Can I do a request for Willne where him and reader are together and him, James, Chris and Harry or whoever you want are reacting to like those tv shows like educating Yorkshire and they notice that reader is in it from when she was in Year 11 and she’s like rlly chaotic and messes around and Will and the rest of them are dying of laughter cuz they know her to be quite shy and more calm
⋆. 𐙚 ˚ Educating Yorkshire. ⋆.ೃ࿔*
Willne x Reader ~ fluff
˖᯽ ݁˖· ─ a/n: before you read this please know, I am a dumb American who watched a couple episodes of this show so please bare with me. I hope you enjoy this one!
“Right so, today I have a ton of special guests here to watch a few videos with me! Harry, Chris, Will and Reader! And today we’ll be reacting to the craziest clips from the shows Educating Yorkshire and Essex.” Arthur announced on his side of the screen.
You along with your boyfriend Will were asked to film a couple videos with the boys. Due to your busy schedules, you all decided it would be best to film reaction videos to make it easier for everyone. You were currently filming a video for Arthur’s channel but none of you had any idea of what the others were going to use as reaction material so you were in absolute shock when you heard Educating Yorkshire.
As a teenager you were somewhat troublesome and when the head master heard that this show was coming to your school, you were first to be volunteered. You never told Will, or anyone for that matter hoping that this would never come back to you.
Arthur hit play on the video and it began with an interview with a young girl (that young girl being you).
“Do you think you could’ve been kinder to your classmate?” The interviewer asked.
“Nah, she was runnin’ her mouth and talkin’ ‘bout me, she disrespected me in front of my friends. I aint gonna apologize to her.” You rambled on in the interview.
“Wait a second…” Will started putting the pieces together. Your heart sunk into the pit of your stomach. You definitely look different from then so you were hoping they wouldn’t recognize you but you couldn’t hide your thick accent regardless of how much you’ve tried to change it over the years.
“Right you slag, if you got somethin’ to say, say it to my face then!” Teen you shouted at another classmate.
You cringed watching yourself.
“Reader, you’ve got to calm down, and watch that potty mouth of yours.” The teacher said.
“I wasn’ talkin’ to you now wad I? Just shuddup ‘nd let me talk.”
Your accent was so thick at that point in your life and even though you’ve tried to change how you pronounce certain words, you just couldn’t.
“Wait, pause the video, I’m sorry, is that Reader? As in our Reader?” Chris pointed out.
“Yeah, that’s what I’ve just noticed, love what the fuck you doin’ there?” Will said bursting out into laughter.
“That’s not me?!” You tried arguing.
“Bollocks that’s not you, you sound exactly like her.” Harry added.
“No way this is Reader, this girl is loud and annoying!” Arthur shouted.
“Eh annoying!? I think this girl is just standin’ up for herself mate.” You argued, shocking the boys as your thick accent came out for a second. It always did when you were arguing.
“Who was that just now?” Will asked in disbelief.
“What?” You responded.
“Did your teenage self just possess you for a second there?” Chris added.
“I don’t know what you’re talkin’ about.” You defended.
“‘Talkin’’ ‘standin’ mate you sound exactly like her.” Chris added.
“Reader, were you a bad kid growing up?” Arthur asked.
“I’d never expect that, she’s always the quietest fucking person ever. You basically have to force her to show up on camera and do a bit.” Harry explained.
“I wasn’ bad per say, just couldn’t get along with the other kids sometimes.” You defended.
“What year were you in at that point? Year 8?” Chris asked.
“Year 11.” You replied.
“You were in year 11 and acting like that?” Chris responded in shock.
“I wanted to punch her stoopid face right there ‘nd then.”
Arthur unpaused the video, showing another clip of your interview.
“Okay Reader, step outside then.”
“Ahh why you winding me up we’ve barely gotten’ to class and you’ve already put me on time out. Mate it aint my fault she’s got a big mouth.”
The boys burst out laughing as teenage you got kicked out the classroom and you huffed your way down the school hall.
“Oh my god that is her! Look at her angry face, I’ve seen that expression about a million times boys.” Will exclaimed, laughing like mad.
“Reader, you’re famous! Why didn’t you tell us!?” Chris teased making you roll your eyes.
“‘Why you winding me up’” Harry teased, copying your accent.
“Oh ha ha, get your digs in now. I ain’t ever gonna be in anotha' one of these.” You said crossing your arms.
“Oh come on Reader, it’s just, we can’t believe that’s actually you.” Chris said.
“Yeah, Love. How come you’ve never told me about this?” Will asked.
“It’s embarrassing. I was such a brat.” You explained.
“Noooo, you were adorable and you’ve definitely seemed to learn your lesson.” Will chuckled.
“Oh shuddup.” You said.
“Oi there she goes again.” Chris added. “Watch out Will, don’t want to piss her off now.”
“How come you're so different now though?” Arthur asked.
“It’s called maturing, I think you lot should try it at some point.” You rebutted making Will snicker.
“Are there any other clips of you we should watch?” Arthur asked scrolling through the recommended videos. He was sharing his screen so you could all see what he was looking at. As he scrolled you could see another video with your face as the thumbnail.
“Oh wait- wait go back, that one!” Harry shouted at Arthur.
“Reader, can you pay attention please.” The teacher called on you as you kept your head down on the desk.
“Reader.” She said more sternly this time.
“Ugh what? I’m listenin’ I don’t need to see ya.” You retorted.
The boys went wild with laughter.
Will was clutching his sides at this point, he could not believe his precious quiet girlfriend used to be a loud savage brat.
You thought he would want to break up with you after seeing you this way but this other side of you only made him fall deeper in love.
You had a fierce side that you only let out when you had to. Since Will’s never seen this side, it means you’ve never needed to be like this with him. He kept you calm because he loved you and he knew this.
“Reader, you’re bloody lovely, you know that?” Will basically had hearts in his eyes.
“Oh stop, not here Will.” You said blushing like crazy.
“Yeah not here Will, that’s enough, we don’t need the viewers seeing this.” Chris said with an awkward laugh.
“Will, how about you come over yeah?” You asked.
“Of course love, I’ll be right over. We’re done here right boys?” Will asked, already slipping his shoes on.
“Well no-”
“Okay good, see you soon love.” He said signing off.
“Great Reader, thanks a lot.” Arthur said sarcastically.
“You chose the video mate, bye lads see you soon.” You snickered, signing off.
You and Will spent that night talking about your entire past, no matter how embarrassing. You realized he didn’t care if you were troublesome, loud, or quiet. He loves your personality and loves you for who you are and you loved him just the same.
summary: will's been in a mood all day and taking it out on you, james isn't having it | Will x fem!reader
notes: posting this from a random field hoping it actually uploads… based on this request!
content: 1.4k wc, angst, will being an asshole, will being rude to reader for no reason, protective james, fluff ending
You can tell something is wrong with Will before he even says a word.
It’s in the way he walks into the room – too quick, too sharp, like there’s something sitting under his skin that he can’t quite shake off. His jaw is so tight, his shoulders set in that rigid way you’ve come to recognise, and he barely even looks at you properly when he comes in the flat with James.
Normally, he would.
Normally, there’d be a smile, or at least something soft in his expression when his eyes land on you, something that makes you feel like you’re the first thing he notices in a room.
