So I was planning to just end the story at the end of the last chapter, weak as the ending was. BUT. Then I got a review (my first review ever, if you're interested), asking for more. Thanks for reviewing me, guest! So here we go...
Will rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly, and considered just walking off again. He had never really twigged how hard it was to move your fist a few inches back and forward, but now he was faced with doing it, he just couldn't bring himself to do it.
"I can't. I'm going back-"
"To your cabin to brood for another few days? Not likely," Piper interrupted. "You are going to knock on that door, Will Solace, and ask him if he wants to see a movie with you. Our even just buy popcorn. But you are not chickening out again!"
Her eyes are set.
"But Piper, what if he-"
"Knock on that door now, or so help me Zeus I will charmspeak you into doing it!" All that came out in one breath.
Will sighed. Why was he here with Piper? Oh, yes. Because I knew that if anyone could help me, she could. The day after Will and Nico had been released from the box, Nico hadn't shown up to breakfast. Or archery. Or lunch, or advanced monster fighting, or capture the flag. Eventually, it dawned to Will that Nico was avoiding non-existent was he actually amused at Will's fear of the dark after all, or did Will read more into their conversation than there was? He had certainly thought that his feelings for Nico weren't just one-sided, but maybe he was wrong about that, the way he was about almost everything else?
Will hated looking for the pale skinned Italian every morning and the sickening lurch that accompanied his increased absence. Twice, he had gone to Nico's cabin, but had left before mounting the steps outside the door.
Then he made his biggest mistake: he went to Piper. She was head of Aphrodite cabin, and he knew she could help. However, ask she wanted him to do was what he had twice proved he could not do.
I'm useless at this. Nico's words cane floating back to him.
I'm the most useless son of Hades ever...
You're not useless... you're important to me.
"Fine!" And Will knocked on the shiny black door of Cabin 13.