Collapsing As It Sees The Pain (Percy Jackson)

Step In

Percy:

Mom got lectured the entire way to Minotaunk.

They got to meet Susan and Peter. Everyone came with. Including Nico. And then everyone else's boyfriend's or girlfriends. Mom wasn't alone. That one guy... Brendon was his name. He came with. Just as a friend.

For now.

It'll happen. I hope. I mean, Alex had a boyfriend with him and Nico was here with me. Justin was the only one with a girlfriend here. Out of mom's siblings. Well, Peter wasn't alone. But Clarisse was just with as a friend. Peter is single.

Because of the holiday, it was a really long drive. All three of the kids fell asleep. And then I used Nico's shoulder as a pillow. It was peaceful. Comfy, too.

When we got there, we did all the normal unpacking and what not. The adults all went to get things like food and firewood.

So it's the four of us and Alex. The other took the kids. Mom was the one suggested somebody was left with us. Which offended Peter.

"She doesn't trust me." Peter remarked after they left.

"She doesn't trust me, either." I assured my twin brother. "But it's for totally different reasons. I promise. You actually cause trouble."

"I haven't all week!"

"Mhm, okay."

And suddenly Clarisse realized something.

"Hey, did we ever do the welcoming ceremony to them?" Clarisse asked me, taking a bite out of an Apple.

"What welcoming ceremony?" I responded as Alex entered the room.

Clarisse rolled her eyes at me, as if this should be obvious. Which, it probably should be. But it wasn't getting it.

"The one I give everyone." She told me. "I haven't gotten Leo yet, though. Normally the first day I meet them. I don't remember if I have Nico the ceremony. I know Peter hasn't gotten it."

"Clarisse," I remarked. "We're at my grandparents cabin."

"So?"

"I just met them. I don't..."

"Just blame it on Peter. He's the trouble maker, right?"

Rolling my eyes, I just let it go. Arguing with Clarisse is pointless. You either lose, or you lose. There's no way to win. Not that I've found, at least. If you figure out, let me know.

Clarisse took Nico first to the bathroom, and some weird things came out of this.

The door is shut, so Peter didn't find out what this was. And Peter assumed some... Some stuff.

"Does... Does she have shower sex with everyone?"

The bite of banana that was in my mouth left my mouth and fell into the garbage I was luckily standing over.

I looked at my banana and threw it out. Suddenly at a loss of appetite.

"No." I promised my brother. "between Nico being gay and Clarisse having a boyfriend for three years now, no. And she hates everyone before getting to know her boyfriend. You're not getting raped."

Nico came out soaking wet as Peter was dragged inside.

"What... What did she do to you?" My uncle questioned as Nico grabbed a towel for his head. I felt kind of bad. But everyone goes through it one time and one time only. If you can't handle that's you won't survive Camp.

"She..." Nico started. "She stuck my head in the toilet. It was... It was disgusting. Why did you stop me, Percy?"

I shrugged.

"She did it to me." I assured him. "Well, she tried. Toilet water is still water. And she walked out of there soaking wet and I walked out of there without a drop on me. It was the day she swore her vergence on me. And it was worth it."

After that was all said and done, and then the adults all get back, it was starting to get late. Dinner time.

Alex:

I wasn't sure how to feel about Percy or Peter yet or the either two. Nico and Claire I think. Nico seemed like he was a grumpy sort of dude. Clarisse seemed just okay, I guess. Like your typical rebellious teenager. Peter seemed whatever.

Percy just threw me for a loop, though. He's 17, almost 18. But he acts like he's 25. A lot older than he is. And I understand that he has kids, but that doesn't... That's not an excuse.

Everyone was talking and having a great time. Everyone seemed to get along.

Out of curiosity, Dad had just a few questions for Nico.

"Now, Nico," my dad said, earning his attention. Along with the entire table while I'm at it. "I'm assuming, just based off of your accent and all, you're not from New York."

"Originally, no." Nico confirmed. "I was born in Venice. We moved here when I was younger. First in L.A., and up to Maine, and I've been living in New York for about... 4½ years? Somewhere around there."

"You're Italian?" My mother cuts in. "I would've never guessed Italian. Where's your mother? She knows you're with us, I assume?"

Nico sort of thought about that. .

"Um... Whatever helps you sleep at night."

"Whatever helps me sleep at night?" She repeats. "Son, you say that you yourself don't know. Do you live with your parents?"

"I don't, no."

"So then you must have a sibling." Of course, I assumed that. I took in everyone when Mom and Dad were in the hospital. They ended up fine. But I housed all of them for a couple years. Then our uncle took them and we met Poseidon and Sally left. "And older sister, right? She takes care of you or at least makes sure you're not dead?"

Percy and Clarisse both gave me this look, as if that was a bad idea. Like I shouldn't ask about a sibling.

"Um... Just a younger one now." Nico informed me. "She's 15, though. She can manage a day on her own."

"So you have a younger one now?" Dad knew that didn't sound right. "Implying she wasn't always the only one? Or... You had an older sister?"

Nico nodded his head.

"Yeah." He didn't really seem too dazed by it, really. Which confused me. "She died a few years ago."

Not wanting to get too personal, we all moved on with our lives.