3 Days to Fall in Love

7- Will

I watched him walk down the hill and close the cabin door behind him and smiled.  Just being around him made me feel special, he usually had his defenses up with everyone.  I wonder why he didn't have his up with me? Or rather, they were easing down.  I decided to skip dinner tonight, which was out of character but I didn't feel like it.  I walked to the Apollo cabin and lay down on my bed.  I reached over the edge for my guitar and pulled it up, plucking random chords until sleep took over.  It fell from my hands. 
I woke up with the sun. Gods, I hated it, but I did it every day.  I straightened my knocked over guitar and went to the bathroom to freshen up.  When I returned, everyone was awake and getting ready as well.  I left the cabin and walked into the pale light of morning.  I scanned the camp.  Nobody else was up, except one figure standing by the strawberry fields.  I walked closer. Was that... Nico? He was standing with his back to the rest of the camp, staring out into the light.    I put my hand on his shoulder. He jumped.  

"Nico!" I exclaimed softly.

"Yeah." He responded, equally as quiet.

"You're outside."

"Yep."

"Not that I'm complaining or anything, but.. why?" I tilted my head.  Usually nobody was awake yet.

"I heard somewhere that you're supposed to get at least 10 minutes of sunshine a day, and as much as I like it, spending time with you doesn't count." I laughed softly, and he smiled.  It was a pure, genuine smile, the innocent, incorrupt kind that could make your heart melt.  Well, mine, anyway.  He almost never looked this way.  I liked it.  The sun glowed down on us as I sat down in the field, Nico following.  What a nice morning.  But still, I couldn't shake the sense that he wasn't awake for the sunshine.

"Why are you really up?"  His look darkened as he tilted his head back to look at me.  He shrugged. 

"Dreams.  I couldn't sleep."  I nodded understandingly.  

"Okay."  Nico took a breath.

"I was-"

"You don't have to." I cut in. I didn't want Nico to feel compelled to tell me if he didn't want to.  He shook his head.

"I want to." I nodded.  "It was.. my team won capture the flag, like last night.  We were celebrating.  Then I was with you for a while, and we hung out here, in the fields.  I had just come back to the cabin when my dad appeared.  He told me that nothing was how it seemed, and not to get comfortable here.  He said it was because someone I trusted would betray me, so beware, and don't trust anyone. Then he showed me a vision.  It was a picture of you and me, and I was hanging off the edge of something.   You were holding my hand and I screamed for you not to let go.  But you did, Will.  You did, and you were smiling.  It was so scary."  He shuddered.  I took his hand. 

"I would never do that.  You can trust me, please.  Believe me," I begged quietly.  I didn't want him to ever stop trusting me.

"I do.  I know you wouldn't, I... hope.. you wouldn't."

"I wouldn't." He took a deep breath and and squeezed my hand.  

"Okay." We sat in silence for a while.  

"Nico?"  I asked before I lost my nerve.

"Yeah?" 

"I don't really know you that well."

"Huh." 

"You think.. I mean, I want to get to know you.  The real you.  Everyone's seen the scary, awesome side of you that fights off monsters and walks through hell alone, but not the real you. Would it be okay if I did?"  Nico turned his head to look at me, and butterflies rose into my throat.   His eyes were filled with joy, as if nobody had ever wanted to get to know him before.  And to be honest, I doubted they did.  He nodded softly, then took my hand and walked me back to his cabin, closing the door behind us.  "No offense, but this place seriously needs a makeover."  I scrunched my eyebrows at the vampire like cabin.  Nico chuckled.

"I know.  I was just thinking that yesterday."  

"So tell me something."

"What?"

"Anything.  Anything that makes you happy." 

"Okay."