Ghost

Broken hearts

Nico POV
"I love you"
I stared at the face of Will Solace unable to compute what he had just said.
"What?" I asked, somewhat in-tactfully.
"That's what I wanted to tell you. I thought you were going to say the same thing."
"Maybe I should have gone first then" I muttered.
Don't get me wrong, I did like Will, but I don't anymore. Not like that anyway. We became great friends but now I realise this isn't quite what I want. Now I have to explain that to someone who's supposedly in love with me. Great. Oh well, being a son of Hades and all, I'm not particularly good at keeping up relationships. So here goes...

"Will I'm really sorry but what I wanted to tell you is pretty much the opposite of that. Don't get me wrong I'm massively flattered but this just isn't me. I thought this was who I was but then I realised that maybe it's not."
"I don't get it Nico. You're...you're breaking up with me?"
"Will, I'm really sorry, I..."
"But you're breaking up with me."
"Well, yeah but..."
"Stop trying to sugar-coat your words death boy. I open my heart to you and then you tell me that? You two-faced back stabber. I bet you've just been embarrassing me this whole time haven't you? Laughing at me behind my back. Well, you were right about one thing son of Hades, no one wants you here. Go slither back into the shadows where you belong."
And he stormed off leaving me completely dumbfounded.
I didn't know what to do after that. I mean, ouch. I knew that most people didn't like me around but Will was always against that. He was the one who told me that feeling like I didn't belong was all in my head. He was never one to speak badly of others either. He didn't get angry or tell people off. He wasn't a fighter or a violent person, he was a healer. I'd never seen him so angry. The thought that that was all my fault made me want to run away, melt back into the shadows like he'd told me to.
I was just about to go back to my cabin and pack up when a flicker of movement caught my eye. Down by Thalia's pine tree there appeared to be some kind of argument going on. As I watched, someone I didn't recognise broke away and sprinted into the woods. The rest seemed to carry on arguing for a few minutes before giving up and dispersing to their various places.
With a jolt I realised that two of the people involved were Percy and Annabeth. Annabeth seemed pretty shaken up as they walked away, with Percy trying to comfort her. I made a split second decision to follow them; anything to take my mind off recent events.
"She'll come round."
"I...I just don't get it Percy. Why is she so...so... like that?"
I heard Percy sigh and decided this was the best time to make myself known.
"So I don't mean to intrude or anything, but this sounds interesting. Would anyone like to let me in on the latest gossip?"
They both jumped five feet high. I guess I find it quite easy to hide even without meaning to. Annabeth put her hand against her heart and managed a smile;
"Just a new girl Nico. It's hardly gossip."
"Parentage?"
"Well her dad's mortal which means her godly parent is a goddess, but that's all we know." Percy answered.
"Then why does Annabeth look so upset?" I honestly don't know why I was so interested, I guess I just needed a distraction.
"She's just a bit difficult. The newbie I mean." The look Percy then gave me made it pretty clear the conversation was over.
"Look, Nico," Annabeth wiped her eyes. "Don't you have somewhere to be? I thought you were meeting up with Will or something?"
Typical. They always assume I'm supposed to be somewhere with Will. My life doesn't evolve around him. It didn't before we broke up.
"And why would I be spending time with someone who most likely wants me dead?"
They exchanged a look and then stared at me at loss for words.
"Look guys I don't know how to put this mildly so I'm just gonna say it straight out. Will and I aren't together anymore. I just wasn't really happy with the relationship. He threw some pretty nasty insults when I told him though."
Percy looked at Annabeth as if for permission to speak and then tried some comforting words; "Nico... I don't know what to say. I'm so sorry." And he did genuinely look it. As he said it he looked down and didn't meet my eyes; it was almost like he could feel my pain.
"Yeah well, all good things must come to an end I guess." I didn't want to talk about it any longer so I turned and walked away. Once I was a few metres away from Percy and Annabeth I broke into a run; I didn't really know where I was going but I found myself at the edge of the woods.
The new girl was in there somewhere. It was dangerous to be in there on your own. Of course I'd spent a lot of time on my own in the words but, well, creatures with as little as one brain cell stay away from me. Nothing wants to be near someone who literally radiates death.
I took a deep breath and plunged in.

Hi readers! Please let me know in the comments what you think of the story so far and if you would like me to carry on writing . It is my first story so I'd love to get some opinions from some fellow Nico di Angelo fans! ;) Thanks!