The Bad Touch - Byler

10. "Jenny - Studio Killers"

The boys just sat in the room enjoying each others company for a while. Whether they were cuddling, kissing or just sat next to each other, they felt safe because they were together. And because Will moved his dresser against the door so it couldn't open.

The handle of the door moved up and down in a soft yet still forceful way. El.
"Erm, Will? Why is this door locked? Wait- how is this door locked?"
"Oh that. I dropped something behind my dresser and had to move it to get it. I guess it went in front of the door and I just never moved it back. Mike and I will move it now give us a sec, ok?"
"Okay!" El said unsuspectingly.

Mike made the pair come up with this lie so they were not caught up again when someone actually tried to come in. He shot up from the bed when El tried to move the handle again. For some reason it didn't register that the door would only work if he moved the dresser (because Will's too weak to do it on his own). Once he was up he thought he may as well move it.
"Yeah El, I'm coming. It's a little heavy and someone isn't helping."
"Ughh finee but it's heavyyy" Will whined. "Besides you really wanna let her in looking like that?" Will added, whispering so low now there was barely a sound.

Mike didn't know what Will was talking about, but when he turned to the tiny mirror Will had on his window ledge and he realised his hair was everywhere. It looked like it was trying to be an afro.
"Mike there's a brush in my bedside table. Just grab that." Will said still whispering, but louder now as he was stifling a laugh.
"Thanks ba-"

Holy shit! Was Mike just going to call Will 'babe'? He didn't know what came over him. It just felt natural. Both boys were now beet red and completely forgot about the girl on the other side of the door.

"Sorry Will! I have no idea why I just tried to say that. I don't know what came over me. Please say I didn't like make you uncomfortable."
"Uncomfortable? Why would Will be uncomfortable? Mike what did you do?" El chimed in.
"Crap." the boys whispered in unison.
"Erm Mike just tried to call me 'William' and knows I hate it because it's what Lonnie used to call me when he was overly drunk and mad."
"Yeah... Again I'm sorry, Will." Mike then mouthed 'sorry' again to show he was genuine.
"It's good. You forgot. Let's just move this thing."
"Shit, yeah, forgot about that." Mike said adding a light hearted laugh at the end. Will smiled up at Mike so he knew he was in the clear.

Mike's hair was smoother, the dresser was moved and the boys had returned to their normal colouring.
"Okay El, come in." Will yelled out.
When El walked in Will was curled up at one end of the bed and Mike was on the floor towards the other.
"Fiiinally. Wait did you two have a fight? You're normally closer." El said looking skeptical.
"Were good! I was sat above Mike but I forgot where I was sitting after putting the dresser back so I guess I'm here now."
"Oh, okay! I just came in to ask if Mike wanted to watch a movie with me."
"I'm really sorry El but I feel like I should stay with Will. I get the feeling he's still a liiiittle upset about the fight so I wanna annoy him into being my friend with his whole heart again." Mike grinned at Will and gave El a 'sorry, not sorry' look, that she took as a deep, heartfelt 'sorry' gaze.
"Oh yeah, totally. No worries. Maybe later then?"
Mike just nodded and she left happy.

El was so naive. Yes it was helpful, but it felt like they were lying to a child which made them feel even worse about the situation they were faced with now. Will and Mike knew it was only a matter of time before Jonathan told El, if Mike didn't break up with her soon that is. Will came to the conclusion that Jon wouldn't tell El unless they were 'casually fucking' as he called it and Mike was still with El by about the end of the week of something. That meant, they had a solid 4 days to figure out what this was, and whether Mike wanted to break up with El because of it.

Mike knew what he wanted. He wanted Will. It didn't matter that him and El had been together for nearly 4 years now, he was overcome with joy when around Will, and always had been. Now he knows it's because he was attracted to him. Yes, he was attracted to El as well in a way (which just boggled the sexually confused boy's mind even more) but with Will it felt... Different. Not weird, just different. Perhaps it's the fact that deep down he never truly loved El. Yes he cared for her just as much as he did his own family, but he didn't want to spend the rest of his life with her in Hawkins, as her boyfriend, and knew that. He thought it was normal. It was a teenage romance, of course it wasn't going to last. He would move away and El would stay with Joyce to keep her company when everyone's gone. But with Will, he felt like they could be invincible. They could be miles apart and only see each other once a year and would still be together.

Will was worried though. He didn't doubt the fact that Mike liked him, I mean Mike came onto him (figuratively and literally) so there was no question that he liked Will now. But with El it would be easier. He wouldn't have to hide. He wouldn't have to come up with white lies to tell his parents. He wouldn't have to disappoint anyone. With Will it was sneaking around. It was kissing in the dark. It was hiding forever because it's the 80's. They would never be accepted.

"Hey guys, were all going out to eat do you want to come?" Joyce yelled through the house.
"No thanks, mom. We're good." Will answered his mom this time.
"Okay. If you boys get hungry just don't eat my whole refrigerator!"
"We won't, mom!" Will replied laughing.

Just as they heard Joyce open the front door to leave Johnathan burst through Will's door. He didn't even shut it behind him when he glared at them and said
"Don't do anything stupid. Think. We'll be gone for about an hour."
"Okay Jon! Leave!" Will said annoyed.

Jonathan didn't say anything more and left, closing the door behind himself.

"We're gonna have to figure something out fast. I never knew how...intimidating your brother could be." Mike said still staring at the door like he was waiting for it to burst open again.
"I know! I was kinda scared just now." Will replied chuckling.