Hold My Heart // Byler

020

Will can always sense when something bad is going to happen. It's because he's gotten used to bad things happening in his life, its pretty much become his standard of living.

Now, Will feels like this whole thing is some sick fantasy that his mind used against him.

And it's going to come crashing down. He won't be surprised in the slightest if he's made up all of the interactions he and Mike had in the past week.

He tends to pretend that things happen, or don't happen. It's a coping mechanism he's developed over the years.

Convincing himself into believing false things was normal to him, and it wasn't anything too scary. It wasn't like he genuinely ever believed himself.

And that's the thing.. he always lies to himself.. but he never believes him.

So maybe the fact that he hasn't lied to himself about this situation was the part about it that scared him.

It's because of the fact that he knew for certain this is real, its not something he's ever tried to shy away from or hide.

This change in his and Mike's relationship is what scares him, the only thing that separates it from being official, is the fact that neither of the boys had said anything about it.

And they don't have to, they both feel this sort of unspoken relationship between them.

And it hasn't bothered Will until the moment he realized something bad is going to ruin it.

Will always felt like everything good that happened to him was meant to turn into something equally bad, something that could ruin him.

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

Will has always had a rather strong relationship with his mom, she's always given up things and made sacrifices for his happiness and safety.

" Will..?"

So, as Will sat on the couch as his mom told him that his dad was coming to live with them, and they were, in fact, moving back to Hawkins, Will felt betrayed.

   Obviously his dad wasn't someone ideal to him, in fact, the last time he saw him, he thought it had truly been the last time.

   His dad had always saw the worst in him, and it made Will believe things about himself that were almost evil.

   " Will, he's.. different now." Joyce seems as if she's trying to convince herself this.

   " Okay." Is all Will can say, he can't think about all of this information properly.

   " Are you okay?" Joyce says, concerned.

  " Yeah, mom. Just a big change. So, we're not going back to California? We're just.. going home?"

   " Uh, yeah.. well, it's not exactly our old house, it's a little closer to Karen and Ted, and it's bigger, but.. yeah, we're gonna be in Hawkins." Joyce smiles at Will reassuringly and takes his hand.

   " Okay." Will breathes out, all he can feel is shock coursing through his entire body, and maybe that's why he just walks away.

*************
   Mike hasn't seen Will since.. last night.

Images of the prior night flash through his mind, and he doesn't know whether to smile or cry.

He's extremely happy with his.. thing with Will. Whatever this unspoken thing seems to be.

But, he's also frustrated with himself. He still, after everything, can't find it in himself to just speak.

Verbalizing his feelings seems so far off that he can't even picture it.

His thoughts are interrupted by Will walking down the basement steps quickly, and he seems.. afraid.

Will is so in his own mind that he doesn't even notice Mike sitting on the couch.

Will runs his hand over his heart, as if he's trying to slow it down. He tries to slow down his heavy breathing as well.

" Will.." Mike stands up suddenly, and steps towards Will.

Will turns around quickly, frightened. Then he sees Mike and closes his eyes, trying to shake off his fear.

" Sorry, didn't know you were down here." Will tries to smile as to not alarm Mike, but Mike is already worried.

" What's wrong, did something happen?" Mike's voice is laced with anxiousness.

" No. Nothing happened!" Will smiles widely, as to hide his emotion.

Mike just stands staring at Will, crossing his arms, as if to tell him he can't lie.

Will sees that Mike is aware of his feelings, and his smile falters, and he finally breaks down into tears.

" Fuck, I gotta-" Will stutters, and begins his way back towards the exit of the basement.

" No, Will.. you-" Mike grabs Will's arm and pulls him around to face him.

Mike places his hands onto Will's shoulders. " Talk to me."

Mike's gaze down at Will is unwavering, and that's how Will knows Mike is serious.

" I don't know- my-" Will stops, frustrated. Everything inside of him is yelling at him, every emotion amplified, every single detail about this bothers him.

Mike takes Will's hand, and Will immediately stops breathing as hard. Mike leads Will to his room, Will follows, still in a haze.

" What happened?" Mike says to Will, as he's sitting down across from Will on his bed.

Will hesitates for a moment, then speaks. " My mom.. she told me that.. my dad is coming to live with us."

Mike is genuinely stunned. He'd never seen Will's dad, but from the way Will reacts when the name Lonnie Byers is said, Mike doesn't even need to put a face to the name.

" Will, I- why?"

" She said.. " Will's voice cracks.

" She said he's changed."

Will looks into Mike's eyes, still crying.

Mike moves closer to Will and grabs his hand.

" And we're moving back to Hawkins.." Will, surprisingly, grins at this, and he peers over shyly at Mike to see his reaction.

Mike's, now wide, eyes look directly into Will's.

" Are you serious?" Is all Mike can manage.

This must be a fucking dream. Mike thinks.

Will nods, and a blush spreads across his cheeks.

" Yeah.. we- Mom said the house is closer to yours than our old house."

Mike smiles and says " Will, I know this probably isn't the time, but.. holy shit!"

Mike is laughing now and Will can't help but join him.

And although Will should feel upset, the only thing he sees in this situation is the positive.

The only thing he sees is the positive?

Mike must have a bigger impact in on Will than he initially thought.

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A/N: HIII! plot twist, am i right? ik ik, you thoughts things were smooth and whatnot, but I'm pretty sure this story isn't even halfway done. anyways. i honestly didn't have this in mind for the plot twist initially, BUT we're just going with the flow apparently. except new chapters to be uploading pretty frequently. im on a writing spree :) alright, bye! enjoy, babe <3