After the slow build...we finally have (a little) Solangelo action
I don't own the characters
"Pulmonary hypertension," Thalia read. "Terminal, few noticeable symptoms, this is perfect."
Nico nodded. "Alright, you're ready to fake all the documents?" Leo and Thalia nodded. Everyone was seated in Piper's massive living room. Leo and Thalia lounged at the small bar, laptops running. Nico was sandwiched between Percy and Jason on the couch, and Annabeth and Piper were sitting on the other couch, Annabeth braiding Piper's hair. Hazel was at Will's house again.
It had been nearly a month since they'd started attending Goode and everyone was loving it. Percy had met a dorky kid named Grover and they'd become best friends. Leo was head-over-heels for a girl named Calypso and had gotten close with Travis and Connor, Nico fondly remembered the massive food fight that they'd started last week. Annabeth, a girl named Reyna, and Frank were fast becoming a powerhouse in terms of leadership and brains. Reyna and Frank were the heads of the Student Council and Annabeth and Jason were heavily involved with it. Nico was pretty sure that Frank had a massive crush on Hazel but hadn't made any progress because of Will. He clenched his teeth thinking of how Will openly flirted with his sister and how close they'd become despite Thalia's and Piper's warnings.
He needed to do something before Will broke Hazel's heart. It's too late for your heart though a voice in his head mocked him. Nico dismissed it. He didn't have a crush on Will, Will who was straighter than an arrow and didn't look twice at Nico.
So he came up with a rather foolproof plan. Pretend he had a terminal illness. He thought guiltily about how he was manipulating Hazel's concern and love for him, but he told himself it was for her own good.
Thalia pressed print and Nico held up the fake doctor's notice. Here goes nothing he thought.
"Your brother is cute," Will murmured, flipping idly through his math textbook, lying on his stomach on his bed. Hazel, who was commandeering his desk, spun around and grinned.
"You should go for him."
Will snorted, "I see the way he looks at me. I'm pretty sure he'd rather kill me than kiss me."
Hazel raised an eyebrow, "And whose fault is that?"
Sticking his tongue at her, Will flopped onto his back. "It's not my fault that I got landed with the title 'player.'"
"Yeah, but it's your fault for sticking with it."
Will sighed, "What do you think it will take for Thalia and Piper to stop hating me? I swear they're the ones putting the idea in Nico's head that I'm going to break your heart."
Stretching lazily, Hazel glanced down at her Calculus homework. Ugh she hated it. Will was all right with math, but she should have asked Frank. She blushed, thinking of the how understanding and kind he was. Noticing her pause, Will turned over and smirked.
"Thinking of Frank?"
Hazel squealed. "Am not!" Will laughed, then groaned as Hazel tossed her eraser at him, smacking him right between the eyes. "Anyways, I wouldn't worry about Thalia and Piper, they'll come around. Everyone else already seems to like you enough."
Will shrugged then closed his eyes sleepily. Maybe he would take a nap before he drove Hazel home. He fell asleep to the image of smoldering onyx eyes.
Nico paced nervously in front of Hazel's room. He told himself that the nervousness would just help his act, but the guilt was tearing at him. Taking a deep breath, he knocked on her door, fake papers clutched in his hand.
"Coming over today, Hazel?" Will asked brightly. Hazel turned to him, eyes downcast.
"Sorry I won't be able to." Will looked in concern at his friend, she seemed tenser today and avoided his gaze.
"Hey, what's wrong?"
"Nothing, I got to go."
Will watched her as she ran to Nico and he wrapped his arm around her, shooting Will an almost apologetic look.
"How long," Hazel croaked, eyes red.
Nico looked at the ground and swallowed the guilt, "Approximately eight months." Hazel gave a small heartbroken cry and clutched to him.
You're despicable Nico thought as he hugged his sister. How could you do this to her?
Percy and Annabeth looked appropriately devastated when Hazel told them, Percy's green eyes welling up. Everyone had played their role accordingly. "I don't want to tell mom and dad yet," Nico admitted to Hazel. "It would crush them."
Hazel nodded and wrapped her hand around his, leaning against his lithe frame.
"I'll stay with you."
You're terrible. Look at her. You're a liar!
"Hazel, please, did I do something?" Will begged, grabbing onto Hazel as she left biology. Hazel smiled apologetically at him.
"No! It's just some family issues."
"Tell me. I…I can't lose you again." Will implored.
Hazel looked tortured, then resigned. "Don't tell anyone, okay"
"Cross my heart," Will promised, knowing he would protect her secret to the ends of the earth.
"Nico was just diagnosed with pulmonary hypertension. Terminal. He's got eight months." Will gasped, reminders of Sammy piercing through him. Hazel closed her eyes tightly to prevent the tears.
"He could collapse any time. I need to be by him. And…and I just want to spend the most time with him, before..." her voice cracked. Will pulled her into a steady hug.
"I understand," he whispered. He own heart twisted, thinking of how he'd lose Nico before he'd ever met him. He knew about Hazel's mom's suicide and then her step-sister's, Bianca death and now Nico's impending doom; it must be doubly as devastating for her.
"And I won't let you go through this alone."
Nico lounged with Hazel on the couch. It was a Sunday morning, and most of their friends were at home finishing homework. Hazel was flipping through her novel for English and Nico was struggling to remember the order of the presidents of the United States. Suddenly the doorbell announced the arrival of a guest. Hazel and Nico exchanged a confused look and Nico got up to get the door.
He opened it to reveal a smiling Will Solace, arms full of music, vegetables and board games. "Hey Nico!"
And Nico, smooth as he normally was, blinked and said,
"Why do you have broccoli?"
A kinda humorous end? LOL please leave reviews :)