stars will fall - byler

.25

i parked my car near the far side of the parking lot. i sighed and rested my head back, dreading to go in.
-"you ready?" i asked.
-"no." mike whined
-"let's go, we don't want to be late on our first day." i rolled my eyes as i opened the door and started walking with him. we met up with lucas and max by the doors and walked in together. lucas and max split up to opposite sides of the hallway and mike and i walked towards our fairly close lockers. his was only a few feet away from mine.
what i dreaded most about school this year was seeing troys face again. after that night, i don't know what's going to happen. he's still the same person he was so many years ago and i can't deny it anymore.
i just can't believe how he handled the break up. i pray he just lets it go and moves on.

i walked inside the classroom with my stuff in hand, surprised to see dustin in this class.
-"i didn't know you were taking physics." i commented as i sat down next to him.
-"i switched my schedule around last minute." he responded and was interrupted by the bell. i turned around in my seat and focused my attention on the teacher introducing herself.

after class, i took me a while longer to find my next class from across the school, but i eventually did. i walked into the study hall room and my heart skipped a beat when i saw that the only available seat was next to troy.. we made brief eye contact before he looked down. it took my feet a while to start walking over to that seat and setting my things down.
this was going to be a very long year. let's just hope he doesn't try to talk to me.

-"psst. will?" i heard from my left as i was reading my book. i didn't have to look over to realize it was troy trying to get my attention. i didn't respond, i kept trying to read my book but he wouldn't stop.
-"will, we need to talk." he whispered.
-"no. we really don't." i mumbled.
-"will, i'm sorry. just hear me out.."
-"what do you have to say for yourself? you assaulted me." i quietly shrieked.
-"quiet." the teacher ordered from the corner of the room.
i glared at him before focusing my attention back on my book. just as i was getting into my own world, troy interrupted me again.
-"just meet me in parking lot before lunch at 11:45."
-"no." i chuckled.
-"will, please."
i glanced over at him and he looked so compassionate and kind.. it was almost like none of the shit hes done ever happened. it was the same look he had when we first started dating.

...

after spanish, i checked my watch while approaching my locker and saw it was 11:43. troy wanted to meet with me, but i wasn't sure if it was a good idea. last time we were alone he got aggressive.. but i don't know. something about him seems different.
-"hey, you coming?" mikes presence made me slightly jump as i didn't realize he was standing right next to me.
-"i'll meet you there. i have to do something first." i threw on a weak smile and watched as he walked away. i sighed and built up the courage to walk out the exit doors.

i approached troys car and knocked on the window, noticing him in the drivers seat. he unlocked the door and i sat inside, looking and waiting for him to talk but he just stared at me longingly.
-"you said you wanted to talk, make it quick." i snapped my fingers.
-"sorry, i just didn't think you'd actually come.."
i shrugged and continued to wait on him.
-"will, i'm done drinking. for real this time, my mom put me into rehab after our break up and it's actually helped. i've been seeing a therapist as well and i feel like i'm getting better."
-"that's good." i nodded.
-"i'm really sorry, will. you have no idea how sorry i am for hurting you.. i can't believe i did that to you. you deserve so much better than me, but i love you. i don't want to be with anyone other than you."
-"troy, stop. it's over.."
-"i know you still love me.. you wouldn't have met me here if you didn't still love me."
-"i don't think i loved you at all, troy." i admitted, feeling weight lift from my shoulders.
-"what?" he scoffed.
-"you were always so pushy.. i was worried that if i didn't say it back you would get angry with me. i tried to love you, i really did.. but i couldn't. i'm sorry for lying."
-"so then why did you come out here? if there isn't any part of you that loves me.. why would you want to hear what i have to say?" he asked with his eyes glistening with tears.
-"your eyes.. you looked at me and it all felt so familiar. it was like old times when we first started seeing each other. i was just curious.. i wanted to know if you had changed."
-"i have. i have changed, i promise." he pleaded.
-"i know."
-"then give me another chance."
-"i cant."
-"why not? will, i know. i don't deserve you, but i love you so much.. i love you more than anything in this world. please, i just want one more chance."
-"because i'm in love with mike!" i blurted out, instantly regretting it. he scoffed, smiling and wiping his eyes.
-"finally. you admit it.."
-"admit what?"
-"to cheating on me. i knew you were.. but let me tell you something, will. i meant what i said that night when you broke up with me. nobody will ever love you like i do, not even mike wheeler."
-"you're wrong. he loves me."
-"i'm wrong? you think he can give you everything you deserve? think again. michael is selfish. he's only ever looking out for himself.. you'll realize that someday. i promise you."
but troy was wrong. mike was the opposite of selfish, he's the most selfless person i've ever met.
-"have a nice life." i snarled before stepping out of his car and walking away.

