The other islanders murmured between themselves, whispering about how unfair it was. They’d only lost because they’d been fucking around, throwing paint at each other instead of at the board. 

If he’d known what was at stake, he would have taken it seriously. 

Why couldn’t he have been serious, for once?

His eyes met Mia's, and he saw the sadness in them. Her huge, beautiful brown eyes, hiding a little, as they squinted from the huge smile on her face. But there was sadness in them. He knew not everyone would be able to see it… but he could. He knew her too well. His best mate. Best friend.

They walked over to the daybeds in silence, away from everyone else, settling in for a discussion. Or… lack thereof. 

“I’ll go. You’ve got a way bigger insta following than me. If we’re getting the music thing off the ground you’ve gotta stay as long as possible” she said. 

“Don’t be a prat, I’m goin’. My Mum’ll have my ass if I don’t at least pretend to be a gentleman about it. Plus, you’re way too hot to not find someone else here.”

She smiled. “I’ve been here since the beginning, same as you, bellend. I’m not gonna find anyone other than you who’s worth hanging out with. And we’re in a friendship couple. Plus… there’s Jen.”

Jen had recoupled with Jake, setting off a disaster recoupling that had seen Tim happily picked by his best mate. Jen had clearly expected Talia to pick Tim, because Jake was now unavailable. But Mia got there first. She was a good friend to Jen, to keep him in the villa.

But it mean that Levi had gone home, which surprised everyone. Levi was head over heels for Mia. And most of them had thought Mia had felt the same. Not that they’d know. The only person who knew how Mia felt was Jen, and she made a point of never telling him anything. But Mia had picked Tim instantly. No hesitation. He knew it was only because they were mates. But even so… he’d appreciated it.

It was nice to feel like he wasn’t expendable, for once. Like someone wanted him around. 

He’d been trying to squash the crush he had on Mia down into a deep pocket of his body, but ever since he’d started sharing a bed with her… god, he could barely hide it any more. 

Jen really was too posh for him. She wanted to change him. Didn’t like his tattoos. Didn’t like his rapping. But Mia… Mia did. 

Despite being a mechanical engineer, she was a born musician. A drummer. She couldn’t beatbox or rap for shit, like his dream girl would’ve been able to. But give her thirty seconds and something to hit with, and she could drop a beat that he could drop some serious bars on. That, and the fact that when she sang, she sounded like Ashanti, and had a body to match… god. Imagine the music they could make together?

She was a bloody catch. He wasn’t sure how she’d even ended up on Love Island. Tim reckoned that if he looked like Jake or Levi, he’d be locking Mia down in an instant.

It was why he’d asked Jen not to pick him. 

The official reason she gave everyone was that she wanted to be ‘sure’. But really… it was him. He was the one who wasn’t sure. But before he’d even had a chance to talk to her about it, Mia had just given him her answer. 

She’d said it herself. Friendship couple.

And she was going to sacrifice herself so that he at least could give things another go with Jen. 

Fuck, she’s a good mate.

“So yeah. I think we’re decided then. For the sake of the rap group. I’m goin’. Plus, it’s Love Island. If you were a true gentleman, you wouldn’t be here.” 

He laughed, and she grinned at him, but sighed. “I just wish…”

“Wish what, that you could’ve had me this whole time?” he joked, nudging her with his arm.

She sighed. “Well, I’ll be going home in a little bit. So I ‘spose it doesn’t matter how badly I wish that.”

“Ha, yeah right.”

She looked hurt. Hurt. “Glad to know my feelings are a joke, to you, Tim. Makes me feel like a bloody idiot. So thanks for that.”

“Wait… are you havin’ me on?” his stomach dropped. “Mia, what the fuck? You like me?”

She looked at him, in absolute disbelief at what she was hearing. 

“T, I’ve had a crush on you since day one. I feel like an idiot saying it out loud. But pretty much everyone else figured it out already. I thought you had, too, and just… weren’t interested. Did you seriously not know?”

He just looked at her, furrowing his brow, completely frozen. He had absolutely no fucking idea how to react to this news. 

“I just wish I could kiss you, though. Just once.”

He still didn’t say anything. 

He just nodded. 

Tim wasn’t even sure who kissed who, but it only felt like a millisecond before his hands were in her hair, pulling her against him with the thirst he’d felt for her since the second they’d met. His lips against hers, his tongue pressing at her mouth, as she moaned into the kiss. He’d been told he was a good kisser. But knowing that she thought so made him feel lighter than air. 