But today, it’s like he looks straight through you.
“Hi,” you say anyway, careful, testing the waters.
“Yeah”, he replies, distracted, already moving past you.
You blink slightly, thrown off by how quickly it happens.
It’s not like him.
You try not to let it bother you.
“Hey,” James says as he follows Will inside, rolling his eyes at his mood.
Everyone has off days. You know that. You’ve told yourself that all day, because this isn’t the first time he’s been like this today. There had been things earlier this morning before he left for work – short replies, a tone that felt just slightly off, a kind of restlessness that didn’t quite make sense but still made you feel like you were doing something wrong without knowing what it was.
You’d ignored it then.
You try to ignore it now.
It doesn’t last.
You’re in the kitchen, just doing something simple – making tea, moving around quietly, trying to keep things calm, normal – when he comes back in. there’s a tension in the air that wasn’t there before, something that feels like it’s been building, even if you don’t know why.
“Did you move my stuff?” he asks suddenly.
The question catches you off guard.
You turn slightly, frowning. “What?”
“My stuff,” he repeats, sharper this time. “On the table. It’s not where I left it.”
You glance over instinctively, then back at him. “I don’t think I touched it.”
“Well, someone has,” he mutters, running a hand through his hair in frustration.
You hesitate, unsure how to respond. “Maybe you just – moved it earlier?”
“I didn’t,” he snaps.
The edge in his voice makes you flinch slightly before you can stop yourself.
There’s a pause.
You swallow.
“Okay,” you say softly, trying to keep things level. “I was just – suggesting.”
“Yeah, well, it’s not helpful,” he shoots back.
The words land harder than they should.
You go quiet.
Because now it doesn’t feel like a bad mood. It feels like you’ve done something wrong.
It keeps happening.
Small things, one after the other.
You ask a simple question. He answers it like it’s an inconvenience. You try to joke. He doesn’t laugh. You offer help. He brushes you off, like you’re getting in the way rather than trying to make things easier.
By the third time, you’ve stopped trying as much.
You move more carefully, speak less, overthink everything before you say it, just in case it sets him off again.
It’s exhausting and confusing.
Because you don’t know what you’ve done.
The moment it breaks comes out of nowhere.
You’re both in the living room now, James somewhere nearby, half-listening, half-distracted by his phone. The tension has been sitting there for a while, thick and uncomfortable, and you can feel it in the way your shoulders are slightly tense, the way you keep glancing at Will like you’re trying to read something you can’t quite understand.
“I’ll just grab that for you,” you say, moving to pick something up from the table before he can reach it.
It’s automatic, Small. Harmless.
But apparently, it’s the wrong thing to do.
“Can you just – stop?” Will snaps suddenly.
The sharpness of it cuts through the room
You freeze, your hand still hovering mid-air.
“Stop what?” you ask, your voice quiet now, caught off guard.
“Just – doing that,” he says, gesturing vaguely, frustration spilling over. “Hovering, getting involved in everything. It’s annoying.”
The words hit harder than anything he’s said so far.
“I was just trying to help,” you say, your voice smaller than you want it to be.
“Well, I didn’t ask for help,” he shoots back.
The room goes quiet.
There’s a split second where everything just… hangs.
And then-
“Alright, that’s enough.”
James’s voice cuts in, firm in a way you don’t hear often. You blink, startled, turning slightly as he straightens up properly, his attention no longer on his phone but fully on Will.
“Mate, what’s your problem?” James continues, his tone sharp now, protective in a way that makes your chest tighten for a completely different reason.
Will frowns, defensive immediately. “I don’t have a problem.”
“Yeah, you do,” James says bluntly. “You’ve been in a mood all day, and now you’re taking it out on her for no reason.”
Your stomach flips.
“James, it’s fine-” you start automatically, the instinct to smooth things over kicking in before you can stop it.
“It’s not fine,” he cuts in, not even looking at you, his focus still locked on Will. “She hasn’t done anything.”
Will opens his mouth, like he’s about to argue, but nothing comes out straight away.
Because he knows.
You can see it in the way his expression shifts, the frustration faltering slightly, something else slipping in underneath it – something that looks a lot like realisation.
“I just-” he starts, but it sounds weaker now, less certain.
“No,” James interrupts, shaking his head. “Don’t. You don’t get to snap at her like that because you’re in a bad mood. Sort yourself out.”
There’s a pause.
A long one.
And then Will exhales, running a hand over his face, the tension in his shoulders dropping slightly like something’s finally clicked into place.
“…yeah,” he mutters, quieter now. “Yeah, alright.”
The shift is immediate.
Not gone completely – but different.
He looks at you properly then, really looks, and you see it all hit him at once – the way you’ve gone quieter, the way you’re standing a little more closed off now, the way your expression has changed without you even realising it.
Guilt flashed across his face.
“Hey,” he says, softer this time, stepping toward you. “I’m sorry,” he adds quickly. “I didn’t mean- any of that. I’ve just been-”
“In a mood,” James supplies dryly from behind you.
Will shoots him a look, but there’s no real bite to it this time.
“Yeah,” he admits. “But that’s not your fault.”
You nod slightly, but its small, hesitant.
“It just felt like it was,” you say quietly.
“It’s not,” he says, firmer now. “Not at all. I shouldn’t have spoken to you like that.”
There’s sincerity in it now, real and unguarded.
You swallow, some of the tension in your body easing, but not completely.
“I was just trying to help,” you admit.
“I know,” he says quickly. “I know. And I made it seem like you were doing something wrong, and you weren’t.”
He steps a little closer, more careful this time, like he’s aware he has to earn that space back.
“I’m sorry,” he repeats, softer.
You look at him for a moment, then nod again, a little more certain this time.
“Okay,”
There’s a small pause.
Then his hand reaches for yours, tentative, like he’s giving you the choice to pull away if you want to.
You don’t.
Your fingers curl around his, and he lets out a quiet breath, relief flickering across his face.
Behind you, James shifts slightly, the tension easing now that things have settled.
“Good,” he mutters, mostly to himself. “Because that was painful to watch.”
You huff out a small, surprised laugh despite everything. Will rolls his eyes slightly, but there’s no real annoyance there anymore.
“Alright, Dad,” he mutters.
“Someone had to say it,” James replies, completely unapologetic.
There’s a beat, and then he glances at you properly, his expression softening.
“You alright?” he asks.
The question catches you off guard, but it’s warm. Genuine.
“Yeah,” you say, a small smile forming. “I’m okay.”
He nods once, satisfied, before leaning back again.
“Good. Because if he does that again, I’m kicking him out.”
“Oi, you don’t even live here-” Will starts.
“I mean it,” James adds, not even looking at him.
You laugh properly this time, the last of the tension finally easing away.
Beside you, Will squeezes your hand a little tighter, like he’s making a quiet promise.
Hiii, im obsessed with your writing so much and im not sure if you’ve actually done this request before. I was wondering if we could have a willne fic where a fan maybe gets a little too comfortable on a soccer Saturday and makes a comment about reader? I’d love to see how he’d react and especially the others too xx
noise ── willne⋆⭒˚.⋆
pairing: willne x fem! reader
warnings/contents: catcalling, uncomfortable comments made
a/n: sorry this gen took like 2 months, i swear i am not normally like this... summer holidays were crazy!!!
