Chapter XIII

Nico Di Angelo

I sat on a beanbag in the Nike cabin, watching Kai and Daphne play Mario Kart. This was their seventh round and Daphne had won every single time, but she insisted they had to keep playing so she could "prove she'd win every time."

I should've been happy. I was hanging out with my friends. Delilah and Ash were playing cards at the table. Kai and Daphne were yelling insults at each other. It should've been fun.

But it wasn't.Because I wasn't with Will.

He'd started avoiding me. We hadn't talked—like really talked—in days. Just awkward "hey" and "bye." No check-ups. No hanging out. Nothing.

He probably figured out that I liked him, got freaked out, and now didn't want to be my friend anymore.

I sighed. I really did like Delilah, Daphne, Ash, and Kai... but the way I felt when I was with Will was something else. He made me feel warm. Seen. Not like the scary Hades kid.

But that was over now.

"Nico?" Ash turned to me, setting down their cards.

"Yeah?" I slid off the beanbag onto the carpet and lay down, staring at the ceiling.

"Is something wrong?" Ash's voice was soft—well, soft for someone who usually quoted Shakespeare while dueling with pencils.

"No." I said quickly.

Daphne tossed her remote aside after beating Kai again and dropped down beside me."Nico, you don't look like nothing's wrong. Is it..." she bit her lip, "about a girl?"

I rolled my eyes. If only she knew.

But then I thought... would it really be that bad if she did?

"I, uh..." I tried. "I don't—um..." I exhaled. "Well, I—"

"You're gay?" Kai asked from the couch, dead serious.

My eyes widened. "No—don't use that word."

"Sorry," Kai shrugged, "you like dicks?"

"Kai!" Daphne smacked his leg.

"What?!" he said, hands up in innocence.

Daphne looked back at me gently. "Do you? Like guys?"

I couldn't meet her eyes. This was harder than fighting a monster. But... I nodded.

"Oh, honey..." Daphne said softly. "Can I hug you?"

I flinched back a little. "Uh.. sorry I don't like hugs."

She nodded with a smile.A smile? Why was she smiling? Was she making fun of me?

"We support you, Nico," Kai said, more serious than I'd ever seen him.

"Welcome to the rainbow flag club!" Daphne laughed.

"Thanks..." I muttered. Then looked at her. "Wait—you're...?"

"Bi," she said proudly.

Like Will.Gods... like Will.

I didn't know so many people here were queer.

When I was young, people were sent away for being like that. The only person who knew about me was Bianca. And she loved me anyway. But other people... they didn't.

"Anyone wanna watch Princess Bride?" Kai called, flopping back on the couch. Delilah leaned against him, totally platonic.

"Yes please," Ash said dramatically.

Was that it? That easy? They all still wanted to be my friends.

"What's Princess Bride?" I asked.

The entire room froze.

"Nico Di Angelo..." Ash dragged a hand down their face. "You have so much to learn."

🌕 Don't forget to vote 🌑Comment any suggestions!