Manipulation |byler|

Chapter 8

California
2023.09.29
3:50 AM

"Can you...stay here for tonight?" Will asked hesitantly. He didn't want to be alone after what happened. Will saw Mike's expression, trying to study it.
"I j-just don't want to be alone, but i-if you don't-" " Will you don't have to explain. I understand. I'm staying, don't worry" Mike said smiling.
Will nodded. Then Mike walked out of Will's bedroom and walked towards the room where the painting burned. He started cleaning the room.

After 20 minutes Will finished showering. He wore his pajamas and dried his hair. After drying his hair, Will walked out of the bedroom to see if Mike finished. He headed to the room where Mike is and saw him covering the window with a big blanket.
"Mike?"
"oh hey," Mike said looking at him and then back to the window. "All done," he said walking up to Will.
"It's cold outside, so I covered the window with your blanket," he said smiling. Will looked at the covered window and chuckled looking back at Mike.
"It's late. We need to sleep."Will said before walking away from him. Mike followed behind him.

They entered Will's room. Will walked up to his closet and grabbed a black t-shirt and pajama pants. He handed the clothes to Mike. He took the clothes and thanked him. "there is an extra toothbrush in the bathroom. You can use that if you want" Will said.
"thanks" Mike smiled. He walked into the bathroom and shut the door behind him.
While Mike was in the bathroom, Will grabbed a mattress and made a bed on the floor.

Soon Mike finished and walked out of the bathroom.
"oh hey," Will said smiling. "are you okay with sleeping on the ground? If your back hurts-" "Will. It's fine" Mike cut him off chuckling.
"Okay".
Will turned on the light and lay on his bed, and Mike lay on the mattress. Will was so tired, he lay there awake for like 5 minutes and fall asleep.
Mike, on the other hand, didn't sleep. He just lay there looking up at the ceiling.

4:30 AM

He opened his eyes but there was nothing. No road, no mood, no guy, just him. He turned his head but he couldn't see anything. It was dark and empty. He could hear his own breathing. Soon he started panicking. He felt like he can't breathe.

"Will! Will! Wake up" Mike is sitting on the edge of the bed and trying to wake him up. Will was sweating and panting. "Will! Come on, wake up!" Mike said louder.
After about 7 minutes Will woke up almost jumping. He was still sweating and panting. He tried to say something but failed, he started crying.
"Shhh, will it's okay. It's just a nightmare." Mike said holding Will into his chest. Will kept crying.

After a few minutes, Will stopped crying but still was shaking a little. Mike slowly tried to push away Will from his chest, but Will only held him tighter.
"Will, you should get some sleep," Mike said tapping his arm slightly.
"Please don't let go" Will whispered. He never felt this safe in his life but now he was feeling safe and he wasn't going to just let it go.

Mike didn't say anything, instead, he slowly lies on the bed holding Will.
He lies on his side. Will scoots closer into his chest. Soon they fell asleep.

______________
California
2023.09.29
8:00 AM

Will woke up. His head was hurting from crying a lot last night. He groaned and rubbed his eyes. When he was about to move he felt something flat pressing against his back. Will turned his head and saw Mike sleeping. He remembered what happened last night and smiled at how Mike was being understandable.

He slowly got up from bed trying not to wake Mike up. He opened the door and walked out. He wanted to drink some water so he made his way to the kitchen. He stopped when he saw El's door was slightly open. He saw El and Max sleeping. 'probably drunk a lot,' he thought and continued his way to the kitchen. Will took a glass and poured some water for himself. He sits across the table drinking his water.

After about 10 minutes he got up from his seat and walks towards his room. His head is still hurting. He approached the door and when he opened it he saw Mike shirtless holding a black shirt in his hand. "oh, umm, good morning" He said awkwardly.
"Morning Will" Mike said back smiling.
Will face was a little red. He didn't dare to look at Mike. Mike wore his own shirt and walked up to Will.
"How are you feeling?" Mike asked.
"umm. Good. Just a headache" Will said smiling.

Mike stayed silent for a sec nodding " I wanted to ask if we could go out today, of course, if you'd like to" Mike asked hopefully.
Will knew Mike was asking this just as a friend. He didn't want to refuse and ruin their friendship as he did before so he decided to agree. But that wasn't the only reason, he really wanted to go out with him. "sure" Will smiled.
"great. Can you give me your number so I can call you later" Mike asked smiling back so Will did.

"do you want to eat something?" Will asked.
"no thanks. I just want some water" Mike said.
"Okay," Will said smiling, and they made their way to the kitchen. Will poured some water into a glass for Mike and handed it to him.
"Thanks," Mike said and started drinking his water.

"oh my God. My head's hurting like hell" El came from them her room groaning.
"morning El" Will said.
Mike turned his head and smiled "Hey"
El looked at Mike and furrowed his eyebrows in confusion "What are you doing here?"
Mike looked at her not smiling this time and looked back at Will.
"Umm, it's a long story El, I'll tell you later,"
"Okay. I gotta go, Will. See you later" Mike smiled at Will and walked up to the front door, Will followed behind him "Bye" he smiled.
"bye," Mike smiled back.
He closed the door and turned seeing El standing in front of him.

"So, why Mike's here?" She asked.
Will sighed "My painting burnt last night," he said walking past her.
"What?" El asked following him.
Will didn't say anything, he came to the living room and set on the couch.
"what do you mean your painting burned?" El asked again looking down at him.
Will sighed "Last night I finished my painting. I left it on the desk and went to sleep. I woke up at night and saw my painting was burning"
"oh my God. How the fire started?" El asked sitting facing him.
"there were candles on the desk. I think that's why" Will answered.
"oh, God. Are you okay?" El asked worried.
"yeah, I'm fine. Now I have to explain it to a customer" Will sighed.
El nodded.
"but what does it have to do with Mike?" El asked.
"Mike saw the fire through the window. He was calling my name trying to open the door. I woke up thanks to him" Will said. El stayed quiet.
"If Mike didn't notice the fire... I don't even want to think about it" Will said.
"And...Mike stayed the night here?" El asked raising her eyebrows.
"yes"
"why?"
"Because I asked him to"

"morning guys" Max came with a smile. She saw the two weren't in a mood " Hey. Is something wrong?" she asked sitting next to El.
"No nothing. I need to call the installers, the window is broken in my art room." Will said standing up. Max hummed in response and went to the kitchen. Her head was hurting from last night so she didn't pay attention.

"why the window is broken?" El asked before Will walked away.
"Mike couldn't open the front door, he said it was locked. So he had to break the window" Will answered.
El remembered the bandage on Mike's face when she saw him. She nodded.
Will walked away. El set there thinking. 'But the door was open last night' she thought. Maybe she and Max drank a lot last night but El can clearly remember the door was open.

1404 words.