Addicted

17

"Will you please... just come home?"

"No."

Cecil sighed over the phone, and Will could almost see him rubbing his temples as he paced the, albeit short, length of his bedroom. "Okay. Fine. Then find a hotel or something. You can't be driving this late anyways. Stop the search for the night, right now."

"I'm so close, Cec."

"It's been a week and you haven't found a single person who even recognizes his name."

Will sighed this time, knowing he was right. "Okay, fine. I'll find a motel or something and stop tonight. Bright and early tomorrow should give me better luck anyways." Suppressing a yawn, Will hung up the phone and wandered back into his car. Hotel, my ass. I'll just sleep in the car tonight. It's closer to the university, anyway. Maybe... he'll walk by or something.
The car clock read 2:47 when Will fell asleep.

Nico did walk by the car. He walked right by it, in fact, and saw Will slumped over in the drivers seat, his hair a mess and bags under his eyes. And after he had sat there for a while- maybe an hour, maybe two- playing with his hands and hair and debating whether or not to wake him up, he panicked. And he ran.
He didn't see Will at all the next day, but he was on edge. All that time he'd spent pushing memories of him away and consoling himself, pushing himself to try again and feel like a normal person- it was all gone in an instant. What was the point? Why would Will do this? Oh god, Nico hoped he wouldn't find him. If he didn't have actual responsibilities now, he would've seriously hidden.
He did the next best thing, though, crouched behind the counter at the bookstore and pretending to organize bags.

"What on earth are you doing?" His coworker, Travis, peeked over the counter. Nico looked up. "Has anyone come in today?" Travis grunted. "Um, yeah. We're a bookstore. People come in all the time." Nico mentally hit his head on the wall. "Ok, yeah, but I mean anyone who's really tall and tan and has curly blonde hair?" Travis seated himself on top of the counter, leaning over a little. "I don't think so. Still haven't answered my question of what you're doing."

"Hiding!"

"From someone who sounds so hot? Why the hell are you doing that?" Nico huffed. "Just tell me if he comes in! I can't let him know where I am!" Travis rolled his eyes, but nodded, hopping off the counter and moving to rearrange the books in the on sale display. The door opened with a jingle, and Travis looked up. "Welcome, is there anything I can help you with?" The man looked at him grimly. He had circles under his eyes and his clothes were a little wrinkled, but he held himself tall... and tanned... with blonde hair. Travis swallowed a little.
"Yeah, please, I'm trying to find someone. I've been looking for a long time, I'm starting to think he doesn't even go here." The man sighed. "His name is Nico. Have you heard of him or where he might be?" He took a step forward, and Travis stepped back towards the counter. "Sorry, sir. I haven't, um, heard of anyone named Nico." The man stepped forward again, and again Travis moved backwards. "Are you sure?" The desperation in his eyes almost made Travis give in, but he remembered his coworker cowering behind the counter just two feet away and shook his head. "I'm sure, sir. I'm sorry I wasn't able to help more. Good luck on your search."

Travis waited until the man had walked down the street before letting his breath out. "Jeez, Nico! I was so nervous!! I don't think I've ever been so nervous!" He let out a chuckle before peeking over the counter. "Nico?"
He didn't respond, hands clenched over his ears and eyes squeezed shut. "Nico... he's gone. Hey- are you okay?" He poked him gently. Nico looked up.
"Yeah. I'm fine." If I'd heard his voice I probably would've stood up and given myself away.
"I won't ask why you were hiding, but are you sure? He seemed really desperate to find you."

"I'm sure. Thank you for covering for me. It... it was really a relief. I don't think I could have dealt with it myself." Travis softened his gaze as he looked at the boy in front of him. He seemed really genuine. "Yeah, dude. Sure. We're friends, right?" He watched Nico's expression shake a little at that. "We are?" Travis sighed, wrapping his arms loosely but comfortingly around his coworker. "Yeah, dude. Course we are."

"Thanks." So maybe it wasn't so scary to make friends as Nico had thought it was.

Will sat in his car and cried.