drama club {boyxboy} {willxnico}

Take My Hand

Will

   "Great show everybody!" Mr. Brunner clapped.

    Nico was already taking his makeup off. Alex laid on the floor, Magnus leaning on Alex's back. Percy sat by Nico talking to him, and Hazel sat by me.

   Hazel rubbed her eyes, exhausted. "I'm so tired. I hate working behind lights. I also couldn't stop checking my phone every 4 minutes, reading the articles, tweets. I don't understand how Nico does it. Like all of today, he's been texting Percy. It's insane."

   I looked other at Percy and Nico, leaning towards each other as they told each other jokes and began cracking up. I turned back to Hazel, pretending like it didn't bother me. "He was texting Percy?"

   "Yeah," Hazel said. She looked over towards them. "Kinda weird. I've barely seen them talk before."

   Percy isn't even gay, I told myself. And Nico loves me. Why did I feel a tinge in my heart? "I guess new friends?"

   "Probably," Hazel said, raising her eyebrows.

   I took a deep breath, stressed. I felt like I did a horrible job today, and Nico was coming over for dinner. "Magnus!" I hollered, walking towards him. "Do you still have that vodka you snuck in?"

   Magnus pointed over to his back. "Not the Fiji bottle, the other water bottle."

   I took it out, throwing it to the back of my throat and swallowing. I stuck out my tongue in disgust and put it back into Magnus's bag.

   "Be careful, Will," he said, raising an eyebrow. "You know...it's not very smart to drink. You know."

   "Know what?" I snarled.

   "I mean, with your dad and stuff. He and mom go to the same AA meetings. Listen, it's worse for you and me," he cringed.

   "Then why do you have it in your bag?"

   "For Alex," he shrugged.

   "Alcoholics are great liars," I narrowed my eyes at him and he shifted. "You have no right to tell me what to do when you do it yourself."

   "Don't get started," Magnus said. "It's hard to quit."

   I shook my head. "Leave me alone," i said, snatching the vodka.

   "Okay," he whispered as I walked off. Alex watched Percy and Nico, too. I sat down by her.

   "Percy's my best friend," Alex scoffed. "I haven't made him laugh like that."

   I felt a punch in my stomach. What was going on?

   "Nico," I said. "You ready?"

   "Yep!" He said, smiling. He said bye to Percy, giving him a fist-bump and running towards me.

   I took his hand and walked out to the front, seeing dad and Aiyana.

   "You kiddos ready?" Dad asked.

   Nico nodded and smiled. "Born ready."

—

   Walking into my house, I felt very embarrassed. My house looked like shambles of wood glued together. Nico must've been judging me hardcore.

   Nico smiled and began talking to my father as we sat at the dining table and Aiyana prepared dinner. Nico continued to rant to my father, but I could feel myself drifting in and out of conversation.

   Then we were all seated, everybody talking and laughing. I couldn't seem to focus.

   "Nico, it's so nice to see that my boy has found a great boyfriend," dad smiled.

   "It's nice to know you. You two are a lot alike."

   "I'm not like him," I said.

   Aiyana looked up, giving me an angry glance as my dad and Nico silenced.

   "What'd I say?" I asked.

   "Nothing, love. You're fine," Nico patted my arm.

   "Are you drunk?" Dad asked.

   "No," I hiccuped. On cue, I felt my insides churn and I bent over, puking to my right. Nico went into full protective mode, jumping up and putting his hand on my back.

   "Will, babe, are you okay?" was the last thing I heard before I felt my body become limp.