This chapter is dedicated to @PiscesG1rl, cause it's her birthday (HAPPY BIRTHDAY!). This is based on my life and my intense ships at school. Maaany references ahead.

 "What did you write for the short answer question?" my best friend, Hazel, asked anxiously. I peered at her over the mound of binders and textbooks I was carrying. "I didn't get to finish!"

"I finished," I replied, pushing past a ninth grader who looked like he was four feet tall. We both waved at our friend Annabeth who was heading to science class. "But I didn't add a quote to my response."

"That's not good," Hazel stated, pushing up her glasses. "I'm sure you did fine though."

"I think I failed," I told her, stressing already. "And Will said I was a 'goody two shoes' before class started."

"You know he only says that because he likes you," Hazel interpreted, sagely giving her so-called "expert opinion" on the matter. Hazel thought she was amazing at giving love advice, but sometimes it bordered on insane. She had once even told me to sit on Will's lap! "YOU SHOULD ASK HIM OUT!"

"Bro," I began, rolling my eyes as I held the door open for my friend. "Remember last year? I ignored him. He thinks I hate him. Which I kind of do."

"Nico," Hazel chided me, setting her books down on the desk behind me. "Both of you are masking your feelings through insults!"

"Really?" I snorted, taking out my planner to copy down the Spanish homework. I laughed to myself as I realized that there was never any Spanish homework. "He insults me all the time! Should I list them all? He even took me out of the group chat!"

"Boys," Hazel rolled her eyes, popping a grape into her mouth. I rolled my eyes back at her, laughing at her addiction to eating during class. "Can't you just write him a letter confessing your feelings to him?"

"What is this, To All the Boys I've Loved Before?" I asked, sighing as I discreetly stole a grape from Hazel and ate it before she could see. "No letters, no asking him out, and absolutely NO FLIRTING!"

"Nico!" Hazel exclaimed as if she had forgotten something. She waved her arms frantically, all the while laughing hysterically. She was one of those people who laughed often, for no reason. "OMG! I forgot to tell you!"

"Tell me what?"

"He's leaving the school for senior year!" she proclaimed, copying down notes from the board. "He got accepted to this really prestigious art school!"

"What?" I spluttered, my heart racing in disbelief. I stole a glance at Will, who happened to be drawing instead of taking notes. "No!"

"Yes!" Hazel squealed, her expression urgent. "Which is why you have to ask him out before it's too late."

"No," I slowly said, staring straight into her eyes. The teacher half-heartedly shushed us and began singing in Spanish. "He doesn't even like me back!"

"Oh my god," Hazel whispered, rolling her eyes. "Should I give you a year's worth of concrete evidence?"

"Hazel, she's singing again!" I told her, eyeing the slightly insane teacher with worry. "Also, I'm pretty sure he likes Piper McLean."

"Piper?" Hazel laughed. "Why?"

"They have all their classes together..." I began, sighing gratefully as our teacher ceased her belting. "And they're always texting each other!"

"Well Nico, that was a real nice declaration," Hazel quoted, referencing her favorite musical, Hamilton. I rolled my eyes and peeked at Will, who was currently talking to Piper. "But he totally doesn't like Piper!"

"Hazel," I started, sighing as Piper obviously flirted with Will. "Look at them now."

"Whatever," Hazel shrugged them off. "Listen, I have a plan."

"Really?" I asked, raising my eyebrows. Hazel had a history of coming up with outrageous, half-baked plans to set her favorite ships up. "If it involves something you read in a romance novel or watched on Riverdale, I'm out."

"Hear me out!" she exclaimed. "Confess your love to him, and then ask him out!"

"Hazel," I protested, laughing. I took a sip of water to calm myself down, then turned to face her again. "Not gonna happen."

"This is your last chance!" Hazel informed me, still trying to plead her case. "You won't see him again after a few months anyway. There's nothing to lose here."

"Except for my pride," I added. "Everyone else is gonna know about it, even if Will doesn't come back."

"It'll be forgotten soon," Hazel promised, flashing me her trademark puppy dog eyes. "This ship will sail, no matter what."

With that, she turned around, paying attention to the teacher's lesson on reflexive verbs. I quietly sighed at her antics, appreciating that I had a friend who was a crazy fangirl. It could be a little intense sometimes, but it was mostly adorable. I began to scribble hearts on a sheet of loose-leaf, longingly staring at Will as I did so.

---

"Nico," Annabeth began, taking a bite of her sandwich. "For once, I have to say, I agree with Hazel."

"Thank you!" Hazel exclaimed, scooting over to make room for our friend Reyna. "Stop slamming on the brakes before you even turn the key."

"What's going on?" Reyna asked, opening up her lunch bag. "Is this about Solangelo?"

"Yeah," Annabeth explained, looking away from Percy Jackson, her crush. "Will's leaving for art school after this year, so this is the perfect time for Nico to confess his love for him and ask him out."

"Dude," Reyna began, taking a bite of an apple slice. "Do it. Or else you'll regret it for the rest of your life."

"Should I do it, really?'

"Yes!" they all exclaimed at once, giggling.

"Guys," I started, feeling stupid for even entertaining the idea. "This is ridiculous- but I want to do it."

Something inside me had changed. I was a pretty shy person, but I could be fiery when I wanted to. Hazel's idea had resonated within me since I really had nothing to lose. It would be gossip for a while, but it would pass quickly. Finally, the time had come for me to take control of my life.

"It's settled," Hazel stated, with an air of finality. "You should do it right after this lunch period."

"Yeah," Annabeth agreed, mulling it over. "He's always early to science class anyway."

"The period's going to end," Reyna informed us, picking up her books. "We should go so you guys can have a long conversation."

"In private!" I added, not wanting to completely abandon my previous fears. My heart pounded in my chest, anticipating what was about to happen. What if he laughed in my face? I'd never be able to face him again.

The four of us quietly left the cafeteria, not wanting to attract any attention. We quickly walked down the hallway, giggling in anticipation for what I was about to do. Finally, Reyna headed to Health class, and Annabeth parted ways with us to go to social studies class.

"Bye Hazel!"

"Good luck," Hazel said, waving at me as she sped towards her locker. "You got this."

I shifted my books in my hands and approached the science classroom. The teacher was inside the room, talking to one of her colleagues animatedly. That left Will and I standing outside the classroom, awkwardly avoiding each others' gaze. Or at least I was trying not to blatantly stare at him. I swallowed nervously, my heart racing. It was now or never.

"Will?" I tentatively began, cursing myself for even listening to my friends. He was totally going to turn me down! "Can I ask you something?"

"You technically just did."

"Right," I replied, too quickly. Great. I was already getting off to a terrible start. "Umwouldyoumaybewanttogoandgetcoffeewithme?"

"What?" Will asked, waving hello to one of his friends. "Could you say that again? Slower."

"Do you want to get coffee with me?"

"That would be amazing. Only one catch- we've got to stop for frozen yogurt first. Pinkberry."

Thank you for 160 reads! Also sorry for the late update- hopefully another one is coming this weekend. Bye!