Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

It’s the first day back at Hillerska after the summer break. The last time we were there Wilhelm had told his mum he didn’t want to be crown prince and then he ran after our car.

That day he came home with me. He stayed for a couple days but then had to return to the palace. We haven’t really seen each other much all summer since then. Wilhelm has been travelling with his parents. We met up once, 3 weeks ago, but we haven’t seen eachother since.

When I woke up this morning, I had a message from Wille. “Simon, can you come to my room this morning please.” I replied telling him I would be there. I expect that he might be anxious about going back to school or just want to spend some time alone with me.

Now, I am waiting for the bus to school with Sara. The late August air is warm as Sara and I stand at the bus stop. We are going to arrive at school an hour earlier than we need to so Sara has arranged to meet Felice at the stables. They had spent much of the summer together while I spent lots of my time with Rosh and Ayub.

*****

About 15 minutes later, the bus pulls into Hillerska. Sara and I get off and say goodbye. I watch as she heads off towards the stables then start I walking towards Wille’s dorm room.

I knock on his bedroom door and let myself in before I even hear an answer. I only knock so that I don't take him by suprise, he wouldn't care if I just came straight in. When I enter, Wille has his face buried into his pillow and he is sprawled out across the bed, lying on his stomach. I walk over to him and gently stroke his hair. “Wille baby, I’m here.” I whisper to him.

He groans and mumbles “don’t want to go” into his pillow. I perch on the edge of the bed next to him and gently kiss the back of his head. We have still got around an hour until lessons start but if Wille wants any breakfast he will have to get up soon as breakfast ends in 15 minutes.

“Wille,” I try again. “You need to get up for breakfast.” He groans once again. He’s either really tired or is anxious about school starting again. “Baby what’s wrong?” I ask running my fingers through his golden blonde hair.

He rolls over onto his back and drags me down to lie with him. “Wille,” I laugh, “What are you doing?”

He speaks for the first time today. “I just want to spend time with you, baby.”

I wrap my arms around him. “I know. I want to spend time with too, darling. But we can’t stay here much longer, we have class soon.”

“What if we just skip?”

“Wille, you know we can’t do that love.” He buries his face into my chest and sighs. “Come on, let’s get up so you don’t miss breakfast.”

*****

10 minutes later we are sitting around the breakfast table. I have already eaten as I had something before I left my house this morning but Wille is eating a sandwich. He’s still waking up and he’s always really funny when he’s tired.

“Simmeee,” he whines, dragging out my name. “Let’s just go back to bed.”

I laugh at him and place my hand on his thigh. “You know we can’t do that. Now finish your sandwich, babe.”

He rests his head on my shoulder and finishes eating. I look around the room and see everyone talking with their friends then I look back to Wille who is practically sharing my chair now. He’s so pretty. I can’t help admiring him. How did I get so lucky? Even when he’s still half asleep and doesn’t want to go to class he’s the cutest person I’ve ever met.

Chapter Text

School starting again has caused me a mix of emotions. I’m so happy to get to spend every day around Simon again. The summer was awful. I was away for so much of it that we barely got to see each other. I had messaged Simon all the time though. I would send him updates on which country I was in, what my favourite thing there was and how much I wished he was there with me. We FaceTimed a few times as well but nothing is the same as being with him. I missed him so much.

On the other hand though, I didn’t want school to start again. All the lessons, the homework and the general pressure of school is too much. I love spending time with my friends and especially Simon but school also makes my anxiety much worse.

Right now I’m sat next to Simon in math class. I’m not good at math. I’m not good at much at school honestly. Simon is though. He’s so smart.

“Wille, have you been paying attention?” Simon whispers to me. He’s laughing a bit as he says it. I haven’t been listening. I don’t remember anything that’s been said this lesson. I’ve been thinking back on the summer and have missed everything that was said.

I look around the classroom and everyone is working through something in an exercise book. I look back to Simon and he’s looking at me and giggling. “What are we doing?” I ask him. It comes out more vulnerable than I intended but he just smiles gently at me.

“The questions on the board, love.” He answers me. “Do you need any help?”

I look up to the board and I have no idea how to solve the equations. “Please. I don’t have a clue how to even start it.”

“That’s okay. I’ll help you.” He starts explaining it but I can’t help but admiring how beautiful he is. His dark brown curls fall beautifully. Everything about him is perfect. I reach my hand up to his dark brown hair and stroke a curl off his face, letting my fingers linger on his soft skin a few seconds longer than necessary.

“Wille,” he laughs, “are you listening to what I’m saying or not?”

“You’re so beautiful it’s hard to concentrate.” I say as I smile innocently at him.

