Solangelo Oneshots

Hypothermia

This takes place before Will and Nico start dating.
NPOV
I wake up in a bed with white blankets surrounded by a white wall and white curtains. The only decor that wasn't white was a framed poster on the wall. The poster is one of those cheesy 'an apple a day keeps the doctor away!' sayings in front of a happy caterpillar. The air carries the strong, slightly familiar scent of rubbing alcohol.

I must be in the infirmary. I try to figure out why I'm in here. My memory's a little hazy, but I try to replay the day's events.

"I'm really enjoying being friends with you," Will had said. We were riding a Pegasus together. "But I was wondering..." He paused, which was either a really bad sign or a really good sign. There was no in between. "If you'd like to, I don't know, be more than friends?"

This surprised me so much I had fallen off Blackjack (the only Pegasus that allowed me to ride him) and into the lake. I remember trying to shadow travel to my cabin as I fell, but it was the middle of the day and there were no shadows in mid-air. Big surprise there. I hit the lake and heard a few tiny demigods shriek in surprise as I landed in the water. At least, I think that's what happened. What if I'm wrong?

"Oh good. You're awake." Kayla pushed through the curtain, snapping me out of my daze. "We just have to do a few tests to see if you have to stay for a few days or if you can go." She picks up a clipboard and pen. "I'm going to ask you a few questions. What's your name?"

"Conner Schmidt." She glares at me.

"Fine." I sigh. "Nico Di Angelo. But you already know that, so why are you asking me?"

Kayla sighs exasperatedly. "Standard hospital protocol. Trust me, we don't enjoy it either. Age?"

"Either 90-something or 14. Take your pick." "I'll go with 14. That way you c— never mind. Weight?" I wonder what she was going to say.

"I don't know? Like, 120 pounds or so? Honestly, that sounds right, but I have no idea."

"That's fine. We can weigh you later. Height?"

Ugh. I hate this question.

"I'm 5 feet tall." She nods and writes it down.

"Do you remember why you're here?"

"Uh, yeah, I think so. I was Pegasus riding with Will, then he asked me something— I can't remember what, exactly— and I fell into the canoe lake, startling a bunch of kids."

"Okay, then! Thanks, Nico. I just need to get your temperature, then we can give you a diagnosis." She puts down her clipboard and sticks a thermometer into my mouth. I don't care for the taste of plastic thermometer covers. I wonder if anyone actually likes the taste. I can't imagine a new demigod eating ambrosia for the first time and saying, 'Yum. Plastic. My favorite treat.' That would be weird, but not as weird as thinking your best friend wants to date you but not being totally sure. I'm pretty worried that my memory isn't messed up from the fall, and Will did ask me out, only for me to fall into the lake. He probably thinks that I was so repulsed that I jumped off Blackjack to escape him.

No, Will isn't stupid. He can be extremely blunt, and he doesn't know when to shut up, but he's not an idiot.

"Hypothermia." Kayla says. I totally zoned out for a moment there. "You can leave tomorrow, but you have to stay here until then." She hands me a cup of medicine before leaving. Not to be rude, but I'm glad she's gone. Hopefully, I can be alone for a bit and think. Think about how Will might have asked me out. Think about how maybe by 'more than friends' he meant best friends. What if he had a crush on me but I scared him off? Maybe being alone with my thoughts wasn't the best idea.

"You're free to go." Kayla says, plopping a small bottle into my hands.

"What's this?" I inquire.

"Medicine. You can leave the infirmary but you still need to take this twice daily. Goodbye."

And with that, she shut the door, leaving me outside. I'm halfway to my cabin when Will jogs up to me. "Hey, Nico! How're you doing?"
Did he not know I just spend a day in the infirmary? No. Probably not. He must've either not been there or he was busy with other patients. Both were valid excuses. It's not like we're together or anything, no matter how much I want us to be. He was probably asking to be polite. Why would he care how I was doing? I mean, yeah, I guess we were friends.

"I'm doing okay, I guess."

"That's good. I'm glad you're doing better. Hey, um, do you remember anything from before you fell?"

"A bit."

"Do you remember what I asked you?"

Well, here goes nothing. Either I'm about to shatter the first real friendship I've had since I was six, or I was about to get a boyfriend. There is no in between.

"I think so. You.... asked me out? On a date? Or something?"

He smiles at me. "So, what's your answer?" Oh my gods! It's happening! "Of course! I'd love to!"

"Great!" He beamed with delight. "Are you free on Saturday?"

AN// Prompt sent by @michiakalsbella