Warnings: slow burn, friends to lovers, Spencer pining, reader is struggling in LA, not a lot of money, poor studio apartment, abusive boyfriend, physical/verbal abuse, lots of musical theatre talk
Request: This just came from my own head 😊
A/N: Thank you for all the love 🥰 I've really needed to get this story out of my system
Part 1: The Kickstart
Part 2: Mama Bear {You Are Here}
The next few months have been a whirlwind.
You grow accustomed to the inner workings of Smosh. You have become an integral part of the team. Many turn to you for help and advice – always eager to do what you can.
Though sets make you camera shy and rooms with more than your closest friends make you quiet, everyone knows who you are.
Your famously large fanny pack, full of essentials, becomes the new ‘mama bear bag,’ as it is lovingly called by the cast and crew. You somehow always have exactly what everyone needs, almost like you can sense their need of help before they do.
On the set of Reddit stories, you walk in with your setting powder, ready to pat away any shiny spots on the cast. You stand behind Brennan at the camera, quietly observing. They were still setting up lights and sound.
You watch as Shayne unknowingly has a food stain on his face. Angela is having a bad hair day, unable to keep her hair out of her eyes. Chanse beside her has discovered a cut on his finger from opening cardboard packages that morning.
Without a word, you walk onto the set, opening your mama bear bag. You hand Shayne a wet wipe and gesture to the stain on his chin. You give some bobby pins to Angela, helping her make crisscrosses above her ears to hold back her hair. And you grab Chanse’s hand, carefully wrapping his cut with a band aid.
On your way out you crumble the band aid wrapper and take Shayne’s wet wipe.
“And yet again, we’ve been humbled by the mama bear bag,” Shayne chortles. “I swear I don’t know how we survived without (Y/N) all these years.”
“She might be the most observant person I know,” Chanse says, getting comfortable on the couch.
You stand back, waving them off as the cameras start to roll.
The trio get into the Reddit stories, laughing about the ridiculousness of the posts. The audacity of some of the writers has you giggling in the back. Angela is rioting on the couch, flinging herself around with laughs.
At one point she falls to the ground, smacking Chanse on the leg. When she gets back up, the bobby pins in her hair are off centered and no longer pinned in place.
She starts to wail as a bit. “(Y/N)! I ruined my hair.”
Shayne starts laughing heartily, holding onto the iPad, “Quick, everybody freeze. (Y/N) is coming to the rescue.”
Everyone giggles as you move onto the set, refraining from showing your face. You’d ask the editors to cut you out of the shot later.
~~~
Over on the Games set, you help a coworker behind the camera who has a headache. You pull a little organized container of medicine from your bag.
A few members of the cast were playing another round of Moose Master and Amanda was complaining about her dry hands.
You put your medicine pack away and extract a bottle of coconut milk lotion. You walk to the edge of the set and wiggle it in the air for Amanda to see.
She lights up, “Oh, yes please! Thank you, (Y/N).”
You toss the bottle and watch Amanda catch it.
“I will forever be impressed with how much that bag holds,” Angela shakes her head.
“The mama bear bag,” Courtney giggles.
Amanda tosses the bottle back at you, “Thanks, honey!”
“We love our mama bear (Y/N),” Arasha smiles.
~~~
On the set of SmoshCast, you walk in during an active shoot with Amanda, Shayne, and Spencer. In an act of retaliation, Amanda had jokingly texted you for drinks and snacks. Spencer was doing another one of his bits where he brings a crazy number of drinks on the podcast.
Completely disregarding his own rule to not have drinks and snacks while filming.
Shayne spots you and immediately starts wheezing, covering his face with both hands. Amanda is wide eyed and stunned.
“You actually brought stuff!”
Spencer is in the middle subtly shaking his head and looking at you with such warmth.
You bring a container of delicious looking fruit danishes, serving them on little platters. Then you reveal actual teacups that you generously pour a honeyed tea into.
“Holy shit – you brought a whole spread,” Amanda continues, narrating into the microphone for those that aren’t watching on video. “(Y/N) has brought actual porcelain teacups and cream cheese danishes.”
Shayne is still occupied with his wheezing, tears now developing in his eyes. “Like we’re on the set of fucking Bridgerton.”
You smile, “Now you can properly spill the tea.” You know your voice will be muffled on the podcast without a microphone, and you awkwardly shuffle away to keep your face off camera.
“I’ve just had the most brilliant idea,” Amanda says, taking a sip of her tea and devolving into an English accent.
“And what is that, good sir?” Spencer asks, eyes still lingering on you.
“Gentleman’s episode of Smosh Mouth,” Amanda continues, “Where we delve into the explicit details of our illegal mines and mistresses.”
Spencer chokes on a laugh, “That is quite astonishing.” He gives you a wink and you smile.
~~~
The latest Smosh Games idea was to have a Gentleman’s video playing Ultimate Werewolf. At one point, the other gentlemen gained up on Spencer and pretended to beat him up because he was the werewolf.
It was a hilarious bit and Alex, being the director, cuts the video and asks for you to do some special effects makeup on Spencer while the others have a lunch break.
You lead Spencer to the makeup vanity outside the set rooms.
“Please have a seat, Mr. Agnew.” You turn the chair towards him and grab the clothing protector apron.
Spencer places his fake cigar onto the vanity and continues his English accent. “Thank you, young chap. I say – I should very much like for you to deliver a most formidable contusion to my eye.”
You giggle, wrapping the apron over his front, like a hairdresser. It protects his costume from getting makeup on it.
“I shall deliver the most fearsome blow to your face – using my delicate brushes.” You remove his top hat while he laughs.
“Powerful brushes, I say.”
You pull out some stage makeup and a stippling sponge. With Spencer’s hands confined to beneath the apron, you lightly take away his glasses and place them on the vanity.
Spencer watches you with a warm gaze. As you near his face, he tries to look straight ahead instead of directly at you.
“I’m thinking a bruised cheek that grows into a black eye. And maybe some fake blood around your nose. I could do a busted lip too?”
He shrugs his shoulders, “Whatever makes me the ugliest.”
You smile, grabbing the yellow cream makeup. With your free hand, you push his hair away from his temple.
He closes his eyes at your touch.
You begin with a thin layer of yellow, then start to stipple purple and blue on top.
“Amanda is upset that we still have not had a hangout since you taking Angela to see my musical.”
He smiles, refraining from opening his eyes. Seeing you so close to his face would send his heart into overdrive.
“I’m still surprised that Angela wanted to come in the first place. She’s the one making jokes about how hanging out with coworkers is embarrassing.”
