Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Lights faded where stores had shut for the night. Nearly all storefront gates had closed for the day but among the few still standing was Scoops Ahoy. Throughout the current tranquility of the mall rung a lively group within this store, hanging around until it had to shut.

“You’re going to get sick eating all the strawberry ice cream, Max.” Lucas spoke towards the red-head holding a half-empty tub.

Whilst the tub was at the day’s end of usage, this was no match to Max. They did have free-rein on the store for a while after all.

“Am not.” She was persistent on her point, even if she may or may not have been proven wrong not too long later. “I’m fine, see?”

Lucas groaned, realising he’d be the one to deal with it later even through her stubbornness was that ‘she wouldn’t get sick’.

Mike overheard it all from the back of the store whilst searching for something. Scoops had to keep them somewhere, right? Everything slowly faded into background noise as he finally found it. The sailor hats.

He headed towards the counter at the back where a window was input into the wall to keep an eye on the front, sliding it open. “Ahoy, what can I get you?”

A stupid pirate imitation (which in actuality sounded nothing like one) was added to top it all off as if he did want to make a fool of himself in front of everyone who was watching; at least it was only Will he was making a fool of himself in front of whilst the other two still bickered falsely.

Will only leaned towards the counter by himself where the ice cream lay beneath, resting his elbows on the glass. “Hmm, one of everything!”

He couldn’t help but laugh to himself, “How do they keep a straight face like this?”

“I don’t know how Steve does it.” Will burst out laughing as Mike met him across the counter.

The bad impression only continued, “One of everything here matey?” he repeated the order in a pirate slang.

Will hung his head down in an attempt to stifle his laughter, “Yes please-“

Portion scoops stored in a container on the counter behind laid among the array of utensils such as scant plastic spoons, napkin dispensers and a multitude of toppings. He managed to make his way over and scope it out, even if the oversized hat dropped forward ever so often.

“-So shut up Lucas.” Suddenly a new voice appeared. He didn’t need to look to check, the attitude gave it away - especially the attitude to her own brother.
Erica.

She’d been mulling across the mall earlier with some friends but what he’d now come to realise was she was still here since she needed the shared ride home coming to pick the both of them up later. Well this was going to be fun, wasn’t it?

It didn’t change much for him at least. Maybe it did for Lucas but that was his own problem to deal with. Siblings, am I right?

An oddly light feeling appeared over his head which threw him off his tracks. As if something was missing.. where was the hat?

“..Mine now.” Will grinned to him playfully.
So that’s where it went.

Was it suddenly warmer..? Scoops always seemed to be so cold to keep everything cool but maybe they turned that all off.

Nothing stopped his impression however, “My hat! I’ll curse you with scurvy!”

“Quit flirting nerds.” That newly familiar voice spoke. Maybe this wasn’t only Lucas’ problem. What was she even on about with that?

Well that stopped them in their tracks. A sudden hush fell between the two and god it was suffocating. The air always felt thick in moments like this, an uncomfortable silence with unspoken words. No one could detect what they were or what it all was but it was peculiar nonetheless.

“Huh?-“ Mike snapped out of it suddenly, letting his confusion speak for itself.

“‘Huh?’. You heard me.” She mocked back, tilting her head to the side. Wow she really did have an attitude to her. It was as if you could sense it from miles away.

“Lucas,” She continued to speak as if she said close to nothing that held any meaning beforehand, “Mom’s here to pick us up. Hurry up and get outside bogus or you’re gonna be stuck here overnight.”

“Fine- but can Max come? She has no other way to get home.” Lucas directed his vision over towards the red-head who stood there with crossed arms as if it offended her.

“As long as you get upstairs airhead. I don’t want to be as old as you by the time we leave.” She snarked.

“I’m hardly older than you!” Lucas snapped back at her comment.

“Then stop acting like an old man and move.” She turned her back, walking away without a response - as per usual.

