A fan made All Star season of Love Island The Game, using characters from season 1-3, whose personality or style I liked. I had it set in Haiti, since I’m half Haitian.
Idk if I’m the only one thinking this, but uh… Oliver is THEE one this season.
The same way Bobby was THEE one for season 2. And they tried with Larry season 3.
I thought it was Will this season cause we all wanted him at first, but the difference in how they wrote Will versus how they wrote Oliver shows it all.
I literally melted each time Oliver asked this question, like huh?!
What if Fusebox gave us a polyamorous season of Love Island the Game?
I’m thinking that instead of single people coming in to look for a partner, the show can have couples come in looking for partner. Sometimes a couple will get added in, or sometimes a single person looking for a couple can be added in the show.
I feel like this would be a cool new spin-off to the Love Island show.
She still had plenty of reason to worry — Noah could still have feelings for someone else, the new islander could still steal one of them from each other, the new islander could be someone that one of them fancies. It was probably best never to be comfortable on Love Island, especially not this early in.
After her conversation with Noah earlier, Rose was feeling as confident as she could possibly be about the new prospect of a new islander. In stark contrast to the worried expressions and shaking hands of the other women in the dressing room, Rose touched up her makeup in a relative state of calm. She thought about her sweet conversation with Noah, about the careful kiss he’d placed on her cheek, his comment about keeping things fair. She’d managed to keep her gushing to a minimum when she ‘debriefed’ with Lottie, mostly focusing on listening to complaints about Rocco — of which there were many. He was a huge flirt and seemed to like all of the girls just as much as the one he was partnered with, which was already making the larger-than-life Lottie feel small.
“You don’t deserve that, babes,” Rose said, smudging her brown eyeliner with a q-tip. She was going with a slightly more natural look for their first party, having already removed the caked makeup from the day and started anew. “You have to have some sort of respect for your partner, even if you’re not set on staying with them.”
Lottie, in stark contrast with Rose’s toned-down makeup look for the night, was sharpening the wing of her eyeliner and applying an even deeper shade of plum to her lips. “Right? Disrespectful, that’s exactly how it is.”
“What’s wrong, Lottie?” Marisol asked, peeking around the mirror that divided them to intrude upon a conversation she was not a part of. “Things going poorly for you too?”
“I’m just hoping it’s a new guy tonight.” Lottie pouted.
“What about you, Rose?” Marisol asked. “Feeling alright?”
Rose smiled, thankful at least that Marisol had dropped trying to call her nicknames. “I had a nice conversation with Noah earlier, we agreed to stick together for now as long as we have a choice. He’s a good guy.”
“Aww,” Lottie drawled. “Look at Noah being a gentleman.”
Marisol rolled her eyes. “At least one of us is doing well.”
Rose shrugged. She felt as though Marisol was oversimplifying things. She still had plenty of reason to worry — Noah could still have feelings for someone else, the new islander could still steal one of them from each other, the new islander could be someone that one of them fancies. It was probably best never to be comfortable on Love Island, especially not this early in.
“I’m going to get changed,” Rose said. Marisol’s negativity was infectious and negativity was the last thing she needed. “I’m pretty sure the guys are already out on the lawn waiting for us.”
Lottie agreed, “Good call.” And, before Rose had even gathered her clothes to go to the bathroom to change, Lottie had dropped her swim top and started changing in the middle of the dressing room.
Rose tried to hide her blush, looking away and back to her clothes cubby as quickly as possible once she realized what was happening. She grabbed the first dress she saw, a silky green mini dress with spaghetti straps, and all of the necessary undergarments, and ducked into the restroom. The bathrooms were as private as the Villa got, but even then there were a few cameras directed at just the right angles to catch important conversations by the communal sink and cheeky shots of islanders showering. It was a careful geometry looking at the mounted cameras trying to locate possible blind spots. After just one day in the villa, Rose was already tracing sight-lines every time she walked into a room.
She chose a corner by the toilet — undignified but certainly private — and began undressing. Perhaps, by the end of her time in the Villa, Rose would be less of a prude. Perhaps she’ll eventually become used to her body being seen and then blurred in post-production by some poor media intern. But she wasn’t going to press herself too much on the first day.
Rose dressed as quickly as possible, also aware that other girls getting ready may also barge in at any moment — there were no locks on any of the doors in the Villa — and mussed her hair once more in the mirror before returning to the dressing room. Thankfully, all of the girls were clothed once she returned.
“Ready, babes?” Lottie asked, flashing her stiletto nails as she held out a hand. She was dressed in a sleek black dress with mesh sleeves that showed off her tattooed arms. Her hair was pinned back to one side with a vintage-looking silver clip.
“You look nice.” Rose touched the clip on the back of Lottie’s head. “This is gorge.” She took Lottie’s offered hand and gave it a squeeze.
“It was my grandma’s,” Lottie said. “I’m wearing it for luck.” Rose found Lottie’s superstitions charming, especially in a place that felt so outside of reality as the Villa. It made her wish she’d brought something to be made a talisman herself, even if she’d never been the type to believe in that sort of thing before.
