Addicted

10

They had finished decorating the walls with new photographs. Most of them were candids, taken at random moments to capture the day perfectly. The walls were bright and colorful, and Will couldn't help but smile as he looked around. "Why don't you come to work with me tonight?" Will slumped across the counter, bringing a soft smile to Nico's lips. "After all, you did stay here to hang out with me, and I still want to get to know you better. Besides, you haven't been to the bar in ages. What's up with that, anyway? Finally decided to quit drinking?"
"What if I have? What if I don't need to anymore?" Nico asked softly, the smile that was playing on his lips not leaving. His hands were wrapped around his hot coffee cup in an attempt to warm him up. The question he had posed caught Will off guard. "Then, uh, um. That's good. I'm happy for you." The satisfaction and peacefulness on Nico's face when he had spoken surprised Will. He shifted. What does that mean? Why did he need to before, and what changed? Maybe I should ask. Will opened his mouth, but something held him back. Nico's eyes were soft, gazing into his coffee with such calm that he didn't want to stir him. His breaths were even, and the way he was slouched over, leaning on the counter, was so comfortable that Will couldn't bring himself to bring it up. "Fine, alright, then could you at least come with me? I get so boooooored, pleeeasssseeee?" He begged. Nico looked up with a soft puff of laughter. "Okay, fine."

Nico's heart raced. He was walking casually to the bar, but inside, he felt like he had run a hundred miles. Fear and guilt stabbed him like knives, and he barely could keep his nervous habits in check. His stomach churned. I shouldn't have said anything. I shouldn't have said that. He'll be wondering why I went to the bar in the first place, and then when I tell him, he'll think I've been taking advantage of him, or stalking him, or that I orchestrated our whole friendship. God, I'm so messed up. I shouldn't have accepted his offer to stay in the first place. We were fine before when he didn't know me. I'm so creepy. His hands flexed and then balled themselves into tight fists. Sitting at that kitchen counter earlier, he'd been so lost in thought about how good his luck was that he didn't even notice the words coming out of his mouth. "What if I don't need to anymore?" What a stupid thing to say. That's what I get for being in a good mood for once. He scowled. He was just going to have to figure out a way to fix this without hurting Will.
"Nico, are you okay?" Will's soft voice drifted through his mind, and he shook his head clear.
"Yeah, I'm fine."
"You sure? Cause you look like you're about to kill someone." He heard Will laugh nervously and looked at him, making an effort to relax his face into a smile. "I'm all good, don't worry." I can't let him get close to me. Will smiled easily, then checked his watch. "Shoot, I'm gonna be late!!" He grabbed Nico's hand and started running towards the entrance of the building, pulling the smaller boy behind him. So much for not getting close. He sighed inwardly, though his hand tingled where Will gripped it. They slammed the staff entrance door behind them triumphantly and Will threw his hands up. "Yes! We made it!" Nico smiled at his enthusiastic little dance as he signed in and went to the counter to start work. "You can sit behind the counter with me." He offered. "It's okay. I'll sit on the other side."
"Aw, come on. Sit back here with me!"
"But-"
"I'll tell Kayla you're a good friend. She won't mind. Come over here." Nico recognized the name Kayla as the other bartender and sighed in defeat. "Alright." He pulled up a stool and sat near the back, towards the wall of drinks. "So, Nico." Will poured a beer for a customer and slid it over. "Tell me something."
"What?"
"I don't know. I've only known you for like a week, there must be more to you than I've seen." He smiled, but Nico's heart cramped in return. "I'm not, uh... very interesting." He replied, shifting. His gaze landed on all the bottles he sat next to, and he marveled at how Will could identify them all. "Well, there is one thing I am curious about." Will nudged him. "But it's not so much a question."
"What?" Nico's throat tightened.
"Well, it's just... you said you were quitting drinking. And before I knew you, I knew you drank for kind of a while. So, ah. How are you... coping so well with being off alcohol? I know there are pretty common withdrawal symptoms, so how are you doing so well?" Nico pursed his lips in return. "Strong immune system, I guess. It's not bothering me so much now, but maybe it'll start later when I've stopped for a while. It has only been one or two weeks, you know." He cursed at himself for lying. Every breath he took was digging him deeper into this hole. He knew what he had to do. He had to leave.

Will pursed his lips. Nico wasn't responding the way he had before. There was something blank about the way he spoke, and emptiness shone in his eyes today, under the yellow light of the bar. After a while of silence, he spoke up. "Hey, Nico."
"Hmm?"
"Are you okay? I mean, I know I asked before, but-"
"Why wouldn't I be?" Nico's voice came out a little harsh.
"I'm sorry- I just thought- you were so quiet."
"I'm always quiet. What else is new?" Now Nico pursed his lips, averting his gaze. Did I do something wrong? Why's he being so snappy all of a sudden? Did I offend him or something?  
"Sorry, Neeks." He responded softly. 

Neeks? Nico flushed, flustered, but didn't speak. Instead, he let his head droop so he wouldn't make eye contact with Will. He didn't want to see the hurt in his eyes. This was going to be harder than he thought.