Hours after Will had left, Nico still laid awake in his bed, reflecting on all that happened that day.

Why was it so much easier to interact with Will than almost anyone else I've talked to?

Something about him makes me feel so much more comfortable in his presence… Maybe it's the way he speaks, the hint of a southern twang… or maybe it was how he made me feel like I was really heard when I said something.

Nico thought back to Will's wide-eyed look from when he talked about his family, how his first instinct was to comfort Nico rather than show him the pity that Nico had seen in many other people's eyes.

The way he talks to me makes me feel like we'd known each other before, even though I've never spoken to him. I wanted him to know about my past. I wanted him to understand why I am the person I am now. But why?

Nico's eyes welled up with tears as he was struck with a sudden pang of loneliness.

I miss being close to the people I care about all the time. I want to be heard and spoken to instead of fading into the background. I want to make happier memories and laugh at the good times. I want to hear him laugh with me-

His stomach fluttered as he remembered how cheerful Will was all the time, even if he didn't completely feel that way. Nico wanted to know what was behind the mask that Will wore. He wanted to know what Will really thought about everything, what he felt about the things that he might think differently about beneath the sunny façade.

I'm definitely getting attached to him and I'm scared that it'll go the way it did with Percy. I'm scared that I'll get hurt again and I'll spiral so much deeper this time because I'm already so much closer to Will, in just a day, than I ever was with Percy.

Besides, I don't even know if he's into guys. I have a really bad history of falling for straight guys, after all. What if he is straight and would never be into me?... But also what if he's not straight and he actually does like me back? What would I do if I end up hurting him knowing I have all this emotional baggage?

At the very least I know he cares enough about me to tuck me in after passing out on the couch.

Nico smiled at the memory, a warm flush rising to his cheeks in the darkness. And with that, he fell asleep.

During the next week, the two met each other during their lunch periods in the library under the intention to do work. However, as group projects between well acquainted individuals tend to go, they didn't really get as much done in the time period as they could have.

On Monday, Nico asked Will about how his day was going, and Will went down a rabbit trail describing how his two youngest sisters, Callie and Eri – which Will explained, were just nicknames, due to his father's tendency to make obscure Greek mythology references on birth certificates – had managed to smear strawberry jam and peanut butter all over a kitchen wall in an impromptu "food art" abstract piece. Apparently the girls' surprise gift was discovered just 30 minutes before school started, and Will had to sacrifice a few perfectly good hand towels to get all of the gunk off.

Although, when Will whipped out his phone and showed Nico the picture he snapped of the calamity, Nico couldn't help but admire the raw talent in the grubby little fingerprints depicting a flower.

On Tuesday, Will asked Nico how his dad was doing, and it was Nico's turn to spiral into a tangent involving two guys, a marinara meatball sub and the once-spotless white interior of an old luxury car, all brought on by the fact that his dad ordered the same special for dinner the night before.

Will wanted in on the hype of the meatball sub, so Nico traded his leftover sub for Will's handmade sandwiches that day. After careful contemplation of the "flavor profile" and "delicate balance of textures", Will decided that he would have to have another in the future.

On Wednesday, Nico lamented over the emptiness that he would feel knowing that Cerberus would be returning home to his owner that day. One of his dad's employees had been on paid leave for a cruise in the Mediterranean, and needed pet sitting services for the two week-long trip.

Cerberus had originally been Bianca's dog, but after her accident, both di Angelos agreed that they didn't have the ability to take as good care of him without Bianca. Luckily, an old friend and employee of Nico's dad, Charon (no relation to the clarinet!), was more than happy to take on a new friend, helping the bachelor feel a little less lonely. Of course, they still cared for Cerberus, and took the opportunity to pet sit whenever possible.

Will could practically see the loneliness seeping into Nico's bones, and was struck with a pang of sadness, wanting to do something, anything, to help ease his burden.

On Thursday, Will showed up with a bleary-eyed expression, and with a short explanation of "Di-di had a nightmare about getting strangled by a snake at 1:30 am and couldn't fall back asleep," promptly passed out at their shared table space. Nico took the time to drape his leather bomber jacket over Will's shoulders, watching him snore quietly, before remembering he had to make up a quiz that day and booking it to the Latin classroom. Nico hoped that the bell would wake Will up, but if it didn't, the librarian was bound to do so, and left with no intention of rousing his new acquaintance.

On Friday, Nico looked up from his book to watch as Will sauntered into the library, sporting an extremely familiar jacket over a very uncharacteristic black t-shirt and dark skinny jeans. With a scowl, Nico held out his hand wordlessly, and Will's expression molded into a very uncharacteristic pout, whining, "It's not a phase, Dad," before handing over the jacket, cracking that oh-so-radiant smile.

Will sat down in his usual spot, chuckling at Nico's miffed expression. "Come on, you can't say it wasn't funny."

Nico cracked a small smile, admitting, "Okay, it was pretty funny."

"So, you got any plans this weekend?" Will asked, pulling out his boxed lunch quietly from his backpack so as to not alert the librarian to his rule-breaking.

"I'm free all weekend, but my stepmom is coming back from her business trip tomorrow, so I would… ideally not be in the house for when that happens."

Nico shuddered at the memory of accidentally walking in on his dad in the mid-afternoon doing… things he wished he could erase from his mind's eyes.

Will's eyes widened, then crinkled up in mirth as he understood Nico's meaning. "Got it. Would you rather come to my dad's tomorrow then? I'm sure he wouldn't mind; the girls have a sleepover tonight with some of our neighbor's kids so it won't be super hectic like it usually is on the weekend."

Will watched as Nico's eyes brightened up at the prospect, a smile breaking out on his own face upon doing so.

"Sure, I'll be there," Nico started, and then paused. "Wait, I don't have your number, do I? Will you send me your address so my dad can drop me off before he leaves for the airport?"

Will furrowed his brows, and replied, "Why didn't I have your number in the first place?"

Nico put his hand over his mouth, embarrassed. "I was grumpy and shy so I just wrote it down for you, remember?"

"Ah, I totally forgot since I immediately put it in my phone for the next day- that's so funny!"

Will and Nico swapped phones with each other, filling out their own contact information, and then spent the rest of lunch idly chatting about whatever came to mind.

Once the bell rang, Nico and Will parted ways, each extremely excited at the prospect of seeing the other the next day.