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

Chapter 27 - I'm Not Gay -

Fuck Fuck Fuck
Mike pulled over after having a steady stream of profanity filter through his head for a couple minutes while driving home. He got out of the car hastily grabbing the tin of cigarettes he kept in his glovebox as he braced himself for the cold air. He lit a cigarette cupping one hand around the cigarette with a shaking hand, so the flame didn't go out.
There was something almost soothing about the orange embers at the end he mused as he inhaled the smoke. He laughed bitterly, such an easy distraction. Such an easy thing to think about. Much easier than the fact that he had just kissed his best friend for the second time in twenty-four hours and this time he had been completely sober. What was wrong with him.
He was going fucking crazy and he didn't have anyone to talk to about this. Normally he would talk to Will, but he wasn't sure his best friend would be to receptive to that conversation.

"Oh hey buddy. Guess what pal? Can't figure out why I spend every waking moment thinking about you and want to kiss you. Feel like another smooch dude?"

Yeah no. Who could he talk to? His mom? Fuck no.
Dustin and Lucas? Maybe but he felt like there'd be less helping and more teasing with those two.
El? No, he was pretty sure it crossed some sort of line to ask siblings for relationship advice about another sibling.

Max?

Wasn't it Max who had drunkenly suggested that Will wanted to kiss him last night? She was the one who had planted the idea in Mike's mind. The torture he was experiencing right now was Max's fault Mike reasoned as he finished his cigarette stomping the but into the ground. He hopped back in the car now determined to find a solution. If Max had caused the kiss last night she would sure as shit, be the one dealing with the consequences the next day.

Will sat on his bed stunned. He had kissed Mike last night. Mike had kissed him drunk last night at a party. This morning Mike Wheeler had kissed him sober. Will wasn't sure how he was supposed to keep this in the neat boxes he put his relationship with Mike in. The best friend box and the stolen treasured moments box. Because the stolen treasured moments box was for the secret things Will treasured. Things that were normal things people did with each other but to Will were his secret hope. Because a kiss wasn't really a secret hope, was it? Especially a sober kiss. What was he supposed to do with that? And who the hell says I'm not gay after kissing their best friend.

Mike pounded on Max's door then winced at the sound, he was still a bit hungover. Judging from the displeased look on Max's face when she whipped the door open she was a little hungover still too. "Hey Mike." She said expectantly. Mike just stared at her. She sighed then dramatically swept her arm inwards. "Please make yourself welcome Michael." She says her voice dripping with sarcasm. Mike nods choosing to brush over her rudeness and awkwardly strides in. "What are you doing here?" She demanded arms crossed and leaning against the wall, the perfect picture of the Max Mayfield irritation they had all missed so much.

"I kissed Will."

Max stared at him in surprise. "No Way."

Mike nodded, "And I don't know what to do because I'm not gay." He said earnestly.

Max laughed again walking over to the couch and patting the spot next to her. "Come here Mike. Tell me exactly what happened."
Mike sat down and began explaining.

"I saw him talking to David at the party and that made me mad because that dude totally dumped Will for no reason and who dumps Will right?" Max nodded looking like she was observing something wildly entertaining. "Then I kissed Jennifer Hayes in front of Will and that made him mad for some reason. I ran into you while chasing him and you – "Mike paused to glare at Max who put her hands up defensively –" Inferred that Will wanted to kiss me so I did." Max nodded expectantly; Mike continued. "But that's not even the worst part, because I was drunk for all of that. This morning I just kissed Will. Totally Sober! For no reason?!" He looked at Max expectantly. "And I don't know why I did that because I'm not gay!"

Max stared at him as if she couldn't believe what she was seeing

"Michael Wheeler."
He looked at her in annoyance, he didn't like people using his full name.
"You are the stupidest boy I have ever met."
Mike stared at her jaw opened. "How the fuck does kissing Will make me dumb Maxine ?"
Max stared and began talking like she was explaining basic math to a small child. "When you kissed El what did it feel like?" Mike didn't really feel like it was any of her business but given how annoyed she seemed with his supposed stupidness he supplied the information. "It just felt like kissing I guess. Like y'know she put her mouth on me and then I would kiss her. It was I dunno wet?" He offered. Max stared at him. "Wow. What a romantic." Mike glared at her. "Look are you actually gonna help me or just ask about me kissing my ex girlfriend?" "I am helping!" Max shot back just as irritated.
"How did it feel to kiss Will?"

Mike thought back. Kissing Will had been like.... Well it had been just like Will. Sweet and whole and right. He couldn't say that to Max though. It seemed to personal to say. So he just mumbled, "It was bright." Judging from her expression Max didn't get what he meant. "It was like my world – the colours in the world – got a bit brighter or something I dunno." Max nodded then again spoke to him like he was a child.

"So kissing El felt wet." Mike nodded.
"And kissing Will made the entire world brighter." Mike nodded again.
"Mike I don't know how to make it any more obvious." He had lost track.
"You like Will dude." Oh.
"And your probably gay." OH .