"D-Dad?" I stuttered, gripping the doorknob tight enough that my fingers turned paper white.

Hades was dressed as usual, in a suit and tie with his hair slicked back and carefully styled in a way that was popular in Italy. He had a strong, square jawline, black eyes, and a worry-worn face that had been tanned at one time but was now pale from spending all of his time at an office desk or at business meetings. That was the only similarity between us that I could see, our complexion. Like all of the color had been drained out of us along with our happiness.

He smiled grimly, nodding, "Nico."

I hadn't seen him in six months and that's all he had to say to me? I guessed he was probably thinking the same thing.

"You're home early." I swallowed, forcing myself to relax my grip on the nob and shut the door. I felt like I was trapping myself, cutting off my last chance to run back to Will's.

Don't get me wrong, I love my dad, but he just hasn't been the same since the fire. There was a brief period of time after he met Marie and they got married when he was happy again, back to his old self, but now he was more reserved, his temper was short, and I hardly ever saw him. Maybe it was stress from work, maybe he just wanted his wife and daughter back. I wouldn't blame him for wishing it had been me instead of Bianca.

He nodded again, attempting what was probably supposed to be a warm smile. He looked like a wilting flower, still fighting for life and grace despite the fact that it was slowly dying. "I wanted to surprise you."

Well, you definitely achieved your goal, then. I grinned back, I hoped my fake smiles were more convincing than his. If they weren't, then the light never touched my eyes, I'd never considered the possibility before, that my eyes always looked sad even when I was smiling. "It's good to see you."

Hades stood up and crossed the room, he towered over me just like everyone else. I started slightly when he stooped down to envelope me in a hug. I stood there in shock for a couple of moments before I returned the embrace. My father's arms were strong and reassuring, I wondered what his face looked like, if I could detect false emotion in it right then.

"I missed you," he told me, he sounded truthful, at least.

"You never call." The words spilled out of my mouth before I could stop them. Hades released me and straightened, and I instantly regretted them, looking at the ground.

He sighed, a desolate sound that echoed my regret. "I know."

I looked up to meet his troubled gaze, I'd recognize that face anywhere, it was the same expression that had stared me down in the mirror so many times in the past. The one that said I was bottling up my emotions and I shouldn't be. The one that said I had finally hit rock bottom again and I needed to scramble my way out of the hole I'd dug myself into. I never reached the surface.

"I'm sorry, I haven't been the greatest father to you." He laughed hollowly. "I've hardly been your father at all." His accent was still thick, but his English was good. He hardly ever made mistakes when he spoke, and when he did, they weren't life-changing.

I opened my mouth to protest, but Hades held a hand up, "You and I both know it's true, but I'm here to try and make it up to you."

I stared at him in shock. No matter how many times I'd wished this would happen, I'd never thought it actually would. "What about your work?"

"I took three weeks off." My eyes widened, my dad hadn't been home for more than a week before. Hades didn't seem to notice. "I tried to get a full month, but Mr. Zoose said that three weeks was pushing it and I need that job to pay the bills." He sighed regretfully.

"No, that's. . . Thank you," was all I could think to say.

My dad smiled at me, this time, it wasn't forced and awkward, and sat back down on the couch, gesturing for me to join him. He waited until I'd perched myself on the leather cushion before he continued speaking.

"I think it's time I start putting my family before my work. So what do you want to do while I'm here?"

"I guess. . ." I hesitated, worried I would upset my father by mentioning our old life. "Remember, back in Italy, we'd always go to that shop to get gelato?" I asked timidly.

My father smiled sadly, nodding. "The best gelato in town. Your mother always got stracciatella."

I smiled back, "And me and Bianca would get vaniglia and load it with toppings."

Hades chuckled, shaking his head. There was a moment of silence. I think we were both remembering my mother's laughter and Bianca wiping the sticky gelato off my face, the warm air, and the beautiful trees. It was all a little blurry now. "I guess we could find gelato somewhere," he said finally.

