A/N: Thanks for reviewing, Custardpringle! Here's the new chap, hope you like! More soon!
Will went down to breakfast the next morning with haunted, shadowed eyes. As he'd expected, he hadn't slept again after the night's events. He'd lain there, spread-eagled on the bed, lost in thought, until he heard his mother calling him down to breakfast. He dressed quickly and stumbled into the rough, unfamiliar kitchen of their little vacation house in Cornwall. He sat down wearily and started to stir his food around his plate, trying to make it look more appetizing. It didn't. Occasionally he'd chance a swift glance at Jane, but she was talking in low, urgent tones with Bran, who was sitting next to her. Will stopped looking after that. He didn't want to know what Bran and Jane had to talk about so privately. The noisy warmth and bustle of the kitchen went on around him as he sat there, seemingly frozen and deep in thought, until Simon snapped his fingers in front of his face. He jumped up with a start.
"What was that for?"
"Jane and Bran want to talk to us all."
"A-about what?" asked Will, trying to keep his voice under control. Simon shrugged.
"Dunno. They just said to come up to the bedroom, they wanted to talk to us."
"Oh." Once again, Will didn't want to hear what Jane and Bran had to say. He knew what it was. He didn't want to hear it from her.
But he couldn't hurt her feelings, so he dragged his feet back up the stairs and into the biggest bedroom, where Simon and Barney were already perched calmly on the bed and Jane and Bran were standing in front of it. Will averted his eyes from them. He didn't want to look at them.
Jane cleared her throat. "Bran and I have something to tell you."
Will clenched his teeth and curled his hands into fists. He had to breathe heavily to keep from shouting out. Bran and I. Bran and I. Bran and I.
"We've decided......well......" Her cheeks flushed a pale, rose pink. Still Will didn't, couldn't, look up. "We've decided to have a go at......at being a little more than friends. For a little while. Maybe for a long while. We don't know." The flush spread across her face and down her neck.
Will looked over at Simon hopefully. Surely Simon wouldn't allow this. His baby sister having a boyfriend? He'd never allow it.
But, to Will's amazement, Simon was looking at Bran with a sort of gruff approval. Barney might have helped if he hadn't been so young. He looked thoroughly disgusted. But, of course, he had no influence over the others.
There might have been more conversation. Will didn't know. He hadn't bothered to listen. The next thing he knew, the room was empty but for one person.
Jane sat down on the bed next to him, looking troubled. "Will.....did something happen last night? Did I dream it? Or were you really in my room?" Will looked up at her slowly. He didn't see the point in lying to her.
"Yes," he said carefully, struggling not to let himself burst out the whole truth. The most important thing was Jane's happiness, not his own. "But.....I'm not sure why I did it. I don't think it really meant anything, Jane. In fact, I'm fairly sure it didn't. I just came in to get my book. Then I stopped. I kissed you. You woke up. That's all that happened."
"Are you sure?"
"Quite sure," he said firmly.
"So, it's OK about me and Bran?"
"Yeah."
"Oh, well, that's all right then. I'll see you later, Will!" she said brightly, and bounced out of the room.
Will let out a low whistle of relief. He'd held himself back. No point telling her the truth. It wouldn't change anything.
Then, a small white hand reached down and gripped his shoulder with surprising strength. Will looked up resignedly, and there stood Bran, tawny eyes practically electric with fury.
"Come with me. Now!" he growled.
Will, as he was dragged out of the house, thought that he certainly seemed to be getting a lot of talkings-to lately.
So, what'd you think? Please review, tell me if I got something wrong, could've done something better (not that I am obligated to take your advice, but it is appreciated all the same), if I did something really well, that sort of thing. Just plain "good" is also quite welcome, although boo-ing without a reason is way out-of-line. New chap soon!