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Eyelids so heavy. "Mr. di Angelo." Just five more minutes of sleep, please. "Mr. di Angelo!" My eyes snap open while my brain begins processing my surroundings for any potential threats. Desks, a white board, and an angry teacher, I must be at school. "This is going to be on our next test, meaning you need to pay attention. I doubt you can do that if you're busy sleeping," The teacher, Mr. whatshisname, instructs.

"No more sleeping in class, got it," I yawn. He nods, satisfied that I got the message, and goes back to teaching some subject I don't care about. Now that his back is turned to me, I take the opportunity to try falling back asleep.

"You really should pay attention. When he says it'll be on the test he means it," Peter warns me.

"Don't care, sleep is the only important thing right now," I pretend snore to prove my point. It ends up drawing the teacher's attention, so I quickly sit up straight and scribble something down in my notebook.

"You really look exhausted," Peter continues pestering me by stating the obvious.

"Really, and here I thought I was bright as a button." I roll my eyes. Rude, yes, but at least he's to offended to say anything.

It's not his fault I'm in such a bad mood. After the building blew up last night, I stayed to see if there was any thing I could do. There wasn't, so I went home and binged watched Supernatural for the rest of the night. It wasn't the worst decision I've every made. Though probably not the best decision either. Thankfully Peter and the teacher left me alone for the rest of the period which let me get enough sleep to survive the rest of the day. I'll apologize later.

Later never came. I tried to tell him I was sorry. I tried when I sat with him during lunch again, but he spent the entire time whispering something to Ned. During gym I tried while we were watching a video staring Captain America, but Peter and Ned were discussing something about shields. Eventually the end of the day came and I never formally told Peter I was sorry. Oh well, it's the thought that counts, right? Besides, I have someone else I need to talk to right now.

I don't bother going to the apartment. Instead I find the nearest back alley and shadow travel to the Underworld. Walking past the wandering souls of Asphodel and the locked gates of the Fields of Punishment, I reach the entrance to Elysium. I flash my skull ring toward the skeletal guard to confirm my identity. He scrabbles to the controls to let me through, probably scared I'll get angry and disintegrate him if he makes me wait. Though I wouldn't go that far, I'm glad he's quick about it.

The colorful gardens and silvery, stone paths spread out before me. The house I'm looking for is closer to the middle of town which means I have to walk past couples and friends that are going for walks or something before ending up in front of a pale yellow farm house with white trim. Taking a deep breath, I trudge up the steps and ring the doorbell. After waiting a minute and no one coming to answer the door, I ring it again. When that doesn't work, I switch to knocking, trying to ignore the sense of deja vu creeping up on me. No, Will isn't Bianca. He didn't choose rebirth without telling me. He couldn't have just left like that. He promised he wouldn't.

"Hey, Nico!" Lee Fletcher, another son of Apollo greets from the street. "If you're looking for Will, I think he's out back." He points to a gate that leads to Will's back yard before spotting one of his friends and jogs to meet them.

I let Lee get out of sight before rushing off the porch and through the fence gate. A sigh of relief escapes me when I see Will kneeled down, tending flowers I gave him from my step-mother's garden. I should have realized that Will wouldn't of left without at least telling me first, but it's easy to jump to conclusion when I can't think of a reason for him to stay here in the gloomy Underworld.

"Geez Nico, you scared me." Will catches sight of me watching him and turn away from what he's doing. "Don't you know that it's polite to knock?" He jokes.

"I'll have to remember that." I give a small smile to hide how panicked I was three minutes ago.

"Great, then you should come in for some coffee, you look like you're about to fall asleep where you stand." Will gets up from his crouched position, expecting me to follow him inside. "You coming?" He asks when I don't. I must take to long to answer because he quickly dons his concerned doctor face. "Everything okay?"

I twist my skull ring around my finger. This wasn't the first time that I thought Will might have been reborn, and with things the way they are it won't be the last. It's just so easy to think he left when I can't figure out a reason for him to remain in a dreary place like the Underworld. "Why are you still here?" I blurt out. The sight of Will's shocked and slightly offend face makes me want to take back the words as soon as they exit my mouth. "I mean, why stay here? Why not be reborn where you have a chance to help people like you did when you were alive? Depending on who you're reborn as, you could become a real doctor," I try to better explain.

"First of all, not having a degree does not mean that I'm not a real doctor. Second, I'm helping people here. For example, right now I'm helping you realize how much of an idiot you are for thinking I need to be reborn and leave all my friends to be happy," Will scolds.I don't know what to say, so I keep my mouth shut. "Now Neeks, if you don't have any other idiotic questions, I'll make that coffee I mentioned and you can tell me all the details about this school you're going to, okay?" I nod. "Good," Will approves.

"Oh, Will?" I finally speak as he's about to walk into the house

"Yeah?"

"Don't call me Neeks," I remind him. He grins.

"Whatever you say Death Breath."