“Ready girls?” Hope called. She was standing with her arms crossed in the doorway, looking impatient even though she’d only just put her shoes on. “The boys are waiting.”
Lottie rolled her eyes. “And they can wait a bit longer.”
Marisol trotted out of the bedroom, her shoes in her hands. “I’m ready!” She hopped on one foot to fasten a strap on her heel and then switched, fastening the other just as quickly. “Let’s go.”
Hannah, who had been much quieter in the dressing room than she had been the rest of the day, stood from her dressing bench. She wore a grave face and a simple sundress, looking much the same as before, the same long braid in her hair and the same light makeup on her face. Rose’s chest panged. She hoped Hannah didn’t feel underdressed. “I’m as ready as I’ll ever be,” she said.
Hand in hand with Lottie, Rose took the steps down from the dressing room and then to the deck. Relief washed over her at the sight of Bobby and Noah idly chatting, it was heartening to see them getting along. It meant that whatever flirting she’d engaged in — purposeful or not — was not enough to create a rift in the Villa. Early days, she reminded herself, she had done nothing wrong.
“Hey girls!” Gary waved from the lawn. He had a completely different vibe in his evening clothes, looking much less like a typical lad in square glasses and nice jeans. “We waited for you!”
Lottie gave Rose a look and Rose understood her meaning at once: Gary cleans up well…
He wasn’t her cuppa but he could certainly be Lottie’s.
“We had to get our look right, you know!” Hope laughed. “Now the party can get started!”
The islanders whooped along with Hope, doing their best to shake the uneasy feeling left by the bombshell text.
“Thank you for waiting for us,” Rose said as she and Lottie separated, drifting towards their respective partners.
Instead of Noah, whom the thanks was primarily directed at, Bobby responded, “We didn’t mind one bit, lass.” He winked at her.
Rose smiled in kind, but took Noah’s hand and said, “Thank you both.” Being near the two boys at the same time felt like walking into an active war zone.
“Let me get you a drink?” Noah asked, ducking his head closer to hers as he spoke, effectively cutting Bobby out of their circle. “They’ve got all sorts.”
She squeezed Noah’s hand. “Lead the way.”
“So,” Noah said, voice quiet as he spoke only to her. “I heard talk of a girls-only full moon ritual tonight. Are you planning to take part?”
Rose laughed, recalling Lottie’s insistence that the full moon on the first night of filming was an omen and that they should take care to honor it by convening in the moonlight. She’d gone along with it in the moment because she wanted to befriend Lottie and earn her trust. She shrugged. “Might be a laugh,” she said. “Lottie is really something.”
Noah pouted. “I was hoping you’d prefer to get a head start on sleeping with me—“ He cut himself off with a startled expression. “I mean, er, on sharing a bed.” Shaking his head, he started over. “I was hoping you’d like to cuddle instead.”
For his sake, Rose demurely hid her giggle behind a hand. “I knew what you meant,” she reassured him. “But, sorry, I’m all about the girl code.”
“Was afraid you’d say that.”
“I was going to ask how you felt about sharing a bed, but I suppose I’ve got my answer.” From the corner of her peripheral, she saw the rest of the group descending upon the bar, she had to shift gears quickly in case she didn’t have time for this conversation later.
Noah seemed to understand her meaning perfectly, grinning ever-so-slightly and nodding in confirmation. “I’d be up for it as long as you are,” he said. “No funny business, of course.”
She leaned in conspiratorially, easing her nerves with a joking tone. “Do you think any of the couples are going to be up to funny business right off?”
“Lottie and Rocco I could see,” he said with no hesitation. “I feel like Rocco would try it with anyone, though.”
“He hasn’t much flirted with me,” Rose corrected. “I think he knows I’m not the type to try it with.”
“Or that you’re a terrible flirt,” Noah teased. “Can’t be bothered.”
“Hey!” She lightly smacked his arm. “Your manner of flirting isn’t much better, so I don’t want to hear it.”
He shrugged coolly. “Takes one to know one.”
Rose huffed and rolled her eyes, but she couldn’t keep the smile from her face, she could tell that Noah’s teasing was affectionate.
“What are you two on about?” Gary asked as he shuffled back behind the bar. It was now too late for Noah to make Rose that drink, so she hoped Gary’s bartending skills were up to par.
“Just chatting,” Rose said, sharing a sly grin with her partner. “Where’s Hannah?”
Gary rolled his eyes, not a good sign. “She’s upset about something again. I swear that girl has cried on me twice and we’ve just met.”
“Poor thing…” Rose took a seat at the bar and watched Noah do the same. She turned so that her knees were facing his, doing her best to keep him in the loop while she talked to Gary. Normally, at a pub with her friends, she wouldn’t be concerned with making such clear delineations between platonic and romantic encounters, but things were different within the context of Love Island. She didn’t want to strike up a conversation with a guy that she wasn’t interested in and have her actual crush get the wrong idea. Noah, for his part, seemed to get the message. He laid a hand carefully on her knee, glancing up for permission and gracing her with a smile when she gave it.
