Nico knew school would be eventful. Naturally, he was dreading it. Classes with Connor Stoll was instantly awkward, especially since Julia and Alice definitely knew, meaning everyone would find out sooner or later. Reyna was hella mad at Jason. Reyna being mad was quite terrifying.
He managed to stay clear of Connor. Lunch came quick. Nico sat at the usual table. Hazel and him were always last to arrive in the cafeteria, but today Jason wasn't there.
"He's been ignoring me all day," Reyna cursed. "I don't even know how. I sit beside him in most classes."
Leo rolled his eyes. "Fuck it. Why bother? Just let him be friends with other people and I don't know- start dating Drew again."
Nico noticed Hazel look at Leo then down at the table. She didn't look up again.
"Uhm, chill," Percy said. "I'm sure he's just- talking to a teacher."
"Some chance," Leo muttered.
"That's it, I'm calling a school council meeting for no reason. He'll have to show up. People, help me tell everyone." Reyna said, putting her hand on the table.
"I'm not even on the student council," Grover said.
Reyna ordered everyone to tell the other members. Nico gladly let Hazel tell the Stolls. Percy went to tell Katie. Annabeth told Malcolm. Frank went to tell Lacy and Clovis.
"Nico," Reyna said. "Find Jason and tell him."
Nico groaned. "Seriously?"
"Yes. Please."
Nico easily found Jason at his locker. Jason pretended not to see him.
"Grace. Student council meeting after lunch."
"I'm actually way behind that class, so I can't go-"
"You don't even know what class you have next, do you?" Nico said.
Jason didn't answer.
"You know you can't ignore us forever. Especially not Reyna. You're making it obvious that there's something going on."
"What?!" Jason practically shouted.
"I'm surprised no one else has figured it out," Nico said. "I personally thought it was pretty obvious."
"I don't know what you're talking about."
"Well, I haven't figured it out fully. I don't know who it is."
Jason narrowed his eyes. "I don't understand."
"Oh, right. You're gay. I mean- you like some dude. Not necessarily gay of course. And you don't want to admit it. Is it Percy?"
Jason took a step back. "Hazel told you, didn't she?!"
"Hazel knows and she never told me?! No way. But no, I figured it out. Please tell me it's not Will- I mean- just cause Will is annoying and you don't want that." Nico said quickly. Hazel knew. How rude.
"How did you find out?!" Jason demanded.
"Oh, I was right? Anyway, it just was obvious. But a bit of advice, pretending it doesn't exist won't make it go away. Even if you think it will. So, you don't have a crush on Solace, right?"
"I don't have a crush on anyone."
Nico rolled his eyes. "God, Jason. I'm not that stupid. I'm not going to tell anyone. Look, I get it."
"No you don't! Can you just leave me alone?" Jason said.
"Oh, come on. Yes, I do get it. Just calm down. No one else knows- apart from Hazel, apparently."
Jason took a deep breath. He was literally shaking.
"Okay," Nico said. "I'll leave you alone. Just talk to Reyna, at least. I don't want her to be sad."
"She's going to hate me so much."
"I don't think she could ever hate you," Nico shrugged. "And I know it's scary."
"Even if she forgives me, he won't," Jason said, still not looking towards Nico.
"So it's true. There is some dude," Nico fought the urge to ask if it was Will again.
"Please don't tell anyone. But yeah. I mean, I don't know. I hate this."
Nico sat down in front of the lockers. "Why would 'he' not forgive you?"
Jason sat down in front of Nico. "It's complicated. I'd rather not say here. But what about you? How do you understand what's going on with me?"
"The only person who knows is Rachel. I-" Nico took a breath. "I had a crush on Percy Jackson for about five years."
Jason took a minute to process that. "Wait- I mean-"
Nico couldn't help but laugh. "Trust me, it's cool. I'm way over him. I hated myself for if for years. Percy and I have- a rough past, I guess. I was ashamed of liking him. I wasn't necessarily ashamed of being gay. I just didn't think I deserved love from anyone."
Nico heard someone laugh. Jason raised his head quickly.
Nico's heart suddenly dropped. He could recognise that horrible, evil laugh anywhere. He turned to see Octavian standing right behind him.
"Woah," Octavian sneered. "After everything I was right. Well, I didn't expect you to sink that low, Jason. However, I'm not surprised."
"Oh, shut up Octavian," Nico said.
"I'm sure your friends would be happy to hear this,"
"Don't even think about it," Jason warned.
