Poetry Gone Emotional

Disclaimer: I don't own anything except the plot.

A/N: I think this is going to be a 4/5 shot sooo follow if you like it!

"Okay, now can we have Mr. Solace to present?"

Nico sighed. His looked around the room from his seat in the back corner. Half of the class was looking at the boy about to present. The other half was too lazy to turn around or not even paying attention. Nico didn't blame any of them, except maybe the ones actually looking. It was a high school English class in their senior year. Did anyone really care? How? They were taught out of books with no emotional thought put into them, which defeats the purpose of good literary works in the first place. How that taught them useful, meaningful information, Nico didn't know.

However, Nico decided to salvage his grade with any easy project. And poetry was easy - bad poetry was anyway.

Suddenly, Solace started speaking from up front in his seat.

"Without a sparkle

Darkness that glows from within

Captivating all"

As expected, the teach let out a loud round of snaps, followed by the rest of the class. Nico has just transferred into this class for the new semester, so he couldn't see who it was that had written an actual piece of poetry. For a moment, it annoyed him.

If Nico had spoken that poem, he'd have been ridiculed by his peers for being 'so gay' and his friends for being 'so emotional.' He wanted to know who this Solace kid was. He had something working for him. It didn't matter, he supposed. Nico was a writer, not a poet. While he could do better than what he turned in on average, he felt no drive to do so.

"Up next, di Angelo."

Nico sighed. He really didn't give a damn about this project aside from the fact that he was being forced to interact with the class. He supposed it didn't matter much, though, because he sucked at poetry. This wasn't as personal as she wanted, just like all his poetry.

"My food is not here

All my food has disappeared

Into my stomach"

Hands clapped and people laughed very loudly, louder than Nico had ever been clapped for in his entire life. He blinked in surprise and looked around at all the faces staring at him. It was a stupid poem, but almost the entire class was laughing. Well, he saw one blonde kid rolling his eyes with a frown and the teacher glaring harshly at him. That was the appropriate reaction. He'd written this over breakfast this morning in two seconds. It was horrid.

The class found it relatable great, he supposed, and the teacher got annoyed with how long it took them to stop laughing. Honestly, the snickered through the next person's poem as well and only stopped when the bell rang.

Nico was packing up when the teacher yelled over the chatter, "Nico di Angelo. Will Solace. Stay after class, if you will."

Nico wanted to say that he wouldn't, but he knew it'd make him stay there longer, and he did not want that. So he grabbed his stuff and walked up to her desk, noting the eye-rolling blonde doing the same. Nico tried to get a good view of his face, but his back was to him.

"Is something wrong?" he asked.

The teacher smiled sweetly at him and rested a hand on his arm. "No, no dear. Not with you. Your poem was great. If anything, it was from your heart, and that's all I can really ask for from youth like you."

Nico snorted. "That's a shitty compliment."

Her eyes turned deadly as they moved to him. "And then there are the kids like you, Nico." She sighed distastefully. "You don't even try. I've been told your narrative writings are good, but frankly, I haven't seen much in them. Even in those, you don't try. You must pull from within."

Nico narrowed his gaze. "Listen, I don't know what he's doing," he hissed as he shot s pointed look at the taller blonde's back, "but when I've presented something with meaning, I get shit on by everyone. Stop making me present and maybe I'll try."

Will Solace wheeled around. Nico hadn't expected such startlingly blue eyes. His hair was almost curly, and it framed his defined jaw line with startling perfection. Despite his angry expression, his looks were horrifyingly hot. It made Nico pale and sweaty and want to leave immediately. That adorable nose scrunched at his reaction. Nico needed to leave. He gripped his backpack tighter, trying to keep it together.

"Why? They loved you today."

If it weren't for his stupid words, Nico wouldn't have been able to speak. "Yeah, well, like she said. This one was stupid."

"I would never say that!"

"Oh but you would," Nico said. "There's a reason I transferred into this class, dude. Depth works for you, but not for me." He forced his scrutinizing gaze away from Will Solace.

