Chapter Text
Will thought absence was supposed to make the heart grow fonder.
It's not like he expected fireworks when they touched or Mike looking at him like he's his entire world but he would have thought after ages of not seeing each other, their reunion would consist of something more moving than a...whatever that was at the airport.
He knew Mike was avoiding him. At first he convinced himself the other was just too busy with school and daily life to contact him but then Will saw the mountains of letters he sent to El and realized that maybe he's just the problem.
Friendships come and go. But after everything he and Mike went through, he had thought a bond like that would last forever. He never thought it would end and if it ever did, he expected some sort of grand falling out. Slammed doors and screaming and friends caught in the middle. But there was none of that. He guesses he can now blame that on the distance between them. Things fell apart slowly until only this was left.
Whatever this can be called.
He stares at the discarded painting in the corner of his room, he’ll give it to Mike one day…he guesses. Definitely not now. Not after he was forced to trudge behind the happy, perfect couple for hours. Listening to their constant giggles and trying not to roll his eyes. Being a third wheel is the epitome of misery. And definitely not after El almost bashed some girls' heads in.
The door suddenly opens, Mike storming in. “She’s completely ignoring me!” He groans, sitting on the bed. “I mean what was I supposed to do? She hit someone with a damn skate, she could’ve done serious damage. And obviously I don’t blame her, I was just caught off guard! Y’know? So why is she looking at me like I’m the bad guy?” He turns to Will, frustration etched all over his face.
That’s the first time today he’s actually really looked at Will. Minus their small argument earlier but even then, there wasn’t this glint in his eyes. This desperate need for his best friend's reassurance and advice. He tries not to let bitter thoughts invade his mind, like how Mike only ever wants to talk to him when it involves El.
At least they’re talking.
“Just give her time, she’ll come around.” His eyes travel to the painting.
No…definitely not a good time.
“Why wouldn’t she just tell me about her troubles here? I’ve been bullied before, I could’ve—hell you’ve been bullied before. Why didn’t you even try and help her?”
That catches Will off guard for a split second. Now he’s being blamed? Typical. He can’t say he’s surprised. “She didn’t want my help.”
“She didn’t want your help?” He mocks like that’s the most incredulous thing ever. “You could’ve told your mother, she would’ve done something! Instead you just let her continue to get humiliated!”
His fingers tighten around the sheets in annoyance. “I have stuff of my own going on too you know.” He mumbles. He’s lonely. More alone than he’s felt in a while and that’s saying something considering all he’s been through. And all he wants is to just talk to his best friend about it but like always, his concerns don’t really seem to matter anymore. “Actually you don’t considering I can count on one hand the amount of times we’ve talked lately.” He says that part under his breath out of impulse and anger but obviously Mike hears.
“This again?” He scoffs. “El could get into serious trouble and you’re complaining because I didn’t call? Why didn’t you call?”
Will rolls his eyes, mustering up all the courage he has to let the next few sentences out. “You made it pretty obvious you wanted to distance yourself from me! I didn’t want to embarrass myself any further. I thought—I thought you coming here would change things and the tension and it would go back to how it was before but you’ve been such an ass the second you got here!”
“El—”
“El this El that. Jesus, you’ve made her your entire personality Mike. It’s annoying!”
A few seconds of silence pass before he’s speaking up again. “You’re just jealous.” He mutters, frown on his face.
“Jealous?”
Of course Will is jealous. His best friend is barely acknowledging his existence unless it’s to talk about his girlfriend. He’s beyond jealous and annoyed and so freaking frustrated. “I’m not jealous.” He hates the way his voice squeaks when he says that.
“Maybe if you would stop moping in your room, drawing paintings for some girl that you’ll never talk to and go out into the real world—”
“I’m not drawing paintings for any girl.” He cuts off.
I’m only drawing them for you, you idiot.
“El told me about the one you’ve been working on, how it’s for someone you like. Maybe if you would man up and confess, you wouldn’t be so miserable and angry at me for wanting to be around El.” He rolls his eyes, crossing his arms over his chest. Like he’s got it all figured out.
Will’s eyes travel towards the painting again. She told him it was about some girl? “You—”
“You keep yelling at me saying how I’m the one distancing myself when you’re—drawing shit for some girl. You haven’t even sent me a single drawing of yours in ages and yet.” He starts to fidget in his spot. “Yet I’m the one who’s—” Will’s too busy processing everything for him to notice Mike’s eyes on the painting until the other gets up.
“Don’t open that!” He immediately stands up, practically sprinting to him and yanking it out of his hand. “It’s…private.”
Mike scoffs, glaring at him. “What, it’s too special for your crush that even I can’t see it?”
“How did you turn this entire conversation around to me being the bad guy?” He pants, fingers clenching around the painting. He can’t have Mike see it. Not now. Not when all they do is argue. Not when the tension between them is so suffocating Will feels like he’s going to drown in it every time they’re near one another.