"They wouldn't believe you," Nico shrugged, even though he was panicking inside.
"They'd believe you, though," Octavian laughed again.
"I don't-"
Octavian held up his phone, playing the voice recording. "As soon as I heard you talking, I knew to record. They'll believe this. I wonder how Percy would feel about you having a crush on him-"
"Well, I don't anymore and delete that. Now."
"Nah,"
Jason had already stood up, fists clenched. "Then it's two against one."
"Three," Octavian corrected. "Against two. Gwendolyn, Dakota?"
Gwen and Dakota both stepped out of the classroom. Nico had never felt angrier.
"I thought you were sorry," he said to Gwendolyn.
Gwen looked over to Dakota. "I was. I am."
"Just keep them distracted-" Octavian said.
"Recount time!" Dakota smiled. "Four. Against one."
Nico glanced back to Jason, who still looked panicked. Octavian knew. Dakota knew. Gwendolyn knew.
"What?!" Octavian said.
"It's been long enough," Gwen crossed her arms. "I mean, can't you grow up? We've been friends since elementary. Me, you and Dakota. Don't you remember who else? Reyna? Jacob? Bobby? Jason. They were our friends. They left because of you. Hey, Jason, Nico. Storytime. Octavian has asked me out multiple times this week. I think that's worse than being gay."
Nico turned to Jason again. "You were friends with them."
"I was always closer to Reyna, but yeah. The seven of us were best friends. Until freshman year."
While Nico had his back turned, Octavian took off. His friends not taking his side wasn't going to stop him. Meaning he still had the voice recording.
That was until the three people Nico least expected to see stopped him. They must've heard what was going on. Sherman punched Octavian. Drew snapped the phone out of his hand and threw it on the ground. Damien stomped on it quite a few times.
Nico and Jason both stared at the three of them. Octavian was on the floor.
"Ah, well that's one way to sort it," Dakota said.
"Thanks?" Nico muttered. "But what just happened?"
Damien shrugged. "I don't know. I wanted an excuse to punch Octavian. Oh wait, I haven't yet, hey Octavian-"
Octavian quickly got up and walked off with his smashed phone. Gwen laughed.
"But-" Jason muttered. Nico knew how confused he must've been. Heck, Nico was just as confused.
"We were your friends, Grace," Sherman said. "Reyna's, too. Even though we were uhm- not great to her. Plus beating up Octavian is fun."
"Thank you. I think." Jason said.
Sherman and Damien both walked off together. Nico could only hope they wouldn't tell anyone.
"Come on, Dakota. We better go get lunch," Gwen said.
"Hey, Gwen?" Jason looked over to her. "Now that you two clearly aren't friends with Octavian, try make up with Jacob and Bobby. You both deserve better friends."
Dakota smiled. "What about you and Reyna?"
"We'll always be your friends. But we have our own friends, too. But please don't tell them what just happened." Jason looked away.
"Of course, man," Dakota patted his shoulder. "I can tell Sherman and Damien the same."
They walked away together, talking and laughing. Nico had never seen them laugh when they were with Octavian.
That left only Drew, Jason and Nico.
"Uhm," Nico mumbled. "Right- I have that thing right now that I have to- uhm- ciao. I forget how to speak English." He quickly went back down to the rest of his friends.
Reyna sighed. "No success?"
"Sucess," Nico smiled.
"Then where is he?" Frank asked.
"Oh- uhm- he's," Nico tried to think of a lie, but was there any point in lying? "He's just talking to Drew."
Leo slammed his hands on the table, the anger in his eyes somewhat intimidating. "Who would've guessed?!"
That was when Nico realised. Number one, it was Leo Valdez. Number two, it was more than a crush.
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Word Count: 1467
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A/N: another bad chapter. Going back to school=chapter quality 📉
I have three tests tomorrow ugh. Our Irish teacher only went through the work today and is giving us the test tomorrow. I'M SO BAD AT IRISH?? Like SO BAD.
Anyway I was rereading parts of the Hidden Oracle and realised how much I love Sherman and Damien (book version) so I was like hmm yes time for more asshole characters to not be so bad ❤️❤️
Anyway Gwen, Dakota, Reyna, Jason, Jacob, Bobby and Octavian friend group supremacy. Cause if you think about it (in the books) it's super sad.
Tyrant's Tomb spoilers: only Gwen is left. Reyna is alive, but left for the hunters of Artemis. OUCH.