When I've Fallen Too Deep

Chapter 28- Bathrooms.

Nicos P.O.V. 

For the second time today I was sitting on the yellow school bench. This time though, I had Will Solace less than a foot away from me. There had been a total of eight of them around us, but he picked this one. Anyone passing by could have fooled us as friends if they didn't look closely at my hands or his clenched jaw.  It was an indirect form of torment that played with my anxiety.  

I glanced back up at his face. He had multiple freckles brushed across his face in which I had never noticed before. My hands pulled on my hair subconsciously while my eyes continued to travel up to his eyes. Unlike the usual confusing vibe that sent down my spine, this time they held something darker. More secrets and pain than any effort of trying to hurt me. It looked like he was battling something mentally.  

All of were outside of the school to get picked up. Argus was going to pick us up and drive us to the orphanage. Chiron said Alex spent a good three hours there so we had a good hour to kill when we got there. It was five-thirty now and Chiron was Iris messaging the other to say we were ready. 

Will stands up suddenly beside me.  His hands hanging at his sides were shaking slightly with slight pink coloring the knuckles. "I-I'm going to the bathroom." He stutters, surprising me. All without a word, he wipes his sweaty palms on his shirt and turns around to make his self to the toilet. I turn around to watch him speed walk away from me. What was that all about? That would usually be me.

"Do you know him well?"

I whip my head around at the voice. Chiron just sits there cocking his head like a dog. I think about the question though. Sure I knew him physically, how he looked liked and talked, but mentally was another question that I wasn't ready to answer. Just being friends with the person that brought me a living hell scared me. William Solace was one to fear, not one which made me feel safe or comforted. His words felt like needles to my brain and his kicks like pure iron. Every tiny detail about his personality made me feel so helpless. I hated that. I was the son of death, not some ragdoll. But I couldn't help it, if anyone found out about it all, the consequences would outdo the good. 

"No, not really." I lie, "We run into each other in the halls on occasion, that's it."

"You could though. He has had trouble finding his place in the camp. It would be a shame if he ended up..."

"Like me?"

Remorse fills his ancient eyes. "Definitely not. You're as valuable to us as anyone else. It pains me to see you think of yourself so low. If anything were to happen to you, great tragedy would reek among us."

One part of me took great meaning to his words. The other part just said, "Thanks."

". . .Do you want to explain what happened earlier? Why you pulled the alarm?"

My hand travels back to my chin where the imaginary remains of blood laid. I should have known this had an underlying theme. 

"Nothing really happened. I just ended up tripping and busting my lip. I think I hit the arm while going down or pulling myself up."

He looks at me for a moment. "Are you sure?"

"Well, do you think I'm on LSD or something and imagined everything?"

"Not necessarily-"

"Then drop the subject, okay? I would talk about it if wanted, so leave it."

Honestly, I don't know what made me snap like I did at him, but it felt good. Letting some of the walls I built back down. Either way, It shut him up for a while. It doesn't last as long as I wished though, cause he speaks up only a few minutes later.