"It was the best thing I've ever done" Byler Oneshots

[5] Like a tricycle, he trailed behind

(AKA, Season 4 Will, your local third wheeler. (Lmao, Wheeler.) I'm too lazy to write the rest of this summary.)

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Five thousand, four hundred and seventy five days. One hundred thirty one thousand and four hundred hours of just existing. A candle produced flame that would drift away due to some Walmart-value teenager's lame breath. Will had been marking off days, numbering hours that went into his nightly paces around the bedroom (Mike used to do that sometimes) until his fifteenth birthday where, supposedly, his best friend would visit and all eyes would be on him for just one day.
Just one day.

... uhh

Screw that, enough of the romanticizing. This day was absolutely shitty. (Will could say that now without even feeling bad.)

His eyes lingered on the couple, deep in a fit of giggles, skating directly in front of him. He was gliding, not gracefully whatsoever as he'd managed to slam onto his butt ten times within the past hour. But it's not like anybody had even noticed so he wasn't ashamed. Hell, he was fairly certain that El and Mike had completely forgotten that he was there at all.

Yes, big shocker, the iconic duo was ignoring him again. Like some toddlers tricycle, Will managed to trail behind. A meaningless peace of scum on the scuffed up wooden floors.
And yet it was in fact his birthday still, not a new day.

Hell, this was Will's birthday party at first until El decided she wanted the attention. Well, Will couldn't really be mad at her- it wasn't his sisters fault that Mike was back to his ass-like habit of neglecting him.

Will glanced back at those feathered strands of dark locks. Ones that had been styled into a mullet. Had he been in a more romantic or angsty mood, he'd imagine running his stubby fingers through them.

But hell, at this point, Will was just flat out furious.

No more threading his way around that burning anger that caught in his throat like the tart flavor of overcooked bacon. Will couldn't pretend like he wasn't mad when he so clearly was. I mean, who wouldn't be when their best friend, and crush, of nine years couldn't tear his eyes off his girlfriend even on your crappy birthday that you didn't even plan on originally celebrating.

To be truthful, Will would've been much happier just letting the couple shove their sloppy tongues down each other's throats in El's own bedroom, while Will could peacefully block out the feelings he had successfully kept hidden for seven years prior, and simply paint. Anything was better than third wheeling at his own birthday celebration.

And so that was it, Will decided that, in the least respectful way possible, he was going to exit the rink and sit in a corner with a Dr Pepper and only himself to talk to. He glided back off those wooden tiles, fury flooding to his cheeks where those adorable Byers dimples had disguised themselves with small little wrinkles. Will could see Mikes head turn to see where he was going, he could watch as his best friends eyes opened just a bit due to surprise.

If Will wasn't somewhat still his kind, mindful self, he's wave that unholy finger right in Michael Wheelers face.

He crouched beside a vending machine that was located somewhere in the lobby. And of course the lights couldn't be normal shades that could relax his temper, they had the be yellow and f'ing blue. So irritating . He brought his fist to side of the vending machine, biting down on his lower lip to ensure that none of those pathetic tears that crowded his line of vision, managed to escape.

"Will?" A familiar voice made it's way to the 'birthday boy's ears. Sure enough it was Michael. Terribly dressed Mike who took the whole 'not kids anymore' statement to a whole new extreme. Like, c'mon man! He thought you meant it as in maturing, not turning into a Florida man enduring a mid life crisis.

"Go away, Mike. I'm not in the mood for this again." Will bit back, tucking his forehead in between his knees where they tried to nuzzle their way to safety. But he could still hear Mike come closer, he still had his skates on, despite Leona Hills Skating Rink's policy against that exact thing.
"Uhm, so fifteen right? Do you feel any different? More mature?" Wheeler ignored that failed attempt at driving him away and joked forward.

"I feel shitty, Michael. That good enough of a response to you?"
Mike sighed sadly, kneeling down beside Will- and not in a proposing manner you hopeless romantic idiots.

"Will, I'm really sorry for screwing up your birthday."
"And I'm assuming you're also apologizing for all of the other times you've left me in the dust, this sure does seem to be 'family tradition' at this point, Mike."

Mike sat silently, eyes jumping to the size of boulders because Will never held grudges. And yet, this was most definitely a grudge.
"Look, you're abandoning my sister out on the rink. Just go back and get her, people around here aren't too nice to her, I don't want her to get hurt."

"Not until I can mend things with you, Will, I miss you." Mike refrained from moving, he smelt like his dad's cologne. The younger really had sprayed that stuff everywhere, it vacuumed up Wills nose.

"You sure as hell do not miss me. Don't come to me with that bull shit, Mike. If you missed me this whole conversation wouldn't be happening in the first place."

Will sucked in a shaky breath when he felt Mikes lanky hand place itself over his knee. His cheeks almost caught into those dreamy flames but he stopped himself. Stopped himself by swatting away that hand that he adored with every fiber of his 5,475 day old body.
"Will, I-"
"Save the apologies, Mike. I'm used to it by now so I'll be okay, just go out and check on my sister please."

"Can we just talk, first?" Wheeler said as he shuffled his body around a bit, collapsing back onto the floor in a more permanent position.
"Mike.."
"Please."

Will gave in and nodded, yet he scooted himself another inch away from Mike because he wasn't sure he could deal with being so close to somebody he so desperately wanted to be close with.

"I really do miss you, Will. And I suck at showing my real emotions, I've developed a sort of talent at hiding what I'm feeling. I shouldn't have been neglecting you again, especially with all of the summer stuff last year, and I'm really sorry."
He took a staggering breath and continued.
"I'm not good at this stuff and I don't know how to express myself clearly. You're my favorite person, Will, and no way in hell should anyone treat you like I have. In fact if somebody else was doing this to you I'd probably advise you to drop them. That they weren't good enough for you. I think that still applies to me, too. I've been a jerk and you deserve so much better."

"Mike I-"
"And I really have been trying to get a chance to skate with you. I have, trust me. Just, El doesn't understand and I don't want to hurt her."

"What do you mean by that?" Will stifled, letting the side of his hand smear a tear down his cheek.

"I don't love her, Will. I've tried and I just don't. I don't even know why, I just- I feel like I'm going insane. Crazy."
"Crazy"
"Yeah."
"I feel crazy too, Mike. Hey, remember what you told me at Halloween that one time?"
"How could I forget?" Mike grinned.

"How about we go crazy together. For real this time."

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A/N This is in honor of the trailers finally being released. After three years and Abby Lee Miller bombarding the countdown, we finally got it. AND ONG SKFKWKFWS IT WAS SO GOOD.
The love triangle is more powerful than ever. And that weird, glitchy, possible Byler kiss thing?! Like (I hope it's real and I'm not losing my mind for nothing) OMFG IM BEYOND HAPPY.

Words- 1360