Darkness's Flower: Pulling It Together

Chapter 29: Prep For Leaving

~Nico~

We both disappeared, me going to my cabin and Lilly going to hers. I took a quick shower and put on my dark jeans, holes in the knees and a chain hanging from my pocket, and started looking for a shirt. At the bottom of my drawer, I saw a dark purple shirt. I pulled it out and looked at it with a small smirk.

"I thought this was lost forever. She was wearing it when she got kidnapped. I really thought this was gone."

I slipped it over my head and gathered my stuff up. When it was about eleven o'clock, I had all of my stuff. Before I went out of my cabin to meet Lilly, I saw my silver skull ring by my bed. I grabbed it and put it on my finger. Grabbing all of my stuff, I stepped out of my cabin into the sunlight.

"Whoa! Who's the dude with the purple shirt on? I don't think I recognize him!" It was Will.

"Go away, Solace. We finished this a while ago. It's done! I told you," I said.

"C'mon, Nico! Think of all the fun we had together! Don't you miss that?"

"No!" I yelled. "I don't! I said go away! I am in love with Lillian West! Not you, Will! That all happened when I was like, fourteen. That was four years ago. Everything has changed. Just stop!"

I walked away from Will and found Lilly walking out of her cabin. She had her backpack on her shoulder and I caught up to her.

"Never leave me alone with Will, please," I said.

She jumped and turned. "Dear gods! You scared me! Don't do that!" She whacked my arm. "And what?"

"Will keeps trying to, well, you know. Are you ready?"

"Yeah. Oh my gods! Your shirt! You're wearing it! I thought that was gone! I mean, I was wearing it when Khione kidnapped me. I figured it would be lost!"

I laughed and locked my fingers with her cold ones. "I thought so too. I saw it in my drawer and thought I would wear it."

We walked up towards the Big House. She kissed me on the cheek softly and I looked over at her.

"It looks nice," she whispered.

"I knew you would like it, and that's another reason," I replied.

She smiled and we went up to the Big House. Chiron was inside and told us to come in. Lilly went in first and I followed.

"Chiron, I think we're gonna leave. I have college and I think he does too," Lilly told him.

"Alright." Chiron smiled. "Have a good year this year and stay out of trouble! Do you need Argus to drive you two home?"

I glanced at Lilly, then looked back to him. "No, I think we can handle it. Thanks. See you next year."

Lilly and I walked out of the Big House to find all of our friends standing there. Annabeth, Ash, Piper, Genevieve, Gabby, and even Bella all gave Lilly a big hug. She almost started crying. Percy, Leo, Cole, Zach, and Jason all clapped me on the back.

"Nico, take of my sis, alright?" Percy had pulled me aside.

"When have I not?" I asked.

"Still. When you died, I honestly didn't know what she was gonna do. Most of the time she was crying her eyes out and wanting you back. I hated seeing her like that. She seriously needs you. Nico. She won't survive without you. Just, please, take care of her."

I gave him a sideways smile. "Hey, I will! Don't worry! If something ever happens, which hopefully it never will, you would be, like, the first person she would contact. Trust me, Jackson, I know what I'm doing."

He smiled. "Alright."

We walked back over to everyone. Lilly was wiping a few tears off of her cheeks and started smiling. I smiled ever so slightly and looked at her.

Cole and Zach tackled Lilly in a hug and she started laughing, hugging them back. Leo walked over to her with a smirk. Lilly rolled her eyes and gave Leo a hug, then kissed him on the cheek. Jason went towards her. She hugged him and lightly pressed her face into his chest. He rubbed her back slightly.

"I'm gonna miss you, West," Jason said.

"I know you will! I'm gonna miss you too, Grace," Lilly replied.

She stood up slightly on her toes and kissed him on the cheek. He smiled and went over to Piper. Then Percy went over to her. He practically thew himself at her and I think started crying while she pressed her face into his chest. I went closer and could hear two different sniffles, one from Lilly and the other from Percy.

"My little sis is growing up! Oh, gods, I'm so emotional!" Percy cried.

"Perc, stop acting like a girl," Lilly said.

They both laughed and Lilly kissed Percy on the cheek. He hugged her again and started crying...again.

"I'm gonna miss you so much! You have to keep me updated on everything and I'll probably Iris-Message you like once a week. And maybe sometime we can go on a double date and maybe-"

"Percy! That would be awesome."

He smiled. "Oh, and, Lilly? Don't do anything I wouldn't. In other words, don't be stupid."

"Oh, yeah, that goes for you too, Perc. Thank you...for everything. I'm gonna miss you all so much. My gods, I hate myself for crying. I'm gonna see you all again! Alright. We need to go. Bye. I'm gonna miss everyone."

Bella walked over to Lilly. "I need to tell you something. Everyone can hear. I have a crush on you, Lilly. That's right, I'm lesbian. I have a huge crush on Lillian West."