Finding Will Love
Will Lenney Oneshot
A/N feel free to send me in some requests guys. Honestly my list was getting a bit overwhelming so I've started over im sorry. But, I've been given a sickline for 2 weeks off work so ill be needing stuff to do and writing it a great way to take my mind of the shit show that is life
The road to Manchester felt like a promise. Grey skies stretching wide over the motorway, music low, snacks demolished far too early. You were in the passenger seat of Will’s car, your trainers kicked up on the dash until he swatted your ankle.
“Get them off, you gremlin,” he muttered, fighting a smile. “That’s leather.”
“You’re leather,” you shot back lazily.
From the back seat, James snorted. “oh yeah, Incredible comeback. Pulitzer-worthy.”
Will reached over and squeezed your knee briefly. Casual. Subtle. The kind of touch no one would clock. The kind you’d both perfected over four months of quiet love.
Four months of inside jokes. Four months of late-night “stay on FaceTime until we fall asleep.” Four months of it being yours.
Private. Safe.
“Right,” Will said, glancing at you quickly. “Just so we’re clear again. It’s a bit. Nothing’s actually happening. I’ll be polite, bit of awkward flirting for the camera. That’s it.”
“I know,” you said. And you did. You really did.
James leaned forward between the seats. “If he even looks too interested, I’ll throw something at him.”
Will scoffed. “You are not my chaperone.”
“Incorrect,” James replied. “I am her emotional support chaperone.”
You laughed, but there was still something fizzing low in your stomach. A small, sharp bubble. Will noticed. He always did. He reached for your hand this time, properly lacing your fingers together for a second before letting go again as a lorry overtook you.
“I wouldn’t have agreed if we’d already soft launched,” he said quietly. “You know that.”
“I know.” And you did. You just didn’t know how you were going to feel watching it.
At The Studio
The Bov Boys studio was chaos in the way only their shoots were. Lights. Cables. Ginge shouting something about batteries. Beano arguing with Tays about camera angles. Jakey eating something he definitely wasn’t meant to have near equipment.
You stayed off to the side with James, trying to look like you were just… there. A friend. Background furniture. Will looked ridiculous in a mic pack and charming grin.
“Welcome back to the channel,” Ginge boomed. “Today we are FINDING WILL LOVE.”
You swallowed. Will glanced toward you for half a second. Quick. Soft. Reassuring.
You nodded. It was fine. Until she walked in.
She was gorgeous. Effortlessly so. And when she saw Will, her entire face lit up like someone had plugged her directly into the National Grid.
“Oh my God,” she whispered, and then giggled. You couldn’t even blame her. He was hot. He always looked hot.
James shifted beside you. “Deep breaths,” he muttered quietly.
“I’m fine.”
“You are vibrating.”
Before her “date,” she wandered over to the boys, leaning in close to Tays.
You watched her whisper something in his ear.
Tays’ entire face went nuclear red.
“What?!” Beano demanded.
Tays wheezed, bending over, hands on his knees. “I can’t. I cannot repeat that on camera.”
Ginge was crying laughing. Jakey looked like he’d just been told state secrets.
Even Will looked confused from across the room. Your stomach twisted. Then she sauntered over to the table. And she flirted. Hard. Leaning forward. Twirling her hair. Laughing at everything he said.
Will was polite. Charming. Playing it up just enough for the bit.
Off-camera, Beano nudged Tays. “Tell us.”
Tays finally caved and whispered what she’d said. The boys exploded again.
Will frowned. “What? What did she say?”
“Ask her,” Ginge grinned wickedly with a wink.
So Will did. And she reached forward. Grabbed his collar. Pulled him closer. Too close. He didn't pull away either. She Whispered into his ear.
Will’s face went scarlet. And he laughed. That stupid, boyish grin. Cheeky, you loved it in any other situation.
She touched his arm.
You felt it like someone had shoved ice down your spine. Your vision blurred. You tried to blink back the tears forming. You turned away sharply.
James immediately wrapped an arm around your shoulders. “You okay?”
You looked at him. And that was it. Tears pooled before you could stop them.
“No,” you whispered. “I can’t do this. I need to go. This is ridiculous. I feel stupid. I feel like a spare prick.”
James’ jaw tightened. “He’s being an idiot.”
“It’s not even his fault,” you choked. “I just. I can’t stand here and watch it. It feels wrong.”
You didn’t wait. You just left.
Outside the Manchester air hit you cold and damp.
You didn’t know where you were going. So you just walked. Then walked faster. Then you were practically running toward the train station because it was the only landmark you recognised. Behind you, James had tried to call your name.
But you couldn’t stop. Not when your chest felt like it was cracking open.
Back Inside Chazza noticed first.
“Did she just leg it?” he asked James, confused.
James sighed, rubbing his face. He pointed to Will, still mid-laugh as the girl was still touching his arm.
Chazza squinted. “What? Does she fancy him or something? We could’ve set them up properly if we knew, play cupid and all"
James looked at him flatly.
