NEW YEAR'S KISS
7. Reconcile.
A/N: I know, I suck. Let me live.
••••
"I need you like a heart needs a beat, but it's nothin' new."
As October began to roll in, so did the cold. It wasn't awfully chilly just yet but just enough to feel fall and cozy. It's what Will loved about New York. Sure he missed Lima but he felt more at home in the city somehow. Like the vast, landscaped region was calling him. He belonged there but at the same time he felt like he shouldn't be there.
Will shrugged off the uncertainty. Today is the first table reading for Finding Neverland and he surely didn't need that knotty feeling inside his stomach to ruin his day. Holly informed him awhile back that he didn't necessarily had to audition. That was partially a lie. He did have to perform an audition like everyone else; however, the only difference is that he was already cast as the lead role. That's what made him feel so utterly guilty. That, and the fact that he practically 'betrayed' Emma by discarding her offer and taking Holly's, which was an easier and unfair route.
Speaking of Emma, Will hadn't heard from her in, well, months. The last time he ever spoke to her was two months ago during Emma's break in between takes of her interview. He regretted leaving things with her on a rough patch but he didn't think much of it, figuring she'd forgive him eventually. So, slipping his tie around his neck and knotting it as he made his way out into the small kitchen of his apartment, Will thought of a way to spark up a conversation with Emma again to rekindle their friendship. After a few minutes of thought, he ended up texting 'Hey,' noticing the time and forgetting the corny joke he had come up with whilst tucking in his tie into the confines of his sweater vest. He pulled on his coat, grabbed his keys, dark brown satchel and phone, the latter being shoved into the pocket of said coat, and headed out the door. He turned to lock his door then exchanged the object with his phone, flipping it open to check if Emma had responded. She hadn't. The curly-haired man shoved the small device back into his pocket to accompany his keys then checked the time on his silver, Rolex wristwatch Holly gifted him with and scurried out of the brick building, the cab he had phoned earlier already awaiting for his arrival. God, he hoped the old man didn't have his meter running.
••••
That particular Saturday morning Emma had just gotten out of bed and was preparing herself a cup of coffee and jammed toast, the usual small breakfast she always prepared when she had a busy day ahead of her and had little time to prepare a legitimate meal. Well, to Emma, ever since her career had skyrocketed, that is a legitimate meal. She was spreading jam on her toast when her phone vibrated and dinged on the white stone countertop, making it known that she received a text. Thinking it was Carl or Shannon or maybe even her manager, Emma wiped the excess jam off her fingers on a paper towel, throwing it into the bin on the trip over to her phone. She picked up the white iPhone and stared at her screen, reading the caller ID and message over a few times. It was just a simple 'Hey' and yet that infuriated Emma.
"Two months," she thought. "Two months and all he said was 'Hey?' This man is unbelievable."
Emma set her phone back down on the countertop and began to walk back over to her deserted food, stopping halfway when Shannon's, her closest friend of whom she's been ranting to for practically all her life, wise words flew back into her mind. "Stop being a child, Pumpkin, and forgive the damn man! If there's anyone you should be angry at, it's at ya'self," her friend preached after chugging the rest of her beer and being fed up with Emma's rants. So, deciding to be a grown adult about this, Emma grabbed her freshly-brewed coffee, jammed toast, phone and went to sat in her living room, despite her couch being a beautiful shade of white. She took a careful bite, holding the plate under her chin, then set the plate back down to respond to Will's text he had sent just thirty minutes ago. She slid her phone open and pulled up the text, planning on responding with a plain 'Hello' back, but Will had already sent another message.
You know, it's not nice to keep a man hanging, he sent.
It's not nice to blow off a woman's offer, either, she replied rather harshly. There was a long pause before she added, It's exactly 7am on a Saturday morning, what're you doing up, Schuester?
I should say the same to you, Pillsbury, Will quickly responded, a follow up statement quickly added. But since you asked first…We're having our first table read today.
Oh, that's fun! Um, I should let you go then, Emma sent, suddenly becoming shy.
NO, Emma giggled at his sudden all-caps response. I didn't mean that, this phone is hard to work with sometimes.
I understand, pause, You should have your new girlfriend to get you a new one. She already got you a job and a new watch. Hell, Holly's spoiling you, Schuester!
She's not my girlfriend, long pause. You didn't tell me why you're up so early.
I have a publicity thing with Carl today, she took a long sip of her forgotten coffee.
You mean a fake date, was Will's blunt response. I have to go, we're about to start.
Emma didn't respond to that. She merely locked her phone, set it aside and continued to quickly finish her now cold coffee and equally forgotten toast. After that, she set her dirty dishes in the sink, planning on washing it before she left — or leaving it to the house keeper if she didn't have time — then padded into her bedroom to get ready for the long day ahead of her.
••••
When Will sent his last text that morning, he didn't really mean it. He didn't have to go; they weren't about to start. Hell, not everyone had even arrived yet when he sent that text. He didn't know why he said that lie. Maybe it was because a cloud of jealousy grew over him at the mention of Carl's name. Yes, him and Emma aren't a real thing. Will knew that the whole time. But he couldn't help but feel jealous of the man that gets to spend time with the gorgeous ginger with amazing amber eyes he wouldn't mind getting lost in for eternity. He couldn't help but feel jealous that Carl Howell gets to go on fake dates and fake kiss Emma Pillsbury while Will can't even hug the petite woman let alone see her in person. Long story short, Will Schuester envied Carl Howell right to his perfect teeth.
••••
Happy New Year, everyone! It's nearly a year since I've started this FF and I'm only on the seventh chapter. I need to find my muse and get my life together! Anyways, I hope you enjoyed this chapter. My brain hurts. Have a great year!
NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTION: FINISH WRITING THIS DAMN THING. IT'S A YEAR OLD.
R&R.
p.s. where's that video at, elle mills? huh? huh?
