Unshared Feelings: A Byler Love Story

Part 4

Will woke up to Jonathan shaking him awake on the floor of the cabin. When he came to, the sounds of Should I Stay Or Should I Go by The Clash filled his ears. He took off the headphones and sat up.

"What?" Will said groggily.

"It's 10," Jonathan said. Will have him a blank stare. "In the morning."

"Yeah, so?"

"You're still asleep at 10 in the morning! You, who gets up at 6 every morning, are sleeping at 10 in the morning! I mean, Jesus Will, even I'm awake!"

"What's your point?"

"What were you doing last night?"

Shit

"N-nothing, I just didn't sleep well." Will stumbled.

"Did you have a nightmare?" He asked, concerned.

"Y-yes," Will said guiltily. He hated himself for lying to his brother, but he just couldn't tell him. Not yet at least.

"What did you see yesterday?" Jonathan asked. "In your trance."

"I was running through the woods. A-and suddenly, it was like I was in the Upside Down again. I could barely breathe. And... and..." Will hesitated.

"What?" He asked, putting his hand on Will's leg.

"Mike was there. He was saying all these... things. Trying to scare me."

"What things?"

"I don't know."

"Will."

Will hesitated. He thought of Jonathan's words.

You can talk to me.

"He told me that no one loved me. And that no one ever would."

"Oh, buddy," Jonathan said, pulling Will into a hug. "I'm so sorry I wasn't there."

"He also said," Will started after letting go of the embrace. "He called me a... a..."

"Yes?"

"A queer." Will exhaled deeply. "He wasn't wrong about that one, I guess." Tears were rolling down both of their faces as Jonathan pulled Will into another hug.

"And I love you. So much." Jonathan said. Will began crying even harder.

"I love you too." Will cried.

"Will," Jonathan said after a while. "Do you... like... anyone?"

"Well... yeah. I do." Will said hesitantly. He thought Jonathan might already know where this was going, but he wasn't entirely sure.

"Is it...?" Jonathan started, waiting for Will to finish his thought.

"Mike," Will said confidently.

"Does he know?" Jonathan asked. Will could tell he was a little scared.

"Yeah. And... we kissed. Yesterday."

"Really? That's great! I'm happy for you buddy."

Jonathan hugged Will again.

"I'm gonna do everything I can to keep you safe, okay?"

"Yeah. Okay."

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Mike didn't sleep. He just couldn't. He didn't want to call the cabin too much because he didn't want anyone to get suspicious, but he wanted to talk to Will. He was worried about him going into a trance again, and he wanted to be there if it happened. Mike tried to fall asleep, but no matter what he did, he was still wide awake. He waited until 7 to get out of bed and go downstairs.