Chapter Text
The mischievous grin on Max’ face as she wrote on the paper told Mike that he never should have agreed to her plan in the first place. When she laughed and the pencil rushed over the paper even faster, he really regretted saying yes.
“Max, remember only things you would do and answer as well.”
“Oh.” She laughed. “I will happily do any of these.” She held some paper up. “Write your own if you only want to complain.”
“We should wait for the others, what if they don’t want to play this?”
The chair creaked when she turned around. “You’re kidding, right?” She had a frown on her forehead. “This is a classic. But it’s way more fun this way.”
Mike picked up some of the small ripped pieces of paper and thought of truths and dares to write down. He never played it before with this much preparation, though the idea of randomly drawing them from a bowl was interesting, he had to give Max that. The usual choosing someone and asking them got boring pretty quickly.
“God, I think I created biochemical warfare. That smells disgusting.” Lucas came down the stairs with a big plastic bottle. A dark brown liquid inside it. “This might be poison.”
Max coughed and gagged the moment she smelled it. “Jesus. Is that battery acid?” She was shaking, but then she grinned. “Why do I still want to try it?”
“You’re insane. I have to mix this with coke first.”
Mike went over to them and smelled. His reaction was the very same that Max had. He believed the hairs in his nose were burned away. The smell of too many alcoholic drinks mixed together was worse than a dumpster behind a restaurant in a hundred degree weather. A punch in the stomach might have been more pleasant.
“We can’t drink that,” he said as he watched Lucas and Max fill a shot glass with it. “Guys, that might actually be lethal.”
“But we have to try it.” Max filled another glass and reached it over to Mike.
That was exactly what had happened months ago in summer when they all last met. Right before things became blurry and it was suddenly the next day in the late afternoon and none of them remembered what they had done the day before. If it wasn’t for a handful of polaroid photos and the aftermath that was the wasted Sinclair living room, nothing might have happened.
“I regret inviting you.” Mike said.
The glasses clinked together and Mike blocked his nose with his fingers, without questioning he swallowed it and felt that he was burned alive. The alcohol was battery acid. Max was right. It was horrible. They all coughed. Mike let go of the glass and it fell down onto the carpet. He leaned against the stairwell. The air burned in his lungs. “Shit.” He coughed.
Max grew red in her face.
Lucas’ eyes were tearing up.
For a moment until their breathing normalized they all looked at another, then began to laugh. “Maybe a bit more coke?” Lucas suggested.
A heat coursed through his chest, Mike’s hand pressed against it. “Good idea.” He raised his arms into the air. “God, I’m awake now. Woo!”
And though he knew the alcohol wasn’t in his body long enough to already cause him to feel different, but Mike believed he did and he knew it would cloud his senses soon enough. He sat down on the couch, paper and pencil in hand and began to scribble down the wildest ideas for the upcoming game. He only slightly forgot the chance was there he had to answer the truths or do the dares he wrote down himself, but when he remembered the paper was already in the bowl and he couldn’t fish them out again.
It made sense in his head to write down half a hundred papers with less complicated questions and easier dares. The more would be in the bowl by the time they start, the greater the chance he didn’t pick one of his own bad dares and he would have to take off his underwear or lick the bottom of someone’s foot… or something worse.
“Hi guys!” Will came running down the stairs. “Happy late Christmas!” He ran toward Lucas and hugged him. Then leaned down to Max on the couch and moved his arms around her. “How have you been? God it’s been too long.”
“I missed you, Will.” Max leaned her head against him, her leg kicking against her crutches.
“We have to meet up more.”
“You can say that again.” Dustin came down. Jane right behind him.
“Hey guys.” Mike got up and discarded the paper in his hand. “I’ve been waiting since August for this. How are you?”
It went from one hug to the next.
“I like what you’ve done with your hair,” Jane said when she let go of him. Her hand ruffled through Mike’s strands. “Looks way better than what you had in summer.”
“Thank you.”
“God, I had to beg him for weeks to go to the barber. But it was worth it.” Will smiled at him. “Hey Mike,” he said softer. “Long time no see.”
“Definitely. The last seven days I had withdrawals.”
Will came to hug him. “I knew you did. I’m here now.” He couldn’t keep himself from laughing. “How was Christmas?” He asked into the round. “I got you all presents.”
“What?”
“Will!” Max complained.
Dustin groaned. “We said no presents.”
