Friends With Mental Issues (Percy Jackson Fanfiction)

Annabeth's Hero

   "Okay, so who wants to go first?" Percy asked, looking out at the seven people around him. If they were going to answer, they were already too late, since a loud buzzing sound echoed throughout the room. Percy jumped, looking around. "What was that?"

   Annabeth frowned. "Did Chiron really tell you nothing about this place?" Percy shrugged, knowing that Chiron had barely prepared him for the people in front of him. She rolled her eyes. "That means curfew is in five minutes. He's not very strict on it, since Nico likes to wander the halls at night, but it basically means that if you have no business outside of your room, you better be in your room."

   "Oh."

   "Yeah, well, nice meeting you, Percy, but it seems time has run out. I volunteer tommorow, if that helps," Hazel said, smiling and standing up, heading to wherever her room was. Frank followed, patting Percy on the back. After that, he got a series of 'good nights' and other stuff related to that until all that was left was Nico.

   "So aren't you going to go to your room?"

   "Aren't you?" Nico retorted, leaning his head back on the couch that he was sitting in front of and staring at the ceiling. When Percy still didn't leave, Nico sighed. "Look, Percy, I think you're a cool guy. Really. I do. But if you're expecting anyone in the 'Insane Sane Group' to reveal their feelings easily, you're wrong. There's a reason Chiron has all but given up on us and that's because we're all stubborn pieces of shit. So just get some sleep."

   It's not like Percy wasn't expecting that, but reality punched him in the face when the words were said outloud. He found himself sinking to his feet, putting his head in his hands. Nico threw a card at him, making a noise of interest. "You aren't having a mental break-down, are you?"

   "I don't know if I can do this, Neeks," Percy said, feeling like the weight of the world was on his shoulders. How did Chiron expect him to 'get through' to these people? He was just a teenager.

   Nico clucked his tongue. "Bro, the fuck is with the nickname?"

   Percy sighed and leaned back so that his knees were pointed to the ceiling and the back of his head was resting on the carpet. He covered his eyes. "Why did Chiron even call me of all people? I don't have friends at school-"

   "That actually isn't all that surprising."

   Continuing as if he didn't hear, Percy sighed again. "-And I'd never even heard of him before! What makes him think he can call me up and ask if I could spend the summer with crazy people?"

   "And yet you did it anyway. It really says wonders for your personality."

   Percy sat up, removing his hands from his eyes, looking over at Nico, who had a rather bored expression on his face. "I mean, you're crazy right?"

   "I prefer mentally ill, but yeah. You could say that."

   "So, like, you know what crazy people act like, right?"

   "If I didn't, I would actually be disappointed in myself."

   "Am I crazy?" The question seemed to catch Nico off-guard, but he quickly recovered, putting on his expression of bordom and overall tired-ness again. He seemed to think for a second and Percy waited not really all that patiently.

   "Yes," Nico said, but when he saw Percy's shoulders sink, he sighed. "I only say so because everyone's a bit crazy, you know? It wouldn't be right if everyone was normal."

   "Really?" Percy asked, sounding so stupidly hopefull that Nico sighed, like he wasn't getting paid enough for this. Even if he wasn't getting paid.