You use a maroon color to show a split in the middle of the bruise. “I was just thinking… maybe we should do something tonight. Can you look up for me?”
Spencer opens his eyes and looks toward the ceiling. You use the sponge and your fingertips to blotch color around his eye and cheek.
You smell like a flower garden. His pulse quickens. His throat bobs.
“We can celebrate another successful filming week,” you continue, oblivious to his visceral reaction to your presence.
“Y-Yeah,” he chokes out. “We can play games at my house and maybe watch a movie?”
You continue to blend out the cream makeup. “Awesome! I think Amanda, Shayne, and Courtney are down.”
You miss how his face dips a little when you mention other people.
“What about Aaron?” he asks.
You grab a different brush and start working on his lip, laying a base of concealer and dark colors.
He was finding it hard to take a full breath.
“I don’t think I’ll invite him,” you say quietly.
Spencer is unable to talk with you painting his lip. But his eyes snap to your focused ones. Was everything okay?
“He’ll be fine,” you continue, just as quietly. “I just… want to hang out with my friends.”
There’s something strange and suspicious about your tone of voice. Spencer starts to scrunch his brow, trying to figure you out.
You notice the worry in his expression. “It’s fine. I just… want to be out of the apartment.”
That doesn’t help his nerves.
You’re now applying a small amount of latex to make a visible wound on his lip. Letting it dry, you look at Spencer’s eyes to see him asking you a question with his eyebrows.
“Don’t worry,” you start to color the latex, “It’ll be fun.”
Spencer tries to say something, “Is there… ow!”
You smack his shoulder, “You’ll ruin your lip.” Your face seems a little sullen, but you give a small smile.
He slouches in the chair and gives you a penetrating look.
Back on the Smosh Games set, Alex continues to direct and you can already picture the cut scene in the video where Spencer is getting beat up to him now sitting in his chair with a messed up face.
It’s making you giggle as the other gentlemen comment on the bruising.
“I say, look at that ghastly contusion to your eye,” Shayne shouts.
Amanda flails her cigar around, “I do declare, it rather suits your complexion.”
Spencer readjusts his top hat, “I must profess, I have no idea what you’re talking about. I simply have some tenderness to my face.”
You laugh off stage – knowing that the editors would most likely put subtitles that said ((Y/N) laughing).
~~~
After the last shoot, you’re cleaning up the makeup vanities and grabbing some remover for Spencer. Your enormous fanny pack is strapped across your chest, almost all coworkers out of the building already.
The sets door flies open and causes you to jump.
Amanda and Spencer are there chatting away but pause when seeing you scared.
“Woah, you okay?” Amanda asks with a smile. “Sorry, we didn’t mean to startle you.”
Spencer looks really rough with his face still full of bruise makeup. But his eyes consider you quietly.
You wave them off, “I’m just a little jumpy. Here Spence.” You offer the makeup remover and a little bottle to take the latex off.
“I have to say, you are amazing at that, (Y/N),” Amanda says, leading the group toward the front doors. “Spencer literally looks like he’s been mauled by a bunch of gentlemen.”
“Man, I should have done a bite mark,” you laugh, “Mauled by a bunch of gentlemen.”
Amanda laughs again, “Gentleman Angela would 100% gnaw on your arm for accusing her as a werewolf.”
Spencer starts to laugh at that mental image, rubbing his face with the remover and a cotton pad. “Feral gentleman game would be so funny.”
“Because the irony is that we are gentlemen that are shitty people. Then we can take it a step further by being gentlemen that are shitty people with rabies.”
You snort, “I guess we have a new video pitch for the next meeting.”
“So, um…” Spencer opens the door, “I can give you a ride and we can all meet at my place?”
Amanda agrees, saying how Shayne and Courtney were planning on that anyway. You smile at him, causing strange things to fly around in his stomach.
“Is it weird of me to say I’m excited to see what your apartment looks like?”
He laughs, “Curiosity did kill the cat.”
“I can’t believe you just confessed to taking me to your place to kill me.”
“Not before I show you my katana,” Spencer smiles, opening the passenger door for you.
You laugh, “The murder weapon.”
Driving towards his apartment, Spencer is being hyperaware of how you’re acting. He was still suspicious of your motives for wanting to spend the night out. He notices you cowering into the car door.
He’s never noticed that before.
“Are you okay?”
You take a shaky breath, “Yeah, I’m fine. I don’t like driving much.”
“Is… is that why you take the bus? Did you choose not to have a car?” He keeps moving his eyes from the road to you.
You try to straighten out, “No, I can drive if I have to. I just don’t like to.” You hold onto your purse to give your hands something to do. “What should we play at your place?”
Spencer tries to let your explanation settle, but he’s still curious about your disklike of cars. “We could play Super Smash Bros.”
“Or Super Mario Party?”
He smiles, “Not before some pizza.”
The drive to his apartment is full of pleasantries, Shayne and Courtney already parked and holding boxes of pizza and breadsticks. Amanda is just helping them carry a box when you get out.
“Happy weekend!” you say cheerily. “Ready for some food and games?”
Amanda puts one arm around your shoulders, “I’m excited to get to know you more.”
“Yes!” Courtney adds, following Spencer to the door. “You’ve been at Smosh for a few months, and I still feel like we don’t know much about you.”
“Well, I’m… I wouldn’t say I enjoy talking about myself much,” you laugh awkwardly.
Amanda snickers, “Clearly.”
They walk inside the little apartment and are immediately welcomed by the mewling of a gray cat. You are obsessed.
“Aw!” you fall to your knees, “Hello, sweet girl.” You offer a hand and wait for the cat to sniff your fingers. “What’s your name, gorgeous?”
The little gray cat lifts her nose to the air before rubbing her face against your hand. You begin to melt.
Shayne starts laughing, startling the cat. “I think we know why (Y/N) wanted to hang out.”
“That’s Cleo,” Spencer says sweetly, putting his keys down and going to grab some drinks.
Courtney puts their share of the pizza boxes on a small dining table before joining you on the ground. “She is the prettiest little lady.”
Amanda helps to set out some paper plates and napkins before starting to serve. Shayne grabs himself and Courtney some slices before sitting on the couch in the living room. You stay with Cleo the cat, completely content to sit with her for the rest of the night.
It’s not until you notice a pair of feet standing in front of you that you look up, Cleo in your lap. Spencer stands there with an ice cold Diet Coke from the fridge.
You smile, taking the drink, “I didn’t know you were a Diet Coke fan.”
“I’m not,” he says.
