Will and Nico

Part 50

NICO

We say our goodbyes before I put Will's bag in the back of the taxi. Somehow it feels heavier than when we got here.
'What do you have in here?' I ask.
'I stopped by the medical centre. They gave me some free samples.' He says.
'Of course they did.' I reply.
Hazel, Reyna and Frank wave us off, as we drive off in the taxi.
As soon as we're on the road, I lie down across the seats, my head in Will's lap.
'You okay?' He asks.
'I'm good.' I say, 'you?'
'Me too.'
'Did you like them?'
'I loved them. They're all great.' He says.
'They liked you too.' I say, 'Reyna wasn't...she didn't like, threaten you or anything, did she?'
'No. Not really.' He says.
'Okay that's good.' I say, looking up at him. He plays with my hair, twirling it between his fingers. I stare up at him. At his freckles and his blonde hair and his blue eyes and long neck and camp necklace-
'I love you.' I say. Abrupt. Without thinking. He looks down at me, mouth open, surprised. His hands freeze, still tangled in my hair. 'Sorry. If that's...I just...yeah.'
He smiles a little, 'I love you too.' He says, softly and carefully, 'I didn't think you'd be the first to say it.'
'Neither did I.' I say, 'you're just...you're my favourite person.'
'You're my favourite person too.' He says.
'I find that hard to believe.'
'You are.' He insists, 'you forget that I've been obsessed with you since you crash landed my dad's car years ago.'
'I forgot about that.' I say.
'I didn't.' He says.
He traces my features, lightly. Across my forehead, down my nose. Across my lips.
'I love you.' I say again. I like how it feels to say, 'I love you.'
He smiles, and leans down to kiss me, gently, slowly, 'I love you too.' He says.

The end.