SUNDAY

"Hey, Sticks. Wake up."

Nico just groaned and twisted in bed. When he felt something touching his shoulder, he just swatted it away with his hand.

"Sticks. Wake up."

After ten seconds of silence, he went back to sleep, just to jolt awake when cold water hit his face, getting inside his nose and mouth and almost drowning him. His arms and legs flailed around while he was trying to sit up, clean the water from his face and to put some distance between him and whoever was assailing him. After blinking several times, he managed to focus at the smirking person in front of his bed.

"Niel?"

"Ahoy."

"WHAT THE HADES?"

Niel shrugged, still grinning.

"I tried to wake you, didn't work. So, water. Now you are awake and clean, doesn't even need a shower. Just dry and change, we're leaving."

"Leaving? To where?"

"My uncle's shop, we're picking him and Leo up."

"Leo? What does Leo have to do with anything?"

"You're both going to my place for Thanksgiving."

Why?

Is this a good idea?

"Niel, isn't Thanksgiving more of a... family thing?"

"Sometimes. Where is yours?"

Nico's expression clouded.

Probably happy I'm away.

I know how that feels.

Niel nodded like he made a point.

"That answers. So, at least for today, mi casa es su casa. Or mi familia es su familia. Go on, get dressed and choose something loose."

"Why?"

"Because my mom will stuff so much food in your mouth you'll end up round. Loose pants it is. I'll wait in the living room, don't make me go back in here to drag you out again. We both know it's useless."

Nico rolled his eyes to Niel's retreating back, but got changed anyway. When he descended the stairs, he found Niel in his couch, just looking around.

"Nice place. Do you clean it all by yourself?"

"No, I have a staff coming to clean while I'm school."

Wait a second, if this is his first time here...

"Niel? How in hades did you know where my place is?"

"Oh, that. Wench told me. However, she refused to tell me where the spare key is, so I had to pick to lock, hope you don't mind."

"Wait, she told you? Why? I thought she hated you."

"She only says she hates me because she doesn't know how to deal with the amount of violent lust my presence inspires in her. And because she didn't want you alone on Thanksgiving. She's already taking Hannah to her place. Apparently, she lives away from her family too, or something like this. Oh, here, your phone was on the kitchen, ringing. You probably got a ton of messages. I admit, I'm curious, who texted you? Those friends from last night?"

Nico opened his phone, and groaned when he saw the group text.

It's barely 10am, how could have they texted so much?

For a group of people who don't use technology in a daily basis in your own world, you adapted surprisingly quick.

J: Guys, who already have Thanksgiving plans?

PJ: Why?

J: We could join everyone who doesn't to have our own celebration.

PJ: Are you cooking?

J: Of course not.

L: Alfred?
J: Really, Leo?

L: Are you going to eat in the batcave?

J: Don't you get tired of these jokes?

L: Never!

PJ: Are you having blue turkey?

J: ...No.

PJ: Then I'm sticking with my mom, sorry.

L: Is your mom going to do a blue turkey?

PJ: If I can convince her, then yes.

R: Doesn't it get tiring to eat blue food every time?

PJ: Never!

L: See, Percy gets me. The classics never get tiring.

J: Reyna, Leo, do you have plans?

L: As long as it pains me to crush my fan's dreams to have a piece of this pie of amazingness, I do. I'm going to Niel's place, my boss invited me.

F: Why would your boss invite you to Niel's place?

L: Because he's his uncle.

J: Reyna, Frank?

F: What?

J: Do you have plans?

F: To what?

L: Thanksgiving, read the beginning of the messages.

F: Idk, I was thinking of doing something with Hazel, maybe. Let me call her.

J: Or you could both come here. Reyna?

R: I guess I can go.

J: Who is missing? Piper, Hazel...

R: Annabeth, Nico and Will.

L: Actually, Nico is going with me, Niel said he would pick him up before coming here.

PJ: Annabeth is  spending with her family. It seems some aunts or uncles or cousins were going to join, don't ask me more.

J: Where were you off to?

PJ:  Tried to sneak the cookie jar from the kitchen. Didn't work. Now I'm grounded to my room until mom finds somewhere to hide it.

R: Aren't you ashamed?

PJ:  Nope. Just disappointed it didn't work.

R: How do Annabeth put up with you?

PJ:  She loves me.

R: I know that, but sometimes I ask myself what does she love in you.

J: Well, he did fall on the pit for her...

F: I talked to Hazel, she's spending Thanksgiving with Lucy.

J: Who?

F: A friend of her and Nico's. I had no idea they were this close.

R: Nico has a friend?

J: He could have friends, Reyna...

R: I know he can, I'm just surprised.

F: If it helps, I think she considers him her friend, but he doesn't think the same from her.

PJ: Now  that I can believe.

R: I wish he would open up more.

W: Hey.

W: So, I have plans. I'm in my mom's car since 5am, going to a relative's place. I don't know who, I was too sleepy when my mom said their name.

J: I called Piper, her father is away, but she's spending it with Claire.

R: So, just me and Frank?

PJ: If I  would join, we could make a praetor slumber party.

J: Want me to ask Alfred to pick you up?

R: No, I'll call a taxi, get Frank along the way and meet you there. What should we bring?

J: Nothing, I think. Janine is already making food to feed an army.

L: Who is Janine?

PJ: The  cook. I like her, she always feed me when I'm there.

J: Do you know all my staff?

PJ:  Pretty much.

Why did I bother to read it all?

Good question.

"So?"

Nico turned to see Niel's inquisitive expression.

"So what?"

"Who texted you? Peter, John, etc?"

Nico got defensive.

"Why do you want to know?"

"Just wondering how I thought you were completely lonely and suddenly you have a strong bond with the oddest group of friends I ever saw forming in this school. The nosy reporter, the rebel, the jock, the student council president... who else? Right, the mathlete, a shy girl, the rejected by the football team, the former cheerleader... and apparently Leo is part of it, even if he never studied in our school. Care to tell me how did you all meet and... bonded?"

How will you explain this?

I won't.

"Speaking of Leo, shouldn't we be going to pick him up? Wouldn't want to make your mother wait."

Niel saw it as the changing of subject it was, but didn't push it. Just got up and took his car key from the front pocket.

"Sure, let's get going. Can't wait for you to meet my mother."

A/N: there, new chp. The next one is Leo's, so dont get scared if I take too long to write it