Trauma [Solangelo]

Nightmare

Nico POV

I'm back at the gas station store. This is always the worst dream.

"Hey Neeks, pick out which candy you want," my mom called over to me in Italian.

I got up from off the ground and stuffed my Mythomagic cards into my pant pocket. I ran over to my mom and was so excited to get candy.

I pointed to the shelf covered with packages of Milk Duds.

"I want that one mommy," I announced.

"Okay sweetie, let's--," My mom's sentence was cut short by a shout from the clerk's desk.

"Open up the drawer! C'mon hurry up and put the money in the bag!" the robber yelled at the clerk.

My mom snatched her phone from her purse and began dialing 911.

"Hello? Th--there's a robbery going on at the Esso gas station."  pause  "Umm he has a black ski mask on and he has a leather jack--"  My mom was again interrupted.

"Drop the phone!" the robber shouted at my mom. She didn't oblige to his request and continued to give information to the dispatcher about his appearance.

The robber, frustrated at my mom, revealed a shiny black metal object from his pocket. He pointed it at my mom.

A few seconds past and then *bang*

"No!" I shouted and woke up with a start.

For some reason, I was warm? I always wake up cold, so why would I be warm?

My question was soon answered when two arms wrapped themselves around my torso.

"Hey, it's okay. I'm here," the familiar southern accent soothed me.

I relaxed into Will's arm with tears streaming down my face. My eyes wandered around the room and landed on the wall clock. It read 7:30

"Bad dream?" he asked. I wanted to say "no, I just woke up screaming for no reason," but I decided against it.

"Yeah."

"You wanna talk about it?"

Was I ready to spill my secrets to Will? If I tell him, he'll probably just pity me and treat me like a fragile glass that could break at any second.

I decided that if I became closer to Will, I would consider telling him about my history, but for now, he'll just have to wait.

"Not really."

"Okay. Just know that I'm always here for you," he said while wrapping a blanket around my thin body.

I responded with a smile. And it was a real genuine smile, not just a fake one.

A few moments later, I heard footsteps coming down the stairs.

Naomi walked into the kitchen and opened a cabinet. Her hands snatched a bag of coffee grounds. She then turned around and when her eyes landed on Will, a wave of shock covered her face.

"Will? Did you sleep on the couch?" she asked perplexed.

"Yeah, I just fell asleep. And Nico's here too." I poked my head up from under the blankets and gave a small wave.

"Oh hi, Nico. I didn't know you were staying the night."

"I didn't know either."

"Well, does your family know?"

As if on cue, I felt a buzz in my pocket. I took my phone out and read the contact. Gem
it said.

"Hey," I said casually.

"Don't hey me. Where are you?! Do you know how worried I have been? I almost called the police! Nico, you can't do this to me!" Hazel's shouts were so loud that everyone in the room could hear her and she wasn't even on speaker.

"Hazel, calm down. I'm fine and I'm at Will's house."

"I have a club meeting this morning for my jewelry club and I have to get there ASAP. Can Will drive you to school?"

I asked him and he responded with 'yes'.

"Yeah, he can drive me."

"Okay and Nico?"

"Yes?"

"If you ever pull a stunt like that again, I will throw all your Mythomagic cards into a paper shredder!"

"You wouldn't dare!"

"Oh yes, I would! I have to go now so adios," Hazel said before hanging up.

"Okay, let's get you boys something to eat," Naomi announced.

"I can help you make breakfast," I offered.

"Oh no, I'm fine. You boys go change your clothes for school."

Will took me by the hand and lead me to his room.

"I don't have clothes," I said once he closed his bedroom door.

"You can borrow mine," he offered.

"Do you own any black?"

"Umm, I think I might."

"Wait, your clothes won't fit me. You're like six feet tall and you're not freakishly skinny."

"Well, it's your choice. Do you wanna wear a twelve-year-old girl's clothes or my oversized clothes.

"Your clothes," I spat, annoyed.

After changing, we went downstairs.

I was wearing a navy blue shirt with regular tan pants. Unfortunately, Will didn't own any black garments and he had no skinny jeans.

A wonderful smell entered my nose once Will and I entered the kitchen.

"Nico, honey, do you want syrup with your pancakes," Naomi asked me.

"No, thank you."

"Wait what! You don't like syrup?!" Will asked bewildered. I shook my head in response.

"You. Are. Weird." Will told me while grabbing a pancake from the stack on a plate and a syrup bottle.

-----

I opened his car door and hopped into shotgun. Will, on the other side of the car, sat in the driver's seat.

We drove in silence for a few minutes before he spoke up.

"So...Mythomagic?"

I could feel my face heating up.

"Oh, you heard that?"

"What's Mythomagic?"

"It's nothing."

"Aww, is someone embarrassed?" Will said in a baby voice.

"It's a game," I said stubbornly.

"What do you do in it?"

"It's Greek Mythology and the game is too hard to explain."

"Okay," he said while pulling up in the school parking lot.

As I got out of the car with Will, many eyes landed on us. I realized that it would probably be weird to see a popular guy and the creep arriving at school together.

Whispers abrupted as we entered the halls. I split off from him to go to my locker and Will went to the nurse's room for his internship.

Okay. Weird ending, but whatever. Thank you rose2violet and MariseW for almost always commenting and for voting. To be honest, without you two, I don't think I would still be writing this story, so thank you so much for your support! Please vote!!

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Toodles,
—Kat😽

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