Frank's flashback

THURSDAY

Frank rubbed his eyes and tried to conceal a yawn.

It's way too early.

... Hum? Sorry, were you talking to me?

Were you sleeping?

... taking a nap.

Why are we here? We're not the pranksters type. Even more if we have to be here so early just to plan. There's still another hour before even the staff arrive.

Jodi and Percy got back, after almost ten minutes. Frank had no idea what Jay and Jordan were talking about, he had turned them off a long time ago. Percy waved at him, but didn't offer any explanation why he was so grumpy before.

"We could cut her hair."

Jordan and Jay let their jaws drop at Jodi's idea.

"How old are you? FIVE?"

Niel entered the room followed by Nico.

"Sorry we're late."

Jordan answered them without taking his eyes from Jodi.

"That's okay, as long as you understand of pranks."

"You doubt us?"

"Well, I had faith in Jodi and she just suggested we cut Vanessa's hair."

It was Niel's turn to look at Jodi.

"Are you five or what?"

Jodi crossed her arms and scoffed.

"It's an amazing idea."

Jay chuckled.

"Yeah. If you're five."

"Please, I have a brain, this is not a stupid idea."

Niel crossed his arms and leaned against the table in the center of the room.

"Then do tell how is this an amazing idea."

She pulled her phone and searched for something in it, before turning and letting them see the pic. Jordan scrunched his eyes to get the details.

"Vanessa as a... cheerleader? It's not even an embarrassing pic!"

"Of course not, it's from one of her endless social medias."

He glared at her astounded.

"You want us to... photoshop it? Really!?"

Jodi paled.

What is wrong with photoshop?

I don't know.

"What!? NO! No! You know that I would never encourage something like this!"

"Then what is the point of the pic?"

"Look at her hair."

Nico was the one to define.

"It's big."

"Wow, you're a poet just like these two idiots. But that's exactly the point. Vanessa feels proud in her hair and in being a cheerleader. That thing goes down her hips and become this... bush for cheer competitions. Take her cheer hair, you hit her deep."

They let it sink for a few seconds.

"That actually makes sense."

"We can't just ruin her hair. We have what? One, two... seven people in this room. We can make her whole DAY a nightmare."

Niel smiled evilly.

"By the time we're done with her, she'll be jumping at shadows and look like a Jackson Pollock."

Jordan slapped both hands in the table.

"Right, ideas? Jay?"

"Let's go classic, stick something into jello."

"Jodi?"

"Classic too, glitter. On EVERYTHING."

"Okay, let's keep classic, less likely to someone track it back to us. Niel?"

"Saranwrap her car."

"Peter?"

"Blue dye in her shampoo."

"Felix?"

"Hum..."

"Come on, Felix, you can do this. Just believe in yourself."

"Maybe... erase all her contacts? Forget it, we don't have her phone."

Niel shook his head.

"You're way too innocent. This is the easiest thing to get."

"Emo guy that I forgot the name?"

"Nanni."

"Anyway, your idea."

"Eye for an eye."

"Which means?"

"We're doing this a friend... sort of. So get her closest friends. Those who will help her. Make her lost all safe havens."

"... You're one creepy dude, but that was genius. Let's keep moving, Jodi."

"Glue in her conditioner. I want her hair destroyed."

"Jay?"

"Am I the only missing a small explosion?"

"Peter?"

"Confetti trap everywhere."

"My turn, also a classic. Itching powder. I love that stuff. Niel, what do you say?"

"Alright crew let's sink her ship."

***

Jordan slid next to Jodi during lunch. He was the only one missing from the prank crew to join their table. She scooted closer to Frank to avoid Jordan's sweaty skin.

"Why are you out of breath? What did you do that wasn't in the plan?"

In answer, he raised a camera. Their jaws dropped.

"You recorded it? ARE YOU CRAZY?"

He rolled his eyes.

"Of course I only recorded AFTER she was pranked. I might not be smart like you, but experienced enough to know NOT to record a prank BEFORE it happens. And she's a mess. I swear, she's scared of her own shadow. And none of her friends want to be around her in fear of any more confetti and glitter traps."

