Will looked at EJ with an exasperated expression. They'd been brainstorming for ages and EJ still wasn't satisfied. DiMera Enterprises planned to expand their arts division. Branching out into published works as well as music and art. The plan was to start small with an art exhibition featuring local artists. Only, EJ couldn't decide how he wanted it to go. Didn't know where to hold it, what it should entail, or even the food and entertainment. Considering the show opened in a few weeks, Will knew the details needed to get hammered out now.
Will researched for ages. He even presented EJ with his favorite options. EJ, of course, didn't trust Will's opinion and had to go over everything again and again.
At this point, Will was ready to smack EJ over the head with his iPad and make a decision for him.
"You know, Alex's meeting is soon," Will commented, elbow on the desk, head in his hand. "You might want to hurry it up."
"This is a delicate process," EJ defended, eyes locked on his iPad.
"Not anymore," Will argued. "I picked the best ones out. Just decide already."
EJ stroked his chin, deliberating.
"Oh my God," Will groaned. He ripped the iPad out of EJ's hands. "I'm in charge now. You're taking too long."
EJ didn't argue. He leaned back in his desk chair and observed. Will picked his favorite choices, sending out emails and making calls. EJ made little hmm sounds every not and again indicating his approval.
Once Will finished, he realized something. He narrowed his eyes and asked, "you did this on purpose, didn't you?"
"Maybe," EJ said, playing on his phone.
"You're a jerk," Will said with little heat.
"A little responsibility won't hurt you," EJ stated. "This was all your idea anyway. You can see it come to fruition. Now, how much longer until your boyfriend gets here?"
"You know I'm seeing Sonny, not Alex," Will responded. One date with Sonny turned into two which turned into three and here they were a week later.
"So you keep saying yet I've never seen any evidence of that," EJ commented. "Alexander on the other hand…"
Will glared at EJ. He didn't know why but EJ kept bringing Alex up all the time. It grew tiresome. Will knew it wasn't fair to take his frustrations out on EJ. After all, EJ didn't know that Alex made it clear to Will that they would never be anything but friends.
Besides, Will liked Sonny.
"Alexander what?" Alex said from the office doorway, pushing the strap of his backpack up.
EJ set his phone on his desk and frowned. "How did you get up here?"
"Hi!" Will greeted, sitting up straighter. His annoyance with EJ disappeared.
"Security is lacking," Alex told EJ while nodding at Will.
"You flirted your way in, didn't you?" EJ said with a knowing look.
"What do you think?" Alex lifted his brows. He walked further into the room and sat on the edge of Will's chair.
"Did you bring your portfolio?" Will wondered.
Alex nodded. He undid his backpack and pulled out a folder. He handed the pictures over to EJ across the desk.
EJ insisted on approving all artwork himself before allowing them in the show. Considering the nature of Alex's work, Will understood the scrutiny.
EJ examined Alex's photographs for a long time while Will chatted.
"Do you want to get something to eat after this?" Will asked. "I'm so freaking hungry."
"What? No plans with Sonny?" Alex asked with a smile so strained it looked like a grimace.
Alex tried his best to support Will's decision to see Sonny but it was difficult.
"Not today," Will said. He tried not to talk about his developing relationship with Alex. "It's not like we're attached at the hip. Besides, I'm asking you, not Sonny."
"Oh," Alex mumbled. "Yeah, sure. I could eat."
"The Pub?" Will grinned, nudging Alex's waist.
"Do we have to?" Alex frowned. When Will kept on smiling, Alex sighed, giving in.
"Yes," Will cheered.
"There are other places in this town, you know," Alex said when Will started pushing his shoulders. "Stop it," Alex smacked Will's hands away but laughed.
"Nothing is as good as the pub," Will argued, a giant smile on his face. "It's my favorite."
"You need to expand your horizons," Alex said, "but knowing you, you won't."
"Not gonna happen," Will agreed.
EJ cleared his throat, getting their attention.