“I know. I know.” He moved his arms into the air. “I am guilty. It’s not much.” He ran up the stairs and came down again with a giant paper bag. Will took out small cardboard boxes, each having a round sticker on them with names on. “Well? What are you waiting for?”
“Man, this isn’t cool. We have nothing for you.” Lucas stared at him.
“I don’t need anything. I know what we said. It just makes sense, you will see.”
Mike stared at the box in his hand. Specifically the way Will wrote his name. Nothing too unusual, the perfect handwriting he knew from Will, if it wasn’t for the dot of the ‘i’ looking a little bit too much like a heart. It caused his to beat faster.
But it couldn’t mean anything. A glance at Dustin and Jane’s boxes told Mike that Will left hearts on every box. Only for a moment Mike wanted it to mean something more.
He opened the gift as the last person, hearing papers rustle in the background.
“Dude, that’s so sick.”
Mike looked up. His friends unpacked hand painted mugs, all in the style of their D&D characters. Symbols drawn on them from past campaigns. Artwork of their characters on the ceramic.
“Will, this is so cool!” Jane jumped at him and hugged him. “I love it.” She gave him a kiss on his cheek, holding her purple mug up.
“I took a pottery class this year so it only made sense to make something for you guys.”
“You made the mugs as well?” Mike asked, only now finishing unpacking his mug, not yet looking at the details. “That’s incredible.” The mugs had no imperfections. Knowing Will made them himself, it was even more impressive than just a paint job. They had no bumps or dents that could hint at them being self made, they could’ve been picked up in a store.
Mike’s mug was a midnight blue color that faded to the top into a slightly brighter shade. There were stars and a moon painted on, small freckles on the larger body. Amidst the specks a sword and a shield with Mike’s emblem on. And there it was again. The ruby red heart, with a pattern of that of a crystal or the painted glass windows you would see in a church. A golden crown above it.
He brushed his thumb carefully above it, drawing along the lines that Will painted on the ceramic. Mike didn’t even want to drink his morning coffee out of this. It was too valuable. What if the mug broke? He was clumsy like that and would manage to break it. This needed to be locked behind glass in a cabinet with lights above to show the world how amazing it looked. Though he imagined a coffee or a perfect hot chocolate would taste so much better out of it.
Everyone placed their gifts away and when Mike heard them talking about other things, only then did he realize he stared too long at his mug. He wrapped it in paper again and stored it back into the box that it couldn’t break.
When he joined the others, they were filling shot glasses, this time with vodka or some other clear liquid, it wasn't the concoction Lucas created.
Will handed Mike a glass. “Oh, I almost forgot to say. I kind of wrote a little campaign for New Years Eve… only if we are in the mood to play. It’s been so long since the last time. We are still meeting for New Years Eve, right?”
“I’m gonna be here,” Mike said.
“I don’t think anyone’s plans changed.” That was Max.
Dustin leaned back. “Will, where do you take all that time? Does your day have more hours than mine? I can’t wait to play. That will be cool.”
“I’ll drink to that.” Lucas reached his glass to the middle, everyone followed.
Mike didn’t like the taste of alcohol. His throat burned so easily and he never enjoyed it, only if it was diluted so much with something sweet, maybe a little fruity, that he couldn’t taste the alcohol, then he could get behind it. But the moment he drank the shot he wanted to throw up. It was disgusting, causing his insides to turn. Thankfully he wasn’t the only one that coughed.
Upstairs the bell rang and Mike turned around. “Shit, that’s the pizza. I’ll be right back.” He ran up and looked for his wallet. Taking out a large note. It nearly flew out of his hand when he opened the door and the freezing cold December air came rushing into the house. The delivery man gave him the two cartons with the family sized pizzas and thanked Mike for the tip.
He kicked the door shut with his foot and nearly dropped the food when he turned around and saw Will waiting there. “Jeez.”
“Sorry. I thought you might need help.”
“Sure.” Mike dropped the remaining cash on the table by the door. “Thanks for the mug, Will. It’s so cool. You didn’t tell me about that. When did you make those?”
In Chicago at college they saw each other every day. Their dorms were only four doors apart and still they only hung out together. They requested a transfer two years ago when they started college but the woman working in the office kept telling them that they don’t do transfers like this anymore.
She was extremely annoyed and kept saying that every year dozens of best friends come into her office and ask if it’s possible they could be in a dorm together, only for them to end up fighting over something stupid and then all the paperwork has to be filled out again when they can’t live together anymore and it was always tiring and was too much work. She repeated it in every other sentence.
