A Battle For Love

Will//nine

"This is so hopeless!" I yell, throwing myself down on a dirty bench. We were close to a crowded park and not one these people is my Nico. I groan and dig my face in my hands. I was getting a headache.

"How do you suppose we'll find him if you keep stopping every ten minutes?" Jason snaps. Here we go again. We've been at each other's throats since our search started. Sure we apologized back at that diner but that apparently didn't mean anything.

I stand up and look in Jason's eyes. "Oh I'm sorry, but aren't you the one who wanted to go into the stupid toy store?"

Jason scowled, "You know what?"

"I know what!" Percy interjected, pushing Jason and me too forcefully away from each other. "I know that if you two don't stop fighting like the kids you're acting like, I will call Mrs. O'Leary and have her take you back to camp."

"Like you can do this alone, Jackson." Jason laughed humorlessly.

"Well I can sure get a lot more done without you two here." Percy snapped back.

"Okay, how about we split up for a while?" I suggest, "Being together twenty-four seven is not helping us. Let's all go in different directions. No stopping for anything that won't help, unless it's for a quick snack. Meet back here in three hours. If something happens, use an Iris message to each other or to camp." I yelled over top of them. They both looked at me, realizing that it was a good plan.

"That'll work," Percy said, "Everybody has their weapon?" We go through a short list of all the things we might need. "Good, good. Now, if two of us is here in three hours and the other isn't wait for a half hour before looking for them."

I nod before wishing them good luck and taking off. I weave through people, walking away from the park. I was alone now. No one to keep me from my thoughts... Maybe this was a bad idea. We've been at this for two days. I honestly don't see what Percy was talking about when he wanted to come look for Nico. New York was big, filled with a lot of people. He could've just gone to Chiron. He probably would have already found Nico.

I shake my head, focus Will.

Now, if you were Nico, where would you go? I would go to the Underworld. A place where people couldn't really get to. Stop, Will. You're thinking like the old Nico. Then I don't know where he'd go. He kinda left spontaneously, without a game plan. What good are you then? What good am I? Well you wouldn't be here-

My internal fight was cut off when I ran into something really hard. I groan and touch my forehead and wince. Ow, that'll leave a bruise.

"You ran into a pole." Someone giggled beside me. I look to my left to see a small girl with pastel pink hair.

"Erm, yeah." I say awkwardly.

"Hi, I'm Rueben." She sticks out her hand and I just look at it. I finally take it and shake it quickly. I didn't have time for this.

"I'm Will, and it was nice meeting you but I really have to go." I say and take off, not look ping back.

"Where you off to?" I jump at her voice. I look over at her to see that her tiny legs were moving really fast to keep up with me.

"To find a friend." I say vaguely.

"Oh," her face fell, "is he lost?"

"Maybe not to him, but to me he is." I sigh, hoping she would leave.

"Where is he." She did not just ask that question. I was about to stop and yell at her to go away, but her laughter stopped me. "I'm just kidding. I may not be the smartest girl in my class, but I'm not stupid."

I was quiet, not wanting to talk to her anymore. I don't know if it's my headache, which has increased since I ran into a stupid pole, or my hunger, but she was annoying. I don't really want to talk to anyone right now. Especially a stranger. I take a sharp turn, hoping to lose her in the rush of the crowd but she held onto my trail like a hound dog.

I stopped in the middle of the alley way. It was bright on the other way but three figures were down at the other end. None of them were really tall, nor did they give off that I'm-a-big-scary-monster-that-will-eat-and-or-kill-you. One of the figures stopped walking as he or she looked up. They literally jumped up and backtracked. They almost tripped over their feet but luckily caught themselves just in time.

"Is that Will? Will! Hey buddy!" That voice was familiar. It couldn't be him. But it was. I was still shocked still so when Leo ran up to me and hugged me, it was awkward with my arms down at my sides. We've never been close at camp.

"Leo?" I still couldn't believe it and he's hugging me. "But how? I thought N- Nico felt you die."

"Well, Solace," he says, throwing an arm around my shoulder and dragging me towards the third figure, "I'm not as stupid as people make me out to be."

"Was that Nico with you?" I ask.

Leo nods, "And this is Calypso." He smiles broadly.

"Hi." I say distractedly, looking at the alleyway, seeing if I could see Nico. Just barely. His black hair was disappearing fast.

"Who's your little friend Will?" Leo asks. Huh? I give him a confused look and he points behind me. I follow his finger.

Reuben. "Oh, she's not my friend. Ask her yourself." I say as politely as I could before taking off.

I push through people. It feels like I'm swimming against a current and the current is almost winning. Almost. I break through the cluster and into a free space. There he is. Right across the street. I don't hesitate to run towards him. When I'm halfway there, Nico turns around, big, beautiful brown eyes widen in fear.

"Will!"

Then all goes black.

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Well, well, well, look who finally decided to show up guys! Leo! Omg I love him so much. But that cliffhanger tho.

I'll hopefully have the next chapter up tomorrow though so don't fret... Yet.

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