Inspired by this post I got from Instagram:

This kinda ended up being similar to the three + one fics out there but totally not even like it if that makes any sense at all. It probably doesn't, but it might after you read it.

But I probably just confused the shit out of you so just ignore me lmao.

Enjoy guys!

- Nico_Solace

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

He's my best friend. We've known each other since I was four and he was six. I've spent my life chasing after this kid like my life depended on it. He was there when I had my first kiss with a girl and realized I didn't like it as much as I should have. He was there the first time I got drunk and we built pillow forts together until I hit tenth grade and realized normal sixteen and eighteen year old guys don't do that. Our mums have embarrassing pictures of us in the tub together, for God's sake!

In conclusion, I shouldn't be imagining what his lips feel like every time I see him or what it would feel like to cuddle in a less than platonic way. Or thinking of him naked. What it would be like to grow old with him. Or how it would be to raise kids together and teach them Italian and English.

Basically, I shouldn't have the hots for a guy who sees me as a brother. But I do.

God, I do.

Nico is just so perfect.

It's so fucking frustrating that he's already got a boyfriend. Nico finally embraced he was gay when he was a junior in high school and I was trying to figure out what the hell sexuality was anyway. Now, he's been with this guy named Jason for three years.

At least, I'm pretty sure they're dating. See, I've met Jason plenty of times and the three of us hang out together all the time. But, the thing is, Nico has never called Jason is boyfriend. They cuddle. A lot. And I've seen them hold hands under the table before. Nico has this annoying tendency to kiss his cheek every time he sees him. Jason plays with his hair all the time. Nico often calls Jason 'babe' and 'my love'.

I mean, Nico's just never had to say they were dating for everyone to know they are.

So that's my predicament as I sit at our regular lunch table and watch Nico and Jason. I realized I was in love with the asshole when he was a sophomore in University and I was a senior in high school.

Now, he's a senior and I'm a sophomore in University. I managed to get into the same school as him by some miracle and I pretty much regret it as I spend most of my time watching him and Jason.

"I'm serious, Nico. Just try it." Jason laughs as he holds a chili-cheese fry in front of Nico's mouth.

Nico continues to hold his mouth tightly shut, shaking his head. As Jason continues to push the fry against his mouth, Nico gets closer and closer to laughing; his eyes begin to scrunch in the corners, his smile lines becoming exaggerated. His mouth quirks up at the sides, showing just the smallest bit of his teeth. His deep brown eyes shine with a joyous light.

He's absolutely breathtaking and I can't help feeling just the smallest bit jealous. Nico hardly ever smiles like that to me anymore. When we spend time just the two of us anymore, it's usually studying or Nico complaining about Jason and his professors. I miss it, honestly. His full blown smile is the most beautiful thing in the world.

With a glare I hope is mostly unnoticed, I go back to picking at my own cold chili-cheese fries. I push them around the plate for another thirty or so seconds before Nico starts full-on laughing and Jason finally gets the fry in Nico's mouth. I can't stand it anymore.

Dropping my fork, I get up without a word to Nico or Jason and walk off. I just need to be alone for a bit.

"Will?" I hear Nico call, all laughter drained from his voice. "Will, where are you going?"

I don't bother answering.

---

A few days later, Nico and I walked out of our only class together: Human Anatomy.

"So, my apartment at five tonight?" Nico asks, smiling gently at me.

I smile in return. "Yeah, I'll be there. You need me to bring any snacks or something?"

"No, Jason went shopping the other day so the apartment is fully stocked." His smile brightens a bit.

My mood drops immediately. "Right. Jason. Will he be there?"

"Yeah, of course." Nico sounds extremely confused. "We do share an apartment, Will. He kind of lives there."

I try to keep my annoyed huff quiet, but I'm sure I fail. "Trust me, I know."

Nico's eyebrows scrunch up and he stops walking. "Are you upset at me or something?"

Looking around I try to find an easy escape and I don't know if I can. "Uh, no. I'm just- stressed. I have to get to my next class. I'll see you later, Neeks."

I speed off as I hear him yell, "Your next class isn't for another two hours, William!"

---

I don't think Nico has ever brought Jason along to our study time. It's usually just me and Nico since we work so well together.

That's why I didn't even humor him when he showed up an hour later to our study date with Jason in toe.

