Friends? (MemeNE)

VII. Not Like This

"Hey, wait up." Will half-shouted after his mate, already yearning to have his hand back in his.

It was breezy and crisp outside, alright? Will needed that extra warmth.

George slowed his steps slightly but didn't come to a halt as requested. He wasn't mad at his friend per se, he just had to show Will his distaste towards jokes he himself was allowed to make but the brunette wasn't.

"You know that I didn't mean it, right?" The green-eyed man inquired elbow brushing against George's upper arm as he caught up to him, determined to be close but not daring enough to link their fingers together again.

"Yeah." The dirty blonde nodded indifferently careful to look around thoroughly at a zebra crossing. "You could've meant it. It doesn't really matter to me."

Sceptical and a tad bit concerned Will queried. "Oh, really?"

"Shut up and keep walking." George mumbled with a look Will couldn't place, eyes rolled in the process.

Even though there was no bite to his words, it was evident that George was building his defensive walls back up again. However, Will couldn't let that happen. Not again. Never again.

The older boy inspected the addressed lad's side profile, legs still in motion he had to say something. Anything...

"George, I swear to god... What's up with you these days?" He eventually pronounced his curiosity, perplexed why the other man was closing him off yet again.

He was aware of the other's anxiety, but these mood swings implied further mental instability. And albeit, insecurity was a common issue a lot of people got pressed about, George always claimed that he wasn't one of those lot. Don't get me wrong, he wasn't fundamentally overly confident just plainly comfortable in his skin most of the time. Or maybe that was a simple yet strong façade he put up for the world to see. Will wasn't undoubtful anymore.

"I- fuck me if I knew..." George had never been more relieved to lay eyes on his apartment complex than before as he mumbled his words, too low for Will to hear.

"What was that?"

"Nothing I'm just tired. Let's go home, yeah?"

~

It was in the middle of the afternoon, food coma hitting Will heavily from the feast they'd shared half an hour prior. Due to this an intense drowsiness took over the brunette, he was seconds away from drifting off when George's voice quietly brought him back to the present.

"I think the pressure of doing a face reveal is getting to me." The smaller man just about whispered, unsure whether his mate was still awake or not.

The Geordie boy blinked the sleep out of his eyes but didn't lift his head from his respective place on George's shoulder just angled himself to see the dirty blonde's features. Gathering his thoughts on the matter he snuggled a little closer to his companion and spoke up.

"You know you can remain anonymous as long as you want." Will murmured, keeping his tone light and barely audible to match the room's energy, then added. "Hell, forever even."

George hummed in response still fingers enfolding Will's sweater on his forearm in a gentle motion – as a caress if you will.

"Yeah but it would be so much easier if I could just man up and do it. It would broaden the possibilities for Eboys videos with vlogs, more in real life stuff like next week's vid and such." Although, his shrug was unwelcomed by the boy who was using him as a pillow his disfavour wasn't voiced.

Will vaguely remembered a conversation similar to this in the past. Back then he reassured the younger man that they could film most things in his disguise and the only one who'd benefit from ditching the mask would be George with enhancing his ability to breathe freely, maybe even eat or drink on camera and generally see better. He also made sure to let the younger know that he should only make fatal decisions like so based on his own needs and wants. Who cared if another person preferred George bare faced? Will did too but he wasn't going to tell his friend to throw his initial plans for his YouTube career out of the window to get more views or that he could see his expressive eyes shine and cherry lips curl into an incredible smile .