𝐜𝐫𝐮𝐞𝐥 𝐬𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐫

[ 011 ] I Love You.

THE transition from being best friends to becoming boyfriends... was odd for the pair. In fact, the period strained up to a week and a half. They'd kiss and hold hands, even hug a lot, around family, or friends. But never say it. Why was it so hard to just say it?

They still say best friend, "because we're best friends", "he's my best friend", "he's the bestest friend I've had my whole life", "he's my best friend since birth", whatever it was, for some reason, it was hard for Charles and Will to address one another as anything other than "best friend". Probably because the term was more familiar. More safe.

Saying "boyfriend" would just... solidify everything. Really confirm their relationship and the thought is scarier than ever to either of the boys, the worry of "what if we don't work out and we can't come back from that. From being best friends, from becoming boyfriends, from becoming exes who hate each other." That's what makes Charles stay up late one Friday night as Will is cuddled into his side. It's hot, because it's the summertime.

But regardless of the heat and lack of AC in the apartment, Will's body was always touching Charles' body in their sleep. "Charlie?" Will stirred in his sleep, looking up at him as he woke up, rubbing his eyes. "Hmm?" The Dumont glanced at him and the Byers smiles softly. "You okay?" He asked and Charles quickly nods, smiling faintly back at him.

"Yeah..." He whispers, grabbing Will's hand and interlocking their fingers. "Then what's keeping you up?" Will raised the other hand to brush some of Charles' long hair out of his face, brushing some behind his ear. He loves Charles' hair, the fact he grew it out, Will adores it. It compliments him so perfectly. "Nothing..." The Dumont insisted and the Byers just scooted closer, wrapping both arms around the shorter's waist. "I know you, Char." He whispered as he leans even closer to him.

"Yeah, yeah, if you know me so much then, what am I thinking about?" He grins as he turns his head to look at the taller who just squints his eyes at him. "Thinking about me?" He smirks and Charles smiled wider. "Always." He says and Will blushed as he smiles, his gaze softening. "I just..." Charles sighed, moving so that he could wrap his legs around Will's waist, his arms tightly around his shoulders, "what are you doing?" Will is giggling as he goes onto his back, the smaller over him now. "Is it weird to say I love you?" Charles murmured into his neck and Will grows quiet.

"Char..." He whispers and Charles sat up now. "I love you." He holds a hand gently to the side of Will's face as the older stared up at him, his brows slightly drawn together. "Charles, how can you say you love me... when we don't even call each other boyfriend? That... is what we are, right? This isn't some weird friends with benefits thing?" He says quietly and Charles sighed, leaning down to connect their lips. "Well, I love you, boyfriend." He whispers when he pulls away and Will smiles softly.

"You love me that much you deal with my bad breath?" The Byers covers his mouth and the Dumont frowns. "I love you, I love you, I love you." He repeated through kisses he peppered all over his boyfriend's face and Will starts giggling. "I love you too... boyfriend." He says, smirking and Charles sat up again, nodding. "Good, good, otherwise I would've kicked your ass." He smiles widely and Will raised his brows. "You think you can take me in a fight?" He asked and Charles nodded.

"I can so take you in a fight." He smirks and Will rolls his eyes as he holds his hands over Charles' waist. "Are you that in love with me why you suddenly tackled me and held onto me like a koala bear?" He asked and the Dumont just nodded his head. "But of course. It'll make me sound crazy but I wanna do what they did in that one Star Wars movie, and cut you open so I can live inside of you. Hugging and cuddling is not enough." He said and Will just bursted into laughter. "You are crazy. But I like it." He grins and Charles just giggles.