Will hadn't been in favor of this trip, and nothing about this place made him feel better about it. He would have preferred to just stay at home with his books and his writing. He just knew where his expertise was, and being outdoors and doing stuff like this was definitely not it. Will was quite unlike Jack in that he was almost painfully thin looking. Just because he was naturally that way. Most people assumed there was something wrong with him. He just had to inform them every...single...time that he was just that skinny.
While he understood where his expertise was, that didn't make it easier on him. Deep down he knew he envied Jack and Henry for their ability to really enjoy the outdoors. Jack was just thirteen, but his body was muscular and strong enough that any authority Will possessed as elder brother was truly illusory. Jack usually did whatever he wanted, and that usually entailed something truly reckless.
Will sat thus by himself as he heard his brothers moving about and going through their business. Henry was running around looking outside, while Jack was doing some exercise before heading out for his exploration plans. Will shook his head and looked at the windows. He was never gonna be suited for that, no matter how he might wish for it. He looked at his skinny little forearm, and entirely too big looking hand. Everyone told him he was going to blossom from ugly duckling into beautiful swan any day now.
But he doubted it.
Everyone had reason to lie and tell him what he wanted to hear. The jocks at school didn't need to bully him to make him feel bad. Hell, he did their homework to make sure they could stay in their sports and not be dropped for poor grades. Well, outside of guys like Aaron who were blessed with the insane gift of a strong body as well as a strong mind. Oh how Will wished that was the case for him.
Will indulged in a fantasy as he sat there, seeing himself at 21 as a muscular, buff paragon of masculinity...but also as a learned scholar going to the college of his choice. He'd have ripped 20 inch arms, as well as a scholarship and be working on his dissertation. Women went gaga for his abs and went to listen to him give a talk after school about some scientific topic. Will...wanted that gift, that rare acquisition of being gifted both mentally and physically in equal measure.
He was brought back to reality when he felt a tent at the front of his pants, and he shook his head. 'Course this happens to him. He looked around and started to head up to his room. He wished oh he wished that his awkwardness could evaporate and the promised blossoming could take place...