Will Solace and Nico di Angelo stepped onto a brick path as they stared up at the two story house looming in front of them. It was night and the street lit only by lamplight. The neighborhood was quiet save for the residence in front of them from where dull music throbbed from behind the walls. The two boys looked as dissimilar as boys could be. One was tall and blonde, wearing carefree shorts and a checkered button down open over a surf Barbados t-shirt. Sandals graced his feet. The other slender, slightly shorter and clad in a tight band tee underneath a black jacket paired with black jeans and combat boots to complete the image. His coloring was contrast in the extreme with jet black hair and bone pale skin.

The blonde took a deep breath and turned to face his companion, hands shoved casually in the pockets of his shorts. "Once we get in there-"

"Let me guess, stick close by you at all times?" Nico asked sardonically.

Will smiled a little ruefully. "Actually, I was going to say… I want you to have fun tonight." He looked down, foot kicking at some dirt. "I know I've been kind of… hard on you lately so…" he looked back up. "Enjoy yourself. Don't go overboard but have fun."

Nico blinked surprised. Then he felt guilty. Will sounded so sincere. He really did just want him to be happy for one night and here Nico was planning on going behind his back to get high. Was it really worth it?

They walked up the steps toward the open door, music growing louder. People were hanging everywhere: on the stairs, in the alcove, weaving to and from the kitchen, lined up against the walls, and splayed over the couches.

Will leaned toward him, "I'm gonna look for Austin and Kayla," he shouted over the din.

Nico nodded. "See you later."

Will cast him one last lingering look before descending into the throng of heated bodies.

Nico glanced around. He spotted Drew descending the staircase gossiping rapidly with her scantily clad girlfriends, Mitchell grinding against some guy in the corner and Jason Grace who tore his eyes off Piper to wave at him from across the room.

Nico waved back then turned at the sound of his name. "Oh hey Cecil."

"Hey man, I haven't seen you in a while…" The two caught up until they were joined shortly by Lou Ellen. Slowly, Nico made his way around the room, talking with different people. Huh, maybe he could do this, maybe he didn't need anything extra. He felt pretty fine right now. He could spend the time just catching up with people, engaging in pleasant conversation.

A hand fell on his shoulder and he almost bristled. People really needed to stop touching him.

Ellis grinned at him. "Hey man, I've been looking for you. Come on, the real party's upstairs." Nico turned and followed him, pausing on the middle of the stairs when he caught sight of Will down in the crowd. His brother was talking animatedly with Kayla and Austin. He tilted his head back and laughed at something Nico couldn't hear. He was fine and looked happy so Nico turned and kept going.


Will weaved through the aggregated clusters of inebriated teenagers in the dim hallway. He entered a room made even dimmer by the thick smoke hanging in the air. It made the room even more claustrophobic than the clumps of people everywhere. The scent of marijuana and human sweat and sex attacked his senses and Will wrinkled his nose. He passed through a doorway into a smaller bedroom. There, star-fished on the bed, was Nico. He'd shed his jacket and his pale arms seemed to glow against the dark bedspread. Will felt a tightening in his gut as he made his way over to him.

"Nico." The boy opened his eyes but didn't focus on Will. The blonde pulled out a pen flashlight and shined it in his eye. The dark pupil stayed almost completely dilated.

Will felt anger course through his core. But it was mingled with disappointment and worse, the feeling that he'd expected this to happen.

He grabbed the boy's arms, used them to draw him up and then bent and pulled him over his shoulder.

Walking back through the larger, more crowded room, Will spotted Nico's jacket draped over a chair and grabbed that too.

Walking down the stairs with the semi conscious boy over his shoulder, he heard someone whistle suggestively at them but Will ignored it.

He went out the door and into the night.