Byler One-Shots

Just do it already, Mike.

Credits: CaitlynWrites on Archive of our Own
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Mike wouldn't have expected parties to be this much fun; he wouldn't have expected sitting around, laughing his ass off as yet another person was forced to chug what could be considered the most disgusting drink ever concocted by the human species.

He also wouldn't have expected for his laughter to die off so quickly when he heard his name being suggested for the next dare by none other than Max.

"...What?" he asked, mouth stuffy in shock.

"Perfect! I see we've found ourselves a partaker!" the girl who had been keeping track of the game answered Max's earlier comment.

"No, we haven't!" replied Mike a little too loudly and a little too quickly to note raise any heads.

"It's either a dare or a drink, sweetheart, you know the rules," she continued a little too chipper to be putting someone through this much emotional turmoil, yet again.

"Plus," butted Max in, "you don't even know what the dare is gonna be."

She finished the sentence with a pointed smirk, and that was evidence enough that Mike was going to regret ever having set foot in this house.

He tried to subtly slide out of the circle but with almost everyone's attention focused on him, he should've known better.

"Where do you think you're going~" the girl from earlier asked. She then grabbed Mike's arm and pulled him up with far more strength than anyone could've expected from a half-intoxicated teen, and he knew he was done for.

He was now standing right in the centre of the circle, with fists closed and eyes steady as he awaited instructions to be sent into battle with nothing but his pride and a prayer to the gods above. Max was going to pay for this.

"Don't be so dramatic," the-worst-friend-he-could've-asked-for-ever said with a roll of her eyes, "the dare I'm gonna give you is way less sinister than you're expecting." She smiled smugly at him before continuing, "who knows, you might even be thanking me by the end of it."

"Why do I doubt that," he answered without thought. It caused a few snorts of laughter to float around the group; even Will's teeth flashed in an amused smile.

His self-satisfaction was cut short when Max smiled sharply at him, though.

"I dare you to kiss Will."

...Is she serious?

He only saw Will's eyes widening in, what he could only assume was, surprise, before he was quickly turning to look back up at Max.

They stared at each other for a second or two, Mike in defiance and Max in amusement, as laughter, hoots of excitement, and even wolf whistling was heard throughout the group.

"Your choice," she smirked as if he really had a choice.

Oh, Max was absolutely going to pay for it.

As he walked closer to Will, the circle quieted down, not wanting the disrupt the moment and eager to watch in bated breath.

Earlier, Mike had only been able to read the surprise on Will's face. But now, when he kneeled in front of his crossed legs, he could see the tension in his shoulders and the flitting of his eyes. He looked uncomfortable; as if he wanted to run, but something had stopped him from doing so.

"...Are you okay with this?" Mike asked, placing one of his hands softly on his knee.

He would never willingly drink whatever Max was serving - ever - but he'd rather do that a million times over than make his best friend uncomfortable.