"Maybe because I don't make it so personal," Will scoffed. "If you have the mindset that everyone hates you, they will hate you. You close yourself off. I've seen it."

"You don't know me!"

"That's a lie! We had art together last year!"

Nico cursed the ground Will walked on. His art class was the only reason he attended school. It was the one place he could do what he loved with no fear because most people in his art class were more accepting or couldn't understand the emotional depth he put into his art. It was his getaway, and he ad hardly noticed anyone else in the class all year because of it. Now it was tainted.

"Boys," she cleared her throat. "The reason I've called you in here was not to fight. Will, you need bonus points from your two weeks you were out. And Nico...you just need help."

Nico scoffed.

"So, Will, if you tutor Nico after school twice a week, I'll give you extra points."

"Who says I want him to?" Nico huffed, shooting Will an annoyed glance. He was gorgeous, and that only got under Nico's skin more.

"Your father. He was not pleased when I said you were failing."

Nico felt the need to kick something. His father had some nerve waltzing around directing his life when he was hardly in it.

"Will?"

He pursed his lips. "We'll have to work around my basketball practices."

Nico gritted his teeth. Of course he'd be a jock, too. "Whatever."

Nico left cursing the teacher under his breath. His eyes were focused on the big double doors that led toward his ride home. Unfortunately, a hand grabbed his wrist and delayed him from leaving.

"Hey Nico." It was the stupidly attractive blonde. His throat got clogged suddenly. "So when are you free?"

Nico narrowed his eyes. "Gods, you're serious?"

Will blinked, smiling that smile that made Nico's stomach twist. "Humor her," he shrugged. "Please. I need the extra credit."

"Why?"

Will's eyes were skittish. "It's complicated."

"You didn't just go off on some trip and now I'm your way to make it up, did you?" Nico asked. There was something about the way his eyes looked that gave Nico the answer.

"I wish," he laughed nervously. "So, how does tomorrow night work? My place?"

"Night? Why?"

"I have practice after school every day," Will explained. "8?"

"Sure," Nico sighed. He didn't mind the late time, but it seemed kind of odd. "It won't go past your bedtime, will it?"

Red blush spread along Will's cheeks. He chuckled as his eyes stared at his feet. "See ya, di Angelo."

Then, he jogged off toward the gym.

. . .

"It's so infuriating!" Nico groaned. He kicked his feet in the cold water. Percy disappeared under the water, so Nico waited for him to come up for air. It took forever. "Like, have you seen him before? I swear I haven't."

Percy waded back toward Nico. Behind him, Jason was trying to catch up. "He's on the basketball team, right? Jason has to know him."

They waited for another minute for Jason to make it to them. "How do you do that, Jackson?"

Percy smirked and shrugged. "Do you know the Solace kid?"

He frowned momentarily. "Uh, yeah. Killer shot. He's starting this year. Why?"

"He's tutoring Nico tonight," Percy snickered.

"Nico! If you had told me you were having trouble, I could have helped you! Or Annabeth! Or Pipe-,"

"I'm fine!" Nico hissed. "I'm not doing this because I need to! I'm doing this -,"

"Ooo! Because you like him!" Percy said so excitably he managed to soak Nico's pants. Nico kicked him.

"No I don't. I -,"

"You have to find him attractive at the least," Jason reasoned. "Listen, I'm not into guys, but he does have a good body. He has abs."

Without his permission, his brain imagined what Will Solace looked like shirtless with abs. He almost whimpered. Then, he snapped back to reality.

"Stop it," Nico hissed. "My dad is making me."

"Your dad is never home!"

He had a good point. If Nico wanted to, he could easily lie about it. He could start putting a little effort into his poetry and blame on Will. Will could get the extra credit without doing anything. It wouldn't have been hard, but something held Nico back.

Will had spoken to Nico without any qualms. Even Jason didn't have the guts to say things like that to him. Nico didn't believe Will, of course. Since day one, he'd been harassed and picked on because of the way he dressed or because he was gay, though only so many people knew that. Will didn't understand what it was like. He was cool and had been given a pass for his deep poetry and feelings. Nico wasn't.

