Not a Fan (Wilbur Soot)

Aurora

Wilbur returned to his flat as he continued to sip the tea, enjoying how it's warmth soothed his aching vocal chords. Tommy reached up to pause the television as soon as Wilbur entered the room. 

"I thought the tea was for her?" Toby asked, climbing across the couch to sit closer. 

"She already had some." Wilbur answered simply, still smiling from the conversation and the fact he had gotten her number. He looked up to see both boys staring at him, clearly waiting for him to continue. 

"We smoothed things out. I even got her number." Wilbur tried using the mug to hide his smile, the smugness in his voice exposing him. 

"That's how we do it!" Toby cheered, Wilbur instantly hushing him, while Tommy slapped Wilbur's back. 

"I'm proud of you my brother." Tommy said dramatically, pretending to wipe a tear. 

"Stop that, both of you." Wilbur laughed, standing up from the couch. 

"I'm going to call Niki, I'll be upstairs. Food is in the kitchen if you guys get hungry." Wilbur said over his shoulder as he climbed the stairs. 

Jack's apartment was about a thirty minute drive, if he called now he could probably catch Niki just before she got there. 

"That was quick." Wilbur said as Niki answered after the first ring, her phone laid in her lap as she watched the road. 

"I've been waiting for you to call!" She exclaimed. Wilbur turned down the volume, looking over to the wall his bedroom shared with Rori. He didn't mention anything about the song he had sang the night before, hoping he was just on edge and she didn't actually hear anything. Mentioning it when she didn't know what he was talking about could just open another unwanted conversation. He already had one embarrassing story to admit to her. 

"Sorry, I meant to call you when I got back from the studio, but you were already here." He apologized, deciding to just put in headphones after giving the wall one last glance. 

"So, what on earth is going on with you guys. I don't want to talk about what she said too much, but she implied that you were not happy to see her this morning." Niki questioned, keeping her eyes forward. 

"Ugh, I don't even want to think about this morning again." Wilbur groaned into a pillow as he rolled over. "I was just on edge because I wasn't expecting to see her and I had Tommy and Toby with me- you know they say the first thing that comes to mind. They even tried inviting her to the studio with us." Wilbur continued, lowering his voice so the boys wouldn't hear him over the TV. 

"I don't think she'd like that. She get's really overwhelmed in loud places- because of all the colors you know." Niki responded, pulling her phone up as she parked in front of Jack's house. 

Wilbur brought his palm to his face as Niki told him this. He felt like a complete idiot for not realizing it sooner. She hadn't declined the invitation, at least solely, because of his behavior, but because of her condition. 

"I'm a bloody idiot." Wilbur sighed. "I didn't even think about that." 

"Next time ask her to an art museum, she loves those." Niki pitched with a smile. 

"I didn't-" Wilbur cut himself off as his voice cracked. He reached over and took the last sip of his tea before turning back to his phone. "Thanks." He finally muttered, secretly appreciating the advice. 

"I have to head in, but don't forget to check on her soon, alright?" Niki smiled. 

"I actually already did, we talked about this morning and she gave me her number so we could text. I guess my post-recording session voice was a bit much." Wilbur sighed.