Sept 1

Will

Nico leaned over and pulled the completely charred marshmallow off of Will's stick. Will tried to look offended but knew he wasn't at all convincing. The group around the campfire had thinned - in addition to Jason, Piper, Hazel, Frank, and Reyna leaving that morning, about half of the other campers had left for home and school over the past few days. The final wave, including Percy and Annabeth, would leave the following week. Will usually felt lonely this time of year, with most of his brothers and sisters packing to go home while he tried to help where he could, but tonight he felt a little giddy. As soon as Nico had waved his friends off and had a few words with Percy and Annabeth, he had walked directly to the infirmary to find Will. Will had known this because he'd been sitting on the steps of the Big House, watching as everyone left - but mostly watching Nico.

Will was sure that he'd been smiling like a fool as Nico walked towards him, but he couldn't help himself. He had spent days second guessing everything with Nico, but as soon as he sat down next to him, his worry had disappeared. They didn't talk about anything noteworthy - just what they both had been up to and what camp was going to be like once everyone left - but the unspoken things, like Nico's frequent sideways glances and his constant half-grin and how close they were sitting to one another, reassured Will that he didn't just imagine their day at the museum.

Even though a good amount of campers had left, they still had classes. After talking through what was supposed to be breakfast and cabin inspection, they parted ways. Will was called into the infirmary over lunch - two Ares kids had gotten into an argument while polishing armor - and the rest of the day seemed to speed by. During dinner, Kayla had elbowed Will in his side, making him nearly choke on his hamburger, and he looked up to see Nico standing across from him.

"Hey, uh, are you planning to go to the campfire?"

Will couldn't speak, his mouth still full, but he nodded and tried to look very nonchalant.

Nico half-smiled, and asked hopefully, "Want to walk over together?"

Will could only nod again, and Nico left before Will could get his food situation under control enough to speak.

Kayla had just smiled at him with huge, excited eyes for the rest of dinner.

And that was how he found himself sitting awfully close to Nico, sharing a marshmallow-roasting stick, and barely paying attention to the songs his siblings were leading.

Will pointed out a shadow created by a piece of kindling next to the fire. "Doesn't that look like my pet lizard?"

"You mean the dead one?"

"You'll hurt his feelings if you keep reminding him of that."

Nico just smiled, eating the marshmallow, and all of a sudden Will saw an actual lizard skeleton skitter out from under their bench. Luckily it was dark, so nobody else noticed it among the flickering firelight, and Will couldn't suppress his laugh.

"Yeah, I think that looks more like him," Nico said, casually.

"You're going to give someone a nightmare," Will whispered as he grabbed Nico's arm, but he kept laughing.

"Is that not my job? Creepy son of Hades and the Ghost King and all that?" Will couldn't believe how innocent Nico managed to look as a small skeleton mouse crawled over to join the lizard. There was humor in his eyes, though.

All of a sudden, Drew Takana leaned between them. "You two lovebirds look awfully cute," she sneered.

Nico froze and Will pulled his hand back. Will turned to glare at Drew, now standing over them

"Oh, don't stop flirting on my account," her smile had a malicious hint. "Will, it seems you really do have a type." And she walked, smirking, back to seat with the other Aphrodite campers.

Will turned to Nico and started to say something about how horrible and miserable Drew was, but before he could get a word out Nico stood and stepped into the shadow of a nearby tree.

Will stayed at the campfire, staring sadly at the now-inanimate lizard bones. After a few minutes Lou Ellen and Cecil sat on either side of him.

"What was that?" Lou Ellen asked.

"Drew must have it out for me or something. Or maybe I'm just an easy target."

"What'd she say to you? We couldn't hear anything but she sure looked pleased, which is never good when it's Drew," Cecil said.

Will sighed and told them about the exchange. In a matter of minutes his mood had plummeted. Cecil and Lou Ellen tried to cheer him up, but finally Lou Ellen ordered him to go find Nico.

"He's probably just back at his cabin. Just go talk to him, before everyone starts heading back."

Nico

Nico was mortified. He had known it would only be a matter of time before the other campers found out and started making fun of him. He had been foolish to think that he would be safe from judgement at camp - he should've remembered what it had been like after the Battle of Manhattan. Everyone had seeme nice and friendly, but after a few weeks they all caught on that he was weird and different and started avoiding him. How had Will Solace convinced him otherwise?

Will. It wasn't Will's fault, but at this point Nico couldn't go back to just being platonic friends with him. And besides, Drew and whoever else would still encourage the rumors. He'd have to cut things off. He could leave camp, go help his father or stay in New Rome. It would be easier for both of them if he put a stop to it all right now.

He was in the middle of packing what little he had when there was a knock on the door. He saw Will through the window and considered not opening it.

"Nico, I see you. Come on, just let me in."

Nico opened the door, but couldn't bring himself to make eye contact and turned to keep throwing his things in a backpack.

"What are you doing?" Will asked, sounding worried. "You're packing? Are you leaving or something?"

Nico stopped with his back to Will, taking a deep breath. "Yeah, I think… I just think it'll be easier if I'm not here."

"What? What makes you think that? Nico, Drew's a jerk but you can't let her just-"

"Will, there's no point," Nico said, turning towards him but not making eye contact. "What? We were going to go on some stupid date and then everything would just work out? No. It's a waste of time and energy and…" Nico steeled himself, "and I think you should leave my cabin. Now."

Nico knew that if Will had kept arguing with him, he would convince him to stay. He couldn't stand the idea of sitting at breakfast the next morning with everyone looking at him, whispering. No, he needed Will to leave before he could change his mind. It would be easier for both of them that way. But he almost couldn't stand the look of hurt and anger Will gave him before he left, slamming the door.

Nico had lost his panicked energy and now just felt defeated. He sat on his bed and put one of the books Will had loaned him into his backpack. He stood and looked out his window at the Apollo cabin, but other campers had started walking back from the fire and all he saw were Will's siblings standing around the porch laughing. Nico turned and stepped into a shadow, leaving camp.