Chapter 12- My Friend, Will Solace

Well, s**t.

The kid I'm sitting with is a demigod. And I'm also pretty sure that the other kid I'm sitting with is also a demigod. Oh, and my best friend is the future Oracle of Delphi, who's also sitting next to me. Yay. Notice my sarcasm.

After hearing Will's introduction (he's a son of Apollo! And he's dating Nico in the future; my favorite character!), I mostly spaced out. Thankfully it didn't take a lot of my brain to keep up with the introductions of 20 or so toddlers and toddler-level lessons.

I snapped back into focus when the bell rang (aww, time's up already? But I was having so much fun! Wait no, I'm turning into a toddler), and Mister Jean came to pick Rachel up. He offered to drive me home too, but I declined because Dad was going to pick me up soon (and also because I didn't want Rachel to know about the literal mansion I live in; sometimes clear-sighted people that can't be fooled by the Mist are ridiculously hard to deceive), and the monster headaches that came with it.

So I was stuck in the classroom. Soon Malcolm left too and only Miss Solace, Will Solace (eee!) and I were left.

Will and I sat down to draw to pass the time. I was trying to draw Dad, but got distracted by Miss Solace continuously glancing at her watch. I tried to peek at Will's drawing, but he hid it from me with flushed cheeks (aw!) and said, "No! Wait until done!"

I giggled and nodded, than added Rachel, Will and Malcolm into the drawing I was making. There was a gaze burning into me. Looking up, I saw Miss Solace staring at me.

...Hey, miss, I get that I'm pretty and all, but that would be so creepy if you weren't that beautiful. "Is there something wrong, Miss Solace?" I asked, giving my voice a curious lilt. She blinked, as if she didn't know she'd been staring, and coughed.

"Sorry, Nyssa. I was just wondering where your father is. It's been over an hour since kindergarten ended."

Had it really been that long? I glanced at the clock and realized that yes, yes it had. With that realization also came the thought, I'm hungry.

It's lunchtime, okay? We usually eat at 2. It's, like, 1:30 now.

"He'll be here by 2 latest." I was confident in that at lease. He'd never have lunch without me unless he was out on a monster extermination mission (which I'm pretty sure he wasn't that day).

"Okay then." Miss Solace glanced at her watch again, then looked at us. We were still quietly drawing. Will wasn't showing me his drawing either. I pouted.

"I'll be going to the bathroom for a few minutes. Stay here, alright?" she strictly instructed us.

"Yes mam," "Yes mom," we replied. She nodded and left the room.

Instantly, Will put the crayon down.

"Will, are you done?" I asked him, surprised. "Nope," he grinned. "Can I ask you something?"

I was confused, but still answered. "Sure."

"Do you have a father?" Will asked.

I was caught off guard and said "Yes," without thinking about it. Then my mind caught up with my mouth. Oh no, what did I just say?

"Lucky," Will whispered."I don't have one."

I felt myself softening. "You're lucky too. I don't have a mom." This was true. Even in my past like, I never knew my biological parents. I was raised by foste rparents, took their name and everything too. Laura was just my foster sister. Thankfully everyone treated me kindly. I was really lucky.

I know that... but there are some things no one can replace. Like parents. Even if you don't know them. So I was speaking from the heart when I said Will was lucky to have a mom.

Well, I have a dad in this life, but... simply put, he seems so immature that he seems more like a brother. Heck, even Uncle Julius is too young to feel like a father figure to me (when I was 15 anyway).

So it really doesn't seem like I have a dad even in this life. Well, at least it isn't anything new.

[A/N: Bro I'm almost crying (not literally), while writing this, I can barely imagine it.]

"Oh..." Will trailed off. "Sorry."

"No, don't be, Will." I ginned at him. "We're both lucky!"

Will perked up. "Wait, I know! If you have a dad and I have a mom, why don't we share?"

...That isn't how that works. Someone, anyone, please tell this kid that that isn't how that works!
...It doesn't sound like a bad idea though. The more I considered it, the more I liked it. I impulsively accepted it, "Sure!"before I could stop myself. "We're friends, aren't we?"

Eh. At least if I regret it, it'll be far in the future.

"Yup!" Will replied. We grinned at each other.

The door opened, shattering our moment. Miss Solace came into the room with Dad following. He cam running and crouched near me. "Sorry about that, Nyssa. Did you wait long?"

I jumped into his arms (better do it while I still can), and smiled. "Nope! I had a lot of fun with Will! We're friends!"

He patted my head. "Is that so? Nice to meet you, Will. Thanks for getting along with my daughter." He directed that last part to Will.

"Yeah! I had a lot of fun too!" Will beamed up at us (bro I almost got blinded again).

"See you tomorrow, Will," I called down to him.

"Ok, see you tomorrow," Will was picked up by Miss Solace, who ushered us out of the classroom (oh wait Dad, pick up my bag before we go!) and locked up.

She faced Dad. "I hope you will collect Nyssa sooner tomorrow." and gave him an icy smile.

S-s-scary! Dad and I started sweating.

"Of course, Miss Solace. I'm sorry for the delay today," Dad smiled, trying to diffuse the tension. Her face softened. "See you tomorrow, Nyssa," she said with a smile on her face.

"Yup!" I replied, relieved.

We all went back to the entrance together and parted ways at the parking lot. Will and I waved at each other until I got in the car and couldn't see him anymore.

"I'm glad you made a friend today," Dad talked as he drove.

My face broke out into a smile. "Yeah," I looked back at the building where Will and I made a lifelong promise. Even if I didn't know it then.