Flashback over, back to present

SATURDAY

"So... how did you meet Haz-Hannah?"

Niel glanced quickly at Frank before turning the steering wheel to switch lines.

"You know Nanni, right?"

"Yes."

"She asked me to befriend him. She was worried he was too lonely. Do you believe me?"

"Yeah, sounds like something like she would do. Wait! Is that why you became close to Nic-Nanni?"

"What were you going to call him?"

"Nanni."

"Didn't sound like Nanni."

"I forgot his name for a moment."

Niel sighed in exasperation.

"Do any of you know how to lie convincingly?"

"Any of who?"

"You that are all in the same... whatever this is. Hannah. Nanni. Peter, John, Trish. Hell, even Leo seems to be part of this and he doesn't even study in our school."

Oh, no.

This can't be good.

Is this guy investigating us or something?

"I don't know what you're talking about."

"You do know, you just won't tell me. Or will you?"

Frank didn't answer.

"That is what I thought."

"Wait, is that why you became close to Nanni?"

"No, I liked the little fella. Hannah's request only reinforced my idea to become his friend. You're very worried for a guy you should barely know."

"Keep your eyes on the road."

***

Frank was with his arm around Hazel's shoulder, so he heard when Lucy leaned to whisper to his girlfriend.

"Nanni finally got engrossed enough in the movie to stop pouting."

He checked at the same time as Hazel and sure enough, her brother looked fascinated by the movie.

***

"Barnacle, pause the movie or hand over the remote."

"Why?"

"Because if Hannah squeeze her legs with any more force, she'll break her own bones. We're only now reaching the 2h mark, we have another one to go; so let's take a bathroom break."

***

"Ok, Wench, send my compliments to your mother, this lasagna tastes awesome."

"Yeah, Lucy, thanks for convincing your mom to do it."

"It wasn't her."

"No?"

"No. She was going to make it, but something with one of her friends from Pilates came up and she left."

Is it from a super market?

I don't think so, it still tastes homemade.

"So... who did the lasagna?"

"I did."

"... WHAT?"

"What what? I can cook, what is the big deal?"

"Really?"

"Hannah, you saw my brother eating. Do you think that any leftover ever reached the fridge? If I got home late, the only way for me to eat was to make my own meal."

***

"Nanni, if you try to run away from the dishes, I swear I'm gonna use your head to wash the lasagna's pan. Get back here NOW. On a different note, who cut your hair? It's looking really nice."

***

"No, Niel, Lucy, stop it! You'll end up throwing soap at each other's eyes!"

"Give up, Barnacle, you can't win!"

"Right back to you, Wench!"

"Guys, this is serious, a soap and water war is dangerous, you can end up-AH!"

"Here, sis, take my hand, I'll help you stand."

"Sticks, what are you doing there, help me take down the Wench!"

"Hey, teaming up is against the rules!"

"Pirates don't play by the rules!"

***

"Lucy, open your eyes, please."

"No."

"Let Felix see how bad is it."

"It hurts to open."

Of course it does, it's soap.

Tell her to blink very fast.

"Just turn your head up and blink them a lot."

"You! I'm disappointed at you both! I told you someone would end up with soap in their eyes!"

"Sorry, sis."

"Sis?"

"It's... uh... my nickname for her."

"Curious nickname. What is the history behind it?"

"Uh..."

She just won't stop blinking!

"Lucy, stop blinking and let me see."

"It hurts!"

"Niel, you're getting eye drops, NOW!"

"Yes, ma'am. Sticks, you coming with me."

"Oh, no! He's staying and help me clean up this mess."

***

"Lucy, stop blinking!"

"No!"

"Lucy! Don't cover... can someone please hold her hands?"

"Yes, ma'am."

"Lucy, just open..."

"Ow! The Wench just kicked me!"

"Felix, hold her legs, please."

"Felix, let go of my legs or I'll kick you!"

