Crescendo | WILBUR SOOT

x. everything's fine.

(irl!)

WILL SAT ALONE IN A COFFEE SHOP. His eyes navigated through a sea of notifications, waiting for her name to illuminate his phone. Equally untouched, two coffees sat on the clothed table in front of him. One, black. Simple, without sugar or fuss, the coffee was uncomplicated. The other: a latte. The foam formed a delicate heart; the perfect contrast for the bite of the espresso below.

He needed the day to go well. After all the pushing and fuss, he needed Gianna to like his friends. There was no question in his mind that they would love her. She was kind and witty and wonderful. A single glance made him smile, and her word made him laugh. She was quickly becoming the most important person in his life, and he didn't know how best to proceed.

Will surveyed the street, looking for a flash in the pan of people walking through Brighton. Gianna was impossible to miss -- like a mirage of water in the desert.

A smile built on his lips as she approached. Wire headphones danced in her ears, matching the pace of her musical steps. Large bags adorned with the logos of beloved brands swung at her side. Though her eyes hid behind round, black sunglasses, the smile on her lips undoubtedly stretched to the warmth of her wicked eyes.

Will jumped to his feet, knocking the wicker chair out from under him. "Hey!"

His shirt barely fit, swimming at the elbows and pooling at his waist. His flop of unkempt curls covered one eye, and one of his shoes was untied. He looked perfect.

The singer smiled, pulling him into a loose embrace. "Hey yourself."

"You look-"

"I know, I know, sorry. I couldn't figure out what to wear, and now, I'm a little bit of a mess."

"I was going to say that you look lovely."

Gianna averted her eyes, desperate to hide the smile forming despite herself. Despite her repeated mantra, her heart refused to get with the program. Will couldn't help but make her stomach stampede.

She cleared her throat. "Small table for seven of us."

"I thought, you know, we could spend some time just the two of us first."

"Oh."

"Plus, their train doesn't get in for another-" he checked his phone "-fifteen minutes now. I figured we could get a coffee and walk to the station together."

"Well," she smiled. "Hard to say no to a coffee in the morning."

Relief washed over him like a tidal wave as they sat. Will slid the latte toward her before finally taking a sip of his drink.

"So..." Will started.

"So?"

"Can I ask about the massive bags?"

"Under my eyes?" she retorted. "A bit rude, no?"

He glared at her as the corners of her lips twisted.

"Well," she started, "Last night, I was having a large -- but situationally appropriate meltdown -- so I went for a walk. I just so happened to pass a toy store, which by pure coincidence, was displaying one of the Lego sets Tom was tweeting about last week."

"Right..."

"I didn't even think- I was just in the shop, buying the toy. And then, of course, I couldn't show up with something for one without getting something for all, so I made a couple more stops."

"A couple?" Will asked, incredulous. "It looks like you robbed a mall."

"My Nonna raised me to always bring as an offering," Gianna retaliated. "And she was the smartest woman I ever knew. Who would I be to go against her word?"

He shook his head. "Fair enough, I suppose. You know you didn't need to do anything, right?"

"Technically, yes." She took a long sip of her coffee. "But think about it like this. You all have known each other for however long, and here I am, intruding on a preplanned trip. I'm the outsider- I have no idea how anyone will react to my presence. At least now I can help to level the playing field."

"You didn't bring me anything when we met."

"I moved halfway across the world. I think that counts."

He opened his mouth to respond, but the small ping of an alarm interrupted his thought.

"Time to go."

They walked in tandem - her taking two steps to match his, him moving slower than he'd ever naturally walk. Gianna's hand swung loosely at her side, practically demanding to be held. Her palms looked soft, perfectly contrasting the light callouses grazing her fingertips.

Though every bone, muscle, and cell in his body wanted to, Will didn't dare reach for her hand. They were just friends.

Before long, the pair arrived at the platform, bags of bribes in tow. With each metallic arrival announcement, the anxiety in Will's chest grew. His heart pounded in his head, making it all but impossible to navigate the train station he knew so well.

"Hey," Gianna said, swaying into his side. "Anybody home?"

"Hm- sorry..."

"Everything's going to be fine."

"Are you asking or telling?"

She slipped her hand into his. Goose pimples exploded on his skin as her calloused thumb traced the shape of his knuckle.

"Things can be more than one thing, Wilbur Soot."

"Yeah," Will said, finally remembering how to breathe. "Yeah, I suppose they can be."