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nhlclover · 10 days

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𝐖𝐇𝐘 | 𝐖𝐈𝐋𝐋 𝐒𝐌𝐈𝐓𝐇

summary: you and will struggle with unspoken feelings for each other, navigating confusion, flirtation, and fear of ruining your friendship

warnings: somewhat based on 'why' by shawn mendes, uncommunicated feelings, angst a bit, takes place while will is still at bc, will & reader being dumb teens, happy ending!

word count: 2.28k

Friends milled around the living room, laughter filling the space, but Will's eyes constantly flickered toward you. You were curled up on the couch, your laughter echoing in the background as you laughed at something that Jacob said. The sight of you made his chest tighten like it always did.

Will leaned back against the wall, his fingers absentmindedly running through his hair as his gaze kept drifting back to you. It was like some invisible force always pulled his attention in your direction. The way your eyes lit up when you laughed, the subtle way you tilted your head when you listened intently, and that playful, teasing smile you wore so easily—it all hit him harder than he ever expected.

However, you made it so confusing for Will. Some days, you’d flirt with him relentlessly, drawing him in with sly comments and the way you’d casually touch his arm or laugh at his jokes. Other days, you acted completely indifferent, like he was just another guy in the room and saying ‘hi’ like you had just met him. It drove him crazy. He'd tried dating other girls, but none of them made his heart race like you did.

You weren’t like anyone he’d met before. There was an effortless ease about you, a confidence that threw him off-balance in the best way. You challenged him, made him laugh when he didn’t even realize he needed it, and lately, he couldn’t help but wonder what it would be like to close the distance between you two.

Jacob said something else that made you throw your head back in laughter, and Will felt the familiar pang in his chest. This wasn’t just a surface-level attraction; it was deeper and more complicated than that. Whenever he was around you, the world felt a little lighter, like the weight he’d been carrying for months started to lift without him even noticing. His chest tightened again as he caught your eye across the room. For a split second, your gaze locked onto his, and the corners of your lips curved up in that teasing, knowing way you always had.

Will’s breath hitched. He knew that look. It was the same one that had his heart racing the first time you met, the same one that made him wonder if maybe—just maybe—there was something there. Something more than the easy friendship you shared. The air between you seemed heavy with unspoken possibilities, Will’s pulse quickening. But before he could even think about making a move, you turned away, continuing her conversation with Jacob like nothing had happened.

“You guys should just date already, y’know?” Gabe said, pulling Will’s attention back to the people around him that he had tuned out.

Will’s eyes flicked back and forth a couple times between Gabe and you, chuckling lightly. “Nah… I’m still not ready for anything serious.”

Will stiffened as his words came out, knowing it was a lie. He didn’t quite know why he couldn’t just admit that you’re all he wants.

“When do you think Will is gonna make a move on you?” Jacob said, catching you off guard.

You blinked at him, eyes flicking briefly to the blond who was talking to Gabe. “What are you talking about?”

“You guys flirt with each other like crazy and don’t think I haven’t noticed all the little looks you’ve been giving each other… it’s making me want to throw up.” Jacob said, sipping from his beer.

You chuckled, a little flustered by Jacob’s observation, but quickly masked it with a playful roll of your eyes. “We do not flirt that much. He’s just… Will.”

Jacob snorted a laugh, clearly unconvinced. “It’s obvious, you know? Everyone sees it. You two have this… thing. It's like you're both waiting for the other to make the first move."

You glanced over at Will again, the way he was laughing at something Gabe said, how his hand dragged through his hair like he always did when he was nervous. A familiar warmth spread through your chest, the same one that made you second-guess your every interaction with him. Sure, there was chemistry—undeniable, sometimes electric—but you’d kept it at arm’s length.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” you said in a low voice, trying to shrug it off, but Jacob wasn’t having it.

He leaned in closer, lowering his voice. “Oh, come on. You’re not fooling anyone. Look at the way you’re staring at him right now.”

You once again pulled your eyes off Will, laughing it off, but in reality, your heart was racing. Although you didn’t want to admit it, what Jacob was saying was true. Will had gotten under your skin in a way no one else had. The two of you had always had this unspoken connection, this easy banter that somehow made everything feel lighter, yet you’d never crossed that line. You didn’t know why. Maybe it was fear, or maybe you were waiting for him to make the first move, unsure of how deep his feelings really ran.

“Okay, fine,” you finally sighed, unable to completely deny it anymore. “But… I don’t even know if he’s serious. One minute, he’s all charming and sweet, and the next, he acts like we’re just buddies. He’s so confusing.”

Jacob raised an eyebrow, looking skeptical. “Maybe you’re the one confusing him. You flirt, then pull away. That’s gotta mess with his head.”

You blinked, suddenly realizing that maybe Jacob was right. It wasn’t just Will being inconsistent—it was you too. Every time things started to feel real, you’d instinctively pull back, unsure if you were ready to risk turning your friendship into something more. The thought of losing him if things went wrong scared you more than you liked to admit.

Across the room, Will was watching you again. His smile had faded slightly as if sensing the shift in your mood, and for a moment, his gaze softened in a way that made your heart skip a beat. There was something there. You could feel it.

“Alright,” Jacob said, standing up with a stretch. “I’m just saying, you both clearly like each other. Someone’s gotta make a move sooner or later, or you’re gonna drive each other crazy.”

You opened your mouth to protest, but Jacob was already moving on, leaving you alone with your thoughts. You glanced at Will once more, and this time, he didn’t look away. His eyes lingered on yours, searching, questioning.