Your smile falters for a second before a warm feeling swells in your chest. Cleo hops from your lap and Spencer offers a hand to you.
You take it, standing with ease. The others are already chatting and eating their pizza in the living room.
“Do you have any pets, (Y/N)?” Amanda asks.
You sit down beside her, Spencer quick to sit on your other side. “No, I couldn’t afford one,” you laugh awkwardly. “I don’t really have the space for one either.”
“Shame, it seems like you’re an animal person,” Amanda continues.
You nod enthusiastically, “I love animals.”
Shayne reaches for one of the switch controllers, “Fancy a game, Chosen?” he speaks in a silly lisp accent.
Spencer chuckles, settling in beside you. “Of course, Chosen. The only acceptable opponent… is obviously myself.”
A strange anime laugh comes from Shayne, and you smile. You’re rubbing shoulders with Spencer every time he moves his arm with the controller.
“Finally, girl talk,” Courtney says sarcastically. “(Y/N), how long have you lived here?”
“For about two years,” you say shortly. You don’t elaborate and you can feel the sudden shift of an awkward pause after you speak.
Amanda gives a laugh to fill the space, “What made you want to move here?”
“Probably the same reason many others do…” you say quietly, taking a sip from your soda to buy you time. “I wanted to live somewhere that might support my creative side. LA has a lot of creative and performing arts.”
Courtney agrees, putting an arm over the couch and behind Shayne. “Right, you’re a bit of a theatre nerd.”
“More than a bit,” Spencer butts in.
You nudge your shoulder into him. “I do love theatre.”
“I’m glad you’ve continued working with it to some capacity,” Amanda says. “I’ve been doing improv troops and sketches for years. The black box is my home.”
You smile, knowing that a black box was a dark room in a theatre where actors can improv something out of nothing. Sometimes people perform shows there, utilizing the empty space to be more creative.
“Are you a part of an improv group right now?” you ask, glad to steer the conversation off yourself.
“I’m a part of the Groundlings Improv Theatre and I keep doing performances at UCB as a Maude performer.”
You find that Spencer’s arm isn’t so much bumping into you as fully pressed against yours now. “What’s a Maude performer?”
Amanda perks up, “It’s someone that’s a part of UCB’s sketch comedy group. You have to audition annually and then help write for and perform sketches.”
“That sounds like a lot of fun,” you remark. “What about you Courtney?”
“I’ve found my way into being a main writer and a director on the Smosh channel. That’s where I’ve found my most creativity. I’ve helped with some FX makeup on some music videos, and I’ve made an online apparel rental subscription service. It’s called Courtney’s Rack,” they giggle for a second, “And it’s inspired by my own style.”
“You guys are so cool,” you say warmly. “Way to follow your passions.”
Amanda waves you off, “You too, girl. You’ve worked your way into a sketch group.”
You nod, but don’t elaborate. Instead you feel a chill – you shiver. “Are you guys excited about our next karaoke livestream?” You miss the way Spencer side eyes your shivers.
Courtney holds an invisible microphone, “Hell yeah! I think it’s time to get our Madonna on.”
“You haven’t seen how wild our karaoke streams go,” Amanda laughs, “Throw a bunch of attention seeking performers in front of the camera and all bets are off.”
Courtney shoves her, cackling, “Just calling all of us out.”
Spencer hits pause on the game and jumps from the couch. You watch him walk awkwardly around the ottoman and to the hall.
“Ha!” Shayne says in his silly voice. “The Chosen has realized that he can never beat himself. Therefore, I – the multiverse Chosen – have succeeded in defeating him.”
“We’re off set, Shayne,” Amanda rolls her eyes, “You can cut the act.”
Shayne combs his hair off his forehead, “Sorry, it’s just a part of me at this point.”
Spencer reappears with blankets. He tosses one toward the other couch with Shayne and Courtney. He lays the other over your lap and retakes his seat beside you.
You smile at him and whisper, “Thank you.” His arm presses against yours as firmly as before.
“Welcome.”
“Are you planning on making a guest appearance, (Y/N)?”
You hum your confusion. “Hm? Me do karaoke on the stream? I don’t think so.”
“Why not! We invite crew on it all the time,” Amanda says cheerfully.
You shake your head, sipping your soda. “I couldn’t – not in front of all those people.”
“I bet you have a lovely singing voice,” Courtney smiles, “All those musicals you’ve been in.”
“Once upon a time…” you say quietly, “Maybe.”
“Well,” Amanda says warmly, “Maybe it’s time to try it again.”
You feel an ache enter your chest. It quells the ever constant anxiety roiling in your stomach.
Shayne cries his defeat, “Curses! Bested by the best.”
Spencer nods his head in acknowledgement, “Would the ladies like to participate?”
“I’m ready for a movie,” Amanda says, putting her pizza plate down. “I’m feeling something epic.”
“Like Interstellar,” Spencer says, putting his controller down.
Courtney sighs, “Like 13 Going On 30.”
Shayne starts laughing, leaning back and putting a hand on Courtney’s leg. “All right let’s compromise. Let’s watch Megamind.”
“I second that,” you say, “Or a Marvel movie.”
“Let’s watch Avengers,” Courtney says.
You all agree, Spencer flipping through his smart tv to get a streaming service. His arm against yours is full of warmth. You gravitate towards it, leaning into him more.
Cleo the cat pads over and jumps onto the couch between you and Amanda.
“Hello, sweetie,” Amanda coos. But Cleo turns her eyes onto you. She blinks slowly and crawls onto your blanketed lap.
You’re very pleased with yourself, petting her fur as she settles. Spencer looks at you, eyes moving from your contented face to the cat. He suddenly has to hold his hands in his lap to keep them from wrapping around you.
The movie begins with everyone settling in. Cleo the cat purrs in your lap, snuggling into a little ball. You pet her, subconsciously leaning into Spencer.
The longer the movie plays, Shayne and Amanda cracking jokes about certain parts, you feel sleepy.
Cleo is fully asleep in your lap, stretching her cute little paws.
Your body slumps more into the couch and into the side you’re leaning into – right into Spencer. He tries to keep his cool as your head falls closer and closer to his shoulder. He tries to ignore the looks the friends are giving you two.
He tries to keep his eyes on the tv screen, his hands being tightly held in his lap.
You fall asleep on his shoulder.
His heart beats faster.
The movie ends with the end credit scene and the friends begin to excuse themselves.
“We’ll just leave you to it,” Amanda says in a teasing tone. “Don’t stay up too late.”
“Remember to breathe,” Courtney snickers, getting her shoes on.