"It'll never be as good as authentic Italian gelato. . ." I said, closing my eyes and remembering the taste.

My father nodded, "But it will be better than American ice cream."

I nodded back, "What else should we do?"

Hades slapped his knee, "Home-cooked pizza!"

I laughed, "Tutto Italiano!"

My father laughed along with me, and I felt like I was a little kid again, not a care in the world. My family was still whole, and I was happy. Hades started asking me questions after that, about "my new friend" and school and home, what I'd been doing, how things were. I answered them all truthfully. He never asked anything I had to lie about, which I was grateful for. I didn't like lying to people.

After a while, we ran out of things to talk about, and he said he wanted to go talk to Marie and Hazel, that they were just as much his family as I was, and I nodded and jogged up to my room.

Mrs. O'Leary hadn't come to greet me when I walked into the house, and she wasn't waiting in my room, so I assumed she was out back. I plopped onto my bed and pulled my phone out.

You'll never believe what just happened. I texted to Will.

-

A day later, on Monday morning, my father woke me up early. He was smiling broadly, saying we were going to have an authentic Italian breakfast, I looked up at him blearily. "How can you wake up so early?"

He shrugged, "I have a lot of lost time to make up for, and so do you. Now, get up."

So I swung my legs over the side of the bed and followed him into the kitchen. He'd already baked everything, and had it sitting out on the counter.

"Home-cooked cornetti and black caffé." he said, smiling widely.

I'd been around him all day yesterday and I was still getting used to having him back. Not just having him here, but acting like his old self, slipping Italian words into his sentences, his eyes twinkling, living life to its fullest.

We both took a cornetto, poured ourselves a mug of coffee, and dug in, talking as we ate. I'd almost forgotten I had to go to school by the time we'd finished, but an hour later I was trudging out the door after my dad said goodbye.

The most exciting thing that had happened in the four periods I had been at school was some idiot choking on his eraser. I'd barely glanced up from my copy of Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo. Unfortunately, that was enough for me to know that it was the same kid plopping down in front of me at lunch with a dangerously elfish expression. I say unfortunately because if I hadn't seen him generally making a fool of himself earlier, and if he hadn't been talking loudly during a very intense part of my novel, my first impression of him might have been a good one. Might.

He stuck his hand out across the ugly, faded yellow surface. "The name is Leo Valdez, but most people just call me Leo."

I stared at him stonily and his huge smile wavered very slightly. My lip twitched upwards as his hand withdrew back into his lap.

"This is my table," I informed him.

Leo shrugged, "Not really. It belongs to the school." he said with a smirk.

I stared at him with one eyebrow raised. He didn't seem embarrassed.

"You still haven't told me your name," he stated, like I wasn't glaring daggers at him and we were carrying on a lively conversation.

I sighed, "My name is Nico di Angelo. Now will you leave me alone?"

Leo nodded, "For now."

He stood up and walked away before I recovered enough from my shock to stand and yell at him to never talk to me again. What can I say? I'm a very welcoming and warm person. But seriously, is it a crime to want some alone time at a school where you're just a form of entertainment? Like a punching bag or a soccer ball.

Other than that, the day dragged on as usual. I got an award-winning bruise right between my shoulder blades and a huge load of homework sitting right on top it, weighing down my backpack. I wasn't in a good mood at all. Today's episode of Kick Nico Where It Counts had been a little different. So I guess it really hadn't been completely normal, I'd just been telling myself that it had been.

The scene replayed in my mind again, making my shoulders slump a little more.

I was hurrying down the hall, trying to get to sixth period on time. Ice crawled up my back as an unpleasantly familiar voice whispered in my ear.

"A little birdy told me your mommy and sister died in a fire and it was all your fault."

I felt like I was going to puke. They knew. I could almost hear Percy's triumphant smile. A wave of white-hot anger thrashed inside of me and I whipped around, throwing my fist against his smug face as hard as I could. Pain exploded across my knuckles as he stumbled backwards, probably more out of shock then pain, but I hardly noticed.