See, I wasn't able to snag our normal table since it was already occupied when I got to the library. I found a nearby table and sat down, beginning my studying knowing Nico would be here before too long.

After an hour, I was having a near impossible time focusing. Nico was never late to our study date. We always dedicated Thursdays and Fridays to studying. It was one of the only times I got Nico to myself anymore with Jason or any of our friends tagging along.

That's why I caught myself watching the door for what felt like ages before Nico finally walked through it. He started for our usual table only to stop when he noticed I wasn't the one sitting there. He began looking around, not seeing me.

"Neeks!" I whisper-yelled across the library to the dark haired boy I love so much to get his attention.

He finally noticed me, turning and walking  toward me with an apologetic look on his face. That's when I noticed who was behind him, their fingers laced together like some cheesy couple.

Of course it was Jason fucking Grace. It's almost like Nico couldn't spend any time without him anymore! He couldn't even honor our three hours of study apparently. Instantly becoming annoyed, I drop my gaze back to my notes, resuming my work like I didn't just spend the past fifteen minutes watching for the small, dark haired boy.

He plopped down in the seat across from me - notably not the seat next to me where he would normally sit for our study dates - dropping his bag full of books. He immediately turns apologetic eyes on me.

"Will, I'm so sorry. I lost track of time. Jason and I-"

"Got caught up with whatever you were doing. Yeah, I get it." I said, not looking up from my notes and trying to keep the bitterness out of my tone and knowing I failed.

I glance up only to notice Nico give Jason a look and Jason shrug.

"Will, are you mad at me?" Nico sighs, suddenly.

"No," I say, keeping my tone as even as possible. I still don't look up from my notes, knowing I'll only get mad at the sight before me. "Whatever would give you that idea?"

"Um, you're kinda being pissy." Jason pipes up, sounding confused.

There are several shushes heard from the nearby tables with glares shot our way.

"I am not." I stand, closing my textbooks and notebooks. "I'm perfectly fine."

"Will, where are you going?" If I wasn't so sure, I would've said Nico sounded hurt.

"I'm finished studying so I'm leaving the library." I haphazardly shove my books and notebooks into my bag, zipping it quickly.

As I leave, I hear Nico's chair push back as if he's standing. "Will!"

There are several more shushing sounds and I hear Jason say quietly, "Just let him go."

---

Almost two weeks after the study incident, Jason approaches me at lunch.

I haven't really spoken to Nico since then. I'm not necessarily ignoring him, but I'm not talking to him in the most friendly manner either. My point of making sure he knows I'm angry is clearly working if he's sending Jason over to me.

"What do you want, Grace?" I say before he can ever open his mouth to speak.

"What's going on between you and Nico, man? He's been sulking around the apartment for a week and a half." Jason demands, crossing his arms over his chest, exaggerating how muscular his body is.

I don't blame Nico for dating Jason. I really don't. I've tried so hard to think up reasons to hate the man, but I come up blank every time. He's good looking, he's funny, he's passionate about his beliefs and speaks out about them. Jason is a stand-up guy and I can't blame Nico for liking him so much.

Which kind of makes me hate him a little more; he's perfect for Nico.

I snort in annoyance. "Why don't you go ask him yourself since your his like fucking boyfriend or some shit?" I mumbles, letting all my loathing seep into the words.

Jason's eyes widen and he immediately drops his protective stance. "You think- ?" Jason groans, rubbing his hands over his eyes. "Will, you idiot, go talk to Nico. You're both miserable and being stupid."

With that, he walks off.

---

Almost another week later, I still haven't gone to Nico like Jason told me to.

At this point, it's more because I'm a stubborn ass than it is that I'm angry anymore. Percy and Annabeth have both told me to stop being stupid and Cecil told me I was blind.

But I just can't go crawling back to Nico at this point. It'd be humiliating to admit I can't even go three weeks without talking to him. We have had little to no separation since I was in kindergarten. I think we can handle three weeks.

Apparently Nico can't, though, because I'm sitting alone at the library, pretending to focus on my calculus work when his books slam down on the table in front of me.

My eyebrows scrunch as I glance up at the glaring man. It's always been funny to watch him get angry for me. Everyone else thinks it's scary, but I have a hard time finding a man a whole foot shorter than me and considerably thinner that scary.

"Can I help you?" I ask, trying not to laugh at his intense glare.

"Yes, actually, you can!" He practically screeches, ignoring the chorus of shushes we receive. "Can you please explain to me why you haven't had a proper conversation with me in almost three weeks?!"

