Valdangelo/Leico - Let It Go

CHAPTER FOUR - Hate, love and friendship.

-- Leo Valdez POV --

C H A P T E R 4

I look at Nico, amazed. How in the world is he doing this? He told me that he never tried to do gymnastic before. I'm not so sure if I believe him now. He just jumps around and makes pirouettes like it was super easy.

After this strange Physical Education class, it's lunch time. I stay with Nico because he tells me that I can eat lunch with him and Jason's friends. I can't wait to make new friends.

Nico and I change clothes and go to the cafeteria. It's very big and there are people everywhere. We finally spot a blonde and tall guy with glasses: Jason. He smiles at us and indicate his table to show us that we can sit with him. We walk towards it and sit. Two boys and three girls are already there. They are all very different from each other; a Chinese guy, a Cherokee girl, a dark-skinned girl - I think it's Hazel -, a tall boy with deep sea-green eyes and a girl a blonde pony-tail. Jason his here, too, and he's holding the Cherokee girl's hand. She must be Piper McLean, his beautiful girlfriend.

"Hi! You can sit next to Percy," Jason says. At the same time, the black-haired boy with green eyes waves at us. It's probably Percy. Nico sit next to him and me, next to Nico.

"Leo, Nico, this is Piper, Frank, Hazel, Annabeth and Percy. Guys, this is Leo and Nico," Jason introduces us, pointing at his friends when he says their name.

"Nice to meet you," Nico says with a shy smile.

"You are in my group," Hazel notices.

"Yeah."

After that, everyone start to talks. I think Jason's friends are all very nice. I laugh at everything that they say and I often agree with their opinions. Nico talks, too. I'm glad to see that he feels included.

---

One hour later, I'm in a classroom again. I'm in History and I see what Nico hates the teacher. At first, I tried to make jokes during the class, but I rapidly shut my mouth when I saw the way she looked at me. I thought she was going to murder me right in front of the students.

The afternoon continues like this; boring classes and scary teachers. Except the math teacher; she is really pretty. She has golden hair and light blue eyes. Math suddenly seems a lot more interesting to me...

---

It's now 7PM and I'm back in my room. Jason and Nico aren't here yet. Octavian is still with his cell phone, texting. I'm really curious about it. Who is he talking too?

"Hey, Octy, who are you texting?" I ask with a smirk.

"No of your business," he answers defensively.

"Is it a girl?" I insist. "A secret girlfriend?"

That's it. I got it. He blushes violently and avoids my gaze. He's not talking anymore and he closed his cell phone.

"Oh my God!" I exclaim. "Who is it?"

"Again," Octavian says slowly, so I hear every syllable very clearly, "Not of your business."

"Come on, Octy! Tell me!"

He looks at me in the eyes, his gaze so angry that I want to look away.

"If you talk about this to anybody, I'll tell everyone that you love Nico di Angelo," he threatens.

"What the hell? I'm not in love with him!" I retort.

No, I'm not in love with him. I just think that he's cute, sweet, gorgeous and adorable. That's it...

"Oh, don't lie to me. I saw you last night when he gave you water because of your nightmare," Octavian snaps with a mean smirk.

At this moment, Nico walks in the room, smiling. I look away, blushing harder. What is happening to me?! I hate Octavian.

"Is everything okay?" He asks softly.

"We were just talking about how Leo is in love with you," Octavian shouts.

I almost punch him in the face, but Nico takes my arm.

"Don't listen to him, Leo. He just wants to make you angry," the Italian tries to calm me.

"Well, he succeeded!"

Nico takes my hand a leads me to the hallway. He closes our room's door.

"What was Octavian talking about? Is it true?"

I stare at my feet, shameful.

"No. I just think you're sweet and cute," I admit.

I finally look at Nico in the eyes, expecting him to be upset or disgusted. But no, he's just blushing slightly and repressing a smile.

"Really?" he asks.

"Hum, yeah," I confirm.

"What about the thing that you said last night?"

"Yeah, it is true too," I say.

He smiles at me and laugh a little. That laugh that makes me melt inside.

I'm still staring at Nico. I think he's hesitating. He wants to say something, but he's afraid to hurt me. Finally, he tells me:

"Are you gay?"

"I'm bisexual," I respond.

"Oh," he simply says.

"And you?" I ask him.

"I...I don't know." He looks sad and confused. It makes me want to hug him, but I resist at the temptation. I think he doesn't want to like boys because he doesn't want to be judged.

"Don't hold it back, Nico. Just stay true to yourself and people will love you even more than they already do."

The way he looks and me, his gaze full of shame and sadness, breaks my heart. This time, I can't resist. I hug him. And do you know what makes this moment even better?

He hugs me back even harder.

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Valdangelo moment! Aha :)