"Are you sure you want to do the photoshoot so soon?" Paul asked Will. He just got off the phone with Kate.
Kate assured Paul she would schedule something within a few days. Jake would get back to them with the details.
'Because that thrills me,' Paul thought dryly.
"I told you," Will said from in front of the stove. "I just want things to go back to normal. We were going to do the photoshoot. We should do the photoshoot."
"I just figured you might want to wait until the bruises are gone," Paul shrugged. "But it's up to you."
Will frowned. He had a spatula in one hand and an egg in the other.
"Well," Will said. "I figure you'll be the focus of the shoot. We could find a way to hide my bruises so no one can see."
"Of course we will," Paul agreed.
"Was my grandma happy?" Will wondered. He cracked the egg into a bowl and started breaking it apart. He was attempting to make scrambled eggs for breakfast.
"Yeah, actually now that you mention it," Paul replied. "She sounded pretty damn pleased."
"Not surprising," Will commented. "We're hot news right now. It's good for the company to use that."
"Oh, great," Paul rolled his eyes. "Exactly what I care about, making money."
"Making money for Victor," Will added. "I'm sure he's ecstatic I'm gonna be in the pictures."
"Why exactly do you dislike that guy?" Paul questioned. "You don't normally hate people for no reason. So, what did he do?"
Will shrugged. "Victor treats my mom like crap. For a long time he did the same to my grandma Kate. I know he hates Theresa. And," Will dropped the eggs in the pan. "He threatened to kill me for hurting Sonny."
"Really?" Paul moved closer to Will.
"Sent a henchman with a gun after me and everything," Will huffed. "I somehow doubt he told my Grandma Caroline that."
"Screw him," Paul declared, angry. "What the hell is wrong with everyone in this town?"
Paul walked to Will. He wrapped his arms around him from behind.
"You're gonna make me ruin the eggs," Will whined.
"I'm watching you," Paul placed his chin on Will's shoulder.
"You know," Paul began. "I won't let anyone else hurt you or threaten you, ever."
"No?" Will smiled. "How are you going to do that?"
"Well," Paul teased. "As your mom said, I have access to a lot of bats."
"Uh huh," Will snorted.
"Daddy," Ari said from behind them. "My eggs smell funny."
"Oh, shi-," Will shoved the pan off the unit. "Paul!"
Paul stepped away with his hands up. "Not my fault," Paul laughed.
"Is your fault," Ari informed Paul seriously. "You disact Daddy."
"I did distract Daddy," Paul agreed. "You're right."
"You eat bad eggs 'stead," Ari batted her lashes innocently.
Paul sighed. "OK," he said.
"Yay," Ari clapped.
Will sat down at his desk. Ari and Paul were playing on the floor nearby.
Will attempted to decide what to do with the bonus check Charlotte Murphy gave him.
'I know I need to save most of it,' Will thought. He looked over his finances and budget. 'If I plan right I can stretch that money for a long time. I might even have enough to set aside for Ari to go to preschool next year.'
'But I need to budget for Christmas presents too,' Will mused. 'I need to get some for all the kids. But I don't want to spend too much.'
"You OK over there?" Paul asked.
"Yeah," Will replied. "Just figuring some things out."
"Don't work too hard," Paul ordered. "You're supposed to be resting."
"I am resting," Will shot back. "I'm not writing anything."
"Do you want to write?" Paul asked. "We can see about when you get your laptop back."
"I don't know," Will got up from the desk. He sat down on the floor with Paul and Ari.
"I know that the police haven't released anything about what happened," Will told Paul. "I was thinking maybe I could write about it when they do."
"Would you be OK doing that?" Paul immediately asked. "It wouldn't freak you out or anything would it?"
"I have no idea," Will shook his head. "I don't think I trust anyone else to do it though."
"Me either," Paul agreed. "I don't think I trust any journalist but you."
"It's kind of freaking me out there hasn't been any real news," Will revealed. "Everyone in Salem knows everything."
Will grabbed one of Ari's ponies and made it trot.
"It makes me feel like something bad is going happen when the news does get out," Will admitted.
"If that happens you know where I'll be," Paul reminded Will. "Right here with the two of you."