Lucas took this as a hint to be quick otherwise Max wouldn’t be the only one stranded here. This bickering seemed to be a common occurrence between the two siblings but honestly Mike couldn’t say it was far different from how he acted with his own siblings. Lucas and Erica’s sibling rivalry was on a completely different level - or at least Erica’s was. There was no doubt that those two never saw eye to eye.

Max and Lucas waved their farewells to the remains of the group as they rushed towards the escalators in an attempt to catch Erica up. It’d been a long day meaning they were all eager to set home, especially by now.

Towards the end of the day, they’d offered help to close up Scoops Ahoy with Robin and Steve after an incident from earlier, involving someone having to be ushered out the establishment. This ended up with the part of the group that could keep at the mall longer well overstaying their welcome within the there as the lights slowly closed off from neighbouring shops. The outside slowly became a hush of an unbearable oblivion. Not a single step sound outside - a harsh lack of resemblance to mere hours ago.

Everyone had their fair share of time here and were frankly much more welcoming to the idea of going home. This however was not the case for Mike and Will whose ride home had not shown up just yet.

Quarter to was when Mike rang home, wishing for Nancy to pick up. She was the only other chance besides walking home in the pouring rain from Starcourt with nothing but streetlights to guide him. As she answered she claimed she’s be there in fifteen but the chances became slim at this point as the clock had already struck again.

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“There are you Nance! I thought you were gonna leave us stranded.” Mike gestured out with his hands jokingly, as if it were unbelievable.

“Yes, it’s me. I was like three minutes late, be glad that I came to pick you up.” She rested her hands on her hips like she had the higher ground here. “Why do you have the store hat on? Where’s Robin and Steve?”

“I got a job here. Can’t you tell?” He pointed at the oversized Scoops hat, still leaning across his head.

“Yeah, no. That’s more absurd than flying pigs. I’ve seriously heard it all.”

Mike rolled his eyes yet again. At least he didn’t take his father’s word for it when he said they would get stuck like that. If he was truthful about everything (or close to anything at all), it would be a miracle. As if his eyes would get stuck at the back of his head - that’s so stupid?

“No but seriously, where are they?” She raised an eyebrow, curious to why they’d (to a stranger) looked abandoned in a closing mall without a single soul to question it.

“They had to go help clear up a store down the alley.” Will inputted helpfully, shrugging his shoulders as he continued, “They said do whatever as long as it’s not trashed for the second time today.”

A glimmer of the reflection of the light caught Mike’s eye, taking a keen notice towards the ice cream dishers yet again. He reached towards the dipper well, plucking two scoops from the small sink. Bored out of his mind, he attempted to juggle the two scoops, in which (surprise surprise), he was met to the metal ringing against the floor.

Just a hush below that was the laughing that the two tried to stifle. He met their eyes after picking it off the floor to place back in the washing basin, noticing the second hand embarrassment within Will’s eyes and Nancy’s remote disappointment.

“Do you know anything about working in the food industry?”

This was subsequently greeted with Will’s response instead, “Definitely not..”

“Yes!” Mike thought over that for a second, “..no.”

Ding ding ding.

The faulty pirate imitation only persisted, “What can I do for you me matey?”
The worst part didn’t even seem to be the voice anymore but the hat sliding forward each time he pushed it back again.

“Ice cream please!” Nancy called out as she rang the last of the bell’s noise that anyone there could deal with.

He turned for one of the clean scoopers, a plan suddenly coming to the front of his mind. Grabbing the biggest cup he could find, he began his idea. This could either go two ways; amazingly or an absolute disaster.

“You guys know this is illegal, right?” Nancy piped up out of his concentration of silence.

He turned his head over his shoulder, grabbing a banana from the vine from behind them for the ice cream, “I mean, we got permission to?” He shrugged.

Will looked over to Nancy, also following pursuit in shrugging. It wasn’t the best argument but it was true.

Mike washed the disher between each scoop he placed in the bowl. It was the perfect plan - mix every single last flavour he could find into a concoction of ice cream.
This was until the hat fell yet again; right over his eyes.