"These are interesting," EJ thumped Alex's stack of photos. "Look like you, that's for certain."
Alex raised his brows.
"Are you planning on using these photos?" EJ wondered.
"I want to create new ones," Alex answered. "These are too old."
"I see," EJ commented. "Well, so far, I like these more than anything else presented to us."
Will beamed as Alex nodded.
"Think you'll be ready by the time we open?" EJ asked.
"That's the plan," Alex replied.
"And," Will pulled up a link on EJ's iPad, "if we use this design, Alex's display can go right in the middle."
EJ glanced at Alex out of the corner of his eyes. The look caused Alex to shift. "Didn't you just think of everything? Consider yourself in, Alexander."
"Good," Alex said, "but don't call me that."
"Sorry, Alexander," EJ smiled, "that won't be happening."
"Why didn't you just order a shake?" Will wondered as Alex stole another sip of his strawberry milkshake.
"You ordered it so the calories don't count," Alex said, deadpan.
"You don't need to watch calories," Will said.
"These abs don't keep themselves," Alex argued as he patted his stomach.
Will shook his head, shoving several fries in his mouth. "Your abs seem fine to me, more than fine if memory serves me right. Anyway," Will cleared his throat when he saw Alex smirk, "where are you going to find models around here?"
Alex shrugged, pecking at his salad. "Put up ads online. Maybe advertise in the university paper or something."
"Are there a lot of people interested in that type of modeling?" Will asked while rubbing his lips together.
"Enough," Alex answered. "That's how I got models before."
"Chad models for my grandma," Will commented, "Gabi too. Fashion models, but you know."
"I'm not using your friends as models," Alex dismissed.
"Why not?" Will wondered. "You used me."
"You're different," Alex remarked right away. "Besides that Gabi chick seems too-I don't know-clingy."
"Clingy?" Will repeated.
"You know, like if I asked her, she'd think I wanted her," Alex explained.
"But you don't hook up with models," Will said. Although he agreed with Alex now that he thought about it. Gabi would misconstrue the offer.
"Point is I want a specific look and attitude. Your friends don't cut it. You only mentioned it because you want to see Chad naked anyway," Alex said.
"No, I don't," Will rolled his eyes but blushed.
"Right," Alex rolled his own eyes and stabbed harder at his salad than necessary.
Will shook his head, a smile tugging at his lips.
"Should my brother worry about you having the hots for his business partner?" Alex asked in a sardonic tone.
"Less than worrying about me having the hots for you," Will's smile grew into a grin.
Alex lifted one brow, surprised.
"What?" Will asked putting his straw in his mouth and taking a drink.
"You," Alex said with a soft look in his eyes, "just you."
Will slid his milkshake over the table top to Alex. They shouldn't share drinks anymore but Sonny wasn't there to see them. Besides, Will didn't need to drink the whole shake himself. Like Alex, Will should watch what he eats.
Will felt comfortable with Alex, they were friends. If Will shared a drink with Gabi it wouldn't be any different. He'd had sex with Gabi and Alex before and now he was friends with them both. Of course, Will didn't enjoy sleeping with Gabi but still. It was the same principle, maybe.
Would I feel the same if it was Sonny and someone he slept with? Or Brian?
Will didn't want to think about that.
The two ate in silence for a few minutes before they heard a loud commotion near the door.
"Oh, great," Will half-sighed, half-groaned.
"Will!" two voices yelled out, Sami and Will's grandmother, Kate Roberts.
"What are you two doing here?" Will asked with narrowed, suspicious eyes. "Together?"
"What? I can't hang out with Sami?" Kate asked with her hands on her hips. "Okay, even I didn't believe that."
"We're talking about your father," Sami explained. "About how he's a dumbass when it comes to you."
Alex snorted. "Oh, good, he's an idiot. Someone should tell him."
Kate glanced at Alex, doing a double take.
"Kate and I are devising a plan to talk some sense into him," Sami explained while lifting her hand to give Alex a high-five.
