Creep (PJatO fanfic.)

I was just relaxing. Headphones on, back against the stone wall of Cabin 13. Eyes shut, dead to the world. Hazel was taking in the grounds of Camp Half-Blood with Frank. I chose not to accompany them.

I saw a pair of sandal wearing feet approach me. Red toe nails protruded. A new camper obviously. They didn't know not to disturb me from my rare relaxation.

Reluctantly, I lifted my head. A tall girl with curly blonde hair was looking down at me. She was wearing a pale blue string top that followed the lines and shape of her body. Like, everywhere. And a denim skirt with a frilled hem. A short denim skirt.

"Uhh . . ." I said. She was about fourteen, I'd wager.

"Hi," she smiled, "I'm Sadie Tribes. That guy over there told me to talk to you. I've just had everything explained to me, and my mom's Aphrodite . . ." I looked over her shoulder; I wanted to see who 'that guy' was.

What a surprise. Percy.

"Sure. Whatever. You've talked with me. Bye." I wasn't one for company. Some girl from Athena kept calling me Neku because of it. Don't know why.

"He told me you'd show me around Camp . . ." She frowned, and sighed, "Well . . . see you around, I guess . . ."

I didn't look up. Her feet retreated, soon replaced by a pair I recognised as Percy's. Reluctantly, I took off my headphones again and raised my head.

"Percy," I said, wearing a smile that dripped sarcasm. "What was that for? And how much did you pay her?"

"I didn't pay her anything," He folded his arms, "And when did puberty take its hold on you, Nico? Didn't notice before now."

I scowled, "I don't know. Whenever my voice broke or whenever I sprouted pubic hair. Why? Is there a hormone leak coming out of my ass?"

"No, it just finished coming out your mouth."

"I said, why?"

"No reason," Percy grinned his trademark cocky smile, "It's just, I think you need a hobby. Like a female one."

"You mean sewing?" I raised an eyebrow.

"Find yourself a girlfriend, Nico. Or at least a friend who isn't your sister," Percy walked off, agitated. He reminded me of a parent who wanted their kid out of their hair.

I snapped the headphones back on. Nice, calming screamo blared into my ear drums. And then the sandals-and-toe-nails came back.

"What do you want?" I grumbled, shoving the headphones round my neck angrily. It was that Sadie girl again.

She cracked her knuckles, "Umm . . . well, yeah, ok. Could you do the favour of actually giving me a tour? That other guy I spoke with is gone and I don't wanna make a mess of myself in front of anyone else . . ."

I huffed as I stood up. I figured I should just get this girl out of my hair. For good.

"Fine," I started walking and heard her sandals pattering behind me, "Ok, so these are the cabins. There's a lake over there. Climbing wall. Dining pavilion. Woods. Zeus' Fist. And other shit. Now bye."

I had literally walked her to the centre of the omega-shaped cabin pavilion and listed the things of note. What did she want me to do? Explain things?

Not gonna happen.

"HEY!" She was flitting after me. I picked up the pace, quickening to a run. This girl was persistent. And irritating. And catching up with me. I whipped around, kept running, "WHAT DO YOU WANT!"

"WHAT WAS THAT ABOUT?" She screamed back, "THAT WAS NOT A TOUR!"

"YES IT WAS, IT WA- ARGH!" I had tripped over my own feet and now I was lying on the ground, head ringing from the impact. Sadie stood over me, laughing to herself. In fury, I flicked my leg out and she was sent flying to the ground. She landed on her butt beside me.

I began to laugh. A real laugh. I hadn't done that in at least a year. I had chuckled lowly, snickered and sniggered, but I only realised then how much I missed roaring laughter. Sadie joined in and lay back alongside me.

"Well," I chuckled, "That was fun."

"You don't seem like you get much laughs."

"That I don't," I stood up, and offered her help up, "Friends?"

"Didn't think you wanted any."

"I was ordered to get some," I shrugged, "So…?"

"Can I slap you?" She said, utterly sincere.

"Wha'?" I said, nervously. She was messing, surely.

Sadie laughed, "I mean, you deserve it for being so rude."

"Uhhh . . ." She took my hesitation for a yes and smacked me across the face. Hard. "What!" I raised a hand to my cheek. I was sure it was red.

"I slapped you. Deal with it," Sadie examined her hand, then looked me in the eye, "And you my friend, are beginning to grow facial hair. Ew."

"What!" I felt my face. Yes, it was a little rough, just on the jaw bone. But . . . "Oh, come on! I'm only 14! I can't need to shave already!"

She shrugged, "You don't need to shave. Technically, you could just let it grow."

I scowled and continued rubbing my face. "This is plausible of course. I mean, Grover had—"

"Grover?"

"Satyr."

"Ohhh . . . 'kay."

"I'm going to talk to Grover. Alone." I began to make my way over to the woods.

"Why can't I come?" Sadie called, sounding ticked.

I threw my hand backwards and stuck up my middle finger. I heard a little scream of rage behind me.

I put my headphones back on and slipped my hands in to the pockets of my jacket. Perhaps Sadie wasn't so bad. She was annoying, but a little less than most. And she made me laugh, albeit through my tripping her up. But still.

"Grover?" I called, hoping he'd be by Juniper's bush. I slipped the headphones around my neck for what felt like the hundredth time that day.

"Nico?" It was Juniper. She wore a white chiton that hung off her willowy frame. Grover shuffled behind her, wringing his limp Rasta cap in his fingers.

"Oh, hi, Grover," I mocked.

Juniper furrowed her brow and swept her amber hair from her elven face. I must say, pissing girls off was a speciality of mine.

"Nico . . ." Grover sighed, resting a hand on Juniper's shoulder, "Your eyes look crazed – what question's killing you?"

"How old were you when you grew your goatee? Physically – not biologically," I was really hyped up about this whole hair thing. I mean, I'd seen guys walking around camp that looked like someone had poked them all over their faces with razor sharp nails. That'd just humiliate me even more.

"Fourteen . . . why?" Grover scratched the back of his neck.

"No reason," I sighed, feeling hard-done-by. That was one more thing that hated me – people, my subconscious, my dad and now my body too.

Life's great when you're me.