Nico's POV

He stood with his arms crossed over his orange camp counselor's shirt, watching the flames reach towards the opaque sky as he listened to the off-key singing rising from the crowd nestled around the fire. "And we sit by the campfire and sing our campfire songs, and we do it together because any other way would be wrong." Nico fought back an eye roll as he listened, the lyrics cheesy and the rhythm simple. It was the way of the entire camp- ear to ear smiles, hand holding and unwanted hugs from behind from that one kid who just wouldn't leave Nico alone. But he was broke and his college application was drier than a desert so Nico was forced to smile back, hold hands and not scream in frustration every time he felt a sticky arm wrap around his torso.

Across the fire he caught Will's eye, earning a grin and a small wave from Will. A young girl clung to his tanned and freckled leg, staring up at him with eyes filled with admiration but while Nico would have had to resist the urge to shake her off Will didn't seem to mind. Whether it was the fluffy blonde hair, the sky blue eyes or the dazzling smile that made the campers treat him like the best person on Earth, Will seemed to be made for a camp counselor job. Will had created the very mold of camp counselor, while Nico was struggling to fit into it.

Will gently pulled the girl off of his leg, placing her gently on a log in front of the fire and slipped over to Nico, surveying the sight before him with a quiet happiness. "They're so sweet, aren't they?" he said as screaming erupted behind him and a boy chased his friend to the edge of the forest with a plastic sword.

"Yeah," Nico laughed. "Sweet. Like demons dipped in a vat of honey." Will rolled his eyes.

"Oh, come on. They're not that bad. We were all kids once, anyway."

"Hey, I was never like that," Nico said. "I was quiet. I played card games and ate my happy meals without complaint. I'm sure you were perfect."

"I was never an angel," Will laughed. "You can ask Cynthia." He nodded at the camp leader, sitting on a log at the very front and strumming a guitar, leading the song with the force of a general charging into battle. "I practically grew up here, and Cynthia watched the whole thing. It's nice to be back after being away for so long. I love it here." He turned to the fire, the flickering flames casting a golden glow over his face. The orange light made his eyes stand out more than ever, like sapphires against his freckled face. He was strangely aware of the sound of Will's breathing, the heat cast by the fire, the hazy glow of the moon pouring onto the dirt underneath their feet. The conversation had dropped off but there was something between them, crackling like electricity, lifting the hairs on Nico's arms. Maybe it was created by the sound of the waves crashing against the sandy beach or maybe it was created by the very presence of Will next to Nico but somehow, even amid the screaming of children and the less than ideal bathroom situation, something told Nico that his time at the summer camp wouldn't be quite as bad as he had imagined it to be.

When the fire had died down and the children had been ushered into their bunks Nico collapsed face down onto the twin bed in his tiny bedroom adjacent to the main cabin, his face buried in the pillow. He could still feel Jeremy's claw-like fingernails digging into the skin of his arms as he whined about the nine o'clock bed time and Nico's body felt drained of energy as if the children had sucked him dry. He turned his head to see the light still on in the cabin across from his, the silhouette of a boy his age pressed against the window. He sat up to get a better look and the window was pulled open and Will stuck his head out, grinning. "Hey," he called. "How was it?"

"How was what?" Nico asked, stepping over to the window and dragging it up. The air was cool, a light breeze blowing through the camp. It toyed with Will's hair its way by, picking up a golden curl.

"Your first day of counseling. It can be a handful, I know, but you handled it well."

"You really think so?"

"Yeah." Will's smile was infectious and Nico could feel the corners of his mouth turn up as well. "They like you. I can tell. There's something about tormenting you that just seems extra fun to them. And that is a compliment, by the way."

"They love you," Nico said. "You're their favorite."

"Well, we can both be their favorite," Will said. "I'll make sure they're not too hard on you, don't worry. Anyway, goodnight." The sound of the window closing met Nico's ears and the light was clicked off so that the only thing remaining of Will was his outline moving against the dark room. Despite this Nico found himself still staring out the window at a boy that no longer remained, waiting for something that he didn't know.

Will's POV

Nico Di Angelo was quite possibly the most attractive person Will had ever seen. When the wind blew through the camp it seemed to play with his hair just right and it fluttered like angel wings. When the light caught Nico's eyes they glittered like diamonds and the tiny sparkle took Will's breath away. When the sun fell away from the camp and left it in darkness he would lie awake in his bed, stare out his window and try to make out Nico's figure in the window across from his. There was something about Nico, something about his smile or his laugh that made him completely irresistible. And Will had two weeks. Two weeks until the camp would come to a close and his family went off for vacation. And Will had no idea if Nico would be there when he got back.

He was dragged out of his sleep by Dana tugging on his arm, grinning her gap-toothed smile. "Will, time to wake up!" she sang. "It's almost time for the volleyball tournament!"

