Okay, I know that Will went through bullying when he was a kid, and he's against bullying, so this is an AU where he was not a victim of bullying.
Female pronouns have been used, are being used, and will be used, in case you haven't noticed yet. It's just easier for me to write that way.
~~~
I clutched my books closer to me as I walked through the hallways, trying to avoid most forms of social interaction because I'm a socially awkward turtle when it comes to interacting in person.
And the sad thing to that was I didn't make very many friends. I mean, I had some, but they left me because I didn't like doing anything with them. I'd always prefer to read my books or something.
Anyway, me being a nerd often caused me to be left out of things, or just forgotten. Not that I minded, anyway. But it still hurts sometimes. Especially since one of the popular kids, Will Poulter, had taken to teasing me the moment I set foot on campus my very first day.
Well, I'm sorry, Will, if I'm smarter than you. I can't help it if I can do better in the academic field than you. I can't help it if I know what an octothorpe is (A/N: it's the hashtag symbol), or that a lot of the greek gods and goddesses were related somehow but married each other anyway or had attractions towards each other. Yeah, there's something called reading and being a bookworm and a fangirl. But you are better in the athletic field than I am, so I guess we're even.
See, I was a nerdy kid, the one that usually got teased because "we couldn't stick up for ourselves" and because "we're nerdy" (like, TF. That's the stupidest reasoning ever)> But seriously, I don't get that reasoning. If us nerds are able to carry a bunch of books without getting tired, I don't know why we're portrayed as weak.
But here's the catch to the teasing: I had liked Will from the start. Which made it difficult for me in every way. Except for when he was teasing me. I was too distracted by him to actually pay attention to his insults.
However, it was common knowledge that Will had his eyes set on the most popular girl in school,
Speaking of insults.....it's about time for the daily dose of insults to come.
I made my way to my next class, counting down until Will's insult.
5...
I walked past the chem classroom, and past some more lockers.
4...
I pushed past the group of girls that usually hung around Will and doted on him. And there came the snooty looks that came with them. And to be honest, I don't know why they think they're better than everyone else. Like okay, you've got more makeup on, and a lot of fake stuff going on, but COME ON! No need to put yourself above others.
3...
I waved to the nerds that I usually hung out with at lunch and during group projects. They waved back, smiling.
2...
I stepped into my classroom and sat down at my usual desk, pulling out The Ask and The Answer and read until I hear footsteps shuffling in for class.
1...
"'Ey, freak girl!" Will's voice called. He always called me that. I'm pretty sure he didn't know my real name; he'd been calling me that for so long.
My book was suddenly ripped out of my hands and held high out of my reach. It didn't take a genius to figure out who the culprit was.
"Give it back, Will." I said calmly.
"I called you. You were supposed to listen." Will snapped.
"Oh, I wasn't aware that my name was 'freak girl'." I shot back, glaring at him with every bit of anger.
A few of the students that assembled around us muttered "Oof." or a variant of that. Will scowled.
"Also, I didn't know that I was a servant and that I should respond to your every beck and call." I added.
Will sighed. "Meet me in the courtyard after school." he muttered so only I could hear.
I immediately grew suspicious. "Why?"
Will didn't do anything. "Be there."
~~~
After packing up everything for the day, I made my way to the school's clean and kempt courtyard. Will was standing near the school's statue of our mascot, a hawk. He looked up when he saw me coming.
"Thought you'd chicken out." he remarked.
"Yeah, I never got why people call cowards, "chickens". I mean, have you seen the way a chicken looks at you? It looks like it's gonna beat you up at any moment." (A/N: The post I got that inspiration from is at the bottom.)
Will laughed, and I gave a small smile.
"This is the side of you that all of your friends that I know keep talking about, huh?" Will remarked.
I shrugged. "What do you really want from me, Will?"
"I don't know, to be honest." he replied quietly, looking down at the ground. He looked different.
For once, he didn't look like the aloof, confident boy I knew. For once, he didn't look like he was about to pull a prank on me or tease me. For once, he looked.....broken. Confused. Defeated, even.
"For these past 3 years, I've been in love with you. From the moment we both stepped onto campus, I've had my eyes set on you. And I've made it pretty clear to any of the other boys that you were going to be my girl. I knew that you'd never pay attention to me. You'd never even so much as look at me.
Will looked up at me. "Teasing you and insulting you was the only way for you to pay attention to me. It was the only way I could get you to talk to me, even if you were making a fool of me. It didn't matter though, if it meant talking to you for even a few minutes a day. You have no idea how hard it was to break down in front of everyone and apologize to you and confess my feelings to you."
I was shocked. Will Poulter, one of the most popular boys at my school, liked me? I wasn't in a dream, was I? WILLIAM FREAKING POULTER LIKED ME BACK?! No way. How was that possible? My thoughts pinballed from one thought to the next. Dangit, (Y/N), keep it together. Don't fangirl.
"And you're telling me this now?" I managed to get out.
Will dropped his head. "I know. I regret not saying anything sophomore year. Or freshman year, even. I guess I was afraid of rejection. Everybody is."
I nodded, and grasped one of Will's hands in my own. "Well, if it makes you feel any better, I regret not saying anything freshman year too."
Will's head whipped up. "What?"
"Yeah. I've liked you the moment I saw you, first day of freshman year when we set foot on campus. Guess it was love at first sight, huh?" I said with a laugh.
Will smiled, looking at our intertwined hands. "Well in that case...." He looked back up at me. "Will you be my girlfriend?"
NOW HE'S ASKING ME TO BE HIS GIRLFRIEND!!! SCREEEEEE THIS IS AMAZING!!!
"Of course I would." I replied.
And Will immediately kissed me. I wrapped my arms around his neck, pulling him towards me as he wrapped his arms around my waist.
"WHOA! HOLY--" someone shouted, making Will and I jump away from each other.
We followed the sound of the voice and saw that Will's close friend, Dylan, had a look of pure shock and surprise.
Will glared at him, and Dylan quickly retreated back the way he came. I snickered as Dylan blubbered as he backed away.
"People will talk tomorrow." I warned.
Will shrugged. "Let them talk. I'm tired of hiding my feelings. I've done it for too long."
I smiled as he pulled me in for another kiss, feeling like a huge weight had been lifted off of me. We pulled away a moment later, and Will ended up walking me home.