Justin Kiriakis entered the front room of the mansion and paused.
"Sonny, what are you doing?" Justin questioned. "Have you even been to bed?"
"No," Sonny mumbled.
Sonny sat on the couch, eyes glued to his laptop. He had spent the entire night on the internet. He combed through everything for any bit of news on Will Horton and Paul Narita.
Justin sat next to his son. He glanced at the computer screen and sighed.
"Do you really think you should be doing this?" Justin asked. "It can't be healthy."
"I've spent the past few months ignoring both of them," Sonny explained. "Now, I'm looking over everything I missed."
Justin shook his head in disapproval. Justin could admit that perhaps he had projected his own fears onto Will. Perhaps he saw a bit too much of himself in the triangle his son found himself in. But over the past few days, Justin came to a startling realization.
Two days ago, Justin stood next to Abe Carver in the police station. They watched as Will's short life was almost stolen from him.
'And I saw Paul Narita rush in like some brave knight,' Justin thought. It would be impossible to deny Will and Paul's feelings after that. 'Not after the way they clung to one another in the aftermath.'
It pained Justin now to see his son struggle with the idea.
Justin took a deep breath. "What did you find?" he asked.
"Everything is on this Tumblr account I found," Sonny said. "Everything that features Will and Paul."
Justin scooted closer and scanned at the screen.
The website had everything from Will's article about Paul to the photos of Will and Paul rushing into an ambulance. There was plenty of personal commentary too. Justin didn't think Sonny needed to read that part.
Sonny held his head in his hands.
"I just don't understand how this happened," Sonny expressed. He had been thinking the phrase over and over all night.
Justin looked over the computer screen again. He didn't think it appropriate to tell Sonny how it could happen. He knew from personal experience though.
'If you leave behind the one you love,' Justin thought. 'You can't expect them to wait around for you forever.'
"I think you need to head upstairs," Justin suggested. "And get some rest. You'll see things clearer then."
Justin spotted the briefcase he left in the room the night before. He picked it up and headed for the door.
Just before Justin could exit, Sonny spoke.
"I married Will in this house," Sonny whispered. "Stood up in front of everyone and said I wanted to be with him forever. How am I supposed to forget that?"
"You don't forget it," Justin told Sonny. "You just have to move on from it."
"If you want to be comfortable in front of the camera you have to relax," Paul advised Will.
Paul demonstrated for Will and Ari both.
"You have to hold your shoulders like this," Paul leaned back on the sofa, comfortable. "Not this," Paul hunched his shoulders over.
"Quit making fun of me," Will laughed. He knew Paul was only teasing.
"Nope," Paul shook his head. "Now let's see it. Your best, 'I'm so cool, calm, and sexy face.'"
Will's eyebrows rose to the top of his head. Over-exaggerating his expression, Will leaned back and pushed out his lips.
Ari laughed loudly.
"Yeah, please do that during the photoshoot," Paul urged. "That'll impress everyone."
"You just remember that you wanted me there," Will reminded Paul. He continued making duck faces at Ari from various angles.
"Daddy," Ari held her stomach from laughing. "Your face silly."
"Silly?" Will smiled. "You mean like this?"
Will moved in real close to Ari. He sucked in his cheeks, pushed out his lips, and made his eyes cross.
"Yes," Ari giggled.
"That's mean," Will argued. "I think I'm gonna have to tickle you."
"No, no," Ari squealed. She squirmed but couldn't get away from Will's tickling. "Paul, help me!"
Standing with his hands on his hips, Paul cleared his throat. "Excuse me," Paul said in a deep voice. "I believe there is a princess that needs saving."
"Help me, superhero boyfriend," Ari called. "Help, help!"
"No, never," Will returned. He continued tickling Ari.
Will and Paul pretended to push the other for Ari's benefit. Finally, Paul won and stood up to throw Ari over his shoulder.
"Superhero boyfriend save the day," Ari cheered.
Paul ran around the sofa in a circle pretending to fly. When he got tired, he plopped Ari onto the couch.
Will grinned watching the two of them play. Nothing made him happier than seeing that smile on Ari's face.
'And Paul being the one to put it there is pretty nice too,' Will knew.
