Nico’s post-graduate reality hadn’t amounted even partway to being as good as any of his plans. He didn’t know if he’d dreamt too big or not tried hard enough, but coasting through exams with what he honestly thought would be decent grades, it sure was a shock to his system when he instead came out failing the majority - and even more so, when he was subsequently rejected from college.
Sticking around his small hometown for another year, scrambling to try boost his grades at night classes he had to work his ass off to pay for, was ironically the only outcome he hadn’t given a single thought to. But keen to make the best of a shitty situation, Nico had taken to adopting his mom’s ‘get up and go’ attitude as best he could, agreeing to pretty much everything thrown his way. Well, so far everything but one: a job helping his uncle Henry that, as Amelia briefly mentioned at the dinner table one night, though not knowing what it entailed he didn’t doubt must’ve been at least a little illegal.
Odd jobs for family friends and neighbours, however, lacked enough risk to be doable. And, though no one liked working on a Saturday, the family he was working for today at least left him to his own devices while they were off running errands; instead of watching him, like he was used to. Whether it was coincidence, or they were actively avoiding him in relation to one of the many of his mom’s secrets that she always kept hush hush, given he never wanted to ask he’d probably never know. Nonetheless, final piece of garden equipment packed back into the garage, under the pretence of not making it seem like he’d pulled a fast one and left the job half done, Nico lied to himself that it wasn’t curiosity that led him up the stairs and into place at one of the bedroom doorways, rather than straight out the front gate.
He recognised her, easier than he thought he would. A year or two below him, so he recalled - but hammered into his head through senior year by his friends that it wasn’t cool to check out the younger girls, Nico hadn’t paid too much attention back when he’d seen her every day. There was a moment, before she noticed him standing there, when he considered just quickly stepping back out again. That wasn’t easy to comprehend, given he was usually the complete opposite of a nervous guy; a complete open book, most would say. But whatever hit him, it didn’t have much time to influence his decision, because no sooner had he taken a half-step back did she glance up and lock eyes with him. “Uh,” clearing his throat, Nico blinked a few times, rubbing his eyes with the ball of his hand in the next moment - somewhat unsuccessfully attempting to brush off his staring as having something in his eye. “Thought I’d let you know we’re all finished up out there. Already been paid, so just, y’know - pass on the message, and if you guys need anything else done, just let my dad know. He’ll, y’know. Get me on it.” Fully intending to stop there, he was about to push off from the door again and take his leave, when his mouth instead had the bright idea to keep talking.
“Don’t know where everyone’s gone off to, so I’m not sure how long until they’ll be back - I’m surprised you’re here, actually,” Nico stated, already heading way off the deep end before he realised. “You’re not usually,” Passively continuing, it took him a moment - of which the awkward silence that filled the air only made worse - to grasp his own slip up. “I mean - it seems like you’re not here, usually. I, uh, I wouldn’t know. ‘Cause I don’t come up here.” Smooth. Nico’s lips pursed into a thin line, the male lightly drumming his fingers against the doorframe and snorting a silent chuckle through his nose. “--In an ideal world, half of what I said just now, would’ve not been said.” @diamonxds