"Is that a good idea?" Will wondered. "You know how he feels about the two of you teaming up on him."
Sami waved her hand in dismissal. "Just leave your father to me."
Will turned to Grandma Kate and noticed her staring at Alex. "Grandma?"
"Sorry," Kate tilted her head, getting a good look at Alex. "This isn't Alex Kiriakis, is it?"
"What's it to you?" Alex asked, suspicious.
Kate shook her head. "I just recognized you. It's been a few years but you look almost the same. Older, of course, but you grew into your looks."
Alex looked lost.
"My grandma used to-uh-date your uncle," Will said. "You must have seen her around the mansion when you lived there."
"Huh," Alex strained his memory. He did remember the woman although his memories weren't that pleasant.
"You know," Sami put her hand on Alex's shoulder, leaning on him. "I do think I remember seeing you around town now that she mentions it. Weren't you on the football team?"
"For a few months, yeah," Alex mumbled.
"You were a football player?" Will laughed. He just couldn't picture Alex doing something so stereotypical.
"What?" Alex shot Will a nasty look. "I like sports. You wanna wear my letterman jacket or something?"
"You have a letterman jacket?" Will laughed louder.
"It's somewhere," Alex shrugged. "I left it behind when I went off to college. Knowing Adrienne she threw it out."
"Anyway," Kate said, amused by Alex, "Sami and I ordered ahead. We've got to get going if we want to ambush- I mean catch- Lucas."
"Right," Sami nodded. She slapped Alex on the shoulder and moved over to give a struggling Will a kiss on the top of the head. "See you around, boys."
As soon as they left, Will asked, "Do you still have your football uniform?"
"No," Alex answered, sucking in his cheeks. "You got a fetish, Horton?"
Will didn't answer but let his mind wander, envisioning Alex in the shoulder pads and tight shorts.
Stop that, bad Will. You're seeing Sonny. Sonny who is hot and wonderful. No fantasizing about his brother.
"You wanna drive with me to this photography store in St. Louis?" Alex asked. "Tomorrow?"
"Yes!" Will said with a little too much enthusiasm. "Can we go after classes get out?"
"Sure, I thou-," Alex started to say only to get interrupted. This time it was Alex's turn to groan.
"Hey, what are you doing here?" Sonny asked, walking up to their table. He put his hand on the back of Alex's chair. "Together?"
"This is why I don't like coming here," Alex grumbled under his breath. "Too many damn family members."
Will glanced at Alex before looking back at Sonny. He noticed Justin and Adrienne trailing behind Sonny.
"Alex had a meeting with me and EJ," Will explained. "So, here we are."
"Alex, Will," Justin greeted. He addressed Sonny and said, "Why don't we pull up a few more chairs and here-,"
Justin and Sonny grabbed an empty table and pulled it up to Will and Alex's.
Alex didn't look enthused about the situation.
Sonny made sure to sit next to Will while Justin sat next to Alex with Adrienne at the end.
The relaxed atmosphere from before disappeared. Alex no longer teased Will or smiled freely. Will didn't know what to say or do. This was the first time he'd ever eaten with Justin and Adrienne. He knew Adrienne didn't approve of him but Will wanted her to. She was important to Sonny after all.
"What did you have a meeting with EJ of all people for?" Adrienne wondered after everyone settled.
Alex, as usual, ignored her. Will took it upon himself to answer.
"EJ and I are planning an art exhibition," Will said. "Alex is our main feature."
"Since when does DiMera Enterprises do that?" Justin asked, looking interested.
"Since now," Will said. "The board approved an expansion. EJ's letting me help. I'm super excited about it."
"Alex," Justin looked at him, "why didn't you tell us about this?"
"It just became official," Alex shrugged. "I would have told you when I saw you."
"Would you?" Justin questioned, dubious.
"EJ wanted to approve Alex's work first. He's impressed, though," Will said with a wide smile. "He even said Alex's photos were the best he'd seen so far and I agree."