"He seems like a goody two shoes. He's not going to lie," Nico muttered, picking at his fingers as Annabeth and Piper walked into the pool area.

Percy and Jason pushed themselves to sit on either side of Nico. Percy didn't care that he'd fully soaked Nico's jeans. Jason tried to wipe off the water, which was stupid.

"Listen, I know Will. He'd break the rules. And I'm sure he knows you don't need help. Maybe he just wants to hang out," Jason nudged his side. "It's not the craziest idea."

"Seriously, you're cool. Rude, but funny," Percy grinned. Nico glared. "Ooh! Is he your type? Is he gay?"

Nico rolled his eyes. He didn't allow wishful thinking, not when it came to somebody as gorgeous as Will Solace. "My type isn't just anyone who's gay."

"Well is he?"

Jason shrugged. "I don't know. He's never said anything about girls or boys."

"Percy! Hurry up before I come and dunk your head underwater!" Annabeth yelled.

"You can never slay me, baby!" Percy shouted, making seal sounds before he dove back in the water and swam across to Annabeth, trying to pull her in and failing.

Jason glanced at Nico wearily. "Don't stress it. He's a cool guy. Don't be too hard on him tonight."

Jason stood and walked to greet Piper with a kiss. Nico watched them. They'd gotten together a week ago, yet they acted as if they were Annabeth and Percy, who had been dating for a year now. Nico couldn't understand how easily Jason and Piper fell into a relationship. It was without challenge or trouble. It was almost too easy, which was unnerving; nothing was every too easy for him.

When Nico finally got up the courage to knock on Will's door, his stomach was in knots. He'd tried to qualm his nerves. He had two days to do so. Yet there he was, clasping his hands together hard enough to embed his nails into his skin.

The door swung open to a shirtless, sweaty, hot, gorgeous, sexy Will Solace. There was a towel around his neck and shorts on his torso, but other than that, he was completely bare.

Nico's mouth sort of fell open. "Nico," Will breathed, like he'd just been pushing his body to its limits, "hey. Sorry, I didn't realize it was time yet."

Nico blinked. His body had lost all feeling.

"I was working out. Actually...I have one more set. Do you mind?"

His mind was going crazy. All his eyes could take in was his toned chest and muscular form. Since when had his arms been so ripped?

"Damn."

It slipped out. Nico had no control, but at least that splashed some cold water on him. Will's frowned with that crooked smile of his in confusion. "Ah - I mean, don't - I don't mind."

Will's smile grew. "Sweet. Follow me."

Now, his house was huge. Nico had a bigger house, but still, this place was huge. Not to mention it was in Nico's neighborhood. Either way, it wasn't horrible surprising that Will had a miniature gym in his house. Nico had a pool table in his room, so.

Will walked over to the free weight machine. Nico's eyes bulged at the amount of weight on it. "Is that safe?"

Will shrugged. "I should have a spotter, but I've done heavier before. It's safe." He turned his head as he walked underneath the bar. "I have good form."

True to his word, Will gripped the bar and moved back before squatted so low Nico expected him just to collapse. Opposing gravity, Will pushed himself upward with minimal struggling. He let out a small breath of air before going back down, and Nico swore his head was getting dizzier.

Nico watched as casually as he could manage, which wasn't very casual, but Will didn't notice much. He had a far off dazed look on his face. When he finally finished, he bent over on his knees and breathed heavily for a few seconds.

Nico snorted. "Impressive."

"Nah, want to try? It's not that heavy."

Nico rolled his eyes. "Fuck off, Sunshine."

Will's eyes bore into Nico as he breathed heavily. "I'm serious. You're not that small anymore."

"Anymore? I swear I've never met you before."

Will stood with a mischievous grin. His shoulders were bulging as he loomed above Nico. "Eighth grade. My mom left, and I didn't have a ride home because my dad was in surgery. So you gave me a ride, or your Jules-Albert and you did."

