Hello! Here's a five minute short story for you all! I honestly don't believe Will will be the one to tell Mac, and I have so so many possibilities for this idea! I suppose this is probably at least a little OOC, and I apologise for that! I don't own the Newsroom, and the title is by Beachwood Sparks! :)
"45 seconds back." Herb announces beside her.
"Hey, Joey?"
"Yes, ma'am?"
"Back in the 'a' block did you hear the sound go out after-" she stops suddenly, her eyes widen with realisation.
"Did I hear the sound go out after what?" She doesn't respond. "Mac?"
Mac says nothing, instead strides out of the control room, across the hall and into the studio where Will sits reviewing his notes.
"What was the rest of the message?" She asks hopefully.
"What?"
"I'm not just saying this because I'm high... Saying what? What was the rest of the message?" She asks with a smile, she's pretty sure she knows at least roughly what the message was
"Hm." He should have known this would happen.
"What was the rest of the message?" She repeats more asserted this time,
"Ten seconds." Herb reminds through her headset and she ignores him; she's not bothered, but she really needs to know what what the voicemail said, and she needs to hear it from Will's lips.
"Ten seconds." Will repeats, hoping to avoid further questioning, but not no avail.
"Eight seconds." Herb says more forcefully.
"Sh!" Mac half screeches into her mic, forgetting they were alone. She's not about to let this go.
"What do you want to hear, Mac? Hey, it's me. Will. Listen, I swear I'm not saying this because I'm high, and if the answer is no then just do me a favor and don't call me back or bring this up or anything."
"But I have to tell you— I mean after tonight, I really want to tell you that I never stopped being in love with you." He chants as if reciting a rather boring shopping list; he's noticed the gleam of the red light in the corner of his eye that began just after he told her not to mention it at all should she not agree.
Charlie Skinner looks up from his newspaper, not quite sure that he really just heard what he *thinks* he heard, because he's certain that William McAvoy can't be practically pouring his heart out on air. He stares at the screen, eyes wide open, face a mixture of shock, glee and horror - an amusing sight to behold.
"Billy…" a high, stereotypically British accent is heard from off camera, but Will cuts her off.
"I'm still in love with the woman who 'ripped my heart out' by cheating on me with her ex-boyfriend, and I can't forgive you yet either, I want to, but I can't. Hating you is the hardest thing I've ever done, and keeping you at arms length is almost equally as difficult." He pauses for a moment, his words sinking in. "Look, I don't know what the aim of this was, and I don't know if you can take anything from this…" His voice softens. "I love you, but I can't forgive you. Not yet."
"I can wait, Billy." She whispers, but finds her voice, repeating the statement with more force. "I'll wait."
He nods, they've reached a mutual point and now they can move on; he turns towards the camera, addressing the audience and begins the broadcast.
He can already see tomorrow's headlines.
Reviews would be greatly appreciated!