He couldn’t move it himself, his hands were completely full between the scoop and the ice cream cup he was holding. He couldn’t even see where to place them down. Oh shit.

Maybe it wasn’t the brightest of ideas to keep it on when it seemed to be enough of a hazard to keep him from seeing if it dropped just the wrong way, but it’s not particularly as if he thought ahead of it. It was Mike for Pete’s sake.

“Uhh, a little help please?” He requested, eyes searching across the darkness inside the hat as if he could find an exit by just looking.

He overheard Nancy near him from what he could guess, “Okay, and it’s going up-“
Slap.
“-there.”

His lips thinned into an annoyed expression. Yeah, no.
Instead of the light of florescent ceiling lights, he was met with a swat across his face. Honestly, what more should he have expected? Siblings, am I right?

“Here.” A warm voice spoke through the darkness, suddenly appearing right by him as the light rose from the confluence of the fabric and the environment.

By now, he was finishing up the final few flavours, trying to stack them onto the pile of mess it was. Colours upon colours with scents following - staining through the nearest surrounding air. Maybe mixing it all wasn’t the best idea.

“..So, who wants to try the mixture of every last flavour and topping?” He offered it up, staring at it as though debating whether it would even be okay to eat.

I mean, it was food but god some flavours didn’t mix well together - he blamed the mint. Maybe he was biased; mint was a mediocre flavour, okay?

Nancy and Will both gave it looks, noticing what the monstrous mixture seemed like, not keen on giving it a chance.
This was until Will piped up.

“Fine..” Will searched for the small, colourfully-tinted plastic spoons kept in a jar by the front.

The boy still seemed unsure yet took the courage to scrape the slimmest amount off it that he could where it had all conjured together. Bravely, he took a bite of it, expression instantly going sour.

Will reached for a nearby sundae cup, pouring a soda fountain tap above it. Was it really that bad..?
He didn’t want to test to see.

Whilst checking on him, he caught Will’s eye.
Oh shoot.

“Your turn, Mike.” Will gave him a challenging smile, raising his brow. He was already reaching towards the tin for another flimsy spoon.

Mike shook his head, his arms following with, “You know, I think I’m fine. Really-“

Before he could finish his sentence, the sickly sweetness of a blend of sugar and artificial flavouring soaked into his tongue.
Eugh.

“Try before you deny” Is all he heard from Nancy besides overlapping laughter. He rushed by her to the back of the shop, spitting into the sink. Could we wash this off his tongue? There was no hope but in trying.

Between a chuckle, Will spoke, “That’s smart- wish I did that..”

He could just sense him leaning on the counter, looking through the windows right at him and his karma for the treacherous concoction that still lay on the glass.

The room suddenly became dimmer. Many more lights from the front had been switched off. The clock only continued to click louder and louder as the silence of outdoors seemed more prevalent.

Nancy rung the keys around her finger, metal clanging together, “So, are we heading home tonight or..?”

“Oh, right! Shoot.” Will glanced down to his watch. “We should get going.”

Mike followed along, nodding his head. It was getting far too late for excuses on why cleaning up was taking so long. He hardly even got permission to stay slightly late, nevermind this late.

As they reached the front, the lights dimmed to an end with a flick of the light switch. All storefront gates had closed for the day, including Scoops Ahoy. Tranquility rang throughout the close to hollow halls where lively groups once strolled, leaving only a few store owners to shut down.

Chapter Text

Another day, another session of volunteering to close scoops. It wasn’t enthralling in any sense but it did have its perks. His friends for one. Ice cream for two. Nothing new to anyone though; same old, same old.

Not even mere hours earlier was pure harmony within the cacophony of noise within the arcade; the original reason they were at the mall.

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Within the last week Dustin had been begging to catch a look at the new game within the arcade there that hadn’t yet reached palace arcade, ‘Ghosts ‘n Goblins’. A day had been set finally and once that day came they all arrived within the dimly-lit neon-decorated room. It was fairly crowded yet concentrated within the small space in which the newly installed machine that basked in the glory of the it all. Glimmering, pristine, yet to be bothered by gatherings of people’s usage. A greater outlook to it over the rest of the machines still standing. This meant nothing in terms of the game though.

