Together- A Byler Fanfic.

Unavoidable

Unfortunately for Will, both his plan of avoiding Mike and getting his mind off him aren't going according to plan. Firstly, Mike himself has realised that Will is avoiding him-- which isn't good, because he seems to be trying to force himself to be closer to Will. Will would love nothing more to do than hang out with Mike, just like old times, but his crush is hurting him so badly and he feels only inches away from revealing it to Mike. 

Sighing, he flops down on his bed, staring across the room to El's half made one. Gosh, he misses her. He wishes she was here with him right now, no doubt she's curious about his encounter with Mike as well, but she's at tutoring, then added speech therapy, where no doubt she'll pick up some glorious yet crude words from the other kids. 

He's alone, all alone. 

Letting out a shuddery breath, he closes his eyes, trying to let the darkness close around him. He's not tired. He just doesn't want to be awake.He can't stand to think of Mike right now, but somehow, his mind drifts to him. 

Solid, real, beautiful and caring Mike. Hot-headed and jealous quite often, yes, but a caring person overall. At that moment, Will would love nothing more than to sink into one of his big bear hugs and lie there for eternity. 

The phone rings, as if in answer and Will trudges towards it.

"Will?" says Joyce.

"Yeah Momma?"

"You're by yourself, right?" she asks worriedly. 

Will rolls his eyes. "I'll be fine-"

"I know baby," says Joyce, "But it would just better if you spent the night at Mike's. El and I are staying over, there are big storms predicted. I don't want you home by yourself."

"Can't I go to Lucas's instead?"

"Don't you want to go to Mike's, honey?"

Will curses himself internally. "No! Of course I do," he says, pacing the carpet. "I'll head over."

"Ok, I'll see you tomorrow-- What's that El? Will, El wants to talk."

Joyce hands over the phone to El, who talks to him for a few minutes and then says, "Be careful, Will."

"Okay. Love you, Ellie," he says, finally hanging up. 

Will knows this isn't El's reminder of caution for his ride to Mike's. He needs to be careful around Mike, because it's far too easy to fall in love with him. 

As Will jumps onto his bike, cycling over to the Wheeler's, he knows he has to be careful. 

Mike answers the door anxiously, his hair slightly damp from his recent shower. 

"Hey Will," he says. "Your mom said she'll be here around 10 tomorrow."

"Cool," says Will stiffly, stepping inside the Wheeler's home. Gosh, he missed being here. Nostalgia washes through him as he recalls the now bittersweet memories of hanging out with Mike in the basement, Holly murmuring away to dolls as they sketched out campaigns, read comics-

he shakes his head. Those were in the past. 

"Do you have your stuff?" Mike asks. 

Shit. 

"Oh shit," I forgot, he mumbles. 

"All good," Mike smiles nervously. "You can borrow some of mine-- we have a spare toothbrush somewhere around here-- do you wanna sit in the basement?"

"Sure," said Will uncomfortably. 

-----

OK SO AN// I DONT LIKE WRITING FROM HERE SO IMMA JUST START A NEW CHAPTER LINKED ON FROM THIS COOL OK