Paul held his hand out to help Will up off the floor.
"I don't know about you but being a superhero makes me hungry," Paul declared.
"I can make us something if you want," Will suggested. "I won't even burn it this time."
"I wants hot dog," Ari decided.
"Oh, yeah?" Will asked. "Why don't you come help me then?"
Ari hopped off the couch and ran to their tiny kitchen to help.
Just as Paul went to join them, his phone began to ring.
"I'm gonna get this," Paul told Will.
"Hello?" Paul asked once he walked into the bedroom.
"Son," John answered. "Do you think you and Will could come down to the station?"
"We're making Ari lunch right now," Paul replied. "What's up?"
"I came down to check on everything," John explained. "And there's been a development."
"What happened?" Paul demanded, alarmed.
John pressed his lips together. "The police haven't been giving any information. That's pretty unheard of in Salem. So," John took a deep breath. "Someone from the press hacked into the police departments system. We're pretty sure they have the video of Ben attacking Will."
"There's my grandbaby," Sami greeted.
Sami walked toward Will, Paul, and Ari in the square.
"Grammy," Air jumped up and down. "Go shopping now?"
"Yeah, we can go shopping now," Sami agreed. She turned to catch Will's eyes. "And when we're done someone is going to tell me what this is all about. Got it?"
"Got it," Will answered. "Thanks for watching her."
After telling Ari and Sami goodbye, Will and Paul set off for the police station.
"Are you going to tell me what happened now?" Will asked, annoyed.
"I told you," Paul evaded. "They want you to check their computer system and see if you can put up any defenses."
"Why though?" Will wondered. "Why do they care now?"
Paul didn't want to keep anything from Will. He just thought it would be easier to hear coming from Roman, Rafe, or Hope.
'I'm not gonna be the one to tell him that everyone might see that video,' Paul decided. 'The police screwed that up. They can be the ones to explain it.'
Will sat down at his grandfather's desk. His grandpa, Rafe, Hope, and Justin stood across from him. Will couldn't help but feel unnerved.
Will asked the first thing that came to mind. "Is Ben here?" Will wondered.
"He's in a cell in the back," Hope said. "We already moved Clyde and we don't want them communicating."
"Oh," Will shuffled in his seat, skin prickling.
"We've got plenty of officers on him," Roman assured Will. "He's not going anywhere."
Paul stood behind Will. He rested both hands on Will's shoulders. He squeezed them to remind Will he was there for him. John stood next to Paul.
"OK," Will nodded. "Um, you wanted me to do something?"
"Yes," Rafe divulged. "And no."
Will frowned. "What does that mean?"
Roman cleared his throat. "You know we've been keeping everything under wraps, right?"
Will nodded in understanding.
"Well," Roman sighed deeply. "Apparently that wasn't good enough for some reporters."
"What does that mean?" Will questioned.
Everyone shifted awkwardly.
Justin stepped forward. "Just know that I've already filed every motion I can to make sure it doesn't get released," Justin responded.
"Wha-?" Will tried.
"As soon as we figure out who exactly it was," Rafe added. "We'll do what we can to make some arrests."
"What are you even talking about?" Will demanded. "What, what are you saying?"
"Will," Hope gently explained. "You know how easy it was for you to hack into our system? You sent us all that video."
"Yeah," Will replied.
"Someone and we're working on finding out who, also hacked our system," Hope told Will. "We don't know exactly what they took yet. But, we're certain it was the video you sent."
"The video I sent?" Will repeated. His skin paled. "So, so everyone is gonna see? Everyone's going to see that?"
"Will," Hope attempted to calm him down.
"No," Will stood up and moved closer to Paul. "How did you let this happen?"
"We didn't think this could happen," Rafe admitted. "We're doing the best we can to fix this."
"By what?" Will cried. "Standing around? Making me come down here to work on your computers? What?"
"I know it's not fair to you," Hope appeased. "But we need your help."
Will slumped against Paul's side. "I'm tired of you needing my help," Will stated.
"One more time, kiddo," Roman requested. "And we can work on getting to the bottom of everything."
Will nodded morosely.
Paul kept his mouth shut but he wasn't happy.
