chapter 13: falling

Hoa woke up in the same red hoodie she was in last night. She was hugging something cold yet warm—an aviator jacket. And inside the aviator jacket—

Shit.

Did I just fall asleep cuddling the son of Hades?

Cool arms were wrapped around her as well, one rubbing her back like that day in the Labyrinth. They pressed her face to Nico's shirt, somehow keeping her warm throughout the night. He smelled like rain, his muscles hard against her face.

Her eyes began to close. I could spend forever like this...

She snapped out of it when Nico said, "Hoa, it's the morning. You should get up."

"No..." she muttered.

He chuckled at her morning attitude. "Hoa, we have to get moving. Come on, get up. We can get food after this."

She cracked an eye open. "Food?"

Nico's face was inches above her's, the space so little she could feel his breath. Hoa stared into his chocolatey brown orbs, at his pale skin, his plump lips—

Fucking hell, Hoa! Stop it!

He ruffled her hair affectionately. "Yeah, food. But we're not gonna get any if you don't get up."

Hoa grumbled. "But I don't wanna get up..."

"What, you want me to carry you?" he joked.

She considered it. "Sure."

"Ah, no. I am nowhere near strong enough for that."

Nico let his arms drop from around her, making Hoa realize the new position they were in. She was sitting sideways in his lap, her legs stretched. Her head rested to the side as his left leg helped her sit up and his right rested atop hers.

Since when was this boy so bold?

Kinda hot...

Awkwardly, she untangled herself from Nico, blushing all the way. She sat right next to him as he got up with ease, offering her a hand. "Need help, Little Daisy?"

Memories flashed in her head as he called her that. Little Daisy.

She remembered picking daisies at Camp Half-Blood with Annabeth and Percy.

~•~•~

The Golden Fleece made the landscape much more beautiful, giving dryads more fruits and hills more flowers.

She twirled a flower with her fingers. "Tôi yêu hoa," she said, smiling to herself. "Chúng rất đẹp—đặc biệt là hoa cúc."

Annabeth frowned. "Sorry, can you repeat? In English please."

Hoa's eyes widened. "Sorry! Uh, I love flowers, especially daisies."

Percy looked at her softly, his sea green eyes twinkling in the light. "Hoa, seriously, it's fine. No need to apologize for using your native language."

Past Hoa's smile faltered. "But the other kids make fun of me for for it..."

The older demigods' faces hardened. They glanced at each other, having a silent conversation. Finally, Percy asked, "Who?"

She sniffled. "The meanies from that cabin with all the land mines—especially the girl. They all follow the girl."

Percy's fist clenched as he thought about this, his face growing redder by the second. Annabeth gripped his shoulder, making him look to her questioningly. She shook her head at him, and he stopped, smiling nervously.

Percabeth! her mind screamed.

Annie turned to her. "We'll fix that," she said reassuringly. She extended a hand towards her, and Percy did the same.

All the faces overlapped each other—Nico's to Percy's and Annabeth's. She loved all three, but maybe she loved Nico a little bit differently.

She smiled as she grabbed the hand in front of her.

~•~•~

After they ate some McMuffins, she excused herself to go to the bathroom. Inside, she went over to the mirror and screamed, muffling the sound coming out with the sleeves of the red hoodie.

She burrowed her face into her arms, a lone tear falling out her eye.

This is probably leading to the end of our friendship, she thought.

Because she was falling.

Hard.

Everything felt right with him—to fighting alongside him, sleeping and cuddling him—everything. For he felt like her home at Camp Half-Blood, like the cold of snow in New York, like warmth from the rainforests of Vietnam, like the monsoon rain in her homeland.

He was perfect in her eyes, but she couldn't bear the thought of losing their friendship. What if I mess it up?

Does he even like me back?

I can't with this anymore...

Hoa looked up at herself in the mirror. Well, better get ready.

~•~•~

She walked out of the bathroom, back to Nico as he finished speaking to what looked like Minos. As soon as the ghost saw her, it disappeared, encouraging Nico to look at her.

He gave a small smile. "Hey, Little Daisy."

She raised an eyebrow. "What's up with 'Little'? Why am I 'Little'?"

Death Boy smirked. "Come here," he said beckoning her forth with his hand.

Hoa approached cautiously, like a doe approaching a human. Nico wrapped one arm around her waist, his other hand at the top of her head.

She blinked for a second, confused until he released the limb around her waist. "Now, move."

Hoa ducked under his other hand, eyes widening at what she saw. "Wait..."

The hand that Nico placed on top of her head was just at his ear.

"You're taller than me?"

He smiled at her. "Yep."

Hoa used her own hand to measure her height against him, and sure enough: at his ear.

She pouted. "That's not fair..."

Nico raised an eyebrow. "Who said anything about fair?"

"That's... fair."

He snorted. "C'mon, Minos said to go to Texas. And the quickest way to Texas is..." he faltered.

"Through the Labyrinth." Hoa finished. "Well? Let's go, I guess."

Nico sighed. "You really hate Minos, huh?"

"Yeah, that dickhead is so rude to anyone but you."

"Well, he's kind of our only hope. Let's go find an entrance, he said he'll meet us there."

~•~•~

They found their entrance out back from a convenience store; right behind a huge dumpster. Hoa pushed it away with ease using her newfound strength buff and tapped the Delta, making it glow blue. A dirt passageway covered in vines revealed itself, the leafy strands of life parting slowly.

Nico took a bow besides the new entrance. "Ladies first."

Hoa rolled her eyes. "Sure."

She took a cautious step forwards, being careful not to step on any of the roots. Looking back, she extended an arm towards Nico, who was struggling on making it past the vines.

"Come on, don't step on any," she said. "They're moving around like they're trying to feel something."

Nico looked around, now suspicious of the greenery. "Noted."

Carefully, they stepped around the twirling vines, Nico's foot almost slipping a few times.

"Whoa, Death Boy! Watch where you step!"

"I'm fine, Hoa."

Finally, they made it to a fork in the road, with the middle one looking normal. On one side, it looked incredibly old, and the other looked a bit ominous.

She frowned. "Which way?"

Blue light shined before their eyes, and there appeared Minos. He bowed to Nico, before glaring to Hoa. Turning back to Nico, he said, "Take the pathway that seems the oldest; it might lead you to the inventor. Plus, it also leads to that state we need to go next."

"Texas," Hoa clarified.

"Yes, yes, that. Off with you, terror girl!"

She huffed as she began walking down the tunnel, but suddenly, Nico pulled her back.

Out of nowhere, a huge axe blade swung from above, hanging from the ceiling and almost decapitating her. "Thanks, Neeks," Hoa said. "Now where is that bitch Minos so I can kill him again?"

He dragged her out the way as he said "Not here, anyways. You've gotta be more careful than that..."

She groaned. "I know, I'm sorry! I just didn't expect there to be a whole entire fucking axe above my head..."

He rolled his eyes. "Sure..."

She sighed. "C'mon then, lets go—"

"Nuh-uh."

"What?"

"Not until you promise to be more careful."

"No promises."

Nico gripped her arm tightly and lightly pulled her. "I mean it, Hoa," he said. "We're not moving until you promise me to be careful."

Hoa sighed. "I promise."

------------------------------------------------------------

hi im madi, your loyal author ♥️

one, hoa waking up cuddling nico? aww

two, i formally apologize to hoa, my bad

anyways

how was the chapter?

also, what are some questions of your own?

anyways, tysm for reading this crappy book! 😃