"Oh, right, that's today, isn't it?"Will murmured, swinging his legs around and rubbing at his eyes. He could hear excited screaming from the cabin next to his and winced in sympathy for Nico. His first time being a camp counsellor and he just happened to be stuck with the rowdiest cabin of them all. "Is everyone dressed?"

"We've all been dressed for half an hour," she said. "We've been waiting for you."

"Well, give me a few minutes and I'll take you all down to breakfast."

"Ok!" Dana flounced out and Will stretched, basking in the sunlight filtering in through the open window. Nico's room was empty and Will's heart leapt in his chest at the thought of seeing him.

After slipping on his tee shirt and a pair of shorts he opened up his door to see his six campers sitting quietly, one reading a book, one drawing and the other four playing a board game. "Hey, guys," he said, a genuine smile on his face. "Who wants waffles?" Six hands flew up. "Alright guys, lets go." They trailed out of the cabin, talking and laughing with each other. As they passed Nico's cabin he could hear a frustrated groan and maniacal, high-pitched laughter. He frowned, pausing in front of the door. "Hey, guys, do you think you could go down without me? I'll be right there."

"You'll be there soon?" Dana asked, her eyes wide.

"Yeah. You're in charge, okay?"

"Okay!" She ran ahead, turning to her friend. "Hey, Janey, guess what? I'm in charge!" Will smiled as he stepped onto Nico's porch, knocking quietly on the door.

"Come in." He pushed open the door to see six kids running around hitting each other with teddy bears and a frazzled Nico chasing after them, his hair sticking up and his shirt on backwards.

"Hey, Nico," Will said, sidling up to him. "Do you need some help?" Nico turned to Will with terror in his eyes.

"Would you really?" he asked. "They're monsters."

"I've got it handled," Will laughed. "Go get ready."

"I could kiss you right now," Nico muttered, rushing into his room as a chorus of please do rushed through Will's head. When Nico was gone he turned to the group of children as he was faced with six sets of mischievous eyes.

"Alright, everyone," Will said, broadcasting his voice to the kids. "Whoever gets dressed and down to the dining hall fastest gets extra waffles!" It was like watching lions pounce on their food as they dug into their suitcases, pulling on the first clothes they could get their hands on in an effort to get dressed the fastest as a smile spread across Will's face. There would be no extra waffles. It had been self serve for as long as he had been there, and today wouldn't be any different.

"You're incredible," Nico said once they were safely walking toward the dining hall, fully dressed and half as rowdy. Will watched as he took a sigh of relief, watching the children be calm for the first time in their lives. "I can't thank of a way to thank you."

"Well, I'd say you could let my team win in volleyball, but we're not going to need any help," Will smirked. "You're going down, Di Angelo." Nico rolled his eyes and Will's heart nearly exploded in his chest. Will spun around to face Nico, raising his hands. "Going down."

"Oh, we'll see about that," Nico laughed. "My team might not know how to behave, but they're some of the strongest second graders I've ever seen."

"Well, to use your own words, we'll see." Will spun back around, jogging toward the dining hall without looking back. He had two weeks to make the boy in the cabin across from him fall for him, and he couldn't waste any time.

Nico's POV

There were two things Nico had learned about Will Solace. The first was that he was quite possibly the best camp counselor he had ever seen, and the second was that he was quite possibly the cutest camp counselor he had ever met. Will flashed a smile at him across from the volleyball court, his happiness spilling past the boundary set by the net. "You ready?" Will mouthed. Nico felt himself grinning, nodding and cracking his knuckles. Around him were six second graders, foaming at the mouth and hungry for victory. Will wouldn't know what hit him.

When Will served, his biceps rippling, the ball slammed down on Nico's team's side with the force of a lightning bolt. Louise jumped away, his hands flying over his head in terror. "He's really strong!" he gasped, turning to Nico with terror in his eyes. Nico narrowed his eyes at Will, who gave him a shrug and a smirk.

"Yeah," Nico said. "He really is. Don't worry though. We can still win."

They didn't win. Every single serve sent Nico's team scattering and gave Nico another chance to see Will's satisfied smile. He wasn't complaining about that part, though. "So, you thought you were gonna win, huh?" Will laughed, sauntering over to Nico at the end of the game. "How did that work out for you?"

"Shut up," Nico laughed, swatting Will's arm and feeling the muscles bulging underneath his fingertips. He felt his face flush and he glanced down at the ground.

"So, it's time for my cabin's hike, where I'm going to teach them not to eat every single berry they find on the ground," Will said. "But I'll see you later."

"See you later." As Will jumped back over to his team, exchanging high-fives, Nico felt himself smiling. Will had charisma rolling off of him in waves and every time Nico talked to him he could feel more of it pulling him into the trap that was Will Solace.

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The flames were licking at the ebony sky as the sound of singing rose up from around the campfire, the sound drifting up to the almost transparent clouds. Will was slowly slipping through the crowd, bending down and exchanging words with Cynthia. She smiled, nodding and handing over the guitar to Will. Immediately a hush fell over the crowd as Will strummed the guitar, flashing a smile at Nico. "Alright everyone," Cynthia called out. "Will's going to lead us in a few songs."