Nico frowned. There was a vague memory of that. "She left?"

Will wiped his face with his towel and sling his shirt over his shoulder as they headed out of the gym. Nico followed, feeling horribly inferior in his jeans and rock shirt.

Will shrugged. "Yeah. She just left. Haven't heard from her since."

Nico didn't expect that. Will seemed like a perfect kid from a perfect family with perfect qualities. It didn't even seem to affect him. He threw it out there so casually.

"That's horrible," Nico said. Will snorted. "Sorry. That was rude."

"But it's true," Will laughed a little. He finally threw on his shirt, even though the tank hardly covered anything. His arms were only more defined. "It's okay. My dad is awesome."

Nico didn't know what to say to that. Thankfully, Will didn't need a response. He smiled over his shoulder and motioned toward the basement.

"So, we're working on another poem. They're couplets, so they're kind of fun." Will spoke as they entered a large basement living room. The couch could seat 15 people, and it faced a fireplace with a giant television above it. There was a pool table to the right and a wet bar. "They-,"

"Okay, I'm not stupid. I can write actual poetry." Nico hissed, resisting the urge to kick Will in the back as they descended the last stair.

Will sat down on the carpet with his back to the couch, which Nico found stupid, but he followed anyhow. "You wrote about food. Food! And not even with a hint of romanticism!"

Nico felt the insult in his bones. He sat next to Will with a pointed look. "You wrote about the moon or some weird shit!"

"The moon? How the fuck did you get that?" Will started laughing hysterically, and Nico couldn't help but join in. "It's about a person!"

Nico thought on that, and it made much more sense. "Oh." It sent Will into more laughter. Nico threw his head back on the couch and rubbed his head.

Will elbowed him tiredly, grinning but finally silent. "Sure you know how to do poetry, di Angelo?"

There was a grating challenge in his words, so Nico smirked. "I'll prove it. Let's have a competition."

Will wiggled his eyebrows. "I like the sound of this. We need stakes." He turned on his side, legs reaching near Nico's. The grin on his face almost worried him.

"Okay. What are the stakes?" Nico questioned.

Will paused to think, but Nico could tell he already knew what he would say. "You write the better poem, and we don't have to do this anymore. We'll tell her we are and just don't. But, if I win, you have to do something for me."

Nico raised an eyebrow. "Have you met me? I don't do much for other people."

Will snorted. "I once watched you put on the school's minotaur costume because your sister got sick. I think you'll do a lot."

His instinctual reaction was anger. Nobody really spoke to him about his sister anymore. He was right. She did fall sick, and she stayed sick for a long time. But Will spoke with affection and a light, breezy tone. It almost reminded him of the good times when his sister was still around, how much craziness she'd get him to do.

"Maybe. For the right people," Nico mused. Will grinned.

"Good. I'm the right people. So-,"

"That's up to me to decide," Nico laughed airily.

"Okay, well, while you're deciding that, start writing your poem. Let's do it about...love."

Nico frowned deeply. "Love? Can you be more cliche?"

"Hey! It's my completion. My idea. My rules," Will announced, grabbing his backpack to get pens and paper.

"I literally said let's have a competition."

Then, Will sent him a dirty wink, and Nico's heart stopped. "I don't care."

Nico chuckled. His sassy tone was actually a little cute. It was definitely a rarity. Not many people thought Nico could appreciate some sass. Most people thought he'd just punch them, and while he was tempted to, he also couldn't force himself to risk damaging such a perfect smile.

"Alright, we have five minutes."

"Five minutes?" Nico gaped.

Will laughed and fell so that their shoulders were touching, with a little of his weight resting on Nico. It didn't feel bad at all.

"My task for you is fun and could last a while so I want to get it started fast," Will flashed a grin. "Four couplets...GO!"

A/N: Please leave some reviews if you want the next part! Let me know what you think might happen and what I can improve on, but! I KNOW I suck at poetry, guys. Like royally. But I love the idea, so roll with it, lol. If anything, be happy it's all very straightforward poetry?

So who wants some more?