You're the best and the worst ~ Byler

CHAPTER 4 - Will💛

I was so drained, but sleep didn't come to comfort me. I had finally told Mike the shit that I'd been holding in for years. It was underwhelming. I should have given him time to speak but I couldn't take listening to the rejection for too long. It felt rushed and unemotional. I just wanted to forget it, the shame and burning embarrassment were too intense. I just lay, still, an icy numbness enveloped my body. Sleep still refused to come. I just had to wait till the morning sun met my eyes.

"Will, wake up sweetie," Mom whispered softly as she plonked herself on the edge of my bed. My eyes flickered open, maybe I did fall asleep finally. "Morning" I replied, my voice croaky with exhaustion. "You sleep ok Hun?"

"Not really."

"Is it because you got rejected, by your own best friend?"

"Mom, what?" I felt my forehead sizzle with alarm.

"He rejected you, didn't he? Even though he kissed you first. It must have been really bad...Are you sure you didn't force him into it? God sweetheart, you're so desperate."

"Mom...how did you... no it's fine we're just friends now...everything is fine."

"It isn't Will. You ruined your relationship with your best friend because you couldn't keep your queer mouth shut. Lonnie was right about you. I can't believe my son is a fag.

"No, Mom I swear I'm not! I'm normal...I'm..."

"No, you're a fairy, that's what you are, and I can't have someone like that in my house. Get the fuck out."

"What? Mom please..."

"Out now." She stared at me with hateful eyes. Her tone was forceful and aggressive. "Now" The voice morphed into a low grating sound. Breathy and raspy. Bulbous veins began to form and pulsate all over her face and body. I wasn't gaping at my mom anymore but the sickening monstrosity we call, Vecna.

I was in a trance, why didn't I realize sooner? I got up wildly and stumbled doing so, I ended up smacking to the floor, peering up at this grotesque leering figure. "Come on Will, if you don't join me, that's what'll happen. You'll be rejected by everyone in your life. Everyone will find out your disgusting secret and leave you, just like your dad did. Hurt you. Disown you. But I can make people fear you, Will. You will be so powerful compared to them, they will look pathetic and small. You can hurt them before they have the chance to hurt you."

"It's ok...I'll just keep quiet. Tell Mike it was just a joke. A stupid joke. No one will find out. If no one knows, no one can hurt me. And I don't want to join you".

"Oh Will, look at yourself, you walk, talk and act like a fucking fairy, not to mention you are one. You can't hide. The closet is glass and it's about to shatter. You will lose everyone if you don't join me to destroy them." He spat, getting uncomfortably close to me. I could smell his warm rancid breath. "No, stop please...please just leave me alone." I shifted my hands backward across the stone-cold floorboards as I thrust myself in the direction of the door with my legs. I managed to get myself frantically upright, so I was about to get myself the fuck out of there. "Shit Will, wake up!" A ghostly voice echoed through the trance. "Walkman, Walkman! Where is it?" it sounded again. "Right here it is, please Will, I'm here, I'm here. Don't give up. Don't listen to him. Just listen to the music. Please, Will, I can't...lose you...please." The voice was replaced by an eerie, tinny-sounding song. My favourite song. The jiggly indie guitar filled my ears, and the unique singing of Robert Smith surrounded me once again. Suddenly I was gawking down at my feet, but they weren't connected to the floor. I was momentarily suspended in the air before violently crashing down. "Will, fuck! Will, can you hear me, please be ok. Can you hear me?" Mike cried, his voice thick with horror. He dashed frantically to me, throwing himself on the floor next to me. I heard his knees thump painfully on the wood. I felt him grab my body protectively and pull me onto his lap. Flickering my eyes open I was met with the sight of Mike peering over me. His face was contorted with anguish and a heartbreaking grimace painted his face; he was forcibly restraining tears. He shuffled me in closer, bundling me up tenderly in his tight embrace. "I've got you, you're back in the real world. Will...please just give me a sign you're ok...I...I...need you." He yelled, combusting into sobs.

"Mike...?"

"Yeah, Will, it's me. It's me. I've got you. Fuck he nearly got you that time." He wiped his face dry.

"Wait...why are you here...?"

"Will, I came to apologize for like the hundredth time. Firstly, I just wanted to say how proud I am of you. I get how scary being honest was. But you did it and I'm...I'm...I'm just so proud of you, ok? So proud. And I wanted to apologize for not being truthful and for fucking about with your feelings. I never meant to hurt you. I just...the urge I had to kiss you really scared me. Not because it's weird or disgusting but because I guess I'd been suppressing it for so long. And the actual kiss terrified me ever more because...it...it felt so different to any of the kisses I've had with El. And suddenly it all clicked, shit hit the fan. I'd been lying to myself for years. Years. Telling myself that we were just super close friends when really, I'd never felt so strongly drawn to anyone ever, not even El. And I just can't believe how long it took me to come to terms with the fact that...I really like you and I've liked you since I can remember."

"You like me?" I asked hesitantly, raising myself up dizzily from his lap.

"Yeah, I do. I really do. I tried to tell you yesterday."

"Me...?" I searched his eyes, checking if there was any hint of malice.

"Yes, Will" He whispered softly as his smile shone with affection.

"Holy shi-" I was cut off suddenly.

"Can I...can I kiss you?" his cheeks glowed fluorescent Scarlett. I nodded. This felt right, I felt safe for the first time in years. Mike tilted his head sideways; his inky hair fell across his eyes, and he clutched my face warmly with both hands. I felt his thumb caress my burning skin as he gazed unapologetically at my mouth. His lips felt heavy and toasty on mine. Soothing and tender yet firm and commanding. My stomach lurched with content and my eyes squeezed shut so I could savour the moment. This was really happening, no trance, no lies, just us. I started to giggle childishly and opened my eyes quickly to peek at Mike face. "What...?" he giggled back, and silly, flirty grin formed on his face. "You're my best friend, Michael Wheeler."

"And so are you, William Byers."