“I feel for her,” Rose said. “This is all a touch overwhelming.”
“But you’re not crying all over your lad, are you?” Gary scooped ice into a shaker with an unsteady hand. It was clear that he’d expected to have a much more enjoyable first day, Hannah must really be getting to him. “Do you want a drink?”
“What can you make?” She wanted to humor him while also changing the subject. She hoped he would launch into trying to impress her with his bartending knowledge.
“Not much, I was just going to make some vodka crans,” he said. Then, “Do you think there’s anyone else I can pawn Hannah off onto?”
As she thought of what to say, Rose felt Noah begin tapping his thumb on her knee. She wondered if the gesture was simply absentminded movement or if he was anxious. It made her wish Gary would leave them alone so that she could find out. She said, “I don’t think that’s a nice way to think about your partner. I mean, it’s fine if you don’t like her but she is a person, no?”
Gary seemed to deflate. “You’re right,” he said. “Sorry.” As he began shaking the cocktail shaker, the other islanders gathered around.
“What are you making?” Lottie asked, shouting over the din of ice rattling against metal.
“Vodka cran.” Gary stopped shaking the drink. “Want one?”
Rose breathed a sigh of relief as the two began a conversation of their own, cutting her and Noah back out and into their own bubble. She leaned in close to his shoulder and waited for him to incline his ear. “You planning on doing any grafting?” She asked in a whisper, shooting a grin to let him know that she was half-teasing. At this intersection, though, she wouldn’t mind either way. There were people they both wanted to get to know better, but she also didn’t want to push Noah away if he happened to want to stay by her side.
He gave her a look. “You trying to get rid of me?”
“Not at all!” She frowned, trying to seem cool had backfired. “I just don’t want you to feel like you have to stay glued to me out of obligation.”
Noah gave her knee a light squeeze. “It might be good to chat with some other people, but only if you’re okay.”
“I can take care of myself,” she assured him, and she expected him to politely reassure her again. What she didn’t expect was for him to immediately excuse himself, leaving her alone with Gary and Lottie. She hadn’t been lying when she said his grafting other girls wouldn’t bother her, but she couldn’t help but feel discarded in the moment.
“Everything alright, love?” Gary slid a pink cocktail toward her. “Where’s laddy off to?”
She took the drink and stirred it dejectedly with the tiny plastic straw he’d garnished it with before taking a sip. “Grafting.” The drink tasted much stronger than she would have liked, which is what she got for letting a crane operator bartend.
“Rose?” A warm hand landed on her shoulder, and she turned to see Bobby smiling wide at her.
She smiled back though her mind reeled, feeling a little like he’d caught her momentarily playing the role of damsel in distress. “Hi,” was all she managed to say to her knight in beachy, floral armor.
“Noah leave you all alone?” Bobby asked. “I thought better of him.”
Rose sighed, seeing no point in hiding what was obvious. “I told him he could,” she explained. “I just didn’t think he’d be so eager.”
“Well lucky for you—” He slid into the barstool Noah had left open with ease, his knees almost knocking with hers as she hadn’t had a chance to turn away. If he minded the proximity, it didn’t show. “I’m here to keep you company all you like.”
Despite her mixed emotions, Rose chuckled at Bobby’s cheerful demeanor and stayed put, allowing their legs to remain touching. “To be clear, I told him he could go.” She allowed her face to fall into a full-on dejected pout. “I chased him off.”
Bobby rolled his eyes. “Forgive me, lass,” he said. “But I overheard. He’s not supposed to actually take you up on the offer like that.”
Not in the mood to chastise her partner, even if Bobby’s words were vindicating, Rose changed the subject. “How are you feeling with Marisol?”
He tapped his nose, then pointed with his thumb in a smooth motion, indicating Marisol’s approach to their left. He stood and offered a hand. “Fancy a chat on the daybeds?”
Rose nodded, taking his hand and sliding off the barstool before Marisol could interrupt them. She called to Gary, “Thanks for the drink!”
The dismissive way in which Noah had abandoned her may have left a bitter taste in her mouth, but it did its job to make her feel significantly less guilty in her desire to entertain Bobby’s advances. She allowed him to keep his hand wrapped around hers as they walked to the daybeds, ignoring a look from Noah and carefully dodging Marisol and Hannah along the way. When he finally let go, they were seated on the edge of one of the daybeds and far enough away from the other islanders that they wouldn’t be overheard. Of course, the cameraman that followed them was an exception, but he did his best to make himself scarce.
“I feel we haven’t gotten to chat at all.” Bobby’s hand fell gently to her bare thigh, grounding Rose in the conversation and making her forget the camera operator entirely. “I wanted to ask you something, though.”
Something about Bobby’s effortlessly casual way of speaking put Rose at ease. She’d never gotten along with men like Bobby before, usually finding quiet guys like Noah to be more her type, but Bobby gave her the impression that he was concerned only with her the entire time they were speaking. So far, all of her conversations in the villa had been distracted ones — the cameras and bright lights and new beginnings making it that much harder to connect — but speaking with Bobby was completely different, the conversation felt as intimate as speaking with an old friend.