I stalked forward, "You can say all you want about me, but you do not even have the right to mention my family." I snarled. "And if I ever hear you speak of them again I will crush you."

Percy didn't answer, he just stared at me in absolute shock. That just made me even more angry. I shoved him as hard as I could. I wanted him to beg me for forgiveness, or at least cower away from me. I wanted to know that he knew I meant every word I said. "GOT IT?"

Percy sneered and spat in my face, "Why are you getting so defensive?" And then his smile grew even bigger, "It was your fault, wasn't it?"

I let out the most blood-curdling scream I could muster and threw myself at him. I didn't even have time to get another punch in before I was dragged backward, Frank was holding me down while Percy got to his feet, smiling like he'd just won a gold medal.

He kicked me a few more times before the hall monitor finally noticed what was going on and stopped him. For the first time in the last two years, they had gotten detention along with me. That only meant more time for them to torment me.

I shook my head, tears were falling over my cheeks again, I'd barely managed to keep from breaking until my walk home. That had been the first time that I'd ever fought back and it hadn't even done any good. I felt like I was just as bad as they were, getting pleasure from another's pain. But I didn't regret it. If he even thought about Bianca or Maria again, I would beat him so relentlessly that he wouldn't even be recognizable as a human being after I was done.

I didn't even try and stop crying as I stalked up Will's front porch. I wasn't entirely sure why I was doing it, why I wasn't just going home and crying myself to sleep. I had never wanted to be comforted in the past, but some tiny part of me just wanted to see him smile or hear his voice. I knew that he would be able to make me feel better.

I wasn't sure what I would have done if Will's mom or dad had opened the door, but by some amazing stroke of luck, Will's perpetually sunny expression met me as it swung inwards. The smile vanished so quickly I was sure I had imagined it.

"Nico?" he gasped, like he couldn't believe it was me falling apart on his doorstep. I opened my mouth and only managed to let out a choked sob.

"Come in," he rushed, taking a step back. I pushed past him, not even protesting as he pulled my bag gently off of my back and set it on the ground, then guided me over to the couch. His strong fingers kneaded my shoulders gently until my sobs had calmed to hiccups and sniffles.

"What happened?" he murmured gently. His voice was so different from Percy's. His breath stirring my hair didn't repulse me, his tone was soothing and warm instead of goading.

I shook my head, unable to bring myself to turn and face him. I knew I looked weak, my bottom lip trembling, my hair damp and clinging to my face, my eyes red and swollen from the tears that were still gathering at my chin and leaking down my neck and drippping all over Will's couch.

His finger's brushed over my neck, "Do you not want to talk about it?" he asked, never wanting to pressure me into doing something that would make me the slightest bit uncomfortable.

I nodded very slightly and Will didn't say anything else. We sat there for several more minutes, Will massaging my back comfortingly, I didn't even flinch when his fingers met old bruises, I just leaned heavily against the back of his couch, fighting heavy eyelids, until I finally mustered the courage to turn around.

Will studied my facial expression, waiting for me to say something. He didn't question it when I moved a little closer and leaned my head against his shoulder, my arms wrapped protectively around myself. I let my eyelids fall closed as he draped one long arm around my shoulders and rested his head on top of mine. The position felt so natural and safe that I didn't even think about it.

"You can sleep." Will told me quietly, "I'm right here if you need me."

-

I woke up a while later, I wasn't sure how long I had been sleeping, but we were laying down now. Will was on his back with his head on a cushion, and I was wedged on my side between him and the couch, my head was on top of his chest, and his breathes were still slow and even.

I closed my eyes again, it was strangly calming the way his chest rose and fell beneath me to the same steady pace as his breathes; I was warm and safe. I wasn't sure how long I laid there until Will stirred. His eyes drifted open and I was reminded of clouds parting to reveal perfect skies.

"Hey, Neeks." he said sleepily, flicking a strand of hair out of my face with a smile.

"Hey." I replied, there was a moment of silence before I added, "Thanks, by the way."

