Light & Dark

Chapter 11

Nico blinked his eyes open and saw the same face leaning over him in the dark.

He hastily pulled himself up to a sitting position. 'Will! Why are you here? What time is it?' He asked nervously. His dream had left him in quite a vulnerable state and he wasn't keen to have to talk to somebody yet, but something told him that Will wouldn't leave so easily.

'It's around five in the morning,' he half-spoke, half-hissed. 'I just finished Percy's series.'

'You finished- have you been up all night reading??' Nico breathed  incredulously.

'Yes. Also, I just realised we're the only ones in here, so we don't have to whisper.'

'Ok,' Nico whispered. He cleared his throat. 'I mean- Ok,' he said louder.

'Anyways, I woke you to talk about what I read.'

'At 5AM?! Did you really have to?'

Will considered this. 'I guess I could've waited. Sorry.'

Nico sighed and folded his arms. 'You've woken me up now, what did you want to say?'
He prepared for the worst.

Will's face lit up. 'They were so cool! And you were so awesome. I loved it!'

Nico was taken aback. Will enjoyed the books. Will thought Nico was "awesome" even when he was a whiny twelvie with only King Minos as a friend.

He made a mental note to thank Percy.

'Wow,' Nico said simply. He then elaborated, 'I guess I was painted in a better light than I thought.'

Will laughed. 'I really don't see why you should have been embarrassed.' They sat in comfortable silence for a moment. Eventually Will spoke.

'Nico... can I ask you a, um, personal question?' He ventured.

Nico closed up faster than a startled hedgehog. He would normally tell someone to stuff off if they asked him that, but seeing as it was Will, Nico settled for mild hostility.

'Can I stop you?' he replied.

'Uh... yes. It's fine, if you don't want to answer...'

Nico felt a rush of affection for Will. For once, someone was being considerate, not pushing too far. Will didn't mind if Nico didn't want to open up so easily.

Nico felt his shoulders relax and his face un-frown. 'It's- it's okay. Ask away.'

Will opened his mouth to speak and then hesitated, biting his lip. He seemed unsure. 'Did you...' Will finally met Nico's eyes. 'Did you have a crush on Percy?'

Nico inhaled sharply. Of all the things he thought Will might ask... this was not on the list. Nico wanted to deny it, to keep his secret hidden deep in his soul, but he felt that it would be pointless - it seemed as if Will already knew anyway. He looked at Will- held the gaze- and his resolve cracked.

Nico crumpled. 'Is it that obvious from the books?'

Will looked surprised. 'No, not at all! I just sort of figured it out... when you talked to Percy two days ago, were you admitting it to him?'

Nico put his head in his hands. 'At this rate, the whole camp's going to know by the end of the week.' He complained from behind his hands.

Will frowned. 'I don't think they really care who you like, to be honest.'

'No, I mean everyone's going to know what I am,' Nico forced through his teeth. 'And I'm just not... ready for that yet.'

Will looked at the floor, suddenly serious, and said, 'I know exactly how you feel.'