FINALLY.

FINE. All. LEE.

Honestly, I couldn't tell you why it took me this long to actually post this. I mean, yeah, I've been busy, but really, I wanted it to be long enough.

BUT I DID IT.

And don't worry, guys, I don't think I'll be rewriting this one. Third time's the charm, right? Anyways, enjoy and tell me what you think :3

Disclaimer:

Shockingly, I am not a man. Also, I'm not a rich famous writer. Clearly, if I was, I wouldn't be posting it here unless I could charge you people money to view the page. And, uh, FANfiction. Need I say more? No? Thought so.

Skyler

"You know, it's be easier if you'd just let me help you." He said.

I snorted. "After you broke my easel last time? No."

He didn't reply, and I continued to stretch on my stool. I was trying to finish painting a mural on the wall of our gym, and was balancing precariously on a stool to reach the top while my best friend stood by.

Just a few more strokes…

There. Finished! I felt the stool settle firmly beneath me, and looked down to see my best friend holding it tight. He grinned up at me, silver snakebite piercings glinting in the sunlight streaming through the window above. His black hair was mussed as usual, resulting from him running his hands through it constantly. His eyes, a midnight blue, almost black, were light. His name? Nico di Angelo.

"It looks great, Skyler." He told me, smiling. I gave him a grin, leaning back slightly to take it in.

I'd done a collage of basket balls, soccer balls, hockey sticks, everything sports. It had taken me three months of staying late after school, and I was finally finished. All it had to do now, was dry.

"Trust fall!" I announced, letting myself fall backwards off the stool and into his arms, which were outstretched in surprise. He stared down at me, half-quizzical, half-annoyed.

"What?" I asked, pouting. "I didn't feel like climbing down."

"And if I hadn't caught you?" He asked softly, setting me on my feet.

"I'd have a concussion or something. I've had worse." I replied, beginning to pack up my paint. He sighed exasperatedly.

"Your lack of concern for your personal welfare is again, astounding." He stated dryly, but began to help me put everything away anyways. "Really," He added as he did so. "I'm serious."

I paused, standing straight and glancing at him. He kept his face hidden behind his hair, which was just long enough to shadow his expression. I narrowed my eyes slightly.

He didn't exactly know why I didn't care about my health, and I wasn't planning on telling him. After all, how exactly does one go about mentioning a painful home life? 'Oh, yeah, and my mom likes to through beer bottles and other hazardous objects at my face. But at least it's Friday!'

….Yeah. No.

When he did look up, he avoided my eyes, handing me my box of paints without a word. I let it go, turning and heading to the water fountain to wash my brushes. I did my best not to wince as the bruises on my ankle began to throb again, the result of walking on a sprain all day. I was shocked it hadn't swelled.

Well, I was wearing boots. It actually might have swelled, I just couldn't see it. When I told him I didn't want to climb down, I meant it. I didn't want to damage it any more than it already was. I'm already going to have to ice it the first chance I get.

I'd gotten the sprain this morning, when I'd hopped from my second story window down to concrete, successfully avoiding a rampaging mother. I heard her banging on my door seconds after I landed, so I had simply grabbed the schoolbag I'd had the forethought to throw down beforehand and took off.

I'd gone straight to Nico's house, where he lived with his grandmother. He slipped out the door, shutting in his big black lab and calling out a goodbye to her. He joined me at the bottom of the steps and we left towards school.

Even his casual throwing his arm over my shoulders had hurt, the bruise from a book my mother had thoughtfully aimed at my face (but clearly missed) had left on my neck throbbing. I was thankful for the winter, it gave me an excellent excuse for turtlenecks and scarves.

As usual, I'd hid it well enough where he didn't notice a thing. We walked to school together, chatting aimlessly until we got there. We'd headed to our separate classes, and met up again at lunch. He stood in line with me, despite having brought his own lunch.

"How was your day so far?" He asked lightly. I scowled, and he laughed.

"Ms. Braeburn decided I needed to be put in intensive reading, and Mr. Stone threw me out again. I hate it here." I complained, and he circled an arm around me. I leaned my head on his shoulder tiredly, and he smiled softly. I paid for my lunch, and we began to walk away.

"Why'd he throw you out this time?" He asked calmly as we exited the cafeteria and headed to the tables outside in the courtyard.

I paused, blushing. Nico laughed again, adjusting the strap on his black messenger bag.

"So, I may have told him to shut up and do his job…" I mumbled. At this, Nico laughed even harder, his arm slipping from my waist to hold his own and he gasped for breath.

