IF TIME STOPS 『nico di angelo x reader』

Chapter 5: My Brother Doesn't Know Who I Am

He stood and brushed away the dust from his shirt. He smiled as you handed out the papers to him. You searched his eyes for some recognition, some remembrance. Then you dropped your own eyes, knowing that it was pointless. He doesn't remember you. You had even humiliated yourself many times on your first week trying to make him remember before you realized that he doesn't. Heck, you might have even creeped him out by calling him by his real name — Perseus. Your mother had named him Perseus hoping that he'd inherit the same happy fate that the original Perseus had. Despite all that you did, embarrassing or not, he still treated you normally. As if it was no big deal. But you knew better, his friends steer clear of you thinking that you were a weirdo. His girlfriend hates you for, quote and unquote, 'hitting on' her boyfriend. Tears stung your eyes, why doesn't he remember you? Your own brother.

"You okay?" Percy asked after a moment, looking sincerely worried. "You look pale. Should I get some Apollo kids from the infirmary?"

Will, You thought to yourself. You found yourself depending on him in times like this yet you shook your head. You couldn't possibly bother him, not when he was busy. Behind him, his friends were looking at you. Annabeth glared and turned away.

"I...I should go," You smiled, at him. He nodded understandingly, his eyebrows still furrowed in worry.

"Sure, take care of yourself!" Percy said, running back to his friends by the tree.

You nodded glumly, and walked towards the Stoll twins. You brushed away the tears forming in your eyes and tried for a smile. They were still picking the lock from the camp store, looking closely they held a plastic bag full of...is that fireworks?

"What in the world are the both of you doing?" You asked, rubbing your nose. It was cold, and you had just almost cried. You could feel your nostrils itching and swelling up.

Both Travis and Connor jumped at the sound of your voice. They dropped their tools on the snow. "(Y/n)!"

Travis kicked the bag under his feet, only letting the firecrackers roll in the ground. "I-It's nothing!"

You raised your eyebrow, "Hmm? What's with those firecrackers then?"

Travis grabbed your face, instead of answering your question. "Hey!" You protested, hitting him lightly.

"Have you been crying?" He asked, concern lacing the amusement in his voice as he studied your moist eyes.

"N-no." You sniffed, pushing away his hands but Connor replaced them.

Connor sighed, patting your head. "Tell big bro what happened, did you trip and get hurt?"

You glared at him, rubbing your cheeks. "I'm not a clumsy kid."

Connor snickered as he exchanged a glance with his brother. "We beg to differ." They said in unison. "Now, tell me what's wrong." Travis bent down to take the materials that dropped on the snow covered grass and stuffed it in his pockets.

You stayed silent, letting them steer you away from the camp store and back into your cabin.

"Is it Percy?" Connor asked softly, knowing how much of a touchy subject it was for you. Tears pricked your eyes, threatening to fall. You sniffed and nodded. Only three people knew the truth about her and Percy. Connor was the first, then Will before Travis.

Travis patted your back, "I'm sure he'll remember you. Maybe it was because you were so small back then, you looked different."

You stared at the horizon, "Maybe." You mumbled, glumly. Then as if influenced by another force, you slapped your cheeks hard leaving red traces of your hand.

"Whoa!" Connor yelled in surprise, immediately taking your hands away from your face. "No, no no! Don't do that! Why'd you do that?"

"To feel better!" And it did made you feel better. You shouldn't be sulking around, you should be enjoying yourself and slapping yourself made you snap out of your sadness, which is only right. 

"Are you a masochist?" Travis asked, laughing at the very thought. Connor smiled and ruffled your hair. 

You managed a smile, "Nah. Just hungry."

Travis poked your side, "You're always hungry."

"That's true." You nudged him. Near the pavilion, a familiar trumpet horned signalling dinner. You smiled up at your two friends expectantly, lacing your arms between theirs as you head back to Cabin 12. "Let's go eat."

---------------------

Hi guys!! i hope you all enjoy the new re-written chapters instead since they make more sense than the old ones LOL. Thank you guys for 1k reads, I'm amazingly happy for that and I'm thankful for you guys for still keeping up with my book despite my extremely late updates XDD!!! Also, MC meeting Nico might take awhile so just hang onto your seats yeah? 

LY guys!! TYSM!!

XOXO

mikky