"Repeat after me," Will said, staring around at the crowd. "Do your ears hang low? Do they wobble to and fro? Can you tie 'em in a knot? Can you tie 'em in a bow? Can you throw 'em over your shoulderLike a continental (regimental) soldier, do your ears hang low?" His singing voice was angelic, even the simple guitar songs more beautiful than anything Nico had ever heard. Soon the voices of the rest of the camp joined together into one voice, a voice that sang with happiness and love. But Will's voice seemed to stand out from them all, low like the gentle sound of thunder and filled with a bubbly happiness that made Nico's heart leap. Nico found himself joining in on the campfire songs, Will's voice pulling him in and making singing irresistible. Everything about Will was irresistible, his musical talent and his sweet smile and the blue eyes filled with emotion. And at this point, Nico wasn't even going to try to resist.

------

His cabin was quiet when he heard a knock on his window. He flipped around underneath his covers to see Will standing in front of his cabin, wearing a bathing suit and holding two towels. "Hey," he whispered when Nico pulled it open with a squeak. "You tired?"

"No."

"Good," Will grinned. "Change into your bathing suit and meet me outside of your cabin in five."

"What?" Nico asked. "Why?"

"Oh, you'll see." Nico didn't get a chance for any more questions before Will was gone, waiting on the porch in the darkness for Nico to arrive.

Nico stepped out of the cabin, the air pleasant on his bare chest. Will was sitting on the stairs but he leapt up when he saw Nico slip out of the cabin wearing a simple black bathing suit that blended in with the darkness of the night. "So?" he asked, turning to Will. "Where are we going?" Will pushed himself up, flashing Nico a dazzling smile.

"You'll see," he said, grabbing Nico's hand and pulling him off of the porch. Nico felt shivers shoot up his arm and he hoped that in the dark, Will couldn't see his blush. "Come on, follow me." They walked past the quiet cabins, the blinds drawn and the windows dark and past the embers of the dying fire, glowing hot and orange. They walked in silence until they reached the beach, the sand rustling underneath their feet.

"What are we doing here?" Nico asked, gazing out at the water. The moon was reflected over the glassy liquid, the stars floating on the surface.

"It's nice, isn't it?" Will said, staring at the scene spread out before them with love. "Do you have anything on you that you wouldn't want to get wet?"

"No?"

"Great, come on." Will sprinted toward the water, the sand filling in his footprints as he leapt into the lake. Nico followed tentatively, the gorgeous water inviting him in like an old friend. He walked as far as he could until he was forced to swim, ducking underneath the rope that kept the kids out of the deeper part of the lake. He stopped once he reached Will in the middle of the water, floating on his back and staring up at the sky. "It's beautiful here, isn't it?"

"It really is," Nico said.

"I used to take all of my 'girlfriends' here when I went to camp when I was younger," Will said with a small laugh. "I thought it was super romantic and I would always find the coolest girl in camp and bring her out here, even though I would always get busted for it. Back then, I always thought I knew what I wanted."

"What about now?"

"I didn't know what I wanted for a really long time," Will said with a sigh. "It took me a while, but I think I've figured it out." Nico's heart was pounding in his chest. The location, the story- it was all beginning to fit together like a puzzle. Something was about to happen, he could feel it in his bones.

"And what is that?"

"You," Will whispered. "I want you." Will flipped up until he was bobbing, his head and shoulders the only parts of his body showing above the water. Nico lifted his arms to wrap around Will's waist, pressing their lips together.

"You know, if I had known that this is what summer camp is like, I would have come a lot sooner," Nico laughed.

"You've never been to a summer camp before this?" Will asked incredulously. "Well, I'll have to show you the basics. I'm an expert at s'more making, I've been told that my friendship bracelets look professionally made and I'm one of the fastest canoe-ers that you've ever met."

"I'm going to leave this camp with the experiences of a lifetime," Nico said.

"We'll start tomorrow at the very crack of dawn," Will promised. "But for now, we should get back. Cynthia is going to be mad if she finds out we're gone." They swum back, shaking the water from the tips of their hair as the sand clung to their wet feet. "Tomorrow," Will assured him outside of Nico's cabin. Inside they could hear snoring, and someone murmured in their sleep. "Crack of dawn."

"Looking forward to it," Nico said with a smile. After a quick hug Will walked away, slipping into his cabin. A strange sadness overtook Nico as he stood on the porch alone, walking into his cabin and creeping into his room. The sadness disappeared after he dried off, laying down in his bed but it was gone once he could make out Will's smile, even through the darkness.

Usually Nico was a fan of sleep. He would sleep straight through breakfast at his house but he found himself unable to sleep, his heart racing in anticipation for the crack of dawn.

Hi guys, I hope you liked that one!

Nina