I did my level best to brighten up the room, so it looked less like a funeral and more like somewhere someone would want to sleep in. I opened the curtains all the way, the Saturday sun hitting me and lighting up my bed, my desk and my closet.

I flung my closet doors wide open in an attempt to find something colourful. I discovered I own five black graphic T-shirts, three forms of jeans in all black, and a pair of black pyjamas. I groaned. I did, however, end up finding a violet shirt with a tiger print.

I began rearranging the room. Not by much, just pushing the bed properly against the wall, pushing my desk to align with the bed, and shoving things into my closet.

"What are you doing?" Hades' footsteps were a distinct sound, stomping up the stairs and in my room. My heart dropped. In all my planning for my room, I hadn't even told my father.

"Dad, I have a friend coming over." I said, picking my words and tone carefully. "Is that alright? He's coming in a few hours. I'm just cleaning up."

He paused for a moment before speaking. "That's alright, Nico. Next time, tell me earlier." He smiled. "How are you handling lunch? Are you both going to go out? I can make something if you want."

"It's fine." I said, "There's some pasta in the fridge. We'll heat it up and be fine."

Hades nodded before his smiled widened. "I'm happy you're having friends over."

"I'm sure you are." I snorted. He dipped his head and smiled.

"As long as you're happy."

***

I was sitting anxiously on my sofa when the bell rang. I brushed my T-shirt off and checked myself in the mirror. My father looked knowingly at me as I ran to open the door. Lo and behold, Will Solace stood.

He was a ray of sunshine. He wore a flannel shirt and cargo shorts and was probably the only one who could get away with it. He had this childlike expression, a certain innocence you'd think faded away with time. But Will

Will Solace towered over me. He wore his usual pleasant expression and a green flannel shirt with sandy cargo shorts. He looked as if he were filming a wildlife documentary. The sun shone behind it, so it looked like he was an angel glowing, sent from the heavens. His eyes twinkled.

"Nico!" He exclaimed. He stretched his arms wide and waited a moment, before engulfing me in a hug. Normally, this sort of gesture would leave me annoyed, but it was impossible being annoyed at a glowing Will Solace, especially when his hugs were so nice.

We separated. My cheeks were flushed, the most colourful thing on me. Will Solace stepped in my house and marvelled at the beauty.

"This is beautiful." He said to me, his eyes falling over every inch of our house. I grabbed his hands to pull him upstairs, but a certain figure in all black stopped us.

"You must be Will," my father greeted him. The shadows of his eyes softened, and as he dipped his head, his sharp jawline melted a little. Will Solace smiled and nodded.

"Yeah, that's me." He spoke. "Thanks for having me over. Your house is lovely." He talked with an even tone and a smile on his face, making direct eye contact with my father.

"And you're Apollo's son?" He asked. Will nodded.

I stared at them, confused, for a moment before Will spoke up.

"My dad's been working with yours for a business proposal. It's only for three months, hence the student exchange program. I hope it's going well."

My father nodded and ended the conversation by pushing us to go upstairs. I grabbed Will and lead him up the stairs to my room.

Will stepped carefully into my room, the floorboards creaking slightly as he stepped on the floor. He grinned, showing his perfect smile.

"I would've thought your room would be more goth." He said, his eyes all over every inch of the room. "But this is nice."

He flopped on the bed, the spring creaking slightly as he did so. He stared up at the ceiling, humming a tune I was vaguely familiar with.

"Hold on, are you singing marjorie?" I asked, lying down on the bed next to him. I pressed my face against the pillows. "By Taylor Swift?"

"Wait, you know that song?" Will sat up to bend over and stare at me. His blue eyes had a million shades of blue in them, I could see up close.

"I mean, I've heard it," I blushed. I never mentioned to anyone that I'd listened to Taylor Swift, mostly because it messed up my persona of the goth teen boy I was.

"One of Taylor's most underrated songs and you've heard it?" Will lay his head on the pillow next to me, his blond hair tickling my neck. "You can't convince me you're not a fan."

I rolled my eyes and propped my head on my shoulder so I was facing him with the most menacing expression I could muster. Judging my Will's face, I could tell I failed.

"I'm not judging, though." He clarified. "I listen to her too. She's a good artist. I know a few of her songs on the piano. One on the harp."

"Oh yeah, I forgot you played." I spoke. I sat up straight so suddenly, Will got up too, looking a bit scared. "You should play for me."

The words rushed out of my mouth too fast and much too eager. To top it off, I felt my cheeks heat up and butterflies flutter in my stomach.

"You play piano or harp?" He relaxed and looked over at me with curiosity written on his freckled face.

"No, but my mum played the piano." I jumped off the bed and took his arm. He squeezed mine and stood up, his smile lighting up the room.

"To the piano it is!" He spoke. He dipped in a boy and gestured for me to go. "Hosts first, I insist."

I rolled my eyes and dragged him to the other side of the house. Dust sparkled in the sunlight as we walked into the room. Every step we took let the air blur with more particles. The room smelt like old papers and half-finished espresso. Will Solace wandered in, bewildered at every step.

The piano sat in a sad corner, the sunlight illuminating its right side. My father had thrown a bedsheet over the instrument years ago when my mother passed. Seeing Will Solace drag the piano stool and open the lid felt like opening a box of memories I had stowed away for a reason.

He noticed my pensive demeanour and hesitated. "Is something the matter?'

I cleared my throat and kept my eyes away from his face. I fixed my gaze on his thigh, now bouncing and making a thud every time he hit the floor. "My mother used to play the piano a lot. She's passed away now, and I haven't been here in a while."

Will Solace stood up in an instant. The sunlight formed a halo right above his head. His blonde curls seemed darker against the sunlight. He took my hands. My heart skipped a beat in my chest, but I didn't pull away.

"I'm so sorry your mom isn't here. I wouldn't have sat down if I knew. I'm always here if you need to talk."

I smiled at him. He was so sweet. I had never met anyone with such integrity and heart. "No, I still think you should play. It'll be fun hearing the piano. Hopefully it doesn't need tuning."

He nodded and sat down, apprehensively lifting the lid. I took a seat in the chair next to him.

"What's the other chair for?" He said, pointing to the seat.

"My dad sings. Or well, he used to. My mother and him would always come here at the end of a long day and play some Italian song."

"A pianist and a singer? You sure you don't have any music genes in you?" Will laughed, instantly bringing the light back in the room. I grinned.

"Oh, maybe. Who knows." I spoke.

Will Solace felt for the piano, playing one note at a time, then chords. He smiled. "This piano is tuned and ready for playing. What song would you like?"

"What songs do you know?" I asked. Will Solace paused to think.

"I can play exile, Afterglow, Superman, Our Song, champagne problems and 22." Will listed them out, counting each on his fingers.

My jaw dropped. "That is a lot of songs."

A smug expression took over his face. "Yeah, I know. But to be fair, I know the easy versions of all of them. What would you like to hear?"

I smirked. "Since you're from Texas, let's do Our Song." I spoke. Will Solace rolled his eyes, but began with a 'One, two, three, four,' and launched into the song. His fingers glided over the keys like a skater in an ice rink. He sung the song, building up the further he played. The first minute was a shadow of a sound, but the last chorus was worthy of a concert. Admittedly, I had joined in too.

He let out a laugh as he played the final chord. He turned to me. "You can sing. Like, really sing."

He then paused, smiling shyly for the first time I had known him. He stared at me with puppy eyes.

"Sing with me."