dull - Byler

-3-

mike POV

I planned on staying home in bed, but I found myself riding on wills bike, my arms wrapped around his waist, on my way to the movies.

will POV

riding my bike to the movies, mike wrapped his arms around my waist. his head is resting on my shoulder, and I can hear how shaky his breath is. and because of the days getting shorter, very soon the sun begins to set. the darker it gets, the harder mike holds on.

finally, we make it to the movie theater, where we find the entire group.

"what took you guys so long?!" yelled Dustin, along with other complaints from the group, but the only thing I was focused on was how beautiful mike looked in the moonlight.

even his eyes that previously turned dull, looked beautiful. his hair slightly blew in the breeze, his skin glowing. he was glowing.

I could've stared at him forever, but I was again reprimanded and very quickly I walked into the movie, with the rest of the group. still following them, I made my way to the front of the line, buying a ticket, and after another line, popcorn.

I look back at mike, who held nothing but his ticket.

"why didn't you buy food..do you not have money?"

"no just- not hungry."

just like how he lied about being okay, he lied about that too. I've been with him most of the day, and he hasn't eaten at all. but, since I'm too scared to say anything, I try to disregard it.

"okay will, c'mon lets go."

___

I can't focus on the movie, only on mike.

he's seemingly staring off into space, looking at the ceiling, the ground, sometimes looking over at me, a blank expression on his face. he's picking at his bloodstained hands, and shaking his legs.

mike POV

I zone out far too many times, not paying attention to the movie at all. and far too many times, I look over at will to find him already looking back. his face tinted a dark pink, glowing in the light of the movie. beside him, el has her head resting on max's shoulder.

like max, multiple times I find myself drifting off to sleep, but I always catch myself before I do. I haven't slept in days.

soon though, the movie is over. I find all my friends getting up, and leaving the movie. they start talking about plans for tomorrow, and I think I will die if I go out again tomorrow. so, I look over to will, that is also taking part in the conversation.

I pull on his sleeve to get his attention. looking over at me, we stare at each other a second too long before he says goodbye to the group.

"...okay guys, me and mike are gonna head off- see you tomorrow..!" he yells with a smile as he gets on his bike, letting me get behind him. like earlier, I hug his waist and rest my head on his shoulder.

the wind has picked up, and its gotten colder. the sky- gloomy in the day, has cleared up. stars are now visible, along with the moon.

now, I feel myself falling asleep on wills shoulder. I don't try to stop myself from falling asleep this time. 

will POV

   knowing how far my house is, and wanting to get home fast, I go much faster than I was going to. after maybe 15 minutes of pedaling, I reach my house. getting off, I notice mike doesn't get up- he's fallen asleep. he needs his sleep, so instead of waking him up, I pick him up bridal style and carry him into a still empty house.

    even though he is taller than me- he's much lighter. so, I very easily laid him down on my bed and got him under covers, he looked at peace. but unfortunately, so much movement woke him up. slowly his eyes fluttered open, and he inhaled as he rolled over to look at me, who was now laying down beside him.

   "will?" he asked in a soft voice, obviously still half asleep.

   "you fell asleep, you're okay."

    "oh- okay." and after our very short interaction, he looked back up to the ceiling.

     even though we didn't talk, I was aware he was still awake. we sat in silence as I listened to his shaky breath. even though he was awake, he did not move. but obviously, I can't let him lay in my bed awake, so somehow I'd have to help him sleep.

___

    I turned around to see mike still staring at the ceiling, blankly staring. he seems to do that a lot lately.

   but, hearing me roll over, he does too, now facing me.

    "can't sleep?"

     "mmm- no."

      "well you could sleep when I was biking us home, what changed?" I said and watched as he slowly turned pink, and looked down at his hands. and almost as if he had let his guard down, instantly his eyes start to flutter shut.

     soon after he fell into a deep sleep, his hands still holding onto each other. like a reflex, I grabbed onto them. I held his hands as he slept peacefully, moving up and down with his now relaxed breath. band-aids peeked out of his sleeve as I bring his hands closer to me. 

895 words