Crescendo | WILBUR SOOT

vi. nerves

(irl!)

WILBUR SOOT WAS NERVOUS. Actually, nervous wasn't the right word. He was a mess.

His long flop of hair was left in a state of disarray from the number of times he'd attempted to fix its unruly state. Much to the dismay and great frustration of the people around him, he continuously tapped a repeating pattern with his feet, sharing his anxiety along through song. He felt his heart in his throat and his stomach in his chest as Wilbur suppressed the want to vomit all over Brighton City Airport's terminal.

Ash Kabosu, Will's bandmate and close friend, placed a hand on the streamer's shoulder. Ash was a quiet kind of fellow, never one to give a big speech or start a conversation, but his presence alone was calming.

"She'll be here, mate."

Wilbur nodded, shaking off some of the growing anxiety. "Yeah, yeah, of course, she will."

The pair waited with bated breath for the curly-haired singer to appear out of the international gate.

Halfway across the airport, Gianna Camazzola pushed her way through a forming hoard of fans in the line for customs. Her bags were small, carrying just enough clothes for two months in a single piece of luggage and carry on.

She glanced down at her phone, catching the sight of another text from her publicist reminding her just how vicious the British press were. If she had a crease in her boots, a hair out of place, or a wrinkle on her shirt, it would make front-page news. While she was in England, she needed to be on her very best behaviour -- as did the rest of Lovejoy. As soon as they connected, anything they did would be an extension of her.

With each step toward the baggage claim, a wave of anxiety rose through her chest. The what-ifs of the situation spiralled through her head. Her fears were always loud, occupying their quarantined segment of her thoughts, but now, they were screaming. Above all else, she worried that Wilbur would think Gianna was nothing compared to the woman he'd been idolising on the internet.

With a deep exhale and an internal reassurance, the pop singer stepped off the escalator and walked through the double glass doors.

Gianna saw Will first. He leaned against a tiled wall, deeply engrossed in some content on his phone. His fluffed brown hair swept over the tops of his eyes, like one of the emo frontmen Gia idolised from the early 2000s. He wore a black flannel, one far too large for his petite frame. Fabric pooled at the elbows as he pushed the material up and away from his forearms.

Her heart found residence in her throat as she approached the impossibly tall man and the bassist by his side.

It took an elbow to the ribs to pull Wilbur away from his phone. He was taken aback. The Gia was standing before him -- an actual person rather than a moving figure on a screen. His thoughts flooded with witty remarks, sharp quips, and all matters of sassy comments, but his mouth failed him.

Even in her heeled boots, she looked to be just over five feet. Her thick hair, once loose and untamed, was contained in a neat ponytail. She was all too perfect to be real -- much like a glass figurine sat in the back of a china cabinet.

A cough escaped his lips as his body forced him to breathe, something he had neglected to do in her presence. Will watched motionlessly as Gia greeted Ash with a kind smile, hugging the bassist like she was meeting an old friend. 

It felt like an eternity before the singer looked up at Wilbur. The blood rushing in her ears made it hard for her to think. Who gave him the right to be that damn good-looking?

"Hi," was all she managed. "I'm Gianna." 

Will didn't think at all before pulling the singer into his arms. For a moment, she hesitated against his touch -- suddenly aware of all people around them with cameras and iPhones. But the smell of his faded cologne and his strong arms around her helped the world melt away. Gianna's head nestled into his chest as he reached down to reciprocate her touch. 

Heat flooded Gianna's cheeks as she pulled away from the taller man. Her round eyes thinned into half-moons as a soft smile formed on her lips. For a moment, she felt like a school girl -- breathless, lightheaded, and overwhelmed with the existence of a man. 

"Hi, Gianna," Wilbur said after a moment. "It's nice to finally meet you." 

✧ ♪ ✧

a/n: hiya babes!

if you did like the chapter, please be sure to vote and/or comment if you can! i do apologize for how long it took me to turn this one out, but i am reasonably happy with how it came out 

drink some water and kiss someone pretty today xx

xoxo,
may