“What’s that?” Rose asked, leaning closer to him as if she could further close off the rest of the world. She cracked a smile and joked, “And don’t ask where my head is at.”
“Damn.” Bobby sucked his teeth, feigning disappointment. “That’s exactly what I was going to ask, though!”
Rose shook her head, giggling. “I think I’ve already had enough of the villa speak.”
“Same here, actually,” Bobby said. Then, “I was actually going to ask you if it was alright that I kissed you during the challenge.” His voice was matter-of-fact, conveying uncharacteristically earnest thought behind the question.
“Oh…” Rose flushed, remembering the warmth of his rough hand on her chin, tilting her face up towards the sun so that he could kiss her cheek. The gesture had been so caring and intimate in the way he’d sensed her apprehension and asked permission. She almost couldn’t believe he was asking for reassurance when he’d been so careful in the first place. “Of course it was alright.” Her voice came out stilted, overwhelmed by the memory and by his thumb tracing intrepid circles above her knee.
Bobby took his hand away and leaned back on the daybed. A flicker of something resembling self-consciousness passed across his face, so quickly that Rose thought she might have imagined it. “You’re a shy one,” he said. His voice was soft like he was trying to match her level of energy. “I don’t want to — I don’t know —” He frowned, struggling to find the words. “I don’t want to make you uncomfortable if…” He trailed off.
It was a strange feeling, the ache Rose felt seeing Bobby shrink into himself. His confidence seemed to come so easily that seeing it slip — even momentarily — was jarring. She reached for his hand without a second thought, the desire to reassure him overpowering any apprehension or guilt she may feel about reaching for a man who is not her partner.
“Do you really fancy me the most?” She asked, laying her hand gently atop his. “That’s who you were supposed to kiss.”
Bobby grinned, confidence back in a burst. “I do.”
“Then I see no problem, you just followed what was written on the card.”
“Is that okay?” Bobby asked. “That I fancy you? You and Noah seem to be getting on for the most part.”
“It’s day one, yeah? I don’t think it would be wise to put all of my eggs in one basket already.” That was how she felt, but it sounded much simpler said out loud. Inwardly, her head was already beginning to be done in by trying to quantify her feelings for the two men.
Bobby turned his palm up to face hers and closed his fingers around her hand, using their linked hands to pull himself closer. In a deepened voice that made butterflies swarm in Rose’s abdomen, he asked, “Are you saying you’d like to put some eggs in my basket?”
“If you’ll have them,” Rose laughed, answering without hesitation.
“Oh, I’ll have ‘em, lassie.” His accent went gruff, emphasizing just how keen he was. It struck Rose that this felt like a far cry from the conversations she’d had with Noah so far. While Noah was committed to playing it cool and only just letting her know how he felt, Bobby seemed to lay his intentions bare. “And for the record,” he added. “I’m prepared to earn a proper kiss from you.”
“Earn?” Rose’s voice caught in her throat, only allowing the one word to pass.
“Aye. Earn.” He raised her hand to his lips and ghosted a searing kiss to her wrist. The way Bobby cycled between easy jokes and confident flirting was dizzying, but the natural magnetism he possessed allowed him to pull it off quite well.
At a loss for words, Rose smiled and gave his hand a gentle squeeze. In opposition to the burning stare she’d felt from Noah, Bobby’s gaze betrayed obvious infatuation. She could not be sure whether it would last, but she felt comfortable, for the moment, to bask in it.
-
hiii it’s been a second, so sorry!! thank you all to everyone who has commented, reblogged, or messaged me about this fic, i’m glad you’re excited for it!! also i was gonna put a real kiss in this one but no. slow burns only. <3
and i can still see it all in my mind, all of you, all of me, intertwined. i once believed love would be black and white but it’s golden
The church bells were ringing; a piano was playing softly within. The sky was clear blue, like even the weather couldn’t find a reason not to celebrate today. The day was as full of sunshine as the faces of the welcoming party outside the church.
How was that for a Thursday in November.
Bobby rode up with Noah and a few other of the lads from the show. The whole group had been invited. Bobby had apparently been extremely close to being shafted off the guest list, and he wasn’t all that surprised. Not when he and the bride had spent the entire summer in the Villa together, even exchanging the ‘I love you’. At the time, Bobby could see them exchanging a different set of vows; vows she’ll now be exchanging with someone else.
If it wasn’t for the guys, Bobby might never have come. He had half a mind to run still, to escape the church grounds, never looking back, as he dashed between the rose bushes. Long before he’d first dropped those three little words he knew he felt them, and even now, long after he had first let them fall from his lips, he knew he still felt them. He was as certain now as he had been back then.
The unnatural heat of today was almost as strong as it had been back on that challenge platform; the sound of the distant birds chirping away in the background; the smell of the breeze carrying warmth and fresh country air. He closed his eyes and it was like he was back there, back before everything fell apart.
