Boys and Broadway Do Not Mix

The ground sped past Will's JEEP as we drove. He'd stayed true to his word about the 'surprise' thing. That didn't stop me from asking though.

"Where is it in San Francisco?" I was fogging up the glass and drawing smiley faces like a little girl when I asked. Will chuckled and I smiled. That had been the 8th question of the trip and we weren't even a block away from his house.

"I told you we're almost there." I could hear the smile in his voice and I turned to face him. I looked at him thoughtfully. Will was an extremely handsome guy with a great personality, but he actually seemed to enjoy hanging out with me. I smiled a little and bit my lip. He turned to look at me and noticed me staring

"Watcha lookin' at?" Will had a shy smile on his face but, he seemed a little smug, like he already knew the answer. I gave him a devilish smirk, deciding to no longer feed his ego.

"A movie billboard, actually."

"A movie billboard?"

"Yeah, It was for City of Bones. The dudes in that movie are gorgeous." Will raised his eyebrows, then laughed heartily. The entire situation was so ridiculous I had to join him. He parked the car and we didn't get out till our laughter subsided. Though, when he came around to open my door, he looked at me and we burst out laughing again. Will got his guitar case out of the backseat and grabbed my hand, sending lightning up my arm and warming my heart.

"Okay, so this is the Cafe my parents own. They've had it since we moved here in 2000 when I was 6." He looked me, gauging my reaction. I bit my lip. The small cafe was like a nice mug of hot cocoa: warm, cozy, and sweet. The walls were lined with books, books, and more books. I loved it.

"This place is awesome...." I mumbled still marveling at Will's family business. He squeezed and I felt like I had just went over the drop of a roller coaster or was on an airplane with lots of turbulence. I couldn't help but giggle and bite my lip again. Will's voice woke me up. He was blushing a little.

"So, uh, there's a room in the back for nighttime performances." He pointed to door that had an abstract painting of a glass of wine. Will tugged my arm and led me to the room. When I walked in to the cozy little spot, I saw a beautiful, lavender, glossy grand piano. I involuntarily surged forward and pulled out the stool. Will chuckled as he sat next to me, my shoulders rubbing his. I blushed as I lifted the cover and my fingers graced the keys.

"You play?" He asked, but his voice was distant. I swallowed the growing lump in my throat.

"I-uh, I haven't played since I was adopted." I mumbled as I played a soft melody and cleared my throat. "My mom taught me and I remember every single note..." I could feel his beautiful blues staring at me as I played. Will scooted closer to me, our sides now completely touching. My breathing hitched as his strong, tan hands joined mine on the piano. He was so close now, his intoxicating scent of peppermints washing over me in long comforting waves. The song was nameless; just a jumble of notes that somehow fit together into a beautiful harmonic bliss.

"So, piano and guitar?" I asked when we stopped playing. Will smiled the cheesy little smile at me and it was all I could do not to just melt on the spot.

"Uh, yeah. My dad taught me when I was like, 10, I think." He took a rich maroon acoustic guitar out of the black and silver case. "This is my mom's piano, but my dad collected guitars. He finally gave me this one once I'd learned all the notes for both." He struck a few chords as he said this. After awhile, I joined him on the piano. Before I knew it, we were playing my favorite song. I glanced at him and found that he was staring at me thoughtfully. I bit my lip and looked back down at the keys. I felt him smiling. Feeling bold, I finally sang the lyrics:

If you were falling, then I would catch you
You need light, I'd find a match
'Cause I love the way you say good morning
And you take me The Way I Am

Will started to sing along with me, which surprised me. I glanced at him as we sang.

If you are chilly, here take my sweater
Your head is aching, I'll make it better
'Cause I love the way you call me baby
And you take me The Way I Am

I stopped playing and looked at him, sighing blissfully.

I'd buy you Rogaine when you start losing all you hair
Sew on patches to all you tear
'Cause I love you more than I could ever promise
And you take me The Way I Am
You take me The Way I Am, you take me The Way I Am

I looked at Will as the song ended, forgetting what I was going to say as I got lost in his eyes. My world tilted when he leaned toward me. My eyes fluttered to a close. Our lips were just inches away, so of course I had to ruin the moment. My elbow hit the lowest key and the both of us jumped at the loud noise. Will rubbed the back of his neck as he blushed adorably. I bit my lip as I felt my whole face heat up.