'How much more can they expect Will to do for them?' Paul wondered.
"I'm done," Will declared a little over an hour later. He stood up from his seat and turned to leave.
Paul grabbed their coats and followed without a word.
"Hey," Paul called out, catching up to Will. "Jacket," Paul offered it to Will.
Will grabbed the jacket and put it on. He never once slowed down.
Paul grabbed Will's hand. "Let's go home," Paul suggested.
Will collapsed face first on his bed. He reached out for his pillow and buried his face.
Paul sat next to Will. He didn't know what he should do.
'Does he want space? Does he want me to be with him?' Paul thought. Then Paul recalled how alone Will felt the past year.
So, Paul moved to remove Will's shoes. Once finished, Paul rubbed against Will's lower back.
"I'm going to make you some tea," Paul told Will. He didn't want Will to think he was leaving for long. "Then maybe we can talk about everything."
Will nodded against the pillow.
Paul walked back into Will's room. He set their mugs on the side table.
Will was leaning against the pillows now.
"Thanks," Will whispered when Paul sat down next to him.
"I get why you're upset," Paul said. He decided to jump right into the discussion. "No one needs to see that moment."
"I don't want anyone to know what happened," Will pulled his knees to his chest. "I don't want anyone to see me like that. See how stupid I was."
"You weren't stupid," Paul argued. "Will, no one is going to think that."
"I was," Will insisted. "What did I think was going to happen? That he was going to talk to me? And then I couldn't even get away."
Paul's mouth fell open. "What are you talking about? Will, you tried your hardest. I know you did."
"Yeah," Will snorted. "And it still wasn't enough."
"What?" Paul frowned. "That's not what happened."
"Yes, it is," Will hissed. "Nothing I did was enough. And everyone is going to see how weak and stupid and, and-,"
"Stop it," Paul ordered. "Just stop it. No one is going to think that about you. No one is going to watch that and think anything bad about you."
Will turned his head away from Paul.
"All anyone is going to see is that psychopath," Paul spat out. "Attacking you. They aren't going to judge you. They aren't going to think anything."
"Well, I think it," Will yelled.
Paul stared at Will. At Will's heaving chest, his bruised throat, his red eyes. Paul didn't expect Will to react this way.
Paul had no clue Will thought any of this. He knew Will was having some trouble.
'I just didn't think it was this,' Paul thought. 'I didn't think Will could ever believe anything like this.'
Will rested his chin on his knees. He didn't mean to say that. He didn't want Paul to know that.
"Why didn't you tell me this before?" Paul asked quietly.
Will shrugged.
"Don't do that," Paul requested. "Don't shut me out."
Will turned his head so he could see Paul. He still didn't say anything.
"I don't think that," Paul told Will. "If that's what you were afraid of. I don't. I don't think anything bad about you."
"Is that what you were afraid of?" Paul continued. "That if you talked about it, I'd start to believe it."
Will nodded weakly.
Will didn't want Paul to see him that way. Paul was the one person that Will trusted the most. Will felt safest with him. Will felt like he could trust Paul with anything.
'But I don't want to lose that,' Will realized. 'With everything that's happening I can't lose that.'
"I don't want you to hate me again," Will whispered.
"I never hated you," Paul promised. "I was jealous and angry but I never hated you. I couldn't hate you."
Paul moved closer to Will. He reached out to put his hand on Will's knee. "I don't think you're weak because you couldn't fight Ben off. I know you tried. You broke his nose, Will," Paul reminded him. "You sprayed him with that crap. You didn't just lie there and take it."
Will rolled his head towards Paul, leaning on him.
"I'm sure if you didn't injure your head," Paul added. "You would have been able to fight him off."
Paul enveloped Will in his arms.
"I'm not reacting that great to this whole thing either," Paul pointed out to Will.
"Ha," Will wetly replied. "You're perfect. You're always perfect."
"I'm not," Paul smiled slightly. "I don't know if you've noticed or not but I kind of follow you everywhere you go. That's more for my benefit than yours."
"Really?" Will asked. Will assumed Paul did it to make Will feel better.
"I try not to dwell on it," Paul explained. "But I keep thinking about the last time I left you alone."