Will shook his head, "Don't thank me. It makes it sound like a task, and I'm doing this because I want to."

I nodded, although I didn't quite understand. "Okay."

Will curled a strand of my hair around his index finger, a worried expression forming on his face. "So, what happened earlier?" he coaxed.

A little birdy told me your mommy and sister died in a fire and it was all your fault.

I swallowed, looking away from him. "I just. . ." I struggled to think up a lie, but the throbbing in my knuckles kept bringing back Percy's sneering face and stinging words. For once my mind was failing to weave some sort of convincing half-truth. I curled my fingers into a careful fist, tucking my hand out of sight. "I don't want to talk about it." I finally managed.

Will tugged lightly on the strand of hair he was holding hostage and then set it free, it immediately fell across my left eye. I didn't bother to brush it away. "You sure?" he asked in a concerned tone.

I nodded, pushing myself up off of his chest, "Positive."

Will watched silently as I settled my back against the opposite end of the couch, my feet tucked into the space where my body had been. I pulled out my phone, opening the text I had been expecting from my parents, asking where I was.

I went to Will's after school. I forgot to tell you, sorry.

"A text from your mom?"

I looked up at him, snapping my phone shut. "Yeah."

Will nodded, smiling. "I got one too."

My eyebrows drew together. "What?"

He just nodded, "Your mom asked for my number before I left on Thursday and then she gave me yours."

Oh. I nodded in return, averting my eyes and stifling the urge to pull my knees up into my chest, something I did when I felt exposed, uncomfortable, or unsure. Right now it was the last two options. I knew Will was still worried about me, and why wouldn't he be, when I had showed up on his porch a sobbing mess and refused to tell him anything about it? I didn't want him to know about the bullying, he'd just tell me that I had to tell the principal about it, or my parents, but that would only make it worse, once they knew I'd tattled on them. Plus, why should I want to stop it when I so obviously deserved it?

I looked back at Will, who I knew was fighting to keep from asking if I was okay again. He was smart, he already knew that I'd never tell him the truth if I wasn't. We stared at eachother for another couple of seconds, neither of us knew what to say, and then my phone buzzed in my hand, this time the text was from my dad. A single word: gelato.

A smile spread across my face, and I answered the question I knew Will was about to ask without looking up. "It was my dad. We're going out for gelato, I'm going to ask if you can come."

Apparently my dad had found an ice cream shop that sold gelato, not too far away, called CiCi's. He greeted Will warmly, gripping his hand with both of his massive ones, and insisting that he call him Hades instead of Mr. di Angelo. Hazel wasn't as welcoming, saying "Hi." distractedly when my dad introduced her and loudly popping her gum. She reminded me a lot of a stereotypical popular girl right then. I bet she acted like one at her stupid, fancy private school.

-

My father pulled up in front of the shop, it was tucked in between a pink, frilly boutique and an old-looking music store with vintage records in the window. Will and I agreed that we should check it out sometime.

The ice cream shop itself looked like it had been taken directly out of one of those fifties movies where everything is red, black, and white and waiters and waitresses deliver your food on roller skates. Minus the roller blades, since you ordered and picked up your food at the counter.

We stood back away from the counter while we decided what we wanted. Hades, I noticed, didn't get his usual pistachio (or pistacchio in Italian) gelato, but instead ordered stracciatella, in memory of my mom.

I followed his lead and stuck with vanilla, but got Bianca's favorite toppings: chocolate and caramel sauce with cookie mixed in.

Will got pistachio on my father's word that it was the single best flavor of gelato. When Will asked why he wasn't getting it, then, Hades replied smoothly that it was always good to try something new, and then dropped a wink at me that Will didn't see.

Hazel had opted to stay home and Marie decided that she just wanted a sandwhich and ordered a BLT.

We got our food and sat down at one of the tables outside, Will took one bite of his gelato and his eyes widened immediately.

"I'm going to move to Italy just for the food." he proclaimed, digging out another spoonful. My father and I grinned at eachother.

