Unbroken {Solangelo}

chapter 23.

.:Nico POV:.

I don't know what's wrong with me. I feel so giddy, light. I'm smiling for the first time in years, talking freely, interacting with my boyfriend and his friends. It seems like I've felt this before but I can't put a finger quite on when or how. Maybe it's been so long that I've felt this way that I'd forgotten what it even felt like and now that I'm finally feeling it again it's hit me in a wave of nostalgia.

But, wait, what am I even feeling right now anyway?

Then it hits me: I'm happy, slowly becoming. . .unbroken.

* * *

I plop down beside Will with his friends at their lunch table, the tray smacking the table and my drink bouncing up and landing back in it's place on the tray.

Will looks at me in the corner of his eye and his lips curl into a smile. I find myself beaming too. Maybe his cheeriness really is contagious.

The group glances at me, smiling as well. I wonder if they're surprised that I came over to sit with them, grinning, without Will having to drag me.

Will shuffles closer to me, his arm brushing mine. Just then, Piper's eyes light up and she gasps, "Oh! My gaydar is going off!"

Jason's eyebrows furrow. "Pipes, what?"

Without tearing her narrowed eyes from us, she shoves a single index finger to her boyfriend's lips, silencing him. "Shhh." Her eyes narrow further before she jumps in her seat, gasping again.

"Nico and Will are dating!"

Great. Another fangirl-y Hazel.

The entire group turns to us, I feel my eyes grow wide. Will laces his fingers through mine under the table, me blushing furiously as we both nod.

Jason leans slowly over to Piper, whispering just loud enough for us to hear, "how'd you know?"

She just smirks. "My gaydar is never wrong, babe."

It takes Leo a minute longer to recover than the rest of the group. His dark eyes are wide with astonishment while the rest of them shoot us reassuring nods.

My stomach flips when it flashes through my mind: what if Leo is homophobic? What if he stops being nice to us? What if he ditches Will, because of me? I couldn't take it if Will was ousted from his friend because of me.

I find myself exhaling when Will tightens his grip on my hand. I didn't realize I was holding my breath, but at his touch I feel my heartbeat slow.

The shocked look is finally shaken from Leo's face when Percy shoves his shoulder. "So. . . You guys are, like, gay?" Leo questions, nothing in his voice but innocent curiosity.

"Straight as a slinky." I reply simply.

"Hopelessly." Will states.