I. Am. Officially. Trash. Okay, that's all you need to know. I hope you enjoy this Chapter!

Chapter 9

Nico's POV

"So what's stoping you?" Jason asked. Nico took an earbud out to talk to his friend.

"I don't know... Maybe it's just not meant to be. I mean, what if we're not right for each other? He did say neither of us were ready for... Whatever we're supposed to be. Plus, there's the small matter of boarding school gossip; word travels quickly here."

"You know he's gonna end up asking you out, whether you like it or not. It could happen tomorrow or next week. Hell, it could happen in a year! You'll never be ready for it though, you can expect it, but it'll always take you by surprise." Percy said from their new beanbag chair. They always hung out every few days or so; him, Percy, and Jason. He had no idea why the two most-liked guys in the school wanted to hang out with him.

"Or," He started. "Maybe he'll realize that I'm a freak and just give up. He could find someone he actually deserves; someone better than me."

"You do realize nobody knows why you two like each other, right? You guys don't even know why you like each-other!" Jason pointed.

"I know why I like him!" Nico argued. "He's, umm, attractive? Does that count as a reason? He's the only other... Not straight guy in the school? I don't know, he's annoying? I don't even like that about him. Never mind, you were right. I have no idea why I like him."

"Maybe you like him because you want to be like him?" Percy suggested.

"No, I don't want to be like him at all. Do I look like I want to be the poster boy for perfection?"

"He called him perfect," Jason snickered. Nico rolled his eyes, trying not to think about how perfect Will actually was. "Hey, maybe it's because opposites attract."

"No, that's not it. If that was they case, I would like tall, tan, blonde girls." Nico argued.

"If that was the case, I would keep Annabeth far, far away from you." Percy added. "I'm gonna get going, see you tomorrow." Percy walked out the door, closing it behind him. Jason turned to him, letting out a sigh of relief.

"I should go shower, be back in a few minutes." He left, leaving Nico alone. He put his earbuds back in, and tried to think about something other than Will.


He woke up in the middle of the night, in a cold sweat. Had he fallen asleep before Jason got back? He struggled to remember the dream that woke him up. It was probably about Bianca, but all he remembered was falling. That's it, he was falling and then... And then he wasn't. Someone caught him. He refused to remember who it was, though he had his suspicions. How many nights had it been since Will snuck into his room? How many hours went by since he agreed to sit down with him? It all seemed too distant to remember, to emotional to think about.

He had already decided he wouldn't be able to fall back asleep, so he took out his phone. On the first day of school, they were supposed to give the security guards all of their electronics, but he had managed to sneak past undetected. He turned on his phone, only to see a single text from Cecil:

Cecil, 10 minutes ago: Here's Will's number, text if you dare! (562-438-1212)

He stared blankly at the number before sending his response.

You, now: Why would I text him?

Cecil, now: Becuz u luv him. Y not? ;)

You, now: Because I still have a few ounces of dignity left in my system...

Cecil, now: But bro!

You, now: No. There is no way in hell that I'm texting him. Why are you up anyway?

Cecil, now: Pwease? :3

You, now: No. Why are you up?

Cecil, now: Prince William can't sleep, and he decided to wake me up 2. He's obnoxious :)

You, now: DOES HE KNOW I'M TEXTING YOU?!

Cecil, now: No bro calm down. He doesn't even kno u have his number. :D

You, now: Quit it with the smiley faces.

Cecil, now: :D :) :3 :* :( :v :c XD

You, now: *Insert eye roll here* I hope you realize that I'm not going to text him.

Cecil, now: :'( Can u at least do me 1 favor?

You, now: Depends...

Cecil, now: Will u be my sassy gay bff?

You, now: What?!

Cecil, now: Will doesn't want 2 be my sassy gay best friend, so I'm asking u!

You, now: No. I'm leaving. Talking to you at 1:00 AM is a bad idea.

Cecil, now: Don't leave me! I'll be stuck with Will!

You, now: Sucks to suck. Bye.

He turned off his phone and sat on his bed. Maybe he could just ignore Will's number and never touch it. He turned his phone back on, and stared at the number. It was tempting to say the least... What if he just viewed the contact info... That wouldn't hurt anybody, right? He tapped the number, bringing up Will's profile. He quickly took a screenshot of his profile picture, before turning off his phone. Why was he acting like such a stalker. He opened up his conversation with Cecil, reading his new text.

Cecil, 1 minute ago: This is me warning u.

Warning him about what? God, if they broke into his room again... His phone made a dinging noise, and he opened up the alert.

Will, now: Hey, idk who this is but Cecil dared me to text this number, so sorry...

Add Will Solace as a contact?

He ignored the text and reopened his conversation with Cecil.

You, now: You. Are. Dead.

Cecil, now: I warned u! R u gonna text him back? XD

You, now: Fine, but I'd sleep with one eye open if I were you.

He sighed, before opening the conversation with Will.

You, now: It's Nico... Please kill Cecil for me.

He sat there, waiting for a response. Five minutes passed, then ten. He drifted to sleep, still waiting for a reply that might never come.

I'm not gonna be very active this week, but once winter break hits... Just be ready for about 1,000,000 alerts from me, okay? Sounds good! Bye, for now.

-C