"I don't think anyone is going to come in and strangle me anytime soon," Will remarked half-heartedly.
"I'm still not taking that chance," Paul said. "And just so you know," Paul caught Will's eye. "If anyone watches that video and thinks anything poorly of you they'll have to answer to me."
"Gonna use the baseball bats?" Will sarcastically questioned.
"For you," Paul sighed. "I would do anything."
The two lied in each other's arms for a few moments. Paul ran his fingers up and down the back of Will's neck.
"We still have to figure out what to do about Sonny," Will commented.
Paul groaned. "I don't see why we have to do anything," Paul stated. "He's the one that can't accept the truth. He left. We moved on. He needs to stay away from you."
"From me?" Will frowned.
"Baby, you know how much I adore you," Paul said. "But sometimes you can be oblivious."
"About what?" Will asked. He tried to feel insulted but gave up. Will knew he didn't always see what was right in front of his face.
"He came back for you," Paul stated defensively.
Will opened and closed his mouth.
"But that's stupid," Will finally decided on. "He's the one that wanted a divorce. He's the one that left. He doesn't get to be the one to want me back now."
"Besides," Will sat up, indignant. "I'm happy for the first time in a long time. I'm happy and confident in my relationship and with myself."
"I know you are," Paul agreed. He sat up as well. "But I'm just telling you what I saw."
"It doesn't matter," Will insisted. "I only want to be with you."
"Good," Paul exhaled, relieved. He knew they just talked about this yesterday but that didn't seem to matter.
'That was before I realized what Sonny wanted,' Paul thought. 'Or who he wanted.'
"Sonny's just going to have to deal," Will said around a yawn. "Ari's the only thing that matters. All I want is to do right by her."
"I know," Paul nodded. He thought Will looked cute when he yawned.
"Now," Paul pulled Will back into his arms and lied down. "Why don't you close your eyes and rest?"
"Fine," Will agreed. "But only because I want to."
"Whatever you say," Paul smiled.
Paul lightly dozed when he heard his phone ringing in the other room. Not wanting to wake Will, Paul carefully got out of bed.
"Hello?" Paul said into his phone.
"It's me again, son," John revealed in a somber tone.
Paul slumped onto the couch. He covered his face with his hand.
"It got leaked anyway, didn't it?" Paul asked.
"…Yeah," John said. "The police tried but it's too late. Once it's on the internet…," John trailed off.
"It's there forever," Paul groaned.
John continued, "Roman's threatening to arrest everyone he can think of. Justin's screaming his head off at someone."
"I knew you'd need to be warned," John told Paul. "Just make sure this doesn't hit Will too hard."
"Great," Paul grunted. "Just great."
John took a step outside of the police department. He volunteered as much as he could to help out at the police station. But his son and Will were more important now.
"I don't know if you're interested," John began. "But it might help you to watch it."
"The video?" Paul frowned. "Why would I want to watch that?"
"It might give you some closure," John suggested. "I know that it's been bothering you. Maybe if you see what happened you'll be able to let some of it go."
"Or not," John shrugged. "We don't know each other that well yet. Maybe I don't know what's best."
"No," Paul said. "No, it might help. Will might kill me though."
'OK,' Paul said to himself. 'You've been a pretty good boyfriend. He can't be too mad at this.'
Paul deliberated one last time before pushing play on his phone.
Paul watched as Ben calmly spoke to Will on the screen. He watched as Ben smiled with just a hint of a threat.
Paul gripped the phone so tightly his knuckles turned white.
"What are watching?" Will asked from behind him.
Paul jumped and dropped his phone. The video paused.
"Um, nothing," Paul replied. "Nothing, it's nothing."
Will frowned and rubbed his eyes.
"You're being weird again," Will remarked.
Will glanced at Paul's phone when he picked it up from the floor. He saw what was on the screen.
"What are you watching?" Will questioned again, tone panicked.
"Nothing," Paul said.
"We just talked about this," Will continued. "How could you watch it?"
"It's nothing," Paul repeated weakly.
"Paul," Will shook his head and slumped onto the couch. "Why would you-?"
Paul attempted to exit the video but he was jittery. His large fingers slipped and slid across the screen instead, hitting play.
