Nico Di Angelo Imagines

#8. Fake Smile

There was a new event handled at Camp Half-Blood, kind of like a promenade. You were allowed to take any demigod with you to the ball. And you, knowing yourself, there was no option. You knew no one would ask you out.

An hour before the ball.
Yeah, No one asked you for the dance. You still had to go, which was bumming. Considering, you had no one to go with. The one person you wanted to go out with was Nico and he seemed occupied. Though, he didn't ask anyone out, he didn't seem to want to ask anyone out.

Everyone was expected to show up with ball gowns or in proper formal attire. You showed up in this flowy but shimmery black dress paired with black heels with jewels embedded in them. Your hair was tied up in a bun, a glittery hair accessory pinned in your hair.

The dance seemed to slow down time. You spent most of the time hanging out in one of the food stalls, drinking punch or sitting in the corner alone. It seemed like a year has passed in there, as if the longer you stayed the slower time goes. You felt like going out would be a better decision than stay and wait.

You walked out from the ball as no one seemed to notice. That didn't bug you because you were used to it. You sat below a tree near the river and relaxed yourself. You liked the smell of fresh air and the sound of water touching the grass. The grass was comfy too which is a plus. You let your head rest in the trunk of the tree you were leaning on.

You stayed and rested as it gives you more peace alone than staying in a place crowded with people dancing and having fun with the person they liked. You wanted to feel the same, you wanted to feel that way. Though you understood what could and couldn't happen. You understood you were alone and you accepted it.

It was sundown, You let the darkness blanket over you. Suddenly, You feel a warm presence near you. You open your eyes and look beside you, only to see Nico di Angelo. His head rested and his body leaned back. "Hey, Nico. What are you doing here?" You calmly ask. "Wait. You mean, You're not scared or at least, shocked that I'm here?" He asks, surprised you're not scared of him or weirded out. "No I'm not, Nico. Why do you ask?" He looks straight and stares at the flowing river. "I've had enough of people getting scared of me whenever I drift out from a shadow. It's like they're always surprised I'm there. Like I didn't exist before that." He explains and You nod, "I understand."

"Y/N, Aren't you supposed to be in the ball?" He asks, still staring away. "No. No one asked me out. I guess I'd just rather be out here than in there." I explain, looking down. Brushing the soft green grass with my fingers. "Well, consider that altered." He stands up and looks down at you with his hand gesturing to help you up.

"Will you be my date, Y/N?" Nico asks.

"Sure thing, Nico di Angelo." You take his hand and you both walk up to the ball, your fingers still intertwined.

Some people look at both of you in shock, not expecting the combination. Some smiled and some nickered.

The dance now felt welcoming, with Nico by your side. Time passed by, now faster as you were having fun. At the end of the event, Nico hugs you out of nowhere. You didn't expect it as Nico doesn't normally like physical contact. You hug him back, still surprised but more relaxed. You notice almost everyone looking, you tell yourself that it didn't matter. Nothing had to be said. What mattered was that you had fun and it was because of Nico di Angelo.