He heard the sound of excited screaming coming from the firepit, clearly enjoying the show, and he felt her exhale a laugh against him. 

He hadn’t realised until now just how badly he wanted her. How important she was to him. Not just as a friend. He wanted more. 

And it was only now? Now when she was about to leave? Now she tells him?

Fucking cruel. 

As they finally broke apart, a phone’s alarm sounded from the firepit, and they were instructed to come back. They walked back, silently, hand in hand. He wasn’t sure what the fuck to say to her. 

The faces of the other islanders were plastered in wide grins at what they’d just witnessed. No one’s wider than Jen’s, who looked absolutely made up about the fact that they’d finally figured it out. 

But his face told a different story. A silent one. 

Mia spoke up, quietly next to him, smiling, like it was all a big laugh.

“For the sake of the rap group… I’m going. Tim has a higher profile than me, as well as someone to stay for. So… yeah. It’s been real.”

She hugged all of the other islanders in turn, as he stood there, his mind absolutely racing. 

How? Why? When? What? Who?

Well, no, he understood the who part. 

But the rest of it was a completely mystery to him. 

She’d sacrified herself for the sake of his career. Obviously he’d be bringing her along to hang out backstage if he got any gigs out of this. And she’d been planning to go back to uni anyway. 

God he couldn’t wait to see her on the outside. 

She came to him last, wrapping her arms around his waist as he kissed her forehead, just as he had so many times before. 

“It’s going to suck being here without you. You... er... plug-ugly cow.” he whispered. 

“Don't be a melt, you manky knob. I know. But you gotta do it. You just gotta win. Get back with Jen, and win.”

She kissed him gently on the lips, sending him back into a state of shock. 

“Bye, Big T. I’ll see you on the outside.”

And she walked away, back into the villa.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

Tim stood at the firepit, silently hating himself. Why hadn’t he seen it? He could have had a few days in here with her at least. She was doing this for his career. For him. Because she liked him. Maybe even more than that. You don’t sacrifice something like this for someone you just have a crush on. 

You do it for someone you l...

“Give him a second” Jen's voice chuckled. 

He looked up, and noticed everyone was staring at him, wide smiles on their faces. As if they were waiting. 

Mia loved him. 

Fucking hell. 

She loved him. 

The realisation came crashing over him like he’d fallen through a wormhole. Lying on the daybeds, laughing so hard they couldn’t breathe. The moment they'd realised her initials were MC - and she'd insisted it made her a better rapper than him. Insulting each other with increasing ferocity, with every swear word they knew, as they absolutely roasted each other and everyone around them.

Holding her tightly while she cried every time Levi treated her like dirt. After he cheated on her with Cherry, and she took him back. The way she looked at him. The feeling of her hair in his fingers as he kissed her. How it felt to have his arm around her waist as she slept. 

He loved her, too. 

And he was letting her go?

“What the fuck am I doing?” he said. 

The others cheered, as he came to his senses. 

And he bolted after her.

She was already in the bedroom, packing her bag. He chuckled, and walked straight past her, grabbing his bag too. 

“What are you doing?” she furrowed her brow. 

“Packing”

She froze. “Where are you going?”

“Home. With you.”

Her eyes went wide, and her face fell, as if she’d just heard something she couldn’t quite believe wasn’t made up in her head. 

“You… what?”

He rolled his eyes. “Mia, you absolute daft minger. It’s called Love Island. There’s no point me staying here if I’ve already found love, and it’s walking out the door. Now shut your mouth, before I give you something to put in it.”

She practically fell over herself as she got up, throwing herself at him with such force that they both fell into their closet. He pressed his lips to hers, over and over, on the pile of their mixed clothes on the floor, holding her against him.

This was right.

This was how it should have been all along.

But that didn't matter now. Because this is how it would be from now on.

He had her.

Her arms wrapped around his waist, he tilted her chin up to his, pressing his lips softly to hers. Her enormous eyes looked glassy, and she looked like she was about to cry. He smiled at her as he admired her, almost feeling the warmth building inside him.

"God you're ugly" he whispered.

She beamed at him, cracking up laughing. She pressed her lips to his again.

.

Their bags packed, they walked to the door. The other islanders were waiting at the bottom of the stairs, beaming at them.

He laced his fingers with hers, nodded at Jen, who winked at him.

And, hand in hand, he walked out the door with her.

Big T and his MC.