Pm me to be on taglist <3
requests are open and i'm happy to write whatever, hope you enjoy xx
Soccer Saturday is always loud, the pub is packed to the point where it feels like the walls are breathing in and out with everyone inside it, heat clinging to your skin, voices layering over each other until it’s just one constant roar. Pints keep being passed over heads, someone’s chanting in the corner, and Chris is halfway through a story that’s already lost all structure because Arthur and Chip won’t stop interrupting him.
Becky’s laughing at something George’s just said, Isaac’s leaning against the bar looking faintly overwhelmed, and AB’s got his phone out, filming something he definitely shouldn’t be.
You’re tucked into Will’s side, more out of necessity than anything else. There’s nowhere to stand without touching someone. His arm rests around you easily, familiar, protective in a way that doesn’t feel performative. It was just natural, like a warm blanket of comfort.
That’s why the comment lands so hard.
“Oi is that Willne's mrs? I’d shag her. Proper tart, she is.”
It’s loud, clear and quite frankly unapologetic. It was a group of lads, all who've had about 4 pints past their limit, faces lighting up at the recognition of people like Chris and AB.
For a second, you genuinely wonder if you misheard it, if the noise swallowed context, but then there’s laughter, crude and validating, and another voice chiming in, agreeing far too easily. Your stomach drops before your brain catches up, that horrible sinking feeling spreading through your chest as you register that it’s about you.
Will feels it instantly. His arm tightens around you, his body going rigid in a way you recognise. The chatter at the table doesn’t stop straight away, but something shifts, it fades. He turns slowly, deliberately, eyes locking onto the group of random lads standing a few feet away, pints in hand, grinning like they haven’t just crossed a line they can’t uncross.
“Say that again,” Will says.
He doesn’t raise his voice, he simply doesn’t need to.
The lad who said it looks him up and down. Alcohol gives him the confidence to smirk anyway, shoulders lifting in a lazy shrug as if this is all harmless fun. He mutters something about it being a joke, about how it’s “just saying what everyone’s thinking, you can't put let your bird wear that and not expect her to get comments like that” and that’s when the rest of the group properly clock what’s happening.
Chris goes quiet immediately, expression hardening. Becky straightens beside you, jaw tight. Arthur shifts forward, elbows pressing into the table, eyes sharp in a way that makes it very clear he’s not amused. Chip shakes his head under his breath, disgust written plainly across his face.
“That’s not a joke, mate what,” George says flatly. “That’s grim.”
Will steps forward just enough that you’re fully behind him now, his body an unmistakable barrier. When he speaks again, his voice is controlled.
“You don’t get to talk about her like that,” he says. “Not here. Not anywhere. She’s not something for you to comment on, and she’s not here for your fuckin' entertainment mate.”
One of the lads laughs awkwardly, trying to salvage it, mumbling something about people being too sensitive these days. The room feels smaller now. Nearby tables have gone quiet, eyes flicking over, the atmosphere turning against them in real time.
“No,” Chris cuts in, sharp. “You’re just out of order.”
Arthur nods once. “Properly.”
AB, still holding his vlog camera, furrowing his brows in the corner. “Fuckin' jarring”
Will doesn’t take his eyes off the lad who spoke. He leans in slightly, not threatening, just close enough that the point lands.
“If you ever speak about her like that again,” he says quietly, “you’re going to have a problem. And it won’t end with you laughing it off.”
That’s it. Whatever confidence they had evaporates. Apologies tumble out, messy and half formed, before they go back into the crowd, suddenly very keen to disappear.
The moment they’re gone, Will turns to you immediately. His hands settle gently on your arms, grounding, thumbs brushing slow, reassuring circles like he’s pulling you back into yourself.
“Hey,” he says softly. “Are you okay?”
You nod, still a bit stunned, and Becky steps closer without a word, her presence solid and supportive. Chris mutters something under his breath about people being vile, and Arthur raises his pint toward Will in quiet approval.
“Handled that perfectly,” he says.
Will barely registers it. His attention doesn’t leave you for the rest of the night, arm staying firm around your shoulders, like a silent promise that nothing like that will touch you again, not while he’s there
Summary: Will comes home tired after a long day and wants nothing more than to cuddle up to you
Masterlist
A/N: sorry it’s quite a short one but I hope you enjoy it nonetheless! <3
Will didn’t even bother hiding how exhausted he was as he walked in, shoulders slumped and eyes half lidded as if the day had wrung every last bit of energy out of him. He muttered some annoyance under his breath probably about work, or people, or just everything before dropping onto the couch with a heavy sigh, head tipping back for a moment like he needed to reset. But the second he noticed you across from him in the kitchen, something shifted.
“Hey…” he said softly, voice rough around the edges, but warmer now.
He slowly got up as exhaustion weighted him down and came up behind you, wrapping you up in his arms. A smile couldn’t help but creep up your face “Will! I need my hands to finish our tea!” You whined with no actual bite towards him. His response was to just bury his head further into your neck.
“No can do m’fraid” was just about heard murmured into your neck.
As soon as you had finished your drinks he all but pulled you back over to the couch. He collapsed back down with the sofa letting out a groan, you trailed behind him making sure not to spill anything from the two mugs you were holding. They met the table with a quiet clink. Will reached for you without hesitation you laughed and made your way over to him. He decided you sitting next to him simply wasn’t enough and pulled you closer until you were tucked against him, your head resting just beneath his chin again. His arms wrapped around you securely, almost instinctively, like this was the one place he didn’t have to think. His grip tightened just slightly, not enough to be overwhelming, just enough to say stay.
You could feel the tension still lingering in him at first, the way his shoulders were stiff, his breathing uneven. But as the quiet settled in and he absentmindedly traced small, lazy patterns along your arm, he began to relax. His chin rested more fully against your head, and he let out a slow breath he didn’t even realize he’d been holding.
“Missed this” he admitted quietly, almost like it slipped out.
He shifted just enough to get comfortable, pulling you a little closer, if that was even possible. The world outside full of all the stress, the noise, the expectations faded into something distant and unimportant. Here, with you, there was nothing to fix, nothing to prove. Just warmth, steady breathing, and the quiet reassurance of being held.
After a while, his movements became groggy until they slowed completely, his hand resting still against you as his body finally gave in to the exhaustion. But even then, he didn’t let go if anything, his hold stayed firm, like even in sleep, he wasn’t about to drift too far without you right there.
summary: coming home from work and finding your boyfriend drunk on stream
masterlist | main masterlist
Your entire day had just been one bad thing after another.
First, you woke up late. Then, there was major traffic on the way to the office, which made you even later. To make matters worse, someone spilled their coffee on your shirt right before an important meeting to land a deal for your business. And to top it all off, you finished work two hours late, causing you to miss your dinner reservation with Sabina, Liv, and Flo.
All you wanted to do was go home and go to bed - but that dream went out the window when, during your final meeting of the day, you got a notification that your boyfriend was streaming.
On the way home, you sat in the back of your uber scrolling twitter and George was drunk on stream - perfect.
You let the front door of the flat slam shut as you kicked off your shoes and shrugged off your jacket, dropping your bag beside them. From the hallway, you could hear your boyfriend’s boisterous laughter, and while part of you melted at the sound, another part wanted to slam your head against a wall.