Neither of them had known her ex boyfriend had been waiting for her to come out. He laid it on thick, never letting up, a never-ending train of apologies as he begged for forgiveness. No doubt she had never looked as good as she had winning Love Island.
Bobby had seen it coming before it happened. Just a month after they left the Villa, she sat him down and ended things, saying she was going to give things another go with Levi. They had history, a past, all this time invested in each other already. From what Bobby knew of their past relationship, that history was full of Levi cheating on her with some cherry lips and a mountain of shining red hair.
From the moment Levi appeared back in her life, Bobby knew she would leave to go back to him, giving Levi the chance and the ammunition to hurt her again. Bobby wasn’t bitter, and he wasn’t hanging about waiting with an ‘I told you so’, and nor was he hanging on to welcome her back sobbing into his open arms. It just was. This was reality and he wasn’t spending forever imagining the different realities where she ran back to him. For all Bobby knew, she might even end up forgiving Levi again if - when? - if - he cheated on her once more.
But all that breaking up was just five months ago. She had come to him a month after the split to tell him Levi had proposed, and she had said yes, and that it was happening soon. Bobby was still adjusting to it until the very morning the day came.
And that day was today.
Bobby woke up; the fog that had sat in his head in the months building up to today was dissipating, clearing the way to really think straight; his bad mood, his sullen air, was all blowing away like the clouds in the sky, leaving his sights clear.
His stomach was still in knots, but he was entering a church to watch the woman he loved get married to some douchebag who never treated her right. Was he going to say anything? Was he going to rudely barge in, find her, tell her what a mistake she was making, that if she did this she could be regretting it for the rest of her life? Surely, if he did that, made her call the whole thing off, that could be what she regrets for the rest of her life.
His heart lost speed as they made their way under the arched doorway of the church. The white ribbons adorned the length of the room, going from pew to pew, tying together the small bouquets of flowers at each end. White, silver, and blue, so very elegant, but he always knew her as golden.
She was the bright day; the colour of sunshine; sweet like honey, as lovely as a daffodil. She was the representation of joy, and if laughter was a person, it would have been her. She was Summer; the air, the breeze, the daze.
At least, that’s how he knew her in the Villa. That’s how she looked in the dozens of photos that were constantly splashed across hers and Levi’s socials. Every time he had seen her since the break-up, she looked more like a painting of her old self. Or had the cracks always been there, and Bobby had been too stunned to see?
No.
No. She had always been enough. She had always been true. She had always been honest.
Maybe he was just fooling himself, talking himself into seeing her unhappiness because he wanted it, selfishly so. Maybe he was waiting for her to wake up and realise she wanted him instead. Maybe he was holding out for her to call off the wedding. Maybe he was hoping that she would spot him in the crowd and the whole façade would crumble, the show would stop, and she would come back to him.
He knew she wouldn’t. She couldn’t. Nothing like that happens for real; it’s too selfish, too inconsiderate, the exact opposite of her.
It would have been easy to hate her. He had every justification. He had read the tabloids, seen the theories. She had always meant to run back to Levi. They only broke up so she could go on the show and get famous herself. She only accepted the slot on the show to make him crawl back in the first place.
Everyone had a theory, and Bobby had read them all, but they didn’t know her like he knew her. They didn’t see her like he saw her. That was not her.
She had come onto the show a heartbroken girl, and built herself back up again in Bobby’s arms. He would do it again, even if it ended with them exactly where they were now, just so he could have that time with her. He would always have the Summer. Summer would always have them. They had been in love.
Blazing and true, it had been honest and heartfelt. It was what they both needed at the time; they were who each other needed. Never had anything felt so right in Bobby’s life, and he thought that she had felt it all too.
He’d never forget her face when Levi showed up at her door just two weeks after the show ended. The shock, the hurt; it was genuine, because she was genuine. The only fake thing about her had been those nails. Oh, and the hair extensions.
Still. Bobby took a deep breath as they found their seats. This was it. This was the new reality. She was getting married. She knew what she was doing. It wasn’t like she had been held at gunpoint for the past five months, forced to smile as she picked colour schemes, floral arrangements, and how many entrees they were going to serve.
That yes had come from her own lips.
Bobby couldn’t help but wonder how gleeful it might have been, how happy in that moment she had really been. She must have been happy enough. She must be the happiest she’s ever been. He had to accept that, he had to accept that he needed to move on.
This was going to be the first step, the lads assured him. They were rallied around, hands on his shoulders, patting him reassuringly at every moment, making sure he was watched at all times lest he run away sobbing.
Well, Bobby had no plans to do anything like that. He was going to sit in his seat and be happy for her. If anyone asked why he looked so uncomfortable, he’d blame it on the pew.
Actually, he did need to take a leak.
He patted Noah on the thigh, leant in, to whisper, “I need to pee.”
“Did you not go before we left?” Noah asked, frowning at him like Bobby was his kid brother or something.
“No, I forgot.”
