It's not the same without you| Byler

One- Why?

Mikes pov

I sat in math class, not paying attention. I could really only think of one thing right now, will. And El, of course. I was visiting for spring break the next day, and I can't begin to imagine what'll happen. I took out a paper and started to write what was probably my 5th letter to will this week. I had written countless of letters to him, yet I never sent them. Im so afraid of upsetting him, that I just don't think he'd like me to talk to him at all. The bell rung and I walked outside where Nancy's car was. "Hey loser, you excited for tomorrow?" She asked me, the truth was that I didn't know. "YEAH, yeah of course!" I said, quickly snapping out of my thinking. The confusing truth was I felt more excited to see will then El, weird, right? I mean El was my girlfriend and will was just my best friend, so why?

I got home and immediately went to my room. I tried to think of El, but for some reason I couldn't. I could only think of will, everything about him, his eyes, hazel and green, so perfect. He was perfect. What? I needed to think this about El! Not will! Why can't I stop thinking of him?? Anytime I thought About him my stomach would get a weird feeling, a good one. And I can't stop smiling, this had never happened before, only with will, why? I tried to think of El that way, but no matter what it never felt the same as when I thought of will. I felt a smile on my face whenever I heard his name or thought of him. Surely this was normal,.right? I mean sure, I like will in that way but it's gonna go away! It's not like I love him or anything.

I looked over to my suitcase which barely had anything in it. Max tried to get me to go in some ridiculous outfit that supposedly everyone wears in California. I of course, am not. I opened my desk drawer and got a paper out, and started writing.

"Dear Will,

I am so sorry for everything. Even the things I have yet to do. I've recently found out that I don't like you the way I should, I think, I like you as more than a friend, maybe I always have. I do not plan on sending this letter, but I hope someday you read it, maybe you'll feel the same. I know it's unnatural for me to feel like this, and I should like El. But I don't think I do, not in the way I should. I know there's a huge change you'll never like me the way I love you, but I still hope there might be a chance.

Love, Mike<3"

I folded the paper and put it in an envelope labeled "Will<3" even though I knew he would never read it. I hesitated before putting it in my suitcase. I know, I know, there's no chance he's gonna get that letter but I still hoped that would change spring break.

I went downstairs to the basement, maybe the phone would pick up, maybe it would be will. I just wanted to talk to him, even if Im gonna see him tomorrow.
I wanted to hear him, his voice. I had called him a few times before when he had first moved in, but I haven't recently.
I dialed their number even though the phone had been busy. To my surprise, someone had answered. "Hello?" I heard Joyce say. "Oh, hi Ms byers!" I said, unfortunately It was not will. "Oh hey Mike! I'll go get El right now." She said. "Oh, um actually I was hoping I could speak to will?" I said, hesitant. "Oh of course! WILL! Mikes on the phone for you!" She yelled to will. I heard will in the background before he grabbed the phone. "Hi, Mike!" He said, and I could tell he was smiling, that made me happy. "Hi! I haven't talked to you in so long, I missed you- well..yeah, I just missed you" I said, letting out a laugh towards the end. "It's okay, I missed you too, Mike." He said. I laughed, not because it was funny, but because I was relieved. "I'm sorry." I said, and there was no response for a bit. "For what, Mike?" He said, confused. "I never sent any of the letters to you, even though I wrote so much." I said, I really was sorry, I didn't want him to think I didn't care about him, or that I cared about El more. "Mike-" he was about to say, but got cut off by his mom. "Will i need the phone, im sorry." I heard Joyce say. "Bye Mike." "Bye will..I love you." I love yous we're common in mine and wills friendship, and never unusual, but it hadn't been said for a while. I think it's because I had recently realized that instead of those words being platonic, I meant it in a romantic way and I was scared. "I love you too, Mike." He said, and hung up the phone.

I checked the time, it was already 7:30? Wills birthday was tomorrow, and I still hadn't gotten him anything. I walked downstairs to see if the mall was still open. I saw my mom in the kitchen, "Mom, is the mall open?" I asked. "Yeah, it's open for like 2 more hours, why?" She asked. "I need to get something for will, is that okay?" I asked, knowing I'd probably go either way. "Do I have a say?" She asked. "Nope, bye!" I said, and walked out as she laughed. I biked to the mall and looked around. There were many stores, but none felt worth going in. I looked around aimlessly for around 10 minutes before I spotted a little store outside of the mall while I was walking out. It was a store that had practically everything, I had them spotted a familiar picture frame, where have I seen this before?

Flashback Mike's pov (they're around 12 or 13)

Will: "What's that?" He said, pointing to a picture frame I had brought upstairs.
"Oh, I don't know, my mom said to use it. Picture frames are boring, besides I don't even know what id put on it." I said, sighing and sitting next to will. "I think it's cool, you can put D&D photos in there or some of your favorite things!" He said, and he smiled at me, for some reason I had always felt weird when he smiled at me, not in a bad way or anything though.  I just thought his smile was nice. I had hesitated my next words.."You're my  favorite person, does that count?" I said, smiling at him, and then I held his hand in mine. His face had been slightly red and he laughed. "It does, but I was talking about stuff you can put in your picture frame!" He said, now holding both of my hands. "Maybe I'll put you in my picture frame, byers! I think it'd be nice." I said while smiling at him. "Maybe." He said, looking at me.

End of flashback

That's where I had seen it! The picture frame in my room! Mine had pictures of will surrounding the corners and then pictures of us together in the middle. It was the exact same, except this one was blue, and mine was yellow. Maybe I would make him one? I grabbed the picture frame and bought it before going home. I went into my room and got my picture to see how I would make wills. I got a few photos of me, and a bunch of photos of us. I made the picture frame photo thing even if it wasn't as nice as the one will helped me with. I felt like I needed something else, so I decided to write him a letter.

'Dear will,

Happy birthday!!♡ I hope it all goes well, and you have a great day for your 15th. I love you very much and forever will, I wish you the very best birthday. I'm writing this the night before, and I am SO excited to see you, I cannot wait.

Love, Mike ♡"

I had hesitated before putting 'love' but decided it wasn't a big deal. I put Will's picture and letter in a box and wrapped it before going to sleep. I can't wait for tomorrow.

A/N first chapters always suck</333

If ur wondering why Will's frame is blue and Mike's is yellow, it's because there are images of each other. Like Mike's is filled with pictures of will, so it's yellow.

Also don't be surprised if this story sucks bc I am not a good writer but it's fun so🤨 these r like examples of what they look like (the picture frames) obviously they're better but yk.