The Deep End

Chapter 15: Detention?

I said I'm not into authors notes and I'm not, but I'm just letting y'all know I've been super busy and I'm trying to update this as much as I can so I apologize. And cause I'm so busy I haven't been able to choose songs for each chapter so if you want leave suggestions thx enjoy! (Also thx so much for 1k reads AH!)

Thursday

Percy

Percy walked into the locker room of the boys swim team. His fellow swim mates all had anxious looks and cowarded when he came into the room. Was this because he was scary? No, it was because they were scared of his reaction. Most of the time Percy would make jokes and fool around, but today he was serious.
"Okay fellas," Percy spoke as they stood by the pool. His voice echoing off the walls.
"you wanna question my leadership, you follow my rules, today we will start off with drills, halfway through we will stop and change to relays as a sort of team building exercise, and I will be swimming with each group."
Percy then listed all the teams on his list which consisted of Leo, Jason, and Grover, and the other team Tyson and Luke.
"Since you Luke questioned my leadership, you'll be swimming twice," before Percy took off the army soldier role he played he added, "Let's hope you aren't slow enough,"
Luke's eye twitched.

You could tell Leo felt bad. He didn't hesitate on doing anything. He made sure to work extra hard, and his eyes dropped whenever Percy walked by. Jason also felt bad. Jason was one of Percy's best friends. BROTP! No homo though. Well, that's what Leo says, whatever it means.
By the end of the relay all the boys were panting. Well, of course besides Luke and Percy. They stood straight and eyed each other, dominance radiating off each other as if they were a pack of wolves fighting for the role of alpha.
The boys enter the locker rooms with wet hair and tired eyes. Percy of course was tired, but he wouldn't let the others know.
He slipped a hoodie and some sweatpants on after quickly showering. Picking up his heavy backpack and throwing his swim stuff into his gym locker and locking it up he left.
The sound of his sneakers echoing in the hallway as he went to class early to take a 5 minute nap before the teacher started talking. His Latin teacher Dr. Chiron was cool like that, but strict when he needed to be.
He flopped his bag on his desk sliding into his chair letting his head fall on his hands as he used his bag as a pillow.
The bell rung signaling it was time for him to get up and start working, but his exhausted brain blurred the ear splitting shriek into a blur of noise in his dreamless sleep.
The hand slamming on his wooden desk though, was the alarm he did notice.
"Perceus!" The teacher yelled.
Percy snapped his turquoise eyes open his head spinning, and heart racing.
"Yes, sir uh D- Dr. Chiron," Percy stuttered, as he wiped the sleep from his eyes. "That's your second warning detention today after school!" Percy was in such a haze he couldn't even remember the first warning. The kids looking at him didn't help his anxiety either. Percy nodded slowly sinking in his chair trying not to face the group of people staring at him.
******
It was finally lunch, and Percy was craving the sweet release of death. His group of friends sat normally in the big circle table in the corner of the cafeteria. Percy looked at them as they all sat on edge. Feeling out of place Percy walked over the the group of juniors sat at the bench to the left of him. All of the were smiling, and waving at him causing Percy to lift his spirits as he made his way over to them.
"Second day sitting with us huh? We are honored," Frank joked, causing Hazel to smile. "Hey, Percy!" Wil beamed, "So do you think your friends will be begging at your knees today?" The older boy laughed, "I dunno I did go a bit hard on them at swim this morning."
Nico just sat there listening. His voice not knowing what to say, his mind telling him the best thing to do just listen and not say much, but when he saw a certain curly haired boy walking over to them he knew he had to say something, "Hey, Percy I think you were right about your friend." Percy raised his eyebrow as Nico pointed to Leo who had just pulled up to the table. He looked just about ready to cry, as Jason stood next to him.
"Percy! I'm so sorry! IdidntmeantohurtyourfeelingslukeisjustabigbullyandIdidntknowhowtoreact!" Leo rushed jumping onto Percy for a hug sitting on his lap.
Percy winked at the others in a I told you so gesture.
Percy pulled the boy off him, "Okay, champ it's alright get up," Leo giggled, and jumped up back to his usual self. "Sorry, man," Jason joked giving Percy this sort of bro shake. Percy looked over to Hazel then having a silent exchange before Percy asked, "Do you guys wanna sit with us?"
The two boys nodded and took the spare seats at the rectangular table.
Everyone introduced themselves, except Nico didn't say anything
"Oh, yeah! The brooding boy over here is Nico," Will pointed towards the boy who glared at him instantly.
"Hi," Nico said feeling awkward and out of place now that the two boys showed up. It was normal for him to think like this though. ******
Nico
Nico was really paying attention to the conversation until he felt Wills arm wrapped around his shoulder, "We would love to go to Gigi's with you," Will looked at Nico with a desperate pleading look, "wouldn't we Nico?" Nico not understanding anything he just said just slowly nodded. Which he guesses was correct because the other boys just smiled.
Once the conversation died down Nico pulled Will to look at him.
"Hey, what was that earlier about Gigi's? What even is that place?" The look Will gave Nico was of pure shock and slight hurt.
"Nico as a gay boy yourself I'm offended you don't know what Gigi's is." Nico panicked, and scanned the rest of the table to make sure no one was listening, "Will! You can't just say that!" The tan boy rolled his eyes. "Don't worry nobody here cares, if they did they wouldn't be going to a gay bar." Nico was extra confused causing Will to hang his head. "Nico, sweetie, honey, Gigi's is a gay bar!" Nico instantly felt his stomach drop.
*****
Nico

The tired boy walked mindlessly to his art class, ready to color in a drawing he forgot he had. His sketchbook gripped loosely in his hands.
Of course he dropped his other one in the pool but Nico had tons of these. It was the only thing he bought for himself. The only reason he used his bus notebook was because he didn't want to go back home and get a new one. Also his mom bought him a bunch when she was alive. Every Christmas, every birthday. Nico missed his mom.
The pale boy walked through the door and sat in his assigned seat at the wooden table. He lazily opened his book flipped through the used pages to his latest drawing. Putting in his skull earbuds and letting whatever Spotify song was on.
***
Sketching was his favorite thing to do releasing the nerves, and energy onto a clear sheet of paper, as if he was taking a his worries onto a new brain. A fresh start. A new beginning. Nico normal didn't have a person to talk too. Yeah, Will is his best friend, but Nico still keeps things from him. Which is why he always feels so sectioned off from everyone. Why he feels like he can't connect with everyone in a friend group. Another reason being is he had already lost so many people in his life, he subconsciously decided to not be so close to people. The closer they get, the harder it is when they cut you off.
Not speaking to people was a subconscious thing his depressed mind made him do. Even if he did ever speak, his brain would tell him to shut up, he's not important, or even his friends wouldn't care what he says.
Before he realized he was mindlessly gripping his pencil too hard, the graphite tip snapped off, and he was dragging a broken wood across his drawing. Leaving an irritating scratching noise causing strange looks from around the room.
He grunted and stood up, the metal eggs of his chair scraping against the cement floor sending more strange looks his way.
Oh how he wished he could melt into the black shadows. His mind endlessly wandering through a ghostly hell.
His pale fingers touched the cold metal pencil sharpener. His fingertips felt no chill, as his earbuds blasted Nicotine by Panic! At The Disco. It was almost an anti sensory deprivation chamber.
His hands so cold he felt no pain, his earbuds so loud he heard no sound, his brain blanking so much, the lyrics sung by Brendon Urie was blended into the darkness of the boys thoughts.
His body sat back in his chair, as he tried to draw again. Earbuds still basting any type of emo song. Probably damaging his ears. His eyes were already fucked up, so he didn't care about his ears too.