Solangelo Oneshots

Amusement Park

Mortal AU, Nico's POV

The smells and sounds of the amusement park overwhelmed my senses and made it hard to process the commotion unfolding around me. Carts and food trucks advertised frozen lemonade, candy, and lunch foods. Kids pulled on their parent's shirts, begging to go on rides.

It was a humid day, but the sky was shrouded in a thick bank of clouds as far as the eye could see. People always say that this kind of weather is gloomy, but it gives me a sense of calm. Everything's lighter and clearer, like a camera coming into focus.

Plus, it's nice not to have to squint in the bright sunlight. My half sister strolled alongside me, a stick of fluffy pink cotton candy in her left hand.

"Nico, look!"

Hazel tugged on my sleeve and pointed at a very large, very fast looking roller coaster called Treacherous Olympus. "Please Nico. Please, please, please," she begged, grinning. I smiled. I wasn't a fan of heights, but anything for Hazel. "Sure, why not?" I replied, ruffling her curly hair. She swatted at my hand away with a playful grin.

We shouldered ahead through the crowd and arrived at the entrance. We stepped into the line behind six eccentric teenagers laughing and talking together. Clearly they were all close friends. A nagging feeling tugged at the back of my mind, but I couldn't quite place it. Something about them seemed familiar to me, like I'd met them or maybe just seen them before.

I studied the group. They all seemed to be good friends, but it was easy to tell that a few of them were definitely dating. A blonde boy with glasses and a tiny scar on his lip held hands with a pretty girl with braided caramel-brown hair.

Another girl sat piggy-back on a tan boy with black hair and sea-green eyes. That boy caught my eye and smiled. I gave a little wave and looked away. He was cute, but not my type.

The girl on his back had cool gray eyes and golden curls. She was laughing as they talked, her eyes shining. She stopped talking occasionally to lean in and kiss her boyfriend on the cheek, making him blush profusely and his friends snicker.

Two other boys stood off to the side, chatting and laughing. The first one was scrawny but shrewd, with elvish features and a crooked grin.

The guy next to him was big, and looked a little familiar, for some reason. He had an unusually young face, but you could call him handsome. Next to me, I noticed Hazel couldn't keep her eyes off him. I was just about to tell her it was rude to stare, but then I gasped as realization struck.

I recognized the kid...Frank! That was his name! He had gone to school with Hazel and I in our 5th grade year. Hazel used to have a huge crush on him. They became pretty good friends for a while. Then, at the end of the year, his grandmother decided to move away, and so Frank had to leave. It broke Hazels heart. "Go talk to him," I urged. She looked appalled. "No way! I haven't seen him in years, and..." her voice faded.

I grinned. Without another word, I pushed her in front of me and said loudly, "Hazel, hold our spot for a minute. I'm gonna go... do that thing I needed to do." I shot her a wink, running off in the direction of a concession stand, but not taking my eyes off them. Frank turned when he heard her name.

"Wait, Hazel? Hazel Levesque? Oh my gosh, I can't believe it's you!"

I smiled. I was still running and not looking where I was going, so I wasn't prepared to take a hard fall. I plowed into someone walking the opposite direction and we both toppled to the ground. There was a flash of golden blonde hair and an orange shirt and the person came into full view, rolling across the pavement. I was lucky he didn't see my jaw drop to the floor when I saw his face. If I hadn't already known I was gay, I'd have realized it right that very second. His nose was dotted with faint freckles, and his eyes were warm and friendly, even though I'd just knocked him to the ground.

We both got to our knees and, once my head stopped spinning, I helped him to his feet, spouting out apologies. "Oh my gosh, I'm so sorry! I was running and I didn't see you! I hope you're okay, I should really watch where I'm going."

I turned away, walking back in the direction of the Treacherous Olympus ride. But surprisingly, the boy grabbed my arm, spun me around, and gave me a dazzling smile. "I'd never forgive myself if I didn't get your name," he remarked, blushing slightly. I felt my cheeks flush. I looked down at my feet, cursing myself for being so shy.

" ... uh, I'm Nico." I looked up and held his gaze just long enough for it to be awkward. "Will," He replied, grinning.

"NICO!" Hazel yelled from the ride, waving me over. The group of six kids was getting on, and Hazel was right behind them.

"That's my sister. I guess I should go." I hated the thought of walking away from him.

Will perked up. "Oh, I'll walk with you. I was on my way to meet my friends over there anyway." I assumed the meant the six teenagers. I just nodded, grinning. I didn't trust my voice. We jogged through the crowds together, reaching Treacherous Olympus just as the blond boy and the brunette girl were getting in the first cart together. The girl turned. "Leo, sit with us!" She called to the curly haired boy. He grinned and hopped in next to the blonde guy.

The boy with green eyes and the girl with blonde curls sat in the second seat, arms around each other. They were obviously very close. Hazel was sitting next to Frank. She turned and winked at me. I grinned back. The two of them were in the third cart, leaving the fourth and last cart empty.

I turned to Will. "So, you gonna sit with some of your friends?" He smiled. "No room in cart one, Percy and Annabeth are gettin' cozy in cart two, and it looks to me like your sister should catch up with Frank." He lowered his voice, placing a hand beside his mouth. "He talks about her a lot, you know. He was really upset when he had to move away. He kinda has a crush on her." He returned to his normal volume. "Let's take the last one."

My heart fluttered in my chest. God, I was pathetic. I'd known this boy for five minutes. Nevertheless, I sat down beside him in the fourth cart, holding back a squeal. The ride attendant walked by and secured the safety bar, and then returned to the control booth.

He clicked a button and announced to the riders: "Will everyone please keep their hands and feet inside the ride at all times and keep your safety belts fastened? Thank you and enjoy the ride." My stomach dropped as the coaster lurched forward, and the ride started. In the beginning it was fun. We turned and spun around, spiraling and dropping here and there.

Then the ride started climbing. The tracks slanted up for at least twenty feet in front of us. A big drop was coming. I heard Will's voice in my ear from my right. "You scared?" he whispered.
"Nico diAngelo isn't afraid of anything," I bragged. He smirked. "If you say so." I looked away, trying to hide my blush.

Meanwhile, the coaster slowed and came to a halt at the top of the rise, teetering at the peak. My heart lurched. I grabbed Will's hand and interlaced my fingers with his. I expected him to be disgusted or at least push me out of the cart. Instead he just smiled and squeezed my hand. Then the ride finished the climb, paused, and plummeted straight down.

Will was giggling beside me, but I was screaming so loud that it was hard to hear him. We rounded the last turn, slowed, and screeched to a halt. Will and I stumbled out of the cart laughing and bumping into each other.

The following afternoon was one I'd remember for the rest of my life. His friends were the nicest people I'd ever met. All nine of us spent the rest of the day going on rides together, playing games, and laughing until our faces hurt.

At sunset, Will and I traded phone numbers, and I left the park with a lovesick grin plastered on my face and a giddy fluttering feeling in my stomach.