Percy POV (oooh fancy):

I sit in Annabeth's lap, crying my eyes out. How could I have missed how depressed Nico was? The kid was like a brother to me, but apparently I didn't pay him enough attention. I knew I should've talked to him more, but whenever I tried, he'd push me away.

I just wish he could get better soon. I wish this wasn't something that could take years to recover from. I wish so many things. None of which I'm sure will ever come true.

Another sob racks my body as I think of Nico. And soon Annie and I are laying down on my bed. Her rubbing my back, while I just keep crying and crying.

I know I shouldn't blame myself, that I couldn't have done anything to prevent this. But I could've. I could've saved his sister. Could've been a better friend. Could've talked to him more. Shown him how much he really means to me. I can't imagine what my life would be like without that small Italian boy.

Jason POV (oooooh even more fancy)

I walk into the Apollo cabin and straight to the head counselor quarters, knowing that's where Will Solace would be. I heard screams of pain coming from that direction and broke into a sprint, toward the room, opening the door without even asking first.

"Will? Are you okay?" I ask after seeing him sitting on the floor in a crumpled, sobbing heap.

I sit down next to him and pull him into a hug. That's when I notice the blood starting to leak from his shorts.

Had he been ... cutting? I lift up the shorts slightly to check and almost faint at the sight I'm met with. No wonder the poor kid was crying for help.

I sigh. I'll keep his secret for him. But only if he promises to at least try to stop.

I lift the boy and lay him down on the bed, sitting down in a nearby chair to wait for him to wake up.

Will POV:

I sit up, feeling groggy and sore all over. My thighs are practically screaming and I can still feel the blood running from my nose.

I think back, trying to remember what had stopped him from going further, but I'm interrupted by Jason Grace.

"WILL!" He exclaims, pulling me into a tight embrace and I wince. He must've been waiting for me to wake up.

"Will," he starts. "I know your secret. I didn't mean to invade your privacy or anything, but you'd been screaming for help and when I ran in, I found you crumpled in a ball, looking like you'd just been dropped from the ceiling or something. And I noticed the blood leaking from your shorts and I hope you don't mind, I bandaged them. I doubt it's very good, but I'm no you. Anywho, I won't tell anyone. I just-will you try to stop? For me? For Nico? I'm your friend and I care about you and you're Nico's doctor and you're doing the same stuff as him."

"Wow." I say. "That was a lot of words. But yeah I know I need to stop, I've been trying for a while and if gone for almost a month there until I saw poor Nico and relapsed. Thank you for bandaging them for me though and for keeping the secret so I can still help poor Nico."

"Hey. Anytime bro." He said, giving me a fist bump. " that's what friends are for right? "

"Well not specifically for this, I'm sure, but I get what you mean."

He grinned. "Good. Now let's go check on the youngster Neeks."

We walked out the door together, heading toward the infirmary.