𝙗𝙪𝙡𝙡𝙮 - byler

7

"max should be here by now," lucas glanced at his watch.

"let's just go in. she'll find us," will said.

"you're kidding, right? the mall is huge."

will scoffed and dragged lucas inside the mall.

-

"holy shit! who pays $40 for a shirt?" lucas asked while showing will the price tag.

"idiots or people with money. let's go to a different store. everything's too expensive here." lucas put the shirt down and followed will out the door.

-

mike was looking through the sketchbook section in the art shop. "okay, why are we here?" james asked annoyed.

"i'm looking for something for... jane." mike slightly cringed when he said her name.

"oh, shit. you tryna ask her out?" james threw his arm around mike's shoulders. "i didn't know she was into... arts and crafts?" 

"she is. she told me so." mike took james' arm off of him. 

"well, hurry up. i'm dying to get to the food court."

mike rolled his eyes, "just go then. i'll meet you there."

-

lucas moaned while taking a bite into his burger.

max crossed her arms, "do you seriously have to moan every time you eat?"

lucas ignored her and continued to eat his burger. max rolled her eyes and took a sip of her drink.

will zoned out and left his food untouched. he couldn't stop thinking about the incident that happened a while ago- when his sketchbook got destroyed. especially when he fell on top and mike and leaned in. he swore mike was leaning in too.

lucas waved his hand in front of will's face, "you good?"

will was brought back to reality, "yep." will grabbed a few fries before he felt liquid oozing down his face.

will just froze in his seat with wide eyes filling up with tears. this could not be happening right now- not in front of all these people.

"aww, is the little fairy gonna cry to his mommy?"

lucas and max got out of their seats at the same time. lucas was about to say something but then max took the lid off her drink and threw it at james.

mike was waiting in line for food but saw the commotion and rushed over. "what the fuck's your problem, maxine?"

mike didn't know why he was so angry. he knew that james was probably the one who started this.

someone nearby called for mall security.

"oh, you wanna know what my problem is?" max took a step forward towards mike, making him take a step backwards. "you guys thinking you're the shit when you're picking on people. but guess what? nobody fucking likes you. and you're gonna grow up to be nobodies that no one will want to associate with because you're a bunch assholes that just suck the joy out of everything and ruin it for everyone."

"damn," lucas whispered.

mall security was heading in their direction so james grabbed mike and ran.

"pussies!" lucas shouted

-

max and lucas cleaned up will in the bathroom.

max wiped will's shirt with paper towels, "sorry if i ruined your chances with mike."

will playfully rolled his eyes, "i never had a shot to begin with."

"are you sure you're even allowed to be in here?" lucas asked max since they were in the men's restroom.

"just shut up and help will get this shit out of his hair."

-

mike and james were on their bikes with james leading the way.

mike caught up to james and they were riding next to each other now. "where are we going?" mike asked.

"to jane's house to give her the stuff you bought. duh."

mike's heart dropped. he forgot about the sketchbook he bought. "oh, no. um, i wanted to do that at school."

"man, come on! her house is on the way to mine and you could go on a date with her tonight."

mike bit his lip. he knew he couldn't give the sketchbook to will. he and his friends would tell everyone then everyone would think he got soft or even worse: gay. what was he even thinking buying this? mike sighed, "fine."

"let's go! mike's getting laid tonight-" mike shoved james, causing him to almost fall off his bike.

-

"so you got me a sketchbook?" jane looked at the sketchbook in her hands then at mike with a confused look.

mike looked back at james who was at the end of jane's driveway, giving mike encouragement with ridiculous gestures. he looked back at jane and scratched this back of his neck, "uh, yeah."

jane smiled, "interesting... usually guys get me flowers when they try to ask me out." she paused for a moment. "you know what? i'm in. let's go out tonight!"

shit, shit, shit, shit, shit, shit! what did i just get myself into?

"great!" mike realized he didn't have any ideas for a date.

"so... where will we go for our first date?"

"uh... it's a surprise!" mike tried to sound enthusiastic.

"i'm assuming you're going to pick me up?"

"um, sure. does 7:30 work?"

"sounds good! i can't wait to see you tonight," jane beamed.

after jane shut the door, feeling a little cocky now, mike whispered to himself, "and you say nobody likes me, max? huh."

-

"i bet mike is just wallowing in self pity right now from what max said today."

max looked at lucas and shook her head, "it was just in the heat of the moment shit. they've probably forgotten every word i said... so."

"well, what do you think will?" will's eyes were glued to the tv in his living room. "will? earth to will?" lucas tapped his shoulder.

"oh, sorry. just thinking about today," will looked down at his fidgeting hands.

lucas gave will a side hug.