The next morning Will woke up to the pull-out bed back in its usual couch form, the blankets folded nicely and stacked on top. Nico was gone along with the bag he had brought with him. No other signs that the boy had been there existed.

"He really didn't want to be here." Will sat back onto his bed in defeat. He could smell that he was in desperate need of a shower, his teeth also needing to be brushed after the late night cups of coffee.

As he went to the bathroom to get everything done, he couldn't help but imagine Nico the night before. Every time he closed his eyes, he saw the way those lips had turned blue and how his skin had been cold to the touch. Why had he been out there so late?

His phone had no notifications. As he walked to school, no heads were turned at his sight.

Will could count Percy as a friend, but their only conversations took place inside the classroom. Jason Grace and Leo Valdez remained the same. The only one he had spoken to outside school had been Nico di Angelo, ironically, though he was the one Will knew the least about.

School started like usual. Nico was in his classes but didn't so much as look Will's way. The day came and went, and once again Will found himself at practice.

It was then that Nico finally looked to Will. He walked over during a break with his hands deep in his hoodie's pockets. He looked more rested than he had in months. "Thank you, for letting me stay last night." Even in gratitude, he hid behind his walls.

"It's no problem," Will assured him. "I had the room. And we're friends, remember?"

Nico's lips twitched. "Yeah... Um, so...yeah, that's all I had to say."

He was about to walk off when Will spoke up. "Do you need to again tonight?"

Nico spent a minute standing there with his hair in his face before nodding. His voice was small and timid, something that usually didn't come out of Nico di Angelo's mouth. "Yeah, if it's not too much trouble."

"It's no trouble at all." Will smiled. "Just walk home with me after practice, okay?"

Nico nodded. "Okay."

Their break was soon over, throwing them back into practice without a missing minute. The auditorium didn't seem cold anymore. The words Will spoke never seemed to come easy. His eyes always froze when he saw Nico, his breathing always failed.

But he did as he was told, he acted his part in every way he knew how. Nico did the same. They weren't Nico and Will again until after practice, until Romeo and Juliet were shut out and away.

"You ready?" Will walked over to Nico with his own bookbag slung over his shoulder. "We can head to my place, now."

Nico cracked his neck before looking to him. "Yeah, whatever you want."

"You can have an input, you know," Will told him as they started to walk out. "You're a friend, remember?"

"It's your house," Nico replied bitterly. "Even if I'm a friend, you're letting me stay when you really didn't have to. I'm not paying mortgage, I'm not paying rent, I'm not paying any of the bills, and I'm not related to anyone there. So, no, I don't have an input. I have no right to an input."

Will shook his head. "You have every right to an input. Whether it's followed or not, that's up to me. You can input to burn the house down but I can say no. You can input to have lasagna for dinner, I can say yes. That's how it goes."

"Lasagna?" Nico's expression changed faster than Will had ever seen it. "We're having lasagna?"

"Um...it was just an example." Will smiled. "Why, do you want lasagna?"

Nico quickly looked away. "It's just...a very good...choice, is all, if you were to choose it."

"I choose it." Will decided. "Let's drop our bags off and then head to the store."

"Really?" Nico squeaked. "You're listening to me just like that?"

"I haven't had it in a while," Will explained. "And, yeah, you look like you really want it. Why not? We had to make something for dinner. My parents will appreciate it being done when they get home so they don't have to cook."

"What time do they get home?" Nico asked. "Late?"

Will nodded. "Around eight. They're hard workers. It's all they ever really do."

They walked up to the front door. Nico watched as Will unlocked it, the key having been hanging from his neck. "Do you ever really see them?"

Will shook his head as he slipped the key back onto the necklace he wore. "Maybe once a week."

Nico followed him into the house. "That sucks. I...I've been there."

Will froze at the piece of information. "You have?"

Nico dropped his bag off in Will's room after watching him do the same. "Yeah... Let's get to the store already."

Will grabbed his wallet. "You don't have to change the subject if you don't want to talk about it. Just tell me if that's the case."

"Fine." Nico followed him out. "I don't want to talk about it."

"And you don't have to," Will assured him. "So, do you know how to make lasagna?"

Nico shook his head. "Do you?"

Will nodded. "I'm always in charge of dinner so I had to learn how to cook what I like. And I really like lasagna."

"When did you start?" Nico asked. "Cooking, I mean."

Will shrugged. "Um...I'm not sure. Nine? Maybe ten? As soon as I was old enough to reach the stove, I think."

They got to the store before the cold could settle into their bones. Will's house was in a convenient location, near what was needed and far from what was not. Will grabbed a cart and led Nico down the aisles, telling him what to grab off the shelves.

"What kind of pop?" Will asked as he stared at the display. "It's Friday night. Might as well have fun."

"Pop equals fun?" Nico asked. "Since when?"

"Since I first tasted it." Will gestured to the display. "Get a 2-liter. I don't care what kind."

Nico grabbed a Pepsi and put it in the cart. "You're weird, Will."

"I could say the same about you." Will started walking again. "We need cheese, next. Keep an eye out."

A feeling of peace had settled over him without him even realizing. Walking through that story, joking with Nico, it felt like he was with a friend of many years or even a family member. It was hard to even imagine Nico how he was only a couple days previous.

Will watched Nico as he walked ahead, noticed how skinny the boy was. How many nights did he usually spend on the streets? When was the last time he had eaten?

Maybe there really was something important enough for Nico to hide.

They finished shopping soon with enough items to make dinner and some extra, which Will insisted on so they could snack during the night. As he paid, he noticed Nico's eyes on the price of each item as it rang up.

"Help me carry the bags?" Will asked after he was finished paying.

They filled their arms with the bags before walking back to Will's house. Nico had once again grown quiet, his eyes on the concrete as he walked. His hair hid his emotions.

"I get it," Will mumbled. "I get that you don't want to accidentally let something slip. But...But you should try to enjoy yourself, enjoy your life. And if you...want to talk...I'm here to listen. No matter how bad the secret is."

"You have no idea what you're trying to get in to," Nico swore.

Will nodded in acceptance. "I probably don't. But I'm leaving that offer open and I'm hoping you take it. I want to help."

"Why?" Nico asked. "Why are you so intent on helping me? You could have just left me on that cold street and continued on with your life."

"I could have, but I would have never forgiven myself." Will once again unlocked the front door before leading Nico inside. "It's something in me. I just...I need to help people, you know?"

"No, I don't know." Nico set the bags down in the kitchen. "If it had been me, I would have kept walking. I wouldn't have risked someone pulling me down with them."

"Pulling you down with them?" Will looked over at Nico. "You think you're going to pull me down with you?"

Nico nodded. "I'm a lot more messed up than you think."

"And yet I'm still here, offering my support." Will started to unpack the bags. "So, whenever you're ready, I'll listen."

"I'm...I'm not ready. Not yet."

"Then come help me make dinner." Will offered. "I'll tell you what to do."