My classes ended after what felt like an eternity. I had gotten no messages from Frank or Hazel about this haunted house thing though. Why would they have Percy of all people ask me? I mean I think I'm pretty good at acting as if I hate him. Whatever the reason was I was about to find out as I saw them all heading to get coffee from the school's attached coffee shop.
Different scenarios ran through my head as I walked over. I settled on just telling them I also wanted to get coffee, then I could casually bring up the haunted house and go... or at least that's what I planned.
As I was walking towards the coffee shop Jason spotted me and his face broke out into a huge freaking grin. "Nico! Hey, you stalking us or something?" He chuckled to show he was just kidding. Hazel simply smiled and hugged me before dragging me into the group.
Reyna smiled and nodded toward me a bit. "Why in heaven or hell would I want to stalk you?" Piper laughed now and held onto her boyfriend's arm.
"Because he's pretty." She said simply and I rolled my eyes at them. It was grossly sweet and repulsively cheesy.
Percy looked at me with mock surprise. "You still got those rolling around up there?" I rolled my eyes again adding a groan this time which made a few of them laugh.
Annabeth gently flicked her boyfriend on the forehead. "You're making middle-aged woman jokes again." Percy just flashed her a blinding smile and kissed her temple. The large group started breaking off into smaller conversations. I just stayed next to my sister.
Frank was of course there as well but he's... fine. My sister loves him and he loves her so I don't care much. "So why did you guys want Percy to ask me about the haunted house?" They both looked confused and looked at each other silently asking if the other had done it.
"Did you ask him to Reyna?" I mean it would be weird if he confused Frank and Reyna but he's a weird dude. She just shook her head no. I looked at Percy and watched him try and hide behind his girlfriend. "Jackson..." He just smiled at me sheepishly and Annabeth shoved him forward. As if she would hide him from the problem he made.
"Thanks, Annie." The sarcasm in that one sentence was palpable. She just shrugged and started chatting with Piper. "Frank was telling me about it and it seemed like something you would really enjoy doing. I just want you to do more things instead of being cooped up all the time." It felt like my blood was boiling.
Who was he to decide if I needed to get out more? It's not like we were best friends, or had known each other for years, or.... never mind. I calmed myself down and just sighed. "You don't need to be concerned, Jackson." He just shrugged a bit.
"Oh well. I am." I rolled my eyes and he shoved my head with a laugh. Hazel giggled and slung her arm over my shoulder while standing on her toes so we were closer in height.
"I personally think it's a wonderful idea! We could really benefit from your help, right guys?" Frank nodded with a small smile. Reyna shugged a bit like it could be a good idea though I doubt she thinks I'd actually do it. I caved and smiled, just a little bit, at my sister. I also wanted to prove Reyna wrong.
She only smiled wider and hugged me knowing that meant that I would help her. We got up to the front and everyone ordered complicated sugary drinks. Well, Jason didn't even get coffee and Piper just got a black coffee, which is respectable. Leo just straight up got a shot of espresso in a cup, and I thought the guy from last night was asking for a heart attack. At least he was willing to dilute it, unlike this Latino psycho.
I got the same as Piper. I was going to leave until Annabeth pulled me back and made me sit with the others. Much like Percy I never figured out how to say no to her so I sat down quietly and just sipped on my coffee. Since we were at a round table Hazel was on one side of me and Reyna was on the other.
Everyone was talking about random things, I mean really random. Like Percy and Jason were talking about how much they loved each other and would marry the other for tax benefits; in 'the most bro way possible' of course. Though Piper and Annabeth were sharing their drinks with each other and generally acting like lesbians so I guess it wasn't that weird for them.
Hazel dragged me into their conversation about the haunted house. "Why are you starting the planning on this thing so early? It's barely September." Frank explained that planning these sorts of things always took longer than anyone realized, which Reyna backed up. I had never done anything like this before but Frank seemed to know what he was talking about, and I know Reyna does, so I wasn't gonna question it.
We ended up staying there for 2 hours and 27 minutes. We had long since finished our drinks and they tried to get me to get everyone refills since I 'know what it's like to make the coffee'. I told them they were right; because of that I wasn't gonna put that barista through the hellscape that was most of their orders.
Hazel reminded me that I had to get to work in an hour and 46 minutes. I have no clue how I lost track of time. I never did that, unless I was sleeping. Hazel hugged me goodbye and I rushed off to my dorm. Once I was there I got out my apron and started to iron it. It had gotten wrinkled beyond presentability while in my bag. Though I had to teach myself how to iron now; on the fly nonetheless.
Now I only had 34 minutes until my shift started. I hopped on the next bus and made it to my job with seven minutes to spare. When I walked in my boss was there waiting for me. "Hey. Is everything ok?" He proceeded to scold me for leaving the store unattended this morning. He dragged an apology out of me despite the fact that I just didn't care. After my boss and co-worker left I realized I'd forgotten my book and computer in my rush to get here.
Hazel had a key to my place, she could probably get them for me but I didn't want to bother her with something so small. I decided I could go without them for one night... eight hours... sitting here bored out of my skull. I was beyond screwed.
Time was going even slower than it had when that blond boy was here last night; who did end up walking through the doors at 12:06 on the dot again. He smiled at me and I groaned internally. It was bad enough when I was here alone not to mention with someone else here.
"What can I get for you?" He just laughed a bit and ran his hand through his hair in almost a nervous way.
"What? Forgot about me already?" I just rolled my eyes, Percy was right. At this rate, they were gonna roll out of my skull and right onto the floor.
I just shrugged now. "Call me crazy but you didn't seem too thrilled about your drink." He just nodded smiling again. The smile reached his eyes causing them to crinkle, and it revealed a dimple on his left cheek.
"Not wrong. Can you just throw like five shots in a cup and add a bit of cream to it?" The shock I was feeling must have been apparent on my face as he just laughed. It reached up to his eyes just like his smile. He already had smile lines around his eyes and mouth even though he couldn't have been older than Percy. How often did this guy smile?
He just shrugged and I turned around to make the drink. "Your funeral dude." I heard him laugh again. I didn't even say anything funny.
"I know. And it's Will by the way. I'd like to see you try and spell that wrong." I paused a bit and considered a few responses before deciding I had nothing else to entertain myself. I made the death drink and wrote 'Wile' on the side of the cup before passing it to him.
He laughed as he grabbed it and just shook his head. "Well? How'd I do?" He just smiled at me and took a swig of the coffee.
"Perfect." He passed me the money and I gave him the change back. He went and sat down doing the same thing he had last night. I sat back down and just started playing on my phone so it didn't seem like I was being weird. Dam social anxiety.
After 14 minutes, I heard him talk again. "No book tonight?" I glanced over at him and saw his headphones around his neck. His coffee was all gone and he had a notebook next to his computer with about a million colorful pens and highlighters. I just shrugged a bit.
"Left it at home on my way here. I was in a rush." He nodded a bit and seemed to be searching for something else to say. I just raised a brow and waited.
He settle on something and held up his cup. "Care to make me another then?" He smiled at me and I rolled my eyes getting up.
He brought the cup over to me smiling even more. "You're gonna give yourself a heart attack at this rate, Will." This time he rolled his eyes even though he was still smiling. I had put emphasis on his name on purpose to poke fun at him. Did I have an inside joke with some random guy?
I took the cup and started making him his second drink. "I'm training to be a doctor, I think I can prescribe my own medicine, Niccolo."
Hey, guys, gals, and non-binary pals!
Let me know if you have any ideas for the haunted house because I've got a few but I'm always open to more
Let me know what you thought of the chapter
Have a great day/night!