Empty Closets

Chapter 8

Chapter 8: The Meeting (Nico's POV)

It's 2:58. Percy will be here any minute.

I'm at Anti-Pride Rock. Oh, I should explain the name: In the movie "The Lion King," there's a rock called Pride Rock. But the Greeks, especially Athena, hate pride, so we gave the stone the name Anti-Pride Rock. See? Even that name sounds homophobic!

Anyway, I'm feeling my anxitey rise as seconds fly by. The silent anticipation is interrupted by footsteps. Turning around, I see Percy walk toward me. He then sits down next to me and he turns so his feet hang down the side of the cliff.

"Glad you could make it," I say to him.

"Yeah, me too," he replies. "I feel really bad about everything."

"I do too."

After that we spend what feels like eternity talking to each other about many things. Then something bad almost happens:

Percy finishes telling me a really funny joke and I'm laughing so hard that I roll onto my side. Next thing I know, I don't feel any ground against me, just air. I open my eyes and find myself plummeting to the bottom of the cliff. Water stares at me as I get closer and closer.

Suddenly, I feel something wet on my back. I look back and see a huge wave push me up really high. Percy drops his hands and I come flying at him. He tries to catch me but it's too late. I end up on the ground. On top of him. For a minute, we just lie here. Percy's sea green eyes meeting my deadly black ones. I roll off of him and stare up at the sky. Looking over at him, I see he's doing the same thing.

"I hate people," Percy mutters.

"I know, right?" I mutter back. "They're so judgmental about everything and they think they know everything about you based on what you know and like. It really gets on my nerves."

"Tell me something I don't know."

"Wait, are you serious or are you saying it like you know exactly what I'm talking about?"

"I know what you're talking about. Why, should I know something?"

Crap.

"No," I lie.

We continue to talk about how we hate people and we also bring up a few specific people who we wish would fall off the face of the Earth, including Scott and both of the Stoll brothers.

"There actually is someone who I never really liked now that we're being honest with each other," I say to Percy.

"Who?" he replies.

I don't say anything.

"Oh."

"Yeah, I know it may surprise you, but I always thought she was a little self-absorbed at times."

"Honestly, I thought you had a crush on her. I thought you left camp because of that."

Oh yeah. How did I forget that I had left camp last year? But the real reason I left... It was becuase of Percy. Do I tell, or should I keep it to myself?

No. I tell myself. It's time.

"I never liked her. Actually there were times where I downright hated her."

"Then what made you leave? What did she do?"

I sigh and look straight into his eyes. "I didn't leave Camp Half Blood because of Annabeth. I left becuase I felt like I didn't belong here. Sometimes I still think I don't."

"Why wouldn't you belong here?"

I pull Percy's head towards mine and I kiss him. His lips are soft. They taste salty and sweet both at once and it feels like heaven. When I pull back, he simply stares at me. I feel myself turn red and I look out at the water. Gods, I'm stupid to think he likes me like that. And that was my first kiss!

Then I decide to head back to camp so I can hide my embarassment. As I get up, I hear Percy behind me. He grabs my shoulders and turns me 180 degrees so I face him. Then I get pulled close until his lips touch mine for the second time. One kiss turns into two, two turns into four, and four turns into ten. Over and over again, our lips come into contact. I'm practically stuck to him at this point, like a marshmallow on a graham cracker. Not that I'm complaining.

We break apart. His eyes sparkle as he exposes a huge smile.

"Was that why you washed me in water this morning?" I ask in a teasing voice.

We both giggle. "Partially," Percy replies. "Wait, have you had a crush on me this whole time?"

"I did when I first met you, and then I stopped a while after I had cake for your birthday two years ago. Then I did again on my birthday, and I've liked you ever since."

"So you do want to be more than friends?" Percy asks.

"Percy Jackson, are you asking me out?"

"Would there be a problem if I was?" His eyes dilate as he says this.

I look up at him and smile. "There wouldn't be a single problem at all. And yes, Percy Jackson, I would love to go out with you!"

We kiss once more, and a long hug follows.

Looks like I spoke too soon yet again, but I love it!

"People might be getting suspicious so I think we should head back," I tell Percy.

"Good idea," he says.

So we walk back to the cabins. We kiss one more time and then we step out where people can see us. Percy goes his way and I go mine with smiles planted on our faces.