Who Knew - Byler

12

Will breathed heavily and Mike felt like he was in a dream. He couldn't believe what he had just heard. Will had said he was in love with him. In love with him. That was why he ended their friendship! How can he be so blind? His head was dizzy and he felt like he could faint. His best friend...

"I hate you so much," he heard Will mutter. He's in love with him. "Are you not gonna say anything?" Mike didn't really know what to say. He's never seen him like that. He's never considered it as a possibility, because guys don't date guys... that's what he's been told...

"A-are you sure...?" he asked breathlessly. Will sighed loudly. He just confessed he's in love with him and he's asking him if he's sure? "Do you think I would have said that if I wasn't sure?" will replied, and Mike nodded.

"I... I don't know what to say, Will..." Mike said, which was true. How was he supposed to react? "Just say that you don't feel the same for me and we can move on" Will said, trying to sound rough, but inside he was dying and he was starting to cry. "But that's not true!" Mike said. "I do love you a lot, Will. Just not that way... I've never even thought of it. I just..."

"It's okay, Mike. Don't try to make it less painful for me," Will interrupted. Mike got up from the bed and walked to Will. He wrapped his arms around him, hugging him tightly as Will rested his head on Mike's shoulder, letting out soft sobs.

When they broke apart, Will muttered, "at least now I don't have to pretend I don't want to be friends with you anymore," and they both chuckled. "We can go back to normal," Mike muttered. "I promise."

Will wasn't so sure about it, but now that he and Mike had no secrets, maybe with the time they can go back to normal. He would prefer being Mike's boyfriend, but that can't be, so he'll settle with being his best friend again.

"So, do you want to continue our Star Wars marathon?" Mike asked, and Will nodded. Maybe it was a good idea. The more he pretends, the more it's gonna feel real, right? He doesn't wanna suffer because of Mike anymore, but he suffers even more pretending not to be his friend, so that's enough. He's just going to ignore his feelings. For their friendship's sake.

-

Hopper pulled over in front of Mike's home and Jane quickly jumped out and ran to the door. She rang the doorbell loudly and after hearing "you could at least open the door!", Karen opened and smiled when she saw the girl.

"Hello, Jane!" she said, and Jane smiled. "Are you here for Mike?" Jane nodded. It was night, but she wanted to see Mike so bad after their fight. She wanted to make up with him. "Oh, I'm so sorry, sweetie, but he's not here right now" Karen said, and Jane's expression changed instantly. He wasn't home? Again?

"What do you mean he's not here?" Jane asked. "He's at Will's" the woman replied. "Still?" "Yeah... but he has to spend the night here, so I guess he'll be back soon..." Karen said. "Do you want to come in and wait for him?"

"No, but thank you, Mrs. Wheeler. Tell him I came over, though" Jane said, managing to smile though she felt like shit. Karen said bye and Jane ran back to Hopper's car.

"Isn't he home?" Hopper asked, starting the machine. "No, he's at the Byers'. " Jane replied. Like always.

-

Will smiled softly as Mike made an amazed face at Jonathan's magic trick. He had already seen it a thousand times and knew how it worked, all Jonathan did was put the poker card in his sleeve, but Mike seemed so surprised he didn't dare say a word.

"That's my card!" Mike exclaimed, opening his eyes, and Jonathan chuckled. He bowed and then left the house saying, "the magician wants to see his girlfriend!"

Will smiled from the sofa. It felt good having Mike back, though he was still hurting because he wasn't his. At least he didn't have to hide anything from him anymore. He knew. He didn't have to be paranoid about if he's being too gay.

He was thinking when suddenly Mike sat down next to him. "Are you okay?" he asked, and Will smiled and nodded. "I know a lot about heartbreaks, believe me, I'm experienced..." Mike said, and Will pulled a face. "Can you not?" he asked. The last thing he wanted to do right now was discuss his heartbreak with the person who had caused it.

"Oh, uh, um... I'm sorry. Would you prefer not to talk about it?" Mike asked. Will nodded. That was it, he felt uncomfortable again. Why couldn't Mike just pretend it had never happened?

"Uh, okay... sorry," Mike said, and hugged Will. The boy could feel his heart beating faster with Mike's touch. Damn it, he's really gonna have a rough time knowing he's not the one pressing his lips against his...

Mike pulled away after a while and breathed heavily. "I really don't know how to do this. How to pretend it hasn't happened. It has, it's real, and I will not stop thinking about it in the next days or even weeks," Mike said.

"Maybe we don't have to pretend it hasn't happened. I mean, we clearly can't. We will never be able to forget what I just said, and believe me, it's gonna be harder for me than it will be for you. Since we can't forget, let's learn to be friends knowing the last week happened. It's gonna take a while and work, but I'm willing to do it because I don't wanna lose my best friend" Will replied, and even he was surprised of how firm and secure he sounded.

"I'm willing to do it too. The last person I wanna lose in this planet is you," Mike replied, smiling softly, and these words comforted him. He's the last person Mike wants to lose. Not his sister, not his mum, not Dustin, not Jane. Him. He's that important to him.

Even if he doesn't love him that way, he does love him. And Will is sure now that he means much more to Mike than he thought.

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omg guys that sucked. i had like 5 exams this week (i have one tomorrow and it's 8 and i haven't started studying yet) and i had writer's block and that's why this sucks i'm so sorry and i'll try to make it up to you somehow. also i haven't proof read cus i dont have fucking TIME so yeah sorry maybe i'll edit it tomorrow or some day? 

anygay, i don't quite understand why y'all are reading this but tysm for doing so and leaving comments + voting on my updates, it makes my day :)