Date: February 15, 1981

     Nico was awaken by Will's snores. The weak sun filtering into the room through the window illuminated Will's face and made his blonde hair look like pale gold. Nico quietly admired the freckles splattered on Will's cheeks and his soft, long eyelashes. How had he managed to get with such a catch?

       "Nico!" Will said, opening his eyes and sitting up quickly. "What time is it? Did I sleep in? Did I miss anything?"

   "Relax," Nico said. "It's only 7:21."

    "Ugh," Will said, rubbing his hands through his hair. "I usually get up at 6:15."

    "I don't get how you do that," Nico said. "Unless you're some sort of god."

     "Nah, I'm just a med student," Will said.

      Nico laughed. "Close enough. Do you want to get some breakfast?"

      "Yes, I can treat you to a nicely cooked meal," Will said as he got to his feet.

     He began pulling on his clothes.

     "It's my house," Nico pointed out as he pulled a t-shirt over his head. "I can do the cooking. You're the guest."

     "But I know a good recipe for French toast and I'm craving it," Will said.

     He poured his lips and made puppy dog face.

     "Fine," Nico said with a shrug, "but the only bread I have is some brioche I got a couple days ago from the bakery."

"That will work perfectly," Will said. "Egg-based breads like brioche absorb liquid better."

"Huh, the more you know," Nico said.

      Will poured olive oil into the pan and while it heated up, he cut the brioche into four thick slices. As he made the mixture for the French toast, Nico studied him. He looked well-rested considering they had stayed up late. His blue eyes were sparkling and as he dipped the brioche slices into the liquid mixture, he smiled.

       "I didn't know you were a chef," Nico said as Will flipped a slice of French toast.

    Will turned towards him and grinned. "I'm not."

      "Do they teach French cuisine in med school?" Nico asked. "Is that how you gained an appreciation for snails?"

      Will laughed. "If that was so, I think Reagan would ban medical schools. No, my taste in snails was not acquired."

    Nico nodded. When he had developed his first crush on another guy — the sarcastic and handsome Percy Jackson — he had been surprised, ashamed, and thrilled. It was complicated enough dealing with feelings without those feelings being technically illegal.

     "Are you— are you ashamed of what we did?" Nico asked, wetting his lips.

    Will looked up. The seriousness in his blue eyes reminded Nico of Jason.

     "No, Nico," he said. "Are you?"

      "I — I," Nico said. "It felt good to be with you, but part of me. Well, part of me felt ashamed."

       "You did nothing wrong," Will said. "It's society who is sick — not you. How can love be a disease? It's not. It's a gift."

      "You're right," Nico said, trying to brush away the thoughts in his mind.

      "You know the American Psychological Association removed homosexuality from its DSM several years ago," Will said.

     "I'm glad to hear that," Nico said and he was surprised to realize he wasn't being sarcastic.