i'm scared to love you |byler|

7.

lucas: okay, me and momma steve came up with a perfect plan.

mike: which is?

lucas: he said that i can try to make dustin jealous by finding someone else, or well, making it look like i'm with someone else. suzie agreed to make it look like we were dating. she said i can pretend to be dustin but we did both agree on no kissing and stuff. we're both ace so we don't have to worry about sexual things.

mike: do you think it'll work?

lucas: i don't know. in all honesty i think trevor only wants sex from them and they act the same back. i just, don't know but it's worth a try.

the conversation between the two lasts for a bit longer. they both decide to message the group chat with all party members.

lucas: hey guys, gender check😍 i'll go first. non-binary

mike: genderfluid

max: girl

will: i'm a demi-boy

dustin: also non-binary

el: demi-girl

lucas: not max being the only cis one😭

max: shut up sinclair

will: i love how we're all not straight and only one of us is cis.

mike: funny asf

the group talks for a while. mostly friendly banter about how max is the only cis one in the group but max knows everyone is just joking around.

it was nice for them to talk and catch up, because lately it felt like their friend group was tearing apart like old assignments on the last day of school.

they all felt normal, despite being outcasts, but when the group is together, they don't feel like outcasts, they don't feel like they've been bullied since they can remember. the group had that effect on each other.

when school rolled around, lucas and suzie had their arms around each other, which if you're not suzie, lucas, and mike, you'll probably think they are together.

"hey suzie, hey lucas," dustin greeted, hand in hand with trevor.

"hey dustin," lucas said tiredly, eyes wandering to the two hands interlocked.

"hey, man, you okay?" trevor asked, letting go of dustins hand.

"just... tired i guess," lucas lied.

"what's up gays and theys?" mike said entering the party's usual hang out, an empty chemistry room that they got permission to use during free time.

"hey michael," suzie said.

"aww cute couple," trevor said.

"what?" mike, suzie, and lucas said in unison, dustin not really paying any attention.

"you and suzie," trevor said to mike.

that made the one with black curly hair laugh, the blond haired boy staring on confusion.

"i'm gay," mike said after their laughter stopped.

trevor turned red in embarrassment.

"where's will?" dustin finally said.

"he should be here any mi-" mike said, getting cut off by the door opening.

the ones already in the room turned around and saw will, el, and max at the doorway, coffees and food in their hands.

"anyone hungry?" will said with a beaming smile.

luckily, suzie doesn't drink coffee, since no one but herself, mike and lucas knew she was coming into the room, earlier will asked dustin if trevor liked coffee and they got him a chai tea latte.

lucas getting a french vanilla frappuccino, mike and will got a caramel macchiato, max getting herself a white chocolate mocha, dustin asked for a salted caramel cold brew, and el got a hot chocolate. for food, they got an assortment of doughnuts. they don't do this often, but when they do, it's the best thing ever.

the couples, and fake couple, sat by each other, so, dustin and trevor, then it's mike and will, then eleven and max who aren't really a couple but should be, and then there's lucas and suzie. prior to this whole 'trying to make dustin jealous' thing, the group knew suzie, not well, they don't know that she's not romantically or sexually attracted to anyone.

"this is one of my favorite times," mike said, taking a bite out of their chocolate frosted sweet snack, getting a little on the corner of their mouth, that will cleaned for them. "eating and drinking with you guys has to be one of the funnest things ever."

"funnest isn't a word, it's most fun." trevor corrected, earning a glare from will and getting a slap from dustin.

"don't correct him, it makes them feel stupid." dustin informed. though trevor didn't apologise.

"mike, i have agree with you a hundred percent." max said smiling.

"i might hate high school, but you guys," mike said looking at everyone, besides trevor, "you guys make it worth it, especially you, will." they said smiling.

"so are you two, like, together?" trevor said pointing at will and mike.

"yeah, something like that," mike said fondly looking at will

maybe it is worth it all.

here's whatever this chapter is.