The beginning (Mortal AU Valdangelo)

I miss you Neeks

Leo's POV (2 years later/13 years old)

I moved to a new school for high school, and to be honest, I was really nervous.

I don't know anyone here, not like I knew the people at my old school but I was used to them, these strangers not so much. I was walking in the hallway looking for my classroom I saw, a bunch of girls gossiping, and other guys playing god knows what and finally I see someone, slightly familiar leaning on a locker with his phone. He had black hair and was wearing a dark blue hoodie and black jeans, his back at me. I don't know why or how, but for the first time in three years, I felt hope, that there almost in front of me was Nico...

I walked a little faster in his direction then said "Nico?" The guy turned around, and for a second I was actually happy, Nico was alive! Right here in front of me! But as soon as he turned and I could see his face, all that hope and happiness that I felt crashed, leaving me feeling more empty than before. He wasn't Nico, I should've known better, he was way taller, had sea green eyes and also tanner than my Neeks, why did I even think that this dude was Nico? I'm so stupid.

"Hm? Sorry I didn't hear what you said" the guy said, then brought up his hand for a handshake "It looks like you're new here, I'm Percy Jackson, nice to meet you uh.." "Leo Valdez, nice to meet you" I said and shook his hand, trying to hide all my sorrow and disappointment with my famous grin. The guy, Percy, grinned back and let go of the hand shake, "Well Leo, can I help you with something?" He asked, "Actually, yes. Can you show me where is Mrs. Smith class?" I said "Cool dude, I have the same class as her, follow me," he answered.

While we were walking we were talking about random things, then he asked "Hey man, do you wanna join me and my friends at lunch? You're a really fun guy to hang out with" I was shocked, he wanted me to join with his friends? For real? "Really?" I asked, surprised, "Yeah really. You're cool" he said. "So do you want to?" "I mean um, yeah! Of course! Sure! I do! Yes!" I exclaimed, "Awesome" he grinned. And we entered class. Maybe it wouldn't be that bad after all.

(Skipped classes to lunch because they're boring and no one cares)

I was actually gonna make friends, for the first time since I met Nico, I was making new friends. I walked with Percy to a table where there were already 5 people sitting there.

There was a girl with blonde curly hair in a pony tale, reading a book, with some scary piercing stormy gray eyes that looked like she knew everything. She was wearing a white top and a jean jacket, some jeans and vans.

Then there was a guy who was also blond, a haircut that says he never lets his hair longer than that, and some calm blue eyes, and a small scar on his lip. He was wearing a purple shirt, jeans and black tennis. He was laughing with his arm around another girl's shoulder.

She looked like a Native American, with choppy brown hair in a braid decorated with white with black feathers, tanned skin, and some weird pretty eyes. They would go from blue to green to brown to light purple to blue again and so on. She was wearing an orange sweater and military green jeans and some white converse. For some reason she really looked good with that outfit.

Next to her was another girl (there are too many people!) she has dark brown curly hair, chocolate skin and hazel eyes, she looked kinda cute but not my type. She was wearing a purple casual dress and some vans too.

Across her was a huge guy and when I say huge is huge but he has a baby face. He was wearing a red shirt, jeans and tennis.

I think I'll like these guys, I thought.

"Hey guys! This is Leo!" Percy said and everyone went quiet and stared at me and I stared back. Percy continues, "Ok Leo, this is my girlfriend Annabeth, that's Jason, his girlfriend Piper, then here's Hazel and her boyfriend Frank."

So they were all boyfriend and girlfriend, dang. I knew I was the ultimate third wheel but being the seventh wheel? Wow, I am truly powerful. I joked to myself. I awkwardly waved at them and they waved back, oh how nice of them.

I sat between Piper and Hazel, "Hey dude" Piper said with a smirk "Hey girl" I answered with the same smirk, I like this Piper girl, I just met her but act like brothers, is just natural. "Hi" Hazel said "Hello" I said. Everyone went back to their conversation, I joined Piper and Hazel, "So Hazel" Piper said "What were you saying? About your half-brother right?" Half-brother? Not gonna judge I don't know my dad, I probably have half-brother too, I thought "Oh right! I was saying.." Hazel said "It's been four years and the poor boy finally stopped having nightmares" I winced in sympathy, I had nightmares myself, of Nico dying and asking why I let him go, why I wanted him to die...

Piper noticed my wince, "Hey Leo, you got nightmares too?" She asked, "Kinda" I answered, they stayed silent, wanting me to continue. I sighed, "A few years ago, my best friend and died in an accident with his sister and mom. I didn't have any friends back then, and I loved him like he was my family. So yeah, his death really affected me." I don't know why I opened like that but I did, they just stared at me sadly, I felt something hot run my cheek, I touched it and realized it was a tear, I was crying. I thought I was finally over it. But I was wrong.

I didn't want anyone to see me like this so I got up and made an excuse that I was going to the bathroom and ran from there. I went to the bathroom, entered a room, and started crying, tears streaming down my face. It hurt, it hurt so bad, I just want the pain to stop. Why is that so hard?

I kept crying, I guess mentioning him really got me. I was sobbing now and continued until I heard the bell, it was time to go back to class.

I washed my face, to make it seem that I didn't cry, and put my mask on. My grins, jokes, laughs, that was my mask. No one can ever see through it, I used this mask for years already. After all, humor is a good way to hide the pain.

I put a grin on my face and left the bathroom to my next class.

I miss you Neeks, you have no idea. I love you

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Hey! I hope you like it! Honestly, I don't have anything else to say. Well thanks for reading! Bye!

-Susy_Valdez21 (1218 words)