Mike had become fairly unbothered about it all after the days of hyping up for what it could be. What he was more enthused by was the fact that most of the machines would be clear due to that fact. No lines, no waiting - well besides from the new one.

3:15, meeting by the entrance. He’d just managed to make it on time, only by a speed-walk and a few seconds to spare. The party rested by the wall of the entrance, looking somewhat astonished that he’d managed to make it on time.

“You owe me five bucks.” Lucas grinned towards Dustin, being met with a sigh as he slid an Abraham note into his hand.

“I almost had it.” Dustin groaned, checking the seconds hand passing on the clock. “Can’t we just call it even?”

“A bet’s a bet.” Lucas shrugged back, checking whether the line had managed to die down yet; it was a firm no.

They followed one another in the fairly small arcade. A tumbleweed could’ve soared by if it wasn’t for the one concentration of people by Ghosts ‘n Goblins.

“We’re gonna go wait for the game to free. Wanna come?” Dustin questioned, taking looks at the two across from him.

“I think I’ll just stick to the empty ones. I think Xevious Arrangement’s free.” Mike inputted, glancing over to Will for his response.

Will’s eyes darted over and then away to Dustin, “Yeah, I’ll probably stick over here too. You gotta tell us all about how it goes though.”

“Will do.” Dustin let out a smile as he disappeared into the crowd amongst people.

It was like heaven sans the encore within the sudden audience made out of the crowd - that much alone had him questioning whether the goblins had escaped the screen into reality.

He headed straight for what had caught his eye, Xevious Arrangement. Recently, Will managed to achieve a ‘secret’ ending which none of the rest of the party had seen yet, leaving him determined to figure it out no matter how long it took him.

Lambent beacons shone from each screen as it not only illuminated the room but his mind. So much potential contained within each structure. Yet as twelve minutes passed, he couldn’t conjure up which action led to another to create the right sequence, leaving his brain at standby.

Would it be cheating in the endeavour to ask..?
I mean, he never specified it in the rules so maybe one or two hints wouldn’t hurt?

-Game Over.-
Slowly impacted across the screen in the bold font as if to punish him, taking its sweet old time to remind him.

Yeah, those hints would definitely not hurt.

He took a questioning look to his friend by the pac-man machine, portraying as joyfully as he could with a concentrated look across his face as he jerked the control to the side as to not get caught by the ghost right at his tail. He couldn’t help the grin that managed to find its way to his expression. He couldn’t help but get lost in the moment of it all, the bliss of everything, of just being there.

Before he realized, his gaze had been caught. Halting all his thoughts from a hundred miles per hour back down to pace. Averting his eyes, he was brought back to reality in remembering the original cause of his attention.

“Will, do you remember what that trick you had for this game was? You know where it was like-“ He tried to recall the trick, moving the controller around apace as he started a new round.

A small chuckle sounded by his ear as Will observed over his shoulder, “No, no. Not like that.” Will’s hands wrapped around his to instruct him through the level, “Like this.”

He attempted to keep his eyes on the screen, glancing back as if looking towards him would suddenly tell him what he was doing. “Oh, uh.. right, right.”

Will seemed completely oblivious, preoccupied with the screen as to pass the level with the right direction. Maybe the air conditioning had malfunctioned or maybe it was just how close he was but he could’ve swore it was much warmer than a mere few seconds ago.

-Up, Up, Down, Down, Left, Right, A-
His pulse speeded up like the game as the air suddenly felt heavier than usual. Dense in a way, as if it could be cut through with a knife.

An ending scene flashed up on the screen, slowly playing through. “So when you do this, you can get the secret ending!” He could just sense the smile on Will’s face just by his voice alone.

This almost passed completely by him as his mind was distracted by something else, someone else. He did a take over his shoulder, blinking and nodding in hopes to look as he had understood any of it.

“So that’s how you get the ending, huh?” He played off the moment as Will moved his hands off the controls.

