Just Friends - Byler

XVII

Mike hitched his breath and turned his body towards Will. "Hey Will, I know it's not the time but-you know what um...I forgot what I had to say." Mike nervously chuckled.

"Mike, you can tell me anything." Will turned over on his bed and crossed his legs.

"Hm? Tell you what?" Mike acted stupid.

"God, you're way too oblivious!" Will
cried out dramatically. "Mike, I know you and, you like someone. That's why you're acting so weird!"

"How'd you- I mean what, I don't!" Mike stuttered.

"It's obvious that you do. So-who's the girl. Do I know her? Did you meet her while I was in Lenora? What's her name?" Will bounced on his bed happy for Mike, still a bit sad.

"Will it's not-it's not what you think." Mike whispered.

Will furrowed his eyebrows in disappointment, "Do you have feelings for El again?"

"No, what, no!" Mike replied almost immediately. He let go of Wills hand he hadn't realized he grabbed onto earlier.

Will thought for a second and suddenly something quite risky came to his mind. "Is it a...boy?" Will paused between the words 'a and boy'. Mike stared at Will wide-eyed and swallowed hard, his throat suddenly felt as dry as a scorching desert.

"Sorry, sorry...that's a stupid question." Wills face blushed a light red and he looked away, almost like he was about to burst into tears.

"Yeah." Mike simply answered.

"Hm?" Will turned over, shocked. "Yeah what?" He suddenly felt like he could have a chance, weirdly.

"I have a crush." Mikes eyebrows frowned as his lips formed into a smile, he was nervous. "I just feel like I can't tell hi-her yet." He slowly pulled his lips down, shaping them into a slight frown.

"Oh." Will smiled a bit, "take your time, I'm sure she'll understand."

"The thing is though, I want her to know-I just don't know how." Mike was suddenly feeling more comfortable, even though he was legitimately talking with his crush.

"I'm sure whoever you like, she likes you back." Will held onto Mikes hand and looked at him, giving him a small, accepting smile. Mike took a deep breath, he felt ready to tell Will, he felt confident somehow.

"Will, I really can't keep this a secret anymore." Mike started to feel stressed, yet confident about what he was about to say.

"Mike, you don't have to stress." Will tightened his hand onto Mikes. Mike breathed out, not realizing he had been holding his breath in the first place.

"Fuck it." Mike muttered under his shaky breath and leaned in, pressing his lips softly against Wills.

He closed his eyes while Will was wide-eyed and shocked. Will slowly closed his eyes too, melting into the kiss. Mike snaked his arm around Wills waist and pulled him in closer.

Mike pulled away from the kiss, he had finally kissed he best friend, it didn't felt real. It felt like a giant, heavy weight had been lifted off of his chest.

"Wow..." Was all Will could say, he had no words.

"I like you, Will." Mike placed his hands on Wills face and rested his forehead onto Wills.

Will wrapped his hand around Mikes neck and kissed him again. "I like you too." Mike pushed his body against the boy and reciprocated.

•••

Will woke up the next morning, cuddled up next to Mike. He felt Mikes arm around him, only he wished it was Mikes. He opened his eyes and saw that he was in bed alone, an imprint left behind by who was once there.

"Mike?" He spoke in a sleepy voice, looking around all over the bedroom. The lights began to flicker as Wills heart started beating. "Calm down Will, he's not gone, you're not in the upside down, you're safe." He muttered to himself, in attempt to slow down his pacing heart.

He felt a familiar feeling, blood dripping from his nose. Even after all he would do, he couldn't seem to calm himself down. His mind was racing and many unpleasant thoughts about many horrible things were filling it.

Will squeezed his hands into fists and closed his eyes tightly. "Go away, go away, go away." He whispered.

"Will, you okay?" Mike said after he opened up the bedroom door.

Will opened his eyes to look at him and instantly felt relieved. "Yeah um...I just thought that-"

"Well, whatever you were thinking, it'll be okay." Mike smiled and handed Will some tissues for his nose.

"Oh...thanks." Will grabbed the tissues and blotted the blood away from his upper lip.

"Do you know what's causing the nosebleeds?" Mike sat down next to Will and handed him a plate of syrupy pancakes.

"Stress maybe?" Will shrugged as he cut up his syrup drenched pancakes. Mike always put way too much syrup on his pancakes. "Gross! Did you put syrup on your eggs?!" Will laughed in a concerned way.

"It's...good?" Mike raised an eyebrow. "You have to try it, come on!" He scooped up the fluffy scrambled eggs and popped the forkful into his mouth.

"Uh-uh-" Will shook his head, grossed out by the idea of sticky syrup and eggs.

"Alright, but you're missing out!" Mike shoveled another forkful of eggs into his mouth.

"I don't think I'm missing out on anything..." Will giggled.

A/N:
omg a new chapter? 👀
I think the ending of this chapter is very cute 🤭 Long time no seeee btw!!!