The Hidden Truth: The Rise [NOT EDITED!]

Chapter 20: Jo

        Bang. Bang. Bang.

         “Jo, what are you doing?” Nico asked, because for about a minute now I had been slamming my head against the trunk of Thalia’s pine tree, infuriated by Bianca’s stupidity. That's the way she goes about telling someone she likes them? By saying she doesn't want to be friends with them?

         Bang. Bang. Bang.

         She just had to go and ruin my master plan. UGGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHH!

         “When's the last time you watched The Road to El Dorado?” Leo asked in confusion.

         “About a month ago. I’ve decided to try Tulio’s method for coming up with a plan.”

         Bang. Bang. Bang.

         “And how’s that working for you?” How do you think?

         “Considering that I still can’t come up with a solution to keep myself from strangling Bianca and skinning you alive, not great.”

         “Oh-kay,” Leo stated taking a step away from me.

         Nico sighed shaking his head, “What are you trying to do? Cause permanent brain damage to yourself?”

         I stopped smashing my head into the tree. When I pulled away, I saw a few drops of blood stuck against the bark. I raised my hand to my forehead and when I pulled away, blood dappled my fingers. Well that’s not good.

         Looking over to the edge of the hill, I saw Bianca staring at me with amusement. I started angrily after her. I heard Leo and Nico following closely behind me. That was the last straw. Who does she think she is?

        She has pissed me off worse than Edward Elric when he was called short. I was about to lunge at her when Nico grabbed me around the waist and flung me over his shoulder. My vision began to blur as he started walking away from her.  

         “Nico! Put me down!” I said as I pounded my fists angrily into his back. He responded by shaking his head no.

         As Nico took a few more steps away from my so called friend, my vision began to clear. Bianca was standing about ten feet in back of us. She had her hand pressed against her mouth at an attempt to hide her laughter. What was happening to us? One minute we were minding our own business in school where all we had were each other, and the next we were ready to fight to the death.  

         This current predicament was not all bad though. There I was, hanging over Nico’s shoulder, getting a free pass to put him in the hospital. I had to admit that I did not hit him as hard as I could. But in my defense he had caught me off guard when he grabbed me by the waist. It had everything to do with surprise, not the fact that he had his arms around me and he smelled like a McDonald’s happy meal. Yeah nothing to do with the fact that he’s holding me; nothing at all.   

         “Not a chance. You can’t kill her yet,” he said snapping me out of my thoughts.

         “Really? And why not?” I asked still a little dazed.

         Nico sighed, finally realizing that he was not going to win this fight anytime soon, placing me back on the ground, only after making sure we were a safe distance away from Bianca. “Because, before she dies she at least deserves to know who her godly parent is.”

         "I have to wait that long to kill her?” I sighed as I followed behind him.

         “Yes. And who knows, maybe by then you’ll want her alive,” he said, close to shouting. I gave a small laugh at his frustration, as the four of us continued on our merry way in silence.