“Just let me see it!” He goes to take it again and either Will’s dramatic or things just moved too fast for him to comprehend but he’s shoving Mike in the next second. His back hits the wall, creating a loud thud which causes them both to flinch.
There’s a stunned silence in the room for a couple seconds before Mike leans up, straightening his clothes. “Whatever. Show her your wonderful painting Will, make her swoon and shit. Maybe you’ll finally get a girlfriend and stop trying to follow me around like a wounded puppy.”
He can see he’s hurt, even behind his cruel words and rigid body language, he can see it. And he hates the way that he has to be the bigger person in this situation. Mike hurt him too. Made him feel like shit, gum under someone’s shoes when he should’ve been feeling like his best friend. The one person in the world he would do anything for. But he’s not that person. Not anymore.
He knows it and Mike knows it.
But he can’t go back to the no talking…or the relentless arguing when they do actually speak to each other. “It’s not…it’s not for her.” He sighs. “There’s no her.”
Mike’s eyebrows arch up in surprise although he quickly tries to hide it. “Oh…I thought…El said it was for someone you like.”
“It is for someone I like.” He breathes out, swallowing all the anxiety in his stomach as he drives the next words out. “It’s for you.”
Another stunned silence follows, Mike looking even more confused as he stares at him. And Will—well Will wouldn’t be too upset if the ground swallowed him whole right up. Knots are tied up in his stomach, very strong knots that make it hard to breathe. A type of suffocation that feels like ants are crawling all over his skin.
“Because you’re my best friend!” He exclaims, startling them both before Mike can let out whatever he was doing to say. “My best friend who I like as any best would would. Because that’s what best friends do!” His fingers are clenching the painting even more, twisting it to the point it makes Mike look even more uncomfortable.
“Oh…”
“Yeah…”
Why did he say that? Why in the world did he say that? What other type of reaction did he expect besides pure confusion? Of course Mike doesn’t feel that way.
“Can I see it?”
“Uh…another time.”
“Another time?”
“Yeah.”
“You just said it was for me?” He raises an eyebrow. “Just show me.”
“Another time.” He says again, walking towards his bed and placing the painting under the pillows.
He breathes out, groaning in annoyance. “Is this some sort of revenge? Telling me you painted that for me just to not show me? Or are you lying? Is it not for me and you just said that so I would stop being—”
“Mike, just drop it. I’ll show you before you leave but obviously now is not a good time. Okay so just—”
He wanted to show it. He did but…fuck he just can’t.
He hears nothing for a bit, just the sound of his heart pounding and Mike breathing in the back before a small fuck it is said behind him.
Mike’s hands are around his arm before he can finish his sentence, quickly turning him around. He looks more thwarted than ever. “Is that what you meant to say?” He’s fidgeting again, taking his hold away. “When you said it’s for someone you like…did you—did you really—” He’s rambling, hands scratching the back of his head. It almost looks like he’s about to cry.
“Did you really mean…” He huffs. “Fucking hell.” He mutters more to himself before placing both his hands on Will’s shoulders and pulling him in.
Will’s not prepared for what happens next. Not prepared for his best friend's lips to be pressing against his. His eyes are wide open, fingers stretching out in pure surprise because what the fuck?? Is Mike kissing him? Is this real?
It can’t be, maybe he’s having some sort of vision or dream. A very long dream that won’t end despite many scenes of him embarrassing himself.
It’s not a dream. Mike is actually kissing him. And he doesn’t know why. It’s not like he could ever feel…that way for him? It doesn’t make sense. He has Eleven, El who he’s crazy about. All he ever talks about is El. It doesn’t make sense. He’s never…fuck it. Will throws all those thoughts away, he’ll deal with them later because right now…his best friend is kissing him.
He parts his lips, allowing Mike’s tongue to enter. It feels weird. He’s never kissed anyone before let alone a boy let alone his best friend who he’s had a crush on forever. A crush that he thought was one sided. A stupid fantasy that never could’ve become a reality.
The kiss was inexperienced but eager, like they’ve both been waiting ages to finally do this. Will knows he has but Mike too? It only takes a few more seconds for them to gather more courage, hands shooting out to touch one another, tugging and gripping on clothes. Their tongues are actually touching, swirling around as they press deeper against one another. Noses practically shoved together and Will feels freaking euphoric.
But just as quickly as it started, it ends.
He made a small whimper, a tiny sound he’s sure Mike didn’t even hear when their lips pressed against each other too roughly but he did. And he quickly yanks himself back.
Like Will was infected or some shit.
His mouth is gaping open, his lips that are now…a bit swollen as he stares at him, pure disbelief on his face. He touches his lips, like he’s been broken out of some trance.
Will goes to say something…anything really that will change the shift in atmosphere but Mike is backing up, walking towards the door…well more like sprinting before he’s out, slamming the doors behind him.
And just like that, Will’s alone again.