The next day, Nico knew exactly what he was going to do.

Everyday after gym, Lucas and Mark were the last two to get out of the locker room. While they took an eternity in the shower, Nico would take their clothes from their gym lockers and throw them in the trash. He doubted they would leave the locker room, but when they didn't show up to class, Nico would start the rumor that the two were butt-naked in the locker room with nowhere to go.

Of course, Nico had the perfect person to tell the rumor to. Piper McLean. She was the school's biggest gossip, and although she was a total badass, she was never mean to Nico. If he told her the rumor, she would spread it like wildfire.

Nico spent all of gym class smiling to himself, which was a very rare sight to see. Usually he frowned as he did his push-ups, but today, he was as happy as a puppy. Will noticed.

"What are we so happy about, di Angelo?" he asked. Nico jumped. He hadn't even noticed him.

"I'm trying to do laps here, Will."

"That's not what I asked."

"It's not your business. Does that answer your question?" Nico tried to run faster. Will was on the swim team and in great shape, though, that dickhead.

"Nico, I'm serious. Are you going to do something to Mark and Lucas?"

"Don't worry about it, Sunshine, I won't bother you," Nico snapped.

Will sighed. "That's not why I care, idiot. I don't want you to do anything to them because it's not worth it," he said.

"Trust me," Nico slowed down. "Revenge is always worth it." The gym teacher blew the whistle, indicating the end of class. The two boys slowed to a complete stop and Nico turned to the inside of the building excitedly. Before he could run towards it, Will grabbed his hand.

"Nico, please don't get in trouble," he pleaded. Nico looked down at their hands in a mixture of horror and shock, and yanked his hand away. Will's eyes flashed with hurt for a second.

"I don't know what you want from me," Nico growled. "But you're not going to get it. If you thought becoming my friend would stop me from giving your friends what they deserve-"

"I don't even like them!" Will argued. "I just don't want you getting in trouble for no reason. Please, please believe me."

Nico scoffed and glared at Will. How fucking dare he mess with his feelings like this. Will probably knew Nico had a crush on him the second he started talking to him. Or maybe even before. Ever since freshman year, it had been no secret that Nico was gay.

So he ran. He ran and took his mind off of Will and his stupid wavy hair and attractive face and laid back attitude. Nico focused on showering fast and hiding in the locker room while everyone filed out.

———

Nico had waited for ten minutes, he would definitely be late for class, but it was totally worth it. He had Mark and Lucas's clothes in his hands, and the only reason he had stayed was to see the look on their faces when they realized they were about to be butt-ass naked for a while.

When Mark got out of the shower, he had a towel wrapped around his waist. Nico saw him smiling like a goof as he walked to his gym locker. Right behind him came Lucas, his pale skin glowing and his green eyes shining. Mark's own hazel eyes were sparkling, too.

Nico was crouched behind a row of gym lockers, smiling and waiting for the epic moment of victory to come. But then, something shocking happened.

"I wish we could stop sneaking around like this," Mark said. He grabbed Lucas's hand and looked into his eyes. "If I get one more late slip this month, I'll be kicked off the swim team."

Lucas sighed sadly. "I know, I know, but my parents would freak out if they knew. So would your parents. It's too risky to let people know." He kissed Mark on the forehead. Nico's jaw dropped.

Mark smiled dreamily. "I love you, Luke." Lucas beamed.

"I love you, too, babe."

Nico watched as they kissed passionately, as if they were the only two there. He felt so guilty and ashamed at himself that he made a grunting noise. They pulled away from each other.

"What was that?" Lucas asked, running a hand through his black hair. Mark let go of him and straightened.

"Who's there?" he shouted. Nico stood up shakily, revealing himself.

Mark and Lucas seemed to deflate.

"Listen," Nico said. He put down their clothes. "I-I was just going to steal your clothes to get back at you for the shaving cream thing. I had no idea you guys were-"

"Please don't tell anyone," Mark begged. He stepped closer to Nico. "Please, our parents would never let us be together."

"I..." Nico thought about the shaving cream. He thought about these two same boys laughing at him, humiliating him. But then he thought about his parents' reactions when he had told them he was gay. "I would never," he said.

Lucas didn't seem convinced. "Listen, I know we were dicks to you, but-"

"I understand," Nico said. "My parents didn't take the news well, either. Your secret's safe with me."

Although Lucas and Mark relaxed, there was still tension in the room. Nico blinked and walked out, still in shock of the whole situation. Mark and Lucas were gay? And dating each other?

Nico awkwardly left the locker room, pushing past the doors and walking with no particular destination as he tried to sort out his thoughts.

He wasn't looking where he was going, and he ran into Will. Literally, ran into him. Nico was getting tired of this.

"Hey, what's wrong?" Will asked. "The teacher sent me to look for you." Nico blinked, trying to fake a straight face.

"Nothing," he lied. He tried to walk away, but Will grasped his hand again. Nico tried not to blush. He let go of Will's hand and crossed his arms.

"Nico, I can keep a secret. Tell me what's going on."

Nico really didn't want to. He had just promised he wouldn't. But...he had to tell someone. Once he did, he would be able to keep the secret. Plus, Will had a reputation of the most trustworthy person you could ever know. God knows what secrets that kid has heard.

"Will, I swear to the gods above if you tell anyone-"

"I won't."

Nico took a deep breath. "I was trying to get back at Lucas and Mark. I was going to take their clothes from them so they would have to stay in the locker room all day-"

"I knew it!" Will shouted. "Nico, you could've been caught!"

"Let me finish, dumbass!" Nico looked down at his hands. "I, uh, saw them kissing. Mark and Lucas. And they said I love you to each other, which I got to admit was kind of-" He glanced up at Will and stopped.

Will's jaw was dropped and his eyes were huge. Despite his shocked expression, Nico could see the grin in Will's face.

"They're gay?" he whisper-yelled. Just then, the door to the locker room door rattled, so Nico yanked on Will's hand and brought them around a corner where they couldn't be seen. Mark and Lucas walked out, looking around nervously and heading off to their lockers, but not before giving each other a quick peck on the lips.

When they were gone, Will stared at the floor.

"It's true," he said. "They're gay...for each other." Nico slapped his arm roughly.

"They could be bi, you ignorant slut."

Will rubbed his arm. "Either way, you can't tell anyone. Listen, Nico, I know they were mean and all but you can't-"

"I wasn't going to," Nico interrupted. "I already told them I'm not. It wouldn't be...fair. They don't want their parents to know and I know what that's like." A moment of silence passed.

"You're gay?" Will asked suddenly. He seemed to beam with happiness, just a little. Nico looked away.

"Well, yeah," he admitted. The look Will was giving him confused him, so Nico said, "but anyway, I'm not going to tell anyone. It's their business, you know?"

Will smirked. "What happened to the Nico who loved revenge?"

"I'm right here. But that isn't revenge," he said. "That's just cruel."

Will smiled. For the first time, behind a vending machine in their school, right after finding out his two classmates were gay...Nico smiled back.

yo that was LONG. i hope you liked it
trust me nico bouta get hella vulnerable
thanks for reading:) i appreciate you
-reyna