Chapter 3

Nico stood in front of his locker talking with Leo about the upcoming release of a game that they had been waiting for all year, there were only a few days left and they had each pre-ordered a copy to make sure that they got it.

"I don't even have it yet and I'm already losing sleep because of it, oh man I can't wait to get it!" Leo said with his usual elfish grin spreading across his face.

Nico laughed at his friend and shook his head, he knew the feeling but knowing Leo, he probably sat up all night thinking of all of the upgrades that had been mentioned for the new game and he was probably trying to figure out the fastest way to get them all even though he hadn't even started playing yet.

"Well maybe you should try and get some sleep while you can because knowing you that word doesn't even exist for about a week after starting a new game. Just do me a favour and don't call me at 4:30 in the morning this time when you know I have an exam the next day just so that you can brag about finding some hidden weapon or something. Although if you do find something hidden you are bound by the laws of friendship to take notes and share it with me, and vice versa, got it?"

"Deal." Leo was fiddling around with random things that he had pulled out of his pocket and Nico didn't know what he was making this time but it always fascinated him that Leo could turn any piece of scrap into something cool.

"You know one day you're going to have to show me how you do that. I swear you are like that little robot WALL-E."

They both laughed as they left the lockers and headed for their first classes. Nico stopped laughing though when he saw the blond again.

Leo had seen him too.

"Oh hey Will." He waved to the blond.

So his name's Will huh?

Will looked over and waved back to Leo as they passed each other and Nico could almost swear that the warm smile he flashed was directed at him and he hoped he wasn't blushing like crazy right now.

"Will?" Crap… he hadn't meant to say anything but it was too late now.

Leo didn't seem to think anything about him asking though, which he was grateful for.

"Yeah, we talk from time to time, he's a good guy. He's into a lot of the same things we are so it's easy to talk to him."

"I see." was all Nico said before heading to class. He couldn't stop thinking about Will or his smile, Nico knew it was likely just his mind playing tricks on him just hoping that it was him that Will had been smiling at but still.

Later at lunch as Nico sat with his friends Will was passing by and Leo called out to him again, this time inviting him to join them.

"Hey Will! Why don't you come sit with us?"

Will looked over, he seemed surprised at first but then a friendly smile appeared on his handsome face and he headed over. As it turned out Leo wasn't the only one to know Will, Jason and Piper seemed to know him too and so did Percy and Annabeth.

It seemed that Jason, Piper, and Leo had all met Will at the beginning of the school year while Percy and Annabeth knew him because he volunteered in the nurse's office from time to time and had helped patch up Annabeth's arm when she had gotten injured the previous year. Nico wondered why if so many of his friends had known Will, why their path had never crossed before.

"So Will, did you see it yet?" Percy asked as Nico tuned back into what everyone was talking about, seems they were talking about the new movie they had gone to recently. Nico had thought that he had seen Will at the theatre but he didn't want to say anything.

"Yeah, I went with my friend Cecil."

Everyone got into a long discussion about the film and what parts they loved about it, then Annabeth decided to draw attention to him, he wasn't sure if he should be mad at her or not for it.

"You know, Nico here is basically our resident expert on everything to do with movies, maybe you two should compare notes or something."

Nico was still debating on how much their friendship meant to him when Will turned his way and smiled and oh god what a smile it was, maybe Annabeth was a great friend after all.

"Oh yeah? Let's see what you know." Will said as way of challenge and that sparked a discussion/ debate that lasted until the end of lunch while the others just sat back and enjoyed the show.

When Nico got home that day he was excited to write in his journal about his day.

Dear diary, today I saw that boy and as he walked by I thought he smiled at me. I found out that his name is Will Solace and some of my friends already knew him. They invited him to sit with us at lunch today and we spent the rest of lunch debating about movies.

He has such an amazing smile and I wondered does he know what's in my heart each time he smiled my way. I tried to smile back but I could hardly breathe.

I hope he sits with us again. I'd really like to get to know him more.

Later that night Nico went to bed with a smile on his face.

Sorry this chapter is kind of short. Please let me know what you think.