So, this is going to be my entry for the Valentine's Day Nicercy Contest. Yes, I know, I'm back. Shocker, isn't it? I haven't dropped off the face of the earth, and I haven't died. I've just been extremely busy. But now I have some breathing room.

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Percy's POV

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Everyone was abuzz at New Haven, which was saying a lot, because the last time that happened, was five years ago when our football team went to state. This year, though, was something very special. We were having the first Valentine's Day Dance in New Haven history. People were already pairing off, and the dance was scheduled this Friday, a mere five days away. Jason had already asked his boyfriend Leo to the dance. I wish I could've been there. He sent Leo on a scavenger hunt throughout the school, finally ending in the library with this huge red and white sign asking him to be his date to the dance.

"What's up Perce?" Will Solace asked. He and his girlfriend, Katie Gardner, were hanging with me after school. We were all discussing Valentine's Day. Will hadn't asked Katie to the dance yet, but we all knew they were going together. They'd been together since middle school. "Still thinking about who to take to the dance? Don't worry, you'll find someone." He smiled reassuringly at me, wrapping an arm around Katie's shoulders. I sighed, flopping backwards on my bed and letting my head dangle off.

"It's not that simple Will," I said. "You know who I want to ask. And you know I can't do that. He's taken." Will, I'm sure, was looking at me sympathetically. I made it no secret that I was gay, much like Jason and Leo. I had nothing to fear. I was just really lonely.

"I'm sure he's not taken," Will replied to that. I missed the knowing look he gave Katie. But I did hear her giggle. I looked up. "Don't look like that Percy. Ask some other boy. You know Octavian would go with you in a heartbeat." I made a face at the ceiling. Octavian had been pining after me since we were in seventh grade. Five years later, in eleventh grade, he was still at it. I liked Octavian. He was a nice boy. But I wasn't interesting in him like that. I didn't even want to consider asking him out.

"No," I decided. "Not even if I'm really desperate. "I'll just stay home if I absolutely need to." Though I would very much like to go… I sighed again. The pains of being alone in high school. I glanced up. Will was rubbing Katie's shoulder with his palm. I glanced up at the ceiling again, letting my head fall back. It was stupid little things like that that made me wish I had someone special. Not just for the dance, but for everyday as well. "I don't know Will," I said. "Maybe I should just give up on finding someone special."

"Don't say that," Will said, punching my arm lightly. "And quit moping. Nothing ever falls into your lap you know. If you want to go to the dance with Nico, just ask him." As much as I wanted to, it wasn't that simple. "I know you're nervous Perce," he said, deciding to straddle me to talk. I looked up. "Don't be, okay? Just ask him tomorrow. If you want, I'll come with you. He's in our homeroom." I gulped. Of course I knew that.

"I know, I know," I said, shoving Will off of me and sitting up. "I will try. I'll try my best. I hope I don't chicken out. That's what worries me the most. You know I get tongue tied in this sort of situation."

"I know very well," Will replied. "Which is why we're going to role play. I'll be Nico. Ask me out." He sat back comfortably, staring at me. I stared back, opening and closing my mouth. "Well?" Will asked, cocking an eyebrow.

"I, uh, well," I stammered. "Will you, uh, go to, uh…" I trailed off. I forgot what I was going to ask. "I can't do it Will," I said with a sigh. "I just can't."

"Percy," mom called. I got up off my bed and hovered near the door. "Someone knocked and when I answered, there was no one there." I was about to disappear back into my room. "But there was a present for you," she added. I halted and whirled around. Will glanced up curiously. I raced to our living room, where my mom was holding up a red bag with a bow on it. My name was scribbled on the card. I reached out and tentatively took it from her. "I don't really know," she said.

"I bet it's from Octavian," I said, taking it back to my room. Will glanced at the bag curiously. "I don't know," I told him. "I bet it's from Octavian, whatever it is," I added. I sat cross-legged on my bed, the present beside me. This was really strange. I wasn't sure what to make of this. "There's a little card." I picked the envelope off the top. I opened it up. It was a heart-shaped card, trimmed with white lace. "'For my sweet Valentine. Da.' Da?" I asked, looking up at Will. He shrugged. "For my sweet Valentine…" I repeated, setting the card aside. I reached into the bag. I pulled out a little white bear holding a fake rose. "Oh, he's cute!" I gushed, cuddling him to me. "Octavian has outdone himself, but not."

"I don't know," Will said. "This doesn't seem like the thing Octavian would do. And he certainly wouldn't sign it 'Your secret admirer.' He'd want you to know it was him." I glanced at the side of the bag, which Will was currently observing. And, sure enough, it was signed with "your secret admirer." I frowned. That was definitely unlike Octavian. I'd gotten love letters from him before, and he'd always signed them with his name. "Someone likes you Perce," Will said, elbowing me in the side.

