Would it be possible to have a sneak peak or moodboard for the next chapter of roll for strength? If not that okay. I hope you’re doing well:)
So I’ve had this in my inbox for... months? 😅 And as of yesterday I started working on the new chapter (I know, I know. Life throttled me and then 12 other creative projects were higher up on my to-do list).
But here’s a bit from Ch 5, which should be out later today
“Emmett!” It’s El, waving from the front door. “You got a hand?”
“Yeah,” Emmett calls back, loping away to help. “What’s up?”
“I just need someone to help carry blankets. They’re bulkier than...”
Their voices have barely retreated into the house before Lucas mutters, “Should we tell him this isn’t a runway?”
Mike stiffens a degree. If he wasn’t standing close enough to Will for their arms to brush, Will might not have noticed it. “What do you mean?”
“C’mon.” Lucas smiles conspiratorially, like they’re all sharing a joke in class when they’re supposed to be working quietly. “The jacket? The pants? We’re going out in the middle of nowhere, buddy, there’s nobody out there to impress with your gay little tight pants. Maybe chill out a little.”
He says gay the way people usually say stupid, so Will can’t tell if he actually suspects or not. Either way, Mike is... not taking that comment well. Will can feel him tensing up and wilting at the same time, shoulders hunching uncomfortably under his jacket as he opens and closes his mouth. His face is red - redder than the cold-flush it just had a moment ago.
And something in Will, some small little thread, snaps. He may not exactly like Emmett - well, that’s not true, he’d like him fine if it wasn’t for the whole Mike situation - but... they are on the same team, after all.
All heads turn to him. Lucas blinks, startled by how sharp the words were, and Will can see Mike staring at him in his peripheral vision.
He can feel himself going hot under the skin, so he looks down at his thermos to try to appear nonchalant. As if he could play off casualty after that tone of voice. “What do you even care what pants he wears? They’re pants. Maybe you’re just jealous that he always looks cooler than you do.”
The last statement is lighter, teasing. An attempt to lighten the mood and move on, after that abrupt change of tone.
There’s a beat or two of quiet, and for a moment Will’s fingers start shaking, afraid that Lucas is about to pursue the issue and come dangerously close to a topic Will isn’t ready to discuss. Why are you defending him? Why do you care? You have a personal investment in this or something? Is there something we need to know about you? What are you hiding, Will?
But then Lucas lifts a hand to his chest. “You insult me. I’m cooler than all of you.”
And just like that he wanders away. The moment has passed. Will lets out a breath.
The feeling of being watched draws his attention, and when he looks, his eyes meet Mike’s for a split second. It’s just a flicker, a flash of time before Mike’s gaze skips away, but in that second Will could have sworn he saw a smile.
