Solangelo Rising

Chapter 32 (Will)

    I was a little nervous. I was standing at the door of my own cabin trying to push down the butterflies in my stomach. I briefly hoped Nico would be okay. I stood waffling for a few more seconds. What if they don't accept me? Stella reacted just fine, but I'm always busy teaching archery or healing other kids... I don't know all of my siblings well enough to know how they would react... Well now or never Will.

    I took a deep breath and knocked on the door. I heard some mumbling and frantic shuffling before Kayla opened the door. "Will? Come in, and WHY in the world are you knocking on your own door? And you're looking a bit pale, are you feeling okay?" I swallowed hard. "I told you guys I'd settle the rumor. Well here goes I guess." I looked around and saw all 20 or so of my siblings intently looking at me with curiosity. Looks like I have their attention...

    "The rumor is at least partially true, I did kiss Drew." Gasps from around the room. "But listen I didn't want to, she manipulated me. She tackled me on the beach and charm-spoke me into it. I wanted to gag the whole time, trust me I don't have a thing for Drew." As I looked around I saw that they believed me. After all, who would kiss her? From across the room Austin called out "So why did she force you to kiss her in the first place? Revenge? Just for her entertainment?" That got a chorus of 'yeah's and 'good question's. I took another steadying breath. Now for the hard part. "Guys Drew figured out something about me and someone else. She was meddling as most Aphrodite kids do. She made me kiss her in front of my crush. It was so embarrassing." This time it was Stella knowingly asking "And Will, who is that crush exactly?" I stared at the floor. 

    "I have something to tell you guys. I'm... gay. And I like Nico di Angelo." Silence. Great, they hate me now. But then a cacophony of responses hit. "Really, Will, is that what you were so worried about?" "Will, half of us are gay too." "Gay? Yeah Apollo is my other dad." And a host of other positive responses. Thank. The. Gods. Not one of them hated me. I found I could breathe again. "One more thing guys, he said I could only tell you if you promised not to fangirl in public. You know how shy he is, he doesn't want this to be common knowledge yet." A gasp came from one of my sisters "HOLD UP! Nico likes you back? So that's why you've been spending so much time together recently! Have you asked him out yet? Is he your boyfriend?" I looked at her awkwardly "Yeah, that's why I've been spending so much extra time with him. And no, I haven't officially asked him to be my boyfriend yet, though now I suppose I'd better." Great, another nerve wrecking quest. 

    Just then the lunch conch sounded. "I already ate, you guys go get some food. And remember NO rumors or fangirling. If I catch wind of this you're getting bathroom cleaning duty for months. See ya later!" I jogged out the door feeling lighter than I had in days. I was glad I didn't have to lie to them anymore. But now I had the weight of having to officially ask out Nico. What if he says no?