Heroes of Olympus: a Mortal High School Story

Chapter 14: Home

     "So you like the skateboard?" Hazel asked as they walked slowly down the sidewalk. "Yeah, it's really cool. Where'd you get the paint?"
     "The arts and crafts shop at the mall. Nico got them for me last year."
     They were quiet for a few minutes. "Nico's a good brother?" Frank questioned. "Yeah. Totally, he's just a bit overprotective sometimes. What about Clarrise?"
     "She's uh....crazy. She believes in 'every man for himself' except for her it's 'every man, woman, and non-binary person for themselves.'"
     Hazel laughed and Frank smiled. He liked to hear her laugh. "She bullies you though, right?" Hazel asked. "Well, I wouldn't call it 'bully' so much as 'toughen me up'. If she's really hurting me, she knows when to stop. She can actually be really nice."
     They walked in silence. "So what are you doing this weekend?" Frank asked.
     "I don't know. Maybe I'll go to the mall or somewhere with Nico. Why?"  "Just wondering. Do you...want to meet up, tomorrow?"
     "Yeah! I'd love to." She smiled at him. "What about one o'clock? At the mall?"
     "Yeah, at the parking lot?"
     "Yeah." They reached Hazel's house. "I'll see you tomorrow," Hazel said, turning to look at him. He was staring at her. His face turned pink, and he sputtered out a, "Yeah."
     Hazel smiled and stood on her tip toes as she wrapped her arms around his neck. Frank slid his arms around her waist and closed his eyes. A car drove past them. Slowly, they pulled away from the hug and Frank brushed his lips on Hazel's forehead.  She smiled and turned away to walk up the steps to her porch. When she stepped inside, she turned around to close the door. Frank was watching her and smiling slightly. He mouthed the word, "Bye." Or maybe he said it, but Hazel just couldn't hear him. She smiled and shut the door.
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Will and Nico were in the car listening to "Ballad of Mona Lisa" when Will drove straight past Nico's house. 
     "Will, that was..." "I know."
     Nico turned in his seat to look behind him and he saw Hazel and Frank wrapped in an embrace. "Are they–" Will interrupted. "Just hugging, Nico, just hugging."
     Nico sat back in his seat and huffed. "I knew I shouldn't have let him walk her home."
     "Nico, honestly, loosen up. They're friends."
     "Easy for you say. That's not your little sister."
     "Yeah, but I have a little sister. I remember I wanted to rip the guy apart when they started dating, but I refrained from doing so. Now my sister's happy with him. And because she's happy, I'm happy."
     "I just...don't want her to grow up yet." Nico twisted his ring. "I know," Will said softly. "But you have to let go eventually. She's not going to be the little baby forever."
     Nico sighed. "I know." Will turned the car around. They kept listening to the music from Will's  iPhone.
     When they got to Nico's house, Nico started to get out, but Will put his hand on his shoulder. "Hey. When you get inside, don't interrogate her, alright?"  Nico looked at Will's freckled face. "Yeah." Will smiled and pulled his hand back, dragging his thumb along Nico's neck. Shivers went up and down Nico's spine and he quickly got out of the car. When he got to the door and turned around, Will was looking at him. He smiled and Nico shut the door.