The Deep End

Chapter 14: Part 2

Nico

It was already lunch, but Nico, like always wasn't hungry.
"Hey, Neeks whats wrong man," Frank spoke. Nico was surrounded by the very few people who made him feel okay.
Frank, Will, Hazel, Bianca used to be here too, but that was last year. When she was a senior.
"It's nothing," Nico mumbled taking out his blue notebook he'd been drawing in until he could get a new sketchbook. His glasses touched the tip of his nose, as he reached up to readjust them Frank asked a question, but sounded like a statement, "Percy again." Nico shook his head, "No? Not everything is about hi—" "No, dumbass turn around." Before he could understand Will grabbed his head and turned it towards the turquoise eyed boy walking towards them. "Fuck."

"Sorry, to budge in like this, but I'm pretty sure my friends have outcasted me so, is it alright if I sit with you and your friends today?" Percy blurted.
You could tell his anxiety was acting up as he seemed unsure and his hands were fiddling with the sleeves of his shirt.
Nico felt bad, he knew what it was like to be booted from his loved ones. His words jumbled as he tried to respond, "Uh, yea- uh sure- uh I mean," before he could say anything else Will stepped in.

"Of course, you can stay with us,"

"Would you like to stay forever?"

"Hazel!" Nico threw the pencil he had in his hand at the girl. "Hey!"
Percy was smiling as he sat down. Feeling a sense of comfort around these juniors. Something poked at his mind though.
"Nico I didn't know you wore glasses," everyone fell silent. They knew about Nicos insecurities about those things he had to wear. Percy didn't take notice to the sound, or lack that their of. He just tapped the plastic frame and smiled, "I like them, they are a good contrast of your soft features," Percy turned, and started eating.
Nico was blushing furiously, and his friends all winked at him. Which he glared at them, but making a silent note to never take them off.
"So, Percy," Hazel said looking innocently a Nico, "for what do we owe the pleasure for you to sit with us?" "Who." Hazel made a face of confusion. "You said for what, when the proper use of that phrase would be for who as that's why I'm here not because of some godly force, but because of a person, although I'm sure that's what you could use to describe Luke Castellan." Everyone blinked, Percy spoke so easily, so fluid. Percy was used to it though. He was a jock with ADHD, and dyslexia. To anyone he seemed stupid. People often overlooked that he had straight A's, and you know was an actual person.
"Oh, sorry." Hazel looked a bit uncomfortable, Percy knew he had too much. Sometimes his ADHD just spits out things before he can actually think it through, maybe that thing about Luke at the end was too much. "It's alright, thanks by the way for letting me sit with, 'cause watch this," Percy looked over to his usual table, the group of boys who were staring at them quickly turned their heads, and looked down.
Will basically started laughing until he was in tears, "Will that's not cool!" Nico yelled before he turned around, and saw Percy laughing. "What are you laughing about!" Nico panicked. "Because, you should've seen them this morning, I gave them a stern talking too, and now their basically cowering in their pants," Percy joked, "They'll come around, tomorrow lunch they'll probably be begging me to lead the group." Percy winked and Will was trying to calm himself down.
"So, if you don't mind me asking," Hazel interjected, "What made them act this way?" "They thought I was sleeping with Nico." Will lost again his cool over that, Hazel looked horrified, Frank tried to not look at them, and Nico had his head in his hands blushing furiously. "Oh?" Will said in between giggles, "Nico when were you planning to tell us you lost your v-card?" "What do you mean Valentine's Day isn't like for 2 weeks?" Nico questioned finally looking up from his hands. "Oh, Nico nooooo," Will gasped cackling again falling over in his chair, "AHHH!!"
Nico still with a holding confused face Percy spoke, "Wait your a virgin?" "THATS WHAT THAT MEANT!" Frank and Hazel both slapped their hands to their face, a feeling of second hand embarrassment washing over the two.
"Oh, Nico so innocent," Will giggled, finally sitting up. Before Nico could say anything he felt Percy lean into his ears, his words tickling his black hair, "If we really did fuck, you wouldn't be so innocent." Nico turned a carpet shade of red slowly looking at Percy, once they made eye contact the taller boy winked.
Everyone was silent. Well, except of course, for Will, "Wait, Percico is canon?" "What the fuck is a Percico," Nico questioned. "Well, it's the ship name for you too, because Nico—" Nico punched Will in the stomach at that, "Nothing," Nico gave Will a look of what the fuck do you think your doing dumbass? Will just shrugged.