Archive of Our Own

Will is going to be sent to an early death. The cause? A heart attack.

One that doesn't stem from genetics or lifestyle. One that is made from a life fixed with copious amounts of anxiety.

Will can imagine how it plays out.

'Will Byers died at the age of eighteen due to a heart attack caused by a monstrous spout of anxiety. Spurred on by a silly little college acceptance letter.'

The town would start to gossip. Small towns always do.

Dead Will wouldn't blame them. After all, in the past, he was known as zombie boy. Turns out zombie boy is actually completely mortal.

Gossip is a heavy and all-knowing thing. Which means that they'll come to know that Will was found semi-naked on the floor of his bedroom.

They'll wonder what on earth he was doing.

Which is unfortunate because future Will is dead and therefore can't defend himself.

Present Will sometimes gets an odd feeling. More now than ever, probably due to the fact that his future is about to change.

College acceptance letter rings through Will's head. Violently.

Will shakes his head. Forces himself back to his task. Future Will that is dead and is found on the floor.

At times, he feels disconnected. Tingly. Like, he isn't real. Which doesn't make sense because he is real, but whatever. Lying on the ground helps him.

The fear of dying prematurely should make present Will bolt up into a sitting position. Ease him into some sort of action. Painting maybe. Making his bed. Or, most importantly, get up to get dressed for the day. Will's currently just in his boxers.

Present Will doesn't make any move to sit up or do any of those things. Instead, he lets himself sink even further into the ground.

He begins to feel the bones of his shoulder blades clash with the harsh and unforgiving floor.

It's uncomfortable, but maybe that's the point.

If future Will were to die from a heart attack, and is found semi-naked, maybe that would be alright? Another misfortune of his to add to the list of traits the town has been keeping score of.

Some logical part of Will's brain starts to kick up again. It brings him right back to the subject of his ruminating and the cause of his anxiety.

The dreaded and highly anticipated college acceptance letter. A letter that can make or break his future.

It's definitely not a big deal. Totally.

Present Will is not currently biting his lower lip with his teeth. Will's not bleeding.

Maybe a little bit...

The taste of copper sits heavy in his mouth. A weight that somehow pushes Will deeper into the ground.

The wait is what's agonizing. Will doesn't feel real. Will feels like he might die any day now. It all stems from not knowing.

Since Will's beginning to think logically, because lying on the ground works, he understands the letter will be here soon.

Will knows this. It's a fact. It will contain the 'yes' or 'no' of the future.

Will is starting to feel a bit nauseous.

Will also begins to ponder. Is the rest of the party in the same boat as him?

Do they selfishly wish to stay in Hawkins? To stay put and not go where they feel called to? To remain where the ground is familiar, where the atmosphere is fixed, and the people are monotonous?

Will finally lets go of his abused and bloody lip. He doesn't know where the rest of the party stands. Will hasn't asked them.

Hopelessly, Will also wonders if they feel as lonely in this as he does. His brows begin to furrow and pinch together.

"Maybe my letter will come first," Will exhales into the small space of his bedroom.

Will's wish bounces around his things.

He should probably get up. Will has to get ready for school.

But lying down on the floor is really starting to do its job. So, Will stays.

Will doesn't even need to open the door of Jonathan's car to know that his letter has come. He sees the beaming smile of his brother all the way from the school's entrance.

For his brother's sake, Will slides into the car and pretends not to notice.

Will cocks an eyebrow at Jonathan.

Jonathan smiles even wider.

"Are we going to move anytime soon?" Will asks while buckling himself in.

"Yeah, we will," Jonathan replies with a shrug. "I'm just looking at you, is all."

A warm laugh slips from Will's lips before he can stop himself. "Did I grow an extra inch while I was in school?"

"You wish," he shakes his head.

"I do wish. I can’t help that I haven't grown since I was fourteen," Will winces. "I don't feel very adult, now that you mention it."

That gets a booming laugh out of Jonathan. "Don't worry, bud. It's nothing bad."

"Promise?" Will asks because he can't help but drag this along further.

Warmth settles into his chest. A playful energy that Will hasn't felt since early childhood springs back to life. It feels like they're building Castle Byers all over again.

Jonathan turns towards Will and brings an affectionate hand to his shoulder. "Promise."

"So, what's the examination for?" Will adds.

"I don't have my camera, and I want to remember how you looked before I told you your letter finally came," he grins.

Will's smile splits wide.

"This is a worthy moment?"

"Of course," Jonathan says while turning to place both hands on the wheel. "My little brother's life is about to start. Really start."

Will chuckles softly at that and settles into the passenger seat with a new sense of ease.

Yes. His life is finally about to start.

The sounds of biking in the morning alongside Mike might be one of Will's favorites. The gears shifting and turning. The wheels crunching gravel and debris. The birds chirping.

It's a bright and warm day. The start of April usually breathes life back into the Midwest.

This morning is a quiet one, and Will doesn't mind in the slightest. He secretly loves how he can exist in a comforting silence with Mike.

It's a sanctuary Will can't find with anyone else.