All of a sudden, a woman dressed in a mint green shirt with black jeans tucked into black boots burst into the room.

"Willy! You didn't tell me you were bringing a guest!" She walked over, her tall heels clacking on the hardwood. "And a gorgeous one at that..." Will looked mortified as the woman bent over and kissed his forehead. I smirked at him and he stuck his tongue out childishly at me.

"Oh, hello Morgan. It's nice to see you!" Gloria Levy grinned at me. Gloria(more commonly known as Glory) has been like a mother to me. Where Nina and Thomas were cold and unforgiving, Glory and her husband, Cole, were always waiting with a warm plate of cookies and the spare room. I lost count how many times I've slept over at their house. I remember Riley telling me about her big brother but, I'd never seen him till now. Will looked a little puzzled at our conversation, but seemed to connect the dots after a little while.

"Hey Glory. How's it goin'?" I smiled just as brightly. She was leaning on Will's shoulder as he sat next to me on the piano bench.

"Oh, just swell! I heard you guys singing! You guys are just TOO adorable together." Glory gushed. Will's face was getting redder. He pinched the bridge of his nose like he had a migraine, then set his guitar on a stand and took my hand, my nervous system over the Big Drop again. I laughed.

"Glory, don't give him to hard a time, we still have to finish our date." Will looked at me, eyes sparkling. I bit my lip.

"Oh well, don't have too much fun," Glory winked at me. "I don't think Willy's ready to be a father just yet." I snorted and cracked up.

"MOM!!?!??" Will shrieked, dragging me to the JEEP. I was still giggling when got to the parking lot.

"Oh, this must be just hilarious for you." He groaned unlocking the car.

"Quite." I replied as Will opened my door. I closed it, though, and stuck my hand out. I smirked devilishly.

"Keys." He looked bewildered.

"Why?!"

"Because I'm driving!" I cocked my hip and raised an eyebrow, daring him to challenge me. Will pouted playfully as he dropped the keys into my hand.

"Go easy on my baby." He said as we rolled out of the lot. I scoffed and rolled my eyes.

"Because I was just dying to run us off a cliff." He put his hands up in surrender and I giggled.

"Where are we going, though?" Will asked, eyeing my one hand on the wheel warily. I sighed, my smile fading a little.

"Can't you trust me not to total your JEEP in the next two minutes." He took my hand in his and interlaced our fingers, pushing me over the proverbial edge a third time.

"I trust you very much, Morgan." I bit my lip, containing my schoolgirl giggle. But, I couldn't hold back my idiotic smile for the rest of the drive to my house. I stopped the car and hopped out, dropping the keys into his lap. Will just looked at me puzzled as I leaned against the open window, resting my chin onto my hands.

"Aren't you coming?" I asked playfully. Flipping my hair dramatically and strutting up the stairs, adding an extra swish to my hips. I giggled when I heard him scrambling to get out of the JEEP. I climbed up the fire escape to the balcony, my legs hanging down as I sat.

"Up here slowpoke!" I called as he climbed up and sat beside me. Out of some natural instinct, I scooted closer to him, our sides completely like we sat on the piano bench.

"College?" I asked, out of nowhere. Will was silent for a little while, then exhaled as if he was letting weight of his shoulders.

"I applied to 4 colleges and 2 accepted me: Stanford and UCLA." The sun had started to set.

"Any idea about where you're going?" I took his hand in mine and traced circles on the back of his hand. Will shook his head and I could his beautiful blues staring at me.

"Nah, I'm not sure right now. What about you? Where did you apply?" I shrugged.

"Well, I applied to all the Ivy League schools because I..." I didn't want to tell why I applied to out of state schools yet. Because I wasn't sure that I wanted to leave California all that much anymore. And THAT was because of the really hot boy sitting next to me, who just happens to smell like fresh peppermints, my favorite.

"Because?" He asked. I looked into his perfect blue pools.

"I just wanted get out of here. Nina and Thomas, my adoptive parents, are driving me crazy. But, my choice school is in New York. Julliard. I've heard back from Harvard, Princeton, and Brown. But, I keep hoping that Julliard will send out that last minute acceptance letter.....Yeah, pretty hopeless, right." The sun had long since set, the last strokes of pink snuffed out by a black, starry canvas.

