▪ ▪ ▪
very unsurprisingly, max and jane were really excited to hear about his date.
like, more excited than him.
way more excited.
after max hugged him like he had just announced he's actually pregnant with her child or something, and jane clapped and wooped so hard that she actually made the few costumers around turn to look at them, the two girls insisted to hear every detail of their conversation.
it didn't matter how many times he tried to explain to them that it was pretty simple and they had only talked for like, two minutes- they still made him tell every last part of it. when he told them about the gifted book, they acted as if it was priceless jewel instead of a beat-up paperback book.
"we have so much to do. we have to pick your outfit, we have to- well, i guess just pick your outfit. but that'll take a while so we have to get started!" max exclaimed, finally giving the book back to him after having flipped through it about a million times.
will laughed. "max, work isn't over yet."
the redheaded girl looked around at the eating people around them, as if just remembered they were at a restaurant, and scoffed loudly.
"ugh. work. we're coming over straight after though!"
will looked between the excited faces of the two girls, practically alight with enthusiasm, and couldn't help a twinge of regret. he should be this excited. he wanted to be excited. this was a date, a date with a cute boy! his heart should've been overflowing, a smile should've been glued to his face.
but no matter how many times he tired to convince himself that tyler was the one his stomach should be bursting with butterflies for, his stomach seemed dead set on only fluttering for mike. even now, even just thinking about him, the tiny butterflies started tingling on his insides. but he needed to ignore them. mike wasn't an option- and even if he had been, will wouldn't date an asshole like him.
if there was one thing his dad taught him, it was that he didn't want to have another asshole in his life.
so he should be as excited as the two girls in front of him. but he wasn't.
but he could prtend that he was- and he would definently do that.
fake it 'till you make it, right?
▪ ▪ ▪
so he let them come over after work. and he played along with their excitement and pretended to care about the clothes they handed to him, and by now it seemed to kind of work. he really did feel kind of excited... but he didn't know if it was genuine excitement, or if he just wanted to be excited so bad he had convinced himself that he was.
ugh. this shouldn't be this complicated.
"no. this just doesn't fit!" jane said, sighing in exasperation. she grabbed both of will's shoulder, turning him around and examining his shirt on again before letting go and running her hands through her hair. will just stood there, not knowing what to respond. this was literally the last shirt he owned that they hadn't tried on- a slightly-faded, light pink button down. it was the only dress shirt he owned, and it was just a little too small since he had gotten it for his cousin's bar mitzvah 3 years prior. he just didn't really need dress shirts...
"this is all i have, guys, and i really do need to go-" he glanced at his watch. somehow, between all of the shirt changes and closing the restaurant and the long journey of settling on which pair of jeans- it was already 7:58 p.m. he really did need to go, but the two girls looked like they weren't even close to being done.
"i know! no offense but you look like a salmon piece, will. we ned something warmer, or maybe some sort of blue?" max said, ignoring will's comment completely.
"it's just a date," will tried, but was once again ignored entirely.
"honestly we might have to go with the uniform shirt. the color looks better on him, but it's just so pedestrian!" max started again, and will couldn't help laughing.
"pedestrain?? max i'm going to the bar we were at yesterday, not to a castle!"
"wait, i have an idea. be right back," jane said, jumping up and running out the room.
"it's sure nice to be listened to. i'm glad i have so much say about my outfit for my date," will said dryly, not mad but kind of amused- he just had to say it though.
max laughed, getting up from the bed to wrap her arms around his neck.
"aww, don't be mad. we're just trying to make this night perfect. i actually can't believe you've here for two weeks and already managed to get one of the hottest guys in town?? damn, byers!" she exclaimed, and will laughed too, the usual blush creeping up to his cheeks.
"i know, i know. i rally am running late, though," he tried again- but luckily for him just then jane burst through the door again, holding a light blue button down.
"put this on!" she ordered, and will didn't waste time arguing or laughing at her weirdly flustered face, but took off his shirt and put the light blue one instead.
it really was perfect. it was too big, but with jane's help rolling the sleeves and tucking it into his jeans, it was just right. he looked... pretty good. like he was actually going to a date.
"you look amazing, will!" jane called, and he broke out into a huge smile, " i knew this shirt would be perfect!"
"it really does look great on you," max confirmed. and then, leaning to whisper into jane's ear she added, probably thinking will couldn't hear-
"but you'd look even better in that, babe. we really ought to get you one of those," she said, and based on the smacking sound that followed and jane jumping up slightly will knew exactly what she did.
they really were cute, but couldn't they wait just two minutes?
"thanks, guys!" he said. he wanted to hug them, but felt like it wasn't the time, maybe. he really didn't want to get in between... that.
"of course. now, go shag him! make us proud!" max called, and both jane and will laughed shocked laughs and looked at her. she shrugged.
"i stand by my statement. aren't you late?" she said, completely calm, and will shook to life. he really was late.
"see you guys later!" he called, dashing out the door, and by the time he got downstairs he didn't know if his heart was fluttering from excitement or because he really did run fast down those stairs.
and if he had stayed just one minute more, he would've heard max ask her girlfriend, "so where did you get that shirt?"
and the brown haired girl shrugged. "oh, mike gave it to me when i told him about will's date. guess he's good for somthing.
▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪
𝐣𝐮𝐥𝐲 𝟏𝟔𝐭𝐡. 𝟏𝟐𝟎𝟏 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐬.
𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫 𝐬𝐚𝐲𝐬: ugh transition chapters galore... I just wanted the date to have it's own chapter lol