Will and Mike agreed that maybe it would be better not to live in a tiny dorm together and be forced to see each other all day long, even if they were tired of another. And besides, they were only about a hundred feet apart and could see each other whenever they wanted. And while that was true, and they hung out nearly every day, Mike never heard Will mention that he made any gifts, he never even talked about that pottery class.
“I couldn’t really tell you I was making secret gifts, could I?”
“I guess not. But it’s really cool. Seriously. You’re so talented. Thank you.”
Will blushed. “It’s nothing. Actually–” He held the pizza box with only one hand and the other went to the back pocket of his corduroy pants. “I didn’t want to give you this in front of the others, I only have one. My friend from class, she makes these all the time and when I was with her she showed me how. I wanted to give you this as well.”
He held a black leather bracelet between his fingers. The thicker strands braided and woven together. A few white golden charms broke up the neat pattern.
“Will, you didn’t have to.”
“I thought you might like it.”
Mike stretched his free hand forward. “Let’s see.” It was awkward, they could have put the pizza boxes to the side, now they both only had one hand and tried together to tighten the bracelet around Mike’s wrist. Will’s fingers moved over Mike’s skin. Leaving a hot prickling behind.
“I really like this. Thank you. God, I feel bad. Stop making me gifts, I can’t repay them.”
“You’re letting me and Jane stay here for a few days, that’s enough. More than enough.”
Mike shook his head. “No, it isn’t. And my parents left for Maine, what am I gonna do with this giant house anyway?” He looked back to the entry. “Where did you leave your bags? We still have to figure out where you guys sleep. Holly said no one is allowed in her room and I just know she will argue if she finds out I ignored her, so her room is off limits. Nancy’s is now a guest bed room, so Jane can sleep there, or you both share. But you could also sleep in my room, if you don’t want the to be in the basement with Lucas and Max, they said they’ll probably crash here. Or maybe we will all end up passed out on the floor again like we were in summer.”
“Bags are in the kitchen,” said Will when he opened the door to the basement. “I don’t really care where I sleep, as long as I’m not cold, I’m fine.” Before he went down he looked back at Mike. “But we could have a sleepover, like back in the days.”
Will didn’t see Mike smile at that, he already walked down the steps.
“God, I know I said this a million times already, but we have to meet more. Why did we think going to college so far away from another was a good idea?” Max finished her cup and filled it again. “I miss you guys so much.”
“I would meet up every weekend if I could,” Dustin said. “I’m honestly so glad we manage to find the time to meet up every break we have. We have to keep doing this.”
Mike was playing with the controls of the radio, it only played static noise. “We do.” The distorted noises stopped when he hit the radio but instead of music there was just silence next to the loud chewing coming from Jane.
The door of the bathroom opened. “Happy now?” Will held his underwear up after having drawn the dare Mike wrote down. A short teal colored piece of clothing, the waistband was gray. Mike noted that Will’s underwear had much less fabric than he expected.
“God this is so uncomfortable.” Will sat down next to Mike, then he remembered the clothing piece in his hand. Will shoved it under his butt. “Stop looking at me.”
“I would have had that drink,” Dustin said. He looked ridiculous, he and Max had to swap sweatshirts until it was Dustin’s turn again and the baby pink top was way too small. His stomach was showing. Meanwhile Max was drowning in the shirt.
Mike looked back at Will. I wonder what he looks like just wearing those small briefs.
“My turn!” Jane sang, she let her hand drop into the bowl and moved through the paper and unfolded it. “Have you ever kissed someone from the group?” She read.
Mike groaned. “How original.”
“That we don’t know about, if yes, who?” Jane finished. Her cheeks were growing red. For a moment her eyes moved up and looked between her friends, but too fast for anyone to tell where her eyes stopped.
“I have,” she said.
“Well,” Will said. “Answer. You’re not done yet.”
Jane eyed the shot glass in front of her. The look alone made her grimace.
Max cleared her throat. “It meant nothing okay, you can say it. Just please don’t drink that, you’re gonna be sick.”
“Wait?” Dustin got louder. “You two kissed as well? You never told me that.” Now he looked at Jane. He raised his eyebrows and slapped his hand on his mouth. “I–”
“Hold up!” Lucas jumped up. “Are you two?” He looked between Dustin and Jane. “And you didn’t tell us?”
