Nico closed his laptop screen and sighed. He felt drained despite the fact that he hadn't moved in hours.
He'd had a pretty dull weekend since Friday. He'd talked to one of his closest friends, Reyna, for a few minutes over the phone though. She was coming back home in a few days, so that was a plus.
He also picked up a knack for online shopping. It was much better this way to have gifts delivered to your doorstep at the click of a button. Because of all his free time (and frankly because of the unmistakeable amounts laziness in his bones), Nico spent his time buying games and random stuff that he deemed useful. For instance, he bought a set of small, really sharp knives because he didn't like using scissors. He'd also bought some pet supplies for Bastet.
His hand thoughtfully pet the soft kitten sleeping innocently on his lap. He was going to bring her to the vet one of these days (he wasn't even sure if it was a she).
And although buying things off the internet was more convenient for the son of the di Angelos as he was never one for people skills, Nico still preferred Target.
It was a stupid obsession, a stupid routine he'd gotten himself into. And even though he argued with himself numerous times in the time he was alone, he never brought himself to stop going.
Today, Nico decided that he would be going out today because… he didn't know why. He had already replenished most of his necessities on his last trip to Target. There really was no reason to -
"Nicooo?" A nasally voice cried out from across the hall.
He yawned and stood up, placing Bastet on the floor. "Yes?" except Nico was in the midst of yet another yawn so it came out like, "Yeeeaahhhs?" He poked his head in his sister's bedroom.
"Can you do me a favor?" Hazel sniffed and wiped her eyes. Her room was a mess. Her desk was covered in candy wrappers and empty bags of chips and her trashcan was overflowing with tissues. Hazel herself was a mess as well. She was sitting, hunched over her laptop under the blanket on her bed, and her face, especially her nose was red, as if she had been crying.
"Uh, yeah! Yeah, sure. Are you ok?" Nico questioned, worried for his sister. "Why are you crying?" He rubbed her back and brushed off the hair stuck to her face from her tears.
"I'm fine." Hazel sighed lazily waving her hand as if it was nothing. "It's just - ACHOO! - excuse me."
Nico tried not to think of the germs she just sprayed on her laptop. "Bless you."
She blinked wearily, "Thanks. It's just that I'm on my period and I feel terrible and kind of sad so I started watching sad, romcom and drama movies and why it's just- I j- I," she started blabbering, "why does life have to be so sad?" Hazel started sobbing again. "I mean why do people have to die and like fall out of love and stuff? It's so dis- ah- ah- p-p-pointing." She hiccupped, trying to compose herself a little.
Nico stared at his sister. Oh gods, what was he supposed to do? He tried to sound sympathetic yet logical. "Well, yes there are a few bumps in the road, nothing is ever easy." Gosh, he sounded like a total sap. Where was he going with this? Nico continued, unsure, and making things up as he spoke. "So we have to… um- we have to rely on the love that's there and," Hazel nodded along, still wiping her nose with a tissue. "and we have to hold onto that."
Hazel smiled at her brother. He could be so distant and dark at times, but she always knew he was a big softie on the inside.
"But, yeah, people die sometimes - it's inevitable - and people fall out of love - quite often actually." Nico paused, thinking about all the horrible choices people make when in love. "Huh," he realized, "humanity can be so stupid at times."
Hazel groaned. She couldn't blame him though. She'd never seen him in a relationship, much less fall in love.
Nico looked somewhat apologetic towards his sister, "Whelp, what can you do about it? Sorry, I'm not helping."
"No, no- it's ok." She sniffed again before continuing. "I was going to ask you if you could buy me some stuff."
"Of course, anything for my little sister." Nico's throat caught on the word little. He almost said 'favorite sister' but stopped himself in time. His chest felt a pang of sadness and worry as if to say, 'You're forgetting her.'
Hazel just grinned and said, "Ok, thanks! Here," she shoved a folded piece of paper into Nico's hands. "I made you a list."
Nico frowned at the list, because of both the memory of his sister and because he hoped the list wasn't too long and complicated. "Ok, anything else you want?"
"Nope! Well, maybe, but I'll just call you when I think of it. Bye!" Hazel said, gently shoving him out of her room.
It seemed like Nico found a reason to go to Target.
"Look, it's a bird!"
Will's head spun around to glance at the aisles behind him when his friend started cracking up. "What? Oh, shut up, Cecil." Will said weakly, slightly red for being so naive.
"Oh, dude! You are so gullible!" Cecil resumed cackling. "Look, it's Nico!"
Will forced his head to stay still. "No, I'm not gullible. And I am not going to turn around. I don't see why you're so -"
"No, I'm serious! He's there!" Cecil pointed behind Will.
Will sighed, "Why are you, like, obsessed with trying to get Nico and I together? It's creepy man. A-and I am not falling for this trick again!"
"You're not falling for this trick! You're just falling in loooove." Cecil winked at him. "How else would you explain the blushing, am I right?" Will turned red, covered his face, and murmured back an angry comment, silently cursing himself for being so weak.
"Hi, Will. Hi, Cecil."
Both Will and Cecil's heads snapped towards Nico who was walking towards them with a basket.
"Oh, so you weren't joking." Will said incredulously, turning to Cecil.
He rolled his eyes. "Duh."
"Joking about what?" Nico asked. "Cecil, I didn't know you worked here too." The two were acquaintances from school, as Cecil's locker was right next to his.
"Oh nothing. I just generally enjoy Target!" He spread his arms wide and smiled at his surroundings. "And why else did you think Solace here would work here?" Cecil gestured to Will with his thumb.
Will scrunched his face (Nico found it cute). "You only applied for the job here to flirt with Lou Ellen. And then I followed you to make sure you wouldn't make a fool of yourself and get yourself fired or something. Mmf!" Will's eyes went wide.
