Nico

I go downstairs to head to school, but am stopped in my tracks by my mother, who stands in front of me, her has clenched into fists on each side of her waist.

Her expression is not the best. She seems enraged.

"Where do you think you're going?!" she asks me.

"To... cof cof cof, uhum, cof cof cof ..."

My mother pushes me up the stairs and on the way takes my backpack from my back.

"You're sick. You have a fever for christ's sake! You are going back to bed and you are going to rest. Those were the doctor's orders."

"I'm cof, cof, cof, fine." I whisper in my hoarse voice.

"What? I can't hear you. Speak up, please," she's mocks me, ignoring my protests as she leads me up the stairs to my room.

"Listen to our mother, Nico. It won't kill you to miss a few days of school," says Hazel.

"My... cof cof ... uhum ... My exams... cof."

My mother makes me sit on my bed.

"I already talked to the principal. You'll do your tests later when you feel better."

My mother arranges the bed so I can lie down.

"But, cof, cof ... Mom ..." I try to protest, but I feel my eyes growing heavy.

She nudges me gently, making me lie down on the bed.

"Shhh. Stop worrying. Get some sleep," she whispers.

Will

Arriving at school the next day, I stop in front of the lawn where Nico and I fell down yesterday and smile.

It was fun, more than I thought it would be, but… I stop smiling when I remember. The moment I was on top of Nico... I felt something. When he relaxed against me and I could feel his whole body against mine, I was... and then he looked into my eyes and… It was… unnerving and… pleasurable at the same time.

Having Nico at my mercy, under me, after he fought to get away, but in the end, he relented. I felt something and I'm confused. I thought about it all night trying to unravel my feelings without success.

My thoughts are interrupted when Jason appears by my side and starts pulling my ear.

"Ouch, ouch, ouch..." I say as Jason pulls my ear all the way to my school looker, where he finally lets go.

"What the hell, man!" I say, rubbing my ear with my hand, trying to get the blood circulation back to normal.

I look around and see all the curious looks directed at us. When I look, they try to disguise their interest, but fail miserably.

I hear Jason sigh, what draws my attention back to him that is now looking at me in conflict.

"Look, I don't want to tell you how to live your life..."

"Then don't."

"Tsc. Shut up and listen. I don't intend to tell you how to live your life, but ..."

"But?"

"If you don't change your attitude, the coach told said they will expel you from the team."

This news hits me like a slap in the face:

"Wha..."

"And I agree with him."

"Jason. You can't be serious." I say, unable to believe in what I'm hearing.

"I'm very serious."

"Bu..."

Jason raises his right hand in a stop sign and keeps me silent.

"It is not immediate, but it will happen if you don't change your attitude. The school is investing heavily in anti-bullying policies and it cannot admit the Vice-Captain of the Basketball Team giving a bad example. But that's not that only reason why I agree."

"Then why?"

"It's for your own good Will. I know you say you don't like Nico, but I know this is not exactly true."

I start to protest, but Jason's hand stops me again. This is really starting to get on my nerves.

"Your pranks are getting worse. It's better to stop now before something bad happens and someone gets hurt both emotionally and or physically. I don't want you to be kicked out of the team, but I will not object if you insist on this behavior. I want you to give this some serious thought. Try to find out what's really going on in your heart instead of trying to hide it. Try to really understand why you're acting this way instead of ignoring."

The school bell rings, announcing the beginning of classes.

"Class time. Think about what I said."

I enter the classroom immersed in thoughts, but soon notice that someone is missing: Nico.

The class starts and still no sign of him.

Did he not come to school?

How is that possible? He never missed a day of school since I can remember.

Where is he?

It's time for lunch and I'm disappointed not seeing Nico sitting at his usual table.

What happened to my nerd?

The next lesson is the same, without Nico for me to watch my day become monotonous.

Jason sits down on the desk on my right. I feel like I'm being watched and when I look at Jason; I find his grinning smile directed at me.

"What?" I ask a little sullenly.

"You're staring at Nico's desk. Why?" He asks as if he already knew the answer, but it's more fun to mess with me.

I turn my gaze to the blackboard where the teacher is writing something that I already know:

"I'm not looking at his desk. I'm looking at the teacher."

Leo leans toward me. He sits at the desk on my left side.

"And since when do you do that?" Leo asks sarcastically.

Jason does a thoughtful position, looking up as if making an important decision.

"No. I don't think you've become a responsible student overnight." Jason says, shaking his head.

"Are you worried about Nico?" Percy, who sits behind me, asks.

"No." I say immediately, without taking my eyes off the blackboard.

Percy sighs theatrically, "What a pity. Annabeth told me what happened, but since you don't want to know..."

"Did something happen?" I ask before he finishes speaking, unable to control my tongue.

"I thought you didn't care." Jason says, laughing quietly not to draw the attention of the teacher.

"I just want to know what made the nerd miss class." I say, trying to sound indifferent.

Percy sighs, this time for real. "You have you prank to thank for that. Nico caught a cold." Percy says.

I frown in concern. "And how is he?" I ask, wanting to know more.

Percy shrugs:

"Annabeth just told me he has a cold. If you want more information, you'll have to ask Hazel."

Hazel. Nico's sister. I tremble at the thought of her. That girl hates me.

On my way out of school, I see Hazel picking up some of her belongings from her looker and I debate with myself about whether I should go talk to her. I'm really worried about Nico, though I cannot quite understand why. But he's sick and is partially my fault, so I feel bad.

At the end I just followed my instincts and go talk to her, only then I notice her boyfriend Frank at his side, but that doesn't shake my determination.

I stand next to Hazel with her back to me.

"Hazel." I say her name to call her attention.

By the way she freezes, she recognizes my voice. She turns around slowly and then we are face to face, and she looks at me like I'm worse than the dirt under her shoes.

"What do you want?" She asks sharply.

"About Nico..."

She keeps staring at me with an intimidating look, but I stand my ground, refusing to give up.

"I heard he got a cold..."

"And whose fault is that?" She accuses me.

"I didn't mean to..."

Hazel advances in my direction, making me take several steps back. She points her index finger in my face.

"You never mean for anything to happen, but it does. And you always cause trouble for Nico. It's time to stop."

"I..."

"I don't know what you want from Nico, Will. And I don't care. Just stop with this childish behavior. This is not kindergarten. Just ... Grow up!"

She turns to leave, but then turns to me again:

"Nico got a medical certificate and will not come for the rest of the week." She says.

She leaves, this time pulling Frank with her.

What just happened?