Chapter Text
The Party reunion. Great. Will hasn’t seen them in, like, what? 7 years? He’s excited to introduce his boyfriend, Chance, to them. God, Chance is heaven on Earth. He’s sweet, kind, caring, so so protective, and VERY jealous. His curly black hair and deep brown eyes…his defined cheekbones…the way his voice gets softer around Will…Wait. No. Now he’s just describing Mike. Shit. Mike…his first love. His Tammy. Will found his Vickie. He can’t keep thinking about Mike this way. Not anymore. Not when he has Chance. But there was once a time…a time where he yearned for Mike. A piece of him still does.
He was snapped out of his thoughts when he arrived in the driveway of the Wheeler household. The new Wheeler household.
“So, this is it? Your friend…M-uhh…Miles..? His house?”
“It’s Mike. And yeah, I guess this is it.” Will sighed and unbuckled his seatbelt, getting out of the car to be met with Mike’s beautiful eyes staring back at him. They looked at each other like they were past soulmates…and in some way, some twisted way, they were.
“Will…” Mike breathed out, running on the driveway towards him.
“Mike!” Will met Mike in the middle, hugging him tight. So tight. Mike smelt like a fireplace on a rainy night. He was an author now. Will bought ALL his books. They were amazing. They were Mike.
Will pulled back, Chance cleared his throat behind Will.
“Oh! Right…” Will stepped back, leaving Mike with a small pout. “Mike, this is Chance. My—“
“Boyfriend. I’m his boyfriend.” Chance said flatly.
“Right,” Will said uncomfortably, almost sad, “Chance, this is Mike. My…my um…”
“I’m Will’s best friend. I uh…it’s nice to meet you, Chance.” Mike held out his hand, which Chance shook. Chance did not seem to like Mike…and vice versa.
Chance snarled. Definitely jealous. “I’ve heard much about you. Like how Will used to like-”
“W-What?” Mike said it so loud Will would’ve thought the whole neighborhood heard him. Mike looked over at Will—Mike looked hopeful.
“Haha…very funny Chance. You got him! Ha…” Will cleared his throat, patting Chance’s shoulder.
Chance looked over at Will and rolled his eyes. God, Will was gonna kill him one day. Or kiss him all day. Or both. Will looked away from Chance and over at Mike. Mike who was starting at him, looked away.
“We should uh…head inside, yeah?”
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So, Will met Mike’s wife, who is a sweetheart but most definitely hates Mike, Lucas and Max arrived and holy shit they have a kid, Dustin is dating Stacy from Hawkins, and Chance officially hates Mike.
“Hey Will…can we talk?” Mike said quietly, interrupting Will’s conversation with Chance, “Alone?”
“Uhm…yeah. Sure. Your room?”
“Woah woah woah. Will, baby, there is no way I am letting you in a room with him alone when all he’s been doing is eye fucking you all night!”
“Chance! Don’t say that!”
“Why not? You still got feelings for him? I don’t understand what you see in him. He’s so—“
“Chance, enough. Go to the car. I’ll be out in an hour or two.”
“Will…cmon…”
“Chance. Now.”
Will watched Chance walk away with a scowl.
“Wow. You got high standards, don’t ya, Will the Wise.” Mike giggled.
“Mike…shut up. He’s…fine. I dunno why he’s acting like this right now…” Will turned around to face Mike. “And don’t act like your relationship is any better. Your wife looks at you like she would rather eat shit.” Will laughed, covering his mouth with his hand.
“Look…Will. We both have…okay…relationships but I guess us being around each other brings out the worst in our…partners.”
“Mike…”
“Were you…did you actually have a crush on me?” Mike’s voice lowered. That stupid voice was gonna kill Will one day.
“Well…maybe we should go upstairs…”
“My room?”
“Who else’s?” Will smiled as Mike took his hand, leading him up the stairs.
Once in Mike’s room, the door was shut and locked. Mike sat on his…twin bed?
“What, your wife doesn’t like your snoring?”
“Haha. So funny. No. We aren’t in the best moments of our relationship right now…” Mike sighed, “Speaking of relationships…You liked me?”
Will frowned and sat on the bed next to Mike, placing a hand on the other’s knee. “No. I lov—“
“Please. Please don’t say it, Will.” Mike placed a hand on top of Will’s—eyes watering. Mike shook his head. “It’s just gonna hurt us more. I can’t be with you, Will…The truth is…my wife. She—“ He stopped, choking on a sob. “Will, she’s pregnant. And I’m stuck here. With a woman I don’t love, when I could’ve been with you, I should’ve been with you.”
“Mike…please don’t say that…” Will buried his head into Mike’s shoulder, crying. “Mike, please…”
Mike let out a shaky sigh, wrapping his arms around Will. “I’m so…so sorry, Will.”
They sat like that. It felt like hours. When Will pulled back, he saw the tear and snot stain on Mike’s shoulder and laughed softly. “Sorry…”
Mike chuckled back. “No, no. It’s fine. I have other shirts.”
“Hey…Mike?”
Mike made eye contact with Will, who was looking up at him. “Yeah?…”
“Do you think—Do you think in another life…we’d be together?”
Mike paused for a second. He let out a soft sigh, “In another life, Will.”