Equinox

Chapter 13 - Nico

Stupid, stupid, stupid! Abort mission! Abort mission! Nope, nope, nope!

Alarm bells rang in my head as I rushed out of the infirmary, hand wrapped tightly in warm bandages. Why did I do that? Did he even like me as more than a friend? I wasn't thinking about it at all. I just... it just happened.

Maybe I should change my middle name to awkward. Nico Awkward di Angelo. Yeah, sounds perfect. Or maybe Stupid would work better?

I decided the best thing to try was Piper. My sister wouldn't be able to visit for another week, and I didn't really trust anybody else. Piper was a good, trustworthy person.

I knocked rapidly on the cabin ten door. The cabin was absolutely covered in pink and lace and glitter and everything evil in the world. Like a Barbie's closet. But this was an absolute emergency, and I couldn't wait.

Piper answered the door. Upon seeing my face, she promptly ushered me inside.

"Okay, campers!" She yelled. "Arts and crafts time! Let's have a competition to see who can make the coolest looking wall macrame! Go out and collect your materials!"

Her siblings raced off. Boy, was she great at being a head counselor.

"Well?" She asked. She looked like she was on edge.

In response, I pulled the drawstrings on my hoodie tight, buried my face in one of her satin pillows, and proceeded to scream.

"What? What happened, man? Come on, what did you do?" She snatched the pillow away from me, and I curled up further into a ball.

"I've ruined it. I messed up. Oh, gods, I messed up."

"What did you do, Nicholas?"

"I kissed his cheek! I'm a relationship ruiner!"

Piper blinked. "You... what?"

"I know!" I wailed. "I can't believe—"

"I can't believe you made me kick out my siblings for something so small."

"...What?"

"You heard what I said. Not worth kicking out siblings. What was the kiss like?"

I paused. I wasn't expecting that.

"Uh, it was short. I barely touched him. But the intention—the intention was there!"

"Definitely not worth the sibling kicking. Look, dude, you've gotta man up. You can't just dodge around him till he makes the first move. You know you like him."

"Yes."

"Do you know if he likes you?"

"No." I stated.

"You're wearing his jacket and his scarf."

"Your point?"

"My guy," she started, "seriously. There is no way he doesn't like you. You have to make the first move. When are you going to see him again?"

"Today at noon."

"Make a move. Give him a hug. Maybe another cheek kiss. Do something. He's never going to ask you out unless you show interest first."

I twisted the drawstring of my hoodie into a spiral on my finger. "You think so?"

"I know so. Now, go on. Shoo. My siblings'll be back any time."

I shot a small smile at her as I moved to get up. "Thanks, Beauty Queen."

"Anytime, Ghost King."

"Don't call me that."

"Don't call me Beauty Queen," she quipped. I rolled my eyes and walked out of the cabin.

* * *

I swung my Stygian iron sword towards Austin's camp-issued bronze blade. Despite what he'd have you think, he's fairly good at swordplay. He deflected like a champ.

I jabbed under his blade and swung upwards. His sword flew out of his hands.

I glanced over to Will and Kayla, who were standing on the sidelines. I couldn't define Will's expression exactly, but he looked impressed. Deep down, I hoped he was.

"And that's my favorite defensive method, with a small bit of offensive flaire. Austin, you split off with Kayla over there. I'll take Mr. Brightside over here."

Kayla and Austin glanced knowingly at each other, but they followed my instruction and went just out of view.

I turned to Will.

"So. Should we try the move I just demonstrated?"

He smiled. "If you want to."

And so, I swung.

His blade sprung up to meet mine, however instead of holding steady, he whipped his blade in a circle, sending my sword clattering out of my hands.

I stooped down to pick it up.

"Where'd you learn that?"

"Dunno. It came to me."

We danced around the arena, parleying and slashing and clashing blade to blade. Eventually, we got up close with the wall. Before long, I was pinned up against the wall by my forearms, hands up in the air as if I was caught doing something red-handed.

I painted raggedly, straining against his hold. He smiled, dropping his sword, sending it falling to the ground.

"Got ya."

I stared into the depths of his sky-blue eyes. In return, he stared back. His hold on my arm loosened and his hands drifted up to the wall on either side of my shoulders. My own hands rested on his shoulders as my heart leaped up into my throat. My breathing quickened.

His face inched closer to mine. Or was that me getting closer to him? I couldn't tell. We got so close I could feel his breath on my face, sending the cold right out of it. One of his hands rested on my cheek. I closed my eyes, anticipating a kiss...

A shout sounded from the other side from arena, causing Will and I to jump apart. Kayla must've beaten Austin, because the shout was too loud for Austin to have exclaimed. Awkwardly I shuffled away from Will and picked up my sword. I sheathed it, and left the arena.