Ulysses Paradox (a Will Lenney fanfiction.)

chapter eight

After a few hours, Will was teetering on the edge of tipsy and flat out drunk, and Ruby wasn't far behind. She'd refused the last two shots offered, not interested in drinking to oblivion no matter who was paying. Stephen had found them again after about an hour and stumbled— not walked— straight into Will's arms.

"Mate, I am so drunk!" He giggled. "Why can't we get free alcohol all the time?" Will threw an arm around his shoulder and laughed with him, and as they drunkenly chattered Ruby decided to venture around on her own, a wave of confidence pulling her forward.

Meeting people was much easier by herself, without Will there attempting to facilitate interactions. Everyone else being much more drunk than she was helped immensely, too. She was in the middle of talking with a video editor when a hand gently tapped her shoulder. She turned to look at a woman who looked almost too young to be at an event like this.

"Hi," she began, "Are you Ruby Francis?" Ruby nodded, blushing profusely. She didn't recognize the person in front of her, and felt bad. The woman's eyes went wide. "Oh my god, I seriously love your work. I'm so sorry, this is really awkward—"

"No! Don't apologize, oh my goodness." Ruby cut her off, waving her hand. "What's your name?"

"I'm Jane," she offered a hand and Ruby shook it. "I am like, wow. I'm a little star struck I won't lie, I've been following you for some time now and like, I just heard you were here and then I saw you and I'm like," Jane made a little squealing sound, and Ruby laughed at her enthusiasm. It felt nice to be the one being recognized after watching Will get bombarded by people who knew him.

"You're a breath of fresh air, girlfriend." Ruby said, and squeezed the woman's shoulder. "I feel like a celebrity!" They laughed, and Ruby began asking Jane about her design work, who she knew here, how she got started, and other questions. Jane was flushed, and tripped over her words, obviously not prepared to talk about herself. Ruby wasn't sure how long had passed by the time Will came into view. He was still looking around, she had spotted him first. Her third drink was almost gone, and she considered asking him to get her another, but she decided against it.

When Will finally spotted Ruby, she waved, and he smiled and started in her direction. Jane, who up until that point had been asking Ruby for some advice regarding her website, did a double take as she spotted Will walking their way.

"Oh my god do you know him?" She gasped, "I mean, oh my god that's so embarrassing I'm just like, I watch his youtube videos." Ruby laughed at the starstruck look in the girl's eyes, she was glad Will didn't have the same effect on her.

"Yeah, I do."

"Oi, so you," Will pointed a very drunken finger toward Ruby, "just left me to fend for myself out there." He turned the same finger on the crowd of people in front of them. Ruby felt her cheeks get redder as Will moved closer. Jane stood there and waited to be introduced.

"I am not a babysitter," She commented and tried to redirect his attention to Jane. "This is Jane. She watches your videos." Will turned to acknowledge her, and she smiled hesitantly.

"Hi, oh my god it's so nice to meet you," she said, and Will threw a friendly arm over her shoulders.

"It's a right pleasure, miss Jane. I honestly can't believe people are still watching my shite when there's plenty 'a better people up on Youtube nowadays." He laughed, and Jane went wide eyed.

"You-you are so funny, I just like, you've got a good personality and—"

"Oi, you're gonna make me blush," Will laughed, "I didn't mean for that to be a fish for compliments by any regard, I'm right honored to have lovely people like yous still watching my videos." Jane was beet red and had a smile plastered across her face, and Ruby could tell that she didn't know what to say.