"Italy does everything better." Hades affirmed. Will agreed without hesitation and my dad's grin grew even bigger, "I like this one." he said, smiling at Will, who laughed and high-fived him.

It was strange how my life was such a roller coaster. How in the same day I could feel like the whole world was against me and then like everything had suddenly fallen into place. This was one of those perfectly aligned moments. I knew it couldn't last, but I wasn't going to let that get to me.

Too soon, we were driving home, but it was only five o'clock and Marie invited Will over for dinner at six.

Will crouched in front of my CD case, looking over its contents. "I haven't heard of a single one of these bands. . ." he muttered.

"You probably know a few." I countered, walking over.

He nodded, "Yeah. I know a couple."

I reached over his shoulder to pull out a CD and he caught my wrist, "Your hand!" he exclaimed.

I cursed myself internally, I'd managed to keep my bruised knuckles hidden up until now. "It's just a little bruise." I scoffed.

"That's the same thing you said on Friday." he shot back, releasing my hand and turning to face me, "Nico, if something is going on at school--"

"I just got in a little fight. He pissed me off, I threw a punch, he kicked me, the hall monitor stopped us. That's it." I left out the part about Frank holding me down, that would just complicate things even more. I felt lame telling the story, craning my neck to look up at Will, who seemed doubtful.

"What did he say to make you mad?" Will pressed.

I knew he wasn't trying to be nosy, Will wasn't that type of person, he was just concerned for me. The only problem was that I didn't want him to worry about me, I was sure he had enough problems without worrying about mine.

"He's a jerk to everyone, Will." I said softly, "You don't have to worry about it, I can take care of myself."

His brow crinkled, "I just want to--" But he was cut off by Marie calling up the stairs that I needed to give my dog food and water and make sure I took her on a long walk to get all of her energy out. I had no doubt that he would bring up the subject again when we were walking, but at least I had time to collect my thoughts before then.

I didn't bother with the leash as we headed out. I stuffed my hands in the pockets of my jacket, it wasn't cold outside but I felt the need to have a way of keeping my knuckles out of view, like that would keep Will from asking about it again. We walked in silence for a bit, watching as Mrs. O'Leary loped ahead to little to sniff things and then wander back to us, like she was scouting for danger. Maybe she was. I wondered vaguely if she'd attack Percy if I brought her to school with me, the thought brought a tiny smile to my face, even though I knew her breed was unlikely to attack someone outright. But if Percy attacked me first. . .

"What are you smiling about? Thinking about a special someone?" Will teased, wiggling his eyebrows.

I laughed, it was short and dim, just like my smiles. Just like me, actually. I had to bite my lip to keep from laughing at my own stupid joke. I was my own best friend, but also my worst enemy.

"No." I answered, smiling ruefully. "I don't have a girlfriend."

Will nodded, looking away from me. I could've sworn he was frowning, but I dismissed the idea. Will didn't frown without reason, he had a default happy face. The exact opposite of me. I tended to either look pissed off or sad when I wasn't thinking about my expression.

"Will." I said after our footsteps had tapped out enough seconds of wordlessness.

He turned his gaze away from the flowers of some nameless person's garden to look at me. He wasn't smiling for once, but he seemed peaceful, his eyes were a gentle blue. "Yeah?"

"I know you're still worried about the whole. . . thing, but you really don't have to be. I promise I'll come to you if I need your help with anything, and I'll tell you everything I have to." I chose my words carefully, I didn't like breaking a promise.

Will fixed me with a serious expression, his eyes boring holes into my skull. "Do you swear it?"

I nodded, not letting my gaze waver even slightly from his, "Yes."

He nodded, seeming satisfied with my answer. Up ahead, Mrs. O'Leary barked, somehow, her 'voice' sounded different than usual. We both snapped our heads in her direction, she was standing rigid, her back was to us, but I imagined that her teeth were bared.

