(I started writing this chapter back in August and had an idea of where it was going. Unfortunately it is now October and I have forgotten what I had planned for it so enjoy this rambly terrible update)

It was another devastatingly hot afternoon, and Nico had just left the apartment to take Mrs. O'Leary for a walk after school.

Whilst wandering the streets, Nico often caught himself subconsciously looking for Will, even though the boy was from Queens.

He wondered if Will looked for him too.

Today Reyna was coming along to walk Mrs. O with Nico, because her sister was having some friends round and Reyna didn't need the hassle of being exiled to her room all evening like Harry Potter.

He spotted her on the corner where they had planned to meet, her raven hair plaited down her back. Not wanting to call out to her in the middle of the street, he instead drifted up beside her and leant into her ear.

Engrossed in her phone, she didn't notice Nico, which was to be expected with his lack of presence. Only Reyna was usually able to sense Nico, Hazel and Jason still sometimes not noticing him until he announced himself. (It's like I'm making Reyna out to be an actual God)

"Boo." He said abruptly, quiet but close enough to her ear that she gasped and her body jolted, before turning to him and punching his arm with full force.

"You complete and total idiot! I despise you!" She screeched, drawing a fit of laughter from Nico, despite his now-aching arm.

"I read your texts. You are such a huge flirt, I wonder how Thalia hasn't noticed yet." He teased, causing the taller girl to punch him again, lighter this time, in the same place.

"You'd have thought the girl would've gotten a hint by now." Reyna sighed, slipping her phone into her pocket. "Okay, let's go get Mrs. O."

•.*☆*.•

Percy was in the kitchen when they arrived, snacking on Sally's homemade blue cookies. He greeted them with his mouth full, a few blue crumbs clinging to his face. "Nico, Reyna!" He smiled.

"Percy." Reyna acknowledged, stealing a cookie from the plate. "Where's Annabeth?"

Percy shrugged, swallowing his mouthful and rubbing his hands together to expel the crumbs. "I think she and Piper went out somewhere." He offered the plate of cookies to Nico, who politely declined.

"So, um, where is Mrs. O'Leary? Usually she'd have come bounding in and knocked me over be now." Nico joked.

The familiar patter of claws on tile started up and Percy laughed. "Speak of the Devil and he shall appear!" The dog came bounding in, heading straight for Reyna; the girl had a way with dogs.

"Hey Missy!" Reyna grinned, patting the huge dog. "Have you grown?"

"So how about I come with you guys on the walk? It's really nice outside, would be a shame to stay cooped up in here all day."

"Yeah, of course." The three clipped Mrs. O's lead on to her collar, not that it did much good, and said goodbye to Sally before departing.

•.*☆*.•

The trio looked odd to say the least walking through New York City with a dog the size of a horse, but no less weird than when Nico did it by himself. There were odder sights to see.

Nico couldn't help but look for Will again. He wasn't going to deny it; he was already emotionally attached to the boy. Reyna had cultivated her crush on Thalia over a period of years, the pair passing through the stages of friendship that got them to this frustrating stage of waiting for each other to take a hint. In contrast, Nico's feelings had been thrust upon him over a matter of days, and he still wasn't really sure how to define them. (Though may I just point out Romeo and Juliet met and married the next day) (I mean I'm not implying Neeks and Will are getting married or anything) 
( ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°) )

He was reminded bitterly of Percy and Annabeth's bittersweet love story; starting of as enemies and ending up sickeningly in love.

He let his eyes flicker to the boy then, who was paying for ice pops for the three - blue, of course - and sighed, accepting his unrequited love was never going to bloom.

•.*☆*.• (I forgot I had this shortcut in my phone, should probably start using it
¯\_(ツ)_/¯)

The sun was steadily making it's way across the sky, allowing the temperature to slowly descend into a pleasant warmth. The three were sat in the shade of a large tree in the park, onto their second blue ice lollies as Mrs. O'Leary bounded about with as much joy and youth as a puppy.

Nico watched another couple absentmindedly; the girl was sucking on an ice pop of her own and the boy was practically drooling over the sight, causing Nico to pull a face in disgust.

"You okay there Neeks?" Percy inquired humorously, casting a blush across the younger boy's cheeks as his nodded his head.

"Nico spotted an innuendo." Reyna informed, also focused on the couple. "Nico hates it."

"It?" Percy asked.

Reyna turned to him, a most somber look painted across her face. "S-E-X."

"Reyna you idiot." Nico scowled, aiming to playfully slap the girl's arm but instead knocking her ice pop out of her hand and onto the grass beside her.