Will glances towards Mike, who is a bit ahead of him. Will focuses on the steady pump of Mike's legs and how it propels his bike forward. The wind rifles through the dark curls resting at the bottom of Mike's neck.

Will doesn't want to break the silence between them. Doesn't want to give up the chance to properly look at Mike without fearing he'll get caught.

He wants to tell Mike that he got the letter. From NYU. Will doesn't want to share this news with the rest of the party yet. He just wants it to be known between the two of them.

Selfishly, Will wants to make it theirs before it becomes the party's.

It's just that whenever Will brings up NYU, Mike gets all distant. It's like a chord is cut. A glass breaks. Something shifts in Mike.

Mike retreats somewhere Will cannot follow.

"I can practically hear you thinking back there, Will."

He jolts slightly and almost swerves into the curb. Will glances towards Mike, only to find Mike settling in right beside him.

They're pedaling in tandem now.

"Sorry," Will mutters. "I'm just… thinking."

"Yeah, I gathered that much," Mike grins. "Care to unload it with me?"

Will relaxes a little. Such a simple but caring statement unravels the tension in his body.

"I…" he hesitates. "Sure. Yes. Okay."

Mike laughs at that with such force that his handlebars creak slightly from the rattle. "Sure? Yes? Okay?"

Will chokes on a laugh. "Yes, Michael. I'll unload my thoughts with you."

"Perfect," Mike says quickly. "Lay it on me."

Will gazes upon the open and kind face of his dearest friend. All worries cast aside. "I got my letter from NYU."

Mike chokes on a breath and brakes sharply. He comes to a full and unexpected stop.

All Will can hear is the harsh breathing from Mike and the abandonment of words that were supposed to be said.

Words like 'Really? You must be so relieved?' or 'I knew you'd get it first.' Something that shows Will how happy Mike is for him. All he gets is silence.

Mike won't look at Will. He is staring resolutely at the street ahead.

Will tracks the way Mike's sharp breaths move his shoulders up and down.

Will's stomach drops. "I didn't open it! We all swore we would open them together, as a party," he implores. "I promise I didn't open it without you, Mike."

Will's desperation snaps Mike out of his reverie. Mike flicks his eyes hesitantly towards Will.

"I know you wouldn't," Mike says firmly.

Will expects more to come out of Mike's mouth.

He's back to being quiet.

Will inhales sharply. "Do you-are you… mad? Or… unhappy I got my letter first?"

Mike's shoulders tighten. "No."

"So what's wrong? It feels like there's something wrong…" Will tapers off.

"Nothing's wrong," he laughs, a little too sharply. "You're…it's-good. Good."

"Good?" Will reaffirms.

"Good," Mike says while placing his feet back on the pedals. He begins to slowly steer away.

Will doesn't know where the conversation went sour. He begins to pore over everything he said and how it was said. Nothing. Will finds nothing.

The chirping of the birds begins to dwindle. Giving him the quiet air. Almost as if they understand Will's melancholy. 

The middle of April arrives quickly, and before the rest of the party wants it to. Time has a funny way of creeping in on you faster when you want it to slow down.

Lucas is the second one to receive his letters. He clutches the UPenn letter so tightly and so often that it has begun to crinkle.

Dustin follows, because of course, that's how it was always going to play out.

Max, Mike, and Jane follow shortly after.

Then, it is set.

Everyone will huddle in Mike's basement on the upcoming Friday. Everyone will open their letters together.

Soon, they will all know which direction they’ll be pulled. 

Will's late. It isn't his fault. 

His mom was a nervous ball of energy. She was flitting around the house and fussing over Will. She kept checking in on him. Making sure he didn't want to change his mind. 

Hopper butted in a couple of times to let Will know he could stay in tonight and open the letter whenever he wanted. It didn't have to be tonight, and it didn't have to be with the party. 

Will declined. He wanted to share this moment with his best friends. 

Deep down, Will's a bit sad he won't be sharing this with his family. Jonathan was the one to pull Will aside and get Will outside of his head.

His brother explained that's what makes life bittersweet. Sometimes you can experience positive emotions alongside something negative. Jonathan then all but kidnapped Will and dropped him off with nothing but, "We'll celebrate when you get home."

Jonathan's certainty grounded Will. 

That's how Will is now able to walk up the Wheelers' driveway. Knock on the door. And greet Mrs. Wheeler without his heart failing. 

Mrs. Wheeler welcomes Will with warm arms and a tight hug. He can still feel that warmth lingering as he hovers near the basement door. 

A resonant laugh climbs its way from the basement, up the stairs, and to Will right through the door. 

Lucas. Will smiles softly. 

He glances down at the letter in his hand. Will can do this. Even if it's a no, he has his people. They'll get him through this.

Will opens the door and starts his descent. When he reaches the last step, Will pauses slightly. He takes in the way his friends are gathered. 

Lucas is sitting next to Dustin. 

To Dustin's right is Max. Who’s sitting close to Jane. 

Mike is perched to Lucas' left. His right side is open. 

Waiting for Will because Mike will always leave a spot open for him. 

Dustin senses Will before everyone else does. He looks away from Max, who is fussing with his curls.

"Will the wise is here!" Dustin exclaims. 

