Solangelo One Shots

Falling

Part two to the fine line series! Enjoy!

Nico's POV

It's strange, but he's always found graduation parties to be vain. Sure, high schoolers work hard. Sure, the idea of even walking into school makes him nervous sometimes and sure, there have been nights where he had to stay up until three in the morning studying, but he's always felt off about them. Graduation parties, he thinks to himself as he scoops up more fruit punch into his cup, are essentially congratulating you for something society expects you to do anyway. 

Especially for Jason, who spent most of high school chasing after Piper and goofing around in the back of the class with Leo. For a person who barely passed his senior year English class, it feels strange to be at a massive blowout party for him with the word Congratulations plastered over every other surface. But Nico still showed up in nice-ish clothes, with a bright shining smile and a twenty-five dollar Domino's gift card that'll buy him one meal in college. Besides, Jason eventually got Piper, so maybe there is something to celebrate after all. 

Nico lingers by the snack table, mostly. If there's one thing Jason's good at, it's getting good snacks. He exchanges quick hellos and small talk; friends who he hasn't talked to in two years, parents who he vaguely recognizes from end of the year awards nights and middle school band concerts. They're prompted by a sense of nostalgia that's thick in the air that night; that, post-graduation, they may never see each other again. It's one final conversation, the last goodbye, until all these people who Nico only consider an acquaintance split off and make their own way. 

He's getting his fourth(fifth?) cup of punch when he sees him. Standing in the middle of the party, head thrown back in laughter, hands swinging at his side like he doesn't have a care in the world. His clothes are light and summery, his skin sun-kissed and his hair brushes the nape of his neck, giving him that surfer boy look Nico has always adored. Will looks happy, and Nico's heart shatters. Will is supposed to be miserable. Will is supposed to stay in his room and eat a pint of ice cream a day and listen to old Taylor Swift songs at midnight. But he looks fine, and Nico doesn't know whether or not he's hurt or jealous. Both, probably. It's only been a month. You're supposed to take more than a month to mourn such an intense relationship. But, clearly, Will hasn't gotten that memo. 

He almost feels bad for ambushing Austin on his way to get a drink. Everyone was supposed to be able to enjoy this party, celebrate their last couple of days in school. That's probably what Austin thought was going to happen when he came. Not be interrogated by a lonely and insecure eighteen-year-old. But, Nico tells himself as he turns to Austin with a wide smile, sometimes life works in funny ways. "Hey, Austin, how've you been?" 

"I've been pretty good," Austin says with a wide smile. He was always a nice guy. Reasonable, level-headed. Nico always liked that about him. Hopefully, he can use it to his advantage and dig up some dirt on Will. "What about you? How've you been?" 

"I've, uh-" Nico scratches the back of his head. "I've been good." His voice falters, and Austin raises an eyebrow. 

"Really?" 

"Yeah. I've been great, actually. Really, uh, really great." Maybe Austin will report back to Will, about how good Nico is allegedly doing. Maybe if he does, Will will realize what he's missing. Even if he doesn't, it'll make Nico feel better. He's tired of feeling horrible while Will is apparently having the time of his life. 

"Nico, dude, I know you," Austin says. "It's cool if you haven't gotten over Will yet. He hasn't gotten over you. It'd be weird, you know, coming out of a relationship that lasted so long and just being fine."

"Oh." That's the opposite of what he expected to hear. "But he looks fine." 

Austin rolls his eyes. "You know Will. Of course, you know Will. He doesn't really show his emotions unless they're good ones. But he misses you." He gets quieter, running his thumb across the outside of his red plastic cup. "We all miss you. We used to hang out all the time, you know? And now it's kinda nothing. And I know it's weird because Will's your ex, but we should hang sometime."