THE CITY; BYLER

Future

One year later...

"Danny! Over here!" Will waved his hand at Daniel who was looking around the café confused. When he spotted Will he grinned, and walked over, a bag in hand.

"Hey, Will! How's it going?" Daniel said, Patting Will on the shoulder.

"I'm good, how are you doing?"

Daniel sat back and sighed, a smile forming on his face. Daniel always seemed happy. "I'm great, man. Fantastic." Will pushed the cup of hot coffee he had ordered over to Daniel, he thanked Will and took a sip.

Will and Daniel had become great friends over the past year, that first day that Will had come in to work all those moons ago was also the day that the friendship had bloomed.

After Will had taught that day, he was cleaning up the kids' mess when Daniel came in with Margie. Margie was the same age as Will, and probably one of the kindest people Will knew. She loved to paint landscapes and acted like an old lady. She taught adult classes in the evening and was the manager.

"Will! Me and Marg' are going to get some food down the street, care to join us?" Daniel said, his arm leaned against the doorframe.

"Yeah, sounds good! Just let me finish clean-" Will was interrupted by a sudden tug on his arm, dragging him out of the room.

"Aw c'mon man! Just finish tomorrow!" And with that Daniel whisked Will and Margie out of the studio, down the street, and to the restaurant. After an eventful night of eating and (underage)drinking, Daniel walked the two to his place and they all watched a movie. From then on the three were inseparable, but Will and Daniel had something... special.

"So," said Will, sitting back in his chair. "what'd you call me over here for?"

Daniel smirked, setting down his coffee on the wooden table. "Well, I wanted to invite you over but I thought we'd get something to drink first." He pulled out a pack of cigarettes and lit one, breathing in the addicting air.

"Wow, so you tricked me into buying you a drink? That's low." Will said jokingly. Daniel shook his head with a laugh, and without saying a thing stood, and picked up the mystery bag. He then walked over to Will and grabbed his hand. This made Will blush like mad, but he quickly looked away to make sure Daniel didn't notice.

Daniel and Will walked together(still hand and hand) to Daniels' apartment. The whole walk over Will was sweating and flushed. Why was Daniel holding his hand? Sure, it wasn't uncommon for them to be affectionate in a touchy way, but they had never held hands like this. Why was Will so nervous anyway? It wasn't normal for friends to be so shy when holding their friends hand. Right? Well, the truth was that Will didn't look at Daniel as a friend. The truth was-

Will loved Daniel.

Not even like, love. And that was what scared Will. Will knew he was gay, he had known for years, but he had never loved a boy. Or at least that is what he told himself. But now there he was, holding the boys' hand, the boy he loved, but in a friendly way. And even though he was sure Daniel was only being  friendly, to anyone walking down the street they probably looked like two queers.

Will was finally able to relax once he sat down on Daniels' couch in his apartment. He was able to breathe easy. Daniel placed his keys on the counter, took off his leather jacket, and went to sit beside Will. It had been sunset when they met up so now it was completely dark outside, and from the window you could see all the stars and galaxies scattered across the sky. Will was distracted by the beauty and didn't notice when Daniel placed the small bag he had been carrying in his lap.

"Will?" Daniel asked, noticing Will had spaced out.

"Oh- Yeah? What's up?" Said Will.

"Well I was out yesterday and I stopped by this little shop, got you somethin' I think you might like." Daniel opened up the little bag and pulled out a delicately wrapped gift. He slowly unraveled the wrapping and pulled out something that appeared to be a green cloth. But it wasn't a green cloth, it was an apron. A beautiful, forest green artists' apron. It was gorgeous.

Daniel handed it to Will who gazed at it with stars in his eyes. "Daniel.. This is.." He couldn't quite get the words out so instead he wrapped his arms around him and squeezed him tightly.

"Thank you, thank you so much.-" Will said, a huge smile taking over his face. "-No one's ever gotten me anything like this."

The hug lasted a few more seconds before Will pulled away, but not completely so he could look at Daniel. Daniel was grinning happily, and it almost looked like he was- blushing? But it was probably just the dim lighting. For whatever reason neither pulled away, and they just stared at each other.

And then a sudden wind of confidence hit Will. So, he leaned in and kissed him.

He kissed Daniel.

And Daniel kissed back, with almost no thought. They both kissed harshly, lips pushing hard against one another's, like they would never kiss anyone again.

Then when they pulled away, Daniel smiled. And so did Will, Will didn't even think to worry. Because Daniel made him feel safe, secure.

So Will crawled onto Daniels' lap and they kissed again. And like that, the friendship had turned into a romance.

A/N - OMG I'M SORRY! Byler is coming soon I swear! Wait till the next chapter, please!