Jane buried her face in her hands and giggled. “It just happened, okay.” Her head lay on her knees. “It’s not been long.”
Mike looked over at Will and they both laughed. “Did you know?” He asked Will.
“I had no idea. Not even about the Max thing.” He bumped his sister in the side. “I’m happy for you guys.” Will hugged her. Jane still giggled.
“You really could have told us, that’s cool.” Mike looked at Dustin. “How did this happen?”
Dustin beamed with joy. “We were writing letters to keep each other updated, then had phone calls here and there. Now we almost call each other every evening. It didn’t happen until last month. My class went to New York for a weekend trip and we met up.” Dustin shrugged.
Lucas groaned. “And I had my money on you and Suzie ever since you said she’s at MIT as well. Happy for you guys!”
“Group hug!” Said Max and jumped into the middle.
Without asking anyone, she forced them all into an embrace. Shoulders bumped together, pressed against chests and people complained.
“Suzie is so pretty,” Jane said.
“We haven’t talked forever since her father took her computer. It’s been years. We’re just friends.” Dustin almost sounded like he had to defend himself. “But Max, when did you kiss my girlfriend?”
The conversation moved so fast, Mike didn’t even know how to react.
“Okay that was forever ago. Last summer. After we graduated. Jane–”
“No,” she complained. “That’s so embarrassing.” Jane’s face was red.
“And you never told me?” Lucas asked. “I’m not mad, I’m just trying to understand.”
Jane brushed her hair in front of her face to hide herself. “I asked Max if she could tell me if my kissing was bad. It was so long since Mike and I broke up– God.” She lunged forward and drank the heart attack shot. Jane was shaking all over her body. But the drink seemed to give her the courage to continue talking. “It was just practice okay? I didn’t think she would actually do it. I just wanted to know if–” She looked at Mike and grew even redder in her face. “If kissing was always this… wet.” Jane laughed.
Mike’s jaw fell and his mouth plopped open. “I’m sorry, what?”
“You’re a lousy kisser,” she said and leaned away from him.
Still his mouth was open, drying out as all his friends laughed at him. He couldn’t even say anything. Mike shook his head and took a sip from his cup, there was too much vodka in the mix, it was bitter but he needed that taste to shift his thoughts. “We were what? Fourteen?” He raised his hands. “I’m sorry. I had no idea what I was doing and– I’ll just say it. You’re the first person to complain. No one else has.”
“Oh, do you have your one night stands fill out forms afterwards?” Lucas asked.
“Maybe I do.” He crossed his arms. “Wouldn’t you like to know?”
“Two people don’t make compelling evidence, Mike” said Will.
Someone drew in their breath sharply and laughed.
Max was wiping her cheeks. “I’m crying, please stop.” She was red in her face, but a single drop of alcohol did that to her as well.
“Why are you keeping track?” He asked Will.
“I’m not, you tell me about them when I don’t even ask. That girl never met with you again and I don’t know what happened with that guy, but you mentioned him for a while.”
“You know, I hate you all.” Mike tried to be serious but the alcohol made him laugh. “I’m just saying that I’m sure my kissing improved. I’m not fourteen anymore.” Seriously, no one had complained so far. Also Will was wrong, but he wouldn’t correct him, because one more person didn’t make the biggest difference. Then again, kissing in a relationship and kissing when hooking up was different. Since his first relationship he dated no one. A casual hookup was just easier than romance.
Dustin patted his shoulder. “I don’t think anyone here is eager to find out if that’s true.”
Max leaned forward and got a paper from the bowl. “I love you guys. Please never stop being funny.” She unfolded the paper and snorted. “No.” It wasn’t horror in her face, but sheer amusement. “The timing…”
Everyone stared at her and it caused her to giggle. Mike feared the worst, given the conversation they just had about him. She flipped the paper to the group but before anyone could read what was written on it with her shaking hand she already began. “Turn around.” She dropped the paper and held up an imaginary microphone. “Look at what you seeeeeeeee.”
Mike felt relieved he didn’t have to kiss Max or anyone else.
The alcohol had done its thing, normally Dustin would be annoyed by that song, since even now after all these years, Lucas and Max randomly sung it to him to tease him. But tonight of all nights, Dustin joined as did the rest of the group.
“In her face!”
“The mirror of your dreeeeeeeeeeaaaaamms.”