Shayne salutes him at the door, “Good luck, dude.”
You begin to stir as they shuffle out the door. Cleo turns onto her back, still asleep. Spencer turns his head to watch you wake.
He traces the outline of your face with his eyes. It’s soft and careful and warm.
His arm pleads to be moved around your shoulders. Hold you to him. Urge you back to sleep.
“God, I’m sorry,” you mumble sweetly. “I didn’t mean to fall asleep.”
“That’s okay,” he says just as quietly. “You must’ve needed it.”
You stretch, lifting your chin from his shoulder. He hates the rush of cold that it leaves against him.
“Thanks for letting me drool on your shirt.”
“I will never wash this shirt again.”
You giggle in a groggy way, eyes heavy. “That’s disgusting.”
“How dare you say that about your drool. Nothing about you is disgusting.”
You sit straighter, running your hand down Cleo once more. She begins to purr again in her sleep.
“She likes you a lot,” Spencer says quietly. “She latched onto you real quick.”
“I’m an animal whisperer,” you say, rubbing at your eyes. You still hadn’t noticed how enraptured Spencer was with you beside him.
He finds it hard to swallow – the dim light, quiet room, and comfy couch all tempting him.
“Are – Are you ready to go home?”
You heave a heavy sigh. “I guess.”
“You guess?” he asks playfully. “You frozen in place with Cleo in your lap?”
“Partially,” you hum. “I have to get home sooner or later.”
Spencer feels that itch that something is wrong. The same feeling he had when you asked to hang out. “Is… everything okay?”
“Fine,” you say sleepily.
“(Y/N),” he asks slowly, “Why did you want to be out of your apartment tonight?”
There’s a silence that speaks volumes. Your face falls in a way that scares Spencer. He turns his body to see you better – his arm falls onto the back of the couch.
“(Y/N)?”
You clear your throat. “I just wanted a break from Aaron. That’s all.”
“Why?”
You pat Cleo’s head, waking her up. She sits and stretches her back on your legs before hopping off. “Sometimes your partner frustrates you and you need to walk away, right?”
“Depends on what’s frustrating you,” Spencer says, watching you stand and fold the blanket.
“I don’t know, Spencer. He… I shouldn’t complain. He’s helping with the bills.”
Spencer stands with you, “But that doesn’t mean you have to deal with whatever’s bothering you.”
“It does when it puts food on the table and a roof over my head.”
“But you did that before him.” He follows you to the door to drive you home.
Walking outside in the cold, you start to get upset. “You don’t understand.”
“Maybe I don’t. You have a new job that pays those bills, (Y/N). There shouldn’t be anything tying you to him like that.”
“I… I don’t like talking about this, Spencer.”
Now in the car, you drive down the street with momentary silence. Spencer feels anger brewing in his stomach. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to butt into your relationship.”
“It’s okay,” you say quietly, arms around yourself. “My friends are entitled to their opinions.”
“But not when I make you upset like this,” he says. “I’m just worried.”
You look at him with sad eyes. “Why?”
He flexes his fingers against the steering wheel. “I just… you’re my friend, (Y/N). Of course I worry about you. I care about your wellbeing.” There’s a pause where he feels a joke bubbling out of him. “And not just because I need you on set for my job to function properly.”
You smile and it relieves him.
“Thanks, Spence.”
The car parks outside your shabby apartment and Spencer stares at the chipped door with slight disdain.
“I’ll see you next week,” you say, opening the car door.
“Hey,” Spencer says suddenly, drawing your attention.
You bow down to see him still inside the car, “Yeah?”
“Call me if you need anything,” he says firmly. “Okay?”
You look at the seriousness in his face and start to nod a little bit. “Okay.”
~~~
The next week begins with a new round of meetings and writing. You are not needed until characters are decided for sketches, but you help the other art coordinator Alex to organize a few other set items.
You’re able to come in later than usual to do this.
You get off the bus and begin your walk toward the Smosh office. Your hair is down and slightly obscuring your vision. You try not to touch the makeup on your face too much.
“Good morning, Selina,” you say in your same sweet tone.
Selina waves at you, “Good morning to you too.”
You walk past the lunch tables and toward the art department by the costume and props storage. You wave at Erin and Josh before sitting at your desk.
Cassie fills you in on a few projects that the writing room is working on. You begin by cataloging what you’ll need to set on costume racks for the next filming week. You give a list of makeup and hair care refills to be ordered.
It’s into the afternoon when you head toward sets to organize racks and vanities for the coming week.
“(Y/N)!”
You turn toward the hallway of pods where the cast and crew work on the media side of things. Tommy and Spencer are heading towards you.
“Have you seen some of the new videos that’ve posted?” Tommy asks.
You ruffle the sides of your hair, making sure they lay to hide some of your face. “No, I don’t really look at the views and things like you guys.”
Spencer has a big smile on his face, “Well, the comments on the last few have been pretty good.”
“Meaning?” you say, walking into the empty sets to reach the costume racks. You don’t want to give them enough time to look at your face.
“Meaning that the fans have started to notice how often we talk about you on set.”
You turn sharply on your heel, Tommy and Spencer running into each other. “I’m sorry?”
“Look at some of these comments,” Tommy says, holding an iPad to your face. You grab it and begin to scroll, seeing line after line that’s asking about you.
“Angela asking for mama (Y/N) to fix her hair is so funny!”
“Does anybody know who (Y/N) is?”
“Is (Y/N) a new member of the Smosh crew?”
“Face reveal for (Y/N) please!?! We want to see who you guys are talking about!”
“Amanda saying yes please and then a lotion bottle being launched at her head took me so off guard.”
“Mama bear bag is my new favorite character.”
“Video for what’s inside (Y/N)’s mama bear bag!”
“Ah! (Y/N) almost being revealed on Smosh Mouth!!”
“(Y/N) bringing a full English tea set is hilarious.”
“We love a supportive crew member trying to encourage spilling the tea.”
“I love hearing (Y/N) laugh off set.”
“Spencer’s gentleman is so feral. His true self comes out with that top hat.”
“Do you think (Y/N) was the one that did his makeup?”
“I swear I hear the cast mention (Y/N) every video now. How can they tease us?!”
You start to feel a tightening in your chest, your breath a little shallow. “All of these… people recognize my name?”
Tommy is still giddy with the comments, “Yeah! Isn’t that crazy? We might have to have you guest star just to tease them a little bit more.”
Spencer notices that you are a little tense. “But we don’t have to do that. We just wanted to show you the positive response from the audience.”