“Someone’s home.” You heard him say to the stream as you walked closer to his room, “I hope it’s y/n.”
A soft smile spread across your lips, and all the annoyance you’d felt moments before quickly slipped away. You knocked gently on his door before opening it. “Hi, honey,” you said softly.
An excited gasp escaped his lips as he pulled down his green screen, revealing you to the stream. “Look, chat - it’s Y/N,” he said, opening his arms for you.
You did a little twirl as he let out a playful wolf whistle, then walked over and crouched beside him to peek at the chat. “Hi, everyone!” you greeted with a smile. “How drunk is he?”
The chat flew up as you tried to read it, “Very?”
You nodded pursing your lips standing back up as your knees clicked, “You need to get another chair.”
“I have one right here, baby,” he smirked, pointing to his face. You gasped in embarrassment and gently smacked his chest. “I’m joking, I’m joking,” he laughed.
His arms wrapped around your waist, pulling you onto his lap as he continued reading the chat, giggling to himself while you hid your red face in your hands.
“Chat, I think it’s time to say goodbye so I can spend time with m’lady.”
You could hear the smirk in his tone making you grumble sinking back into his chest, “I shall see you all tomorrow.”
“Bye chat.” You mumbled, waving at the camera as George ended the stream, “That was so inappropriate.”
You stood up from George's lap and walked over to his wardrobe while he fiddled with his computer, making sure everything was shut down properly. “It was a joke,” he slurred, stumbling over to you as you slipped off your pencil skirt and shirt, replacing them with one of George’s hoodies.
“You’re drunk.”
"So?" He shrugged, leaning against the wall as you glared up at him. "You're mad?" His goofy, drunken state seemed to fade instantly when he noticed the tears glistening at your waterline, causing him to pout with guilt.
You huffed, moving away from him and over to the bed, letting your shoulders slump. "No," you muttered, dropping your head as you ran your hands through your hair. "I’m not mad at you. I’m sorry."
George shook his head. "You don’t need to apologize, honey."
The bed dipped next to you as he wrapped his arm around your shoulder, pulling you into his side. "What’s wrong?"
"I’ve had such a crappy day, and all I wanted to do was come home and sleep. And obviously, it’s not your fault - you’re just doing your job. I’m just exhausted, and I haven’t eaten a proper meal all day."
An overwhelmed cry escaped your lips as you clung to your intoxicated boyfriend, who was gently smoothing your hair. "I’m sorry, sweetheart," he whispered, kissing the top of your head.
You sat up, wiping away your tears with a sniffle.
“s’not your fault.”
As you looked up at your boyfriend, you couldn’t help but giggle, making his eyebrows furrow. "What’s so funny?"
“You look ridiculous.” you laughed, pulling on the fishing hat on the top of his head and the camouflage jacket he was wearing, “Why are you even wearing this?”
He giggled, pulling the hat off and tossing it aside, "Oh, y’know, just streamer things," he joked, holding up a rock 'n' roll sign and sticking his tongue out like a idiot.
Another laugh escaped your lips as you tugged the jacket off, revealing his parody ‘pitchside’ football shirt underneath. You couldn’t help but roll your eyes, "For fuck’s sake," you laughed again, shaking your head. "Can we just go to bed, please?”
George grinned widely, clearly proud of his absurd outfit, but then his expression softened. He kissed your forehead quickly, a tender gesture amid the silliness. "Anything for you," he murmured, before pulling off his shirt and sweats.
Without a second thought, he climbed into bed, wrapping his arms around you. "Let’s just forget today ever happened."
You settled into his embrace, feeling the weight of the day finally lift as you closed your eyes. "Agreed," you whispered, already feeling the warmth of sleep pulling you in.
basically where the fans try to figure out if will and reader are dating through the little clues they give through their posts/vids etc!
i got a bit carried away writing this lol, but i hope you like it!!
✮⋆˙ punching - will lenney [smau]
singer! y/n x willne (will lenney)
liked by eleanorneale, willne, jamesmarriotyt and 432,304 others
yourusername working late...
fan1 PLEASEEE say this means new music
--> yourusername 🤫
eleanorneale hehehe i wonder who you're writing song about
--> yourusername you!!!!
fan2 since when did all the uk youtube lot know y/n???
--> fan3 idk but im sooo here for it
liked by yourusername, jamesmarriottyt, georgeclarkeey and 231,032 others
willne oh my god
yourusername congrats on making the only coffee i'll drink
--> fan 1 Y/N DRINKS RODDS???
--> fan 2 Y/N what the hell are you doing here??
jamesmarriottyt should've called it thursday
--> willne fuck off
liked by yourusername, willne and 41,238 others
cosmopolitan singer-songwriter y/n joins us as this month's cover star as she discusses finding love, new music and why she thought she'd never love again. read the issue at the link in our bio!
yourusername thank you so much for having me !!!
willne oh my fucking god (deleted)
fan 1 DID ANYONE ELSE SEE WILL'S COMMENT?!?!
--> fan 2 WTF NO?? IT'S GONE BUT HE LIKED IT
fan 3 needed that new music like yesterday
liked by 23,543 others
y/n.hq an extract of y/n's recent interview with cosmopolitan, seems our girl has found love!
fan 1 OH MY GOD IM SO HAPPY FOR HER
fan 2 ofc she releases happy music after i go through a breakup
fan 3 guys who do we think it is...
--> fan 4 guys i'm calling it now it's james marriott, all his friends have been active on her posts
--> fan 5 streets are saying will commented on her cosmo cover then deleted it...
liked by willne, yourusername, bambinobecky and 320,215 others
jamesmarriottyt Something's wrong song and video out now.
willne never hearing you out again
--> yourusername starting the will go blonde petiton
--> fan 1 i sign
--> fan 2 this is such gf behaviour
yourusername obsessed with this song, congrats!!
--> yourusername pretty funny video too
--> jamesmarriottyt thank you!!
--> fan 3 guys what is going on
liked by 23,556 others
willneupdates will confirms he's no longer single on the newest episode of inside the industry!
fan 1 CRYING IN ALDI
fan 2 for someone who hates podcasts, he's sure on a lot of them
fan 3 is it a coincidence that y/n also just confirmed she's not single??
--> fan 4 i'm starting to think not...
liked by willne, jamesmarriottyt, max_balegde and 1,446,643 others
yourusername SURPRISE!! 'bed chem' dropping tomorrow at midnight and it's a steamy one 💋
max_baledge SHUT UP
--> yourusername hehehe
willne hope my mam doesn't hear this one
fan 1 oh our girl is finally getting good sex
jamesmarriottyt not sure i'll be able to listen to this one
--> yourusername oops
fan 3 her replying to every comment but will's...
liked by yourusername, behzingagram and 332,567 others
willne 👍🏻
yourusername who the flowers for? 😐 (deleted)
fan 1 his gf must be so lucky
--> fan 2 fr have you heard bed chem
fan 3 them flowers are so pretty wtf
yourusername can you buy me a labubu?
yourusername added to their story!
liked by willne, eleanorneale, chrismd and 1,934,098 others
yourusername happyhappyhappy
eleanorneale you're cheating on me???
--> yourusername it's literally your hand??
willne ❤️
--> fan 1 HELLO????
