"does anyone else's bod not feel too hot or is it just me?" argyle turned his head to look at the boys patting his stomach in dissatisfaction."no," will reassured looking a little sick "you're not the only one"
"was it the nugget?" mike joked pretending to look worried hiding a smirk.
"yeah, mike i think it was" will put his hands on mike's shoulders with fake sadness making mike laugh.
mike blushed looking at will's hands that didn't seem to move from his turquoise shirt. mike hesitated, but returned the gesture. he dropped his hands onto will's shoulders as well. "at least we'll barf together" mike gave a sarcastic cheese-y smile.
"don't say that mike! you're gonna trigger my nausea"
"what! at least it's me you're dealing with" mike teased playfully pushing will's shoulder.
"hate to break it to you lovebirds, but where the hell are we gonna sleep? i'm like deadly afraid of coyotes bros so if we get approached i'll be the first to go and did you know coyotes are-"
"ARYGLE!" the group shouted in unison
"what's up my dudes?" argyle tilted his head like a dog as if he completely forgot his worries.
"first off it's okay, argyle and also, weren't you just telling me yesterday how you're spirit animal was a coyote?" jonathan asked confused.
"well that doesn't mean they don't terrify me dude." argyle shrugged.
jonathan hesitated then decided not to push him for further explanation. "well we can set up a fort in the van" he explained.
mike and will continued sitting silent in the back both marbling at argyle calling them 'lovebirds'. did argyle really think they looked like a couple? or that they were in love? either way it made the two boys blush. both teens picked a spot on the van floor and didn't dare move their eyes from that exact spot to avoid any eye contact.
"so should we set up?" jonathan suggested pulling over into a small junkyard not too far from the restaurant. "argyle and i can just adjust these seats to lie down so you two can sleep back there." jonathan informed gesturing to the seat.
"sounds good" will chimed in staring over at mike questioning if he was okay with it.
"yeah, that sounds good and i am pretty tired" mike admitted
"cool beans... a fort" argyle dazed off smiling
"yup argyle, a fort" jonathan confirmed "do you have any blankets or pillows? might be a long shot since this is a pizza delivery van but-"
"no yeah of course man, quilts are in the trunk" argyle noted gesturing to the back.
"i'll get them" mike crawled to the back trunk surprised at the amount of blankets. mike grabbed about four of them with a couple of throw pillows.
will turned his head to help mike only to realize mike had already turned back with blankets. the two boys blushed a deep cherry red as they noticed their noses were practically touching.
mike immediately backed away nervously, will blushed and laughed to himself scratching the back of his head.
"here," mike coughed trying to forget the awkward pause and handed will an orange and pink quilt, it smelled of weed and pizza but will took it anyway scrunching his nose slightly. "yeah they stink, huh?"
"definitely" will agreed shooting a glance at argyle who was currently rapidly adjusting his seat back so he could sleep lying down.
"hey, hey argyle be careful you're gonna give yourself whiplash." jonathan commented with slight sarcasm.
"nah man i'm all good" argyle shifted in his chair "gotta get the hours in" and with a smaller purple blanket that barely covered his feet he lied back mummy style shutting his eyes to be met by sleep.
"well, he's out" jonathan confirmed holding back a small snicker.
"i'm not surprised" mike added spreading blankets on the car floor so him and will could sleep comfortably.
"okay you two i'm gonna try to sleep, let me know if you need anything."
"kay 'night jonathan"
"night" will rustled around the back of the van still not getting over the vile stench of weed and pizza.
+++
once the boys settled into their cushions the van fell silent with only crickets and other wildlife among the noises that took over the night.
the two younger boys slept side by side under the same blanket, while the adults slept in their car seats that they previously adjusted all the way back to maximize the amount of comfort.
"hey mike?" will tapped the sleeping boy, he had been awake for about an hour. the only person who was truly asleep and dreaming of rainbows and unicorns was argyle.
"yeah, what's wrong will?" mike's voice was rough from sleep but he still turned around in worry to make sure will was okay.
"oh, i'm fine i just can't sleep" will admitted
"temperature, atmosphere, or are you just wide awake?"
"all of the above?" will smiled looking at the different quilt patterns.
"cmere" mike held open his arms and made room for will to snuggle cozily next to him.
"are you sure? cause if you don't remember i kick... and roll."
"it's okay i do the same thing" mike reassured with a smile.
will scooted forward toward mike sliding down into the covers. mike wrapped his arms around will pulling them closer. will pressed his head against mike's chest and finally began to sense sleep greet his way.
"night will"
"night mike"
and with that the two snuggled closer throughout the night exchanging butterflies in their stomachs whenever the other moved even the slightest bit.
"love you" will mumbled almost as if he was saying it to himself. he covered his hand over his mouth with regret. why would he say that? would mike take it weirdly? will buried his face further into mike hoping to disappear completely.
"i love you" mike returned feeling his cheeks heat as he spoke those three words. 'i love you' that can be platonic, right?
will felt fireworks set off through his body as mike repeated the words. the two used to tell each other they loved one another when they were little, but that's when they didn't know how much it meant. so to hear those three words from oblivious mike was a lot especially now.
but it was just what will needed.
————————————————————————
okay chapter 2 done! this was a tad shorter than the last, but i got a bit of writers block so i wasn't exactly sure what to add. if you have any ideas or anything you wish to see in future chapters lmk! :)
YOU ARE READING
𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝗼𝗹𝗱 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲𝘀 :)
Romancethe year is 1986 and the byers have moved to california while the rest of the crew remains in hawkins. max and mike travel to california to visit el and will. the friends spend time catching up and showing the crew around. after, mike, will, argyle...