Meet me halfway

2. Greetings

"Got to get to class, see you later." I said to Lou and Cecil before hurrying off while turning around, resulting in me running into someone.

"Shit, sorry ma... you!" Percy Jackson said and I gave him a confused glance as I responded with;

"Me?" he smiled as if we had known each other for ages, when the truth was that we talked sometimes when we had the same class.

"Neeks look, it's your stalker." he said and I raised a brow before seeing the person always taking over my thoughts. He looked at whatever it was he was watching before turning to me with a brow raised.

"H-hi." I got out and Percy smirked, excused himself and then left, leaving me alone with Nico. "Eh... Greetings." I finally said in an attempt to break the silence left after Percy left, only to realize how stupid I sounded.

"And salutations." he answered with an amused smile, not mockingly amused though, this was kinder and it made my heart melt. "You're William Solace, right?" he asked and only then did I realize that I was staring.

"Uh yeah... You're Nico Di Angelo." I stammered and his eyebrows furrowed together.

"I'm not going to hurt you if that's what you think." oh, he must have thought my awkwardness was because of his reputation. I opened my mouth to protest, but was interrupted by the second bell. "I should go." he excused himself before walking off, leaving me an even messier mess than usual.

"Dumbass..." I muttered to myself before walking to my class with my failure clouding my thoughts.

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Coffee, was the only word on my mind as I finally got handed my drink in my favorite cafe. Was the memory of my school day still on my mind? Yes. But I am pretty sure I scared Solace half to death, which wasn't my intention.

I know people find me scary because of the facade I put up, but now that it has been up for so long, I'm not sure how to put it down.

"Thank you." I simply said as I handed her the tips.

"No problem, have a good day." she said and I smiled, saying it back before turning around and starting to walk away. I opened the door to the cafe, only to have someone run into me from the outside, the very someone intruding my thoughts. The force made my coffee mug get pushed backwards and the hot beverage spill all over me.

"Sorry-y-y... um. Uh... yeah." I raised an amused brow as he tried to speak while a deep red blush spread over his face.

"You really like running into people, don't you?" I joked, barely noticing the pain as I watched him try to speak. Even if it wasn't him here, I might be calm since I have an ridiculously high pain tolerance.

"I am so sorry, I should have watched where I'm going. I can't believe I did this. Does it hurt? And I ruined your clothes too. Fuck man, I'm sorry." he rambled on and I smiled.

"It is fine, really. I barely feel it and when it comes to my clothes, I think it will be fine. You can calm down." I said and he grimaced.

"Can you at least let me buy you coffee."

"Sure."

"Before you say no, it is the least I can do... you said sure." he stated and I nodded. "Alright! What do you drink?"

"Black coffee with cream."

"Okay, great! You can just sit down and I'll order it." he said and I nodded with the smile still on my lips. I then turned away and walked to my favorite booth, one I sat in whenever I came here to drink coffee and draw.

It didn't take long before the blond joined me with two coffees in hand. It was a miracle he didn't spill them both since he was practically bouncing with enthusiasm, he sure was interesting.

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I'm here, at the coffee shop, with Nico freaking Di Angelo and I was not even dreaming. Was it a date? No. Did that stop me from feeling on top of the world? No!

I sat down in the both, right across from him with the biggest smile on my face. However, that smile faded once I sat down and got the chance to see him. He was covered in coffee stains, he should look awful. But no, his shirt was plastered onto his body, showing off the fact that he looks fine. Not fine with one e, fine with a million ones.

He was skinny, but so toned. I could see his abs. With the completely stained aviator jacket, he still looked utterly perfect.

"What happened? You were so chipper just a second ago." he commented and with that brought me back to reality.

"I just... I just feel bad about your clothes."

"I promise, it is no big deal. I can easily clean it at home. Is there anything else you want to say?" he asked and I tried to think, but it was hard when all I could see was his dark eyes. 

They almost looked black and it was the best thing I've ever seen. 

"Thank you, but I would like to get an answer instead of an compliment." he said and I felt a lot of heat reach my face, I said that out loud.

"Well, I also wanted to say that I am not afraid of you, rumors or not. I act strangely because... because..."

"Do you watch me a lot?" he asked, ignoring my attempt of making a proper sentence and causing my cheeks  to definitely go redder.

"Why would you think that?"

"My friends always tell me you're watching me, but I always shrugged it off. But then on lunch today, I saw you and I guess that made me wonder if it was true the other times as well." he simply said and I sighed, of course.

"Well... how do you define a lot?" I tried to stall and he took a big sip of his coffee as he thought. The sight of his Adam's apple bobbing was made for sore eyes, how could he always look so good?

"Do you do it more than three times a week?"

"Uh... well. Yes."

"I'd say that's a lot. Anyways dude, I gotta dash, see you around." he said before scurrying off and I swore under my breath. I had scared him off. I scared the man people say is in a maffia group where they supposedly call him "The ghost king". I don't believe the rumors but he is a tough guy and I scared him off.

He... left his number on a napkin that is laying in front of me right on the table. But if he left his number, he wanted to talk to me again and that, that is what I call a win.