Nico sits down on the steps outside the Hades cabin.

After breakfast he tried to clear his head with a little sward practice but all he managed to do was lose to Frank because he couldn't stop thinking about the campfire and Will. He took a walk through the woods but just ended up back at his cabin.

He's not sure what he is so stressed over. During the fall most of the campers are off at school so the campfires are more relaxed and a lot of people go as couples. Maybe that's why Nico is freaking out. If I go to the campfire and sit with Will, we might look like a couple and that will make people think Will is gay and if he isn't…

Nico doesn't have to worry about that anymore, everyone already knows about him. It happened a week or so after the war with Gaea. At first he was really mad, mostly at Percy. That cocky bastard couldn't keep his damn mouth shut about my crush Nico didn't think he was ready for everyone to know but thanks to Percy's "how am I not his type" rambling, gossip spread and then people were giving him funny looks and whispering. As soon as he realized why, he hid in his cabin for 2 days. Everyone came by and tried to get through to him but it wasn't until Will came knocking that he finally opened the door. That was when Nico admitted to himself that he had a crush on the Sun God's son.

Nico was so lost in his thoughts that he didn't even hear Hazel and Reyna approaching until they were climbing the steps. "So what's wrong?" asks Hazel. "What do you mean?" "Frank says he beat you in a sparring match… now don't get me wrong, I love him but that shouldn't happen which means your head wasn't in it so spill…"

"It's nothing, just something that has me over thinking"

"I don't suppose it has to do with that healer?" suggests Reyna.

How would she know that "Why would you think that?"

"We saw you talking at breakfast as when he left you had this look on your face. Did he ask you something?"

Why would she ask that? "Well…"

"Come on Nico you can tell us" begged Hazel. Nico lets out a sigh "He asked if I was going to the campfire and when I told him probably he said he would save me a seat." "Oh Nico, that's great!" "It's just a seat right?" "NO! It's an invitation to sit with him, like together"

So I wasn't imagining the date implication Suddenly Nico started to sweat; rubbing his hands on his jeans. "What should I do?"

"Don't freak out, he's a great guy and we have seen the way he looks at you." Hazel says as she bumps him playfully. "So you don't think I am reading the situation wrong?" "Of course not!" both girls say together. Nico feels a little better but he is still not sure about everything.

Will is restocking the cabinet when Piper & Annabeth come stumbling in. Annabeth is limping, favoring her left ankle with Piper supporting her other side. "What happened girls?"

"She fell off the climbing wall" Piper replies.

"Percy pushed me off!" Annabeth exclaims as she sits down on the closest bed arguing with Piper.

"I'm sure it was an accident, he wouldn't do it on purpose." "Oh whatever, he hates to lose and I was smoking him up that wall!" Will examines her foot while she talks. "You two are way too competitive, and don't even think about getting even with him!" Piper demands. Annabeth just glares in response.

"It's just a fracture, I will wrap it just in case but ambrosia should do the trick." Will says while he grabs supplies. He is glad to have a patient; he hasn't gotten much work done today as his mind has been on tonight and Nico. He wonders if the girls can shed some light on the Son of Hades. "Hey so… off topic but could I get your guys opinion on something?"

"Of course" Piper perks up and looks at Will like she is ready to hear some juicy gossip. "If someone is really shy or maybe reserved, how do you know if they like you?" Piper looks at Annabeth and the girls share a small smile. "Well that's a tough one" Piper says with a mischievous smirk.

"Does this person act or do things different around you?"

"What do you mean?" he asks looking down at Annabeth's ankle while he wraps it.

"Well, has he open up about himself?" We have had a few conversations about his past "Yes"

"And does he smile or laugh at all with you when he doesn't with others?" Will thinks about that glorious laugh or those little smiles that only he seems to see. "Yes"

"And is he less angry around you?" Well yea I think… wait a minute Will looks up for the first time and sees huge smiles on both of their faces. "You know don't you?"

"Know what?" Piper says innocently "That you're majorly crushing on the dark, mysterious and hard to read Nico di Angelo?" Will glares at her "How did you figure it out?" "Oh please Will, I am the love goddess daughter; you can't imagine what I know I about the love life's of our fellow demigods!"

"Plus you didn't deny it was a he" Annabeth adds helpfully. Will rests his head in his hands as he responds "So what do I do then?"

"He is a hard one to read but if what you just confirmed is any indication then I think you should go for it. He doesn't open up much so if you have gotten this far than I think its proof that he likes you"

Eager to change the subject, Will pushes back from bed and asks Annabeth how she feels. She seems to get the message, "Much better, thanks Will." "You're welcome, take it easy the rest of the day ok?" "Can do and good luck tonight!"