Your breath hitched, heart racing as you felt the weight of Will’s gaze on you. It was like the air in the room had suddenly thickened, making it harder to breathe. The conversation and laughter around you started to blur, becoming nothing more than background noise. You shifted uncomfortably, trying to dismiss the rising warmth creeping up your neck and the way your stomach fluttered every time Will glanced your way.

It was all too much—the teasing from Jacob, the weight of Will’s unspoken feelings, your own confusion and hesitation. The walls seemed to close in as you tried to push it all down, but it wasn’t working. You needed air.

You stood up, slipping quietly through the crowd, making your way to the front porch. The cool evening air hit your skin, offering a slight relief from the heat building inside you. You sat down on the steps, closing your eyes as you tried to calm the storm of emotions swirling within you.

What am I doing? you thought, your chest tightening as you replayed the moments with Will in your head. Jacob’s words echoed in your mind — We both clearly like each other. Someone’s gotta make a move sooner or later.

But it wasn’t that simple. Every time you got close to Will, it felt like you were teetering on the edge of something you weren’t sure you were ready for. You were terrified of the possibility that once you crossed that line, there would be no going back. What if things didn’t work out? What if you lost him, not just as a friend but as someone who had become such an important part of your life?

You took a shaky breath, rubbing your arms as the cool breeze swept across the porch. Maybe Jacob’s right, you thought, your mind racing. Maybe I’m the one messing things up. Maybe I’m the one who’s been too scared to take that step.

The door creaked open, interrupting your train of spiralling thoughts. You glanced over your shoulder to see who’d followed you out, spotting Will shutting the door behind him. Of course, it was Will.

“You okay?” he asked, his voice low, gentle, as if he could sense the turmoil inside you.

Will had watched you suddenly get up and walk out after talking to Jacob, a rush of worry running through him. You nodded, not trusting yourself to speak just yet. Will moved down to the steps, sitting beside you, your shoulders brushing as he sat. The contact sent a jolt through you, and you cursed yourself for how easily he affected you.

“I saw you slip out,” he continued, glancing at you out of the corner of his eye. “You seemed a little… overwhelmed.”

You forced a smile, though it didn’t quite reach your eyes. “Yeah, I just needed some air. It was getting a little… crowded in there.”

Will chuckled softly, but there was an underlying tension in his voice. “Yeah, I get that.” Will nodded.

He leaned back, looking up at the night sky that was speckled with bright stars. For a moment, the only sound was the faint laughter and chatter from inside, mingling with the rustle of the breeze through the trees. You both sat in that silence, but it was different from before—thicker, heavier with all the things you weren’t saying.

Normally, you’d have no problem with finding something to talk to Will about. But now, the pair of you sat in awkward silence, unsure of how to speak to each other now with realized feelings.

Will turned his head to look at you, his gaze softer now, searching. “What’s going on, really?” he asked, his voice quieter this time. “It feels like… I don’t know. Like something’s been off with us recently. And I don’t know about you, but it’s been driving me insane.”

Your breath caught in your throat at his words, and you turned to look at him, your heart pounding. Will was still staring at the sky, his jaw clenched, as if he was trying to find the right words.

“I’ve been trying to figure this out for a while now,” he admitted, his voice a little rough. “And I keep thinking… what if this is all just in my head? What if I’m reading things wrong? Because one minute, you’re flirting with me like crazy, and the next, you’re pulling away. And I don’t know what to think anymore.”

His words hit you hard, cutting through the confusion and defenses you’d built up. You swallowed, your mouth suddenly dry as you realized that he was just as uncertain as you were.

“I’m sorry,” you whispered, your voice barely audible. “I didn’t mean to confuse you. I just… I didn’t know how to handle it.”

Will finally turned to face you, his blue eyes locking onto yours with an intensity that made your heart skip a beat. “Handle what?”

You hesitated, the weight of the moment pressing down on you. But you couldn’t hold it in any longer. “How I feel about you.”

His eyes widened slightly, and for a second, you thought you’d said too much. Then, Will sat up, his posture straightening and brows furrowing.

“How do you feel?” he asked quietly, his voice steady but laced with vulnerability.

You took a deep breath, forcing yourself to be honest. “I… I like you, Will. I have for a while now. But I didn’t know what to do about it because I was scared. Scared of what happens if we try and it doesn’t work out. What if we ruin everything? I like having you in my life y’know?”

Will couldn’t help but chuckle, reaching out and taking your hand in his. The simple gesture sent warmth flooding through you, and for the first time in a long time, the uncertainty started to fade. “I like having you in my life too.”

You glanced down at his fingers that began to gently trace your knuckles. It sent a shiver down your spine, but you felt yourself relaxing.

“I feel the same way,” he continued. “I’ve liked you for so long, but I didn’t know if you were serious, or if it was all just… a game.”

You shook your head, your voice firm this time. “It’s not a game. I didn’t mean to mess with your head, Will. I just… I didn’t know how to deal with my own feelings.”

“You don’t have to be scared anymore,” he whispered. “I don’t want to be just your friend. I want more.”

Your heart pounded in your chest, the weight of his words sinking in. And in that moment, all the fear, the confusion, the hesitation melted away. “I want more too.”

Will’s hand moved to cup your cheek, his thumb brushing softly against your skin before he leaned in, closing the gap between you. His lips meet yours, soft and tentative at first, then more sure, more certain. All the tension, the frustration, the confusion melts away in that moment. When you pull back, breathless, you look into his eyes, seeing the same mixture of relief and affection reflected back at you.

“Guess we’re done pretending,” you murmur, a small smile tugging at your lips.

Will grins, brushing a strand of hair away from your face. “Yeah. No more games.”

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