Just Friends - Byler

XIV

Will heard feet walking down the stairs and turned around to see who was there. He held the cold glass of water tightly in his hands. He was squeezing his hand so tight the aspirin almost turned into powder.

"Oh hey Will!" Mrs. Wheeler smiled kindly at Will. "What's wrong?" She frowned once she noticed that Will was a little shaken up.

"Oh...nothing- I just had a bad dream." Will let go of the strong grasp and put the aspirin on his tongue.

"Headache?" Mrs. Wheeler walked over to the coffee pot and brewed about enough for three cups.

"Y-yeah, I guess." Will took a big sip of his cold water and swallowed the aspirin. He looked up at Mrs. Wheeler, making sure to study every detail of her face incase his nightmare was happening all over again and he couldn't realize.

"Why don't you sit down while I make breakfast." Mrs. Wheeler gestured over to the table.

Will went over to the table and carefully sat down, placing his glass of water on the table.

"Since you're an early bird today, you can pick what we all have for breakfast, how's that?" Mrs. Wheeler smiled, exposing her straight, white teeth and a bit of her gums.

"Oh- um, okay. How about french toast?" Will stuttered.

He wasn't scared of her or anything, just shaken up by his nightmare still.

"Mmm yum!" Mrs. Wheeler exclaimed as she took out bread, milk, cinnamon, eggs, and butter. "You having fun here?" Mrs. Wheeler asked as she set a slice of butter on the frying pan.

"Yeah I guess.." Wills voice lowered.

"You can always talk to me Will, if Micheals being mean or anything to you. If you ever need to tell me anything, I'm here." Mrs. Wheeler turned around and looked at Will. "I care for you just as much as I care for my own children." She turned back around after a few minutes and placed a coated slice of bread on the warm frying pan. "Do you mind watching the food? I need to check if Holly's awake."

Will smiled at Mrs. Wheeler and got up to stand near the french toast, watching it and making sure it doesn't burn. Mrs. Wheeler walked back up the stairs and past her walke Mike.

"Mmm, french toast?" Mike walked up to the stove where Will was zoning out. "Will, you okay?" Mike shook Will by the shoulder.

Will jumped up and accidentally placed his hand on the burning stove.

"OW!" Will winced in pain and held his red hand.

"Holy shit, here let me help you!" Mike turned off the stovetop, grabbed onto Wills arm, and led him to the sink where he turned on the cold water. "Put your hand under the water." Mike gently placed Wills hand under the freezing cold water.

Mrs. Wheeler walked down the stairs with Holly next to her. "What happened?!" She panicked.

"They're holding hands!" Holly giggled. "Mikey and Willie sitting in a tree..." Holly danced around.

"Holly enough of that!" Mrs. Wheeler gave her a firm stare.

Mike's face turned bright red and he let go of Wills hand to get a paper towel.

"It's just a burn Mrs. Wheeler, I was zoning out." Will grabbed the paper towels from Mike's hands and gently patted the water off of the burn to put oinment on it. He winced as the paper towel touched the burn but continued to dry it off.

"I'm okay." Will looked up Mrs. Wheeler who was still looking at him with a concerned expression. She looked away finally and went over to the pan full of French toast to continue cooking it.