DEMIGODS. (Percico/Pernico)

˚‧º·Chapter Ten‧º·˚

I was faced with yet another D on my assignment in first period. I really wished Italian was not first period, so that I actually could've had time to study throughout the day, and so that my terrible grades would not have put me in a foul mood for the rest of the day.

I threw it on my desk frustratedly and buried my hands in my hair. Nico looked at me sympathetically and patted me on the shoulder, uncertain of how to comfort me. Thalia was sick, which was unfortunate, but we did not schedule practice after school that day, so we did not have to cancel it.

"What'd you get?"

I ashamedly showed him my paper. He winced.

"I know," I sighed. "I'm terrible at Italian. I can never remember the words, but I need the credit so I can graduate. At this rate, looks like I'm not going to get it."

He looked like he had a question on his mind. I glanced over at him expectingly.

"What?"

"Oh, nothing much. I just was wondering..."

"Hm?"

"Well, I can speak Italian fluently. It's my first language. Maybe I can tutor you, or something?"

I smiled at him. "Yeah, that actually sounds great."

He blushed, which was usual for him. I didn't know why, but he always blushed whenever I complimented him or said something like that. I didn't exactly care, but it kind of puzzled me.

"After school at my house, then?" he asked demurely.

I nodded. "Okay, I can give you a ride home and we can run through it."

He smiled, red present in his cheeks, glancing down at his lap then back at me. "Okay."

We sat in silence for a moment before Signor di Angelo finished passing out the quizzes and returned to the front of the class to begin the day's instruction.

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The rest of the school day came and went. I smiled every time I thought of going to Nico's house after school. His house was really cool, and maybe after we studied, we could play video games together. Ever since he said he was a Scorpion person, I wanted to test his skills. As I knew the type of person he is, I anticipated he would win, but it was the thought that counted.

As the final bell rang, I gathered my stuff, stood, and started to make my way out of the classroom, only to be tripped and drop everything on the floor.

"Whoa, watch where you're going there, buddy," Luke jeered. "You're going to hurt yourself."

He laughed as he left the room. Ethan, trailing behind him, smiled humorously at my suffering as I lifted myself to my knees and picked up my papers and my book. I rolled my eyes, choosing to ignore them, when a girl kneeled at my side and helped me pick up my stuff. To my surprise, I saw the red bandana wrapped around her brunette head and her tomboyish style. Clarisse la Rue. The girl that always made fun of me.

"Sorry about my band mates," she said. "They're assholes. Look, I don't like you either, and I do think we're going to win, but I'm not going to be a dipshit about it. There you go, Prissy. Don't confuse this for kindness."

I nodded, grateful for her help, although she assured me deeply that it wasn't. I stood and made my way to my locker, silently hoping that it would not jam on me again.