Note: Hey folks, it's been ages. I reread the story last night, realized I should update even if I kinda hate where I left off, mostly because I said I'd never leave this story. So, at last, a new chapter. Rereading was the cringiest thing ever-I'm not sure why I let Jason drive home drunk, that makes no sense at all because he's a smart kid. But I'm trying to deal with it in a way that makes sense. Ahh whatever.
Recap: Jason gets in a car crash (drunk) with Nico (also drunk). Hazel is already home.
Jason had never been luckier. In his year and a half of having a driver's license, he'd never gotten into an accident. Always considering himself a cautious driver, Jason took pride in this fact. Something could have gone wrong-more wrong than hitting the stop sign. His heart was pounding fast when he glanced at Nico, who sat in the seat opposite with a steeled look on his face.
What has gotten into me? he asked himself. He never thought he'd drive drunk. Why did his friends even let him? It didn't make sense.
The ordeal was over within minutes. The driver of the other car slowed down, turned around, and circled back to check on Jason and Nico.
"I saw what happened"- "Are you okay?!"- "Do you need me to call someone?" But Jason shook his head, desperate not to let his alcohol show.
"Don't worry about it. Let's just exchange information and talk later. It's late." So Jason took his number and assured him he'd call in the morning.
This would be hard to explain to his mother, who trusted him to drive their car, which they shared, out that night. She'd most likely be furious, but he'd tell her in the morning. By that point, Jason wanted nothing more than to curl up in his bed and let himself drift off into nothingness for a few hours.
Feeling incredibly sobered up by the whole thing, he got inside and drove away. His car was driveable-the only real damage was some nasty denting on the passenger side near the headlights. He thanked god the whole ride home that nothing worse had happened.
Nico didn't talk to him the whole way back to his house. Jason could feel the fear, hatred, and loathing radiating from the boy to his right.
How would he ever be able to properly apologize? Sorry I drove you home while I was still drunk, and kept driving even after you pointed out I shouldn't be driving. Sorry I crashed us into a stop sign on your own street. Sorry I definitely put your life at risk tonight, that's not fair, and we should have just Ubered.
The way to Nico's house was just a short jog down the street. In fact, Jason wondered why Nico didn't just walk home.
"I'm so sorry, Nico," Jason said as they sat parked in the driveway, his car still on. "This was ridiculously out of line. I don't have any clue what we were thinking, me driving and all..."
Jason could tell Nico was pissed because the exhale through his mouth seemed to take forever.
"Your folks care if you spend the night somewhere?" Nico asked carefully. Jason could see where this was going, and answered with a slight shake of his head.
"Good, you'll sleep in the guest bedroom." Jason wanted to object, but knew he was in no place to argue. There was no way Nico would let him drive home after the accident, especially still intoxicated. People were shaken up, their nerves on edge. As someone who knew what being in an accident felt like, Nico was watching out for Jason's psyche, was well as his safety. "You need rest," he continued. "Let's go."
Jason sent a quick text to his mom, letting him know he was safe and spending the night at Percy's. A little white lie never hurt anyone.
Stepping inside Nico's home was like gaining a glimpse into his whole world. Everything in the interior was shiny silver or black. Silver fridge, black cabinets. Silver oven and microwave, black sink and faucet. He could see where Nico got his sense of style. It was completely different from what Jason was used to. His own house was entirely different-strewn with color and disorder and, well, it looked like people lived there. Nico's house looked practically uninhabited, if not for the shoes on the mat and cup on the table.
As they walked in, Hazel emerged from a door with her phone charger swinging in her hand. She looked over and saw Nico, then went back to plugging her phone in, doing a complete double take seconds after the fact.
"Jason," she said. "Everything okay?" Clearly Nico didn't have guests over often.
"Yes," Nico said quickly. "Uh, kinda. Well, Jason hit a stop sign."
"You shouldn't have been driving!" she exclaimed. So much for looking out for all her friends. "I thought you were going home with..." she faltered. "Percy? Or... God, this is totally my fault, I should have been paying attention." It was pretty amazing that she managed to miss that important fact-as well as Nico driving home with the very intoxicated Jason Grace. "I feel horrible. But I'm so glad you guys are okay. You're staying the night I take it? Let's get you settled," she said, already turning around to head back upstairs.
Jason quickly took off his shoes, risking a glance at Nico, who looked relieved to have the hospitality role off his shoulders. He took his time in the kitchen, grabbing himself a glass of water before going upstairs after the two.
Hazel set Jason up in the guest bedroom next to her own. She made sure he had enough pillows and blankets, that the temperature was alright for him. Jason assured her everything was fine. Truly, he was desperate to get some sleep. At last, she left him alone, heading to her room and shutting the door.
