Chapter 2

Nico had never thought about dancing as fun, and that wasn't because of his paralysis. It was just a useless concept to him. Moving a certain way, forced to a particular rhythm, sweating and killing your feet. It didn't seem fun at all. More like torture.

But when Will and Hazel took the stage, his whole perspective changed.

They went up hand in hand, Will's pale skin contrasting against Hazel's mocha skin. They fit together almost perfectly, opposites attracting. The crowd seemed to love it, their eyes trained on the young dancers as they bowed.

When the music started, Will and Hazel seemed to forget about the world around them. Their bodies started to move in sync; against each other and all around the stage. Nico could see the sweat dripping from Will's neck and the way his eyes screamed exhaustion. But he didn't seem to care. He was smiling, wider than Nico ever thought possible. It was very obvious to anyone around him that Will lived for that moment.

As the dance continued, their breaths came heavy and ragged. Will's chest rose and fell, matching the beat of Nico's heart as it fluttered uncontrollably. It was so beautiful to him, so breathtaking. Nothing could match. Nothing was better.

Yet, something would be better. And that was being on that stage with Will, instead of watching. He wanted to make Will's happiness, not watch it.

But that was impossible. And as he watched Will's emotions pore out on the stage, Nico knew he wouldn't do any good for him. If Will fell in love with him, he would fall in pain. Nico couldn't give him a beautiful dance. He couldn't give him Will's main love.

Because Will loved a lot of things. But dancing...he loved it more than anything. He would love it more than any lover and he would love it more than Nico. He could never give it up, and Nico wouldn't make him.

Suddenly, Nico didn't want to watch anymore. He didn't want to see Will or the dance. He wanted to go home and never come out again. Nico had been hurt, so many times. He lived with pain. And he wouldn't wish pain on his worst enemy. So he wasn't going to give it to Will.

He couldn't wheel away, so he closed his eyes and lowered his head as tears escaped his eyes. Why couldn't he just be normal?

He heard the applause, knew the dance was done. So he wiped his eyes and acted like he was watching, swallowing his emotions. He would just have to act uninterested...

"Well, what did you think?" Will was in front of him, wiping his neck with a towel. Hazel was being congratulated by her mom and his dad, feet away.

"It..." Nico was once again lost in his eyes. "God, it was amazing."

He was supposed to say bad...why didn't he say bad...

Will smiled brightly. "I told you!"

Nico smiled at his smile. "Yeah, you did."

"Now I have to prove I have the best pancakes." Will reasoned. "I'll be at your house at eight tomorrow and I'll cook you some."

Nico choked on his spit. "What?"

"Your house. Tomorrow. Breakfast." Will didn't stop for an agreement. "Be up because they're going to be amazing."

Nico's eyes were wide and his mouth was agape, but he found himself agreeing. Something about Will Solace... was irresistible.

"So, Nico, how'd you like the dance?" Hazel asked at dinner that night. Since he was already downstairs, he decided to eat with them instead of it being brought up to his room.

Nico shrugged lightly. "It was okay, I guess."

"Oh, stop pretending." his mom (technically step mom) laughed softly. "You were speechless."

Hazel smiled. "Really? You actually liked it?"

Nico nodded after a minute. "Yeah, you did great."

"How did Will do?" she raised her eyebrows at him.

He blushed lightly. "Um...he...did..."

"You like Will?" his father asked, smiling.

Nico blushed worse. "Maybe a little."

"He's coming over tomorrow." Hazel smiled knowingly. "To make Nico breakfast."

"I hope he looses the way here..." Nico muttered under his breath.

"I think they're really cute together." Hazel continued. "And Will likes him back."

"H-Huh?" Nico snapped his head towards her. "He does?"

She smiled, nodding. "Yeah. Why else would he be making you breakfast?"

"To show me the wonder of his pancakes...?"

She rolled her eyes. "He doesn't show every person he meets the wonder of his pancakes."

"If they're as good as he says, he should."

She sighed, running a hand through her hair. "Nico, he likes you. Just act like yourself when you're with him and everything will go fine."

"We wouldn't work." Nico said bitterly. "So please stop talking about it and getting our hopes up."

"Why wouldn't you work?" Hades asked curiously. "I don't see why not. He's a good boy."

Nico slammed his fork down, his eyes watering. "I'm paralyzed! I can't walk or dance! Have you just forgotten about that?!"

His parents both froze, their faces filling with guilt. Hazel had jumped slightly, her lip quivering slightly. The table was silent as tears threatened to spill from his eyes.

"Do you want me to take you to your room?" Hades mumbled after a couple minutes. When Nico nodded, he got up and pushed his son's wheelchair away. He carried the boy up the stairs and set him in the other wheelchair, pushing him to his room. As soon as Nico was on his bed, he gestured for Hades to go out.

"Nico..." his father sat by him on the bed.

"Please go away." his voice broke.

"I want to talk to you." he didn't move. "About this Will thing."

"What's there to talk about?" Nico mumbled into his pillow.

"You don't need to dance to date him." he responded. "That's just stupid thinking."

"He said himself he wants to dance with the love of his life." Nico replied. "I can't give him that."

"Then he'll just have to suck it up."

Nico rolled his eyes. "Go out."

"Nico-"

"Go out!" the anger left as soon as it came, but the damage was already done. Hades nodded curtly before going out, closing the door behind him without an "I love you" or "goodnight".

"I'm sorry..." Nico whispered quietly before closing his eyes, the tears pouring out. He wanted Will, he wanted to make him happy. He wanted to walk, he wanted to dance.

But those things were impossible.

He found himself praying, his thin lips moving with the whispers of his pleads. But he knew he would wake up the same, just with less hope and will.