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Will was antsy, practically shaking in his skin.
"Excited?" Jonathan asked. Will nodded eagerly.
Will had waited for this day for about a week when it was decided.
The door sounded with a knock and Will ran to open it. At the opening of the door, there Mike stood. He shared the same enthusiasm as Will, this was their yearly ritual, they waited for this day every year.
It was Will's birthday-well, the day before-but they always had a sleepover and spent the day planning campaigns.
And this year was the first that Lonnie was gone.
Which made the day even better than it was already.
Mike rushed in the house as they both ran to his room, hand in hand.
-
Will missed birthdays like these.
The ones where him and Mike would spend the night before together so Mike could be the first person to say happy birthday to Will.
Except, Mike forgot this year.
So Will looked back on pictures of their pre-birthday sleepovers, reminiscing.
-
Mike and Will cuddled up on the couch together, they put on E.T.
"I like this movie a lot." Will said, scooting closer to Mike even though they were already close together.
Their hands rested on top of each other, and Will could admit that he did blush a little at that.
The heat rose to his cheeks, he looked at Mike, who seemed perfectly fine aside from a light dusting of pink on his cheeks.
Will rested his head on Mike's shoulder, Mike leaning so his head is resting on top of Will's.
"I'm glad you're here." Will said. Mike smiled.
"Why wouldn't I be? We do it every year."
-
"Mike, what day is it?" Will asked, out of breath from running to Mike's house.
"The.. 21st?" Mike asked.
Will sighed. "Exactly."
Mike raised an eyebrow, confused.
"Mike what have you done on the 21st of march every year?" Mike shrugs.
Will rolled his eyes, turning away.
"No, forget it, Nevermind."
Mike reached out for Will's shoulder.
-
They were in Will's room now, Will drawing their D&D characters while Mike was working on one of his new campaigns.
Will sketched the same line over again, getting frustrated with every stroke of the crayon.
"Ugh."
Mike immediately turned to his attention, resting a hand on his arm.
"You okay?" Will nods, puffing out an irritated breath.
"Just frustrated."
Mike moved closer holding his hand over Will's steadying his hand. He gently moved their hands together, letting Will guide the soft strokes.
"Better?" Mike smiled
Will smiled back, nodding.
-
"Why are you upset?" Mike asked him, oblivious.
"What's tomorrow?" Will bit back, irritated. He wasn't looking at Mike.
Mike turned Will around to look him in the eyes, but Will wouldn't meet them.
"The 22nd? Your birthday??" Mike said.
"Right." Will snapped. Looking up into Mike's eyes, hurt filling them violently.
"What do you want from me?" Mike threw his hands up, his face contorted in confusion.
"What do we do the day before my birthday?"
Mike froze, eyes wide and then shut them tightly, wincing. Will nods slowly, irritated.
"So, what Will you do?" Will asked crossing his arms.
-
It was nearly midnight, Mike smiled as he sat in front of Will on Will's bed.
"10.." mike started counting down smiling at Will.
As Mike counted down, Will smiled too, resting his hands on Mike's.
Will could always be touchy with Mike, they were always like that. Mike didn't like touch from anyone else, though, often squirming away from their touch, but it was different with Will.
With Will, he was often the one who initiated the touch, in fact, he almost always did.
"3, 2, 1." The clock turned to midnight, and Mike tackled Will, giggling.
"Happy birthday!!!" Will giggled too.
"Thank you, Mike."
-
Mike grabbed Will's hand, walking towards his house.
"I will spend the rest of this day with you." And a blush crawled up onto Will's cheeks, even if Mike didn't mean it that way-he never did-Will felt flustered.
They walked into the house, Mike blowing past his parents, who didn't notice, or didn't really care.
They ran up the stairs, barging into Mike's room. Mike closed the door, smiling at Will.
"I'm sorry, Will." he looked sad, more upset than Will had been.
"It's ok." Will said, it wasn't, but it was Mike.
"No, it's not." Mike retorted. "I was being a douchebag, I should've remembered today. We've done it every year!" He threw his hands up in the way he was always expressive.
Will smiled, there was a bit of sadness behind it, a bittersweet smile for what he wanted, for what he couldn't have, for what was wrong.
Mike stepped towards him, hugging him close, that way that crossed the line of friendship in a normal sense, but not for them.
Right now, Will didn't care, he would take what he wanted, he would take it.
Unless Mike would give it to him first.
Will felt a small kiss to the top of his head, soft, barely noticeable, but Will noticed it.
Was it a confession? Silent, in the way that Mike's always were? Could Will finally take his chance?
"Mike," Will started, heart beating loudly in his chest. He was terrified, but he would rather do this terrified than not at all.
Mike looked at him, looked at him with those sweet brown eyes, the ones that were dark but beautiful, dark pools of his soul that Will could get lost in, and has multiple times.
Mike looked up at Will, despite being taller than him. He always did that.
Right here, this was his moment.
"I-" I like you, I love you, so much it hurts I've been in love with you since forever.
That's what Will wanted to say, but it caught in his throat, he couldn't say it, not now, not ever. It was wrong to love him like this, and Mike would never love him the same.
That thought always rooted in his soul, maybe he could free it this time, and say what he always wanted to.
"I-" but he just couldn't get it out. He felt like he never would. So, instead of talking, he spoke through his actions, like always, like they always did.
Will moved closer to Mike, hoping that if he did, Mike would take the hint.
He moved his face closer to Mike's daring to take that leap, but still afraid of what comes after.
He didn't want to force Mike to do anything, he was never that type of person. So he walked as far as he could, and hoped Mike would carry him there rest of the way.
And Mike did.
Mike leaned the rest of the way, their lips touching softly and briefly, just for a second.
And then they both stepped back.
And Will looked at Mike, eyes wide, tears at the edge threatening to spill over.
Mike looked at him the same, with the added parts of the look that Will just hung the stars for him and him only.
Will stepped forward, closing the space between them, and Mike stepped the rest of the way, crashing their lips together.
Then Will let the tears fall.
Mike starts pressing soft kisses everywhere on Will's face.
11:55, forehead.
11:56, cheeks.
11:57, nose.
11:58, eyes.
11:59, chin.
Then when the clock ticked midnight, Mike kissed Will's lips again, this one was soft, the innocence of their adolescence, and sweet teenagers.
"Happy birthday, Will." Then Will smiled, he finally had what he wanted, and he knew it wasn't going anywhere.
"Thank you, Mike."
Mike hugged him close, Will rested his head against Mike's chest, awkward limbs curling around each other perfectly.
"I love you." Mike said, kissing in Will's hair.
"I love you too, god- I love you so much." Will croaked out desperately, tears streaming from his eyes again, those of relief, the relief of not having to hide anymore.
He wouldn't have to be alone anymore
Because Mike felt the same.
this was truly the best birthday.