Breathing Next To You (Percy Jackson)

Chapter Seven

Nico

They asked if I managed to get him back and I told them I didn't try.

"Was he being that selfish?"

At a meeting Hazel asked that and I snapped at her. Everyone was thinking it aside a handful of people. His friends. His real friends.

"You know what, shut up," I told my sister and nobody had ever seen me actually mad. They've seen me upset, but not mad," you barely even knew him. He was here for 6 years, he came here during the school year, when he didn't have to, because he was called in. We don't know what he's going through, we have no right to call him selfish. Did you manage to forget that he tried to kill himself a whole fucking week ago? Why, we don't know, because I can promise things were left out because he knew we would find it and there was a possibility he would live. He didn't want us knowing everything. So maybe be glad that for once he's stopped putting all the blame on himself and decided to take care of himself he does go through and actually die of a suicide. He served two wars and what? 3 battles? That's more than anyone is asked. None of us are forced to do it, we all offer to do it. They don't stop anyone from leaving. Not a damn sole. So shut up and move on."

Everyone hated me after that it seemed.

But gods I just didn't care.

I got ahold of some people and I got set up for a job interview just at a Starbucks and managed to enroll myself in school. Goode High. It was the closest to the Starbucks I was hoping to work for, so. I'd be interviewed tomorrow. If I get it, hopefully I start next week and by next month I can put a down payment on an apartment.

And that's what happened. They gave me the job. Five days a week for the summer, 6 hours a day. Really nice pay, I expected a lot less and I looked at a two bedroom apartment and managed a down payment right before the Fourth of July so Independence Day I had my own place, I had a job, and was told due to the placement test I took considering I was 'homeschooled' my whole life, I'd be with the Junior class this year so that was exciting.

I gave the council spot over to Hazel. She didn't want me to leave but she has my address and I mean it's not like she's forbidden from leaving camp for a day. Okay, nobody is. Just tell someone you're going to be gone.

But anyways, the summer went well, Orientation went well. Some kids in my grade were just assholes and whatever but I managed a few nice people that I found out I classes with. I had this little pride flag chain kind of thing connected to my backpack with a few other things and I didn't get anything but positive remarks for it. They'd say it was really cool that I wasn't afraid of it or to show it. Which was a change. But a nice one.

Now I take a Junior Senior mix class for English. Debate class. Our teacher wasn't here yet, only like ¾ of the class was here.

I didn't pay attention to the name of my teacher for some reason because suddenly Paul and Percy walk in together and Percy sits down next to a few guys and eventually the bell goes off so Paul does roll call.

I was the third person on the list.

"N—" my full name is Nicolas but of course I tell nobody that because I hate my full name and will change it when I turn 18. But Paul had to stop for a second knowing," Nico Di Angelo."

"Here."

Percy froze for like 3 seconds. I haven't spoken with him ever since that phone call so you know.

It was hilarious.

Now we had first hour together and then last hour together.

Which is P.E.