(45: Good boy x bad boy)

Nico felt like he couldn't breathe around Percy. Whether it be how much he loved him, or how much it pained him to not be able to admit it, he couldn't tell.

He smoked on the daily to be rid of his anxiety and stress, but every time Percy caught his eye, he wanted him. No amount of marijuana could make him get over his long-time love.

Percy was not as quiet about his feelings as Nico was. Nico was the "skip school to go smoke and come to the next class stoned" kind of guy, who just wanted to chill and be done with the school day already. He was intimidating with black eyeliner, and gave off "I don't give AF" energy. Percy was much friendlier, even though he didn't have a good time at school, being a Disabled kid and all. He still handed out pencils to anyone who needed one, tried to make friends, and actually did his best to do his work, despite it being a challenge. Two polar opposites on the wheel.

So since Percy was way more open, he told a lot of people that he had a crush on Nico. A lot of the girls were jealous, and a lot of the guys were making fun of him, but Percy was hard to shame. He didn't really believe the horrible things people would say about him being a queer and he was confident that maybe, just maybe, he'd ask Nico out one day. Assuming Percy didn't have to switch schools again, that was.

But Nico thought the rumors were just that: rumors. What, the new kid that gets kicked out every year, with reading glasses and a tendency to smile way to brightly? Nah, he didn't anything to do with the lit up emo boy, Nico thought. He was too nice, and Nico just wanted people to go away - those two types of people don't mix well.

That all means that Nico was not very pleased when their professor assigned them to be buddies in an upcoming assignment. Nico scowled, and Percy held in an unhappy blush. When they met up after school, a lot of people were talking, but they both tried to ignore them.

"So, what's your number?" Nico asked, getting right to it.

Percy stammered, "My phone number?" His blush darkened, caught off guard by the question.

Nico lifted an eyebrow, "Yeah. So we can talk about the project."

"O-oh, right. Yeah. Here," Percy typed his number into Nico's phone.

Nico wanted to smile at how timid Percy was. Usually he was nonchalant, but when it came to Percy... he just couldn't help but soften up.

A tiny grin broke across Nico's face, "I'll call you."

I've wanted to say that for so long now, Nico thought.

Percy smiled his lop-sided smile that everyone - especially Nico - fell in love with, "Cool. Talk to you later!"

Nico nodded, "See you.."

A/N Lowkey want to turn this into a book lol. Hope you liked it!