“My love, we are in class please try to concentrate. But if we are stating facts then you are extremely handsome yourself.”

“I warned you that I didn’t want to go to class today but I’ll try and concentrate.” I say moving my hand from his face and onto his thigh under the desk.

I do try and concentrate. Simon starts explaining the equations to me and I manage to get the hang of how to calculate the answer. School isn't really my thing though. It never really has been. I've always wished that I was smart but it doesn't come naturaly to me the way it does for Simon.

*****

At break, Simon and I find Felice, Sara, Maddie, Stella and Fredrika. Simon tells me that he is going to use the bathroom and I sit down at the table with the girls. They are talking about something horse related.

When Simon comes to join us at the table, there are only six seats. He starts walking across to another table to get a chair. “Simon just sit on my knee.” I call after him. He drags another chair over to the table anyways and then whispers in my ear, “not at school baby.”

I don’t really understand his reasoning but I guess he doesn’t want to seem too much in front of everyone at school. Instead, I feel him wrap his legs around mine under the table and pull me closer. He kisses my cheek then turns to Sara asking her something I don’t quite catch.

I really do think that I’m the luckiest person alive. I have the most beautiful, kind hearted, caring boyfriend in the entire world. Oh how I missed Simon during the summer. I can’t wait to spend every day with him again. I can’t wait to spend the rest of my life with him. We haven’t spoken about the future much but I have dreamt about Simon and I’s future hundreds of times.

Chapter Text

I'm sitting on the steps outside of school with Wille at the end of the day. He has one of my hands in both of his. He's tracing patterns over my knuckles like it's the most natural thing in the world. "I've missed you so, so much Simon." He says looking at me with those soft eyes I adore.

"I missed you all the time." I respond. I place my free hand on his face and stroke his cheek with my thumb. I lean towards him and kiss him. He kisses me back. It speaks for everything we couldn't say, the longing we had for each other after so long apart and the eternal love that we feel for each other. It's the moments like this that I wish could last forever. That we could capture this feeling in a bottle and keep it for the rest of time.

Once again though, our peace is interrupted when my phone buzzes. It's a message from my mum. "Dinner will be ready soon. Are you going to be home in time? I was hoping we could have dinner as a family tonight." I quickly type back that I'll be there then I turn to Wille. "I need to go now. Mum wants be back for dinner," I say.

He sighs, "I don't want to leave you."

"Then don't. Come with me. Mum won't mind and there's always left overs anyways. Then you can stay at mine tonight."

"Are you sure she won't mind?"

"100%. She loves you like her own Wille."

"Okay, thank you." He says.

I stand up and pull him to his feet. We walk towards the bus stop hand in hand and then get on. Wille insists he'll pay for both of us. I know it isn't much for him but it still makes me feel guilty. I hear a few whispers as we get on. People know we are together so I don't understand why it's such a big deal for us to be seen together, but to the public, it clearly is.

I let Wille past me to sit in the seat next to the window and I sit down next to him. He places his hand on my thigh and I place my own over his.

"Are you sure Linda won't mind me coming?" He asks turning to look at me.

"Wille my love, I promise you she'll be happy to see you," I say smiling at him. He nods and rests his head on my shoulder. I press my lips against his head and I allow myself to take in his scent. It's so comforting to just know that he's there. We don't need to talk, as long as we are together I feel safe.

*****

We are now sat around the table eating dinner. Mum was so happy to see Wille. She hadn't seen my boyfriend since he stayed with us at the start of summer. I'm sat next to Wille with my mum across from me and Sara opposite Wilhelm. Occasionally, Wille and I's knees knock into mine. Everytime, I get butterflies like we've just met.

"So," Mum says, breaking the silence. "Your dad keeps trying to get in touch with me. He's saying he's better now and we can be a happy family." I look across the table towards Sara. She's looking at me as well. Concern paints both of our faces.

"You haven't been visiting him behind my back again have you?" Sara asks me.

"No, no I haven't." I really hope she believes me. I haven't seen him in so long. Not just for them but for me as well. I always end up hurt when I see him.

"Mum, I don't want him back in our family. He won't have changed. We all know that." Sara looks so vulnerable. Our dad isn't a good person and I don't want him in my life either.

"I'm not going to let him be part of our family again. I just needed you two to be aware. If he tries to contact you or reach you in any way, let me know." Mum says. I look at Wille who seems concerned about the whole situation. He knows very little about my dad. It's not really something I to talk about. I know Wille cares and would do anything to protect me but I also want to protect him from my dad. Right now, I just want to spend time with the family I choose to surround myself with.