Awkward, party of two? Your bus seat is ready!

As promised, your second chapter. Enjoy!

The first thing I felt needed to be done was to get off Nico's chest. Unfortunately, he felt otherwise, so the hand that had been playing with my hair decided to use its proximity to my head to hold it in place.

"You just woke up from exhaustion that could have killed you and the first thing you do is try and get up? Yeah, not happening," he scolded me.

"Ok then…. But…. I'm like on your chest," I stated the obvious.

"Really? I hadn't noticed," he quipped back.

"I guess that isn't a problem? I mean… this is… you know… kind of intimate…." I rambled knowing my face glowed brighter than Rudolph's nose. His face fell as did his hand.

"Umm…" he said, as if trying to make what he was doing ok. I realized though that I really missed the hand that was playing with my hair. So I grabbed it back.

"I never said I didn't like it…." I whispered as I looked up at his face. He was as red as I felt.

"Ok…" he replied, but I felt his hand return to its previous job.

"Do you mind it?" I asked.

"Never did," he whispered.

"KISS! KISS! KISS!" Percy chanted, reminding me of his presence. I leaned to grab one of my apples, but felt Nico stop me. I look up to find him giving Percy his famous Death Glare.

"Annabeth, can you come and get Percy out of here?" Nico asked, eyes never breaking contact. I hear someone else moving in the seat behind me before a hand pulled Percy back into his seat. "Thanks." He finally turned back to me once the head of the Earthshaker's son disappeared behind the seat top.

"So…" I said, smooth as sandpaper.

"So…" he repeated, making me a bit happier cause he was a bit tongue-tied too.

"Umm… your chest is very comfortable?" I said, regretting the words the second they left my mouth.

"Thanks…I think," he said, though his eyes seemed to feel that he could have said something better.

I suddenly had no clue what to say. I felt so stupid and random, but that's what happened. I decided that rather than talk, I would show. His free hand was sitting on his lap, looking rather lonely. I chose to fix that by lacing my fingers with his. He gently squeezed to show that he was ok with it. A smile stretched across my face. I suddenly felt like somewhere Aphrodite was laughing, but I decided to let it go.

"This is nice…"he tried to start again. I have no idea what possibly took me over in that moment, but I just knew there was only one way to keep us from attempting to talk.

"Nico, shut up," I whispered before breaking free of his hold and kissing him. I could feel I caught him more than off guard, but after a moment, he didn't seem to care. Seconds, hours, life times, I will never know how long passed, but whatever it was halted when my lungs demanded attention.

"Apples," Nico said between gasping breaths.

"What about them?" I asked, thinking he was trying to make small talk again.

"You taste like apples, which is good because they are my favorite fruit," he said, wearing his usual sly grin as he pulled me back in for kiss number two. I noticed a subtle aroma coming from him. It was exotic and reminded me of insence.

"What cologne are you wearing?" I asked after our moment of pure bliss ended. I rested my head on his shoulder and was hit by another wave of the mysterious smell.

"I'm not?" he answered in a confused voice, "Being on a quest doesn't really give those of us outside Aphrodite's cabin much time for date prep work." He chuckled a bit at his own joke.

"Hmmm…" I said thoughtfully as I enjoyed the intoxicating smell. It finally connected in my brain. "Myrrh," I said, "You smell like myrrh."

"What about myrrh?" I heard a suddenly concerned Annabeth ask as she peaked her head over the seat. "It's back luck to burn myrrh outside of funerals!"

That was when it hit me. Nico smelled of death.

Don't shoot me for the delays! I am really trying my hardest to get these up as fast as possible. Lissa herself has been threatening me with her apples to get these up. I love you all and you should read the new Olympians series! The Lost Hero rocks! Oh! And on the off chance up to this point you thought I owned anyone besides Nicole, Brian, Julia, and of course Lissa, then you are SADLY mistaken and should stop reading now! I am not Mr. Riordian, but I really wish I was. Please keep reading and I will be back ASAP!