“Mhm!” He shook his head with that damned grin, the same one that could make anyone mirror it (or at least as close as anyone else could get to it) at the glance. “I played a lot, tried everything and when I did this, I got it!”

Will rambled on about it like a nerd, but he thoroughly adored listening to him and his geeky interests. He could listen to him go on and on about it all for hours and not become tired. I mean, that’s what friends are for.

“How do you manage to find such small details?” He pipped in. Will always seemed to recognize all the small details in life that no one even searches for. All the things that would normally be passed by, forgotten, he seemed to take into account.

A second or so passed before Will responded, letting out a light laugh, “I mean- You get used to it, I guess.”

“Guys-“ came a voice behind them, causing them both to turn a shoulder quickly to take a glance, eyes ample. “Could I borrow a few quarters from either of you. I promise I’ll pay you back- We’re almost at the front of the line.” Dustin pleaded looking frankly panicked.

He almost knew the answer but he just had to ask. “What about Lucas? Couldn’t you have asked him? He was in the line with you.” he raised an eyebrow.

“I sorta still have to pay him back.” Dustin rubbed the nape of his neck with gritted teeth, hoping the two would just push past it. “But I swear I’ll pay it back.”

His rapid eye movements between the two and then the line slowly wore Will down. That definitely had no correlation to being the only one yet to have still been owed money back by him.

“I have a few quarters left, I’m sure I can split them” as he checked his pocket for his change. “This okay?”

“Thanks. I’ll pay it back I swear-“ he continued as he dashed back to his place in hopes the people behind would be gracious enough to allow him to join back.

A concord of laughter began with only a look towards each other and their friend swiftly darting off within the small distance. No words needed to be spoken as a glance to each other spoke all the words needed to be said.

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Now seemed immensely different though. Maybe it was just the scenery. Being inside a scarcely open store surrounded by shutters and dim lighting from everywhere but inside felt liminal. Alone, it would feel unsafe. However, Will and Nancy were still there so at least they were there to protect each other if anything.

Close to everyone had to leave by now, leaving them in a similar predicament as last time.

Mike reached for the employee hats once again; same old situation, same old jokes, same old always. Just as he liked it.
It wasn’t much to say he wasn’t a fan of change. Change meant something new, something unheard of. This discarding of change was just an everybody thing though.

Will hadn’t seemed to mind either as he still managed to chuckle sheepishly at the pirate jokes, no matter how horrendous they were. His own eyes constantly drawn to that smile as he rested his elbows across the counter. He was frankly bewildered in his loss of thoughts but his mind felt at bliss. Not a single stress in the world when it was them.

Every so often the smell of coffee flavoured ice cream would imprint into his smell as it always had with his taste since the ice cream mixture incident. A small amount of the taste lingered on his tongue to forever haunt him for his decisions. Every last thing on his tastebuds would only bring him back to that no matter how much he longed to forget. He grimaced over it and wished, begged, prayed to forget.

“Are you seriously still remorseful over that ice cream?” Will rolled his eyes sarcastically, trying to at least seem as if he wasn’t cracking a smile. He must’ve taken notice to his scrunched expression, staring loathingly at a bucket of ice cream.

While that sentence alone sounded insane, that’s somehow a point where he found himself coming to in life. At some point he made enough life choices to end up volunteering to help at an ice cream shop late to close, make a monstrosity of an ice cream and then stare at an inanimate object as if that itself had caused him harm rather than his own actions in which had actually caused the consequences.

“Doesn’t compare to the time where mom made you change Holly’s diaper. I thought you were gonna pass out.” Nancy cut a short - and somewhat embarrassing - story through the odd hush of silence.

He cringed at the memory, shoulders shriveling upwards as an instinct. He could just see Will trying to stifle his laughter right now even if he couldn’t actually see him.

“Okay but that was bad.” His expression managed to sour even further, nose-bridge wrinkling up as if he was back in the memory itself.