--> fan 2 IS THIS A SOFT LAUNCH
--> fan 3 THIS HAS TO MEAN SOMETHING
liked by yourusername and 34,053 others
y/n.hq willne and james marriott were singing 'bed chem' in their latest video together!
fan 1 omg
fan 2 stop i died when will said 'probably shouldn't sing that one' he knows what he's doinggggg
fan 3 can they just make out atp
--> fan 4 will and jim or will and y/n?
--> fan 3 both
liked by yourusername and 88,430 others
willneupdates fans spotted y/n and will at james' concert last night!!👀
yourusername wait these are cute
fan 1 someone get me a defibrillator I CAN'T BREATHE
fan 2 OMFG LIKE WE KNEW IT BUT LIKE EWHAT
fan 3 now this is a hard launch
liked by yourusername, jamesmarriottyt, eleanorneale and 1,432,460 others
willne yes, i know i'm punching massively
georgeclarkeey you're punching mate
yourusername definitely punching
eleanorneale she's way out of your league
--> willne you can have her back if you want
fan 1 OMFGGGG FINALLY
liked by willne, jamesmarriott, livvydimartino and 1,410,433 others
yourusername happy birthday to the most perfect boy i ever did meet. you have completely changed the way i view life and i can not imagine living another day without you, luckiest girl alive to be loved by you <3
willne yes, i would still love you if you were a worm
--> yourusername good. i will ask again tomorrow just in case something changes
willne luckiest boy to have you ❤️
livvydimartino obssesed with you guys🥲
--> yourusername we love youuuu
fan 1 how can i be normal about this
fan 2 may this kind of love come and slap me in the face
willne x fem! reader. enemies to lovers. angst/fluff. 6k! warnings: will being a cunt oopsies >:(
a/n: requested by this lovely anon!! it's not really 100% what you requested, but it's where my inspiration took me. hope you don't hate it o:) also thank you @csenke for beta reading it for me again, I needed some encouragement for posting this one <33
You didn’t really know what exactly it was about you that made William Lenney absolutely hate your guts. You don’t think you really did something to make him despise you– other than some casual jokes at his expense that you’ve done to all the other lads in his circle– and you also don’t think anything about you is particularly easy to hate. His cold stares, close-to-mean jabs and rolling of his eyes kept you up most times when they happened, though.
For months, you tried to decipher the reason behind his strange demeanour. You tried asking people that were close to him. James said that ‘Will is just like that sometimes, don’t mind him.’ George even joked that ‘Maybe he likes you and does it all for attention, you know, like middle schoolers do,’ but neither of those explanations quite did it for you. See, Will wasn’t mean to everyone– he was encouraging to his friends and charming in front of new circles, and you watched him flirt (and fail) with multiple women on the nights out you frequent together because of your shared friend group. There must be something else about you that makes the northerner's nerves tick off, and you never knew what it could be.
After a while, though, when you truly set into the new circle of youtubers you hung out around, you tried to let it go. It felt like Will was trying to make you feel excluded for months, and even though you admit you cancelled some going outs just because you heard he’d be involved, you tried to make yourself believe that it was okay for you to be in those spaces, and no amount of scoffs and teasing from William Lenney is going to change that or make you feel bad about yourself.
Decided.
And so you continued on with falling into step with London and its antics. You went to James’ gigs and pretended not to see the way Will was glaring at you on the balcony, where he just so happened to be as well. You went to see Chris in his studio and avoided Will’s stares as you were leaving and just so happened to bump into him in the building. You went out to the pub with the whole group, clinging to Becky’s arm, and tried hard not to let Will’s snarky comments about your new video get under your skin.
“Happy to see you’re consistent with your content, Y/N,” he muttered once, a pint in his hand, “there’s never enough Zoella-wannabe’s on the market, I’ll tell you that.”
A pit of hot anger swelled in the bottom of your stomach. You tried hard not to let it get to you, you did– because you knew that arguing with him would only make things so much worse for everyone. You were the newcomer of the friend group, you didn’t want to start up any unnecessary drama. Will was just a very sour person, and for some reason, you always got the best of this attitude. “Yeah, because opening Temu packages is some worldchanging content,” you uttered back, catching a few laughs from your mates around the table.
Will didn’t say a single word to you for the rest of the night, and even though it sounds unfortunate, you were actually kind of happy for the fact.
One time while filming a video together for Chris’ channel– a challenge where you had to keep kicking penalties farther and farther away from the goal– Will kept glaring at you so much that even the viewers started to get a little suspicious, creating all those useless theories online. Some of them said you two must have had a falling out (which is ironic, since you never even had a falling in), while some delusionally said he was just staring at you intently because he was interested in you.
You tried to make yourself believe you didn’t really care.
But the truth is, maybe you did.
Because even before you moved to London, Will was one of the creators you followed. You used to watch his early videos and like all of his Instagram posts. He seemed down to earth and casual– the person you’d love to be friends with. Hell, at one point, you’d even admit to him being a little cute. Sue you.
But the reality? He hated you. He despised being in your presence. Worst thing? You didn’t even know why.
You started to question yourself every time you were around him. It’s not like he was hostile, he was just very unwelcoming. One time, he called you and Becky obnoxious when you were fawning over Max Verstappen, and even though the girl insisted he was being unserious, the comment stung. And it also stuck.
Was your energy too much? Were you being annoying? Did everyone else feel the same as Will, but didn’t tell you because they didn’t want to hurt your feelings?
You’ll drop it.
You swear you will.
And you did, eventually– when another newcomer found his way into the group. Alfie was a little younger than you, but still, much closer to your age than the rest of them, and his college drop out energy was just what you needed to truly break free.
After a few shared recordings, streams and meetings downtown, you fell into step with him easier than anyone else in the group. He understood your immature jokes and laughed at them along with you, making some himself. He walked you home and boosted that if anything was to happen, he could protect you with his ‘big guns’ that he even let you touch in the dim lightning of the pub one time (which made you giggle, heat rising to your cheeks. You’ve had a few beers at that point, to your defense– and you’re glad about it. It made Will’s stern glare and the calculated eye-roll at the action much easier to ignore).
Just being around Alfie was easy. He never made you feel unwelcome– hell, he cheered every time you walked through the door, genuinely excited to see you. Alfie made you feel included and clung to you like a lifeline, claiming you were his second working brain cell. You enjoyed his presence.
Somehow, close to Alfie, you forgot all about Will hating you. It simply didn’t matter anymore. You were enjoying yourself, the lingering doubt of being an imposter leaving your subconsciousness. You were feeling free.
All until one evening.
It was a Fellas party. You weren’t really that close with either Cal or Chip, but Alfie was– which meant he begged you to come along with him. “I need a babysitter or else I drink too much, you know me, Y/N,’” he proposed.
“I just think you need to hang out around Chip less,” you joked, “and also, some self-control.” Nonetheless, you went along with him.
You wore your, admittedly, most revealing dress. You did your makeup really pretty and put your hair down in all its glory, the way your girlfriends always told you looked the best. Tonight wasn’t just pub and drinks– it was a reserved bar in central London, people you’ve never met before attending, and girlfriends of the boys paying their visit. You had to make sure you didn’t embarrass yourself.
“Y/N!” Alfie called after you the moment you arrived, already a little buzzed. “You look fit,” he whistled, reaching his arms around you and pulling you close.
