Tight (PJ Fanfic) *COMPLETE*

Chapter Thirty-Two

NICO POV

I looked at Percy. It was hard seeing him. I could only think about what he did to Annabeth, yet still be totally, absolutely, completely, relieved that he was okay.

I sighed. I walked over to Annabeth, who had just climbed onto Blackjack.

"Hey." I said, stoking Blackjack's mane.

"Hi," she said. I looked up at her. The sun's evening rays lit up her grey eyes and emphasised the dark shadows under them. Then I remembered how she hadn't slept throughout the whole quest. She hadn't even rested. She must be exhausted.

"Annabeth," I said, "I'll ride Blackjack. You ride on Mrs O'Leary. It will be easier for you to rest on her than on a horse."

Annabeth smiled weakly but shook her head. "No Nico. I need some time to myself. To uh-" I saw her gaze avert to Percy. She continued, "Think about things and-"

"Basically be by yourself before we get to camp and we are all basically forced to sort everything out immediately?" I interrupted.

She smiled weakly again but nodded. "Exactly." I laughed, but it was strained. I looked up at the sky, the moon was floating around, in a perfect crescent shape, yet the sun was still out. The sky was putting on a show tonight.

I was about to walk back to the other demigods when I saw something.

There was something shimmering behind Annabeth, but I wasn't sure what. It wasn't the light this time. Then, as if he appeared out of nowhere, Dolos the Greek god of mind control was standing in front of I and Annabeth.

"Hello Mr Di Angelo. Miss Chase, it's nice to see you again." He said.

Annabeth frowned, "I've never met you before." She said. I saw her grip Blackjack's reins even tighter. Blackjack huffed at the god, who took a step back at the sight of the black pegasus.

Dolos smiled at Annabeth, "I'm afraid we have met, dear."

Then I remembered. And groaned. "You!" I cried, pointing a finger at him. "It was you that day?!"

Annabeth frowned again, "What day Nico?"

I breathed out frustratedly, "That day you were possessed or something. It was this  minor god doing his trickory!"

Annabeth narrowed her eyes, "Was it? Dolos?"

Dolos shrugged and giggled, "Ooh how fun it is to watch you demigods fight! But unfortunately, all the other gods needed you and that Jackson boy back together. So, I had to step up."

Annabeth opened her mouth,  "So you're saying, all these emotions I'm feeling, they were all you-"

Dolos waved his hands to stop her, "Listen here girl, I can make people think things! But I can't make people feel things."

"I wonder if you could be sent to the underworld?" I asked the god. Dolos only laughed and disappeared again. I turned back to where Thalia, Percy, and Piper were. They hadn't seemed to realise anything was up. I sighed.

"Well that explains that." Annabeth said.

"Yeah."

She sighed, "But all my feelings for Percy since then-"

I stopped her, "No no no, you're feelings are what has managed to keep us all alive. Dolos didn't do that. Your feelings aren't controlled by the minds, they're controlled by the heart, understand?"

Annabeth nodded slowly. "Alright."

"Oi! Nico!" Thalia cried. "The sun's set, lets go back to camp!"

Annabeth sighed, "So much for rest."

I sighed too rubbed Blackjack on the nose. "Don't worry." I said. "As soon as we get to camp I'll talk to Percy. You can go sleep."

Annabeth nodded, but I wasn't quite sure if she had heard me or not, and if she had, I'm pretty sure she had her own plans.

Even so, Annabeth hopped off Blackjack, and we lead him to the group. Thalia smiled warmly at us, and I gestured for us all to hold hands. 

"Three," I held Blackjacks lead, "Two," I glanced at Mrs O'leary, "One." We faded into the shadows.

Annabeth's pov

We reappeared at half blood hill. Unsurprisingly, nearly all of us collapsed with exhaustion. I scanned to make sure we were all here, before looking for Percy. And yes, just like Nico had said, he had managed to strike up a conversation with him, but unlike what Nico said, I headed in the opposite direction to my cabin. If fact, I walked down the hill, closer to the road. 

I kept walking until the roads got busier and I managed to haul a taxi over. I told them the address I had memorised years ago, and they drove off in silence. I wasn't surprised, I looked like a homeless kid. But I had money, so that was a plus.

The taxi pulled up outside Sally's apartment building. I dropped a couple notes in the driver's hand, and mumbled something about keeping the change.

I walked up through the stairs, and knocked on her door. She opened it immediately, I'm guessing her and I both got no sleep over the last couple of days.

Sally breathed out a sigh of relief when she saw me, "Did you-". I nodded. "He's back at camp."

Sally smiled a smile that made me want to collapse and cry. She seemed to notice this and welcomed me in.

Sally opened the door, and closed it behind me. "Come, I have some cookies made. I'll bring them out, go sit on the couch."

I smiled and sat on her soft couch. The comfort of it made me want to fall asleep. Not long after, Sally returned with a plate full of blue cookies.

"So," she said, "Tell me everything."

I sighed, "We left camp to find Percy-"

"No no no!" Sally interrupted. "Since you two broke up. I need to know what's been up with you, and what actually happened. It isn't like Percy told me anything."

So I did. I told her everything since I saw him cheating on me, to the elaborate plan we had stupidly make with empousai. In a way, it was therapeutic. The entire time Sally listened, interrupting only to ask questions. It wasn't a fun discussion, but a necessary one.

So when Sally smlied at me and invited me to spend the night, I immediately accepted. She didn't offer for me to sleep in Percy's bed, even though I had slept there countless times before. She only said, "We have three bedrooms, you know where to find me, Annabeth."

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I ended up sleeping in the guest room until late morning. When I woke up, I blinked a couple times to remember where I was. It was a dreamless night, unexpectedly, and I felt cleansed, somehow. I climbed off the bed and looked in the standing mirror on the wall. I was a mess, yet I somehow felt better than I have felt in months. I ran my hands through my hair. I pulled the hair tie off my wrist and tied my hair in a messy bun. I had been wearing the same camp clothes since prom night. I scrunched my nose up. 

I opened the door and walked into the kitchen where Sally was. She was leaning on the kitchen bench, scrolling through her phone. She seemed rested, and happier. 

"Hi Annabeth. Did you sleep well?" She asked me. I nodded and smiled. 
"Uh, sorry for this by the way. I kind of intruded-"

Sally shook her head, "No no! You were, and always will be welcome here, Annabeth. No matter the relationship you have with my son. Okay?"

I sighed, "Okay."

Sally made blue waffles, and I dug in. "These are delicious Sally." I said.

Sally smiled, "It's a secret recipe." I laughed. We talked about nothing and everything for nearly an hour before someone knocked on the door. We made I contact and I immediately knew who it was. I sighed, and Sally shrugged with a sympathetic look on her face. "You can get it." She told me.

I reluctantly climbed off the bar stool I was sitting on, and unlatched the door. As expected, Percy was standing outside.

"Hey."