"Near to You"

By: singyourmelody

Disclaimer: They're not mine! Really!

Chapter 4: Don't Stop Me Now

The clock seemed to be moving backwards at the Beardsley-North house. Or at least it did for two very confused young adults. Phoebe and Will had been skirting around each other for the past three days and everyone was noticing it.

"Phoebe, come up here," Helen called from her studio.

"Yeah, mom?" Phoebe answered entering her mom's cluttered creative center.

"Hand me those sequins, will you?" Phoebe handed her mother the box, knowing that this was not the reason her presence was requested.

"What's up mom?"

"I could ask you the same question. Mainly about you and a certain boy" Helen stated.

"Are you talking about Will and me? Because if you are, it's nothing, it's just—"

"Nothing, huh? You are avoiding each other like the plague. In fact, I think people like the plague more than you two like each other right now. What happened? Whatever it is, honey, you can tell me," Helen encouraged.

"Mom, it's just . . . well, it started . . . I mean, it's impossible, but . . . the thing is. . ." Phoebe sighed. "It's fine mom, we just had a fight and I'm sure it'll work itself out. Things like this always do, you know?" Phoebe finished lamely as she headed for the stairs.

"Alright then honey. Just know that no matter what happens, and I mean no matter what, Frank and I will always love you and Will," Helen said, tearing up a little as she did.

"Mom, we're not dying. Just growing up I guess," Phoebe said softly as she went down the stairs.

0-0-0

The tension was still running high after dinner. Phoebe had offered to help some of the younger kids make belated Christmas cookies, since they didn't get to it before Christmas. This meant, of course, that there was flour, sugar, and frosting everywhere.

Will walked in and exclaimed, "What happened in here? Explosion of the Keebler Elf factory?"

Phoebe didn't even look up from the bowl of dough she was stirring, but instead asked the twins to measure out three cups of milk. Will noticed Phoebe's obvious disinterest and was sick of all of the awkwardness.

"I'll help you measure it," Will offered as one of the younger girls grabbed a teaspoon. "Maybe we should try the measuring cup instead of the teaspoon. Just so, you know, we aren't still measuring at Easter!" The girls laughed and handed the milk carton to Will and hurried off to their room to plot how to make Christmas cookies look like the Easter bunny. Phoebe and Will were left alone in the kitchen.

"You don't have to help, Will. I can finish this by myself," Phoebe said, a hint of anger in her voice.

"I don't mind," Will responded as he poured the milk.

"Well, I do!" Phoebe said, her voice getting a bit louder.

"I'm only trying to help you. What's your problem?" he said, his tone matching hers.

"My problem? My problem? Somehow I don't think that this is only my problem, Will!"

"What do you mean?" Will said evenly, his voice low, as he took a step closer to her.

"We have been dancing around this issue for the past three days and, and, why can't you just stand up and say something?" Phoebe said, her tone still getting louder.

Will didn't respond, but just looked down.

"Anything, Will? Anything at all?" Phoebe questioned, trying to force him to look at her.

"What do you want me to say?" Will finally yelled.

"Oh, I don't know. Maybe you could start with the other day, when we practically—"

"What is going on in here?" Frank shouted. Phoebe and Will stepped apart and looked up to see Frank and Helen standing in the doorway.

"Nothing, obviously nothing," Phoebe said before leaving the room. Will followed shortly afterwards, never seeing the knowing and slightly scared look that Frank and Helen exchanged.

0-0-0

Five hours, twenty seven minutes and fourteen seconds later, Phoebe was standing outside of Will's room in her pajamas. Everyone else was in bed, and Dylan was staying a friend's house so Phoebe knew that Will would be alone in his room. Right as she went to knock, Will opened the door. Staring at her, he didn't say anything, just pulled her inside, closing the door quietly.

"We need to talk," Phoebe and Will said at the same time.

"Well, on that at least we are agreed," Phoebe commented. "You go first."

"Okay," Will said taking a deep breath. "I think it's somewhat pointless to just pretend that nothing happened, because let's face it, we were trying that and it didn't work. Everyone noticed that something was weird."

"Maybe because we, who never fight, ended up in a screaming match over milk!" Will gave her a pointed look. "Okay, okay. I agree."

"So, that leaves us here . . . in my room . . . and I mean, we can't pretend that it didn't happen, so we pretend that it's all okay, or um . . . ignore it . . . or don't pretend at all, because, I mean, um . . . huh?" Will trailed off.

Seeing how much he was struggling with this put a small smile on Phoebe's face. "Okay, how about I go now?" Phoebe asked.

"Sounds good."

"I think that we should do this," Phoebe stated.

"Do what?"

"This, the whole thing. Me and you."

"You're serious?"

"Why not? There's obviously something there. I feel more comfortable with you than with pretty much anyone I know. And I don't know where it might lead and if it doesn't work out, then what happens? I don't know. And if anyone finds out, there might be serious consequences, since our parents are married and all. I don't know. But I do know that in the past few days, when I see you, all I want is for the awkwardness to go away and to just spend some time with you. And I'm so scared to get into something again, because I'm not completely okay yet with the Peter situation. And I don't want to get hurt again. But, everything you said in the kitchen the other night keeps ringing in my head. Because I want someone I can laugh with too and—mmph." Phoebe could no longer continue talking because Will had grabbed her waist and pulled her to him, placing his lips over hers, slowly at first and then harder, faster, and more urgent.

Stopping finally for air, Will said only three words, "Alright, I'm in." Phoebe smiled and kissed him again, lacing her fingers through his, both reveling in the sparks running up and down their intertwined hands.

So, did I get them together too quickly? I hate to drag things out, but I also don't want it to be too rushed. All's not perfect, however, there will still be a few bumps in the road!

Please review and tell me what you think!