A giggle escaped your lips at the comment, shaking your head at the boy. “You clean up well too,” you click your tongue, “who would’ve thought?”
“Ah, just admit it,” he jokes, “you’d go home with me if I asked, wouldn’t ya?”
An amused laugh dragged itself out of your throat, knowing well Alfie was just poking fun. While you must admit he was attractive, your dynamic was strictly friendly– lighthearted flirts, but also teasing and playing around. It’s the dynamic you establish only in the closest friendships, and you were happy to share that with someone.
“The moment would die down before we’d get through the sock piles on your floor, love,” you muse, grinning when the man tugs you towards the bar instead, no response to your previous conversation.
“Vodka soda?” Alfie asks you, raising his brows at you. A soft smile tugs at his corners, making you playfully push his shoulder.
“We’re not here to get hammered, AB,” you say, “what do you have me for? When have I ever just ordered a pure vodka soda?”
“Like, last week–”
“Never!” you gasp, shaking your head. “We need to keep it classy. I’ll get an espresso martini,” you wave your hand at him, disapproving of his claims.
Alfie sighs at you, but still orders the drinks nonetheless, reaching for his wallet when the bartender gets them out. “What are you doing? I’m financially independent, y’know.”
“It’s for going with me,” he furrows his brows at you, “fuck off and let me be a gentleman once.”
“Is that a tactic to get girls tonight?”
“A tactic to get you, baby,” he blows you a kiss and a wink, making you punch his shoulder and laugh as he taps his card against the register, paying for your drinks.
His arm finds its way around your waist, leading you towards the crowd of people hanging around the bar. He keeps you next to him at all times, whispering comments into your ear and making you laugh, anchoring you in. You’re thankful for his presence, not really being close to the rest of the circle– it’s some of the Sidemen, who you haven’t spoken to many times before, some youtubers you haven’t even heard of, and girlfriends of the usual circle that don’t come out to the pubs with the rest like you do. Not even Becky is here– which you mourn, since you always hit it off with her.
Somewhere along the way, your glass empties, the conversation stills and you feel mother nature begging you to escape to the toilet. So that’s what you do– slipping away from Alfie that gives your hip a gentle squeeze as you go, a reassurement that you’ll find him exactly where he is when you come back. After you’re done with the business and your lipstick is reapplied in the dirty mirror of the bar bathroom, you think to yourself to get another drink for you and Alfie– to repay the favour– so naturally, you stop at the bar.
“Two espresso martinis, please,” you smile at the bartender, fixing your hair. When the drinks come out and you pay for them with your card, you almost bump into someone on your way.
Right next to you, seemingly waiting for his drink, is someone you didn’t expect to see tonight. Well, it’s not like his presence here is surprising– he is friends with at least half of the room. If anything, you’re the one out of place, having just joined the scene, but you try hard not to think about it, at least tonight. You just didn’t expect to bump into him tonight– you expected to just be with Alfie, enjoy yourself, and after too many drinks, call it a night.
No interaction with Will Lenney needed.
“Posh,” he comments, “don’t think he’ll appreciate those.”
You stare at him, caught a little off-guard. He’s wearing a blue striped button up and black pants, hair ridded off his usual cap. It’s a nice look on him– but that’s about the only positive thing you can say about the interaction.
“What?” you murmur.
“Don’t think he’s a posh drink type of guy,” he shrugs, “you’d be better off with a shot of rum, innit.”
Glancing at the drinks in your hands, you furrow your brows at the interaction. It’s not like Will to talk to you about anything– if it’s not for some kind of off-handed insult or a jab taken at your personality. This whole thing makes you confused, brain lagging and getting lost in the darkness of his blue eyes.
“What do you mean?”
“They’re for AB, no? Since he takes you everywhere like you’re his damn pet, or something.”
Of course. You should’ve known better than to think this was a friendly interaction. It was Will Lenney, for fuck’s sake.
“Is that bad, or something?” you mutter, trying to play off the squeezing of your chest. Deep down, you know there’s nothing bad about you hanging out with Alfie, but the tone, the stare Will sends you when he says those words, makes you question everything about every single interaction you’ve had with the young man so far.
“Nah, ‘course not,” he snickers, shrugging, “just noticed you clinging to him like a lapdog lately, that’s all.”
The words sting. And you already know they’ll stick.
Obnoxious.
Lapdog.
Not able to control your expression anymore, your face betrays you. The inner turmoil is too strong for you to keep an unaffected face, too sharp to not cut you and make your faked indifference finally swim up to the surface after so many months of pretending you don’t care, of pretending you’re unaffected.
“You’re such a cunt, you know that?” you let slip out, your voice breaking a little at the end. You’ve never been the strongest when it comes to the opinion of others, letting it affect the way you see yourself so easily. And you know it’s none of Will’s business or responsibility how his words make you feel, but you already know this comment might change the way you feel about yourself for the next few weeks, months. “I know you don’t exactly like me, but does that mean no one else can either?” you get out, chewing on the inside of your cheek.
Will’s face falls. He looks almost panicked– which is ironic. You did nothing to hurt him. You did nothing to ruin his mood.
“I never said–”
“You’ve been acting like a complete dickhead towards me for the past– fuck, since you met me, Will, and I don’t know why, nor do I fucking care anymore,” you blurt out, suddenly losing all filter, “but please try not to ruin it for me when someone finally makes me feel wanted and included somewhere, would you?”
His mouth opens and closes, taking gulps of air into his lungs. You see the gears in his brain turning, coming up with a response to rile you up even more, but you don’t give him the satisfaction.
Instead, you walk away from him, downing both of the drinks before you reach Alfie and the rest again, smiling through the discomfort as you feel Will’s eyes burning a hole into your back.
Will didn’t really know what it was about you that made him so stupidly obsessed with you. At first, he thought he was just annoyed with you. Or maybe intrigued– you were new in London and the group decided it was their job to make you feel welcome and at home. He didn’t mind you at all, initially– quite the opposite, really.
But the more he got to know you, the more he started to get irritated with you.
Like that day he saw you at one of James’ London gigs. Nobody told him you were going– which made him scoff in disbelief. You could’ve gone together! Now he looked like a tit in front of everyone for not even talking to you. His eyes kept naturally gravitating towards you throughout the whole set, watching you dance. Something in him was annoyed at the fact that you barely acknowledged his presence, but he didn’t push for the interaction either.
Or that day at the pub. He was deeply aware he was the only one that wasn’t as close with you. He felt like there was something about him that you found hard to approach, something that kept you from interacting with him as much as with the others. And he does admit he hadn’t put much effort into getting close with you either, but that was simply because he couldn’t figure you out, which only made him more irritated. He didn’t know what to talk to you about or what to bring up– and so his tactic started to be to just treat you like he treats the rest of his mates (even though he’d hate if your dynamic ended up at the state it is with him and Stephen, for example). He didn’t realize his playful teasing didn’t come across as funny to you– he didn’t mean to insult you. The misunderstanding only made him more annoyed– he was trying! And he was trying hard.
Another evening at the pub, he overheard you talking about F1 with Becky. Something in him lit up like a firework, buzzing in his fingertips as he moved his attention to fully listen to you talk about the race happening over the weekend. His excitement of finally having a mutual interest with you that he could use and get closer to you was even apparent to Goeorge, which was a little embarrassing. The male teased him about rolling his eyes and sulking when he called you obnoxious for liking Verstappen– which wasn’t meant to be an insult to you, even though he sensed you took it like that.
