Revenge

Chapter 26

Beck was bored.

Really bored. She didn't know what to do with herself.

Clarisse was on a short quest, and she'd taken Percy and Annabeth with her. The Stolls were avoiding her like the plague for some unknown reason and she didn't really feel like talking to anyone else.

So here she was, sitting on her bed in the Poseidon cabin, sketching a picture of Annabeth from memory. She liked to challenge herself like that, it helped with her drawing skills.

"Uh....who are you?"

Beck flinched at the sudden break in the silence and looked up. "Who're you?"

The black haired boy frowned at her, his hand resting on his sword in a non-threatening but ready posture. "I asked first."

"It's my cabin." Beck pointed out, crossing her arms.

The boy glared at her. She glared right back.

Finally he sighed. "I'm Nico. I was looking for Percy."

"He's not at camp right now." Beck shrugged. "Clarisse picked him and his girlfriend for a quest."

"Oh..." The boy frowned. "Do you know when he'll get back?"

Beck shrugged again. "Nope."

"Alright then," Nico muttered under his breath. "Hey, do you know where Will Solace is? Counselor of the Apollo cabin?"

"I know who he is." Beck waved him off. "He's either at the archery range or in his cabin."

"Thanks." This Nico kid seemed to be in a hurry to get out of the Poseidon cabin. Beck wondered why, and how he'd gotten there in the first place. "I'll just be going then."

Beck nodded and waited until he got to the door before turning and saying, "Hey Nico?"

"Uh...yes?" He turned around slowly.

Beck smiled at him, "Have fun with your boyfriend."

The beet red face was all she needed to see. Nico hurriedly closed the door behind him and Beck went back to her drawing, carefully drawing the daughter of Athena's curls.

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"Hey! Hey, you! Poseidon kid!"

Beck didn't answer until she heard the last phrase. She turned to see Nico jogging towards her.

"Hello, Nico." She nodded to him and leaned back again, soaking up the sun.

As long as she was a safe distance from the water, she had no problem lying on the beach.

"Uh, hi...." He stood awkwardly next to her for a few seconds, then sat in the sand uncomfortably.

He's probably roasting underneath that jacket, Beck thought. And the jeans probably don't help.

Nico wasn't exactly dressed for warm weather.

"Uh, can I ask you a question?" The black haired boy fidgeted awkwardly.

Beck sat up and turned to face him. "Pretty sure you just did, but go ahead. I might not answer though."

This seemed to surprise him, which Beck could tell he didn't like.

"How...how did you know?"

"Know what?"

"That I'm....y'know..."

"Gay?" Beck shrugged. "I just know."

"Oh...." Nico said awkwardly. Beck turned back to look at the water.

They sat in silence for a few minutes.

"So, you're a daughter of Poseidon, right?"

Beck looked at him. "Yeah. Why?"

Nico shrugged. "It makes us cousins. That's all."

"Really?"

"Yeah. Nico di Angelo, son of Hades."

Beck nodded. "Cool."

"Really? Most people kind of freak out." Nico seemed to be searching her face for a lie.

"Your dad's pretty misunderstood." Beck said. "I've seen the Disney movie."

"Disney movie?"

"You've never seen the Disney movie?" She stared at him.

"No." Nico frowned. "Should I have?"

"Every kid our age has seen that Disney movie!"

"Uh....yeah. Never seen it."

Beck shook her head. "You're missing out. Disney's Hercules is the best movie ever for ridiculing directors. You have to see it."

"If you say so."

Beck nodded. "I do say so."

"Hey, Nico!"

The two of them turned to see Will Solace heading their way.

"Sorry to break up the cousin bonding, but Chiron wants to talk to you." He told Nico.

"Right. I'll see you around, Beck?" Nico stood and brushed sand off his jeans.

Beck nodded. "Probably."

The two walked off, Will discreetly slipping his hand into Nico's. Beck caught sight of one of the Aphrodite girls subtly snapping a photo of them.

She assumed that was how the other photo that she had seen while following Percy around for cabin checks had been taken.

Not that she would tell Nico that was how she knew he was dating the Apollo head counselor.

A fresh breeze blew past her, coming from the waves and carrying the salty smell of the sound with it.

Beck lay back down in the sand and closed her eyes, smiling a little.

This place wasn't all that bad, she decided.