"Lucy, stop moving so much. Nanni, hold her head, I'll try to open her eyes."

"No!"

"You're making way too much drama, Mania."

"WHAT did you just call me?"

"Lucy, stop moving so much. It's just eye drops!"

"I hate anything touching my eyes!"

"You should have thought about it before getting in a war with soap flying everywhere."

***

Lucy was lying down, with a cloth over her eyes to prevent her from opening them. She poked Nico with her foot, who was sitting in the same couch as her.

"So, Nanni, you never answered me. Where are you going for winter's break?"

Nico sighed annoyed, but answered anyway.

"I'm going to Los Angeles to visit my father."

"Oh, are you going with Hannah?"

All demigods froze, and Niel took his eyes from Treebeard speaking in the Ent council to keep track of their reactions. Frank tried to pretend nothing was wrong, and squeezed Hazel's hand to alert her, but Nico was too focused on Lucy to realize the danger.

"... What? Why would you think that?"

"Because she told me she was going to Los Angeles to meet her father. Isn't that what you said?"

Lucy turned blind to the direction she knew Hazel was.

"Hum, yes, I did say it."

Lucy nodded, getting comfortable again.

"You should go together, make the trip less boring. Since you're both going to Los Angeles... I'm amazed that you didn't know that, don't you guys talk with each other?"

***

Frank groaned, facepalming.

"I can't watch another movie!"

Lucy squeezed his forearm.

"Yes, you can! It's a marathon, that's what we do."

"It's unhealthy."

She rolled her now clean eyes.

"The guy who did the first marathon died after he finished. And that is what we're doing, we're finishing this thing even if it kills us."

Nico came back from the kitchen with the water jar.

"You mean Pheidippides?"

"What kind of greek nerd actually remembers this name?"

"Should I play it or not?"

"Yes, Barnacle, play the movie, we ARE watching."

***

Nico's sudden movement in his peripheral vision caught Frank's attention. He turned to see Nico and Lucy having a stare off contest. Lucy looked curious, and Nico was distressed. After half of a minute, both relaxed and watched the movie for about five minutes. After that time was up, Nico practically jumped, scouring to the extreme of the couch, putting distance between him and Lucy, who was grinning wildly.

"You're ticklish!"

"No, I'm not!"

"Yes, you are!"

"NO, I'm NOT."

"Can I touch your foot?"

"NO."

"You ARE ticklish!"

"No!"

"I wonder if you're ticklish somewhere else beyond your feet..."

"I'm not tick... no, get off me!"

"Tickle war!"

"No, stop it! Get off of me! Niel, help!"

"Sure."

"Hey, no, hahaha, you should be helping me!"

"This is more fun."

"No! Stop it! Hahaha NO! Let me go!"

"Never!"

***

"The pizza is here! Barnacle, go get it."

"Why me?"

"Fine, I'll go."

"Why you?"

She stopped in the doorway to glare at him.

"Are you trying to drive me crazy?"

"Have been trying for the last month, thanks for noticing."

"Do you want me to go?"

"No, Hannah, you need to watch the movie. I'll go get it."

"Can someone please explain to me how this guy's brains work? Unless he doesn't have one, which would make totally sense."

***

"Guys? I'm stuck."

Frank looked to Lucy and he was pretty sure his shock was as big as Hazel's or Niel's. Lucy was sitting, with Nico's head on her lap, sleeping. At their expressions, she shrugged.

"He was dozing off, so I pulled his head to my lap after I got back from the bathroom. He was so tired he didn't even protest. I had no idea that the smallest touch of my fingers in his hair would make him fall asleep so easily. But now I don't know how to get out."

Niel helped by raising Nico's head, while Lucy slipped and Frank put a pillow under his head. Hazel came from his room with blankets for him. Frank stared at Nico's sleeping form.

"Who is going to lock everything when we leave."

"I have a copy of the key."

"He gave you one?"

"No."

Should I ask more?

I don't think so.

A/N: Can I just say how much I loved writing this chapter? And how tired I am after almost eight hours walking? Being older sister sucks.