Which, admittedly, was hard to understand in any different way. It was just the hardcore Hamilton fan in him that spoke out. At worst, he was calling your choice of favorite driver obnoxious, not you!
But the difference in opinion only made him realize that now, he can’t even talk about your mutual interest with you. As a self-proclaimed Red bull hater, your stance made him annoyed.
It wasn’t personal, though!
Will was starting to get annoyed with you all the time. Like the way he always used to bump into you at the office. You were visiting Chris, and neither of you thought to tell him and invite him to hang out together. Chris was his friend first, after all– didn’t he get some privileges in this? Maybe he wanted to get to know you better as well! There was so much about you he didn’t know, and was curious to learn about.
After a while, Will convinced himself he hated you. For what reason? Well, that was unknown to him as well. He just felt a strong mix of emotions towards you, and not able to decipher them, he thought that at core, they must be hatred.
He watched all of your videos just to spite himself. He noticed all your favorite makeup products, remembered your coffee order just because you mentioned it in a vlog once and he desperately needed something about you to make fun of. Hell, he even had his post notifications on for you– that’s how deep the hatred went.
He obsessively checked your Instagram page every day. Just staring at your face made him irritated– because for some reason, it felt like he was the least important person in your life. You paid him no attention at all, unless he was targeting you with a not-so-nice remark.
Maybe he was doing all of this for attention, after all. The realization was embarrassing and late to arrive, but it struck him like lightning from the clear sky the fated evening a young, broad man joined the circle.
Because hate and love seem to be on a really, really thin ice, don't they?
Will knows what you like to do in your free time, just so he can joke at your expense the next time you all meet for a pint. Or maybe… maybe he knows what you like to do in your free time, because he is trying to find something in the list that he could silently, naturally slip into just to spend some time with you.
Will hate-watches your get ready with me’s, just so he can fuel his annoyance with you in private. Or maybe he just likes to stare at your face for a prolonged period of time, taking you in. He’s familiar with the slope of your lips, hypnotized by them when you apply lipgloss on camera. He remembers the curve of your nose and the colors that make your eyes pop. He knows it all. (And in his opinion, you’re way more entertaining at it than Zoella ever was.)
Will makes fun of you for his own satisfaction. Or maybe… maybe he enjoys the attention you give him. Maybe he relishes in your smart come backs, amazed by the wittiness not even his life-long friends have in their insults to him.
All he’s doing, it’s quite masochistic, really.
Hate and love can sometimes look really similar. The stupidity of his initial assumption of this conflict only came to light the moment Will realized he hates your proximity with a certain man in the group.
He was irritated by the sweet looks AB was always giving you. He hated his arm around you, the way he would playfully wink at you and not get punched in his face for it. Will despised how all of your attention was now glued to the younger boy– the more muscular, more handsome, more funny of the group. He wanted to put his fist through the wall every time you two showed up somewhere together.
And this is when Will finally started to think a little logically– because realistically, why would he give a single flying fuck if you were friends with someone? You were everyone’s friend– just not his. Why would it matter if you were close with AB?
He googled his symptoms.
Closed the laptop when a Reddit thread told him he’s jealous.
It was annoying. All of it.
You and AB didn’t even have anything in common! All he had to do was be sweet and smile at you a couple of times.
Oh.
All he had to do was just be sweet and smile at you a couple of times.
Will didn’t realize he fucked up before it was too late. Standing in the middle of a crowded bar, a little buzzed and seeing green. Your face morphed into shock, something in your voice breaking making his insides collapse on themselves, the full weight of his words finally settling in and making him despise no one else but himself.
He didn’t realize his actions were hurting you. He was just… figuring it out.
Which is why when he sees you in the communal kitchen right between his and Chris’ office, standing around with a warm mug of coffee in your hand, he decides to finally grow some balls and approach you with a little bit more kindness, a little bit of remorse from his side.
His footsteps are hesitant as he enters the shared space, bracing himself for some kind of hostility from you. However, all you give him is a quick glance followed by focused ignorance, gaze trailing everywhere around the room before you decide it’s your time to leave the room. Will should’ve known– you were never going to lash out on him. That’s above your level. That’s not something you’d do, no matter how terrible he’s treated you in the past. You carry yourself with grace and dignity, something Will has always admired, and this situation is no different. You’re choosing to protect your peace by leaving, and Will could never blame you for that.
It just made things a little harder for him, he admits. But he decides it’s time to finally break the cycle. It’s time to do better, even though it could be too late.
“Hey,” he half greets you, half calls for your attention when you’re almost out of the door, voice low and unsteady, uncertain in all aspects when it comes to interacting with you.
The shock in your frame is visible as you turn your head to look at him over your shoulder, brows furrowed when you stare at him. It’s clear you didn’t expect him to acknowledge your existence, which only makes Will feel more like an asshole.
“Hi,” you reply, already walking towards the door.
“Can I- Can I talk to you for a sec?” he asks, chewing at his lower lip, stomach feeling like it’s floating on water.
“What about?” you mumble in disinterest.
Will sighs, pinching the skin between his eyebrows. His inner monologue is not enough for him to really place the words into correct sentences, and even though he tried to rehearse the conversation in his head over and over again when he couldn’t fall asleep at night or during the walk to his office, he failed to get a clear picture of what he really wanted to say, or how the dialogue could play out. He didn’t know you enough to predict what your stance would be, and he wasn’t skilled enough at talking about his emotions to truly tell you what’s been eating him alive for the past few months, too sheltered and too protective of his feelings to get so vulnerable.
This wasn’t about him, though– he recognizes the fact and owes up to it. It didn’t have to be perfect, he thinks– the main thing is to apologize, no matter how unpolished and awkward the situation might be.
“I just wanted to say sorry for what I said,” he says, swallowing hard. “I didn’t mean it that way and I’m sorry for hurting your feelings.”
A thick blanket of silence falls over the kitchen, your body finally turning to face the man. He can’t read your expression and every time he tries to lock his gaze with you to get the slightest hint, you avert your eyes. Will feels like he’d been stripped naked in front of you, hating the way he is being perceived, but he knows he has to fight through it.
“I feel like a complete asshole, which to be fair, I was, and– and I hate the way I made you feel not welcome or excluded before. I didn’t realize it affected you like that…” he mumbles, a string of unplanned and badly stuck together words spilling from out between his chapped lips, his figure shifting weight from one foot to another, anxiously waiting for your reply.
The more time passes between his apology and your reply, the more he thinks you might never speak to him again at all. He hates the idea of it, absolutely despises it, but with the lengthy seconds passing, he thinks he might have to get used to it as his new reality. His own self-induced hell.
“Well, it did. It’s okay if you hate me, I can’t… have everyone like me, y’know, as much as I would love that,” you chuckle bitterly, “I just didn’t enjoy the way you showed it so openly.”
“I don’t hate you,” Will shakes his head, panicked and trying to get the words straight. “At all, actually. I think we just… started off on a bad foot, that’s all. To which I’m sorry, again…”
A hum escapes your throat, seemingly not really satisfied with the apology. Will doesn’t blame you– he himself was quite confused with the way he was acting. He can’t expect you to just run into his arms and start acting like his best friend. It doesn’t work like that. Friendships need work and effort, and Will knows it hasn’t really been easy to get along with him all those months.