They all came together, swaying arm in arm and laughed until they collapsed to the ground, and for a moment they just lay there and said nothing. Only when the radio was making distorted noises and the calm music that played in the background was gone, did Mike get up.
He hit against it a few times until it shifted from static to music again. It was some classic piano music, none of them wanted to listen to it, but the radio was on its last legs and you couldn’t switch to another channel anymore. Mike could just get new batteries but he had no idea where his mother hid them. So piano it was.
Max and Dustin changed their tops again. Lucas had to do thirty push ups but was too drunk and when he was at thirteen he collapsed and couldn’t stop laughing anymore.
It was Mike’s turn again. He unfolded the paper. “Take a shot, if you cough or grimace…” He sighed. “Take another. You guys want me to die from alcohol poisoning.”
“You might just drink two at once, you will fail anyway.”
He would’ve rolled his eyes at that and said something sarcastic, but it came from Will of all people and somehow that meant he wanted to prove himself. Mike just had to. “And if I win?” His voice was soft. “What do I get in return?”
Will stared at him for a moment too long. He swallowed loudly. “I don’t know. What do you want?” He blinked heavily.
For some reason Mike stared at Will’s lips. “Why don’t you make me an offer? If I win…” He considered a thought he never finished.
“You won’t win anyway,” Will said with a sigh. “Just drink it.”
“I’ll prove you wrong.” Mike let go of the bracelet he got from Will and took a shot glass into his hand. He already scrunched his nose just smelling it. I had to do this. My honor rested on this. Mike smiled over at Will as he brought the glass closer to his lips.
Will stared at him, he was so fixated on Mike. Meanwhile Mike barely paid attention as he drank the shot, he as well only stared at Will. Specifically, Will’s lips as he bit on them and slightly chewed.
“Just get a room already.” Jane made throwing up noises.
The moment the shot hit the back of his throat, Mike coughed and had to turn his attention away from Will. He brought his hand up to his mouth and his other held his stomach. “Shit,” he mumbled. His throat burned so much, he felt tears surfacing in his eyes. It was the worst taste imaginable.
“I should have taken that bet. I knew it.” Will leaned over and filled the glass again. “Enjoy.”
“I hate you,” he whispered when he caught his breath.
“Aww, I love you too.” His voice turned dark now. “Drink.” Will enjoyed that way too much.
Mike couldn’t even take the glass into his hand, he was still recovering from his burning throat. So Will only reached the glass to Mike’s lips. He got startled by the cold touch that his mouth parted on its own and Will took the moment. He poured the drink inside, then pushed against Mike’s chin that his mouth stayed shut. “Drink.”
When Will’s thumb brushed over Mike’s lips, his heart was beating so fast, it became painful. This time when he swallowed he tried his best not to cough and somehow succeeded better than the first time. It was still horrible and the coughing came and with it the pain.
“Good,” Will whispered just loud enough for Mike to hear it.
And Mike believed he was about to pass out. This tension between them, whatever it was, it made him crazy. There was this burning heat aching slowly through him. The way Will looked at him made Mike want to blush and giggle like a lovesick teenager, but if he did he would expose himself that he liked this and he didn’t want Will to have that confirmation.
Will’s slightly deeper voice, commanding him, telling him he did good… Mike could hear it echo back in his mind, even when the game continued on and his friends were answering truths and doing dares. He couldn’t fully pay attention to them.
Lucas was talking about something crazy he did at college, spoke about mushrooms and being high during class and while Mike heard those words, he didn’t really register them.
“What’s the coolest new thing you’ve done recently?” Will read out loud. And the humming in Mike’s ears was instantly gone, he could focus on the moment again.
Will dropped the paper to the ground and leaned back. “I don’t know.” It took him only a moment to think about something. “I went into this rock climbing gym a few weeks ago, that was fun. It was a date actually… Maybe that’s the coolest thing? That I can go on dates now. Meet other people who think the same way. I never thought that would happen to me, I always believed I had to hide.”
“No, that’s boring,” Mike said, suddenly drawing everyone’s attention. “Sorry. I didn’t mean it like that. Don’t get me wrong. Just– Do you guys even know Will tattooed me? Like how cool is that?”
“What?” Multiple people said at once.
“Oh, that,” Will said. “I have a friend who has this part-time job at a tattoo place, I wanted to try it out and she let me. I practiced on this rubber skin, I never wanted to actually tattoo anyone, but Mike offered.”
