Cliffhangers are my favorite :3

This chapter is short, but definitely needed!

Anyhoodles,

Enjoy!!

- Nico_Solace

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"Shove off, Solace." Percy growls at Will.

"Not when you're holding my boyfriend like that." Will retorts, expression stony.

My mouth drops open. No one has ever stood up to Percy Jackson when he was about to beat someone. And no one has ever called me their boyfriend at this school.

Percy's fist lowers ever so slightly and he looks behind himself at Will.

"What?" He hisses in shock.

"Put him down, Percy. Or I'll get the football team on you; and you know they listen to me more than you."

Percy looks conflicted and angry for a moment longer before dropping me in a heap on the ground.

He gets in Will's face and looks ready to punch his lights out when Will makes an unsatisfied clicking sound.

"Now, Percy. You know that if you touch me, you're dead meat. Let's not cause problems on the team, yes? Run along."

"C'mon, boys," Percy addresses his minions. "They're not worth it."

As soon as they are out of sight, Will drops his defensive stance and crouches next to me. He runs his hand gently down my cheek and examines every piece of me he can see.

"You okay?" He inquires, voice full of concern.

I push him away and stand.

"'M fine. Thank you." I mutter, grabbing my book and walking away.

"Really, that's all I get?" He asks incredulously.

Anger flaring up, I spin around.

"What are you expecting?" I bring my voice up into a falsetto. "'Oh thank you so much, William! You saved me! I'm so helpless and you saved me; my knight-in-shining-armour.' No. That's bullshit. I could've handled myself without you."

"Didn't look like it. He was about to pummel you."

"Oh fucking well, William! I'm not some helpless damsel in distress! You don't have to save me. I could've handled them."

"And you would've landed yourself in the infirmary!"

"So what?" I scream. "It's not like anyone here gives a rat's ass about me!"

"God, you're so fucking dense, Nico!" Will yells back.

"Whatever." I snap. "You aren't my parent and you sure as hell aren't my boyfriend. So fuck off."

Before he can get another word in, I spin and stalk off down the hall.

---

Hazel runs up to me later during her study hall period.

"What happened to you earlier? And why does Will look like an abandoned puppy?" She demands.

"I have no idea what you're talking about." I reply, fishing my sketchbook and pencils out of my locker.

"Of course you don't! You never know."

Sighing, I turn to her. "Jackson came over and tried to start shit, Solace played hero when he didn't need to."

She broke into a wide grin. "So! Your pride has been wounded, has it? That's cute."

"It is not! And no, it hasn't. Just- go away, will you?"

"No! I have study hall. I can bug you as much as I want."

"Yeah, well. I have English." I say, grabbing the last of my stuff and shutting my locker.

"Awe! A class with your boyfriend!"

"He is not my boyfriend!"

"Whatever you say."

I stalk off angrily before she can say anything else.

---

I walk into English almost thirty minutes late.

"Mr. di Angelo, glad you could finally join us. Take your seat." Mr. Dynard tells me, pointing at the only open seat. The one right next to William fucking Solace.

Groaning, I walk over and take my seat.

Will immediately tries to get my attention.

"Hey, Nico." He whispers to me.

"I'm trying to listen, Solace." I growl.

"Like hell you are. Look at me."

I ignore him. I ignore that and every other attempt he makes at getting my attention. All of which include paper balls, poking my side, drawing on my notebook, and yanking at my hair.

When free work period starts, Will scoots his chair in front of my desk.

"Neeko." He whine, elongating my name.

"What?" I growl, dropping my pencil and covering the charcoal drawing I was doing.

"Be my boyfriend." He states. He doesn't even ask, he just states it like a fact.

My mouth drops open. I stare at him for a long moment before shaking my head.

"What?"

"Be. My. Boyfriend. Let me take you on dates and kiss you and hold your hands in the halls. Date me." Wil shrugs.

"Um," I start, blinking. "Haven't I been clear enough, Will? I'm not interested."

His whole demeanor changes. His shoulder slump, the joyful light leaves his eyes, and his smile fades.

"Oh, um..." He starts, scratching the back of his neck. "I just thought- okay. I can- okay. I'll leave you alone."

"Thank you." I mutter, not looking at him.

I hear a chair scraping and look up to find he's back at his desk with his back to me.

Upset, I go back to the drawing I was doing; Will with his dumb smirk and sparkling eyes.

Tears burn my eyes, but I refuse to let them slip.