Experimenting with Will's Powers- A Solangelo Story

Chapter 2- Will's P.O.V.

-Friday-

I take a drink of blue raspberry Kool-Aid, watching the people around me. Austin, Kayla and I were invited to Percy Jackson's cabin after hours for a birthday party for him. There's music playing, and the birthday boy is chatting excitedly to Annabeth and Grover, all while wearing a shark onesie for some reason. I guess it's his birthday outfit, I don't really know, I'll have to ask later.

It's pretty loud in here, with California Gurls blasting and Leo being the DJ. The rest of the seven are here, Jason standing right behind his shark boyfriend, avoiding Piper who's talking with Leo beside the speakers. Frank and Hazel are chatting with one another beside the punch bowl, and I might go say hi in a second, once Austin is done geeking out about his music stuff. Is it obvious to him that I can hardly focus on just one sound when we're in a crowded space like this? I really wonder if it would be better for me to just take my hearing aids out at this rate, everyone can just gesture to me aggressively if they need something.

I keep an eye on the door. Nico said he'd be here when this started, but he's not, he's almost an hour late, and it's sort of freaking me out. I refocus my eyes on Austin, and he's frowning at me, he must know that I'm not listening.

"Sorry." I smile apologetically.

"Did you hear anything he said?" Kayla chuckles.

"Nope! I'm worried about Nico, he said he'd be here right when this started." I admit.

"He's probably not going to come, considering." Austin says.

I shake my head, messing with my hearing aids and turning them down a bit. "He said he was. He was invited."

I guess he might be back at his cabin...?

"Doesn't he hate him?"

"It's complicated. I think they're friends?" I blink.

It's really, really complicated between them, so Austin could be right. I think they hated each other, and now they don't, but still sort of do. They were at least in good standing enough to talk about personal stuff a few days ago.

"Oh. I didn't think so."

"Really? Nico said they had some sort of bonding moment. Percy invited him tonight, he said he'd come. He told me he was coming." I shrug.

"That's weird then," He decides, "Go check on him. You weren't listening to me anyway."

"I'm sorry! I really was trying." I pout at him.

It just wasn't happening, sadly. I don't even know where Nico is, anyway. I guess I can make sure no one else has seen him.

"Go find him." He repeats.

I look at Kayla, who nods. "He's right, it's all you're thinking about. Go find your man." She tells me.

"I'll be back, I promise." I say. "Don't party too hard."

"We will." Austin says.

They definitely will. I head to the door, and as soon as I open it and walk out, I have to stop short so I don't run over Nico, who was about to come in. "...! I'm sorry! I was just coming to look for you."

I blink, realizing he's using his crutches which is good. He doesn't usually use them unless he's exhausted, though, so that's something to be aware of. I'll try to gauge how he's feeling in a second.

"Huh, why?" He asks, his dark eyes going wide.

"'Cause I was worried." I shrug, trying to keep it casual and act like I wasn't wondering if he had died or not. "You said you were coming, all of us have been here for an hour now."