“I told you to go before we left the house -”
“Well, I forgot. Jeez, you wouldn’t think I had other things on my mind -”
“I’m not letting you go on your own.”
“What? What do you think I’m going to do? Go hunt her down and -”
“She’s not here yet,” Lucas butted in, turning to lean over the back of his pew from the seat in front of them. “Chelsea just updated the group chat that she’s just getting her rollers out.”
Bobby raised his brows at Noah. “See. I’m literally just going to be a second.”
“Yeah, he’s got the kilt on, so he can just whip it up over one of those rose bushes outside,” Gary said, joining in with a grin.
“Okay, you are not peeing in the church flowers,” Noah said, shaking his head at Bobby like it was his idea.
“I wasn’t going to! God, why are you guys acting like I don’t know how to behave? My plan was always, always to find the toilets, believe it or not,” Bobby said exasperatedly.
“Should someone still go with him?” Ibrahim offered. “Just in case.”
“In case what?” Bobby asked, now flummoxed. It was like he had a history of being a mental case. Whatdid they think he would do?
Ibrahim shrugged. “I dunno, like hide in a cupboard to jump out at the bridal party or something?”
“Why would I do that?”
“To be fair, I wouldn’t be surprised if you did something like that,” Henrik added, turning into the conversation with Lucas’ other side.
Bobby shook his head. “You guys really think I would do anything to try and ruin her day?”
“I mean, I don’t think it would be intentional -” Lucas begins, but Bobby cut him off by slicing his hand through the air. He cut them all off.
“I’m going before I wet myself in church,” he says, getting up.
“Again?” Gary offers, eyebrow raised.
“Again?” Bobby repeats, voice pitched. This one made him pause.
“Didn’t you tell us a story about you wetting yourself at -”
“That was at a sleepover. And also, I was six. I have more restraint these days.”
“We’ll see.”
Bobby got up and went. He found the toilets easy enough, down a hall just off the front door. There was a cue already, showing he wasn’t the only one without foresight to go before they got there. He would rub that in Noah’s face when he got back.
Bobby took out his phone while he waited. The group chat was exploding; the girls were keeping them constantly updated on their every move, updating the bride’s every move.
Bobby felt still again as he imagined her in her white dress, getting her make-up done, holding a bouquet that matched the ones dotted around the church. He was about to watch her gliding up the aisle, eyes adoringly on the only man that mattered to her today, and he was going to watch it from the side-line.
He closed his eyes again, seeing her not from the side, not from one amongst the crowd, but centre stage, above everyone else, just him and her.
His eyes shut tighter as he saw her giving him the look she had the first time they exchanged those words. He swapped the ‘I love you’ for ‘I do’. She didn’t need to say I love you because it was all over her face, the look of love clear as the day they’d woken up to.
And the best part, the very best part - it was only for him.
Bobby and her, and they were in love, and it was just them, living in the sunshine. And if the rain did come, well, he didn’t mind living in rainbows.
One message popped up in the chat, stuck out like a daisy among weeds. It wasn’t from her, none of them were, though they were all about her.
Lottie: Is Bobby there? The bride doesn’t believe us that he’s shown up!
Chels:BOBBY, IF YOU’RE THERE GIVE US A SIGN!!! WAVE!! AN EMOJI! ANYTHING!!
… Was she worried he wasn’t going to be here? She really, really wanted him to come along? After everything?
More importantly, was the thought that he wasn’t going to go upsetting her? Why would it matter so much? They were ‘old flames’ now. Though, she had apparently really, really fought to get him invited at all. So he knew there was something.
His heart was racing still when he got back to his seat. The guys congratulated him for not running away and not doing anything daft. Bobby just pushed a stupid grin on his face and got quiet.
“Hey, the girls are leaving the hotel,” Henrik said, voice laced with excitement.
“Finally,” Gary said. “Let’s get this show on the road.”
Show.
It was all a show.
For months, Bobby had been putting it on, pretending he wasn’t seeing the whole world putting it on, too. It was all a show.
He loved her. He loved her and he didn’t want to be here. He didn’t want to watch her marry the wrong guy. Even if she didn’t want to be with Bobby, she could do better than someone who had cheated on her. Even if it wasn’t with him. She could do better.
Everyone deserves someone who’s willing to give them their whole heart. You can’t do better than that, and Bobby doesn’t want to watch anyone - let alone the bride of the day - be with anyone less than they deserve.
Everything feels like it’s all happening at once. The place goes quiet, but it’s buzzing with noise.
The piano is playing; louder and quieter at the same time. The groom and all his men lead their way to the front of the room where the priest is waiting.
Bobby could not dispute how happy Levi looked right then. He was suddenly buried by an avalanche of guilt for wanting to rob Levi of the joy and happiness that she brought into the world. Maybe Levi had changed, maybe he was better now, and maybe he wouldn’t break her heart again. Bobby had to believe it. He had to.
Even as his heart was pounding, longing for her - for him - for anyone to do something. Don’t say yes, don’t say yes, please, please, don’t let anyone say ‘I do’.