You nod, swallowing hard. “Thanks, but maybe we should hold off for a while longer.”
Tommy seems a little disappointed, but Spencer waves him away. He wants a moment with you alone. He watches you sort through some old costumes on the rack.
“I’m sorry, we didn’t mean for that to stress you out.”
“It was a little overwhelming is all,” you give a strained smile. “I’m sure I’ll get used to it.”
Spencer puts his hands in his denim jacket. “We’ll wait until you’re ready.” His brows scrunch when he notices something on your face.
“Got anything fun planned for Games this next week?”
He leans over to see your complexion better, starting to get in your way. “Um… we’re thinking about some guessing games and… and a Throw Throw Burrito…” His hand lifts from his pocket and you lean away.
“What are you doing?”
“What’s that on your face?” he asks.
You turn away sharply, “What do you mean?” You start walking towards the vanities on the outside of the sets.
Spencer is close on your heels. “There’s something by your eye.”
At a mirror, you open your giant fanny pack to find your makeup. Under the lights, you notice some smudging around your eye where pristine makeup had been before. Yellowing spots that still hold a hint of blue and purple.
“Oh dammit,” you mutter, pulling out your concealer. “I ran into a cabinet this weekend and got a black eye. I thought I could keep it painted to avoid any awkward questions.”
You smudge concealer and foundation under your eye. You can see Spencer behind you in the mirror.
“That looks like a nasty bump,” he says lowly.
“Yeah, it hurt a bit.” You say, feigning a smile. You can hear a hint of disbelief in his voice. “I’m fine, really. It’s just a little bruise.”
Spencer purses his lips and nods his head, “Sure.”
You pat the makeup down and walk back to the sets to grab the sorted costumes.
~~~
You walk through the office with a few little presents and gifts of food. Your fanny pack is full of essentials, your arms full of plastic bags and a large drink carrier in your hands. A ballpoint pen sticks awkwardly from behind your ear, and you mumble the checklist you made earlier that day.
In another writing and meeting week, you find other things to occupy your time when your usual responsibilities are completed. It keeps you busy.
And out of your apartment.
Sharply turning a corner, you tap on the glass door of the conference room. People at the table smiling and waving you in, you quietly slide open the door to enter. The look of concentration leaves your face to reveal a wide grin.
Ian pauses his presentation of a fresh project by waving at you and gazing excitedly at what you brought.
“Don’t mind me,” you whisper. The same thing you whisper every time you make one of these deliveries.
All the main cast were there, along with a few representatives of social media and the heads of production. They were going over ideas for the next livestream to raise money for a foundation.
But you were more focused on getting this little ‘side quest’ done. Side quest meaning it wasn’t on your usual list of responsibilities. You start to pass out drinks to their corresponding owners, doing so in such a fluid motion that no one doubted their cup was exactly what they ordered.
Next, you open the plastic bags digging into your arms to hand out sandwiches and salads. You normally pitch in a few extra dollars to buy a better lunch for your coworkers and friends. You can see a speculating eye from Anthony as he accepts his deluxe meal.
You put on your best smile and wave a hand. “Don’t worry about it.” And before you leave, you reach into your fanny pack to extract a small box of cookies. “For dessert,” you whisper with a wink.
And before anyone can protest the homemade treat, you run out of the room with a few more drinks and meals to pass out.
There was a smaller number of people in the office today as it was primarily a writing day. You go searching for the few editors that were still working on things.
You find Kiana and give her another box of homemade cookies, then you find Tim to give him a coffee.
This became another routine for you. Just like how you use your mama bear bag to help on set so much, you use this spare time to help all the editors and production teams. People at Smosh start to expect your little visits and gifts.
Many know you by name, by smile, and by gifts. They come to love the sight of you because it meant something sweet was on the way – whether it was a thoughtful treat or a thoughtful conversation.
You took this self-proclaimed occupation very seriously. You love caring for your coworkers and friends.
That didn’t mean you never got stressed.
Your steps are quick again as you make your way to other editing pods. That checklist in your head never seems to grow smaller:
Get Damien his coffee
Give cookie box to art department
Ask Angela and Amanda about seeing that play together
Give Spencer his drink
Give Tommy a hug and see how he’s doing
Make sure Spencer actually ate a lunch
Update portfolio with some special effects makeup
Ask Spencer if you were…
Someone suddenly crashes into you, sending the last few cups of coffee into the air and all over your shirt. You jump at the steaming hot liquid, pulling against the fabric of your shirt to keep it from your skin.
“Oh, shit! I’m sorry, (Y/N).”
You wince and look up to see Spencer’s sympathetic face. “It’s… it’s fine. I’ll just bump a few things on my list and go get changed and grab more coffee.”
He immediately knelt down to pick up the remains of the cups and carrier. One foam cup had an off-color soda dripping from it. “I’m guessing this one’s my kickstart? Serves me right not looking where I’m going.”
He gives you a smile, his eyes sloping in natural concern. His heart beats in an uneven way. You look so flustered and worried – making your cheeks turn pink.
“Don’t worry about it. I’ll just…” You hold your sticky shirt a few inches from your stomach, closing your eyes and thinking hard, “I’ll figure something out.”
Spencer sighs, “I just ruined your whole agenda, didn’t I?” He picks up your ballpoint pen and quietly slides it to behind your ear, “Please don’t stress out about it.”
“I’m not sure that’s possible,” you let out a nervous laugh. “I guess I could find a costume or merch shirt to wear.”
“You know I have one of my Smosh sweatshirts in my pod. You want to change into that? Get yourself out of brewing in your own shirt.”
When he laughs at his own joke, it makes you giggle. “Uh… actually, that’d be really nice.”
He leads the way toward his pod, “I know you’re not working on any art coordinating today.” He goes under his desk to extract a simple pastel colored hoodie. “So you know you could take a short day instead of making up errands to do.”
You grab the sweatshirt and head to the bathrooms, “Yeah, but then I’d be stuck at home.”
He follows you down the hall, “You make yourself intentionally busy to avoid being at home?”
“Precisely,” you say, opening the bathroom door. “I’d rather be with all you guys.”
Spencer waits patiently outside, smiling to himself and shaking his head. You think you’re so clever, but he knows there’s something going on in your apartment. Something that makes you afraid to stay there.
It only took one minute to change, but maybe two minutes to stare in the mirror and identify the smell that was undeniably Spencer. A clean laundry detergent smell, like the ocean, but with something spicy.
You walk out to see Spencer eyeing you.
“You look cute.”
Something tightens in your chest. “Thanks weirdo.”