when i walked back towards the cafeteria, i saw my friends all sitting at a table and an empty seat next to mike and max. i walk over and sat in it, overhearing their conversation.
-"we have to push back practice today, i have to work." mike said.
-"seriously, again?" max groaned.
-"hey." i interrupted once i took my seat.
-"hey, i got you a wrap since you were late." mike smiled and nudged over a tray of food.
-"thank you." i smiled as friendly as possible and looked at all of my friends, they looked at each other as if they knew which made me nervous. i looked over at el and she looked deeply upset. it's probably the break up, she must still be taking it hard.
-"so, will. i got you.. an application for subway." she reached in her bag and handed a paper to me.
-"oh, thanks! when did you get this?"
-"you want to work at subway?" dustin judged.
-"that's so random." mike laughed.
-"it's a good paying job! and it's one of the only hiring jobs at the mall." i scoffed.
-"i got it last night when you told me you needed a new job."
-"thank you, i'll fill it out and take it in later." i folded it and put it in my bag before eating with my friends.

•••

mike and i walked inside the house, both completely warn out.
-"i desperately need a nap." i groaned as we both marched upstairs.
-"you do that, i have to go to work." he grabbed onto my shoulders and turned me around to kiss me. he rubbed the side of my face with his thumb and gazed down at me longingly.
-"did you have a good first day?" i asked.
-"yeah, it was alright. did you?"
-"could've been better, i just want to go to sleep." i groaned before he nudged me towards my room. i jumped into my bed and threw multiple blankets over me.
-"i'll be back around 6:30, my parents won't be home tonight so i'll bring you and holly dinner." he announced from my door way. i lifted my arm in the air, flipping my thumb up since i was too tired to reply. as soon as i heard the door shut, i let myself fall asleep.

i woke up to a faint voice in my ear and someone lightly nudging me.
-"will? will, can you wake up?" holly whined.
-"what?" i groaned as my eyes opened.
-"where's mike?"
-"work." i laid my head back down and tried to fall back asleep.
-"still?"
still? it's..
when i checked my watch, i shot up when i realized it was almost 8 pm.
-"is he not home?" i asked as i stepped off the bed and began walking around looking in the rooms.
-"no and i'm really hungry." she complained.
-"i'm sorry holly, i'll order something right now." i angrily grumbled and marched downstairs.
this wasn't the first time mike wasn't home on time like he said he would be and it's really starting to piss me off.
as i was dialing the number off the fridge to dominos, the front door opened and mike walked in with two mcdonald's bags in his hands.
-"holly, dinner!" he shouted from the bottom stairs before walking in and jumping when he saw me turn the corner.
-"where were you?" i crossed my arms.
-"yay! mcdonald's!" holly ran past us and dug through the bag.
-"work."
-"for an extra hour and a half?" i questioned.
-"yeah, dan asked me to cover his shift for him.. i didn't think it was a big deal." he nervously avoided eye contact with me.
-"you've been picking up a lot of extra shifts lately." i commented, trying to not get mad as i walked upstairs. i heard his footsteps following close behind me.
-"what do you mean?"
-"nothing, it's fine. i just want you home more, it's like you're avoiding me or something." i joked as i walked into my room. he stopped me quickly by jumping in front of me.
-"i'm not, i'm sorry. i'll try to be better." he looked into my eyes. i nodded and took a deep breath.
-"let's go watch a movie, your dinner is downstairs." he took my hand and lead me out of my room. and just like that, he won me over again.