"Will, sweetheart, wake up!"

"Five more minutes..."

"You have visits"

Will raised his head from the pillow and checked the clock.

Really? Who comes to visit at 9am on a Sunday!?

What's the problem?

I want to sleep!

You keep going on and on about how you're soooo busy training as a de-something, but I only hear you complaining about waking up!

Here things are different.

Reeeeally!? How so??

Here, the less time I have to stay awake, the less I have to hear you grumbling and nagging.

I DON'T GRUMBLE! OR NAG!

I'm sorry, you're right, you YELL!

"Will!"

I don't care who came, I'm going to kill them.

Even the sick pale weirdo?

How many times do I have to ask you to NOT call him that? And yes, even him. 

He would hate you.

He's the son of Underworld, he's used in dealing with death, I'm sure he would understand.

Will went down the stairs, still on pajamas and with bed hair.

I don't care who is, but do you HAVE TO LET THEM SEE ME LIKE THIS!?

And you ask WHY I complain about waking up?

When he reached the living room, stoped on his tracks. It wasn't one ofthe demigods, but two other girls.

"What...?"

Who are they? They look familiar...

They're from the squad! Have you forgot already!?

Riiiight. Their names are... Shannon?

Sharon!

And the shorter one...

Lucy!

Whatever.

"Oh, Will! You're worse than we thought!"

"Oh, honey, we didn't know or else we would have come here faster!"

See what you did? They're worried about me!

"Ok, girls, give me some space. I'm not sure what's going on here, and I'm to sleepy for my brain to function properly. So what about you wait here while I take a shower, huh? Sounds good?"

"Do you need help to keep standing? Do you want us to stay around in case you fell?"

"What? No, I'm not sick, just woke up five minutes ago. I'll be right back and we talk, ok?"

***

"WE'RE SO SORRY!"

Will was eating in the kitchen, with the two girls sitting and looking at him.

"Sorry about what?"

"About you being kicked out of the squad"

Will waved a hand dismissing it.

"No worries, I was happy to leave"

NO, I WASN'T!!!!

I said I was happy to leave, not WE.

"No offense, but what are you two doing here?"

The girls had a hurt look.

STOP IT! YOU'RE HURTING THEM!!

IT WAS NOT MY INTENTION!!!

WHERE IS YOUR GAY SENSIBILITY???

"Look, it's not that I'm not happy to see you two, but it's... unexpected. You didn't call or text letting me know you're coming"

Lucy, the smaller one, looked down and was playing with her fingers.

"We... wanted to see you. And we're afraid that if we let you know before hand, you wouldn't want to see us"

Well, since they're not MY friends, no, I wouldn't. What about you? Is there a reason why you wouldn't want to see them?

No...

"Why?"

"Well... for not standing up for you, letting you be kicked out and not leaving the squad in support"

Wait, what?

They would leave the squad... for me?

"You didn't need to leave the squad for me, it's MY decision"

Sharon, tall and with her dark colored skin, had a feral glint in her eyes.

"We know, but... Vanessa was so nasty at you! ARGH, I wanted to snap herneck myself!"

Okaaaay, we have a violent one.

I never knew Sharon could get so angry.

Sharon sipped her glass of water and continued.

"Anyway, we thought we could come here and check on you. See how you're dealing with everything. You're worse than we thought"

"Why? What's wrong with me?"

"Come on, Will! Just look at you! You NEVER forgot your make up. You NEVER wore a blue tee with orange shorts. You NEVER put your hair in a bun, and worse, you NEVER forgot to brush it. THAT is what is wrong with you"

"I'm just being me"

Humpf, right.

"Since WHEN this is you?"

SINCE A STUPID BOY TOOK OVER MY BODY!!!

Hush.

"Since I stoped caring so much about what others will think of me"

Lucy was looking a little lost.

"But... WHY would you do that? Stop caring about yourself?"

"I didn't stop caring about myself, I stoped caring about what others think of me"

"What's the difference?"

Really? They're worse than you.

HEY!

"When I stoped caring about the other's opinions, I was free. I can eat what I want, wear what's comfortable, live my life doing what I want"

AND WHAT ABOUT ME? ABOUT WHAT I WANT??

WHAT DO YOU REALLY WANT?

...What?

What do you really want?!?

To be popular! To be a cheerleader and...

NO! That's not what I'm talking about. This is the role you want to play in high school. Because that's what you think will make people like you. But when you're all alone, by yourself, do you like you? Do you like this shallow girl you became? Do you like that your most complex and deep thoughts are about cheerleading? Do you feel good when you try to imitate Vanessa? Do you think SHE is a good person? Think about that baby we brought into this world. Do you think you're making this world a better place for all the babys around the world? Do you think when you have grown old, you'll look behind and rest in peace, because you made the difference, because you helped those who needed, because you're someone your children will tell about to their children with proud? And your grandchildren will tell to your grandgrandchildren? Do you think you would deserve Elysium if you died today? Or Heaven, whatever, for what you have done until today? Do you really think that?