His eyes notice something along your chin. “What happened here?” he points to a spot on your jaw.
“Oh, I’m not sure. Probably some clumsy accident,” you laugh off.
It looks like another bruise. Smaller than your eye. But a bruise nonetheless.
Spencer frowns, something protective and angry beating in his chest. “You seem to get a lot of those lately.”
You shrug your shoulders. “I gotta pass out these last lunches to Bailey and Brennan.”
~~~
After a long day of reorganizing, passing out homemade treats, and checking in on people – you are exhausted.
So when you walk out the front doors a little before everyone else and see the pouring rain… it doesn’t lift your exhaustion in the slightest.
Preparing yourself, you walk outside, lifting the hoodie that you borrowed from Spencer to cover your head.
The bus stop is just a couple blocks away, but you are soaked through by the time you sit on the bench. You wait with your hands in your sweatshirt pockets, hoping the bus will be there earlier than usual.
A coldness begins to drip down your back and you’re sure this will develop into an unwanted flu.
Shivering, you hardly notice when a car pulls over on the side of the road and directly in front of you.
It’s Spencer who jumps out, baseball cap on to shield his glasses from the rain. He runs around the car and crouches in front of you.
“What are you doing!?”
“Waiting for the bus like I do every day,” you say like it’s the most obvious thing in the world.
He’s not happy about it. “Even in the rain? Didn’t you think to ask somebody for a ride home?”
You pause for a second. “No, I didn’t.”
“Well,” he puts on a cheesy smile, “This is a prime time to start. I’ll give you a ride.”
“Really, Spencer – it’s okay. I’m fine with waiting.”
He straightens out and gives you a deadpanned stare. “Are you also fine with contracting pneumonia?”
You roll your eyes, and he knows he’s won. “All right, let’s go.”
He open the passenger door and you clamber in. You’re nearly chattering with cold by the time he sits down. He promptly turns on the heat.
“Why didn’t you call someone when you noticed it was raining?”
“Because I didn’t think of it.”
“Ms. Independent over here,” Spencer laughs.
You playfully punch his shoulder, “So what? I would have been perfectly fine on my own.”
He looks at you sincerely, “I know. I know you are capable of doing it on your own. But I still would like you to let me help you.”
You hold yourself, beginning to shiver. Though your head was protected by the hood, the strands of hair spilling out were soaked. It wasn’t helping that your clothes were all damp and now resting on your chilled skin.
Spencer feels a sympathetic ache settle into his chest. “Aaron couldn’t pick you up?”
You bite down to keep your teeth from chattering. Then you use your favorite word. “I didn’t want to inconvenience him.”
It makes the ache pulsate in Spencer’s chest. “Because you know he’d be upset by you asking?”
“It’s understandable when I ask so much of him.”
Wonderment befuddles Spencer. When have you ever been someone to ask too much? If anything you don’t ask for enough things. “I think if you love someone, you’d be willing to do pretty much anything for them.”
“There are different kinds of love,” you say in a soft voice.
Spencer doesn’t like it. It sounds afraid.
“You might be right about that,” he swallows, driving down your street. “Remember to call me if you need anything.”
You smile like you always do when he says that. It’s become a regular thing.
“Sure,” you get out of the car, “Get home safely, Spence.”
And he watches you walk inside and even a little bit after that. Unsure of how to interpret the ache still in his chest.
~~~
You sit at the vanities with Shayne, helping him look like a ghost for an upcoming sketch. You put in white hair color spray and attempt to tame it while he sits patiently.
“Hey, are you okay?” he asks sincerely.
“Yeah, I’m fine.” You say with an easy smile, “Are you okay?”
He returns your smile, “Yeah, you seem a little tired.”
Was it the circles under your eyes or the lack of color in your face? “I haven’t been sleeping well.”
“That sucks,” he winces, “Anything keeping you up?”
You feel vulnerable for a second, “Just taking care of my boyfriend.” You give an uneasy laugh, “He’s been having a lot of boys nights out drinking.”
Shayne furrows his brow, and you smack his shoulder as you try to smooth his ghost makeup.
“Sorry,” he mumbles, “Doesn’t sound very fun.”
You shake your head, “But then I get to come here and be with all of you!”
He contemplates your expression, seeing the smile you put on top of the stress. “Have you noticed the number of commenters asking about you?”
“Of course I have. Spencer loves to bring them up.”
“They love you already,” Shayne chuckles, “They love how you help on set, especially when you throw in a little joke with it. They love that you take care of us.”
You feel that anxiety of the audience always watching eating at you. But it starts to be smothered by another feeling of pride as you realize people are acknowledging you for your efforts.
“That’s kind of them. I’m just doing my job.”
“Above and beyond your job, more like it.” Shayne closes his eyes as you put makeup around them. “They’ve really adopted calling you mama bear because of your mama bear bag.”
That makes you chuckle, “You have to be prepared for anything.”
“I’m glad we got to hang out,” Shayne says, his eyes moving to follow you, but staying still while the makeup settles. “We should plan another one soon.”
“That’d be a lot of fun.”
“Spencer never hosts big hang outs,” he says with a little smirk. “I was surprised when he was so willing.”
You pat down the makeup with some setting powder. “Well, I think when I mentioned hanging out he thought it was just going to be us two. Then I told him I’d invited all you guys. He was kind of roped in by that point.”
“That explains it,” Shayne says with a sigh. “Of course he’d be more willing to host when it’s just you two.”
“Why do I have a feeling there’s something more to that?”
Shayne shrugs, letting you take off the black apron that protects his costume from the makeup. “I just mean that Spencer would rather have one on one hangouts than be a part of a big group. It’s the black cat in him.”
“The black cat,” you laugh. “I’ve never heard of someone being called that before.”
“You know… like how people call some dudes golden retriever guys?”
You raise your eyebrows, “Kind of like you?”
Shayne gives a funny look. “Sure. Spencer is a black cat kind of guy. Just watch, you’ll notice.”
“What do you think I am?” you ask, cleaning up the vanity. “Do I have cat energy?”
“Maybe a little,” Shayne says, considering you. “But you remind me more of a… sunflower.”
“Never heard that one before,” you say, walking with him to the Smosh set.
“It’s just… you're bright and pretty and fun,” he says casually, “Especially with your smile.” You pass some writers and producers on their way to help with lunch. The caterers must’ve been seen pulling in.
Spencer is among them with Alex Tran.
You walk right up to them, “Do I give off sunflower energy?”
He looks taken aback and Alex smiles instantaneously. “I’m sorry, what?”