"Yea, thanks" Will responds shyly. Although after the girls leave he thinks they are right. If I don't try I won't ever know, but how do I…try without him freaking out?

After the girls head inside, Nico thinks he needs a guys option and decides to hunt down Jason. After a while he finds him skipping rocks by the lake. "Hey man, what are you doing out here? Where are the others?" Nico asks trying to make sure they aren't going to show up any second. "I had to get away from Percy and Annabeth. Those two are having quite the spat right now. Piper stayed behind to make sure they don't kill each other. How are you feeling after yesterday?"

"Fine."

"Hey speaking of Solace…" We weren't speaking about him yet… "I saw you guys at breakfast this morning, it sure looked…cozy." He said with a big smile. "ha ha, I was hoping to actually get your advice on that, I think he asked me to the campfire tonight but I'm not sure." Nico says looking down at the ground.

"How are you not sure, what did he say?" Jason asked intrigued. "Well, he asked if I was going and when I said yes he said, 'Awesome, I'll save you a seat.' I don't know if he was just being nice and it means see you there or is it like a date. After last night, I'm just so confused."

"WAIT! What happened last night?" Uh oh

"It's just… last night…he kinda…stayed the night with me in the infirmary." Jason's eyebrows shot to the sky. "NICO THAT'S HUGE! He totally did that on purpose."

"He did?"

"That is not something that happens by accident!"

"It's not?"

"NO! and if that's the case than I am positive he means for tonight to be a date. I bet he tries to hold your hand or even put his arm around you. You know the classic yawn and stretch move, that seems like his style" Nico is starting to feel really jittery the more Jason rambles on, his palms are starting to sweat again. "Ooh ooh, he may even try to kiss you!" At that Nico punches him in the arm, "Shut Up!"

"Dude, what's wrong? Don't you like him?" Jason says rubbing his arm. "Yea but…" "Don't you want to do all those things?" "I guess, but…"Jason gives him a 'but what' look. "I just never thought I actually could. What if he doesn't like me that way? Hades, I don't even know if he likes guys at all."

"Want me to ask?" Jason says backing up toward the camp. "NO, NO, NO! I'll just…" he takes a deep breath, "I will just be prepared but try not to get my hopes up" "I guess that's playing it safe." Jason sums up. Yes, play it save. That will work… I hope…

A few hours later Will is wrapping up things around the infirmary impatiently waiting for when he can go back to his cabin and get ready for tonight. He hasn't been this excited for an off season campfire in well…ever. They are always so couply and third-wheelish but now he has date…kinda…maybe…

Uncertainly starts to settle in his stomach. Well crap!

Just as he is about to weigh the facts, Percy comes stumbling in clutching his arm to his chest. "Whoa Jackson, what happened to you?" "Oh you know, the love of my life just went CRAZY and broke my arm!" Apparently revenge is the answer He leads Percy over to a bed and hands him a square of ambrosia. "Here eat this and tell me what happened." "Well after you fixed her ankle she wanted to spar but she took it way too far. She brought her elbow down right on my forearm and crack!"

"Ouch!" was all Will could say without smiling.

"I don't know what's gotten into her today."

"You may want to find out before tonight or you're in for a lonely campfire"

"Speaking of the campfire, are you going with anyone?" Percy adds cheerfully.

"Why do you ask, afraid of your girlfriend?" Will says in a joking manner while he sets his arm.

"NO! but I did see you with di Angelo this morning and for once he didn't look pissed off."

"You don't say…" Will was intrigued.

"Oh yea, if you got him to smile then he must like you!" Percy says and wiggles his eye brows.

"I would ask how you could tell, but we all know you can't so im guessing the girls said something." Will can't help but poke fun at Percy, he's such an easy target.

"Well then, why don't we just ask him?" Percy suggests

"How about we don't…"

"Does he even know you play for both teams?

"I think so…" Will adds uncertainly

"But you haven't talked about it?"

Why is he so nosy? "Not exactly…" Will finishes up Percy's arm and he lifts it, bending his wrist and elbow testing them out.

"Well that is where we need to start then doc!" Percy adds cheerfully

"Please don't meddle in my love life; I don't want to scare him away"

"Oh please dude, I can be discrete. He won't even know it's happening… trust me" The look in his eye's makes Will feel like he has missed something has he meddled before?

"Don't worry doc, I got your back." Percy says with a wink as he heads to the door "Thanks for the fix up, allow me to return the favor!"

"Please don't meddle Percy… or LIFT ANYTHING HEAVY!" Will yells after Percy has he runs off toward the cabins. Will's wraps up at the infirmary and heads to his cabin to get ready for tonight. He's still excited but is also worried as he thinks of what Percy could possibly have planned.