Up ahead, I could see the silhouette of someone. They were standing far enough away from us and any lampposts that I couldn't make out their face, but I would know those huge shoulders and muscled arms anywhere. It was Frank Zhang. His body language told me that he was just as shocked as I was, and his head was tilted downwards, staring at my huge, angry dog.

My guess was that she had scented him on me when I had come home mangled and upset before now, but I didn't know if Newfoundlands generally had good noses. I did, however, know that they were extremely good judges of character and were only hostile to people who they thought posed a threat.

Will, on the other hand, had no idea who the stranger was and took an apprehensive step forward. "Hello?" He sounded a lot more confident than I felt.

Frank looked up at us, but he stayed silent. Perhaps he couldn't think of anything to say to the person he had helped drag down for so long. If it was any of my other attackers, they would have probably spat some snarky comment at me and I would have yelled at Mrs. O'Leary to attack them, or it would have taken a lot more restraint not to, but Frank had never done anything to me willingly. I still hated him for not stopping them, though, for only standing back until one of the others called him forward. I can't deny that that the darker side of me was snarling silently along with Mrs. O'Leary, wanting her to lunge forward and tear him apart.

"Frank." My voice sounded like a pin dropping in a deathly silent room. My tongue clicked hollowly on the "K", a tiny tink that felt like a bomb dropping.

Will looked over at me in suprise, "You know him?"

I nodded without taking my eyes off of the Canadian. I still didn't understand why he hung out with Percy and the others.

I clucked my tongue softly and Mrs. O'Leary cocked her head slightly, acknowledging my signal but unwilling to take her small, intelligent eyes off of Frank. "Come here, girl." My voice was quiet and slow.

There was a moment where her muscles tensed under her two layers of fur, where I was sure she was going to ignore me and leap at Frank. Instead, she let out a barely audible warning growl and backed up slowly until her hindquarters brushed against my thighs and stomach. I was suddenly very aware that she could have probably killed Frank if he gave her a reason to, and I shuddered at the thought of her soft brown eyes filled with malice and her muzzle dripping with blood.

"Nico?" Frank was obviously even more shocked than he had been before. He'd been expecting punishment for his involvement. I just shook my head, telling him with my eyes that I wouldn't stoop to their level. Not unless I had to.

He took a step back, I wanted to see the expression on his face right then. To know what it looked like to finally be in control, but then he turned and bolted. The whole thing was like a scene from a movie, the tension, the perfectly placed shadows, the eerie silence, broken by his feet thundering off into the distance.

I drew in a shaky breath.

"Nico, who was that?" His tone said that he already had a pretty good idea.

I didn't answer. Mrs. O'Leary stuck close to my side the whole way home, her flank constantly brushing against my side. She was on full alert. Will drifted along behind us, weary and confused. Probably more than a little concerned, now more than ever.

I cursed Frank for showing up when he was around. I couldn't possibly be mad at Mrs. O'Leary for protecting me, even though if she hadn't been so hostile things might have gone a lot smoother. Instead, I was grateful to know that she was that loyal to me. That she would put herself between me and a kid who towered over even her.

I jogged up my front steps, feeling numb. I nearly jumped out of my skin when Will spun me around to face him. "What happened back there?"

I held his gaze for a few moments before I spoke. "Frank and I have a bit of a rocky history and Mrs. O'Leary has a knack for sniffing out cazzi."

I started turning around but Will held me in place with one hand on my shoulder. "You said you'd tell me everything."

I shook my head, "I said I'd tell you everything I had to." I clarified, "There's no reason for you to know anything about Frank other than the fact that we don't get along very well."
Will's expression darkened. "What does that mean, you 'don't get along very well?'"

"It's complicated." I said steadily. "Look, Will. There's no reason for you to worry. I know I already said this, but I can take care of myself. There's nothing going on that I can't handle or that you have to be worried about. Okay?"

Will hesitated, his jaw clenched tight and his breath ruffling the hair hanging over my forehead, and then he stepped back abruptly. "Okay."

