Will

Lost in thoughts, I walk into my hotel room.

My parents were currently taking a romantic walk around the beach, having sent me a text earlier to make sure I was okay.

I've dated girls before, but never because I was truly attracted to them. I liked them and I find them pretty, and there was a surface level attraction, I guess, I mean, kissing was nice, but…

Was I in denial before? Or was I just oblivious to how attracted I am to Nico?

I feel like I was walking with my eyes closed.

Today, being with Nico, talking to him, looking at him, the whole popsicle distraction, walking beside him, our hands almost touching… I am so attracted to him is not even funny.

I take a deep breath. I should call Jason, get my mind off these things a bit. I need a distraction that doesn't include thinking about Nico sucking a popsicle.

I get my cell phone and make myself comfortable on the bed.

He answers on the second ring. "Tell me you're not calling because you killed someone and you want help hiding the body?"

One sentence from Jason and I feel better already: the power of best friends.

"Not if you're going to have that attitude while helping."

"I'm too far away to help, anyway. Ask your parents," Jason suggests.

"Will do, but I can't right now. They're at the beach. A beautiful Hawaiian beach right in front of the hotel," I say, adding a little dramatics into my tone of voice when mentioning Hawaii.

"You don't have to throw in my face that you are in Hawaii."

"Jason?"

"What?"

"I'm in Hawaii."

"Fuck you very much, Will," he says and I laugh. "You're a jerk," he adds.

"You're too easy."

"Yeah, yeah. How's you trip going? My offer to switch with you is still standing."

"I appreciate your offer, but I've changed my mind. I'll tell you about it later. I called to hear about you and Piper."

"No. Now I'm curious. What made you change your mind?"

Typical Jason. He can not contain his curiosity.

"Guess what?"

"What?"

"I met someone."

I can see so clearly Jason frowning that it's like he's in front of me.

"Who?" he asks.

"Nico," I say.

"What Nico?"

"What do you mean what Nico? Nico Di Angelo."

"Nico Di Angelo?" Jason asks, sounding skeptical.

"Yes."

"Nico Di Angelo? The one that goes to the same school as us and that you can't seem to leave alone? That Nico?"

I roll my eyes. "Yes, Jason. That Nico."

"So you're telling me you've changed your mind about wanting to be in Hawaii because Nico is there and you can mess with him?" Jason asks, sounding not at all happy.

"No, no, no. That's not what I'm saying," I deny it.

"So what does Nico have to do with you changing your mind?"

"I thought about what you said and you were right. I never hated Nico. It seems so stupid now. I think back to everything I've done and feel like such an idiot. And guilty, I feel so guilty for all the problems I caused Nico and also the problems I cause you with my childish behavior."

Jason is silent for a very long time. Long enough that I look at the phone screen to make sure the call didn't disconnect.

It didn't.

"Jason?"

"Hang on, I'm still stuck in the first sentence. Did you just say I was right and you're wrong?"

I roll my eyes. "Yes, I said it. And I'm sure you're never going to let me forget, but can we focus on the current issue right now?"

"Fine, but we'll discuss this later. So... You met Nico in Hawaii?"

"Yes. We're staying in the same hotel."

"And did he see you, too? Did you guys talk?" Jason seemed to be still absorbing the news.

"Yes, and yes."

"Really? You talked? Just like that?"

"Yeah, I mean, we argued a bit at first."

"Makes sense, seeing as arguing is the only way you two ever communicated with each other."

"Yeah… but… Like I said, I thought about what you told me… Actually, the reason I didn't want to come to Hawaii was because I wanted to make things right with Nico back in NY, and now I found him here so… That's my chance."

"And Nico accepted that? I mean, did you apologize?"

"I apologize for a few things, the most recent ones, but I know that's not enough. That's why I want to try my best to make things better between us. I want to show Nico my good side and apologize for everything I put him through until now."

"That's good," Jason says after a moment of silence. "I'm proud of you."

I sit on the bed.

"Jason ... I ... I think I like Nico."

"As a person?"

"Yes, of course, but I meant... romantically. I'm still trying to understand my feelings, but I'm pretty sure," I say, wary of Jason's reaction.

"How can you do this to me, William?!" Jason asks me and the dramatics in his tone of voice tells me we're okay and the relief I feel is immense.

"Do what?!"

"Tell me this when we're thousands of miles away apart and I can't slap you multiple times and say I told you so," he says in one breath.

I laugh. I should have known I don't have to worry about Jason's reaction.

"You can say I told you so over the phone. And I'm happy to be miles away from your slaps."