At the same time he was speaking Mike took his sweatshirt off halfway to reveal the inside of his arm right above the bend of his elbow. A set of D&D dice tattooed in thin lines, with a D20 in the middle.
“Don’t look too close. I was so nervous and it looks bad.”
“Bull,” Mike replied. “I love it.”
Everyone came closer. “That’s so cool,” Max said. “Hey, Byers? When is my turn? I want you to tattoo me.”
“Yeah, sure. If you want to.”
“Hell yeah.”
Dustin was dared to sniff the armpit of the person to his left, which after their dance break was Jane and somehow that didn’t seem fair, because Jane always smelled nice and used all this floral soap and sweet perfume. If someone had to smell Mike’s armpit they might have passed out. He hasn’t put on deodorant since this morning and since then he ran up and down the stairs preparing for stuff so much, he had to smell and when that thought went through his head, he wondered if maybe Will next to him did smell him.
That thought alone made him go upstairs, claiming they needed more to drink. He ran to the bathroom, took a small towel and made it wet, wiping himself clean, putting on new deodorant. On his way down he almost forgot the drinks, which is why he claimed to go up in the first place. He took a few bottles of soda back to the basement with him, along a bag of crushed ice for their drinks.
This game was probably never meant to last this long, but they had fun, they somehow caught up doing it. Learned new stuff about another.
“Fastest time you came,” Mike read. “God. Okay, who wrote that?”
A few people giggled, but it wasn’t giving him an answer.
He only answered because the idea of drinking more made him want to call 911. “I don’t know, like a minute? I obviously didn’t keep track.”
“A minute?” Dustin looked up from his drink. “With someone or alone?”
“That wasn’t the question.” He drank from his Seven Up. “Next one.”
Will drew a paper and struggled opening it. “Spin a bottle, whoever it lands on, give them a hickey– Oh god.” He looked up from the paper. “I was wondering how we made it this long without anything kissing related.” He drank from his plastic cup. “Screw it.” Will got an empty bottle and placed it in the middle of the group.
“Finally things get fun,” Lucas said. “Come here Byers.”
“Idiot, let me spin first.” He spun the bottle way too fast and it looked like it might never slow down again. Eventually it slowed down, but not a lot.
“By the way, if this lands on me,” Jane said. “I’m out.” Still she might have been the most focussed person out of all of them.
Time probably slowed down and stretched one moment into infinity, it was unbearable how long the bottle spun. Mike wanted to step in and slow it down, but that wouldn’t make the game fair.
“Jeez, Will. Have you been training?” Dustin asked.
The bottle never seemed to stop. Will stopped it and picked it up. “Help. Let me do this again.” Once more he spun the bottle, this time with less force behind it and immediately it slowed down. Until it stopped at… Mike.
His first reaction was a smile, then he realized what it meant, but he pretended it didn’t bother him. “Yeah!” He exclaimed. “Be jealous Lucas, I’ll have Will all for myself.” Mike wanted to hit himself, that sounded much better in his head. He even believed his cheeks were warming up because of it.
“Are you sure?” Will asked? “I can just drink.”
“It’s your dare, Will. If you don’t want to do it. I just have to sit here and do nothing.”
“No, I was just asking if you’re okay with it.” Will scooted forward, he managed to stumble forward and laughed. His breath smelled too much like alcohol. “Oops.” He held onto Mike’s shoulder and squeezed it gently, he was definitely drunk the way he laughed at this. “Hi,” he whispered and grew a little red in his face.
He would have rejected the idea immediately if he knew that drunk Will planned to climb onto his lap. Which was definitely not necessary and yet he did it. Pushing Mike’s arms out of the way, when he could have just given him a hickey while leaning over.
For just a moment he looked back at the spot where Will sat before, taking a look at the pair of briefs Will was still not wearing. Oh god. It’s not like he would have felt a difference if the thin fabric was between them, but something about knowing that Will wasn’t wearing underwear made Mike want to panic. His thoughts drifted to areas they should never think about. Wasn’t he uncomfortable? His butt was just bare– Mike couldn’t think. Will shifted the way he was sitting.
Mike looked at Will in front of him, he leaned back resting on his hands and tilted his head to the side that Will had his entire neck to use. His heart was throbbing in his chest. His draw of breaths short and unsteady and nothing even happened yet.
“I’ve never done this, sorry.” Will placed a short kiss against Mike’s neck, lips were shaking and as quick as they were to touch him, just as fast did they lift off again.