Cecil's hand covered Will's mouth from behind and gently patted his head. "Shhhhh, that's what the government wants you to think." He let go when Will gave him an annoyed expression. Cecil just shrugged. "Fine then. My shift ended like an hour ago. I will leave you two," Will narrowed his eyes at him, "... alone. Ok, bye!" He scurried out the exit frantically.
Nico blinked, confused. "You have weird friends."
The blonde Target employee contemplated if he should agree or ignore the comment. "Well," he turned to Nico, "that means you're one of them." He grinned slightly and lightly nudged his shoulder, careful not to be too awkward.
"Pshh. I'm way cooler than whatever you have up your sleeve. Now help me."
Will added, "Please."
Nico gave him a face as if to say 'Really?'
He harumphed and followed his friend. "Fine. You know, it wouldn't hurt to be polite sometimes. Uh, what are we doing here?"
"My sister needs to restock in her supplies so she sent me to get it. Now help me." Nico paused, "Please."
Will gave him a huge grin, "Why yes of course! Of what can I lend you my assistance?" Nico rolled his eyes. Why did he ever get involved with this dork? "She gave me a list of what to buy and all she put was 'napkins, tampons, avocado, heating pad'."
"Oh," Will's face fell slightly, "those kinds of supplies." They stared unsurely at each other. "Where do we start?"
"Uhh, did she say anything in particular? Like a specific brand?" Nico shook his head. "Wait, I'll ask her." He proceeded to go through his phone and call her.
"Rrring, rring, rri- Hi, this is Hazel Levesque speaking, may I ask who's calling?"
"Hi, Hazel, it's me, Nico."
"Nico! Hi! Did you get the stuff?"
"Umm, no actually. I was going to ask you what kinds of, um, napkins and, tampons to get you." Speaking on the phone always felt awkward to Nico, especially with this topic. He felt like he needed to do something other than talk so he started pacing along the aisle while Will examined the different kinds of options for napkins.
"OH! I'm sorry, I didn't say, did I? Just get the normal tampons and the maxi-overnight napkins. And, also, could you get me some candy? I want something sweet."
"Sure, so I'll get-"
"Thanks, Nico! I owe you one. bye!"
"I- wait! Hazel! Hazel?"
"What'd she say?" Nico put his phone back in his pocket. "She said normal tampons and maxi-overnight napkins. And she wants candy."
"What about the heating pads?"
"I forgot to ask. She hung up on me." Nico rubbed his face in exasperation.
"Here." Will tossed him a pack of colorful pads. "I think this should do. My sister buys these kinds so hopefully they should be fine." Nico eyed the packages suspiciously and gingerly placed it in his basket. "You have a sister?"
"Half-sister. I have a lot of half-sisters and brothers." Will followed Nico towards the candy aisles.
"Oh that's cool. A bunch of my friends have half-siblings as well. You know Hazel's my half-sister." He turned and chose random bags of candy off the shelf. "Are you all from your dad, or your mom, or both?"
"Just my dad. I'm one of the older ones…" Will trained off, his mood turning serious.
"HI!" Nico and Will's heads spun towards Lou Ellen who started sprinting towards them. She gave Nico a quick hug, which surprised him, and slung her arm around Will's neck as best she could due to the height differences. "Oh my gosh, how are you, Nico?"
"I-I'm good." He stuttered, still stunned by the fact she gave him a hug. Will on the other hand was cheery again, thankful for Lou Ellen's presence to distract him of his thoughts.
"Woah," she exclaimed looking in his basket. "Napkins, tampons, candy. What is this? A pms basket?" She eyed Nico curiously. Will gave him an annoyed look.
"It is actually! They're for my sister. What's wrong, Will?" Will started fidgeting, his eyes darting from the bags of candy to the shelves. "Uh, it's just, all this candy."
"I know, right? So much candy, so little time." Lou Ellen said.
Will shook his head. "No it's not that. It's, all this candy, it can't be healthy for her." He scanned the basket again and nodded his head as if to approve what he was saying. Lou Ellen smacked the back of his head. "OW! What the- Lou Ellen, what the hell was that for?"
She shrugged. "You were being insensitive. The poor girl must be in lots of pain. Let her be happy and eat the candy. By the way," she furrowed her brows, "Your shift ended like 30 minutes ago. What are you still doing here?"
"Oh, I was just helping Nico, here!" Will answered cheerily. Nico felt his heart beat slightly faster. Will stayed here just to help me? "So, are we done here?" Nico's heartbeat slowed down when he realized Will was just being his helpful self. Oh well, it doesn't hurt to hope. "Yup, I think this'll sustain her."
The three of them walked to the counter, and after he paid, Nico left saying thanks for their help.
"Hazel! I'm hoooome!" Nico barged in the house, carrying two bags of groceries. "Hazel?" He ran up the stairs to check on his sister. He found her curled up in her blanket, dozing off to sleep.
"Oh, hey, Nico!" Her voice was still sounded kind of nasally and tired. "Sorry, I was just taking a nap."
"Nah, no, I'm sorry for waking you." He held up the bags. "I got the stuff."
"Really?" Her eyes shown brightly as he walked over and sat next to her, passing the bags over. "Oh, yesss! You got the good kind! Thank you, Nico!" She hugged him, "You're the best brother ever!" They smiled at each other before Hazel asked, offering the candy towards him, "You want some?"
He sighed in relief, the temptation getting to him. "I thought you'd never ask."
Fifth chapter! I AM SO SORRY FOR NOT UPDATING SOONER! Summer got really busy and then school just started so I've been trying to find a good time to pick the story up again. Thank you for all the likes and reviews and everything! You guys are great! Suggestions for new chapters (or stories) & PMs are appreciated.
~Phantomosolace