Nico arrived in time to see the whole game. He sat as near as possible to the basketball court, holding a water bottle with his armpit, and held with his teeth the wrapping of a blueberry energetic bar he bought at the beginning of the game. Every time the game got interesting, his heartbeat reached a high speed, he started eating the bar faster and ended chewing the wrapping and spitting it up.

After a long game, Will's team won. In the last five minutes, Will dunked a third time, giving the team victory.

Losing the bet wasn't a big deal for Nico, he was used to bad luck. The thing is he had to do whatever Will wanted him to.

«I'm not too lazy to think, so you've got a day to get psychologically prepared to lose and suffer»

Nico panicked.
And then had an idea.

While the players freshened up and the coaches argued about who had greater potential, Nico approached Will, who was draining his water bottle.

"I won" exhaled the blond one before Nico could reach him.

Nico tossed him his almost untouched bottle. Will caught it with perfect reflexes.

"Thanks"

"Would you dare to do a second bet? All or nothing?"

"I'm listening" Will looked at him with his eyes almost closed, entertained, and drank from the bottle.

His uniform was soaked in sweat and his blond curls were flattened in his head. His skin was red, especially his face. Even after all that water, he was still breathless. Will smiled broadly. He radiated energy, the positive one. Nico smiled too, but it was almost emotionless, that taking in consideration his big dark eyes could be considered as sinister.

"No one will keep on practicing from now on, am I right?"

Will threw both bottles to the trash bag that the janitor was holding.

"They turn the lights off and the place stays empty and closed"

"Is the coach the one to close it?"

"What are you thinking, Di Angelo?"

Nico explained his idea. A friendly game between both of them. The one that dunked first won and got the right to apply the last punishment, plus paying everything from the next "Friday meeting".

Will convinced the coach to leave him the keys and trust him to lock the place. He had to be a model player, it didn't take long to convince him.

When they were alone, they locked everything except for the back door and turned all lights off except for a couple of fluorescent light bulbs at the court. Then they stood facing each other at opposite sides of the middle of the court with flexed knees. They started a countdown. Nico showed an evil smile right before both said, NOW!

Nico knew how to play. He was really good. Will wasn't able to determine if whether they had the same skills if he outranked Nico or vice-versa. He was really astonished by the fact that Nico knew how to play.

Nico reached for the basketball first and went past Will easily. When Will returned for the ball, Nico tried to dribble and evade him, but Will guessed the move. He used it to get hold of the basketball. Nico reached out and Will turned to the opposite side and got closer to the hoop.

Will reached out and tried to dunk the Micheal Jordan way when Nico's hand appeared and pushed the ball away. He got control over it again. Before he exited the restricted zone, without moving, he did a long shot towards the hoop and dunked.

Will was speechless when Nico approached him, with a smile and the ball in his hands.

"I won," Nico said, breathless.

"You didn't tell me you know how to play" answered Will.

Nico shrugged and brushed his hair from his face, with the basketball under one arm. Just a few minutes were enough to make him sweat.

"I wouldn't suggest anything without knowing for sure what I was getting myself into. I used to play with my father at home. He taught me all I know."

Will started nodding several times with his head.

"You are a... little scoundrel" and threw himself over Nico, trying to steal the ball.

"Will!!" Nico started running with the ball in his hands.

"That's double!!"

"We're no longer playing!!"

Will was in really good shape. He was either faster or had more resistance. He caught up with him and took hold of the ball, but couldn't take it away. They both pulled.

"Will, let go!!"

"You let go!!"

Immediately, the ball flew away from their arms and they lost balance, Nico falling on his ass and Will on him.

"Mhhhhfhhh!!" Nico complained something that could be translated as «stand up!!»

Will put his weight on his elbows and shaking his head, he opened his eyes. Then they went really wide. He was on top of him in a very... compromising position.

«Close, his face is really close»

Nico was speechless. He didn't move and didn't complain, he just looked at Will with the same intensity. They observed every detail ignored before. Being so young Nico had wrinkles from frowning? Did Will's eyes always have those gray streaks? Will's heartbeat rose, like when Nico scared him to death, but in an exciting way this time.

"Will, what does this mean?" an adult's voice asked.

Both boys blushed and tried to stand up abruptly, falling in the same position again. Nico cursed but wasn't heard because of Will's body. Will turned to the other side, and Nico complained again. Will could finally stand up and then helped Nico do the same.

"Mom, dad..."

Both adults skeptically observed Nico, with arms crossed. Both were blonde and had blue eyes, though the man had gray streaks of hair and the woman's hair was really straight. There was a young girl wearing pigtails behind them, barely even able to control her excitement.

"Hey, son. And your friend is...?"

"Nico" he answered, holding out his hand nervously towards both adults, unsure of whose hand should he shake first. "Nico Di Angelo."

"Will's boyf..." Sofía whispered, but Will covered her mouth with his hand.

"Well, Nico" Mr. Solace ignored his children and shook his hand "thank you for coming to see my son. Is someone coming to pick you up?"

"I'll call a cab"

"Of course not," argued Mrs. Solace "it's too dangerous to do so this late. Let us take you."

Nico got even more nervous if it were possible.

"Um... well, I..." he stared at Will, looking for help. He shook his head in a negative response, still with his hand over his sister's mouth, looking as scared as Nico. Sofía bit his hand.

"Please" Mr. Solace insisted.

The tone of his voice gave away that he wasn't taking no for an answer.

"I-I guess it'd be okay..."

"Very well" Mrs. Solace smiled, showing a row of perfect teeth. "You must be hungry, shall you accompany us to dinner before?"

"But I'm dirty and soaking in sweat. I don't think it'd be..."

"Don't worry, Will's that way too, maybe worse. It's a casual dinner. We only want to get to know you. Will talks a lot about you."

Not far from them, Will was redder than a tomato, covering his face with his hands and looking like wanting to disappear. Nico bit his lower lip. If he turned down the offer, Will's parent's would think he's rude. They'd think he's as a bad influence as a cellphone. Besides, he was hungry and sure that there would be no food at his house.

"Okay."

***

Hi guys!! I'm sorry for the delay, got sick. Didn't have much time to check it two times for mistakes, if anyone spots one, could you please let me know??