A Million Worlds Apart

Well, That Just Happened [2]

Nico

He looks the same as he did. His smile, the way he laughs. It's good to know he moved on though. I never wanted to hold him back from anything. Look at him now, achieving his dreams.

I have already started to settle into my room. Clothes in the dresser, a few drawings scattered here and there. I start to get into my pajamas, after all, it's getting pretty late. "Oh, Nico! I forgot to-" Will says, opening the door without knocking.

"Gesù!" I shout, jumping at his sudden entrance.

Will immediately gets flustered, backing out of the room. "I am so sorry." He says from the hall outside my room. I throw on a shirt and then tell him it's okay to come in. His face is still bright from the blush splashing across it. "I was just wondering if you wanted some take-out tonight?"

I nod in confirmation, looking at him as he glances sideways. "Hey man, look. I'm sorry for barging in. My boyfriend used to live here, so I'm used to just being able to barge in. I'll work on that."

With his blue eyes still piercing into me I give a slight nod. My black hair falls into my eyes, I push it back into place with my painted
nails. "If you don't mind my asking," I trail off looking at him. "why does he no longer live with you?"

Will breaks into a smile. "He got into his dream school, and that was across the country. We decided to go long distance."

A guy who didn't give up. Will deserves that much. "That's really sweet." I tell him casting my eyes to the floor.

"Is there a special someone for you back home?" He asks me. I know that he is honestly just trying to be nice, but it still hurts.

"Uh," I start, picking my eyes up from the floor. "not really. Just my dad, my sister lives over here." I concede, scratching the back of my neck nervously.

Will gets that I'm uncomfortable answering any further. "I'll pay tonight for the take-out, my treat since you're the new roommate!" He says, brightly changing the subject. "And Nico, I'm glad to have you back." He flashes me a warm smile, winking, but my blood runs cold. He remembers me.

He turns out of the room, lightly shutting the door behind him. Will didn't even question why I never spoke to him after I left, why I left him on his own.

I know I owe him an explanation, but how do I tell him all the things I wish I could have done different? Am I just supposed to tell him all out? "Hey, Will, I left you because I didn't want to hold you back, but I wish I could have at least told you more?" Not exactly the thing you want to say to you're ex-boyfriend after not speaking him for 2 years.

Thirty minutes later Will comes back to my room, knocking this time. "Food's here!" He tells me through the door. Slowly, I get up from the bed. I've been formulating what I'm going to say to him for the past thirty minutes. None of it seems right though.

I walk out of my room cautiously. "Hey!" Will says brightly from the kitchen.

I dread having confront him about the obvious elephant in the room. "Hi." I say cautiously, almost like a question.

He gives me a plate, telling me to help myself. I take a little at a time, giving me more time to think about what I'm going to say. But, Will beats me to it right as we sit down.

"So, when were you going to tell me?" He asks me nonchalantly, looking at me expectantly.

I shovel food in my mouth as he asks, giving myself time to mull over the question. "Tell you what?" I reply cautiously from where I sit across from him.

I can hear the eye roll in his voice without looking up. "That you are back in town, or even that it was you."

I keep my head down, moving my food around the plate. "Well, I wanted to tell you, but I also didn't want you to hate me. I kind of was hoping that you had forgotten about me, and maybe not notice it was me at all." I reply quietly.

"One last question. How could I just "not notice" it's you?"

I shrug my shoulders. "I guess, because I've changed a lot, I kind of hoped..." I trail off at the end.

Will lets out a chuckle. "So basically, you hoped the tattoos and piercings would be enough to throw me off?" I nod in confirmation. "Well, you were wrong."

"Obviously." I mutter.

He chews on his food thoughtfully. "Ya know," he looks up at me, looking me dead in the eyes. "the piercings and tattoos are a good look for you." With that he gets up, taking his plate with him.

I stay looking at the door he left through. "Well, that just happened." I mutter to myself.

This is going to be a hell of a time. Many people don't get to reconnect with their ex that they kind of just dropped because they were afraid.

Don't get me wrong, I'm very happy for Will. He deserves only the best, and I didn't believe I could give him that from Italy. And I'm really upset with the way I ended things, but- "You alright, Nico?" Will is crouched in front of me, a look of worry in his eyes.

"Sorry, just lost in thought." I murmur.

Will stands up, extending his hand to me. "Here, let me take your plate."

"No, Will, it's okay. I can handle a plate." I give him a small smile, starting to stand up.

"Ah, ah, ah!" Will tells me. "Tonight's your first night staying here. Tomorrow you can be mister independent, but tonight just relax before you start classes in the morning."

Reluctantly, I give him my plate, smiling up at him.

When he comes back he settles down on the opposite end of the couch, facing me. "So, what are you going to school for? I assume that your passions changed from when we were seventeen."

I give a small laugh, curling my legs farther up into my chest. "Yeah, they definitely have. I decided to study art at Jupiter University."

"Wait really? Jason is going there, for graphic design." Wow, I'm really going to reconnect with some of my old friends apparently.

"I assume you are studying medicine still." You were really passionate about that when we were together. I add in my head.

His smile seems to increase intensity by ten. "Yep! I finally get to help people!"

"Will you-" I cut myself off, scratching the back of my neck. "already help a lot of people." I add hastily.

Will gives me a look. It is almost knowing, like he is going to dive in my head to find out exactly what I had wanted to say. And the thought of that terrifies me.