Keep it between us | byler

Chapter 3

When Will got home his older brother and mom were already there.

"Hi Will! Joyce greeted. How was your day at school sweetie?"

"It was fine. I- I just have a lot of homework." He lied. "Oh well ok Will. Well when you're done maybe we can watch a movie together? You know, like we used to?" "Yeah mom. Maybe." Will rushed to his room.

He sat on his bed replaying Max's words in his head over and over. Was Will the unfair one? He should be the one to apologize right? No. Wrong. Max wasn't there for him. But she had a point. Max couldn't read Will's mind. Maybe he should have just told her how he was feeling. But how would he tell her if he didn't even know how he was feeling? Why did everything have to be so complicated?

The phone rang.

Will answered it immediately. "Hello?" It was Max. He let go of his deep breath. "Hello? Will? Do you think I could come over? I think we should talk." "Y-yeah. Sure." "Ok, I'll be over in 10."

Max knocks on the door. Joyce answers it. "Hi sweetie!" "Are you here for Will?" "Hi Mrs. Byers. Yeah we had a homework assignment in math class." "Ok well he's in his room. Let me know if you need anything ok?" "Thanks Mrs. Byers."

Max slowly walks into Will's room and sees him lying on his bed. He quickly sits up. "H-hey."

"Hey."

"Look, before I say anything, I just wanted to apologize for blowing up at you today. I made you feel alone and I couldn't imagine my best friend making me feel that way."

"No, Max, you were right. I should've just told you how I felt about the whole situation. I just made everything more difficult and awkward and- "JANE AND MIKE ARE DATING."

"W-what?" Will's face dropped.

"They made it official like an hour ago. Jane called and told me."

Will thought about what happened earlier. It meant nothing. Did it?

"Will, are you ok? Say something." "I'm fine." He said in a blunt tone. "Jane has obviously liked him for a while so that's good for her." "Will it's fine if you don-"

"I'm ok Max. Honestly. Jane and him make a great couple anyways."

"Will it's ok not be ok." "I know Max. I think maybe I just need to be alone for a while."

"Ok. Max paused and took a breath. You know that yo- You know that you can always talk to me Will? You know that right?"

"Mhm. Of course." Will sighed.

"Well I guess I'll leave then. I'll see you at school tomorrow?"

"Yep."

"Bye Will."

As Max stepped out of Will's room, his mom stepped in.

"Hey, sweetie. Everything ok?"

Will stared at his mother with no emotion, it didn't last long though. Next thing you know, Will is in tears hugging his mother. She didn't have to know what was going on in order to know how to comfort him. All that mattered was that she was there. Holding him. Forever.

...

Will locked his bike in the rack and headed into school. He was nervous. Really nervous. He didn't want to face Mike let alone Jane. He felt incredibly guilty because he knew that he was jealous. He knew he didn't want this for Jane. But he also knew that Jane has been his friend since middle school and he couldn't let a guy ruin them.