Then I Was Alone (Percy Jackson)

Chapter Six

Percy

They didn't say anything during the party, and I'll give them credit for that. I also got to meet Maria, she was really nice. Wasn't homophobic, either.

Hell, Gabe was better with it than my parents. I don't why everyone's back from the dead, but they are. And so we got back to the apartment and Gabe was there and my sister was there and then Nico was helping me pack.

I went to get a drink and they just snapped at me.

Um... Let's be honest, I don't even remember what they said, I just fell into a panic attack and that was the end all. I remember they were yelling and my sister was freaking out because I was having a panic attack and Gabe and Nico we're actually trying to help me out and the most they could manage was getting me in my room and locking my doors so Mom and Paul couldn't get in.

"Hey," Nico whispered, knowing it's better to keep his voice down when things like this happen. He was rubbing my arm, Gabe was sitting on a chair by the desk I have in my room. Being patient. He was a shitty step dad, but he knew his limits when it came to my anxiety weirdly enough. After I tried to kill myself when I was younger he actually stopped a lot of stuff because it triggered anxiety and depression. "Are you okay?"

So in a weird way, he cared. He cared, but the alcohol messed him up.

I slowly nodded my head. I just need to breathe.

"Here," Gabe suggested because this isn't the first time he's sat through one of these. He handed me a little bottle of lavendar oil. "It should help."

"Th... Thanks..." I stuttered out and mentally slapped myself for stuttering. I took the lavendar bottle and put a little bit on my hands, breathing it in. I was suddenly really tired.

But I knew better. My parents are going to want me out tonight, as was the plan. Now instead of dreading it, they'll probably be pushing me out the door.

My birthday is a wonderful day, right?

•••a skip in time•••
Nico

I moved in with Percy that next summer, in June. Before then it was like weekly dates, sometimes twice a week if there was something special. Then of course we texted and called.

But we live together now, and it was kind of nice. Sure, sometimes I need some alone time, and so does he, but there's multiple rooms here. Go sit in another one for a little bit. Plus, both of us work.

Today was a big deal, though. His 19th birthday. We had our one year anniversary last month, and it was a fun day and all. But I was really excited for today, because it's been a year since he moved out. A year since he was emancipated, or really disowned. And over the year, he's gotten a lot better. I've lived with him for three months and he had one anxiety attack, which was at a party.

So it was a huge deal.

I got up early and figured I'd make him breakfast because it's his birthday and he deserves it. While I was making it, I got a call from Leo. I didn't go to camp this summer, neither did Percy. But we still keep in touch. Leo runs the place and I mean it's not ruined yet.

"Hey, man," I answered the call as I poured in the pancake mix. "What's up?"

"Nico!" He seemed pretty excited that I answered the door. "Hey! Not much, I just got done eating breakfast and like everyone left yesterday and this last week so I have nothing to do. It's Percy's birthday right?"

"Yeah," I confirmed for him. "He's 19. He'll be starting college in a few weeks. Being he like took a gap year and all."

"Okay, that's what I thought." The son of Hephaestus said as I heard the background get quieter. He must've gone inside. "Are you guys doing anything special or...? I heard last year turned for the worse."