"Shut up!" I told him, blushing darker as we neared our table. He nodded, wiping imaginary tears away.

"He likes to rant about stupid shit for half an hour and waste time. It's annoying." I defended, and he just rolled his eyes, slipping into the bench beside me.

"What are you guys talking about this time?" Quizzed Marina, another of our friends. She had long, golden brown hair and ocean-colored eyes. She was Percy's adoptive sister, and had relatively the same personality. Percy was Nico's cousin, with shaggy black hair much like Nico's, only shorter, and green eyes. He was sarcastic, funny, and a little blunt at times. But he was over all a nice guy. The only large difference between the two Jackson siblings was that she had an emotional range larger than a teaspoon.

Also at the table were Kylie, a pretty brown-skinned girl with large brown eyes and brown dreads, who had a weird leg disease that forced her to use crutches, and Annabeth, Percy's blonde, gray-eyed, braniac girlfriend.

"This time?" I asked in return.

"You guys don't exactly not talk to each other, and it's always something different with you. So, yes, this time." Marina clarified. I laughed, and Nico gave a small grin.

"If you must know," He said, leaning forward onto the table and tangling a hand in his hair and staring up at her through his eyelashes. She blushed, and I bit back a laugh. He was such a tease. She leaned forward as well, eager to hear his response.

"None of your business." He finished easily, smirking and sitting straight.

Percy sighed. "Stop playing with my sister."

"Playing with?" Nico asked, raising an eyebrow, still smirking. "My, Percy, what gave you that idea? Been spying, cousin?"

Percy glared at him, growling something under his breath. I laughed, both at Nico's implications and the Jackson's twin red faces.

Mari glared at me, and I casually flipped her off. We never got on well, and everyone knew it. Nico wasn't bothered by it, nor her infatuation with him. He played her like a guitar, and she never gave up. I would have stopped him, but she'd always been a bitch to me and I saw no reason to.

He laughed, reaching an arm around me to gently take my hand and fold down the finger, pecking me quickly and lightly on the cheek as he did so. I felt my own cheeks heat, and he smiled playfully, still holding his arm around me, hand now level with my stomach and wrapped around my own.

He'd always been free with his affections, something surprising to Percy and Anna. Apparently, he was very closed off and bitter when he was younger. Then, one day, it seemed like someone had just flipped a switch on him. He stopped hating having company, and started going out during the day and making friends.

He became a normal kid, hating school, loving sleep, and, being a teenage boy, eating way more then should be physically possible. And he became a bit of a playboy. But he got away with it, because, honestly? They boy radiates fear.

You don't want to fuck with him.

Percy made a disapproving noise, and Nico ignored him, instead choosing to antagonize me, playfully nipping my neck and resting his chin on my shoulder. I turned my head to glare at him, and he gave me puppy eyes through his lashes.

I'm embarrassed to say it still works on me.

I knew my cheeks stained darker, but his eyes widened almost imperceptivity, and I sighed, rolling my eyes. He grinned happily at me, sliding off the bench and sliding me back with him.

"We'll be back!" He said happily, tugging me behind him. I glanced over my shoulder to see Percy rolling his eyes, Mari giving me the definition of 'if looks could kill' and Anna flatly ignoring us, reading some giant textbook while she ate.

Nico's grip on my wrist was gentle, carefree, letting me break away if I choose to. He led me behind the pavilion wall, spinning me and pinning me there. He wanted his "fix."

He rested his forehead against mine, smiling playfully at me. His eyes were light, today, an actual clear dark blue. He dropped his gaze to my lips, then back to my eyes, shifting against me.

My hands, resting lightly on his chest, slid up and around his shoulders, one tangling itself in his soft hair. His grinned turned almost dangerous, and his hands gripped my waist and hips.

He growled happily, leaning down and pressing his lips to mine briefly, before drawing back. I wouldn't smile. He'd have to work for that. Realizing this, he dropped light kisses down the side of my jaw, raising the hand from my waist to cup my face.

Ah, shit. I can feel my resolved ebbing away…

He tilted my head, expertly flicking stray strands of my hair away and pressing his lips into the hollow just behind my ear, making my squirm and bite my lip to prevent a squeal. The metal of his piercings spread as he smiled against my skin.

Of course, that's when the wall exploded.

So? How was iiittt?

My signature cliffy ending. :D

Review and tell me how you like the new version, I'm sticking with it. Originally, I'd brought Bianca back, but debated over it and ended up (obviously) deleting her. That's where we got Marina who's gonna help us set up a nice love triangle...

But whatever. Tell me what you thought!

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