"You think?" I asked, smiling. I held the bear to my chest. He was really soft. I stroked his white plush with one finger. Whoever it was, they knew exactly what I liked. "Da? Do you know what that means?"

"I have a feeling, but you'll have to wait and see," Will replied. "Practice asking Nico out in the meantime. Katie and I have to get going." At that, she rose. "See you tomorrow." I waved as they left, but I wasn't paying much attention. I'd pulled the card back out, and I was studying it. I smiled.

"My sweet Valentine," I said softly. "Whoever could you be, mystery man?"

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Nico's POV

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I somehow snuck into Percy's apartment complex, bag in tow. I was practically shaking with excitement. I couldn't wait to ask him out to the dance. But after Jason and Leo's display, I wanted to do something like that. And I'm come up with an (I believed) ingenious idea. I patted the bag.

"Your my ticket little guy," I whispered. "Don't let me down." 4F, Percy's apartment. I set the bag on the ground, firmly knocked, then bolted down the hall and hid around the corner, watching the door. "Dammit," I hissed when his mom answered the door. "Why couldn't you do it Percy?" She peered around, then her gaze lit up on the present on the floor. She scooped it up and disappeared back inside the apartment. Well, Percy might not have answered, but he would get the present.

"You don't think he'll find the card too corny?" my best friend, Malcolm Parker, said. His boyfriend, Mitchell Gray, had already asked him to the dance. It wasn't anything big or flashy, but we all knew they'd be going together. "After all 'My Sweet Valentine' isn't necessarily subtle." I turned pink.

"If I know Percy like I think I do, he'll love it. I've included the first two letters of dance as well. He'll get the C tomorrow." My idea was to give him a series of small gifts, each with one letter from the word dance attached. And, on Friday, I'd deliver the last one myself, with the question mark. I thought it was romantic and sweet and Percy would love it. I was already loving it.

"What's tomorrow's gift, and how are you delivering it?" Malcolm asked, deciding to change the subject. "After all, you plan these things out weeks in advance."

"Imported blue chocolate," I replied, keeping my eye on the apartment. Will Solace and Katie Gardner emerged, heading the opposite way. So that's why he hadn't answered the door himself. "Percy loves blue food. And of course, the letter C. And another card. There's always going to be a card." Malcolm nodded. He liked the fact I was ambitious.

"Those chocolates had to be expensive," he said. "After all, you can't get blue chocolate stateside." I smirked at him. My dad's multinational business partners meant I had all sorts of connections at my disposal. I'd just called in a few favors, and a huge box of blue chocolates arrived at my house three days later.

"They weren't cheap," I admitted. "But I'd do anything for Percy. He's my dream boy, remember?" Malcolm nodded. I told him every day how much I loved Percy. But for some reason, he thought I was taken by someone. What gave him a silly thought like that, I will never understand. But it would make this all the sweeter when he finally found out who it was sending him all the gifts. "Think Jason could give it to him?" I asked, almost to myself. "Jason and Percy aren't necessarily friends, but they talk."

"So long as you don't make it completely obvious," Malcolm replied. "Let's go. Staring at his apartment won't make him appear." I finally tore my gaze away, looking at him. If only it really worked like that. But finally, I sighed.

"You're right," I replied. "Let's go. I'll see him tomorrow, after all." Malcolm nodded and led the way down the stairs.

…

Percy's POV

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Nico, as I'd dubbed the bear, sat on the bathroom counter as I brushed my teeth. I'd carried him all around the apartment tonight. Mom hadn't said one word to me about it, which was unlike her. Maybe she sensed my own confusion.

"So, Nico," I said to the mirror, waving my toothbrush in front of me. "That dance this Friday? Yeah. Would you like to go? No, that's dumb." I spit into the sink and rinsed my toothbrush off, then took a swig of mouthwash. I spit that out as well. "Nico, would you please go to the dance with me? God, that sounds desperate." I sighed. "Hey Nico, could I ask you something? Would you like to go to the dance with me? Gah!" I threw my arms up. I gave up. I grabbed Nico the Bear off the counter and went back to my room. "I sound dumb no matter what I say," I said to the bear. "I don't know how I'm going to do this tomorrow. But I'm not going to be a coward." I grabbed the Valentine off my nightstand and studied it again. I would never tire of reading that one, simple line.

"Percy, lights out," mom called. Sighing, I set the valentine aside and flipped off my lamp. I hugged Nico the Bear to me, burying my nose in his plush. I really wondered who sent it to me.

"Don't worry so much about that," I whispered to myself. "Just work up the courage to ask Nico out. That's all you have to worry about. But, even though I kept telling myself that, there was no way I'd be able to do it. He was Nico fucking di Angelo. Why would a guy like him fall for a guy like me? Anything could happen, I guess, but it wasn't likely. "At least you like me, whoever you are," I said to the card, referring to my secret admirer. "Who are you though?"

…

So, that's the first chapter. Wasn't too bad, was it?