in the face. I didn't flinch.

Jake stumbled back, surprised at my sudden appearance but I took that to my advantage. I threw a punch and connected it to his face and like that, he was on the ground. They told me the details later cause I couldn't remember. All I know was there were skeletons and Reyna dragging me off him. I passed out soon after.

When I woke up I was in my cabin. I slowly sat up and groaned in pain as I discovered that everything hurt. I looked around me and everyone was there. Frank, Hazel, Jason, Piper, Leo, Percy, Annabeth, Will, and even Reyna. "What happened?" I asked. Leo answered before anyone else could "you unleashed Hell. No, literally. The ground split apart and a ton of skeletons came up and..." and the day went on like that. People filling me in on what happened and how now Jake has a broken nose and quite a few nasty looking bruises. He would've had more if Reyna didn't pull me off of him. "I almost didn't" she had said. I pretended I didn't notice the hatred towards Jake in her voice, but I did. I pretended I didn't see the way she looked at Annabeth, but I did. and I pretended that I didn't see Annabeth peck her on the forehead after she fell asleep, but I did. I smiled and let out a happy sigh before falling into a dreamless sleep.