Disclaimer:: I don't own Percy Jackson and the Heroes of Olympus or its characters. They are the property of Rick Riorden, and are not my intellectual property. There is no financial gain made from this nor will any be sought. This is for entertainment purposes only.
The next day was Friday, and Nico didn't show up at school. By Lunch Percy was so worried he laid his head on the table to stare at his phone.
"Still haven't heard from him?" Leo asked, rubbing his green eyed friend's back.
"No. Not a word." Percy mumbled, voice dripping in misery.
His friends exchanged worried glances. They weren't really sure what happened but they knew there was a fight between the two boys and just when it looked like things were working out Nico took off.
"Maybe, you should ask Will?" Jason asked unsure. "I mean, their best friends right?"
"Can I do that?" Percy lifted his head off the table and looked around at his friends. He was met with shrugs and unsure smiles. "I'm going to do it. Just, check in. Make sure he got home safe and all that."
Still unsure his friends nodded encouragingly. Percy's feet like led with each step and his stomach was filled with dread.
When he approached the blonde boy his voice shook ,"Hey, Will?"
"What's up Percy?" The blonde turned towards him but wouldn't meet his eyes. Percy could tell he was trying hard to act casual.
"Can I talk to you for a minute?" Percy looked at his feet. He could see the confused looks the others at the table wore. Percy had always been confident and sure; this scared boy standing in front of them was unrecognizable.
Finally Will met his eyes, and a look of pity came over his face. With a sigh he stood up and headed out of the cafeteria with Percy close on his heels. Will didn't speak until they were sure they were alone in the boys bathroom.
"I'm guessing this is about Nico?"
"I just want to know if he's okay. I don't even know if he got home last night. Have you heard from him? I was going to text him, but he said to give him space. I don't want to upset him, or like, come off overbearing. You know? I'm just worried and I don't know what to do. And your his best friend, so I guess, I thought I would ask you if he was okay. And what I can do to like, let him know I'm here for him without smothering him. I just want to race over to his house and hold him and tell him I love him..."
"Breath." Percy did as he was told. "Look, Nico acting like a child right now, but he's okay. Physically at least."
"What do you mean?"
"You two need to talk. But you're right not to text him or show up at his place; if you chase him he'll just keep running away. He's like a rabbit, runs when he's spooked." Percy nodded in understanding. "Do you really love him?"
Percy's head shot up to look at Will, "Did I say that?" Will crossed his arms and nodded. "I didn't mean to." Percy frowned.
Will raised one eye brow, "So you don't?"
Percy looked at his feet, "No, I do, I just didn't mean to say it out loud." He mumbled. "And I should have said it to him first."
Will smirked and chuckled softly, "Its okay I won't say anything. Look, I'm doing my best to smack some sense into him. He'll come around eventually; he just needs to be alone to work things out." Will put his hand on Percy's shoulder and squeezed gently.
"I feel like I'm losing him Will." Percy's voice was soft and full of pain, "And I can't breathe. He won't even tell me what I did. How can I fix it if I don't know what I did?" His voice cracked and squeezed his eyes shut against the tears that were threatening to spill. "I feel like a fucking idiot, because it's only been a day. And I feel pathetic and weak because I know I'm freaking out way more than is necessary."
Will pulled the slightly taller boy into a hug, "Hey, its okay. Breathe. There's no reason to feel embarrassed. You're allowed to freak out. I wish I could say something to make you feel better, but Nico's barely even talking to me. If things aren't better by Monday you and I will go talk to him together, okay?"
"Thanks Will." Percy snuffled, face pressed against the smaller boy's neck.
The door suddenly swung open and a chorus of voices flowed into the bathroom breaking the silence. The two boys sprang apart in surprise.
"Umm... sorry." The boy in the doorway looked away with a blush on his cheeks. Percy knew his name was Grover Underwood and he hung out with Annabeth.
"It's not what it looks like!" Percy exclaimed.
"No, whatever, it's cool man. None of my business." The curly haired boy rushed out of the bathroom leaving the two boys alone again. But as the door swung closed eyes from the hallway spotted the two boys and whispers started.
"Oh Gods! That wasn't good."
Will laughed, "Nah, it's no big deal. It's not like we were doing anything."
"It doesn't matter; you know how the rumor mill works. By the end of the day the stories going to be that Grover walked in on us screwing in the bathroom. Fuck! What if someone tells Nico?"
Will took pity on the older boy once he say the panic in his eyes, "Don't worry, I'll make sure Nico knows the truth."
Percy blushed, "Do you have to tell him I was crying?"
"No, but I'm going to." Will laughed and clapped his friend on the back "Just take it easy this weekend and we'll see how it goes on Monday. Alright?"
Percy nodded and followed Will out into the hallway. Will said goodbye and headed down the hall, Percy watched him go for a moment before turning to walk the other way. That was when he noticed a blond boy with pale eyes standing across the hall smirking at him; of course Octavian had to witness that. For the first time in his high school career Percy skipped out on the rest of the day. He just couldn't deal right now. He thought, maybe, he knew what Nico had been feeling when he said he 'just needed to run'.