"No." Will replied quietly, no longer looking at me.

"No, what?"

"No, you're not hopeless. You're smart enough to get into Ivy League schools and talented enough to get even an admission form from Julliard. Any school would be lucky to have you." He was looking at intensely, begging me to see myself the way he does. I shivered, just now realizing of the freezing winds coming off the bay.

"Let's go inside, it's cold out here." I nodded and he helped me up. I was suddenly aware of how short I was compared to him. I'd always been petite, but now I felt like a hobbit.

"Do you like ice cream?" I wondered as we walked down the stairs. Will looked at me puzzled.

"Yes. Why?" He asked hesitantly. I smirked devilishly, stopping two steps behind him so I was taller.

"I was just wondering if you'd want some."

"Well, yeah, actually. I'd kill for some right about now." I went down a step.

"Catch me, then." I didn't wait for his reply as I bolted down the steps, giggling. He quickly caught up to me though. I screamed in surprise when he lifted me over his shoulder then plopped me down onto the counter, all the while laughing hysterically.

************************************
3 hours later

We sat on the sofa watching whatever was on TV. Now, it was some mindless ABC family movie about a girl who was unwillingly given a guardian angel. We were on either side of the couch, our socked feet touching in the middle. The movie ended and I checked my phone clock: 9:30. I yawned, tired from the cleaning I'd done earlier today, and looked up at Will. He sighed, got up, and stretched, giving me a perfect view of .....well, everything. I bit my lip.

"I think I better head home." I stood too and we walked to the entryway as he said this. I bit my lip again and leaned back on the stair rail as he put his sneakers back on.

"I had a really nice time with you tonight." I didn't want him to go, but I knew he had to. I've seen Glory Levy when she's pissed about something and it is freaking terrifying.

"Yeah, we should do this again sometime." Will smiled brightly, his eyes lighting like bright blue fireworks. I let out a shaky breath and before I knew what was happening, my small body was jumping up and pulling Will into a hug. Wrapping my arms around him, I buried my face into his neck. He stumbled a little at my sudden force, but righted himself and tentatively wrapped his arms around my waist. Being as short as I was, my feet hung off the ground. I marveled in everything that was Will: His strong, warm arms, his soothing peppermint scent. After what seemed like forever (But what was probably only 3 minutes), we heard a knock on the door. When Will didn't move, I, regretfully, removed my face from his neck.

"You should put me down now, Willy." I whispered into his ear, teasingly calling him by his mother's nickname. He shook his head, holding me tighter.

"C'mon, someone's at the door." He whimpered childishly then set me down, gently. I smiled at him and pouted playfully. The loss of his immediate warmth rocked me to the core and I regretted telling him to put me down. I wanted to embrace him again but, I was afraid that the next hug would lead to something more......

The person knocked again, basically smashing down the door. Opened it to reveal a VERY ticked off Riley.

"Uh, what the hell! You two were SUPPOSED to call me after the date. And you!" she ranted gesturing wildly at Will. "You were SUPPOSED to come home 3 FREAKING hours ago to help me make dinner."
My dark haired bestie was livid but, when she noticed how close we were to each other (still within hugging distance). I was a bit surprised that she knew about the date but, seeing as SHE was the one who set us up, it wasn't that surprising. Riley ran a manicured hand through her dark tresses and sighed. She had extinguished as quickly as she had lit the match.

"You know what? Forget it. C'mon Will, you two can finish whatevering tomorrow." I blushed and rolled my eyes at her bluntness. Will glared at Riley but, his eyes softened when they met mine, fading from dark thunderstorms to clear sky blue.

"I'll see you later, Morgan." He interlaced our fingers and kissed my hand. My heart fluttered and I felt like I was going to pass out.

"Bye." I replied lamely, biting my lip as he smiled at me. Riley, though, sat on the steps pretending to vomit.

"Alright, alright, LET'S GO!!!" She groaned opening the door. Will gave me one last smile, then disappeared outside. I sighed in content and went upstairs to change into pajamas, deciding to sleep downstairs tonight. Coming back down, I flopped my tired body onto the couch. Unable to sleep, I flipped to the other side. This end was much warmer than the latter and as I sank into a deep sleep, I smelled something. I sniffed the couch pillow and smiled drowsily. It still smelled like him.

Peppermints.