My parents didn't seem to notice that Will was a lot quieter than usual all through dinner, or that he wasn't smiling as much as he normally did and that he mostly just pushed his food around on his plate. I did. I also noticed that he never even attempted to fake a smile. I did that too.

Will left right after we ate. I tried to assure him one last time that everything was okay, but his gaze was still troubled as he said his goodbyes and then slipped out the door. Now it was my turn to worry about him.

I didn't get much sleep that night, and Mrs. O'Leary slept a lot closer than usual, her back pressed firmly against my side, even though the danger had passed hours ago. Her presence was comforting, and I ran my fingers though her thick, corse coat and whispered to her until my alarm clock started screaming at me to crawl out of bed even though my mind and body felt like they were being operated by rusty parts that weighed a hundred tons.

The very thought of going to school and sitting through classes, worrying about four certain people who would be lurking in different rooms throughout the building, or maybe even different desks in the room, of etching symbols onto sheets of dead trees for hours and getting beaten somewhere in between. . . All of it seemed utterly impossible right then. So I did it anyway.

I didn't go to Will afterwards, like I so desperately wanted to, not right away, anyway. First, I snuck through my front door and into the bathroom, where I treated my injuries and then covered them carefully with makeup. Then I went into my room and played music to calm myself down. I sobbed into Mrs. O'Leary's fur, the tears rolled off of her easily. I wished that my emotions would roll off of myself like that. She curled herself around me protectively, and after I laid there for a while, feeling like a complete mess, I went into the bathroom again and took a cold shower, telling myself that I could just wash away all of my problems. Only then did I go to Will's, with an easy smile I had practiced in the mirror on my face, and my makeup meticulously reapplied around it.

I was determined to make Will believe that I was fine. No more dragging him farther into my issues. I didn't want to see him without his smile for so long ever again. I never wanted him to think he had to find a way to put me back together when I was already so impossibly broken. He didn't need that kind of a burden.

I knocked on his door and waited until it was pulled open. My brow furrowed, no one was standing there.

"Nico!"

My eyes dropped down and I smiled. Kit barreled into my legs, tackling me in a weird sort of hug, and making me stumble backwards. "Hey, Kit."

She stepped back, releasing my legs and looking up at me with her big, green eyes. She looked a lot like her mother, but she had her father's nose and smile, I recognized them from Will's face. "Are you looking for Bear?"

I nodded, crouching down so that I was eye-level with her. "Yeah, where is he?"

"In his room. I'm not al-oed to bother him when he's playing." she stated, closing the door behind me.

"Oh." I said, glancing up towards the stairs, where the sound of Will strumming his guitar could be heard wafting down and filling the house with its grace. "Could you let him know that I was here?"

She shook her head and grabbed my hand, attempting to pull me towards the stairs."He wants to see you."

I allowed her to take me up to Will's door, where she knocked and called loudly that I was there. Will's playing immediately ceased and then he was at the door, his expression clouded. His mouth bent into a smile when he saw the smile on my own face, just like I had hoped it would. Guilt gnawed at my chest for deceiving him, but I pushed it away. I was only doing what had to be done.

Kit pranced away happily as Will let me into his room. "Hey, Neeks."

"Hey." I said, looking around. Will had arranged the furniture in his room, and there was only a few boxes laying around, waiting to be unpacked. His bed was in the right corner across from the door, his guitar sat on top of it next to its open case, and a few shelves had been put up above it, the remaining ones were leaning against his bed, a drill and some screws scattered around them. His desk was pushed against the wall underneath a large window that had grey curtains pushed far to either side, allowing sunlight to bask the room in its glow. Several notebooks and pencils we're scattered on the desk's surface, the "Photography" box was positioned at the top of the desk next to various other items, its lid slightly askew. His midnight-blue walls didn't hold nearly as many posters as mine, but enough that you could discern his distinct taste in music, movies, TV shows, and books. The double doors of his closet-- which were to the left of his bed-- were filled with a vast array of photographs-- the ones he didn't hold close to his heart, I assumed. I promised myself I'd look at them all closer later.

