Hold My Heart // Byler

015

  Will had always dreamed about a day when he and Mike were together. His dreams always allowed him to wish for something untrue.

  How could it have gotten this bad? What happened? And Will wanted more than anything to talk to Mike, to clarify. To know.

  But he wasn't entirely sure if he wanted to know. Having the knowledge that it was a fact Mike no longer wanted Will in his life was daunting.

  So Will did what he normally did, he hid. Hid from life. Hid from his problems. He even hid from himself.

  He had always thought that if he hid well enough, he could convince himself and the people around him that he was gone.

  But Mike was the only one he couldn't convince.

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

  It had been hours since Mike and El talked. Mike was sitting in his room, staring at the ceiling. At those stars, that had once almost held the beauty Will possessed.

  A tear released from his eye and fell down his cheek. He couldn't even wipe it away. His mind felt completely disconnected from his body.

  Where is Will? What is he doing? Is he okay? Those were the only things Mike could think about. He knew he had to converse with Will at some point.

  He could never hide from him.

*********************
 
    Mike descended down the basement steps, searching for Will. His body stopped midway when he took in the view below him.

  Will was sleeping. His cheeks were stained with tears, his eyes were swollen and puffy. Mike almost choked when he saw the binder full of Will's drawings lying beside Will, open.

  Exposed.

  Mike knew Will had seen them. Is this why he was crying?

  He stepped closer towards Will, his beauty pulling him in. He admired Will, took his presence in. Maybe this was the last time.

  Mike knew he couldn't tell Will how he truly felt. He couldn't tell him about the way he couldn't stay away. He couldn't tell him that Will was the only person he wanted, needed.

  He wanted to wake Will up, to apologize. But he knew in the back of his mind that he would take any excuse to avoid this. Because Will scared him.

  So Mike decided to put it off. He began ascending up the stairs, leaving his heart with Will. But he didn't know if he wanted to retrieve it.

  He was halfway up the stairs when he heard Will sigh, apparently waking up. He stopped and slowly turned around, hoping that Will wouldn't notice him.

  But of course, Mike wasn't that lucky.

  Will sat up quickly when he saw Mike. He looked around. He stood up and said " Shit- sorry, I'll leave-". He basically flew up the stairs, and Mike almost let him leave.

  But Mike needed his heart to survive, and Will was holding it. Will held his heart so tightly it seemed like his own, and Mike was sure that was how it was becoming.

  Mike grabbed Will's arm, he was surprised at his sudden contact. Will stopped and slowly looked up at Mike.

  Their eyes locked, and once again, both of the boys were gone.

  Will sucked in a sharp breathe, Mike's gaze piercing at him. Will knew he should say something, but he didn't have the ability to make any movement while entranced by those dark eyes.
 
   He had once seen hatred in them, even disgust. But now, Mike's gaze was soft. Apologetic. Pleading.