The Perks of Us

Chapter 15

Will woke up to Nico faking sleep.  He knew he was awake- his breathing was too fast for him to be asleep.  He shifted and yawned, purposely stretching and knocking his hand into Nico's face.  Nico pushed it away and blew a raspberry at him, eyes still closed. 
"Hey Will?" He said softly. "Can I leave the hospital soon?"
"Let me check for you." Will started to get up, but Nico pulled him back down.
"No, it can wait. Don't go, I'm cold."  Will smiled at his flat mate.
"Okay."
The nurse entered a few minutes after and informed them that after about a week Nico might be stable enough to go home.  Will could tell Nico was disappointed, so he decided to surprise him.  He left for a minute and texted Hazel, telling her the whole story.  She responded immediately:
Of course! Poor Nico!!! Hang on, I'm on my way!!

She was there within the hour.  Nico was staring at his lap, with Will braiding and unbraiding sections of his hair, when a pretty figure with a mass of wild curls leaned against the door frame. 
"I'm looking for a Mr. Di Angelo?" She asked teasingly.  Nico shot his head up and smiled widely. 
"Hazel!!" He exclaimed.  He tried to move, but winced at the pain and lowered himself back down.  Hazel ran forward and embraced him tightly.  He squeaked as she squeezed him until he couldn't breathe, then she let go and asked him if he was okay, fussing with his covers and making sure he was comfortable.
"I'm fine, really. I'll be all bandaged up and in a wheelchair for a while, but I'll be okay." He protested. He wasn't usually this optimistic, but his own health didn't really matter to him, so why worry? He smiled at the sight of Will and Hazel meeting, for what didn't seem to be the first time.
"Will,"
"Hazel," the acknowledged each other kindly.
"So you did end up meeting my brother." She smiled.
"That I did, and I'm certainly glad, because without him I would have had just about the worst year ever." He grinned back and winked at Nico. He rolled his eyes. This loser. Hazel just laughed and combed her hair back with her fingers, restraining it in a ponytail. She stayed for a while before leaving after visiting hours and promising to return soon.

A week had passed, and Nico couldn't wait to get himself out of the hospital. He almost jumped up when the wheelchair was rolled into the room, but remembered his condition and stayed on the bed. Will and the nurse, Kari, helped him into the chair, and not for the first time Nicos hand went up to touch the bandages circling his forehead. He wasn't as worried about himself as he was about his car. That couldn't be fixed. He supposed he would just have to use Wills. He was wheeled into the car, and during the drive home, Wills phone buzzed.
"Don't check. Please." He whispered, recalling the incident. Will nodded, patted Nico's hand, and continued driving. He turned on the radio. Nico noticed his lips moving to the lyrics, but he didn't make a noise.
"Why don't you sing?" He asked.
"Sing?" Will laughed. "I can't sing for the life of me. I sound like a freaked out horse."
"Aw, come on."
"Nope."
Will continued to mouth the lyrics until they were home. Nico wheeled out and into the house. He was getting the hang of this wheelchair thing. He was glad to be home, finally, and the first thing he wanted to do was go straight to bed. He wheeled to his room and waved goodnight to Will over his shoulder.
"Night, sunshine."
"Night. If you need anything, just call. I'm right here." Nico nodded and went in. He lifted himself onto his bed and stared at the image of him and Will on the wall until he dozed off.

Nico plucked his headphones from his ears and listened. He listened hard. Sure enough, a beautiful sound was flying through the air from Wills room. He put his headphones around his neck and wheeled across the hallway, pressing his eye to the crack in the door. Will was playing the guitar and singing. Nico waited until he was done to burst in.
"William Solace!" Will looked up in panic. "You lied to me!"
"What?"
"You said that you couldn't sing if your life depended on it!" Nico purposely flung his hands through the air as he scolded his flat mate. "And yet here you are, singing with the most wonderful, beautiful voice there is on earth!" He kept his voice stern and suppressed a smile. Wills face contorted in confusion, then slowly he smiled.
"You said that very nice thing very harshly, I don't know what to think." He joked. "Thanks, Nico. I didn't think my voice was that great. In fact, I was kinda hoping you didn't hear." Nico smiled and rolled next to him.
"Can you sing again?" Will smiled too, and strummed a chord before singing. Nico pulled his phone out and quietly hit record, pulling out the wonder of Wills voice in and keeping it.

Nico listened to it on repeat whenever he felt upset.