Nancy continued on, frankly enjoying the embarrassing story time acting as if she was only just sharing, “Oh and that time when Nanna was over and-“

“-It wasn’t that bad.” Mike interjected. He couldn’t remember what had happened but he wasn’t going to be one to remember. Above that it wasn’t him she was painting these pictures for.

Will seemed sidetracked anyways as his mint ice cream slowly plunged over the edge of his cup, straight towards his hands. He attempted to track it before its irritating demise. Not so suddenly remembering about the napkins only to discover the holder empty, checking the back for more.

His sister merely shrugged, “If you say so.” This was followed along with a smug look nonetheless. Siblings after all, what else were they good for but to embarrass you?

Mike jumped as a sudden movement against his back alarmed him, taking note to Will peering his hands through the window with a sigh. Thank god he wasn’t holding anything at least otherwise the ice cream would be a puddle off mess to mop off the floor.

With this quick scan over his face to register who it was his eye took to mind a meager light green smudge amongst his cheek. Whilst it wasn’t horrible, he felt obligated to mention it.

“Oh, uh- I think you have something there.” He attempted to point it out, reaching over through a small bit of the window for a napkin to offer as if it wouldn’t be easier for him to grab it.

“Huh?” Will glimpsed over, taking the napkin in hand in the endeavor of getting rid of it yet he kept missing. A bit below, a bit to the left, a bit to the right yet never the center. He managed to scrape off the slightest bit but barely that much at all.

He shook his head slightly, reaching for a new napkin through the window once again, taking the issue to his own hands, “No, like right about- here.”

He could sense Will freezing up below his hand, a warmth almost emanating off him. Why would- “Oh uhm-“

Oh.
He backed up, suddenly realizing - how long had he been standing that close? “Oh- sorry.”

“No- uh- it’s okay.” Will didn’t even seem to meet his eyes.

“No, no- I, uh, sorry.” He tried to put a sentence together, wondering how to even word an apology as he collected his thoughts. Had he made him uncomfortable? Why had he even stayed that close in the first place?

A small giggle from Nancy was barely disguised, he was frankly lost over it all. He shouldn’t have been that close for that long. Yet he longed to keep it like that. Life felt comfortable with Will close, no matter whether it was like that or just within the same room. If they had each other then that’s all they needed; all he needed at least. They’d been through so much together and kept one another safe, it felt like security. It was strangely comforting, it kept his soul at bay but his mind lost.

“Thanks.” The boy across from him glanced down, averting his eyes to the counter below him. “Wait no- not like thanks for the apology-“ Will took a few takes, trying to clear what he said so it’s what he intended, “I mean thanks for getting it off. Sorry.”

He couldn’t help but distract his eyes from his little nervous soul. He’d be damned if he could. He should be damned. His eyes sought out for his lips. But only if he could just-
He should be damned.

Tap Tap Tap
Nancy’s loafer outsole tapped against the floor as the clock clicked another minute. “So.. should we head over to the house?”

He had to say something, anything. Was he really how he was going to let this end? Everything smoothed over as if it never even happened in the first place? Surely this couldn’t all just end like that, right? Desire told him it couldn’t end, he couldn’t let this moment go.

By now, everything was instinct, nothing pre-thought of. “Oh, uh, sure. Can we follow up after you? I’ve just got to talk in private for a few minutes”

It may have been selfish, but he couldn’t let it all go. A few more minutes meant hours, days replaying it in his mind. Thinking about it, thinking about him.
He should be damned.

“Sure.” She inputted, “Be quick though because I will leave without you.”

The car keychain clicked around the keys and metal as she span it around her fingers. She him a raised eyebrow look to symbolize she was serious that she would leave.

As she left, Will tossed his ice cream away, eyes directed at him. “So..”

He started off as if he’d not previously been talking to him as he may or may not have lost his train of thought, “Hi you.”

He couldn’t help but grin. It’s like the sun itself was emanating off Will, every last ray hitting straight into his heart.

This expression was replicated by him but a hundred times more charming. “Hey you, did you need to say something?” He could just feel the brunette boy’s glance across his face.

