𝐍𝐈𝐋𝐎.

@NCLEMENTE: your birthday present is a stuffed teddy bear. it's all i could afford. 🥰

Everyone knows my job here is to look hot. — Santana Lopez

Nilo hadn’t been at a sleepover in years, at least going back to his high school years. It felt kind of nice to have a small group of friends that he could do this kind of stuff with again. It gave him a sense of security while he studying abroad , especially with everything that’s going on around the campus. Sat up against the headboard of Crimson’s bed, Nilo sipped on his glass of wine before letting out a dramatic sigh. “ I still can’t believe I let you guys rope me into wearing a fucking skirt for Halloween. I’m gonna look ridiculous. ” Nilo glanced over to Crimson, a frown appearing on his features.

Nilo couldn’t be mad at Hugo for asking about Michael. It was bound to happen eventually, but he’d do his best to put it off or at least keep the conversation short and sweet. With a sigh, Nilo ran his fingers through his curly locks. “ I don’t know what to tell you, it just kinda happened, we were hanging out and yeah. ” He shrugged his shoulders. “ Do we really have to talk about this? I don’t care if people talk. People are gonna talk anyway, so let them. ”

“ Crimson, you’re the epitome of ridiculous and the fact that you just told me I’m wearing a skirt and have to shave my legs is proof of that. I’m not wearing a skirt. ” He rolled his eyes, arm linking with hers. “ I don’t know, maybe he kept a diary of what he had on everyone. Someone found it. ” He shrugged his shoulders, not even wanting to think about the possibility of it being Michael’s killer texting everyone.

“ Costume contest? Oh, no. I can already imagine the kind of ridiculous stuff you’re going to have me wear... ” Nilo let out an overly exaggerated sigh. Face scrunched at her following words. It was odd to talk about Michael like that, it almost made Nilo feel like he was in some kind of drama, murder mystery tv series. “ Pre-planned texts would suggest that he killed himself.... or knew that someone was out to get him, wouldn’t it? It’s got to be someone.. ” 

“ If 21 is my mid-life crisis, than I’m sad and quite disappointed I’m only making it to 42. ” Eyebrows furrowed, as he chuckled to himself quietly. Simon made a valid point, but Nilo didn’t care. Of all people, why would the police suspect him? All because of a tattoo or piercing? “ I don’t know, do you think it’d make someone look guilty? ”

“ Together? This sounds like you’ve already planned out the costumes... I’m scared. ” Arms wrapped around petite frame to embrace her in a hug, face scrunched as placed a small peck on his cheek. “ I don’t think they’re pre-planned texts. I’m just hoping the more I ignore then they’ll go way. ”

“ Why? ” Nilo’s entire expression and posture changed immediately when Hugo asked his question. He didn’t like talking about Michael. Sleeping with Michael was something he didn’t want to talk about. He didn’t want to think about it ever, but now that a few people knew about it, it was sure to come in conversations... like this one. “ Why do you care? ”

“ I thought if anyone was to be against me shaving my head, it’d be you. The more you argue the face tattoo idea, the more I want to get it.. ” Nilo paused, contemplating the idea for a moment for breaking out into soft laughter to indicate that he was only joking. Nilo’s smile faded to something rather serious when Hugo asked him to talk somewhere private. “ Uh, sure. Am I in trouble? ”

“ I won’t get a face tattoo, don’t worry. Ruin this pretty thing? Nah, as if. ” He laughs, hand gesturing to his face. “ What tattoo have you got? And why can’t we make this other tattoo mean something special? Come on, don’t make me go in alone. ”

“ You don’t think I could pull off a face tattoo, Hugo? ” A faint smile grew on his features, fingers brushing through his curly locks. Letting out a soft chuckle, Nilo shook his head. “ No, you idiot. Two different tattoos, but we go together to get them done. It’ll be fun. ”

Nilo laughed at Evans words, shrugging his shoulders before putting the paintbrush down. He looked over at his friend, watching him pick up the guitar. A small break from painting was what he needed, so he took this time to enjoy listening to the tune that Evan began to play. He wasn’t much of a music artist, he couldn’t dissect music and the notes like he could art pieces, but he knew that from what he heard, he enjoyed his Evans music. “ It’s good, yeah. Really good. ” Nilo nodded. “ I think it works really well without vocals, but I don’t think it would sound bad without them? ”

Eyebrows raised at her response, shocked that she had actually had piercings before. It was only a minor thing but something Nilo wouldn’t expect of the girl to have. “ How come you took it out? ” It was wrong for him to assume all of these things about her yet, it was like he had been conditioned to make assumptions about the Marquez since he first came across them in Spain. “ What about an eyebrow piercing, could I suit that? ”

“ But a tattoo could be fun, Hugo. Where’s your sense of adventure? ” Nilo smiled, nudging him in the side very gently. “ We should go get a tattoo together. ”