Sorry about the wait!!

Let's get this party started!

- Nico_Solace

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

=Nico=

"Hey, Neeks." Jason says cheerily on Monday morning.

"Stop." I growl.

"What's got you all uptight?"

"Hm, I don't know. Maybe the fact that my boyfriend is ignoring me because my ex-boyfriend decided he wanted to butt his way back in my life? I'm not sure, though."

Jason makes a face at me and steps closer. "Nico, I didn't do anything to your relationship with Will."

"You did. You fucking did! You decided that it would be a good time to barge back into my life when I was finally fucking happy."

"You could've shut me down. You could've blocked my number. You could've told me to back off."

"I did! I told you from the beginning I am dating Will and you kept pushing it!"

"Yeah, but I could tell you were confused. If you were confident in your relationship with Will, you never would've texted me. Or met up with me."

Instead of responding, I huff and stomp off.

Who the hell does he think he is? He doesn't know shit about me. He cheated on me with a girl! There is no way I'm letting him in.

---

=Will=

I was sitting, staring off into space, in the lunchroom before school starts when Lou Ellen, Cecil, and Leo walk over.

"You need to dump him." Lou says right off the bat.

"Lou!" Cecil reprimands. "You can't just say that!"

"Too bad, I just did." She turns to me and her face softens. "Will, seriously. You need to break it off. He's already made his choice. You can't sit here, miserable, and wait for him."

"What we're saying is that you're too good for someone like Nico. You need to break it off and take some time. If you guys are supposed to be together, you'll end up together." Leo chimes in. "Oh, and I can find you some hot rebound ass, too."

I smile slightly at my friends in front of me. I can't bring myself to say anything to them, though.

They're right. I know they're right. I can't just stay here forever while Nico runs around with Jason behind my back. But, if I let Nico go, where will I live? What will I do for food?

Cecil lays a light hand on my shoulder. "I know what you're thinking; I've talked to my parents and if you need a place to stay, you can stay with us."

My eyes brim with tears and I smile up at Cecil. I nod slightly before dropping my head to my folded arms on the table.

"I don't want to break up with him." I mumble.

"You have to. And I'll do it for you if I have to." Lou Ellen says, determination clear in her voice.

"Thanks, Lou."

"Of course, Will. What are friends for?"

---

Later that day, I find Nico and decide it's now or never.

I find him sitting outside under his usual tree with a cigarette between his lips, his eyes closed in a way that makes him look asleep.

Walking over to him, pluck the cigarette from his lips, and bring it to my own.

His eyes shot open as soon as the cigarette left his mouth and he's staring at me in disbelief as I take a long drag of the bluish smoke.

"What?" I demand, smoke curling out of my mouth as I speak.

"You told me smoking is disgusting." He replies, that adorable crease between his eyes on display.

"It is. Doesn't mean I don't smoke." I take another drag from the cancer stick.

"Okay?"

I can tell from the way he's sitting and the tone of his voice; he's on guard. He knows something is coming.

Might as well just put it out there, then.

I sigh, closing my eyes for a moment to stop the tears I feel forming.

"We need to break up." I blurt.

"What?" Nico's mouth drops open.

"I'm breaking up with you."

"Will, don't. Please, don't. I messed up, I know I did, but... Just... Don't. Please. I can make this better-"

"You can't, actually." I stop his babbling. "There is no way I can know if you're going to stay loyal to me or not. You've been hiding your conversations with Jason from me and who knows what else. Even if your conversation with Jason had just been innocent talking, as soon as you hid it, it became something else."

"Will, please. Listen to me."

"No. There's nothing to listen to."

With that, I turn and walk off.

I can't handle looking at that hurt expression on his face anymore. I can't stand the tears in his eyes. It makes me want to just run back and apologize; tell him everything is okay.

But everything isn't okay. He was hiding things from me. He didn't trust me. I can't do that to myself. I can't be with someone like that.

I have to let him go and that breaks my heart.