“You know…” you point at Shayne, “Golden retriever energy,” you point at Spencer, “Black cat energy.” You then point at yourself, “Possible sunflower energy?”
“What a nice way to say you’re a grumpy old man sometimes,” Alex says hilariously.
Shayne starts to snort with laughter. Spencer gives them a glare but tries to answer you seriously.
“Um… y-yeah I would consider you a sunflower.” He watches you start to smile, “Especially right now. And the fact you smell like a garden all the time.”
Your eyes widen slightly as you look at him with confusion. “I smell like a garden?”
“Uh…” Spencer starts to splutter in his panic of possibly offending you. “You know, like flowers. You smell like flowers all the time. It’s just… something I’ve noticed.”
“From all the times you’ve been sniffing her?” Alex asks incredulously. That sends Shayne over the edge and the wheezing starts to come out.
You fold your arms, sucking in your lips to hide a smile.
“No, I didn’t say that,” Spencer retorts loudly, waving a finger at his friends. “People can smell people unintentionally. When you’re in the same vicinity. And (Y/N) smells like flowers whenever she walks by.”
You smile at him, completely endeared by him. “Thanks Spencer. It’s lilies.”
All the boys stop their antics and look at you.
“I love lilies,” you say, “Or lily-of-the-valley.”
Alex shrugs their shoulders, “I feel like I’m missing out. I have no idea what lilies smell like.”
You tilt your head to the side and expose your neck to them. “Then take a whiff.”
Shayne shakes his head, “That’s so unhinged.”
Spencer is stuck staring at the exposed skin of your neck, your head turned away and your hair falling behind your shoulder. He’s still daydreaming as he walks to lunch.
~~~
There’s something about Spencer today that is not sitting well with you. He seems a little nervous, a little fidgety, like anything could scare the living daylights out of him.
You wonder what is ailing him while you check in on all the editors in their pods. You leave a little treat on Erin’s desk and ask Courtney for her opinion on a cardigan you want to buy. You give a new guitar pick to Josh, telling him how the engraving of a sun reminded you of him. He beams afterwards.
You compliment Damien’s desk, asking him how he’s been lately. Out of the corner of your eye, you notice Spencer spinning side to side in his chair. He’s looking at you with a straight face.
You talk to Shayne about sharing a Kristin Hannah book that you love, and you notice Spencer wiping his hands down his pants, fixing his glasses a worrisome number of times.
You pick up a bakugan that has fallen off Alex’s desk. You ask about it while noticing Spencer licking the corner of his mouth as he watches you.
It takes another five minutes before you’re at Spencer’s desk. “Hey!”
“H-Hey,” he says in return. He clears his throat and you can tell he’s biting the inside of his cheek. You furrow your brow.
“Are you okay?”
His eyebrows raise, “Y-Yeah, of course I’m okay.” You miss how Alex starts to smile.
“Sure. You just seem a little… on edge today.”
“Yeah, just… thinking about an upcoming shoot.”
You nod slowly, squinting your eyes like you don’t believe him. “Alrighty then. I’ll see you later on set.”
He waves you off and then hides his face in his hands. The pod of boys starts to laugh.
“You are completely hopeless,” Shayne wheezes.
Damien is more sincere, “You’re in a tough spot.”
“I think it’s gotten worse,” Alex says, taking a sip of a drink to hide their smile.
Spencer starts to bounce his legs with the nerves, his head bouncing with them. “This is ridiculous.”
“It’s sad,” Shayne chokes out, “You got to tell her.”
“Tell her what?” Spencer slumps back in his chair, “Hey, (Y/N)! Guess what? I’ve had feelings for you since you worked at that gas station, and I’ve been trying to get rid of them for months but seeing you every day has only made it worse. So anyway, you should leave your douchebag boyfriend and be with me instead!”
Damien sucks in his lips, trying to be genuine. “Yeah, I don’t think that’s going to go over well.”
Spencer groans, rubbing at his face with his hands, messing up his hat. “I don’t know what to do.”
“I don’t think I’ve ever seen you this distraught before,” Shayne says, “It’s more than a little disconcerting.”
“It’s starting to scare me a little,” Alex confesses, “Why is it worse today? You look like you have a ticking time bomb up your ass.”
There are some laughs until Spencer wipes the sweat at his temples. “I’ve been trying to ask her to hang out, just us.”
“To do what?” Damien asks seriously.
“I never pictured you as a homewrecker, Spencer,” Shayne says surprisingly.
Spencer waves his hands around, “No, not anything like that. I’m trying to be her friend.”
“And spending an evening alone together will prove that?” Alex asks with a funny look on their face.
“No, I just… I don’t know.” Spencer is at a loss. “If I can’t be with her, then I want to be good friends.”
“With benefits?” Shayne asks in a low tone, less with humor and more with serious questioning.
Spencer is mortified, “No! Just being good friends. I think having her in my life, even as a friend, will make me way happier than without her.”
“That’s sweet,” Damien says with rosy cheeks. “I think you should ask her.”
Spencer thought he could fit the role of best friend rather nicely. Maybe it would help him put his feelings to rest. Maybe it would help convince him that being friends was enough. Just to have part of you would be worth it.
But the thought of having all of you… to unashamedly hold you, touch you, kiss you, call you his. It put that all too familiar ache in his chest. The same warm, pounding ache that he feels whenever you’re near. Whenever he thought of you.
It’s what he’s feeling as he walks toward the green room – a little section next to the hallway of pods. It has a velvet green couch and a black vanity beside it.
You’re sitting in the makeup chair, spinning around mindlessly while looking at your phone.
Spencer stands there awkwardly, hands stuffed into his pockets, thumbs tapping a restless beat against his thighs.
You finally notice him. “Oh, hey Spencer.” He gives you a quiet greeting and you sit up with that same worry you’ve felt over him all day. “What’s up?”
He clears his throat. “Well, I… I was wondering if maybe… um – well, what…” He shakes his head, using a hand to fix his glasses. “I was wondering what has you so engrossed in your phone?” He’s mentally kicking himself. “A new Ghost Files episode?”
You smile as he remembers one of the ghost investigation channels you really like. “No, I was just contemplating buying the new Wicked on Amazon Prime.”
Spencer raises his eyebrows, “I think as an established theatre kid you legally have to own that movie.”
“Have you seen it?” you ask with a wider grin.
He feels warm at seeing you smile. “Yeah, it’s good.”
“That’s…” you contemplate his tense demeanor. “That’s not what you wanted to ask me, was it?”
He lets out a breathy laugh. “No, you’re right. I wanted to ask if you wanted to hang out tonight.”
