Nico sat in the library, idly doodling on a scrap of paper. Technically, he was supposed to be writing an essay for his Literature class, but his thoughts were much too scattered to focus on something as dull as an essay.
At this very moment, Will was at the airport, picking up his old roommate. Cecil was his name, Reyna had told him.
Nico breathed in deeply before scratching out the drawing with his pen. It didn't make much of a difference—he had, unknowingly, been drawing a storm ripping through a city.
After the picnic, Nico had gone back to his apartment and sat alone in the silence and gloom. The thoughts were coming back to him—the dark, incessant thoughts that felt like they were picking him apart piece by piece.
He had tried to stay positive. Really, he had. But he couldn't help but feel like this thing he had with Will (really, what was it?) was morphing into a creature that would sooner devour him than put him back on his feet. He was beginning to think that his relationship with Will had been a mistake from the very beginning.
And that was the scariest thought of them all.
"Hey, you alright?"
Reyna slid into the chair across from him, setting her book bag down between her feet. She wore a jean jacket and a violet scarf. Worry traced her eyes like makeup.
"Yeah," said Nico with a shrug, subtly tucking his doodle away beneath one of his books. If she noticed, she didn't say anything about it.
Reyna scooted her chair closer to his, keeping just enough distance between them so Nico wouldn't feel closed in. Nico was always grateful for Reyna's way of quiet courtesy.
"Nico, you don't need to lie to me," she said softly. It was early evening, and the library was filled with restless chatter. It sounded a bit like wind through sparse leaves.
Nico met her eyes, a pang of guilt flaring through him when he saw how concerned she looked.
"I don't know how to feel," Nico admitted. He hadn't planned on saying that, but as soon as the words passed over his tongue he realized it was true. "I really…don't know why Will would have left him for me. I've been thinking about it a lot and…" Nico trailed off. He hoped Reyna could fill in the blanks.
Reyna nodded.
"I'm not saying that I agree with what Will did—"
Nico glanced at her with alarm.
"—but I'm glad he did it. Broke up with Cecil, I mean. You're so much better together. Trust me. They had a good run, but Will and Cecil weren't meant for each other. They were always fighting about something—it was exhausting, really."
Nico let his eyes drop back down to his lap. He wanted to believe her. He did. But it was proving awfully difficult. Especially when he remembered the photographs decorating Will's walls, the photographs of him and a boy he didn't know smiling together, arms draped around each other. This other boy had a room in that apartment, had a bed and pillows dented with the memory of his existence. His life was inextricably linked with Will's. And Nico…Nico was just a shadow, passing through.
But he couldn't say this to Reyna. He didn't know how to explain it, his feeling of impermanence. After two years of drifting, he had thought that he was ready to settle down. Will had provided a reason for him to stay. But if Will wasn't really his…where was he supposed to go?
"I'm afraid," whispered Nico, not daring to look at her.
He felt her hand on his arm.
"It's okay," she assured him, in the same hushed tones. "You'll be okay. Trust me."
Nico tried not to hear the worry in her voice.
Hey guys! Sorry for the inactivity. Writer's block hit me like a brick wall. Please review and let me know what you think will happen/what you'd like to see! I have a plot laid out but it definitely has room for some additions. I hope you're still enjoying the story!