A/N ~ Without further ado, here's chapter two. (Yes, the only reason why the A/N is at the beginning was so that I could make that rhyme) (im sorry)

NPOV

"Seriously, where were you?" Jason asked me, this time grabbing my shoulders so I couldn't escape through the crowd.

"I only overslept, calm down. Why can't you just drop it?" I said as I shoved him off.

"Why can't you just tell me the truth?"

I sighed, pulling the books I needed out of my locker. I'm careful to keep the sleeves of my jacket from riding up as I juggle with them. I waited until I had the textbooks straightened in my arms before looking back at Jason.

His gaze was a mix of concern and frustration when it met mine. I felt a pang in my chest. I hate lying to him like this, and it doesn't help that he can see right through me.

"I'm fine." I told Jason, "Don't worry about it anymore, okay?"

"Nico, please-"

Before he could finish whatever he was going to ask me, somebody else started to head towards us. This certain someone had wavy blonde hair and piercing blue eyes. His expression was one of a laid back smile, calm and reassuring.

I recognized him immediately. Will Solace.

I've always liked Will. Even though I barely knew him, he didn't seem to be freaked out by me. Or intimated. The more I thought about it, he almost seemed friendly.

Jason shut up the second Will came close enough to hear what we were saying, which I guess was a good thing because that conversation was turning dangerous.

"Hey guys," Will greeted the two of us, but then he paused to shuffle through his binder. He gave a triumphant smile as he held up the notes I let him borrow yesterday, and then held them out to me. "I believe these belong to you. Thank you so much for letting me borrow them. I really appreciate it."

I felt heat travel across my face as I took the papers from Will. I hoped he didn't notice. "No problem, I didn't mind."

He beamed at me, his eyes shining. "You take really good notes, by the way. You must be one of the top students in the class."

"I'm failing, actually." I told him quietly.

He blinked at me, the smile gone and replaced with furrowed eyebrows and questions yet to be voiced. I spoke again before he could.

"I'm absent a lot, and I never have time to study when I get home...." This wasn't really a lie, more of a half-truth.

"Not to mention how often you're late." Jason muttered. I shot him a one of my signature glares.

Will must have sensed my agitation, because he expertly changed the subject before I could hurt Jason's feelings. "Well, class is about to start. We should probably start heading that way."

"I'm gonna wait for Piper, I'll see you guys in class." Jason said.

"Are you sure?" I asked him, hoping he would notice the fear in my eyes. I didn't want to be left alone. Something will go wrong, something always goes wrong.

"Yeah, you and Will can walk together." He called to me over his shoulder, disappearing before I could protest.

I stared at my shoes, wanting nothing more than to be invisible. Or, even better, to never have existed in the first place. That would make everything so much easier wouldn't it? No more lies. No more nightmares. No more dark. No more Octavian.

Not even no more, simply never was.

For example, Jason would have never left poor Will alone to walk with me.

I suddenly felt a hand rest on my shoulder, causing me to flinch. I didn't mean to, but it happened anyway. I focused my attention to Will, whose hand hadn't moved even after my reaction. He was looking at me, and I mean really looking, like he was trying to uncover the layers of lies I buried myself in.

"W-what?" I asked him, fully aware of how shaky my voice sounded.

"Are you okay, Nico?"

"Yes."

"Are you sure?"

I hesitated this time. I suddenly had the urge to tell Will, who was practically a stranger, everything. But that was stupid. Octavian would hurt me again. People would be in danger, people I cared about.

So, instead of saying anything I might regret, I choked out, "Yes."

Will didn't seem convinced in the slightest, but we finally started to head to class. The walk was made in silence, with Will lost in thought and with me trying not to think about what happens after school. But that's impossible, isn't it? The more you try not to think about something, the more the certain something will enter your thoughts uninvited.

By the time we arrived to class, I was an anxious mess who just wanted to be left alone.

I took my usual seat in the back of the room, and was startled when I looked over to see Will sitting next to me.

"What are you doing?" I asked him timidly, hoping I didn't sound as rude as I felt.

"I just wanted to sit next to you. Is that okay?"

Before I could answer, Mr. Brunner came through the door and started ranting about some type of equation, thus marking the beginning of the lesson. I had almost no clue what he was saying, but I took notes anyway. Hopefully I'd find the time to study.

I'd occasionally let my eyes wander to Will, who was already looking at me. When he saw that I caught him, he would blush and pretend to be interested in the blank paper sitting on his desk.

~

The bell rang and everyone began to pack up their stuff. Just as I had finished, the intercom came on and a voice announced, "Nico Anderson and William Solace are needed in the counselor's office."

Will and I shared confused looks before heading out the door. We made our way through the crowd until we reached the guidance office, where the receptionist sat typing on a computer.

"Excuse me," Will said, earning the attention of the woman, "we were called-"

"I know why you're here. Mrs. Aphrodite wanted to talk to you two." The receptionist said, without even looking away from the screen.

Before I had the chance to say the smartass remark that had immediately sprung from my abyss of a brain, Mrs. Aphrodite was standing next to us. She beamed at Will and I.

"Will! Nico! I'm so glad to see you! Why don't you step inside my office and take a seat? After all, we have a lot to talk about."