In art class Nico couldn't focus, even more so because Will was sitting right next to him, nudging his knee with his own under the table. Nico didn't even mind that it was making all of his lines crooked. He didn't care what his art looked like. All he wanted to do was draw Will. Will, and his constellation freckles. Will, smiling at him with near-cartoon stars in his eyes.
Nico knew that if he were to look in a mirror he'd have the same stars in his eyes.
At the end of class they walked through the campus together, Reyna on one side of him, Will on the other. Nico couldn't remember being happier.
And then Will's fingers wove themselves between his own and then, then he could remember being happier.
"So you're like, boyfriends now?" said Reyna as they walked.
"Yep," said Will.
"I swear, if you two start making out in front of me, I'm going to throw up," she warned.
"I don't know, Reyna," said Nico with a smirk in her direction. "That's kind of a tall order."
Will laughed. Reyna laughed. Nico's stomach soared.
They all went to a nearby cafe for coffee and pastries, sitting at a high table by the window. The weather had started to brighten ever so slightly, spikes of sunlight piercing through the heavy blanket of clouds.
They talked about everything and nothing at all and for a moment it was as if the last two years hadn't happened. Nico could hardly believe how sad he'd been. It was impossible to feel sad now, with Will sitting next to him, a hand on his knee, bleeding warmth through Nico's black jeans.
Halfway through coffee Will's phone buzzed. He took it out of his pocket and frowned at the screen.
"Who is it?" asked Reyna, taking a sip of her coffee. It was the same color as her eyes.
Will didn't respond. Instead, he typed out a quick text and sent it before tucking the phone back into his pocket.
"Well?" asked Nico.
Will glanced over at him, a crease between his eyebrows.
"My old roommate. Again," said Will.
Reyna suddenly became very interested in her blueberry muffin. Nico immediately realized that she knew something he didn't.
Nico decided not to prod for an answer. Whatever the deal was with this old roommate of Will's, it seemed to be upsetting him. Nico didn't want him to be upset. So he didn't ask.
Instead, he vowed to ask Reyna about it later.
Hmmm...any ideas on what's up with the roommate? Also, I've been trying to update a chapter every day, but things have gotten quite hectic. I'll still be working on the story, but there'll probably be more time between each chapter. I'll try and get as much done as I can before I leave for college in September :)
-Sid