She shrieked - a noise akin to that of a banshee - and snatched Nico's away from him, the most offended look she could muster on her face.

"I don't hate it. I'm perfectly happy for you to go out and do it, I just don't want to." He scowled, giving up the ice pop with no resistance.

"Really?" Percy asked. "You don't ever see an attractive girl-" Reyna cut him off with a snort and Nico slapped her again, glaring at her with venom in his gaze.

"Not at all." Nico replied.

Percy shrugged and continued to suck his ice pop. (Sorry for this awkward dialogue I just thought I should make Nico's sexuality quite clear early on. In this story he is in fact asexual (like moi) because goddamnit this community is not portrayed nearly enough! He is also too small and precious for me to even consider him doing the do. Obviously this doesn't mean he is asexual in the actual books and if you fantasise about Solangelo smut then that is kewl) (so yeah this book will be 100% fluff and angst)

Nico had never really given it much thought but he despised the idea of labels. He was not 'gay' or 'straight' or anything, he was a human not an object and didn't need to be labelled to be comfortable with who he was. However, for his own safety, he would accept the label 'asexual' and would communicate this to any of his partners to be fair to them and to assure he wouldn't get into a situation he would regret. (My actual beliefs and opinions right here)

Nico was cut from his thoughts by the sound of Reyna's phone ringing, and the brunette frantically scrambling for it. He recognised the ringtone as the one Reyna had set for Thalia and smiled. He watched her eagerly press answer and try to say hello in a composed manner, a smile stretching across her face. (I know I've put hella author's notes in this chapter but I realise Reyna's personality is quite different. Maybe this is how she would be if she didn't have to carry the heavy burdens she does, and was free to love and live as she liked)

He watched the girl happily babble away down the phone, his insides stinging just a little at the wish that he could have someone as excited to talk to him.

Percy and Nico sat in silence, Percy finishing his ice pop and Nico watching Mrs. O'Leary until Reyna was finished on the phone.

"Finally." Percy groaned. "You lovey-dovey couples I swear."

Reyna rolled her eyes. "Sorry to burst your bubble but we aren't a couple."

Percy frowned. "Are you sure? You're obviously obsessed with her and Jason says she never shuts up about you."

Reyna's eyes sparkled with joy at Percy's words. "Really? What does she say?"  The green eyed boy shrugged, taking a step back from Reyna, who was inching closer.

"I can't remember. But it just sounded like you two were together." You could practically feel the happiness radiating from the girl as she jumped around with Mrs. O like she was in a music video, euphoria consuming her.

"When are you going to get together?!" Nico yelled to the girl as she got further away.

She paused her dancing, Mrs. O still circling her, happily barking. "Right now!" She announced, turning on her heel and setting off sprinting, Mrs. O following. The two boys cheered briefly before turning to each other and realising.

"Missy is running away." "The dog is escaping."

They exchanged looks of dread before breaking into sprints themselves, chasing the two and screaming like madmen.

•.*☆*.•

They finally caught up a few blocks later, Nico about ready to collapse, when Reyna reaches Thalia's house.

"What to do, what to do." She panted, looking up the building. "Fire escape? Wait no, I'm pretty sure that leads to Jason's room."

She pulled her phone out of her pocket and phoned Thalia, merely seconds passing before she answered.

"Rey?"

"Look out of your window."

"What?"

"Do it."

She watched Thalia, silhouetted against the window, open it up and look down. "What are you doing?"

"Come down here!" Reyna yelled up.

"What? Why?" Thalia asked, smiling.

"Because I command you to!"

Nico could sense Thalia roll her eyes as she closed her window, and the trio waited nervously on the sidewalk for her to come down. Percy and Nico stood a few metres away with Mrs. O, watching, as not to ruin the moment,

Thalia was in a black tank top with black high waisted shorts and flip flops, her haired messily brushed back and skin a sheen of sweat on her skin, and yet, to Reyna, she still looked beautiful.

"Tal." Reyna swallowed, stepping forward. "I don't know why it took my so long. I've been gathering courage all this time, and on a whim I've decided to ask you something I should have asked you years ago. Thalia, will you be my girlfriend?"

(It is 3am excuse the quality of the writing pls)

So I know that I haven't updated this in like 13 solar sweeps and I have no excuse other then I'm lazy as heq *finger guns*

However I received some lovely comments from users such as spacenico demiglazed and Roberta_tunesi123 which really inspired me to update! The readers' comments are everything to me and I love to read through them so don't hold back children <3

Also I was threatened by idekhalp are you happy now