"That's exciting," Sonny said.
"Thank you," Will said as Sonny linked their hands together under the table.
Will looked up and noticed matching looks of disapproval on Alex's and Adrienne's face. Feeling uncomfortable, Will cleared his throat.
"Um, what are you all doing here?" Will asked, letting go of Sonny to grab his milkshake with both hands.
"Family dinner," Adrienne said in a frosty tone.
Will's eyes flew to Alex who simply rolled his eyes.
"If you're having a family dinner, why didn't you invite Alex?" Will questioned. His eyes flitted between Justin, Adrienne, and Sonny, expecting an explanation.
"Well," Justin swallowed, "after so many rejections, we just stopped asking him."
Will's eyebrows furrowed, nose crinkling. The answer didn't settle well with him.
"But Alex is part of your family," Will continued. "Maybe he was just busy on the nights you asked."
Alex didn't say anything but kept his eyes on Will.
"Busy doing what?" Adrienne huffed. "Taking more of those lewd pictures or hooking up with strangers?"
"Hey, Adrienne," Alex snarled, face contorted, "why don't you go f-,"
"That's not what Alex does," Will stated in a loud, firm tone.
Everyone, especially Sonny, looked at Will in surprise.
"Alex's photography is beautiful," Will insisted. "And so what if he goes out and has fun? He isn't hurting anyone."
"Will," Sonny said, uncomfortable with the looks between his mother and Will.
"I don't think you know Alex the way we all do," Adrienne said in a judgmental tone.
Will looked at Justin for a brief moment, hoping he would jump to Alex's defense but he didn't. Will didn't understand it. He wanted Adrienne to like him but he couldn't let this go.
"No," Will responded, defiant, "you're the one that doesn't know Alex."
Before anyone could reply, a waitress walked up to greet the new additions to the table. While they were busy talking, Alex nudged Will's leg under the table.
Alex didn't say anything and he didn't have to. Will understood.
After dinner ended, Alex left as fast as he could. He mumbled a pathetic excuse to Will and grunted at the others. Adrienne and Justin made their excuses as well leaving Will and Sonny alone. The two decided to take a walk around the park.
"So, uh," Sonny curled his hand around Will's, tentative, afraid of rejection, "tonight was interesting."
"You're telling me," Will mumbled although his heart beat a bit faster knowing he was holding hands with a boy in public. He just couldn't forget how Adrienne treated Alex versus Sonny.
"I know that we kind of took you by surprise tonight," Sonny said. "We should have asked instead of joining your table."
Will frowned. That wasn't what he thought Sonny was going to say.
"I didn't care about that," Will said. "I just couldn't believe Alex."
"He's always treated Mom like that," Sonny dismissed. "I wouldn't worry about it."
"What?" Will asked, giving Sonny a strange look. "What are you talking about?"
"What are you talking about?" Sonny countered.
"The way your parents treated Alex," Will explained. "The way your mom dismissed him and your dad just let her."
"Will," Sonny chuckled, amused by Will's naivety, "Alex doesn't care about that. Trust me."
"I don't think so," Will shook his head. "He might act all big and bad but he has feelings. He remembers those things."
"Look, I don't want to talk about Alex," Sonny said, guiding Will to a park bench. "We're alone, together. I think we should talk about that."
"About what?" Will questioned, a bit annoyed.
"You and me," Sonny said, sitting down.
"Oh," Will mumbled. He sat up straighter when Sonny cupped the side of his face.
"I feel like we haven't been alone in ages," Sonny said, thumb brushing over Will's cheek. He slid his hand to the back of Will's neck.
"I guess we haven't," Will agreed in a gentle voice. "What are you gonna do about that?"
"Something like this," Sonny said, pressing his lips against Will's.
Will sighed into the kiss, relaxing. Everything seemed to melt away when they did this.