“No. They’ve been together for four months.”
Silence.
Chazza blinked. “You’re joking.”
“Nope.”
“…Oh.”
“Will likes to keep it private. That’s why he agreed to this. That’s why we’re here. So nothing would happen. She doesn't want the attention that comes with their public relationship either, but I don't think she wsnts to watch her boyfriend flirting up a storm with some gorgeous woman right in front of her face for the whole world to see.”
Chazza’s face drained. “Oh no. Oh God. That’s awful. We wouldn’t have done this if we knew.”
He immediately marched over to Ginge.
“We need to stop the video. Now.”
Ginge frowned. “Why? This is class.”
Chazza leaned in, whispering quickly.
Ginge’s eyebrows climbed into his hairline. “You’re kidding.”
“No.”
“Stop filming,” Ginge barked immediately. Everything froze.
Will looked confused. “What’s wrong?”
“Where’s Reader?” Beano asked.
Will turned.
His stomach dropped.
“Where is she?”
James stepped forward. “She left.”
“What? Why?”
Chazza and James exchanged a look.
“You should’ve seen yourself, mate,” James said quietly. “I felt heartbroken for her.”
Will stared at him. “It was for the bit. It wasn’t serious. Aw, fuck.” His hands went to his head. “She doesn’t know anyone in Manchester.”
He pulled out his phone.
Called.
It rang out.
He called again.
Declined.
His chest tightened.
Then a text came through.
'I’m going home.'
Will swore. “Train station.”
He bolted.
You were just outside the entrance to the station when you heard tyres screech slightly too aggressively.
“Don’t you dare cry again,” you muttered, wiping your face.
“Baby!”
You stiffened.
Will jogged toward you, breathless, hair a mess.
“Don’t,” you snapped.
He stopped in front of you anyway.
“What are you doing?”
“What does it look like?” you shot back. “I’m going home.”
“You’re not getting a train back to London alone.”
“I’ll manage.”
“Stop,” he said, softer now.
You laughed bitterly. “You looked like you were having a great time in there.”
“It was a bit.”
“You were glowing.”
“I was embarrassed!”
“You were grinning.”
He stepped closer. “Because she said something outrageous and I didn’t know what to do!”
“She pulled you in like she owned you.”
His jaw tightened. “No one owns me.”
You swallowed.
“Exactly.”
Silence fell between you. Loud. Heavy.
“We don’t need to be a public spectacle for people to know you’re in a relationship, Will,” you said, voice shaking. “I don’t need paraded around. But standing there watching you flirt with someone who just told your mates she wants to”
He winced. “Please don’t finish that sentence.”
“I felt invisible.”
That hit him. Hard.
He stepped closer again, gentler now.
“You are the least invisible person in my life.”
You didn’t respond.
“Right, I messed up,” he admitted. “I got caught up in the bit. I didn’t clock how it looked. I didn’t look at you once to check in. That’s on me.”
You folded your arms, still angry, still hurt.
“I love you.”
The words landed between you like something fragile and priceless. You blinked.
“What?”
“I love you,” he repeated, steadier now. “I’ve loved you for weeks. I just didn’t want to rush saying it. But I do. I love you. And I never, ever meant to make you feel like that.”
Your anger cracked slightly at the edges.
“I'm going to sort it,” he continued. “We don’t have to be public public. But I don’t want you ever feeling like you have to hide.”
Your throat tightened.
“You’re still an idiot.”
“I know.”
“And I’m still angry.”
“Fair.”
You exhaled slowly.
“Take me back. I don't want to get a train to London myself.”
"I knew you wouldn't want that" he laughed softly.
Back at the Studio The Bov Boys looked like school kids waiting outside the headteacher’s office.
Ginge stepped forward immediately. “We are so sorry. Honestly.”
Tays nodded furiously. “We had no idea.”
Beano looked genuinely horrified. “We wouldn’t have done that if we knew.”
“It’s fine,” you said, though your eyes were still puffy.
Will slipped his hand into yours. Openly. In front of all of them.
“We’re hard launching,” he said.
James let out the loudest sigh of relief in human history. “THANK GOD.”
Chazza grinned sheepishly. “For the record, I genuinely thought she just had a crush on him.”
“You nearly set him up,” James said dryly.
“My missus would kill me if I tried to pull what you just did" Chazza laughed.
Will rolled his eyes. “Can we focus?”
You all agreed to spin the video differently. Like maybe the “search for love” hilariously failed because he was already taken.
The mood slowly lifted. And when the video finally went live a week later, Will posted A photo of you both in the car from that Manchester trip. Your head on his shoulder. His stupid soft smile.
Caption: Turns out they didn’t need to find me love. I already had it. This is my lovely girlfriend. We’re keeping it private, but she deserves to not feel hidden.
Your phone exploded.
But that night, it was just the two of you. Quiet. Safe. His. YoursAnd finally, not invisible anymore.
