Haven't uploaded for a while. Not so sure what to make of this chapter, though.

Anway I don't own PJO. Enjoy!

Nico's mouth is dry as he turns around, and the surprised and innocent expression on Will's face isn't helping his heart, which feels like it is going to fall out of his chest. He closes his eyes briefly, praying to any god out there that Will has just arrived, and hasn't heard him.

'Oh, hey Will. How long have you...' he trails off, choking out the words while an amused Jason pats him on the shoulder.

Something flickers in Will's eyes, but it's gone before Nico can figure out what it is.

'Not long - I just saw you and wanted to say hi. Did you finish that project that Mrs. Delarosa assigned?'

'Right, that. I was working on it, actually. You know what, I should probably go.'

He doesn't need to look at Will to see that he is surprised by the abrupt and probably overly curt dismissal. Next to him, Jason stiffens, though not Then. Nico clenches his fists. He isn't prepared to deal with Will and whatever this is right now, and he glances at the door.

Will follows his gaze, and then just nods. Startled, Nico grabs his cup and leaves. This has been a terrible day, and Nico can't wait to get home and crash on his couch and forget all about whatever just happened.

XXX

Percy calls exactly seven minutes later, and Nico decides to pick up the call partly out of curiosity at what Jason has told him, but mainly anticipating the amusement he can derive out of his friend's motherly nature.

'Hey.'

'Jason told me what happened,' ignoring Nico's huff of exasperation, Percy plows on, 'and you are going to get your butt out there and talk to Will.'

'Okay.'

'And then,' Percy says, unaware that Nico has replied,'you're going to have fun, and if you don't move your arse right now then I will. You've been brooding after him for way too long anyway.'

''I do not brood.' Nico protests, flushing.

'You do so. Even I figured it out, and well - me!' Percy says, driving the point home.

'Right. Well when you stop being delusional, call me.' Nico says, hanging up.

The phone rings, once then twice. Finally, realizing that the alternative is what Percy would call a friendly intervention, and what Nico calls an invasion of personal space, he picks up the phone.

'You hung up on me!' Nico is torn between delight at Percy's childish tone and irritation.

'Did I?' He asks, smirking,

'Don't try that tone on me. You need to talk to me about this right now, or - I'll - call Will for you.'

Nico's heart stops. 'You wouldn't dare.'

'I would, and you know it.'

Nico does. 'What do you want me to say? We literally just met this Monday. We're not exactly what you would call friends.'

'C'mon Nico, what the hell are you afraid of? He's obviously gay.' It's Annabeth.

Instead of questioning her sources, he decides to take her word for it. It is Annabeth. 'I refuse to have this conversation. Anyway, it took Jackson there six months to ask you out.'

He can feel her embarrassment. 'That was - different.'

'Sure.' Nico teases. He clings onto this argument, hoping they will lose interest in him.

They don't. Eventually, they realize it is no use, and deciding to leave him for the moment ('You'll have to tell us some time,' Annabeth threatens) they hang up, promising to visit him tomorrow and have a fresh attempt at wheedling the truth out of him.

Nico ducks his head into a couch cushion and sighs. Whatever his friends might say, he can't tell them why. That's just too private, and they wouldn't understand. Will is - amazing, and he deserves someone with no burdens, who can love him and never put him in danger. And with Nico's past and just everything, he knows he can't be that person, no matter what he might want.

Sleep overwhelms him and in those last conscious moments, self-control lost, he lifts the corners of his mouth in a half-smile at the thought that mop of golden hair and infuriatingly wide baby blue eyes. Then he sucks in a breath and is far, far gone.