ꜱʜᴏᴛ ɪɴᴛᴏ ᴛʜᴇ ᴅᴀʀᴋ- ʙʏʟᴇʀ

ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ 8- ɴᴇᴡ ᴊᴏʙ

𖨆♡𖨆
‿︵‿︵୨˚̣̣̣͙୧ - - ୨˚̣̣̣͙୧‿︵‿︵

There was some part about Mike that felt different ever since he came to the conclusion that he did in fact, find a boy pretty. Normally this was something you'd brush off, or laugh about it. But for Mike, this meant more. Maybe he was overthinking it. How could he possibly like a guy? Would he kiss a guy? That was the big question. More the question he was scared of because he didn't know the answer. Would he? Or wouldn't he?

What if he did? What if he liked it? What would that mean for him as a person in itself? As he spoke to will he told him, it's okay to like whoever if it's not hurting anyone. But Mike felt as if this was hurting him. It was bringing him down. But why? He couldn't think of it. Sitting on the kitchen table as he played with the cereal in his bowl. Last night he slept poorly. It wasn't a big deal.

But it felt like he committed a crime.

He knew will was getting ready for his first day of work right now as he was eating. He wondered what he was going to wear. How he'd manage with all those people giving orders. If he was going to be okay? He felt an odd protective way around the smaller male. Just he could just break down so easily. And even though he'd only known him for around two days. He enjoyed the boy's minor conversations. How he was so...himself. Rather than some fabricated version

Maybe that's what made Mike like him.

Suddenly he felt his attention being brought to the male walking downstairs. It definitely wasn't Nancy. But in fact Byers. The guy he was thinking about all night after the disturbing realisation. How swiftly he moved to get his shoes on before noticing the pair of eyes on his and looking towards wheeler who was staring directly at him "uh- could you walk to me the coffee shop..I don't have a clue..where it is.." will still felt a little awkward around Mike. But he felt worse having to ask for help when he was eating breakfast

"Oh uh- yeah sure!!" The curly-haired boy got up from his chair, leaving his bowl on the table, knowing he'd get given out to for it later if his mom saw "have you ever...had. Job before?" He made his way over to the shorter boy in the hall, bending down to fix on his black shoes. Slipping them over his sock and tying a small bow into them. His slender fingers worked seamlessly with each other

"Not a..real job- more voluntary work for charities.." will hummed to himself. Joyce normally made him do stuff like that, but he thought the best part about it, was when someone smiled at him. It was that glad, or hopeful smile that made will think, that maybe his situation wasn't that bad "I'm a bit...nervous.."

Nervous. Will was nervous. In a way, Mike felt obligated to help but didn't know how. Finally getting off his knees and brushing off his pants. Staring down at the hazed eyes boy, who looked up at him a little. The height difference wasn't drastic. But it was noticeable. "Hey...it's okay. I mean seriously your a cool dude...they'll...like- They'll like you." He spoke avoiding the word love

Love was such a strong word. Such a meaningful way to express yourself. It was that sappy suffocating feeling. Where everything in your body swelled up into one ball, and your heart just started pounding. How a smile would form even though you'd press your lips together harder, just to prevent it. When you got that feeling, your eyes start to notice more about a person as you try to distract yourself.

Mike was noticing a lot

"You think so?" The brown-haired boy questioned almost not believing him. like Mike was lying to him. Wills's expression tensed a bit around Mike. He was staring. The shorter boy immediately thought he did something. Maybe he looked dumb. Did he have something on his face? It was a million thoughts at once, and that's when the worry started to kick in, the tinge of insecurity that he couldn't understand.