The door was still open and he was on his phone when Nico walked by and check inside.
"You all set?" he made sure before leaving to go into his own room.
"Think so," Jason said. "Honestly, I feel like I'm gonna hurl, but-"
"No buts, I'm getting you a bucket." Nico left quickly and came back with a small, clean trash can. "Here." He handed the bucket to Jason who accepted it gratefully, setting it by his bedside in case he needed it for later use.
"How are you so sober right now?" Jason asked.
Nico hesitated, still hovering in the doorframe. "I'm not," he conceded. "I can just hold it better than you. Seriously, Grace, get some rest. I'll chew you out tomorrow, but you should get some sleep or you'll start getting the spins."
With that, Nico flicked off Jason's bedroom light and closed the door to a crack.
"Night," Jason called, setting his phone down on the bedside table. He sighed, already feeling his head start to dance around. After a few sips of water, he lay his head back down and did his best to fall asleep.
It only took him a minute.
The sun was already high when Jason woke up. He checked his phone-11:03-and rolled back over. He knew he couldn't lie there forever. The horrific memories from the night before were already rushing back to him. But still, just a few more minutes would be nice...
Before he could get comfortable, his phone buzz, and Jason instinctively reached a hand over to check.
A text from his mother-That's fine. With a yawn, Jason swung himself out of bed and made his way downstairs.
Hazel was nowhere to be found, unfortunately, but Nico was sitting at the table eating an apple while checking his phone.
"Good morning, Grace," he said with faux courtesy. "How'd you sleep, I seem to remember hearing retching at some ungodly hour last night." Though Nico acted mad, there was still a hint of a smile on his face. Jason could see he was mostly joking, though it was true, Jason couldn't keep his stomach calm last night.
How did he find himself here? Waking up hungover with a smashed car and Nico di Angelo. It was a strange slew of events that he wouldn't have been able to fathom mere weeks before.
Kinder this time, Nico said, "You look like you need some coffee. Sit down, you want a Pop Tart or an apple?" he said from the kitchen while Jason sank into the couch.
A few minutes later, Jason was munching on a Pop Tart while Nico brought over coffee for them both.
"So," he started, handing a mug to Jason. "So basically, never do that again or I'll be slapping your drunk ass home. We were all too gone to be making that choice. It was a really stupid choice, and everyone there shares some of the blame. But still, never do that again."
Jason felt a pang of regret. "It was so so wrong, and I'm sorry," he insisted. "I can't be sincere enough."
"Don't worry about me," Nico grumbled. "That's not what this is about, though I would question it if you made a habit of driving around passengers while drunk. What I'm saying is, we all screwed up. Just don't let it happen again or I'll come haunt you."
Jason chuckled at the thought. "Yeah, I get it," he said. "I'm not even sure my mom'll let me drive again, so it probably won't matter."
Nico was quiet while Jason looked for something to say.
"So where are your parents?" he tried. Though it might be a sensitive topic, he tried anyway, hoping Nico could see he was reaching out and really wanted to be his friend, which he did.
"Um, they're away on business. Damara, the house lady... well, I don't really know what she is. She looks after the house when my dad and stepmom are gone. She cooks us dinner on weeknights. Basically is around in case one of us is dying and they can't get to us soon enough..." He trailed off, realizing he was rambling. "She's gone too, normally doesn't stick around on weekends."
"I kinda understand," Jason replied. "My dad's not in the picture, and my mom is about as uninvolved as they get."
For awhile, they chatted about their families-at least the parts that were deemed okay to talk about, and moved onto other things like school and video games. Before Jason knew it, it was almost one in the afternoon.
"Okay, I should definitely get going by now," Jason said. "Sorry I stayed so long, time just sorta-"
"Don't worry about it, I'll see you in school," Nico said as Jason pulled on his shoes and walked out the door. As soon as he was out of Nico's sight, he should his head a little, double checking that he wasn't dreaming.
How'd he just spend an entire morning with Nico di Angelo, the infamously emotionally damaged ninth grader. The kid was nice, he just needed some people who understood him.
On the way home, Jason thought about all the strange things that had taken place over the past 24 hours. He did not, however, think about how he was going to breach the subject of the dented car to his mother, but he could cross the bridge when it came. No, he'd rather think about the mystery of what just happened, and how he could arrange to see Nico again. It was the strangest feeling-his pull to the younger boy, but he was sure he didn't imagine the past three hours. Please tell me I'm not crazy he begged the higher beings as he drove home.
Hope this was satisfactory.
Reviews are like the anticipation of Christmas morning.
Cheers,
Liv
