Aftermath

Chapter 1

Nico

March 21st started out like any other day. I woke up, then lay in bed for about 20 more minutes wishing I could just sleep for another 5 years.

Eventually, I pull myself up and over to my dresser, grabbing a tattered pair of faded black jeans, one of my 5 gray shirts that I wear on a weekly basis and then a thick black hoodie, ignoring my messy hair, as usual.

I tromp down the stairs and into the kitchen, where my stepmom, Marie is puttering around, with earbuds shoved deep into her ears. Her daughter, my stepsister, Hazel is sitting at the island, looking perfect with her curly hair pulled into French braided ponytails , wearing a white dress that stands out against her dark skin. Shes shoveling pancakes into her mouth and scrolling through her phone.

I cautiously sit down next to her, my eyes darting around the kitchen. Marie plops a plate of pancakes in front of me and I thank her.

"What are you kids doing in school today?" She asks, pulling her earbuds out.

Hazel swallows, setting her phone face down on the marble counter top.

"I've got an english quiz!" She says excitedly. Hazel's always excited, or happy, or at least smiling. Actually, she  could be super pissed and still have a sweet little smile on her face.

Marie nods. "How about you, Nico?"

I gulp down my pancakes, which hurts my throat a little, and answer. "Nothing, really."

Me talking seems to slow the conversation down; Hazel goes back to her phone and Marie shoves the earbuds back in.

I finish what's left of my pancakes and grab my bag from the hanger where all our crap hangs.

"Hazel, are you riding the bus?" I ask her.

"Pipes is taking me. Sorry Nico!" She looks up for a second.

"'Kay" I mutter. "Love you." Marie does respond and Hazel mumbles that I cant make out.

I dart outside and down to the end of the block, where three other people stand, chatting.

I stay a good 5 feet away from them, staring at the top window of a house across the street.

The bus pulls up, and I get on right after the others, then hurry to the back of the bus.

Reyna

I pull my way up the slushy bus stairs, my long, brown pony wait swooshing behind me.

Scanning the seats, I spot Nico. He's sitting alone, his messy black hair falling carelessly over his face.

I chuckle to myself. Nico is like a little brother to me. You'd never us to be friends, me, that competitive, gay basketball player, and him that little quiet kid.

We met in third grade, after I yelled at Octavian for not passing the ball when he had 3 defenders on him, and Nico had actually giggled.

He had changed in those years, after his sister died. The poor kid had lost two of his favorite people in the world in less than 3 years, his mom before he moved here to Calofornia and then Bianca.

I head down to the back of the bus and plop down next to him.

He shakes his head and looks at me. "Hey," he says, sticking a bookmark into the page that he was reading.

I'm a good 5 inches taller them him, which always makes me laugh.

Hi, Neeks!" He's gotten used to the nickname, but still roles his eyes. "What're you reading?" I snatch the book from his lap.

"Bridge to Terebithia. Again."

I laugh as he grabs his book back. "You don't EVER do that to a reader."
At this point, he even has a tiny smile on his olive face.

The bus stops, and I look across him to see outside the window. We're at school.

I yank him up out of the seat as he groans.

We wait until the bus is empty, then hurry out. We have a few minutes until classes start, so we settle down next to each other on a bench.

I point at Thalia, my crush of three years. Her black hair is shaved into a buzz cut, and shes wearing entirely black make up.

"Thals is just to cute," I mutter to Nico.

He shrugs and I raise an eyebrow tentatively in his direction.

"Ilikeboys." He says in a quick breath. Any color in his face seems to drain out.

"Okay. Who'd you like?" I say, still staring at Thalia.

His face goes from actual white to the color of a literal cherry. "Percy?" He asks.

"OoOoOoH!" I say and poke him. He chuckles and leans his head against my shoulder.

"Reyna, your like a sister to me." He whispers.