𝐇𝐮𝐫𝐭 𝐌𝐞 𝐀𝐠𝐚𝐢𝐧 ; 𝘉𝘺𝘭𝘦𝘳

𝟐𝟎.

For weeks all Mike could feel was pain. There were some good moments here and there but this had to hurt the most. The moments when all of the anger he felt towards himself boiled over onto someone else, and now all that emotional pain was physical.

The blood on his hands wasn't his this time.

Beneath him was his target who he'd spent so long being mad at that when he was finally able to release all of his bottled up emotions, the punches felt meaningless. That was when he realized he forgave him a long time ago. That he was projecting onto Troy.

Did he deserve to be hurt to? Maybe. But in hindsight, Mike just made it harder for himself. Forcing Will to say a phrase he never wanted to hear.

We need a break.

12 hours before...

Mike couldn't read Will's mind. A fact that actually helped their relationship spark chemistry again, because if he could he'd discover a lot of things the boy was keeping from him. Stan being one of the more important things and then the fact that he was pushing everything down and pretending to be happy was a close second. But as previously stated, Mike didn't know these things at the time. So all the good days they'd been having together seemed authentic, when in reality they were just convincing performances.

Today—which turned out to be one of the bad days—started off on a good note. The two were on a mission to finally get Mike's bike back now that he knew the address and face of the person who stole it.

The light blue vehicle was more than just a bike. For him it was a symbol of how things were, and getting it back would help him move on and be at peace with what happened. Or as peaceful as you can be still wanting to murder the person who took one of your legs.

The two boys watched Jenifer from behind a tree, Mike with his back towards it and Will keeping lookout. The taller male let his urges get the best of him, and grabbed the other by the hips, pressing their lips together passionately. Will returning the favor.

Being close to him again made him irresistible, to the point where every chance Mike got he wanted to kiss and hold him in his arms for as long as possible. Yearning for next time when he had to let go.

Will pulled back once he felt his shirt drag up his back. "We've gotta focus, Mike. Before she leaves."

"I want it back too but...I know something that rhymes with bike you can ride."

His 'innocent' soul didn't get it at first, but when he did he gasped and slapped his boyfriends chest playfully.

"Ok, now go!" Mike whispered, Will taking a breath before exiting the woods and walking up to Jenifer. The short freshman was still in her cheerleading uniform while doing stretches and holding her dogs leash. The dog—a fluffy Pomeranian—was in the middle of doing its business when it began to growl at Will, barking at him for intruding the space.

That's when the girl noticed him there, lifting an eyebrow confusingly and placing both hands on her hip. She cocked her head a little and asked, "Can I help you?"

"Hi I'm...B-Bryce. Bryce Bryceler and um, I'm recruiting people for my church a couple blocks down and was wondering if you were interested."

The girl squinted, skeptical. "Bryce, huh? You look kinda familiar, have we met?"