“Oh, yeah! What’s everyone doing?” you lean forward.
His throat gets drier, “Um… no, I meant just you and me. I don’t really feel like hanging out with a bunch of people.”
“Ah,” you say funnily. “The black cat emerges.”
Relief starts to trickle in as he takes in your smile. “Right.”
“Well, what did you have in mind? My place isn’t exactly free with Aaron being there. He’s having a poker night with his work buds. It gets… well, I wouldn’t want to be there while they’re playing.”
Spencer feels something steely grow in his stomach. “We can go to my place. Play a game; watch a movie. Or maybe a musical.”
Your eyes get wide, “You really know how to woo a lady. A night in with a musical?” you give a chef’s kiss.
And that night you do head to Spencer’s house. He offers you a ride, but you’re flustered as it is with evading Aaron and his poker friends. It would make it a lot worse if he were to see Spencer picking you up.
You grab your purse and leave a platter of finger food for the boys. Aaron is already three beers deep when he demands a kiss from you.
“You think you can leave without giving me a kiss?” He slouches in his folding chair, the plastic dipping dangerously.
You patter over and leave a kiss on his cheek. Aaron grabs your upper arm and pulls you closer, “A real kiss.”
After a beat where his poker friends are snickering, you lean over to kiss his lips. They’re sour with beer. He smacks your ass for good measure. “Don’t stay out late – I’ll think this company meeting is actually a rendezvous.”
You wave him off, leaving the apartment as quickly as you can. You speed to the bus stop, excited to have a night in the company of someone that you like being around.
Walking to Spencer’s apartment took longer than you were expecting, but it was worth it to see he had set up a Jenga game, favorite drinks out, and Wicked already on the tv.
“I’m so excited,” you say a little breathlessly, taking off your shoes. You wince a little when you notice that above your socks, there were open blisters from your shoes rubbing your heel. “Shoot, um… Spence, do you have some band aids I could use?”
He slides from the kitchen with worry in his expression, “Yeah, what’s wrong?” He looks at you twisting around to look at the back of your heels, “Damn, that looks like it hurts.”
“I didn’t realize my socks had slid down,” you laugh it off.
Spencer grabs two band aids from a cupboard, “Here, sit on the couch.”
“That’s all right, Spence, I can put them on.”
He’s already unwrapping one of the bandages, “I know you can, but let me do it.”
“Seriously, Spence, you don’t have…”
He stops you, pointing to the couch. “Hey, just because you’re able to do it, doesn’t mean you always have to. Let me help – you’ll be doing me a favor – letting me feel useful.”
You smile with embarrassment in your cheeks. You sit down and twist your hips so you can show the wound on your heels. Spencer sits on the coffee table and gingerly lifts your leg to his knee.
He carefully lays the band aid on your heel, holding your socked feet with warm hands. He’s gentle in how he puts your leg down and grabs the other. You accommodate by twisting your hips the other way to expose your heel to him.
He repeats the process, “Was it a far walk to my place?”
“Not too far.”
“Can you explain what not too far means?” he asks with a smirk.
You play with your fingers, pinching the skin around your nail. “Maybe fifteen-twenty minutes from the bus stop.” You notice his eyes look a little upset at that. “I was walking pretty fast. I didn’t want to keep you waiting.”
“And you wouldn’t let me pick you up because…?” he moves to throw away the band aid wrappers.
You continue to pinch and pick at your fingers. “Because my boyfriend is having a poker night with his friends. They get a little rowdy and drunk and I know he’d do something stupid if he saw you pick me up.”
Spencer returns to the coffee table, sitting on the carpet, “What kind of stupid?”
“Like…” you slide off the couch to meet him on the carpet. “He might try to pick a fight.”
“With whom?”
Spencer was definitely probing for a specific answer. He tries to be nonchalant.
You watch him remove a block from the Jenga tower. “Either of us, I guess.”
Something sad enters you. Something big and scary. It weighs on you and makes your shoulders sink. Spencer can hear it in your voice; can see it in your stance.
“That’s not very nice of him.”
A sad smile grows on your face but doesn’t meet your eyes. “No, I guess not.”
“Is he like that a lot?” Spencer asks cautiously.
You remove a Jenga block. “Maybe.” You look at Spencer and see the sincerity in his gaze. “Yeah.”
“And you’re with him still because…?”
You take a deep breath, leaning against the couch and pulling your knees to your chest. “To be honest, I don’t know.”
“Then why don’t you leave him?”
“Because he’ll be angry.”
Spencer looks at you with a furrowed brow, “You don’t want to make him angry?”
“And I don’t know – I still care about him.”
“Do you love him?”
You pause, the Jenga game still ongoing. “I’m not sure.”
“I’d take that as a sign.”
“It’s not as easy as it sounds,” you say quietly.
Your tone makes that ache in his chest pulse painfully. He hates to hear you sound sad and afraid. “You’re thinking about it, at least?”
You nod your head and silence consumes you. You did not want to dwell on boyfriend problems. “Can we watch the movie while we play?”
Spencer nods, grabbing the remote to start the show. Your mood instantly lifts. Like a flower turning towards the sun. He beams at your radiance.
He’s even more astonished when you start to sing.
“Holy shit, (Y/N). You can sing!”
You giggle as you continue to follow along with the musical. The Jenga game is eventually finished, blocks spilling over Spencer as he tries to pull some crazy move. You’re laughing as you pick up the blocks.
Spencer finds one of his blankets, Cleo the cat waking from her after dinner nap.
He sits on the couch beside you and drapes the blanket over you two. He is purposeful in how close he sits beside you.
“You should sing on our karaoke livestream.”
You shake your head, “No way.”
“But you sing so well!” he protests, gesturing to the musical you’re watching. “The viewers would go nuts for it.”
“I don’t know,” you say, leaning back into the couch. Your arms are fully touching. “They talk about me enough as it is.”
Spencer is determined, “I’ll sing a duet with you.”
“Seriously?” you ask, playing with your fingers again.
He watches you pick at your soft skin. “Of course, the fans have been begging to see you for months now. What a better way to do a face reveal than with a livestream for charity?”
“I’ll think about it,” you say quietly.
Spencer grabs your hand, keeping it from picking at your nailbeds. “Good.” He’s not sure what to do after that, letting go of your hand promptly.
You smile, content with leaning your head against his shoulder, unaware of how that little action caused his heart to pound.
That familiar ache consuming him.
An ache that Spencer is now beginning to wonder about. Wonder what would cause it. He was starting to recognize it as something equally terrifying and wonderful.