"Well, I am not happy."

"Too bad."

"I guess I can wait to slap you when you get back."

"There will be no slapping."

"We'll see," he says threateningly. "But it feels like fate, doesn't it? What are the chances of you too meeting like this?"

"I know! I was shocked too when I met him near the beach. Which is strange because Nico says he doesn't like sand."

"Wait. So you really talked like two civilized humans?"

I smile. "Yes, Jason. That's what I've been saying."

"The world is really full of wonders. You two had years to get along right here in New York and you only get it right when you're in another country."

"Get along is a bit of a stretch. Nico is still wary of me."

"It's to be expected, right? After everything you've done. You have a lot to make up for."

"I know. After what you said and what Hazel said ..."

"Hazel?"

"Yes. I went to ask her if Nico was fine... you know ... because of the flu and she told me some things that made me think. Adding what she said to what you said, I realized I was doing it all wrong."

"But what's your intention with Nico right now?"

"I just want to fix the mess I made and on the way, who knows? Maybe I can unravel my feelings for him."

"Are you leaning more towards gay or bisexual?"

"Gay. Do you think that would be strange? If I am..."

"Gay? Bisexual? It wouldn't change a thing to me. You're still my best friend. And if in the future someone you consider a friend turns their back on you when they find out, be glad, because that person was never your friend to begin with. And if I know our friends, I believe you have nothing to worry about if, in the end, you conclude that you really are gay."

"What about the rest?"

"The rest? Fuck the rest," Jason says, as if it's not a big deal. "The rest has nothing to do with your life. Listen to me Will, there will always be someone in society who is against it, but the opinion of this group of people should not make you change who you are because you owe them absolutely nothing."

"Did I already told you what a great best friend you are?"

"You don't have to say it. I know."

We laughed together. "Thank you," I say.

"Don't mention it."

"Let's talk about you now. Did you go through with it? Did Piper say yes?"

I swear I could feel his euphoria through the phone before he even answered. "She said yes! We're going out on our first official date tonight."

I smile, happy for him. "Did you have any doubt she would say yes?"

"There is always the possibility of receiving a no. I mean ... If you ask Nico out, do you think he would say yes?"

"That was exactly what happened."

"YOU ASK NICO ON A DATE?!" Jason yells in my ear, making me pull the phone away from it.

"Don't yell in my ear. I don't want to go deaf."

"Answer the question! You asked him out?! He said yes?" Jason asks, struggling to keep his voice down.

"Well… no. I didn't ask him out. I asked if he wanted to hang out with me. He said yes."

"Walk me through it, please. How did that happen? Play by play."

"We met near the beach, we were both walking back to the hotel, actually Nico was the one that saw me. It was getting late. I insisted on talking to him as we walked. We got to the hotel, we took the elevator together and then I asked him if he wanted to hang out with me. He said it was late, I said it could be the next day, and he said yes. And today we hang out and talked. Actually, I just got back from it."

Jason stays silent for a long time. "Jason? Are you there?"

"I'm shocked."

"Hard to believe, uh?" I say, smiling.

"Maybe he has feelings for you," he suddenly says, surprising me.

"Let's slow down a bit. I'm still trying to figure out what I'm feeling."

"Oh really? Because it's crystal clear to me..." Jason sighs. "But you're right, this is new to you and you'd better find out for yourself and on your own time."

Knock, knock, knock, three knocks on the door and then I hear my mother's voice. "Will? Are you there?"

"Going! I have to go. My mother is here."

"It's all right. Update me if anything else happens."

I look up in a half roll of eyes and sigh.

"You're going to remind me of this for the rest of my life, aren't you?"

"You can count on it."

"Ok. We'll talk later and you'll tell me how it was with Piper."

"Yes, sir."

"Bye."

"Bye."

I open the door to find my mom and dad outside. "Hi. How was the romantic walk?" I ask.

My mother opens a huge smile. "It was incredible, but that's not what I came here to talk about."

"What is it?"

"We met another couple during our tour. They are also staying here on vacation and they also have a son. Anyway, we got along so great we decided to go out to dinner together at this great restaurant near the hotel," my mother says excitedly.

"What's the name of this couple?" I ask, curious.

"Maria and Hades Di Angelo."

I freeze, perplexed. "And is the name of their son, Nico?" I ask, trying to control the huge smile that threatens to take over my face.

"You know them?" my father asks curiously.

"I know Nico. We have some classes together. I met him on the beach yesterday."

"Great. Then dinner is scheduled, but until then. The three of us are going to dive on the coral reef," my mother says, dragging me out of the room.