𝙗𝙪𝙡𝙡𝙮 - byler

28

will couldn't feel his legs anymore once he reached castle byers. he went inside and sat down. he wasn't dressed appropriately for the weather but the cold was somehow comforting.

he looked around and saw a love letter he wrote for mike freshman year. he never planned to give it to mike but he heard it helped to write your feelings down.

he thought he would be crying by now but no tears fell. his breath didn't become uneven, he didn't start to hyperventilate. he just felt sort of numb. he wanted to grab the bat next to him and tear this fort down until it was just a pile of wood on the ground. he wanted to grab all the pictures and letters in here and rip them up but all he did was stay seated.

-

"dinner was lovely but we have to go," joyce got up and so did jonathan. "thank you so much."

karen put her hands on her hips, "i'll talk to mike. i hope will is okay."

"yeah, thank you again."

joyce and jonathan hopped in the car, "we should check lucas' house first. it's just down this street."

they parked in front of lucas' house and knocked on the door. after talking to sue, they knew what place to check next.

they got back into the car.

they drove home and ran the rest of the way to castle byers. joyce saw will in there, "you alright? did mike do someth-"

"-no, i'm fine."

"we should head home. it's too cold for you here."

"i'm warm."

"yeah, well, your goosebumps say otherwise. now, come on," joyce put her hand out. will grabbed it and they got out of the fort together.

"here," jonathan handed will his jacket that he left at the wheeler's house.

they walked home and will's mom and brother tried not to ask too many questions about what happened.

-

lucas' mom opened the door, "are you here for lucas?"

mike cleared his throat, "um, yeah."

"lucas!"

"what?"

"you have a friend!" she turned back to mike and smiled, "come on in. merry christmas."

"merry christmas," mike quickly replied.

"um mike?"

mike followed lucas to his room, "i fucked up."

lucas groaned, "this is about will, isn't it? 'cause he just went over to your house."

"how'd you..."

"he texted me. anyways, what the fuck did you do?"

"i might've ghosted him and then just told him i didn't know if i want to date him."

"and why are you coming to me? that sounds like a you problem."

"i know it's just i actually really like him and i don't know why i told him that."

"well, he really likes you."

"you think so?"

lucas rolled his eyes, "just apologize to him. he's sensitive, you know?"

mike nodded.

-

will and jonathan sat on will's bed.

"am i just not dateable?"

"will, of course you're dateable. mike's just an idiot for not dating you."

"well, he's the idiot that i like," will's shoulders slumped.

"there's plenty of people out there who would love to date you. if i were you, i would just forget about mike 'cause he kinda sounds like an asshole."

"he's not an asshole now... i don't know what happened to him after the kiss. maybe he's still coming to terms with his sexuality?"

"i can't stop you from liking him. i just want you to be safe."

"i know."

-

it was december 31st and mike was pedaling to will's house. he decided that he would talk to will in person on new year's eve. lucas gave mike will's address despite not wanting to at first.

when mike arrived, he let his bike drop to the ground and then walked to the front door. he was nervous about what will's reaction would be to him showing up uninvited. he also was worried about will not being home.

"this is good exercise anyways," mike mumbled and then knocked on the door. after nothing happened for 15 seconds, he knocked again.

he was about to leave when the door opened. he turned around, "hey."

will was tempted to slam the door in his face but decided he would wait until mike says something stupid to do that.

"hi."

mike instantly forgot everything he planned on saying.

shit.

"you rode your bike here?"

"i'm not allowed to drive, remember?" will nodded. "i just came here to apologize. i really do like you. i just needed some time to think i guess. i'm sorry if i made it seem like i didn't actually like you or that i felt like this was a mistake." will just let mike talk. "do you forgive me?"

"no gifts this time?"

mike's started to panic, "oh, i-i thought giving you another gift would make my apology not that genu-"

will smiled, "-i'm just kidding. i forgive you even though you're an idiot."

"so, does this mean we're dating now?"

"well, what do you think?"

they both grinned at each other.

-

mike and will sat on the coach while joyce was on the phone with karen. when joyce hung up, she went over to the two boys and sighed. "your mom said you could stay the night but if you hurt my boy-"

"-mom."

"you'll never see the sun shine again."

mike looked at her wide-eyed, "okay, understood."

"okay, make yourself at home," she walked away.

"let's go to my room," will got up and grabbed mike's hand.

joyce heard this, "and no funny business!"

will shut the door behind them. he let go of mike's hand and went to his desk and grabbed his sketchbook. he flipped to a certain page and walked over to mike who was still standing by the door. 

"can i show you something?" he handed mike his sketchbook opened to that page.

mike smiled, "this is amazing. did you draw this?"

"yeah, um, do you want it?"

"yeah, of course. thanks boyfriend." will gave him a weird look, "okay, never mind. i'll think of a better pet name."