Be warned- Im tired while writing this.

Npov-

Almost every class went the same way: the teacher asked me to introduce myself, I couldn't do it, some rude student asked whether I was the kid on the news or not. Maybe school wouldn't be as safe as I thought...

"Nico? Do you know the answer?"

We were reading a poem and answering questions about it. "Yes."

"What is it?"

"C."

Her eyebrows shot up. "That's right..." A bunch of kids looked down at their own papers confusedly.

"Mrs. Dodds, that can't be correct. The answer is clearly B, because-" a kid from the back protested.

"Your homework is to do the rest of the sheet correctly. We will go over it tomorrow." The bell rang.

I got up from my seat and gathered my stuff. Will approached me. "How did you get C?"

I glanced over at his paper, which he had filled in A.

"It's obvious isn't it?"

"No."

I rolled my eyes. "Don't take the poem literally. If you do that, you're going to fail."

"What do you mean "dont take the poem literally"? Over course take it literally! The man is in the woods and he's running from a monster of sorts, so it's A."

"You're still taking it literally. He's not running from a monster. He's running from his past. Or maybe the truth. I haven't decided yet."

We started walking down the halls. "Oh. But how could you tell?"

"Think deeper than the  poem does. Then you'll get it."

"Gods, you're smart."

"I'm not that smart, I just think."

"No. You're smart."

"Whatever. What class is next?"

"Math."

"Schist."

"What?"

"I stink at math."

"Oh. I'm sure you'll do fine."

I shook my head as we walked into the classroom. Again, the teacher asked me to introduce myself.

I was really over this whole "school" thing now.

__--——•lunch•——--__

"Hey! Solace! Who's the new kid?" I heard someone yell from across the room.

"Ignore them. Pretend you didn't hear anything." Will whispered.

"What? Why?"

"That's Octavian."

I nodded. "Okay."

"Solace! I asked you a question!" Octavian stood up. We went to the table Lou was sitting at. She looked ready to murder someone. We sat down.

Octavian jogged towards us. "Solace!"

"Leave him alone!" I finally shouted. The whole cafeteria was watching and went "oooh..." at my outburst.

"The new kid thinks he's tougher than us. We can quickly change that!" Octavian raised his fist but I caught it.

I've been abused, I'm not about to let a bunch of idiots ruin my life even more.

I shoved him back, making him stumble.

"Oh you are so gonna get it." He swung again and I ducked, making him lose his balance. Will stood up beside me and Lou was on my other side. Cecil was making his way over.

Octavian kept swinging and I kept dodging. Eventually, he caught me off guard and pushed me against the wall. "Do you realize what Solace is?"

"He's amazing." I shoved Octavian off me.

Punch, dodge. Punch, dodge. Punch, dodge. We kept the pattern going.

"No, he's a faggot."

"He's amazing." This time it was my turn to punch. And he forgot to dodge.

The teachers had to lead him to the nurse's office because he had a bloody nose. The cafeteria was stared at me oddly. I awkwardly went back to the table and sat down. Finally, the staring stopped and conversation started back up again.

"How often do they say things like that?"

"Just... just when I make new friends. Mostly."

"Liar."

He sighed, exasperated. "Well if you already knew the answer, why ask me?"

"When did they find out?"

"A couple years ago."

I looked to Lou to make sure this was correct and she nodded. Cecil finally arrived and sat down. "Nico, that was amazing! When did you..."

I suddenly felt someone watching me again. I slowly turned around. The boy from the first class, Luke, was coming over and was looking right at me.

"He's pathetic." Luke said, obviously meaning me.

Cecil raised an eyebrow. "Like you could do better."

Luke scowled. "He was afraid."

"He was angry."

"Why? Because someone insulted his little boyfriend here?" Realization suddenly washed over him. "Wait. He's not... actually your boyfriend is he?"

"He is." I said.

"You're gay too! I'm so gonna tell Octavian?"

"Yeah, go run to Octavian. Since you're too scared to do anything yourself." I glared at him.

"I-You- Oh you'll see what I can do! I'm tougher than you think!

"Hm. You kind of sound like Octavian, now. Remember what happened when he tried to fight me?"

"I'm stronger!"

"Hm, actually you look sort of scrawny."

A guy from across the cafeteria cried out, "I INVENTED SCRAWNY!" Then a bunch of kids around him groaned and said, "Leo, calm down."

The boy, Leo, marched over to us. "I shall not rest until I get the popularity I deserve!"

"Leo, calm down!"

"Never!" He glared at Luke. "You think you can be scrawnier than me!? FEAR ME, PEASANT!"

Luke just stared at him. "Leo, go sit down. I'm busy."

"No one is busier than I, but I must stand up for what I believe in!"

"Fine. Leo, you are the king of scrawny." Luke said, just to get him to leave.

"And my first order for you is to leave this adorable couple alone! Shoo!"

"What?"

"Shoo!" He gave Luke a little push to get him going. There were some giggles from Leo's table. Luke, as if in a daze, stumbled back to his table, who scolded him.

"Hey, I'm the McShizzle a.k.a., Bad Boy Supreme. A.k.a., Leo Valdez. Nice to meet you."

I raised my eyebrows, but shook his hand. "Nice to meet you too..."

"I expect to see you at my lunch table tomorrow. You must be there because I am the king and you are peasants. Goodbye!" He jogged back to his seat, where the kids there congratulated him and he bowed.

"That was... interesting."

LEO IS MY FAVORITE IN THIS STORY I REALLY LOVE HIM BECAUSE WELL THE MORE I THOUGHT ABOUT IT, HE FOUND THE MOST PEACEFUL WAY TO BREAK UP A FIGHT AND JUST IMAGINE HIM GETTING UP FROM THE TABLE SAYING "I got this, guys." AND GOING OVER TO SAVE SOLANGELO AND AAAAAH I JUST REALLY LOVE LEO OKAY