Why was he holding his hand (when he's supposed to be mine?)

Chapter 16 - It's Nice To Have a Friend -

The ride to the hospital had been relatively quiet. There was this buzz of hopeful energy in the air. They had all missed Max of course but Will suspected part of the hopefulness was also thinking that maybe if Max was back and the whole party was together, things would go back to normal. Will was secretly hoping this as well. They deserved a chance to be normal sixteen-year-olds. They deserved to go to parties and joke around in Mike's basement like the old days. Maybe having Max back would help them go back to normal.

Mike paid for parking, and they all walked through the doors of the hospital. Walking up to the receptionist El walked forward and spoke much to everyone's surprise. "Hi." She said firmly to the lady at the desk. "Hello there, here to visit someone?" El nodded "Maxine Mayfield. She woke up today, we're her friends." The receptionist nodded looking trough some papers for a minute. "Ah Maxine, third floor room 27." They all muttered thanks and crowded into the elevator.

There it was, room 27. They all stared. This was it Will thought. Someone had to open the door. He reached forwards towards the doorknob. Apparently, Mike had the same idea and their hands brushed against each other. "Sorry." Mike mumbled retracting his hand. Will just flitted his eyes in annoyance. Was Mike so disgusted by him that he couldn't even bear brushing his had against Will's? he shook his head. Today was about Max, not him and Mike.

Opening the door they all grinned as they saw the smiling redhead grinning and sitting up. Her bones had healed a couple weeks ago so now that she was awake, she was in perfect shape. "Max!" They all exclaimed, rushing towards her. Lucas grinned at them from the chair next to her bed, his had was gripping Max's so hard it seemed like he thought she would go back into her coma.

She grinned at them all "Come here one at a time and hug me!" she grinned then teasingly said, "You all skipped school to see me? God, I didn't realize you were all so obsessed with me." El let out a choking sob, wrapping her arms around Max's neck. "Max, Hi." She sobbed. Max's face fell as she looked at her best friend. "El, Hi!" She kissed the top of her head.
"I missed you so much." El sobbed
"I tried so hard to save you, I'm so sorry. Max I'm so so sorry." Max shushed El who was sobbing into her shoulder.
"You did save me. I'm alive because of you." Eleven looked up, she looked broken, like a small child hoping they weren't in trouble. "Thank you, Max."
Max moved over in the bed and El moved over to sit next to her, arm over Max's shoulder.
The three other boys waved at Max. "Get over here losers." She muttered.
They grinned and hugged her.
"Hey max." Will said.
"Hey Will! Did you come to visit me or are you living here now?"
Will realized of course she wouldn't know. She hadn't seen her since they left last year.
"We moved here again after.... Everything happened."
Max nodded seeming to understand Will's reluctance to talk about what had happened.
"And you two," she gestured to Mike and Dustin. "What have you guys been up to?"
Dustin grinned "Visiting Suzie, studying to get into MIT." Max rolled her eyes dramatically dropping her head as if to pretend to be asleep. "Wow fascinating life you live in Henderson."
Dustin laughed at her. She was already back to her old self.
"And you Mike?" everyone's head turned to see look at Mike. What was he gonna say? Surely not "Hey Max nice to see you I've been busy sulking around and ruining the party! Great to see you!" obviously not.
"Umm, not much. Just getting through high school Y'know."
Max rolled her eyes.
"I go into a coma and you guys suddenly have no lives? Oh my God we are having so much fun when I get out of here tomorrow."
They laughed and Will silently felt grateful that his hope wasn't for nothing. Things were going back to normal. They felt like a normal group of teenage friends for once. Things were gonna be okay.

They decided they were going to spend the rest of the day with Max until she was discharged at 5, then they were all going to Mike's house to hang out. Max's mom had spent all morning with her since she woke up and was now scrambling to get the house ready for her to come back meaning they were all gonna sleep at Mike's house for the night.

About halfway through the day Lucas and Dustin went to raid the vending machines for food. El sat up to come with them and Max looked upset by her leaving. "They can get it." El nodded then grinned "I can get it for free." Max grinned, "Wow what a rebel." El nodded as if to say of course.

Once everyone had left the room Max turned to look at Mike and Will. "What the hell is going on with you two?" Surprised she had noticed but determined to let Mike take the fall for this one he gestured to Mike. "Ask him." Mike looked at Will in surprise. "What did you do mike?" Max said clearly unimpressed with the raven-haired boy. "I yelled at Will after he told me that he had a..." He looked at Will as if to ask permission. Will sighed, even while furious with Mike that look made him melt. He nodded his permission. "After Will told us he had a boyfriend."
Max stared at Will. "You got a boyfriend! Oh my God congrats! I thought you would never get over Mike!" Will blushed then realizing what she had said looked up in surprise. Mike was staring at him now. "What!? No I was never umm" Max seemingly realizing what she had done laughed playing it off easily. "Joking." Mike and Will both nodded forcing laughs. Then Max turned to Mike, adjusting the pillow behind her back while speaking, "and what the hell are you doing yelling at Will for having a boyfriend." While saying this she pulled the pillow out from behind her back and whacked Mike over the head with it.
"Ow what the hell Max!" Mike said angrily.
Max feigned innocence "Be nice, to me I'm an invalid. And smarten up for Christ's sake. Will can date whoever he wants, and you're his best friend so you need to be okay with it."
Mike nodded staring at Will.
"Sorry Will. For, everything. I tried to call and apologize the night of but when I called David said you were asleep, and I should give you space."
What? Will had asked if anyone had called and David had said no.
"It's okay Mike. Friends?"
Mike nodded grinning that stupid Mike Wheeler grin "Best friends."

Will was very grateful for Max waking up, but she was already making his life so much harder.