“Well, okay then,” you say, chewing on the inside of your cheek. “Thanks for apologizing.”
“I- I don’t expect you to forgive me, I know I’ve been a total cunt, but for what it’s worth, I’m sorry and I hope you don’t feel uncomfortable whenever I’m around. And- and if you do, I can avoid you, give you space, or something…” he scratches the back of his neck, not really sure where he’s going with this either.
You force a smile onto your cheeks– the one that’s kind of bitter and doesn’t reach your eyes, nor do your lips really outstretch that much, just a little upturn of your corners– and nod. “It’s fine. I’ll get going now, Chris is waiting for me in the office,” you say, already halfway out of the door. “Bye, Will.”
The coffee he makes himself after is bitter and burns his tongue. The edit he does stuck onto his chair goes worse than expected. It rains on the way home. Will thinks he deserves it.
He feels a bit awkward the next few times you two meet in passing. He puts effort into smiling at you when he says hello to you after he sees you leaving Chris’ office or in the coffee shop down the block from where you two live, and sometimes, you even smile back at him. He focuses on being approachable. Uplifting.
One day, you come into the pub with Becky, sporting a new haircut. None of the guys really notice, but when you slot yourself into the booth diagonally across Will, he acknowledges it and says you look lovely. Every time he remembers the choice of words, he wants to carve his tongue out, but you smiled at him all appreciative– a real smile this time, perhaps the first one since you two have met– and so Will thinks he might be okay with the way the interaction went after all.
There’s a shift between the two of you after that.
Will cheers for you when the group goes to a karaoke bar, acting like you’re Sabrina Carpenter yourself, and not just covering her song along with George screeching to the other mic with you. He high-fives you when you and Becky win at bowling and manages to get through small talk with you when it’s only the two of you left alone at the table and the rest have scattered to the bathroom or the bar.
Will thinks it’s progress. He still hates the way AB clings to you like you are his wife, but he doesn’t mention it out loud. It’s none of his business, and he isn’t willing to take three steps back right after taking a hesitant step forward if he causes yet another scene.
He manages to successfully mingle himself into the conversation when you talk about F1 with Harry and Becky again, being really cautious of the way he speaks about your favorites. You don’t ignore his two cents in the dialogue, hell, you even direct some thoughtful sentences at him, and he swears he feels like there’s sun peeking from behind the rain clouds, warming him up and inviting him in for better days.
Becky mentions the trip to Monaco. You express how badly you’d want to see a race live.
“You should go with us next time,” Will finds himself saying before he even has a chance to recalculate the direction the conversation is heading, “I’ll let you know in advance and text you the Airbnb link if you’re free, it’s much cheaper if we all share one place.”
You don’t dismiss the offer. You have plans for the weekend of the Belgium grand prix, though, which makes Will a little disappointed even as he watches the race, but he still texts you live updates and pictures of the circuit anyway. It’s the first proper text conversation he’s had with you, and much to his own surprise, you manage to keep it up after.
The chat is eventually filled with silly Instagram reels. One evening, you passionately talk about the Love island drama and Will finds himself laughing at your jokes a little too hard. You send him ugly pictures of Chris whenever you record with him and Will sends back pictures of James sleeping on the couch after a long day of opening Temu packages for his second channel.
One day, Will hypes himself up so much he asks you if you’d want to get coffee with him. You two have never managed to meet up one on one together before, so this felt like a huge step in the right direction. When you said yes, Will almost ran a lap around his apartment, excitement and adrenaline filling his veins. He didn’t know interacting with you would give him such a dopamine kick.
He fights the battle of finding the right balance between drenching himself in cologne and smelling decently good, alongside with choosing which pair of identical black pants would make him look the best for the occasion. He arrives at the coffee shop 15 minutes early and keeps anxiously checking his phone, as if this was a first date he was afraid you’d cancel on.
Hell, he almost acts like it’s a date. He compliments you when you arrive in your pretty sundress and holds the door open for you, finding you rolling your eyes at his chivalry. He pays for your coffee and waves you off when you insist on Venmo-ing him back.
“It’s for the months of torture I accidentally put you through,” he jokes as you two sit at the table next to the window, your eyes following the bikers outside on the street.
An amused smile reaches your face. Will kinda wants to take a picture of it to look at later.
“You know, it’s kinda funny that we ended up here like this,” you say, shaking your head in disbelief. “Big progress from you calling me obnoxious, that is.”
“I just took your opinions very personally,” he defends himself, shrugging, “didn’t know you’d be so sensitive about it.”
“Says you,” you call him out, sighing. “You know, I still don’t get why you were so mean to me at the start, but it’s kinda funny to look back on it now. George even said one day how you might be doing it because you like me and want my attention, can you believe that?” you laugh.
Like it’s funny.
Like it’s a joke.
Will almost chokes on his coffee. There’s beads of sweat appearing on his skin, threatening to roll down his back. He clears his throat to make himself sound normal, completely unaware of just how much more odd and calculated the action makes him seem.
“Well, that would just be awkward, wouldn’t it?” he mumbles, not really meeting your gaze.
He feels himself heating up. Does he have a fever? He feels like the world behind the window is moving a little unsteady, making his head spin. He hates himself for not taking his coffee iced– maybe that would help him feel a little better, to ease and cool down the volcano erupting in the pit of his stomach.
“Hm,” you hum in agreement, “Will?”
“Yeah?” he asks, voice raising 3 octaves.
“You’re blushing,” you deadpan, making him feel sick. This is not how he imagined the afternoon to go.
“It’s just hot in here.”
“The AC’s on.”
“Yeah, maybe they should turn it up more–”
“Are you serious?” you laugh, catching him off guard. He stares at you, taking your expression in– the big, blown-out eyes, an unfamiliar twinkle behind them. The subtle grin, your glossy lips matching the color on your smiley cheeks. You look pleasantly amused, totally at peace with the revelation Will knows he can’t really run away from anymore.
“What? Why?”
“If you had a crush on me, you could’ve just said so!” you let out a laugh. Will doesn’t know how you can read him so well, but he bets the sweating and the shaking of his hands around the coffee cup really isn’t helping him either– you don’t need to be a body language expert to get this one straight.
“I didn’t have a crush on you, it’s just–”
“If you just glared at me a little less and talked to me more, we could’ve saved ourselves a lot of time, y’know,” you sweetly say, completely shutting Will up.
Not because he doesn’t know what to say– just because he’s shocked you don’t hate the idea of him liking you. If he was feeling bold enough, he’d even say you were kind of open to the fact, a little bit pleased with the realization of the man’s true feelings for you. Will feels like the gates to heaven just opened right in front of him and all he has to do is take a courageous step through it to reach paradise.
“Well, let’s not waste any more time then, no?” he mumbles, still a little shy. “Is this a date, or should I invite you to another one?”
The cheeky smile you give him is worth more than any snarky remark or annoyed glare you used to give him before, just scraps of attention. Suddenly, Will feels stupid for ever making it so confusing for the both of you.
Turns out, all along, it was that easy.
All he really had to do was be sweet and smile a little.
