unexpectedly there | ws2
in your touch au | requests are open/closed
word count: 1.2k
warnings: y/n surprises will and he almost forgets how to skate
you almost don’t come.
you’re standing outside the rink with dylan and lakin, arms crossed tight over your chest, already second-guessing everything.
“just go in,” lakin says, nudging your shoulder.
“no, because what if it’s weird?” you shoot back. “what if he’s like - why are you here?”
dylan snorts. “he is not going to say that. he literally likes you.”
you glare at her. “you don’t know that.”
both of them just look at you.
“…okay, you do,” you mumble.
lakin grins. “exactly. now move.”
before you can overthink it again, they’re both pushing you toward the door.
“fine,” you say, laughing a little despite yourself. “we’re going.”
you step inside, the cold hitting instantly, the noise of the rink wrapping around you. the three of you find seats together, a few rows up from the glass.
“okay,” dylan says, leaning forward. “which one is he?”
you don’t even have to look twice. “that one.”
will’s on the ice, skating hard, completely focused, curls peeking out from under his helmet.
“oh,” lakin says immediately. “he’s cute.”
you feel your face warm. “i know.”
they both look at you.
“…shut up,” you add quickly.
you settle in, trying to act normal, but your eyes keep following him. it’s different, watching him like this. faster. louder. more intense.
then it happens.
he skates toward your side of the rink during a shift change - and his head turns.
his eyes land on you.
he freezes.
actually freezes.
you can see the exact second he realizes it’s really you. his brows lift, his mouth parts slightly, and he just… stares.
dylan grabs your arm. “oh my god, he sees you.”
“i know,” you whisper, trying not to smile too big.
you lift your hand and wave.
small. casual. like you didn’t just show up unannounced.
will blinks. then points at you like, are you serious?
you nod, biting your lip.
he lets out a laugh you can see even from the stands, shaking his head before giving you the most awkward, slightly panicked wave back.
ryan skates up next to him, following his line of sight - then immediately looks at you.
his face lights up.
oh no.
he nudges will hard.
gabe joins them a second later, also looking up, and now all three of them are staring.
“this is so embarrassing,” you mutter, dropping your face into your hands.
“no it’s not,” lakin says, fully invested. “this is amazing.”
you peek back up.
will’s still looking at you.
he mouths, you came?
you nod.
he shakes his head again, smiling this time, softer.
then someone yells at him to get back on the ice and he scrambles, nearly tripping as he turns.
dylan loses it. “he just almost fell because of you.”
“stop,” you groan, but you’re laughing too.
the rest of the game is… not subtle.
every time will is near your side, he looks.
every time.
and now ryan and gabe keep looking too, whispering to him, clearly not letting it go.
at one point, you give him a thumbs up.
he rolls his eyes, but he’s smiling.
gabe looks at you, gives you a dramatic bow from the bench, and ryan claps slowly like you just did something impressive.
“i hate them,” you mumble.
“you love them,” dylan corrects.
“…maybe a little,” you admit.
by the end of the game, you’re leaned forward, completely locked in, and will knows it.
he’s playing, but he’s also… aware of you. constantly.
the final buzzer sounds.
“are we going down?” lakin asks immediately.
you hesitate for half a second.
“yeah,” you say.
you make your way down the hallway, the three of you squeezed together, trying to look like you belong there.
“i’m not saying anything,” dylan says.
“me neither,” lakin adds.
“good,” you say quickly. “no one say anything.”
the locker room door opens.
ryan comes out first.
he spots you instantly.
“no way,” he says, breaking into a grin. “you actually came.”
you laugh, a little nervous now. “hi, ryan.”
gabe appears behind him, shaking his head. “he has not shut up about you since he saw you.”
“gabe.” you warn.
“what?” he shrugs. “it’s true.”
“where is he?” lakin asks, fully unhelpful.
“right here,” will’s voice cuts in.
you turn.
he’s standing there, hoodie half on, hair still damp and messy, looking at you like he’s still not fully convinced you’re real.
“hi,” you say, softer now.
he just stares for a second.
then laughs, running a hand through his hair. “what are you doing here?”
“i came to your game,” you say, like it’s obvious.
“yeah, i -” he glances at ryan and gabe, then back at you. “i noticed.”
ryan snorts.
“shut up,” will mutters without looking at him.
you smile. “i didn’t tell you. i wanted it to be a surprise.”
he shakes his head, stepping closer. “you’re insane.”
“you loved it,” you say.
“i did,” he admits immediately.
there’s a beat.
then he gestures behind him. “can you guys give me like… a second?”
ryan grins. “oh, absolutely.”
gabe claps him on the shoulder. “don’t mess it up.”
“go away,” will groans.
the boys drag dylan and lakin with them, all four of them whispering and laughing as they disappear down the hallway.
you’re suddenly alone with him.
and it gets quiet.
different kind of quiet.
he steps closer. slower this time.
“you really came,” he says again, softer.
“yeah,” you nod. “i did.”
“why?”
you shrug, but your voice is quieter. “i wanted to see you.”
he looks at you like that means more than it should.
“yeah?”
“yeah.”
he exhales, smiling a little.
“you made me mess up a shift,” he says.
you grin. “no i didn’t.”
“you did,” he insists. “i looked up, saw you, and forgot everything for like two seconds.”
“that’s kinda embarrassing for you,” you tease.
“yeah, well,” he leans in slightly, “you’re distracting.”
your heart stumbles.
you reach up without thinking, brushing a damp curl off his forehead.
he goes still.
“your hair was bad,” you murmur.
“fix it then,” he says quietly.
you do. fingers light, careful, lingering just a second too long.
when you pull back, he’s still looking at you.
closer now.
“you should come to more games,” he says.
you raise an eyebrow. “is that so?”
“yeah,” he nods. “i think i play better when you’re there.”
you smile. “or you just like when i show up unexpectedly.”
he smiles back. “that too.”
you hear voices down the hall - dylan, lakin, ryan, gabe - very obviously not leaving.
you both ignore it.
“you wanna walk?” he asks.
“yeah,” you say.
he bumps your shoulder as you start walking, casual, like this is already a thing.
your hands brush once -
then again -
and somewhere behind you, someone definitely whispers, “oh my god.”
neither of you look back.