Chapter Text
“Which one do you think is better?” Will says, holding up two different shirts.
His hair is a mess, the usually tied up long brunette hair falling over his shoulders, frizzed and tangled. Brown eyes that shone like the sun stared at Johnathan’s face, awaiting his answer.
It was a choice between two different band shirts, both of which are Will’s favorite.
Johnathan cracked an amused grin, “Does it matter?”
After all, Johnathan’s eyes weren’t even on the shirt. He was too busy tracing constellations across Will’s freckled face with his imagination, admiring every pattern woven into the younger’s skin. He watched as his friend’s expression changed from a patient smile to one of playful annoyance.
“Of course it does! It’s Valentine's Day, I have to pick something nice! What if someone’s going to confess their undying love for me, and I’ll be standing there looking like an idiot with a shirt that says ‘Fuck Bitches, Get Money,’ or something?” The brunette exclaimed before throwing one of the shirts at Johnathan’s face.
Johnathan pulled the shirt off his face, his black hair now also being ruffled and out of place. “Then maybe you shouldn’t wear a band shirt and put on something nice for once.”
“You calling me ugly, Reeves?”
“I’m just saying that putting on a dress shirt every once in a while won’t kill you. Plus, if they don’t like you in your ugly band shirts, they don’t deserve you in your business suit formal.”
“God, you’re so real, Jo. I’m still wearing a band shirt. Pick. One.”
He looks down at the shirt that had been thrown at his head, now gingerly placed to the side of Will’s bed, and back at the one the boy is still holding.
“Hmmm … I think this one is better,” He says, pointing at the shirt that Will was holding. It was a black t-shirt with the band’s logo in white.
“Why thank you, good sir!” Will looked past Johnathan’s shoulder and over to the alarm clock on the nightstand.
“Looks like we still got ten minutes to kill before we have to get to school. Want to look over the one shot I’m writing for Halloween?” The brunette leaned over to reach under the bed, pulling out a leather-bound book that Johnathan could tell was made by hand by the excellent (downright horrible) craftsmanship.
“You’re always two steps ahead, Will. It’s not even Fall yet! Don’t tell me too much, I am one of your players after all.”
“I know, I want to make sure it’s perfect! With the extra time, I’ll get from writing it in advance I can think more about props and stuff. The new store down the street’s got some killer costume stuff.” He flipped open to the most recent page in the book, showing it to Johnathan
“Props? That’s a new one. I thought you said that they were too much of a hassle.”
“I’m getting into the Halloween spirit! So, get this, it’s the medieval period. You,” He points at Johnathan, “Are a knight for the kingdom of Bellis, serving the royal family. Now, they’ve been getting reports of groaning noises coming from the surrounding woods. Animals and small children have been disappearing all over the kingdom with no real explanation. You and your party members rub your two collective brain cells together and go ‘Hm! Maybe they’re connected!’ and get sent into the woods to investigate. In the woods, you find …”
“Find what?”
“Well, I don’t know Mr. Knight it looks like you’ll have to find out when I host the game!”
“Touché, oh great dungeon master.”
A burst of soft laughter filled the room as Will flipped the book shut with a loud, dramatic thud.
“Come on, let’s get something to eat.”
Johnathan left the room first, but not before he looked into Will’s mirror to make sure he didn’t look like a wet dog. His stark black hair was a mess, grown out slightly from his last haircut. He made a vain attempt at smoothing it down with his hands, but the state that it was in requires some water to get it flat. He fiddled with the silver piercing in the bridge of his nose, twisting it several times. He’d always been broader in the shoulders than Will, standing slightly taller as well.
After some thorough examination, Johnathan walked out of Will’s room and into the kitchen.
“Let’s see…”
He says, even though he knows exactly what he’s going to make. He pulled open the fridge door, taking out a gallon of milk. He placed it on the table, moved to the cabinets, and took out two bowls and two spoons. He grabbed two different cereal boxes and poured them into the bowls. As he was pouring the milk, he heard the signature creak of Will’s door as it was pushed open.
Will appeared in the kitchen beside Johnathan, wearing the shirt that he’d pointed at earlier. He bumped shoulders with him as he went over to take one of the bowls of cereal.
“Thanks, man.”
He took a seat at the dinner table, slowly munching on the sugary cereal that Johnathan had taken out. Johnathan took the seat across from him.
“So, you still talking to Marie?” Will said, swirling his cereal around. “You gonna get her something for Valentine’s?”
“Marie? No,” He said, incredulously. “I’m not into her like that. Not anymore, at least.”
“Why not? She’s like, totally perfect for you. You’re both mega nerds, you’re equally annoying, you both skate, and read an obscene amount of books.”
“She’s just… I don’t know, it’s not even really a her thing, I just can’t bring myself to think of her like that.”
“Fair, I guess. You should start thinking about that kind of stuff though. God knows your mom will be ranting and raving about how you need to find a sweet girl to take to the senior dance this summer.”
Johnathan let out an exasperated sigh.
“I know, I know. I’ll think about it. It’s just hard. I’m just not that close to girls and shit.”
“Well, that’s because you’re scary looking. Six foot two guy with a nose piercing comes into class pissed off every day, hauling in a skateboard behind him.” Will said in a lighter tone, kicking at Johnathan’s leg underneath the table.
“Whatever you say, Will. They just don’t appreciate the Reeves style.”
Will just smiled at him. “They sure don’t,” it was one of those smiles, the kind that could brighten up any room. One that you could appreciate forever, especially when it’s directed at you.
“What’s that supposed to-“
The loud sound of an alarm clock going off emitted from Will’s room, triggering the boy to loudly groan and turn it off.
“Looks like that’s our cue to get going,” He pulled Johnathan’s bag out of his room along with his own, passing Johnathan his as the older was cleaning off the bowls in the sink.
“Don’t you have an exam first period?”
…
“God fucking- yeah, we’ve gotta go.” Johnathan exclaimed, swinging the front door open as the two scrambled to put their shoes on.
The two got on their bikes, and right before they were going to take off, Will stopped.
“Hey, John?”
“Yeah, what’s up?”
He leaned over the side of his bike, grabbing at Johnathan’s collar, and pulling him in for a chaste kiss on the cheek. “A good luck charm for that test, huh?” He laughed as he watched Johnathan almost tip his bike over, looking absolutely floored.
“I- What? You just-“
“Can it, Johnathan. We’re going to be late to first period at this rate.”
With that, Will began to bike away, looking back at Johnathan with an absolutely shit-eating grin plastered across his face.