Hold My Heart // Byler

022

As Will steps into the cold, empty confines of his new " home", he feels sick.

A home is something that's never been given to him, he's had to find it in things, things he loves, like creating.

And Mike.

Now that he's away from Mike, it feels like he doesn't know where he belongs, but it certainly isn't here.

Joyce steps out of the room and into the empty hallway containing only Will's numb, and thoughtless body.

Yet, the only thing in Will is thoughts.

" Hey, so me and Lonnie put together your bed and dresser, and we figured you could do the rest.. make it your own."

She places a hand on Will's shoulder and says " This place can be a home if you make it that way."

She smiles at Will before walking down the hallway and into her bedroom.

Will knows shes right, but only to an extent. Sure, he can get used to this house, after all he has to, but he can't find a home in something that contains something so unloveable.

Lonnie Byers.

The name scorches Will's mind, and he finds himself wincing at the memories that have forever haunted him.

He steps into his new room, and closes the door.

Will raises his eyebrow, this place is nice.

His bed is on the right wall, without sheets or bedding. His dresser is on the other side of the room.

Will's luggage is in a pile in the middle of the floor.

Will isn't one who likes to be in empty spaces, it makes him feel alone.

But how could he possibly feel more alone than he does right now?

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

Will wakes up in a sweat, hours later. He sits up and faces the clock that was placed on his nightstand hours before.

7:43 p.m.

He sits up and uncovers himself. He looks around his now decorated room.

Almost immediately after he stepped into it, he knew it needed to be filled up with his things, so that's what he did.

He tried to make it look like his old room in California, or at least set it up similarly.

Will isn't a fan of change, to him, it's a reminder that everything and everyone can't stay constant or consistent.

The only thing that's ever felt consistent to him was him and Mike.

But even now, their relationship has changed. Maybe Will's okay with this change.

It's not that he absolutely despises any and all change, it just makes him uneasy.

  Being unaware of the future is always something that's scared Will.

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

Around 30 minutes later, Will finds himself walking down the stairs and into the kitchen.

The house is now furnished, Will isn't surprised. Joyce has always loved to decorate.

He can hear his parents in the kitchen, their voices are the only noise besides the soft chatter of the TV.

Will enters the kitchen. Lonnie is sitting at the dining table beside Joyce, who is, clearly, drinking,