"So you finally got around to unpacking?" I asked teasingly.

Will nodded, looking around with amusement glittering in his eyes. "Yeah. Your rude commentary motivated me."

I rolled my eyes, "It was truthful commentary." I corrected him, sitting down on his bed.

"Yeah, yeah. Whatever, Neeks." He sat down next to me after carefully lifting his guitar into its case and sliding it under the bed. "So, why are you here?"

I raised my eyebrows, "Do I need a reason to visit a friend?" My only friend.

Will shrugged, "I guess not."

I hesitated a moment before I spoke, "I guess you're still wondering about Frank?"

Will glanced over at me and then nodded cautiously, "Yeah, actually."

I looked down at my black Vans, clicking the toes together. "Well, Frank bullied me at the beginning of the year. . ." Will stiffened beside me, and I rushed forward before he could say anything. "But he doesn't anymore. . . Not since he made the mistake of doing it when Mrs. O'Leary was around." I said, using the story I'd concocted in the shower, "She didn't do anything to him, just scared him witless and chased him off, but it taught him a lesson." My heart felt heavy in my chest. Liar.

"So he's not doing it anymore?" Will asked, something like hope in his voice, but also a tiny twinge of concern.

I looked back up at him and nodded, looking him straight in the eye. I was way too good at seeming honest when I was far from it.

"What about this?" he said softly, touching the place on my chin where it was still trying to heal, gently so he wouldn't hurt me.

"I already told you, I fell into the shallow end of the pool." I told him. "Believe me, there's nothing going on that you need to know about."

Will searched my face for a couple of seconds, like he could find the lies hidden there. I knew for a fact that he wouldn't be able to. "Okay." he said, "But just remember that you can always come to me if you need help. I'm more than happy to listen to anything you have to say."

A small part of me ached to tell him. To wipe the makeup off and spill everything to him, to let him carry a part of my burden and help me dig my way out of the hole that I'd dug in the first place, but that wasn't fair. It was my burden and my responsibility to deal with it, not Will's. "I know." I responded.

Will smiled, it was warm, and easy, and one hundred percent real. I didn't deserve to have him in my life. "Good."

I slipped off of his bed and walked over to his closet. The scenes he'd captured were magnificent. Little moments of time that people took for granted, things I would have never noticed. Temporary messages left in sidewalk chalk. The shadow of two trees that formed a heart in a place where sunlight broke through braches. Two people holding hands, their shadows were entwined, the metaphorical beauty of it was obvious. A kitten and a puppy cuddling, below it was a picture of an older dog and cat fighting. Maybe a representation of the loss of innocence, of the kindness people have only when they're young.

I traced my fingers over the photos, they were all gorgeous. "Wow." I whispered to Will, who had come to stand at my shoulder.

I could hear him smiling proudly, "Thanks."

I turned around and Will took a step back to give me space. "When did you start taking pictures?"

"Last summer." Will said, there was something in his voice that told me there was more to it. A story that meant a lot to him, but I didn't ask.

I just looked at him in awe, "And you're already this good?"

He smiled as if remembering something pleasant. "I had an amazing teacher."

I nodded, "They must have been amazing."

Will chuckled softly, turning away from me. "They were."

"Will." I said quietly.

"Hm?" He was busy closing his notebooks and putting them carefully in a drawer.

I watched the back of his head, teetering on the edge of something I couldn't quite put a name to. I wanted to say something, but the words weren't forming in my head, it was the strangest sensation. "Would you mind if I drew you sometime?" I asked randomly.

He turned around, grinning widely with all of his teeth and pushing hair out of his face. "Sure, why not? But just so you know, I'm not doing any naked poses."

I laughed, rolling my eyes at him, and he laughed along with me. When I was with Will, I realized, I didn't have to pretend to be happy. And it felt great.

Well. I think this chapter was a great success. *digs spell-o-tape out of drawer to repair any possibly wounded hearts*