Because Maybe That Boy Likes His Pasta
Nico sat in math class, just staring around at the other students. He knew he had to get a better grade, family and teachers and even his friends had told him that— but he really couldnt be bothered to learn. He stared at a boy who sat on the other side of the class. He knew the boy, he knew him because his cousin Jason was friends with Piper Mclean, Piper was (girl)friends with Rachel Elizabeth Dare, and Rachel was friends with this boy– Will Solace.
Nico watched Will for a few moments before the other glanced over and their eyes met. Nico almost flinched and immediately looked away.
He stabbed his pencil into the page and ripped it. At least it wasnt his arm this time. The teachers cant get on his ass for stabbing a fucking piece of paper, can they?
Through the day, another class, and this one was music. Nico carried some drumsticks through the music storeroom, not exactly paying attention to his surroundings, and bumped into someone.
Will.
Nico's throat went dry, his grip on the drumsticks tightened and his entire body tensed and straightened, different from his usual slouch.
"Oh, sorry–" Will said, then met Nico's eyes with his own sapphire blue ones. They looked more beautiful than the sky, Nico thought, then mentally punched himself.
"Nico, right?" Will smiled kindly. He always seemed confident, kind of similar to another one of Nico's cousins. How fucking perfect.
Nico stared at Will with a nervous expression, then let out an embarrasing strangled sound, and pushed past him to get away. Get away from his own stupid, gay, idiotic feelings.
Everytime Will interacted with Nico in anyway, be it just asking to borrow a pencil, saying hi, even being in the same room as him, Nico was a mess. He shut down and tried to get away as fast as possible.
So now, after a week of awkward interactions, Nico scribbled down a note and shoved it into Will's locker. Will needed to leave the school, stop making Nico feel... these things.
"Nico," Hazel chuckled, poking her half brother in the ribs as he laid on the bed.
"Shush, it's not like I'm choosing these things–" Nico swatted her away, staring at the ceiling as if it had any actual value to the conversation.
"But come on, you have to tell him. He aint gonna judge you, is he?" Hazel smiled.
Nico only grumbled in response and rolled over to hide his face in the pillow. Hazel sighed and ran her fingers through Nico's hair.
"Nico, dont be a fuckin' coward, please." She said bluntly, to no response. "I know you hate having feelings, and I know you hate how your little heart works."
She continued playing with Nico's hair, braiding some of it. It always reminded Nico of how Bianca used have her hair braided– he actually grew it out to look more like her.
"I'm your sister, Nico, I know you better than most. I know how kind you can be, and I know you have the oppurtunity to show this kindness to everyone who deserves it." Hazel sighed. "This boy seems like he wants to know that side of you, too. Maybe try let him in?"
"....maybe." Nico whispered.
"Maybe." Hazel smiled and pat Nico's head, then retracted her hands from his hair.
Back at school once more– practically torture. Science class was okay, though, but they werent doing anything interesting right now.
Nico was so bored, practically falling asleep, he almost didnt notice Will sit down next to him.
"Hey," Will greeted.
Nico turned his head up to him and blinked.
"..hi." God, his voice sounded shaky and dorky and raspy– way to fucking go, di Angelo.
Finally get to talk to the pretty boy, get the moment ruined by your stupid voice and stupid self.
Will smiled at Nico.
"Uh.. You've got a bit of a staring problem, yeah?"
Nico didnt respond immediately, but his face felt ten times hotter than before.
"Uh–" He said dumbly, getting cut off by a teacher calling his full name. He cringed sightly at the sound of his actual name. He took the opportunity to get away, collected his stuff, and gave Will a final glance before leaving the class.
Not again, he thought. It happened once a week, he'd get pulled out of class for a therapy session with the school counseller, who just so happened to be the principal of the school, Mr. D. They didnt have enough budget to get a proper counseller, even after merging with the prissy private school Jupiter College.
Sitting in the office was sort of a regular thing at this point.
"And how's your grades?" Mr. D asked in a bored tone.
Nico shrugged. "Fine, probably."
"I doubt that."
"Yeah."
"And your health? Those little... coping things we gave you?" The man sighed and leaned back in his chair.
"I think they work." Nico muttered.
"Hm, good. Just dont do drugs or whatever.." Mr. D looked away from the equally bored teen.
"Speaking from expirience?" Nico asked.
"Smartass." The principle muttered.
The awkward atmosphere was tense with silence until the therapy timer was finally up. Nico collected his stuff and quickly left.
There were only about 10 minutes left in the school day– he could just skip the rest of class.
Nico sat down in a small corner of a wall next to the front office. It was hidden from view mostly, a bush right infront of it. There were bathrooms right next to it, but not many people used them as they were supervised as they were near the office.
Nico sat on his phone and peeled the dry skin off his lips idly– one of his "bad habits", (As Dr. Chiron, his father, and Mr. D had said..).
When the bell eventually rang, Nico just left the school and waited for Hazel outside. When she arrived, they got into their private driver's car and drove home.
"What's for dinner tonight?" Hazel asked.
"I presume it's pasta." Nico shrugged and stared out of the window.
Hazel rolled her eyes. "Does that mean you'll actually eat it this time?"
"If our step-mother actually makes it right." Nico joked, the corner of his lips moving up in a small smile.
Hazel scoffed and playfully poked Nico's arm.
"Tsk tsk tsk, Nico, you have to eat, even if the food tastes worse than horse shit."
Nico snorted in amusement. The atmosphere in the car was light for a few moments, before Hazel spoke again.
"Promise you'll eat?"
"I will." Nico said firmly.