The room went quiet. Everyone was hushed, the world was as still as it ever was going to get. The anticipation filled the room, everyone wanting to see the bride in all her beautiful glory, all eyes on her as they should be, the most beautiful woman in the world.
Bobby got to his feet like everyone else. He saw over the heads of everyone who was sitting behind them. Each hammer of the piano keys felt like someone was inside his head, knocking their fists against his skull. Was this ‘Here Comes the Bride’ or a death march?
His eyes were glistening already, just a moment before she stepped foot inside the old building, the sun at her back, making her glow like an idol handpicked by the angels themselves.
She was beauty, she was elegance, she was the stars that shined in the night and the sun that lit up the day; she was the air he breathed, she was life, she was everything.
And she was waltzing up the aisle to someone else.
Bobby couldn’t even take his eyes off of her to make sure Levi was appreciating the sight before him properly. How could he not? How could he ever imagine hurting someone so wonderful? How could Levi live with himself knowing that he hadn’t done everything he could to keep her happy?
Is that what Bobby was guilty of now? As he watched her making her way to the front of the church where Levi was waiting, expectant smile all over his undeserving face, is that what Bobby was allowing?
Could Bobby live with himself knowing he hadn’t done everything he could to keep her happy?
She stood before them all, facing Levi, and reached for his hand. Was she smiling? Was she happy? She should be, she would be - but how long would it last? How long until that smile and the sunshine within her faded out?
Bobby’s ears were ringing; he could hear the church bells again despite their stillness. He watched Levi’s and the priest’s lips moving, not catching a word, could see her jaw from the side, going up and down as she recited the well-rehearsed vows along with them.
Was his heart beating, thumping with the force of a hammer, or was it still, dead as if he was flat-lining?
And then he heard it, chorusing out among the choir of chaos in his head.
“Should anyone present know of any reason that this couple should not be joined in holy matrimony, speak now…”
…or forever hold your peace.
The words hadn’t been spoken yet. The world truly had gone still.
Hand balling into his fist, Bobby reached out to Noah, placing his fist on the other man’s thigh.
The wisp of a smile that had been on Noah’s face quickly dissipated into worry, no doubt figuring that this moment was all too much for Bobby. And it was, but not for the reason Noah probably assumed.
Looking Noah dead in the eye, Bobby said, “Should I do something really stupid?”
Eyes wide; face long; Noah paled.
He reached back for Bobby, but Bobby was already moving. All Noah could do was scramble, whispering out the most hushed, “No - !”
Gasps rang up all around the room as Bobby got to his feet, standing as bold as brass in the middle of the aisle, all eyes on him.
He was only looking at her.
“Summer.”
Summer looked at him, eyes wide, but soft. Her lips were parted, like she wanted to say something, but nothing came out. If she was stunned, at a loss for words, he couldn’t blame her. He was stunned at his own boldness, already feeling the weight of standing up so suddenly pressing him down.
“Don’t do this,” he said, blinking back any potential tears. His heart was back and it was going so fast he thought it might be trying to kill him. “Don’t say ‘I do’, please. I should have spoken up sooner, and I’m sorry for doing this now…”
He took a step forward, and that seemed to break the spell. Mutterings broke out across the room, there was some movement from those sitting around him like they were thinking of physically stopping him should he try to take another step towards the happy couple.
“Don’t marry him. He’s already proven he doesn’t deserve you, Summer. I’m not saying run away with me, but I’m asking you not to throw your life away for some guy who doesn’t even respect you enough to stay faithful.”
Jaws were dropping all around after already being picked back up. Not a soul in the place looked like they knew what do to.
But there was only face, one person, Bobby cared about now.
*****
Summer didn’t know how to feel. She stood in front of all her friends and family, in front of her fiancé’s friends and family, being asked not to do the very thing everyone was planning for over the last five months.
It had all been such a rush, she hadn’t even thought much about it beyond picking out the details. The last few months had been like living in a dream, and she had sensed that reality was about to burst her bubble. But not like this.
Bobby stood, so sorrowful, full of regret and pleading. So blue. He shut his eyes tight. She saw it in him; whatever gusto had build up that led to him standing, finally speaking out, she saw it all leave him.
He opened his eyes. Once more, they were only on her. It always felt like he never saw the world around her when she was there, that his eyes were well and truly only for her.
“I’m sorry,” he said, shaking his head. He stepped back. “I’ll go.”
Noah stood, going straight to Bobby, putting his hand on Bobby’s chest. “Come on,” he said, speaking soft, “let’s go.”
Her eyes flickered around their friends; seeing the shock, the horror, the hands held to their mouths, eyes wide in disbelief.
Bobby was half way down the aisle when Summer turned back to Levi finally.
His face was a picture of fury. He had to yet to tear his eyes off the back of Bobby’s head.
Summer understood. Of course he would be furious. He should be. And after arguing with her about him even getting invited, he was right…
Or was he?
Summer looked at him. Really, really looked at him. All of a sudden it was like she was seeing him for the first time, seeing him through the eyes of everyone else, of those not blinded by the love she felt for him once.
