Will Them Into Existence

I'm Not

"Why don't you do it right now, then?" Colby whispered, leaning towards Wilbur where the two where stood in the band room, each teen seeking to stow away their instrument after the long practice session.

"Are you fucking crazy?" The green haired teen whispered back with fervor, sliding their case onto the shelf in front of them and turning to look the brunette in the eye. "This isn't the type of thing you just casually do, Colby! I've gotta have time to prepare."

Colby rolled his eyes with a light laugh, putting away his own case and then following the other teenager out of the band closet. As the two made their way down the hallway, he continued the conversation, voice louder now that the two were out of earshot of any eavesdroppers in the form of classmates or even the band teacher (who had been known to share student gossip).

"You've been preparing for like a week and a half, Wil. Your answer isn't gonna change. And he probably knows that, considering the whole," He gestured to the phone grasped in Wilbur's hand, "Prepaid situation."

"Okay. Listen. I get what you're saying. But you have to understand the dilema I'm in." The green haired teen responded, turning the corner and tapping their fingers against their thigh as they walked in step with the brunette.

"What dilema are you in, Wilbur." Colby responded, voice carefully monotone as the lockers came into view.

"You know. Tommy's always been better at this kind of stuff than I have."

The brunette stopped walking and crossed his arms, raising an eyebrow. "What stuff?"

"The connecting with people stuff. He does it so fast. And it comes so easy to him, like-" Wilbur started, being cut off as Colby clicked his tongue.

"Normally, I'd let you get it all out of your system before correcting you. But, this is not a normal circumstance." He waited for their nod before pulling them to a nearby empty classroom, lightly closing the door behind the both of them. He took a deep breath before turning back towards the other teen. "This? This dilemma you have? It's bullshit, Wilbur."

The green haired teen opened their mouth, and he shook his head fast. "No. Let me finish, okay?" They nodded, and he soldiered on.

"Nothing I'm about to say is an insult to Tommy. It's not his fault he didn't get a chance to, but it's also not fair to you to not mention it. Do you remember the first day we met?"

Wilbur furrowed their eyebrows, leaning back against the whiteboard on the wall. "Of course I do."

"Okay. So what happened?" The brunette pressed, arms once again crossed over his chest.

"What is this, a pop quiz?" The green haired teen said, shaking their head. "Uh, it was- hell, I don't know. Fourth grade? I was eight, I know that much. Tommy had just moved away." They squeezed their eyes shut for a beat, shaking their head. "I went to school the next day. I remember thinking how stupid it was. That there was no way Tommy had to go to school that day, so it wasn't fair that I had to. But, uh, I went. And despite thinking the entire morning that I'd cry my eyes out the second I got to school, I didn't."

They kicked the ground with their shoe, Colby's own reaching out. They huffed a laugh, looking around the empty classroom. Their eyes caught on the window, and they cleared their throat and looked away. "I went out to the playground after lunch. I sat under the big ass caterpillar tree in the back near the fence. And I heard some kid crying." Wilbur looked up, finally locking eyes with Colby. "And that's when I met you. And Sam, of course, but mainly you."

The brunette smiled fondly, walking a few steps to hop up onto the top of a nearby desk. "He was too busy sobbing his eyes out to talk. But, we did. And we became friends. Fast." He tapped the edge of the desk with his fingertips. "Really fast. In fact, I think the three of us sat together at lunch the next day. And the day after that. And literally every single day after that."

"Okay-"

"Y'know, now that you mention it, I think that's also how you got us all into the movies that time! Oh, and the crystal store down the road? The one that sells all that ghost tech?" Colby lifted a hand to tap his chin. "Damn, and maybe also the band! And drama." He snapped the fingers on his other hand together. "Ah! Yeah! That's also probably the reason why Tony fucking Stark came all the way to our school. Just to talk to you. Not 'The Twins', not Tommy, just you."

Wilbur blushed brightly, rubbing the back of their neck. "Okay, I get it, point taken, you can stop now."

"Do you get it?" He slid off the desk, walking lightly towards Wilbur. "Do you really? Because I don't think you do."

The green haired teen laughed nervously, brushing their hands back with the hand not tapping their thigh. "Yeah, I do."

Colby stopped walking a few small steps away from Wilbur and tilted his head. "Okay. That's good." He lifted an arm and gently poked the green haired teen's shoulder. "Because if you didn't, I'd have to tell you how much you mean to everyone you come across. How we all appreciate you, and how you're so fucking bright."

The brunette rocked back on his heels, his own face slowly lighting up in a blush. "I'd have to say something like you're the most amazing person I've ever met, and you're the glue that holds literally everything I am together. How you've given me the best opportunities, and how you're my best friend, and how you're the only person I always want to talk to."

"Colby-" Wilbur started, cutting themself off as the sound of footsteps filled the hallways, no doubt a result of the eminent class change. The brunette swallowed, both teens blushing at the edge of the dark classroom.

"Just- remember this, Wilbur. You're capable of a hell of a lot. I know you know that. Just know that everyone else knows that too, okay?" Colby lightly squeezed their shoulder, stepping towards the classroom door. He stopped briefly, looking over his shoulder with a wink. "I see you as you are."

And then, he left the classroom, leaving the green haired teen covering their red face with their hands, already destined to be late for Mr. Silliw's class again.

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WOLBY !!!!!!!!!!!!!