The two explored each other's mouths, although Will did his best to keep his hands steady. He wanted to run his hands through Sonny's hair but knew he couldn't. Sonny didn't appreciate anyone messing with his hair.
Instead, Will trailed his fingers up and down the sides of Sonny's neck. He enjoyed feeling Sonny's pulse race beneath his fingertips.
"We should do that more often," Sonny said once they separated for air.
"Mmm hmm," Will agreed, kissing Sonny again.
The two kissed and kissed as the sun set behind the treetops. They would have stayed there all night if they could but a loud catcall startled them.
Coming up the pathway was Kareem and Dustin. Sonny waved while Will sighed.
Will kept his distance from Sonny's friends. He didn't want to see them after he overheard their real opinion of him. Now that he was seeing Sonny, Will wanted to throw everything they said about him in their faces. Do what Alex suggested and tell them off.
Will lifted his chin up high when they neared.
"Hey," Kareem greeted with a small smile. "Haven't seen you for a while, Sonny. Will, hi."
"Hi," Will flashed Kareem a confident smile. "Dustin," Will nodded.
"Will, Sonny, hi," Dustin shoved his hands in the pockets of his jeans. "What are you two doing?"
"Just finished dinner with my parents," Sonny explained. "We're taking a walk."
"Some walk," Dustin teased.
"We've both been busy," Will said with a shrug. "Making up for lost time, I suppose."
"We know what Sonny's been up to," Kareem said, trying his best to be polite, "but what about you?"
"Me?" Will said. "Well, I've been busy with mid-terms and work, of course."
"Right," Kareem shared a look with Dustin. "We heard you work for EJ DiMera again."
"Still," Will corrected with a smile. "I interned for EJ when he ran for mayor. Now, I intern with him at DiMera Enterprises."
"Will's working on a great new project," Sonny interjected. "Aren't you?"
"Yeah," Will let out a few bashful chuckles. He enjoyed the proud look Sonny sent his way. "The company's expanding to include a new and improved art division. EJ put me in charge."
"You?" Dustin asked, surprised.
"Yep," Will made his final sound pop. "Oh," Will turned to Sonny pretending he just thought of it, "did I tell you I got 103% on my last econ test?"
"No," Sonny grinned, "how did you manage that?"
"Extra credit question," Will shrugged.
"I told you, you worried for nothing," Sonny shook his head at Will. "Hey, maybe you should tutor Dustin. Aren't you repeating economics this semester?"
Dustin mumbled a few incoherent words.
Will checked his watch and frowned when he saw the time. "I better start heading home soon. I have to get up early to make it to the gym before class tomorrow."
Sonny made a face but nodded. The two stood up, hands clasped.
"If you want, you can join my econ study group," Will offered Dustin.
"That's-uh-nice of you," Dustin responded, cheeks pink.
"Yeah, guess I'm not as stupid as I look," Will said with a sharp smile. He nodded at Dustin and Kareem before pulling Sonny away. "Bye."
Sonny kept pace with Will and shook his head. "Was that necessary?"
"Yes," Will stated. "If they want you with Brian, fine. But they don't get to go around thinking I'm dumb when I'm not."
"Of course you aren't," Sonny said.
Will gave him a careful glance. He wasn't sure if Sonny was patronizing him or not. "I'm also not going to let anyone talk down to me. So, if that's going to be a problem…"
"Hey," Sonny stopped, facing Will.
"What?" Will asked, looking over Sonny's face.
"I didn't get a chance to say it earlier or anything but I like you, Will, a lot," Sonny declared with a grin.
"I like you too," Will said.
"Maybe we can do something?" Sonny said. "Go on another date? This time just us."
"No stirrers?" Will wondered with a teasing smile.
"No stirrers," Sonny promised. "Tomorrow, maybe?"
"I can't," Will said, "I made plans with Alex. We're gonna go to St. Louis. The day after would work better for me."
"Oh, yeah, sure," Sonny's smile dimmed. "Sounds good."
Author's note:
Thanks for reading and let me know what you thought.