Characters The Dixon Rule Elle Kennedy

Will Larsen Character Analysis in The Dixon Rule

Overview

Will Larsen is a supporting character in The Dixon Rule, the second book of Elle Kennedy’s Campus Diaries series. He is a hockey player at Briar University, a teammate of protagonist Shane Lindley, and a close friend of Beckett Dunne. While Shane and Diana Dixon carry the main fake‑relationship plot, Will has his own meaningful arc centered on sexual discovery, vulnerability, and the search for acceptance. This analysis covers his plot role, motivations, chronological arc, relationships, key decisions, and how his story connects to the novel’s major themes.

Plot Role

Will serves as a secondary character whose subplot runs parallel to the central romance. He is introduced early as one of three hockey players who see Diana in a towel (chapter 1 of The Dixon Rule). His most critical function is as a confidant for Diana: in chapter 9, he asks to crash at her apartment to avoid going home with Beckett, then confesses that he has been having threesomes with Beckett and now struggles to enjoy solo sex because he imagines Beckett there. This confession establishes the core of his personal journey.

Later, Will becomes a catalyst for Diana and Shane’s trust and communication. He goes to dinner with Diana (chapter 25), where he complains about his father’s opposition to his plans to go to Europe and reveals that his mother died when he was four. Diana encourages him to talk openly with Beckett about his threesome fantasy. Will’s “SOS” text in chapter 35—asking Diana for an escape from a potential threesome with Beckett—prompts Diana to tell Shane about Will’s struggles and request support. The kitchen scene in chapter 36, in which Will watches Shane and Diana have sex and is invited to touch himself, becomes a consensual exploration of their dynamic. By the epilogue, Will remains part of the friend group, exchanging banter in the group‑text chapter.

Motivations and Traits Shown Through Actions

Will’s actions reveal a young man caught between his desires and the fear of being abnormal. He approaches Diana because he trusts her; she does not judge him when he admits that threesomes with Beckett made solo sex feel “lacking.” His willingness to be vulnerable shows emotional courage and a desire for self‑acceptance. He also demonstrates loyalty as a friend—he advises Diana about her dress code before their dinner and supports her in the ballroom competition.

Underneath his friendly demeanor, Will carries grief. His mother’s death shaped his family relationships, and his father’s disapproval of his Europe plans adds pressure. In chapter 25, Will voices frustration that his father “doesn’t get” his aspirations. This conflict suggests that Will wants to forge his own path but still seeks paternal approval.

Will’s sense of humor and occasional meanness (as when he tells Shane he’s “gotten a lot meaner since you started bro’ing out with Beck”) mask deeper insecurities. He uses banter to deflect, but his confessions to Diana show a softer, more introspective side.

Chronological Arc

  • Introduction (chapters 1–3): Will appears as one of Shane’s friends helping with furniture. He is portrayed as laid‑back and observant.
  • Turning point (chapter 9): Will stays over at Diana’s and confesses his threesome struggle. This moment shifts his role from comic relief to a character with a significant internal conflict.
  • Mid‑book development (chapters 25, 27): Will has dinner with Diana, opens up about his family, and later become a source of jealousy for Shane (who worries Will might date Diana). The jealousy is mostly Shane’s misinterpretation; Will and Diana remain friends.
  • Climax (chapters 35–36): Will sends the SOS, leading to the kitchen threesome. He watches, receives Diana’s explicit consent, and participates in a way that normalizes his desires.
  • Resolution (epilogue, chapter 59): Will is part of the group text, still joking with Beckett and Shane. His arc ends with acceptance and integration into the friend community.

Relationships

With Diana Dixon

Their friendship is the emotional bedrock of Will’s subplot. Diana never shames him; she listens, supports, and later advocates for him to Shane. Will, in turn, offers Diana a non‑romantic male perspective and helps her understand her own attractions. The trust they build enables the kitchen scene’s consent.

With Beckett Dunne

The outline suggests a complex, unresolved tension. Will’s threesome desire is specifically about including Beckett. He struggles to enjoy sex without imagining Beckett there, yet he avoids directly confronting Beckett about it (hence the SOS). The relationship remains ambiguous at the end of The Dixon Rule, leaving room for further exploration (potentially in The Charlie Method).

With Shane Lindley

Will and Shane are teammates and friends. Shane feels a moment of jealousy over Will’s dinner with Diana, but the friendship does not break. They play opposite sides in a charity hockey game (chapter 25) and exchange good‑natured barbs. Shane ultimately supports Will’s needs by allowing him to stay over.

With His Father

Conflict over Will’s plan to go to Europe highlights a generational divide. Will’s father opposes the trip, and Will vents about this to Diana. This tension adds depth to Will’s character, showing that his struggles are not only sexual but familial.

Key Decisions and Consequences

  • Confiding in Diana – He gains a trusted ally who does not judge him, which reduces his sense of isolation.
  • Going to dinner with Diana – Strengthens their friendship and forces him to articulate his feelings about Beckett and his father.
  • Sending the SOS – Prompts Diana to involve Shane, which leads to the consensual threesome. This decision allows Will to experience his fantasy in a safe, communicative setting.
  • Participating in the kitchen scene – He receives clear consent from Diana and verbal permission from Shane. The consequence is a release of his internal conflict—at least temporarily—and a deeper bond with the couple.
  • Staying in the friend group – He remains connected to the community, suggesting he will continue to navigate his sexuality with their support.

Theme and Symbol Connections

  • Fake Relationship to Real Love – Will’s journey mirrors this theme. He hides his true desires (a “fake” self) until he is able to be honest with Diana and Shane, moving toward authentic self‑expression.
  • Domestic Violence and Recovery – While Will is not a direct victim, his vulnerability and need for a safe space parallel the novel’s emphasis on seeking help. Diana’s kindness provides a recovery‑adjacent environment.
  • Grief and Family Duty – His mother’s death and father’s disapproval weigh on him. This theme runs through his conversations with Diana.
  • Trust vs. Control – Will trusts Diana with his secrets, and later trusts Shane to include him. He also releases control by allowing the scene to unfold as it does.
  • Friendship and Community – Will’s arc is embedded in the broader friend network. The group‑text chapter (59) reinforces that he belongs.

Five Book‑Specific Questions and Answers

1. Why does Will confide in Diana about his threesome struggles?
Will trusts Diana because she is not directly involved with Beckett and has shown herself to be non‑judgmental. In chapter 9, he admits he “needed someone to talk to” and Diana listens without criticism.

2. What is Will’s main internal conflict throughout the novel?
Will grapples with feeling abnormal for preferring threesomes and missing Beckettt during solo sex. He worries that his desire is a sign something is wrong with him, as stated in his conversation with Diana.

3. How does Will’s relationship with his father affect his decisions?
His father’s opposition to his Europe plans adds stress and makes Will seek emotional support from friends. He vents to Diana, using the dinner to voice his frustration, which indirectly leads him to be more open about other parts of his life.

4. What role does Will play in the kitchen scene (chapter 36)?
Will watches Shane and Diana have sex, and when Shane asks if he likes the view, Will does not leave. Diana verbally consents to his staying. Shane then instructs Will to masturbate, and all three reach climax. Will’s presence is consensual and exploratory.

5. How does Will’s friendship with Diana change over the course of the book?
It evolves from a casual acquaintanceship to a deep, trusting bond. Diana becomes his confidante, helping him accept his desires, and he becomes a supportive friend who respects her relationship with Shane. By the end, they share a platonic intimacy that enriches both their lives.

For more on the novel’s ending and themes, see the ending explained page and our themes overview. For detailed answers to reader questions, visit the questions and answers section.