Yet it was enough for Mike to react. Goosebumps appeared where Will touched him.
The lips found their way back, smiling against his skin, then he sucked Mike’s skin in. Gently at first but then the pressure got more. He couldn’t even describe what was going through his mind, no thoughts could fully form. God. This feels so… How is he doing– Fuck. Mike eyes rolled back when Will bit him, teeth scratched against his skin. Few short kisses were placed on the spot.
Will’s lips moved from the side of Mike’s neck, down to the bend where his shoulder began. Mike almost yelped when the same play repeated itself. The spot Will treated, was a spot where he had a freckle on his skin, currently it was sucked into Will’s mouth. Enclosed in warmth and spit. Will’s tongue brushed the spot.
Oh fuck. Mike never wanted this moment to end. Feeling Will on him was something he hadn’t thought about or wanted in years, but this… if he still wanted it, the wait would have been worth it. He enjoyed it, probably more than he should. Not just probably. He definitely enjoyed it more than he should, his body betrayed him. His heart felt like it was going to escape his chest at any given moment. His whole body was on fire and he wanted more. Mike tried his best not to grow hard, but what Will was doing was enough for it. He knew Will could feel him, he was sure of it. Will sat directly on his middle. Normally he would have done something about it, told Will to stop, that it was enough. But he wasn’t in control of his body and even if he was, he didn’t want this to stop.
The spot on his neck that Will had disregarded was burning hot and prickled. Mike was sure there was already a hickey and that meant in theory the dare was done. I never want him to stop.
He heard Will chuckle against him, the noise alone enough that Mike wanted to whisper his name. He wanted to tell him how good he was doing. Mike wanted to pull Will closer, that not even a sheet of paper could fit between them. Instead his hand moved along Will’s body and rested on his lower back, though when he heard a chuckle that wasn’t from Will, he remembered where they were and the heat he felt evaporated.
It seemed to be a wake up call for Will as well. He let go of Mike, only after placing another short kiss against his neck. Then he leaned back. His face was burning red, a glow on his cheeks and eyes. Will’s lips were swollen and dark and he licked over them as he studied the mark he just left on Mike. He looked so proud. His hand jumped forward and touched the sensitive spot.
A whimper escaped Mike’s throat.
“Sorry,” Will whispered so quietly it might have just been his lips moving. Still his finger moved over the spot, gentler this time. The corner of his mouth twitched up into a smile. “That’s gonna take a while to disappear again.”
Will shifted the way he sat on Mike’s lap, accidentally or intentionally grinding against Mike’s erection, he couldn’t tell. What he knew, was that it felt too good.
Only in the last possible moment could Mike stop himself from moaning. But he couldn’t stop his body from reacting. His dick twitched in his pants. The space in his briefs was tight and it hurt the way he pressed against Will.
Once more Will giggled, this time he moved his butt on purpose, rolling his hips and teasing Mike. Will was hard, his boner pressed against Mike’s stomach.
They shared a knowing look and began to laugh.
“Shit,” Lucas said. “You guys really wouldn’t stop.”
“Why was this kind of hot?” Max asked with an annoyed undertone. “I can’t believe I’m jealous of Mike.”
Their friends talked about this and laughed, but Will and Mike could only look at another.
Mike threw himself back against the carpet, angled his legs so that Will fell forward a little, letting him move away more subtly than him standing up and both their erections being on display. Will moved slowly, not going away from Mike. In fact he leaned his head to Mike’s ear. His hot breath against his skin. “Just say a word and we leave for a few minutes. You know I can help you with that.” He glanced back at Mike’s crotch, when his eyes moved back up he looked innocent, as if he didn’t just whisper a dirty invitation to Mike.
He was unable to say a word, though he wanted to say so many. Mike wanted to ask Will if he was serious, or if it was just the alcohol and the heat of the moment that caused this reaction. That wasn’t like Will. He never talked about things like this.
But the look in Will’s eyes told him he wasn’t joking, he was dead serious. And Mike found himself wanting to beg Will to leave their friends right now and deal with their problems together.
Will did leave him, only after moving his hand against Mike’s side and pressing his fingers into his skin. The look in his eyes questioning Mike.
Mike rolled on the ground until he lay on his stomach, he wanted to bury his head or smash it against the wall but he couldn’t stand up. Not now.
It was the wrong time to wear gray sweatpants, out of all options he had to choose sweatpants.