Chapter Text
Black, the bracelet was black. I don’t know why I was surprised. This wasn’t the first time it had turned black.
It was a bad day. The first anniversary of the Battle of Manhattan, where I wasn’t surrounded by my siblings. Feeling lightheaded and not thinking clearly, I was weighing the seriousness of my dad’s threat of rehab against my desire to get high. I knew some people in New Rome who I could get drugs from.
I was in the middle of this thought when someone knocked on the door. I put my bracelet away in a drawer and then went to open the door to my dorm. Nico would have just entered since it was his room too. I knew he had a full day of classes today, so I had no idea who would be bothering me in the middle of the day. I knew most of my friends were preparing for Percy’s birthday party that evening.
When I opened the door, there was an out-of-breath Jason.
“You’re fine. Thank goodness.” Jason said, trying to catch his breath.
Starting to get nervous, I said, “Of course, I’m fine. Why wouldn’t I be?”
“I guess it’s nothing. Nico saw a problem in your death aura 20 mins ago and started panicking.” Uh oh. I forgot Nico could sense when I relapsed. “He would have come himself, but it’s the middle of chem lecture, and he is still behind from his last quest. He knew you would be pissed if he shadow-traveled after pulling 3 all-nighters this week if it was nothing. I’ll head back and let him know you’re fine. One last thing, he would want me to check your bracelet.”
I mentally froze. If Nico knew I had relapsed, he would skip all of his classes and come straight here. Suddenly, any thought I had of being able to slide this set back under the radar vanished.
Jason misinterpreted my mental freeze as offense. “Dude, I know it's a personal thing, and I’m not trying to invade your privacy, but Nico will either skip class or send me back if I don’t check.”
The stress brings the lightheadedness back like a freight train, and I stumble.
“Okay, maybe I spoke too soon about you being fine. Sit. Let me see if I can find you some water.” Jason left the room, coming back a minute later with a glass of water. “Are you okay? Do you know what’s going on with you? Should I take you to the student health center?”
I drank the water to stall for time. “Really, I’m fine, just tired.“ Lying through my teeth.
“If you’re sure,” Jason said slowly, then resumed a normal pace. “Then let me see your bracelet, and I’ll head back to Nico.”
“Dude, it is an invasion of privacy. My dad let me stop wearing it a year ago for a reason. Tell Nico I’m fine, just tired, and I’m going to take a nap.” Maybe that can clear my head of the thought of drugs. Now that I was likely to get caught, drugs lost some of their appeal.
“I’ll give you 20 drachmas if you show me that your bracelet is gold.”
“I just want my privacy respected. If Nico asks, tell him you tried, but I was offended at the implication.” I tried to pack as much indignation into my statement as possible.
Asking in a much kinder, softer tone, “Will, was it cutting or drugs? You’ve never been this guarded about that bracelet.”
At this point, I could cry. I knew I messed up, and now I was being caught. I considered slamming the door in Jason’s face, but he was one of the people who was there for me when I was trying to get better. That would be rude. Also, if I didn’t accept help, I bet my dad would do something about it. A second stint in the psych ward wasn’t my idea of a good time. I winced at the thought.
“Just let it go, Jason,” I said, still trying to get away with this.
“You know Nico is going to panic, right? He will skip the rest of his classes and check on you himself if I can’t 100% reassure him you’re okay. The more we talk, the more I’m concerned.” Jason said, looking worried.
“Jason, I’m exhausted and going to bed. Tell Nico I’m fine.” I said as I shut the door and walked away, hoping that everything would just blow over.