"Fu-," Paul grumbled. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry," Paul reiterated.
Will froze, staring at the phone.
"I'll get rid of it," Paul told Will. He finally got the video to stop. "Stop looking."
"No," Will moved closer to Paul. "No," he took a deep breath. "I want to watch."
Paul looked at Will, surprised.
"Will, are you sure?" Paul asked. "You don't have to do this."
"My dad called and said it got leaked anyway," Paul explained. "And I just wanted to see. I heard you explain but I needed to see."
"I want to watch," Will admitted. He linked his hand with Paul's, squeezing tight. "Maybe I'll see it differently this time. See me differently."
Paul nodded. "I'm sure it will be. And we know what's going to happen so it won't be as scary."
"Right," Will bit his lip.
Will wasn't sure about this. The conversation he had with Paul earlier kept playing in his head. Will couldn't get the idea out of his head that he was weak. That his bruises were because he wasn't strong enough, manly enough.
'If I watch this,' Will thought. 'Maybe it won't be as bad. Maybe I'll get what Paul was saying.'
"Promise me you won't think badly about me?" Will requested before the video played.
"I can guarantee that won't happen," Paul assured Will.
"OK," Will swallowed. "Hit play."
Paul hit play.
The two watched as Ben flew out of the frame. A few moments later the angle of the video changed. The video didn't show Ben and Will struggling on the bed but the audio picked up their voices.
Will put his head on Paul's shoulder. "I hit him with the phone," Will said quietly. "He threw me on the bed and we wrestled around."
Paul nodded and held Will's hand even tighter.
The sound from Ben's nose breaking came over the speakers.
On the screen, Will came back into view. His head smacked loudly against the door.
Paul and Will both winced. Without thinking about it, Will rubbed against his tender forehead. Will and Paul avidly watched what came next.
"God," Paul whispered. His hands started vibrating. He wanted to beat Ben's face in again. Wanted to cause Ben as much pain as he caused others.
Will held his breath until Paul came onto the screen. He hadn't seen this part during everything. He passed out before Paul came inside.
"You were really angry," Will remarked. He watched Paul's fists slam into Ben's face with a sickening, spluttering sound.
"He almost killed you," Paul countered, unrepentant. "Your pants were undone. I didn't know what had happened."
"I'm glad you hurt him," Will revealed. He hadn't thought about it before but Will was pleased.
'At least Ben got to feel some amount of pain,' Will thought.
"If my dad didn't pull me away," Paul confessed. "I don't know how far I would have gone."
Paul didn't know how to feel about that.
Shaking his head, Paul changed the subject.
"What do you think now?" Paul wondered. "Still think you weren't strong enough?"
Will shrugged.
"Even though you hit him with a phone and broke his nose. And," Paul added. "You managed to spray him with that crap after your head got banged."
"And," Paul continued. "Even then you still fought back, baby. So, do you still think it wasn't enough?"
"I guess not," Will mumbled.
"I'm sorry," Paul said. "I didn't hear that. Can you repeat it?"
"Paul," Will complained.
"No," Paul tossed his phone aside. He wrapped his arms around Will. "You are strong and healthy and you fought back. You did. I saw it."
"So," Paul kissed the top of Will's head. "No arguing."
Will tried not to smile.
"I think I remembered it differently," Will admitted. "He seemed bigger, scarier. It seemed to last forever too."
"Living in the moment versus seeing it a while later is different," Paul agreed. "I didn't remember hitting him that much."
"You looked crazy," Will revealed.
"I felt a little crazy," Paul stated. "But I couldn't help it."
Paul caught Will's eye. He wanted to say it, admit it. Admit why he couldn't let Will out of his sight. Why the sight of Ben anywhere near Will caused a tremor down his spine. Why he knew without any doubt that he was not in love with Sonny anymore. Tell Will why he had to watch that video, why he had to see that Will lived. That Will survived.
Paul wanted to tell Will he loved him. Wanted to take his hands, look in his big blue eyes and tell him everything.
Then Will's phone rang.
Paul turned away, mouth snapped closed.
"Hello?" Will asked.
'Not now,' Paul scolded himself. 'I need to wait for the perfect moment.'
