Hold My Heart // Byler

011

⚠️TW⚠️
Homophobic language, slurs

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   The Byers had been at the Wheelers for around a week now, and at least for the boys, everything was perfect.

  They had spent their time reading together, Will tried to teach Mike how to draw. Key word, tried.

  Both the boys had spent almost their entire week together. And Mike wasn't worried about El, because she had been spending time with Max, catching up with her.

  They had opened up to each other about their time away from each other. They'd been vulnerable with each other.

  Mike had thought things were going too well, and once again, he had been right.

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  It was exactly a week since the Byers had arrived, and the moms had planned a special summer party, only with the two families, but they liked to treat everything like a special occasion.

   Will and Mike had finished getting ready, and Will was now giving Mike another drawing lesson.

  " So, to create a-"

  Mike cut Will off by saying, " You sound like such a nerd!"

  Will just giggled, he was accustomed to Mike's joking mannerisms. He thought it was funny.

  Mike said " Okay, I'm sorry, but we need to pause this. I have something to show you."

  Mike jumped up from his chair and jumped onto the bed, reached over to his nightstand, and began digging into his drawer.

  Will sat with his legs folded across each other, and he laughed at the sight of Mike.

  Will always thought everything Mike did was funny, he didn't even have to try. Just being around Mike boosted Will's happiness.

  Mike finally found what he'd been looking for, and he turned toward Will excitedly.

  Will was confused, but still smiled at Mike brightly.

  Mike revealed a book behind his back. Except this book looked old and ragged, and Will instantly recognized it.

  Their friendship book.

  Will laughed and said " Oh my- Mike, where in the world did you find this?"

  " I was digging in boxes in the basement a few weeks ago.."

  Will continued to laugh and said " Let's look."

  Will had wanted a glimpse of their relationship from past years. He missed it, when things were easy and he could allow himself to just feel.

   Mike opened it and the first page was a picture of Mike and Will, asleep beside each other. They appeared to be holding hands.

   Will felt a sense of nostalgia, but it was more. It was desire.

  He wanted so badly to go back and redo everything, even if it meant not meeting Mike. Maybe he could've saved Mike. From the damage he brought to everyone's life.

   Mike and Will sat beside each other on the bed, staring at the picture.

  This moment felt way too intimate; too secretive.

  Without giving it a second thought, Mike turned his head toward Will's face. He never liked to stare. But staring at Will felt like some kind of gift, like he was supposed to use it.

  So when he turned towards Will and their faces were only inches apart from each other, Mike felt.. nervous was a grand understatement.

   Will's soft eyes fell to Mike's. We're so close. Selfishly, Will wanted to be even closer.

  Their breaths moved together, and it seemed as though the invisible string that began connecting them since the Byers arrived had finally tightened and pulled them together, as one.

   Mike's bedroom door swung open and Will and Mike instantly pulled apart, and El stood in the doorway.

  She looked between the two with suspicion before saying " Joyce and Karen said dinner is in 5 minutes."

  Mike said " Okay.. Hey E-"

  El shut the door and began talking to someone, presumably Max. Will and Mike looked at each other confused.

  Will said " Let's go down, shall we?"

  And although Mike felt a tiny bit awkward after being intruded on, it dissipated as quickly as it appeared when he saw Will's smile.

**********************

  Dinner had started out good. Joyce and Karen were chatting about something along the lines of home decor, Jonathan and Nancy were discussing college applications.

  Ted had actually decided to join dinner, and thats when everything went wrong.

   Mike had decided to sit next to Will that night, a choice he later regretted.

  At first, Ted had just been listening in on the moms' conversation. But as he had a beer, he began his normal bickering.

  He began talking about politics. Since Mike and Will had extremely different viewpoints, they had quiet conversation to themselves.

   " Hey.. I'm sorry about my dad, honestly he's an idiot."

  Will shook his head. He changed the subject and they talked about that.

  After Ted went on and on about topics neither of the boys heard or cared about, he stopped and pointed to the pair sitting together.

  " You two boys have been spending a lot of time together. It's kinda queer if you ask me. And I wouldn't want a faggot for a son!"

  He began to raise his voice. Mike felt a piece of his heart crack.

  Karen interrupted. " Ted, that is enough!"

  Ted got up and said " Alright I'm going to bed."

  He muttered " Queer" under his breathe before leaving.

  Mike looked at Will and Will's eyes were wide as a puppy that had been kicked.

  Mike looked over to El, who was staring at him sympathetically.

   Everyone was staring at the two boys. Everyone. Mike felt seen. Like his heart had been ripped out of his chest and thrown in everyone's faces.

   He felt sick. He wanted to surround himself with the walls he spent so long putting up. Where did they go?

   Will. Will knocked them down, you idiot. And you let him.

  Everyone ended up going to bed early, Ted having ruined their moods.

   Mike and Will entered his room, and Mike didn't say one word to Will before he turned off every single light in his room and shoved himself under his sheets.

  Maybe the darkness was where he belonged.

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A/N: Hey, so this is a major turning point in the story, at least for the next few chapters. They'll be different. They'll be focusing on Mike more, and less dialogue. But in order for this to go as planned, this part has to be included. It is vital to Mike's character. Will is going to be in the chapters too, as we need to see how this affects him. Anyways, thank for reading<3