Hold My Heart // Byler

006

A/N: Before this chapter, I need to mention that the next few chapters might just be in a 3rd person POV because I find it easier that way. But it will still read into their thoughts. There will be certain times its in Mike or Wills POV, but i'll say it before. Trying to figure out a direction to take this has been really hard for me, but i decided to just figure it out as we move along. Anyways, thank you for reading!

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Mike stares at Will, admiring him. He takes in the changes. He traces along his features with his eyes, noticing his longer, grown out shaggy bowl cut. His hazel eyes, more piercing then he'd ever seen, but somehow still just as soft. His defined jawline and the way his lips pursed together with happiness at the sight of Mike.

Will does the same. He notices Mike's black, curly mullet. His deep brown eyes, looking black in contrast of the sunlight. His heavily defined cheekbones, more prominent than any other feature. He also notices the way a grin reluctantly makes it way onto Mike's face. There. There's the Mike I know.

  Will feels his cheeks heat up as he shyly smiles at Mike. What felt like hours of tracing Mike's features must've been only a few brief seconds, because no one seems to notice the invisible string weaving its way between them, pulling them closer and closer.

  Mike is first to walk up to Will. Will shyly, but happily, says " Hi!" Mike imagines himself shouting a greeting to Will and crawling into his skin, being comfortable. The dark part of his mind shouts at him You are making this awkward. Friends don't stare for this long. Mike breaks the eye contact and lets out a dry " Hey." Will goes in to hug him, while Mike goes for Will's side, and gives him a small pat before instantly letting go, his stomach churning. Fuck, Mike thinks.

  Will's demeanor changes. He instantly becomes more tense. His eyes don't dare to look at Mike again. He forces his eyes to bore into the concrete. Stop being so upset. Will nods his head, as if answering this.. voice. This voice in the back of his mind, telling him that he is not normal.

  El. Mike immediately darts his stare towards El, and sees her awkward smile, shes looking between him and Will. Mikes breathing becomes faster, but he makes his way towards El, plastering a look of excitement on his face. El runs into his arms. She buries her face into the nape of Mike's neck.

  Mike slams his eyes shut. He can't even look in Will's direction. So he turns to the darkness. Why? Will is my friend. My friend. So why be awkward? In the very back of his mind, he is aware of the reason. But he can't. Can't admit it. Can't think it. If he thinks it, then it's confirmed, true..

  Mike Wheeler is not normal.

  And confirming it would mean, that everyone he spent his entire life defending himself from, was right. Mike is a freak. A loser. So he pushes the voice out of his mind. Its wrong he repeats over and over again in his mind, the voice is wrong.

  Mike shakes himself from his thoughts. He looks at El and forces an " I missed you" out of his mouth. And he did miss her, but.. not how she missed him. He loves her...right.

  Jonathan abruptly says " Well, lets not freeze." Will finally looks up from the ground and walks into the house, after glancing toward Mike and El one last time. He's happy that they're happy. Thats what a good, true friend should do, be happy for their friends, Will keeps telling himself.

  Mrs. Wheeler already has dinner prepared, so after everyone puts away their luggage, they all retreat to the dining table.

  Mike and Will sit across from each other. El sits on the left of Mike. Nancy sits on the right, next to Jonathan. Karen and Joyce both sit on the ends of the table. Mr. Wheeler is sleeping, as per usual.

  Dinner consists of Karen and Joyce talking to Jonathan and Nancy about college options and things of the sort. Mike and El talk under their breathe and giggle often.

  Will isn't necessarily jealous of them, but he wants Mike to talk to him. He craves it. Mike's voice. Reserved for his ears only. Although that will never be true.

  After dinner, everyone splits off into their respective " groups". Meaning, the older two of the teens and the mothers stay upstairs and talk. Mike, El, and Will all go into the basement.

  " Woah.." El says in wonder as she notices all the changes of the basement that was once her home. Mike snickers as he says " Pretty cool, huh?" He looks directly at Will, mainly directing the question toward Will. Will peers up at him and nods with a shy smile.

  Mike finds himself grinning at the ounce of attention Will is giving him. Whatever it is, he wants more. His brain screams at him, but his fixated gaze on Will is enough to almost silence the screaming.

  They all decide to watch a movie. The credits roll and El is halfway asleep on Mike's shoulder. Mike looks at Will and whispers " We should probably go now". Will only nods in agreement. Mike slowly moves his arm out from under El's head. Her eyes flutter open slowly as she repositions herself on the couch.

  She looks between Mike and Will. She is clearly tired, because the next words that come out of her mouth are mumbled, but just clear enough for the both of them to hear.

  " Will, give Mike the painting."

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A/N: HEYYY! This is by far the longest chapter yet BUT we have so much to cover. I want to make this as slow-burn as I can allow myself to make. I think using a third person POV REALLY helped me get Will AND Mikes characters' perspectives. Anyways IF you have any questions abt this fic message me!!!! Thank you for reading!