"Are you sure?" Will questioned. "No," Will rolled his eyes. "Yes, I know that you're more than capable, Mom."
"Fine," Will huffed. "Put Ari on."
"Daddy, Grammy kidnap me," Ari giggled.
"Is that what she called it?" Will asked, amused.
"Yeah," Ari nodded enthusiastically. "We go eat food. She said if I eat it all I get ice cream."
"Don't just eat French fries either," Will nagged. "You need real food."
"Oh, fine," Ari sighed. "I go, Daddy. You play with Paul."
"Bye, princess," Will said. "I love you."
Will spoke to Sami for a few more minutes before hanging up.
"I guess we're child free tonight," Will informed Paul.
Paul lifted one brow. "Really?" Paul responded.
A plan started formulating in Paul's mind.
"Do you want to go on a date with me?" Paul asked suddenly.
Will looked away from Paul and huffed.
"Maybe I'm mad at you for watching the video," Will commented. "I told you I didn't want anyone to see it and you watched it anyway."
Will wanted to be upset but he couldn't. He understood why Paul would be curious. He didn't like it but he understood.
"I don't think you're mad at all," Paul said. "I think you get me, get why I wanted to see it. It's the same reason you wanted to watch it too."
Will narrowed his eyes. He still didn't like it when Paul was right.
"What about the video? Everyone is going to know," Will replied. "I don't want to go out and have everyone stare."
"So what?" Paul shrugged. "It's a video. We both saw it. We both know what really happened."
"But I don't want everyone staring at me," Will said bashfully.
"Maybe they're staring because you're so sexy," Paul joked. He wanted to get Will smiling again.
"Oh, yeah, right," Will laughed. "That's why people look at me."
"That's why I look at you," Paul added. He ignored Will's disbelieving expression.
Paul stood up from the sofa and held his hands out to Will.
"I don't care about what anyone else thinks," Paul declared. "Besides, you said you wanted life to keep moving. To get everything back to normal. And what's more normal than going on a date with your perfect boyfriend?"
"Perfect?" Will repeated.
"You said it earlier, not me," Paul grinned.
Will looked at Paul's smile and knew he would give in.
"Now call me puddin' pop and give me that smile," Paul requested.
"Fine," Will agreed. "We can go on a date, puddin' pop."
"Good," Paul rubbed his thumbs across the top of Will's hands. "This is going to be the best date you've ever been on."
"Sweetheart?" Adrienne asked. She walked into Sonny's room at the mansion.
Adrienne was with Lucas all day. It was painful for both of them to see the video that leaked. Lucas rushed off to be with Sami and help watch Arianna. Adrienne understood that Lucas wanted to be close to his family right now.
'And I needed to check on my family,' Adrienne thought.
Sonny lied on top of his bed. His laptop was next to him. He couldn't tear his eyes away from it.
Adrienne cautiously sat next to Sonny. She noticed what he was watching.
"Sonny, you can't keep watching this," Adrienne ordered. She attempted to close his screen shut.
"No," Sonny shoved her hand away. "I'm trying to understand."
"What are you going to understand by seeing this?" Adrienne shook her head. The video stopped with Eric Brady walking into view and touching a button. Paul sat in the background, arms locked around Will.
"Something, anything," Sonny shouted. "Anything that would explain what the hell happened after I left."
Ignoring his mother, Sonny hit the repeat button. The video skipped to the beginning. Ben appeared on screen, smug face taunting Will.
Sonny stared at the screen. He felt like he was close to something. Something that would break the block in his brain. The block that said nothing about this situation made sense.
'How could Ben kill anyone? How could Will and Paul be together? How could Ari not want me around?' Sonny thought.
'Maybe this time it'll make sense,' Sonny watched Ben vault off of screen. 'Maybe this time I'll accept the truth.'
Author's note:
Thanks for all the wonderful support I've received for this story. I'm pleased almost everyone is happy with the changes I've made and what's to have an important date next chapter. A photoshoot to look forward to. Plus a confrontation is building regarding Sonny. Hopefully everyone sticks around.
Any thoughts?
Thanks so much for reading!
Also, Happy Thanksgiving to all my American friends!