A Different Reality (Percy Jackson Fanfiction)

Chp 67 - Hazel's POV

Hazel's Flashback

Hazel cringed when Nico was hit in the chest and doubled over, almost falling.

Oh, my God! Is he knocked out?

No. But that punch will make unable to breath for some seconds.

He's running away, after him!

No need to ask. And why do you want to go after him?

He's your brother!

We really need to discover if Nanni is your brother too.

***

For someone who's hurt, he really is fast.

Tell me about it.

Hazel had been running after Nico for five minutes, after he left school.

Where is he going?

Home. Or a cemetery.

Why a cemetery?

He feels comfortable in it.

Weird... but fine. We need him to feel comfortable, or he won't allow us to come close.

How can you know that?

It's like a mistreated dog.

See, I was right.

That is one creepy cemetery. Are you sure he feels comfortable there?

Yes.

Hazel texted the others saying she had Nico, and turned the phone off. She walked among the tombs, before finding Nico, sitting against a rock angel, hugging his knees. She took a deep breath, sitting beside him, in the same position, and looking forward. After some minutes, she let her legs open just a little bit, just enough so her knee touched his leg. They stayed like that, not saying anything. It was because of the silence she was able to hear Nico whispering.

"Hi"

She changed from her sitting position to kneeling beside him, hugging him tight. He didn't react for a couple of minutes, before releasing his knees and hugging her back. Hazel started rubbing his back, and said only one thing.

"I'm here for you"

Flashback over, back to present

Hazel's next class was with Nico, and she was ready to save him a seat behind her when he entered the classroom. He looked frustrated and Hazel understood why when she saw he was being towed by the girl in front of him, a sweet looking asian girl, who Hazel recognized as one of her classmates from this class and another class on Monday, but whom she never talked to. When Nico saw Hazel, he twisted his arm until the girl loosened her grip. He ran to Hazel and sat behind her. Before Hazel could ask him what happened, the girl came skipping with a smile on her face, kicked the boy that was sitting behind Nico and took his place. Nico was with his arms crossed over his desk and his head buried in the crook of his elbow, yet Hazel could see how exasperate he was when the girl patted him in the head.

"We're so lucky! We got desks close to each other!"

Who IS this girl?

I don't know.

Why is she hanging with your brother?

I don't know. I'll ask him.

Hazel whispered to Nico.

"Nico? Who is this..."

The girl interrupted and rose on her chair, extending her arm for Hazel over Nico's head.

"Hi! My name is Lucy. What's yours?"

Hazel shook the girl's hand, still trying to understand why that girl was next to Nico when he clearly didn't like her.

"Haz... Hannah"

"Nice to meet you, Hannah. Are you friends with Nanni?"

"Yes... you can say that..."

"Great! I'm friends with him too, maybe you and I can be friends!"

"Sure..."

Hazel could see Nico growing exasperate because of the girl's attitude. She looked back at the girl.

"So, how did you meet... Nanni?"

"Oh, the teacher put us together for an assignment"

Nico got angry at that, raised his head and turned to glare at Lucy.

"No, she didn't! I was going to do it alone, and suddenly you pushed yourself in my life. And HOW did you know my adress? And my phone number?"

"I have my methods. And you should say thank you"

"For what? Making my Wednesday an endless hades? For texting me lyrics of songs?"

"Exactly. And for not giving up on you"

"If you had given up, THEN I would thank you. And you didn't answer, HOW did you know my adress and my number?"

"I DID answer: I have my methods. And no, I'm not. Telling. You"

At the last sentence, she booped Nico's nose to each word. Hazel could see his knuckles turning white from grabbing his desk and controling himself to not hurt Lucy.

"NEVER. DO. THAT. AGAIN"

Lucy pouted playfully, trying to control her laugh.

"Oooowwwnnn, is little Nanni mad at me? Did I hurt your little nose? Just let it go! But since I'm a good girl, here"

She raised from her chair and gave Nico a kiss on his nose.

"There, now it's healed"

Nico turned to Hazel, and she had to control her laugh at seeing Nico's dumbfounded expression.

Poor Nico! HAHAHAHAHA, he's so lost!

I think she's the first unknow girl to touch him without any fear.

Why fear?

Nico doesn't like to be touched. At all.

He lets you touch him.

I'm his sister, this seems to make me an exception.

I'm amazed he let her touch him.

I think she caught him by surprise.

I like her. I think she can do him some good.