I... I... I don't know.

WHEN you decide what you want to do with your life, you can talk to me and we'll think about it.

Will was startled when Lucy, the tiny asian, slapped her hands on the table.

"You know what, Will is right!!"

"I am?"

You're?

"I'm tired of doing what I don't want to just because someone might judge me. From now on, I'm being who I am!"

"And... who are you?"

"For one thing, I looooooooove anime!"

"You do?"

"Remember, no judging!!"

Sharon was tying her hair in a ponytail when she asked.

"Anime is that japanese cartoon, right? I don't think I ever watched one"

Lucy turned to Sharon with an evil smirk.

"Don't worry, I can show you. It'll corrupt your soul..."

Lucy is being creepy...

I think she's funny.

Lucy turned back to him.

"Oh, now I remember. I have a question for you, Will"

"What?"

"Why were you dragging Nanni along the hallway the other day? I could never imagine you knew each other"

"Wait, do you know Nic... Nanni? From where?"

"I have some classes with him, on Wednesday and Friday"

"Can you keep an eye on him for me?"

WHAT!? HOW CAN YOU ASK HER THAT? WHAT WILL SHE THINK OF ME?

"Why? Are you friends with him? How?"

NO, I'm NOT friends with him!!

"Long story short, I think he's a little depressive, and I'm afraid he can do something... stupid"

"Like cutting himself? It wouldn't be the first time"

... WHAT???

I know nothing about it.

"WHEN did he cut himself?"

"I think since he's born, from the number of the scars..."

"Let me rephrase this. WHEN was the last time?"

"Do I look like I know everything that happens in his life?"

Breath, breath! It's not her fault!

Will tried to call down and avoid the anger when he asked Lucy.

"When was the last time you noticed?"

"I don't know, maybe a month ago? I think he cuts himself at least once a month. I think he should get a new cut soon"

"HOW can you be so casual about it!? For the love of the gods, the boy CUTS himself! And you don't CARE!?"

Breath, breath, breath!

"He's not my friend"

"So what!? You're just gonna let him keep cutting until he KILLS HIMSELF? How can you be so selfish?"

"And how can you be so hypocrite? You told your best friends' secrets to Vanessa just to join the squad!"

Sharon was perplexed.

"Lucy, we had an agreement to NEVER talk about it!"

Will was petrified.

You... did... WHAT!!!???

Well...

Please, PLEASE, tell me you didn't do it.

You see, the thing is...

WHO was the best friend?

Trish...

Was she the only one?

Well...

WILLHERMINA! How could you!

Trish came out of it fine.

I'm talking about Claire!

I never said Claire's name!

I can feel the montruous guilty you feel, and I know you couldn't care less for Trish, but you DO care for Claire.

Well...

I thought you're bad. But you're way worse than I could ever imagine!

Hey...

DON'T TALK TO ME. I can barely stand be in your body right now, so please, PLEASE, don't talk to me.

For how long?

Forever would be good!

"Fine, I'm good, I'm cool. Lucy, I'm sorry for snapping at you, but while I decided to stop caring about what other's will think of me, I also decided to start caring about the others. Will you help me?"

"How?"

"Keep an eye on Nic... Nanni for me. Let me know if he cuts himself or is about to, okay?"

"Okay"

"Now, if you excuse me, girls, I need to lay down, I have a headache killing me"

***

It was Sunday evening, and Will was laying on the bed, trying to sleep.

Hey.

Hey.

Will.

Will!

WHAT?

Ow, no need to sound so rude.

WHAT do you want?

To talk to you.

And I want you to keep your mouth shut. Mouth, mind, whatever.

You're right, I don't think I would go to Heaven if I died today.

Tell me something new.

But I want to change that.

Uhum...

Pay attention, Will! Stop trying to sleep while I'm talking!

What?

I want to become a doctor.

Will opened his eyes. That caught his attention.

Are you serious?

Yes. I need to do some good in this world, and I think curing people helps. But not only those who can afford it, everyone that need it. Bring that baby to the world was amazing, better than cheerleading, like you said. I felt good, I felt useful and I felt happy at seeing that mother smiling at her baby. I want to save more kids' lives. They're the ones who hold the future, right?

Again. Are you serious?

One-hundred percent.

Do you know medicine school is really hard to get in, right?

I'm a smart girl, even if I don't show it, I can whisper the answers to you.

Ha ha. Funny. Are you up for a test?

Like what?

Tomorrow, we're going to the infirmary, and start helping there, to see that's what you really want.

...

So? Deal?

Deal.