Summer of Love//Reddie/Byler

Chapter 16

"Are you fucking kidding me Mike!?" Said Will storming into their empty cabin, Mike in close pursuit

"Will, you gotta understand that we've been together for years and if I broke up with her... she wouldn't take it very well. Especially if I broke up with her for a boy." Said Mike staring at his scuffed converse "You understand right?"

"No Mike! No, I don't. Normal people don't say 'I love you.' and go and Kiss their girlfriend the next day!" Said Will starting to cry "Normal people don't do that.'

"Will, I do love you, that hasn't changed-" Mike started

"Than what did?" said Will Cutting off Mike "What changed from you kissing me to you kissing her."

"Will, I just can't break up with her. She's different, she won't be able to handle it." Said Mike kneeling down to face Will who was sitting on the window sill staring out

"And you think I can?" Said Will

"I just-

--Febuary 1986--

can't Will." Said Cole staring at him sadly "you know I can't."

"I'm so sorry." Said Will crumpling to the ground "I shouldn't have, I'm such and Idiot ." and as he said this he saw Cole's face change from sadness into pure hatred and fear

"You know what Will? you are. you are an Idiot fag and you should just go kill yourself. I don't know why you haven't already." Said Cole spitting next to Will's head

"Cole-" Will said softly, clearly hurt

"No Will, you don't get to just 'cole' me this time and bury your head into my jacket and make everything okay this time. You're a dirty faggot who tried to kiss me, who did kiss me!." Said Cole bringing his foot down on Will's chest, hard. "You're a dirty gayboy who deserves to die!"

"Cole, this isn't you." Cried out Will hoping he would just stop and say it would all be okay

"Yes, Will, yes this is. I am not your disgusting little faggot boyfriend!" Yealled Cole kicking Will harder "Maybe you thought I was, but I'm not."

"Cole, you felt something too. I know you did." Said Will, he noticed Cole's face softening and for a moment he thought it might all be okay but, he was wrong

"Fuck off you faggot, I'm nothing like you." Said Cole giving Will one last kick to the ribs and then he ran off.

Cole had lied. He had felt something with Will, he always had. He had gotten scared, scared that he would turn out a fag, scared of his dad. He had felt it the moment Will first smiled at him, but he pushed it down, telling himself that this was what it felt like to love a friend.

He knew it wasn't.

And when he felt Will's soft lips gently brush onto his, he got even more scared, scared because... he kissed back. He wanted more.

He had felt his hands going to Will's soft hair and balling up his shirt in the back, he never wanted to let go of Will in that moment, they had both fought so hard for that moment. All the almost-kissed Cole had to pull away from, all the secret hand holding on buses and at sleepovers he claimed meant nothing but they always did. The little smiles that lead to big lies, the soft touches that led to hard punches, the small touches that led to big broozes.

Cole's dad thought that he could punch the gay out of his son. Whenever Cole scooted to close to Will or hugged too long, the blue and purple came.

Cole had loved Will, and he died for that love when his dad found out.

--July 1990--

-don't know Will." Said Mike standing up and starting to pace "I can't decide."

"Well, I'll decide for you." Said Will walking out of the empty cabin and slamming the door.