Everything I'm Not ~ Solangelo

Chapter 13

Hazel joined me a few minutes later. She was wearing a sleeveless, pale pink dress that went down to her knees, and a pair of matching white gladiator sandals. Her cinnamon colored hair was tied back in a thick ponytail, showing off her golden eyes. "Ready?" she asked.

"Yeah," I replied. "Why are you so dressed up?"

"Oh you know, just thought I'd look a little nicer today," she answered. 

I nodded, "You look great."

Hazel blushed and glanced at her feet, "Thanks."

 We exited the house and hopped into the car. "I'm driving," Hazel announced as she slipped into the driver's seat. She started the car, and we pulled out of the driveway. It took us about ten minutes to make it downtown. Tall, brick buildings towered over the crowded streets. People bustled along the sidewalks. Restaurants, shops, and other businesses lined the streets. Hazel navigated through the narrow, congested road and parked in a small lot between two abandoned buildings. 

"What's the name of the cafe we're going to?" I asked as we stepped out of the car.

"Peaches and Cream Cafe," Hazel answered. She locked the car and we stepped onto the sidewalk.

The name sounded familiar. I racked my brain until I stumbled across a dusty memory of Dad taking Bianca, Hazel, and I there just after my dad and Hazel's mom got married. "Oh yeah," I said, "That's the place we went just after our parents got married." 

Hazel giggled, "You remember that?"

"It's fuzzy, but yeah," I replied, shrugging. 

"How do you remember the cafe we went to five years ago, but not last night's homework?" Hazel teased. 

"My memory is selective," I answered. 

"There's the cafe!" Hazel suddenly exclaimed, pointing to a building up ahead. She grabbed my arm and pulled me down the sidewalk. We reached the building and entered the cafe. 

The cafe smelled of coffee, pastries, and hot sandwiches. Waitresses dressed in jeans, sweaters, and aprons hurried from table to table. Paintings and photos decorated the red walls. We spotted Hazel's friends sitting at a long counter along the left wall. They were all sipping milkshakes and watching as Leo attempted to flirt with one of the waitresses. 

"Hey guys!" Hazel exclaimed, joining them at the counter. She took the seat next to Frank, and invited me to sit next to her. I obliged without hesitation. 

"Hey," Piper said. "Want a milkshake?"

Hazel and I nodded. "I'll have strawberry," Hazel said. 

"I'll have chocolate," I added. 

Piper turned in her chair. "Hey Leo!" she called, "Could you stop flirting for a second and let the poor girl do her job?"

The waitress blushed and approached Piper, "What can I get you?"

"Two milkshakes, please. One chocolate, one strawberry," Piper said. 

"Sure thing," the waitress answered. She jotted it down on her notepad, and hurried away. 

Leo glared at Piper, "Piper, I know you think I'm pretty good-looking, but there's enough of the Super-Sized McShizzle to go around." Piper rolled her eyes and ignored him. 

"Oh please," Annabeth chimed in, "Most girls just go along with your flirting just to make you feel better."

"Jason's sister didn't. She threatened to punch me into next week," Leo reminded her.

"Thalia doesn't care about your feelings. If you hadn't stopped, she probably would've punched you into next week," Jason replied. 

Leo shrugged, "The rest of you are in relationships, I don't see why I can't try."

"You can't have a relationship with a random waitress you've never spoken too," Percy pointed out. 

"At one point, Annabeth and you were strangers," Leo said. 

Percy rolled his eyes, "Annabeth wasn't some waitress I would only-"

"Look, what Percy is trying to say is that relationships take time and effort," Annabeth interrupted. 

Jason nodded in agreement, "It takes more than chatting up a waitress at a cafe."

"If you really want a relationship, you have to find someone who you're confident with, and work at it," I added.

Leo stared at me with an odd expression, "You know about relationships?"

Piper punched him in the arm, "Leo!" 

"No, no, it's fine," I said, "I don't seem like the type to give relationship advice."

"Not to be rude or anything," Percy said nervously, his handsome green eyes focusing on me, "But how do you know about relationships? You haven't been in one, have you?"

I felt my face get hot, "I, um..."

Piper's eyes widened, "You like someone, don't you? Who is she?"

I opened my mouth to say something, but nothing came out. I was paralyzed with fear. My face continued to get warmer. I felt like I was drowning. I couldn't tell them I was gay. I could barely tell my own sister, how was I supposed to explain it to people who I had only known for a few weeks, maybe less? 

Hazel suddenly placed her hand on my shoulder, "Nico's very-" she paused and glanced in my direction, "-observant."

"Oh," Piper said, a hint of disappointment in her voice. 

"Hey, who wants food? I'm starving!" I announced, changing the subject. Everyone quickly agreed, and began scanning the menu. 

About an hour later, we finished lunch, and exited the cafe. We stepped onto the sidewalk, and began navigating our way back to the parking lot where we left Hazel's car. 

"So, what did you think?" Hazel asked.

"It was actually quite nice," I responded. "I think I'm warming up to them."

Hazel grinned, "Good. It's nice to see you making friends."

"Yeah, it is," I agreed, "It really is."