Equinox

Chapter 25 - Nico

Maybe Kayla was good for something.

Will got an emergency call from the archery field, so he left me alone in the isolation room (I thought that was what it was for, but he wasn't supposed to leave any time soon— at least, I didn't want him to). As Will rushed out the door, Kayla peeked in, holding the golden comforter.

"Hey," she said, tossing me the comforter. "Incoming."

I caught it and wrapped myself in it. Warm. It smelled just like Will's scarf. Double warm.

"What you got there?" She asked, looking at my crayon and my card.

"The patient card."

Kayla snorted. "Bro, seriously? We only give those to the little kids who won't sit still."

"Well—" I flustered. "I was told to do it, so whatever."

"Oh, man, you are down bad." Kayla sat herself down on Will's stool and propped her hot pink converse up on the counters. Just to be safe, she stayed 10 feet away from me.

"Well, duh. I'm in the isolation room for a reason."

"No, not a cold. You've got a bad case of a crush. And I think it's mutual. Or at least, how much you guys kiss makes me think its mutual. Seriously. He comes home every night rambling about each and every kiss."

My face reddened. "So? That doesn't mean anything. So what if I like him?"

"Ha! You admit you like him."

"I... like him."

"Yes," she said slowly, as if I was a child. "You. Like. William. Solace."

"I like Will."

"Congratulations, you are officially the very last person on earth to come to this conclusion! Everyone already thinks you're dating."

I snorted. "That's dumb."

"Why? You guys literally spare us from nothing. Especially me and Austin."

"That's extra stupid."

"So? Just fix the problem. Date."

I shifted in my nest of comforter. "Well, there's a problem with that."

"What?"

"I am as great as asking someone out as a wet piece of cardboard."

"Pfft, you can't be that bad."

"I've never done it before."

"Okay, so? Just... the next time you see him, just say something like 'yo, my guy! We mutually like each other! Let's date!"

"I am not saying any of that."

"I said 'along the lines of', stupid."

"I'm not stupid."

"What's 7x99?"

"Uh..." I put up my fingers in attempt to solve the problem.

"Exactly. I rest my case." She crossed her arms over her chest with a smug smile. She was wearing a red turtleneck, a light wash pair of mom jeans, and those hideous hot pink Converse. Yuck. She had less fashion taste than Will did. At least Will knew how to wear black sometimes. I had never seen Kayla in a black article of clothing.

"Whatever. But..." I sniffed. I sounded like the word sick personified. Extremely gross. "Thanks for the advice, I guess. Maybe you aren't as bad as I thought you were."

"Har dee har. And, I guess you're welcome. Its not much, I know. But I want my brother to be happy. And if a permanently sick little emo kid makes him happy, then that's just what we're gonna go with."

"I am not permanently sick. And I am not emo."

"The eyeliner under your eyes says differently," she noted.

"...Kayla, those are eyebags."

"Meh. Whatever. See you, di Angelo. Good luck with my brother."

"Thanks, I guess."