"I don't know what you're talking about."

"Like hell you don't!"

"Nico, why don't we go somewhere else before we get kicked out?" I say, suddenly remembering we are in a library that I would rather not get kicked out of.

Nico huffs and follows me into a nearby conference room where I shut the door.

Nico whirls on me, glare set in place and demands, "Now what the hell has been your problem?"

All of my suppressed anger comes right up to the surface and I immediately gear up for the verbal shit show this is about to become.

"Oh, I'm sorry. I thought you would've been too busy spending time with your boyfriend to notice my absence!" I reply, trying to stay calm and failing.

"Boyfriend?! I don't have a boyfriend, you idiota!"

"Bullshit! If you don't have a boyfriend then what the hell is Jason? Huh? Who is he to you?" I'm standing in Nico's face now, glaring down at him.

He takes a step back, his face scrunching in confusion. "Jason?"

"You heard me!"

A startling laugh bursts from Nico's mouth. "Will, Jason and I are just friends! Roommates!"

My jaw clenches and confusion washes over my whole being.

"Jason is a really good friend, Will. We have never, ever been anything more than friends."

"You could've fooled me! You're always acting like you're a fucking couple and it's infuriating."

"What do you mean?"

I gape at him, not knowing how he doesn't see it. "All of the hand holding? The pet names? Feeding each other? Playing with each other's hair, taking naps in each other's laps, forehead and cheek kisses? I'm pretty sure I've watches you kiss his neck, too. That's not exactly platonic behavior, Niccolo!"

"I- Will, that's just- that's just Jason and I. I've never had a thing for Jason." Nico fiddles with the Hem of his shirt.

"Not possible." I cross my arms over my chest in annoyance.

"Very possible!" Nico argues. "Will, do you even know Jason?"

"I bloody well hope so! I've spent the past four years looking at his stupid face! And the last three watching you practically lay on him every day."

"Jason has a girlfriend!" Nico shouts.

I'm pretty sure my brain stops working for a moment. "What?"

"Jason. A girlfriend. He has one. How did you not know this?"

"He has never mentioned a girlfriend in front of me." I feel my face heat up as I realize how ridiculous I've been acting over possibly nothing.

"That's a fucking miracle." Nico rolls his eyes. "He talks about her all the time! She lives in California but they Skype and text all the time."

"I- so... You're not dating Jason?"

"God, no! Ask anyone who knows us; I'm too hung up on this other guy I really like." Nico's face turns a dark shade of red and he bites his lip.

My brain still hasn't caught up with the conversation, so I blink dumbly at my best friend for a solid thirty seconds before replying.

"Who is he? Do I know him?" There I go again, being stupidly possessive and jealous.

Nick giggles and nods. "Yeah, you do."

My nostrils flare and I shift for a moment, trying to control myself. "Who is he?"

"Well," Nico starts, suppressing more giggles. "He's this really awesome guy I've known forever. He's got blond hair and these gorgeous white-blue eyes. He's got freckles all over himself. He's always got a great beach body. He's got this really cute dimple in his right cheek and super deep smile lines."

As Nico describes his mystery crush, I get more annoyed.

"Oh, and he's wicked smart." Nico's smile grows as he noticed how annoyed I'm getting. "He got into my University on a full ride scholarship. He's hilarious and sweet. He's always taken care of me even though I'm older than him by two years. And my mom loves him. She goes on and on about him when I don't bring him home for a while."

"Who is he, Nico?" I demand, sick of being left in the dark.

"It's you, you idiot!" Nico punches my shoulder.

I blink at him for a long moment. "Me?"

"You."

"I- how long?"

"Since I was in fifth grade. I told my teacher I was going to marry my best friend and she thought it was cute. That was, she thought it was cute until I told her it was a boy two years younger than me. She got shocked and sent me home with a letter to my mom."

"And... What did your mom say?"

"She told me she thought it was cute." A nostalgic smile spread across Nick's face. "She told me she'd help plan the wedding when we got older."

"Oh."

"Oh? That's all I get? After all these years of hiding this, I get 'oh'?" Nico laughs even harder at my baffled reaction.

"I just- didn't realize you felt the same way."

That's what gets him to stop laughing. His face drops into a shocked expression and he flounders for a moment. His reply is the same as mine.

"Oh."