Her heart sank.
On her wedding day, before all of her guests, looking at her future husband. Her heart sank at the sight of him. All that happiness was turning in her stomach, but she knew what she needed to do.
“I’m sorry,” she whispered, feeling it come out of her mouth like a ghost was speaking through her. She hardly believed she had said it, but she had. And it wasn’t because of the interruption. “I’m sorry, Levi. He’s right. I can’t - I should - we shouldn’t. We shouldn’t be doing this.”
His face fell and her own matched it. She felt that loss, that sorrow, but there was something else, too… something stronger.
“Bobby…”
“Summer -” Levi tried to reach out of her, but she was already stepping back.
Summer turned to the crowd, one foot already heading down the short set of steps. “BOBBY!”
Everyone stared, the shocking just kept piling on and on. But Summer could only see him. He was under the arch, framed by the unnaturally beautiful day, like the world had come together to make her see everything so clearly that she couldn’t believe she had ever seen anything different. What was was blue had turned golden.
He turned, looking back at her like he couldn’t believe it. She felt like she had on that first day they met; the sun enveloped him that day too, like summer was trying to hug him.
Summer blew down the aisle, heart beating harder than it had on her way up, hair blowing behind her, not a care in the world how the man at the other end saw her, knowing he wouldn’t care because she was coming to him.
“Bobby.”
It came out as a gasp, a cry, as she threw her arms around him. He held her back tight, holding her like he was afraid of ever letting her go again.
“Summer.”
“Come on,” she said, breaking off the hug, but not breaking from him. Not again. Never again.
She took his hand, and he took hers, and they ran down the church steps into the glory of the bright, new day.
When those church doors shut heavily behind them, Summer stopped them again, throwing her arms around his neck once more, but this time, without the eyes of the world on them, she kissed him.
In that moment, the world was theirs. It was peace.
Introducing our new monthly feature: character spotlight!
Each month we’ll have a special focus on one character, highlighting fanfics and fanart of them, as well as writing our own very special prompts and one shots for them. Look out for our banners, Insta pages, HC lists, and much more! Also, feel free to submit any writings, fanarts or edits, or any of your own recommendations for the character, too!
To kick off June, we’re starting with our very favourite Baker Boy, Mr Bobby Mckenzie
a huge thanks to @griever-receiver for this perfect commission of punk!bobby – i’ve had it as my icon for a while now and i’m still so obsessed with it !!!!!
lucas looks like a hugh hefner train wreck and priya is serving in thigh highs (step on me) and bobby’s tights are doing it for me for sure
all of the outfits are fun (albeit weird) but like. im having so much fun playing this and i haven’t had the urge to play litg in months so… I love it! idc! im content
“Someone once said, ‘You can’t hurry love’, Anyway, I’m pretty sure they must have been an amazing baker. It takes time and the right ingredients to craft the perfect pastry. The same goes for finding someone special. When I do find her, she’ll always have a fresh pastry in her hand and a smile on her face.”
A piece I made for @becangle, also Bobby in a suit is
What a day! Letting your guard down in the Villa seems to be the quickest way to get your feelings hurt or end up with a bruised ego. Bobby seems to have learned his lesson… or not? Let’s find out with these questions from the audience.
How has your impression of the other guys changed since day one?
I came here hoping to get along with the boys, but since we are being honest here, I have to admit they intimidated me quite a bit. Have you seen the kind of men who go on this show? I thought I would blend into the background, but everyone has turned out to be quite nice. Not all of us are friends, but we can live together… For the most part. We’ll have to see what happens next.
Since, for the most part, you and Venus have been in a friendship couple, has there been a moment where you thought about recoupling with someone else?
Oh, that’s an easy one! No, I haven’t thought about it. I’m comfortable with her and she had never said she wanted to recouple with someone else. Obviously, things aren’t the same now, and we need to talk about it, but I don’t see myself with any of the other islanders. I don’t think the other girls want me either [laughs], so I’m not pushing myself onto someone who isn’t interested… The future is a little uncertain for me, isn’t it?
How do you really feel about what happened between Venus and Rocco? Did you see it coming?
No, I didn’t. Maybe I shouldn’t trust blindly in here, but since Venus and I weren’t in a real couple, I thought she’d talked with me first. And Rocco? She could do so much better. It’s obviously an awkward position to be for me. I do feel betrayed precisely because our relationship didn’t have any romantic commitment. It was a place to be honest and that’s what hurts the most. But how mad can I really be? Venus didn’t owe me the same loyalty that Rocco owed to Sky. I thought we would be better at this, that’s all.
To the viewers, it’s quite obvious your chemistry and attraction for Venus, have you ever thought of telling her that you want something more than just a friendship? If so, why haven’t you?
Chemistry and attraction? Can’t two beautiful people just be friends? [laughs] I don’t want more than a friendship because she doesn’t want more than a friendship. If there’s anything on my side, it doesn’t matter. I won’t make myself a problem in here.
