A Fool's Tears | Byler (DISCONTINUED)

01.

Monday, March 20 1987

Will quickly stepped out of his brother Jonathan's car with his stepsister El, staring up at his school in front of him. He took a deep breath before slinging his backpack over his shoulder and shutting the car door behind him, sighing. "Have fun, okay?" Jonathan told his siblings. El smiled at him and waved, but Will just stared at him "I'll try." Will spoke softly, watching his brother drive away.

He took his walkman headphones from his neck and put them on his head. His mom had bought him a walkman for christmas a few months back. He hit play on his walkman and should i stay or should i go began playing, he smiled and looked over to El, who had already started walking. He sighed and trudged after her, clenching his sketchbook in his left hand. 'Just another day of misery.' He thought to himself as he pushed open the doors to the school, immediately he heard the chatter and shouts of the students in the halls, which was muffled by his music.

So you've gotta let me know.. The music played. "Should i cool it or should i blow." Will whisper-sung to the lyrics. Eventually after shoving and squishing past multiple greasy teenagers in the halls he finally made it to his locker. He turned the front of the lock, putting in his locker code. When he opened the door, He was in for a surprise. A spider jumped out right towards him and landed on his face! He shrieked and fell back, trying to get it off, soon realizing that the spider was fake. He furrowed his brows and sighed, then heard some faint laughter from behind him, getting closer. His heart sank when he realized who it was. He turned around to face him. "You shouldve seen your face!" Mike cackled, clapping lightly. "Haha, very funny Mike.." Will sighed and went to put his stuff in his locker. "Aw c'mon, it was funny!" Mike exclaimed, putting a hand on Will's shoulder. "Maybe for you, i almost jumped out of my skin." Will said, grabbing his books from his locker. "That's exactly why is was funny!" Mike slapped him on the back, smiling. "Ouph!" Will just sighed. He didn't know how much more he could take of that conversation, so he just made up an excuse about needing to go to class early, and hurried away.

Sure, he loved Mike lots, and he was sure Mike loved him the same, but Mike just made him feel like shit, like all the time. He shook the thought of his boyfriend away as he made his way to class. He set his books down on his desk and put his bag on his desk, then rested his head on the desk.

Eventually the bell rung from his 3rd period class, meaning it was lunch. He picked up his back and and sauntered out of the class, only to be scared by someone waiting there. "Rah!" Mike shouted, jumping towards Will. He gasped and stepped back a little. "Mike! What the hell?!" He said, a little upset. "Oh c'mon Will, i just scared you. Jeez, you're such a crybaby sometimes.." Mike mumbled that last part, but he heard it anyways. His words did make him wanna cry, but that would just prove his point further. "Whatever, dude.." Will walked away from him, putting my headphones back on and hitting play on my walkman. Boys don't cry by the Cure starter to play. 'Perfect timing' He thought to himself as he heard Mike mindlessly blabbing behind him, following him to their lunch table, through his headphones, but he could care less about what he had to say right now.

They made it too the cafeteria and Will immediately heard the loud chatter of the students in the room. Will and Mike both walked over to their lunch table where their friends sat. Dustin, Lucas and Max were sat on one side talking to one another. Will slid onto the bench, Mike sitting down beside him. He looked to his left, seeing that El was not there. 'Shit..' He and El were much closer now that they were step-siblings, and now she was like his best friend. "Hey guys!" Lucas exclaimed as I looked over to my friends, taking off my headphones. "Hey!" Mike says back. Will just nods. Will's friends just chatted for a bit while Will just stared off into space, until El came along, sitting beside Will. "Hi everyone." She said with a smile as she took her backpack off. Will's eyes lit up, giving her a hug. El laughed and hugged him back. They let go of each other and sat properly, El beginning to start up a conversation with her friends.

While Will was just staring off into space, Mike spoke to him. "Hey Will , what if your dad comes back or something?" Will's eyes widened and El furrowed her brows at him. "Uh.. i h-hope he doesn't.." Mike just stared at him. "What if he found out you were gay? He'd totally beat your ass like he used too." Mike said bluntly, taking a bite of his sandwich. Will froze. He slowly turned to Mike as tears threatened to fall. Why is he being such an asshole? The stuff before this he could take but bringing up his trauma? He slammed his hands into the table and stood up, walking away. El looked from will with a worried look, too Mike with a death glare. "What the fuck is your problem Wheeler?! He's your boyfriend for gods sake!" She scoffed before running after Will. Their friends just stared at Mike in disbelief. "..What?" He stared back at them.

Will ran into the bathroom, wiping the tears from his eyes. Memories of his father abusing him and so forth came flooding into his brain. He pushed open a stall and locked it, sliding down the wall to the ground. He sobbed into his knees as he rocked back and forth. "S-so you've- g-gotta let m-m-me know-w.." He sang his favourite song through sobs, his bottom lip quivering. The song always seemed to calm him down. "Sh-should i s-s-stay or should i-I go-o.." When he heard someone open the door he quickly shut up, wiping his tears. "Will? Will I know you're in here.." El spoke softly. Will furrowed his brows. "N-Not now, El.." He sniffled. El walked up to the stall door and unlocked it, with her powers. Will just sighed. She gently opened the stall door while wiping the bit of blood from her nose and sat down with him. "I'm.. so sorry he said that Will.." she looked sad and disappointed. "I-It's alright.." "No! No it isn't, Will! If you keep brushing it off he's gonna keep doing this!" She shouted. He just looked down at his lap. Her eyes softened and she pulled me into a hug. "Hey, it's okay.. Lonnie's not coming back anytime soon, okay? And if he does, I'll beat his ass till he's crying for his mommy, and I swear to go I'll do the same for Mike, okay?" Will laughed. "O-okay." He hugged her back. She truly had the best sister ever.

The last bell of the day rung, meaning the students were free to leave. Will grabbed his stuff and hurried out the door. He just wanted to go home. Before he could leave the school someone grabbed his arm and pulled him aside. "Woah!" He yelped. "Why'd you run off like that during lunch?" Mike said, looking a bit frustrated. I just stared at him, trying to find an excuse. "I-I uh.. I had to use the w-washroom.." Mike just sighed. "Whatever dude." He went to walk away but Will grabbed his hand. "Can I have a hug goodbye?" Mike stared at him for a second, before hugging him quickly, then letting go and leaving. Will just stood there. Did he do something wrong? Was Mike no longer in love with him? Why was Mike acting so cold to him? Tears began to fall again, so he rushed out of the school and to Jonathan's car. Jonathan looked over at him, worry quickly filling his expression. "Will! What happened?!" Will just looked out the window. "Nothing, i-i wanna go h-home.." Will wiped his tears and rested his head on the window. Jonathan stared at him for a second, before sighing and beginning driving home.

When Will got home he got out of the car as fast as he could and ran inside. He ran down the hall to his room and shut and locked the door, ignoring his moms shouts for him. He pulled out his journal and sat on his bed, grabbing a pencil and beginning to write all his feelings down. He started writing in a journal everyday a couple months ago, and it really helped. He finished writing and put his journal away, then laid back in his bed, pressing play on his walkman again. He slowly began getting swallowed by his thoughts, thinking about what Mike had said and done that day. "What if your dad comes back?" Those words replayed in his head and he shivered at the thought of him ever having to see his father ever again. He was so wrapped up in his thoughts that he hadn't realized that he was crying. When he did, he grabbed a pillow and shoved his face into it. He slowly but surely drifted off too sleep, exhausted from everything that had happened today.

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6/21/2022
1617 words