His eyes were nearly magnetized to his lips - should he just do it?
Keep it together Michael. Stop this. You shouldn’t, you can’t.
He should be damned.

He spoke through his ripened heartbeat, “It’s uh, something I’ve needed to say for quite a while.” He could’ve swore it was louder than he was, hardly able to hear his own thoughts.

Even Will looked to be somewhat nervous by now. He dearly wished he could claim it wasn’t at least a bit life changing - at least to him. If his best friend took this horribly, it would be a quick ending to the closest friend he’d ever had. His first ever friend, the one who stayed with him through thick and thin. However, it was now or never, right?

The small crooked smile began, “Uh, what’s up?” in his same, genuine and gentle tone.

How should he even word this? Every last word escaped his within breath as he tried to keep his cool. Nonetheless, Will never seemed to mind. He listened, waited, patiently. His glossy doe eyes reflected within his soul; the blessed, caring little nerd whose simple presence made his heart soar into a separate reality. One where nothing happened, one where they could just play dnd all day, one where this wasn’t wrong.
He should be damned.

The best of his instincts took to play as he almost subconsciously cupped his hand around the left of Will’s jaw, overlapping his fingers across his cheek, testing the waters. Within seconds he inched somewhat closer, thoughts spinning and head as warm as with the flu.

As if magnetic, the brunette mirrored, slowly closing the gap between them over the counter. Cutting the tension within the previously thick air that nearly choked him.
He would be damned.

That mint taste cut off all the worry and fret. Every single last thing forgotten, lost in a different world, a different plane of mind. Will and that damn mint ice cream. But he really couldn’t complain about it, when paired with him the mint did taste like bliss.

As he moved back he couldn’t keep his bashful gaze off him, not in a million years. This was it, this was everything; he was everything.

“So..” He contended to ease the uprising tension of the undiscussed moment yet his eyes focused everywhere but the other boy’s otherwise he may have turned a whole new shade of red.

A crackle of a sound was heard from a distance, shocking them both out of it for a few seconds. If anyone had seen it, they’d surely be doomed - but, god, was it worth it. Maybe he should place the scoops hat back; Nancy was waiting outside the mall.

Attention raised to where he heard the noise from, he couldn’t catch a glimpse of anyone nor anything. Just Will in his side-view in the corner of his eye. There was nothing to worry about, not with Will there.

He followed Will’s movements this time, leaning in as he did however he moved the scoops cap parallel to them to cover their faces. Yet once more, that same distinct mint taste that lingered on his lips but it was far more than worth it; anything was worth it for him.

Silence filled the room as they returned back to normal. Not a word needed to be spoken, their presence to each other was enough.

“..Does that give you an answer?” Mike admired his playful taunting look as Will spoke.

“Maybe..” he teased, tilting his head, “or maybe another time will give me a definite one.”

Amongst it all, he struggled a cocky grin in trying to not seem he was flustered even though any soul could easily see past the facade.

The brunette smiled ear to ear, “..Don’t be greedy, Wheeler.”

An attempt of stifling his laughter failed, “Okay, okay, fine.” Something else managed to end his laughter in the end.

Will’s smile suddenly faded out in a look of realization, “Your sister.. Do you think she left without us??”

Time could’ve frozen in that moment and he would’ve been none the wiser. Oh god, please say she hadn’t left. She couldn’t leave them stranded there, right?
On a couple of occasions she may have pretended to have done to freak him out but she’d never actually do it. That he at least hoped.

“Shit, Nancy’s waiting for us outside.” He reworded the sentence back to him in worry. Over time it had become a small habit of his as he repeated sentences on emphasis.

And just like that, they cleared up the store in mere seconds, closing it down. Racing each other to the escalator which had stopped running as the mall shut for the day before cautiously continuing onward.

At the end of the day, maybe some ice cream flavours weren’t what he and others made it out to be. Some flavours you don’t need to wish, beg or pray to forget. And maybe, just maybe, mint wasn’t so bad after all.