Will can feel the eyes of everyone on him now. 

"What took you so long, man?" Lucas inquires while resting against the foot of the couch. 

Will winces slightly while his cheeks color with embarrassment. "My mom."

"She fretted, didn't she?” Jane asks with her cheek resting on her palm. 

"You know how she gets," he stammers out. 

"Yeah. She kept popping her head into my room this morning," Jane replies. "She continued bringing in individually folded clothes instead of bringing the full basket in at once." 

Max begins to cackle at that. "Joyce's babies are going to leave the nest. It's sweet how she dotes."

A soft blush begins to cover Jane's cheeks. 

Will sweeps his focus to Mike while he begins to move towards him. As Will closes in, he can see what the table blocked. 

Mike's letter. Just one. 

Will halts. 

He examines the letter further. 

It's open. 

Mike opened his letter without Will.

It feels like a bucket of ice was thrown over Will's body. He feels cold. Iced out. 

Will desperately whips his gaze back over to the rest of his friends to gauge their reaction. 

Nothing seems out of place. It doesn't seem to affect them at all. And with a fast sinking thought, Will realizes Mike opened his letter with the party. 

Mike didn't wait for him. Mike didn't need to wait for Will at all. Will feels like he's going to throw up. 

"Aren't you going to sit down, Will?" Lucas wonders with a slight frown. 

Will quickly nods and sinks down next to Mike. 

Mike's fixated on something over Will's shoulder. 

Will speaks without thinking. "You opened your letter?"

Mike's eyes snap to Will. "Yeah…" he trails off with a visible swallow. "I needed to."

"You needed to? Without me?" Will gently pries. 

Will can see Max cross her arms out of his peripheral vision. 

"Mike told us you said it was okay," Max cuts in firmly. 

Will tucks his head towards his chest. Trying to make himself smaller. Trying to fight off the embarrassment, surely starting to show on his face. He's at a loss for words. 

"I…we-it’s-" Mike spurts out with an odd staccato. 

"I'm confused. Did he…not?" Dustin interrupts with an elevated pitch to his voice. 

An awkward silence is slowly descending upon them all. Stifling the excitement and nerves. Will can feel the tension, and he hates it. 

So, he does what he probably shouldn't.

"Oh... no, he told me." Will spares a sideways glance towards Mike. 

Mike's gaze is already pinned on him. There's something undecipherable in Mike's eyes. 

He scans Will's face with a fierce desperation. Almost as if he's trying to assess the damage already done. Whatever Mike finds must shock him.

He visibly jolts. Will glances down to see Mike's hand start to jerk forward a bit, only for it to stop. 

Mike's even starting to fidget more. His brows are straining. His mouth is so tight that Will thinks it must hurt. 

For a split second, Will's pain and nausea begin to fall away. More than a decade of muscle memory alights his body into motion. Into second gear. 

Muscle memory that prompts Will to fix and to help soften. To ease Mike's discomfort. 

Mike opens his mouth. A beat. Then, closes it again. His jaw starts to jump and shift, like he's chewing on words left unsaid. 

"Well…" Dustin trails off with a dip of his shoulder. "Let's get started, shall we? Who wants to be the first?"

Dustin's voice extinguishes any effort Mike has been building up to speak. 

Will notes how Mike's shoulders deflate and his eyes fall downwards to his lap. 

"I say Jane should go first," Max pipes in. 

"Why should Jane go first?" Dustin exclaims. 

Max cocks her head at that. "Oh, I don't know, because she saved the world?"

Will can hear Jane take a sharp breath. He notices how her fingers tighten over her letters. Jane begins to blush again. 

"We all saved the world!"

"Sure. If that's what you need to tell yourself," Max laughs. "Let's be honest here, Jane deserves to go first."

"I…I don't mind waiting. It seems like Dustin would like to open his first," Jane explains. 

Max turns towards Jane. "I don't really care what the others think." Max reaches out slowly and untangles Jane's tight grip on the letters.

She untangles them, one by one, with a tender softness. Max is handling Jane like she's something precious.

Something to be taken care of. 

"But if you don't want to go first, then you don't have to," she says. "The choice is yours, Jane."

Jane's mouth is agape. Her blush is downright scarlet. 

A beautiful and warm grin stumbles its way to her face and stays. "I got an idea."

"Oh, yeah?"

"Yeah." Jane nods while giving Max's hands a tight squeeze before letting go. 

Max's smile echoes Jane's. An answer to a call. Magnets fitting into place. 

"Let's open them all at once, together," Jane encourages. 

"Jane, you intelligent, wonderful, and beautiful human," Dustin beams. 

Lucas claps his hands together and grins unabashedly. "Excellent idea, Jane."

Mike butts in softly, with his hands still in his lap. "I agree."

Will looks at the kind and compassionate face of his favorite person with nothing but gratitude. "You, Jane Hopper-Byers, are some kind of angel."

Jane beams at Will shyly. "You're acting like I did something grand."

"Kindness doesn't always have to look sacrificial," Max interrupts. She's leaning her forearms on the table, but her body is still slightly turned towards Jane's. "Little acts of kindness mean just as much, Jane."

Will clocks how Max slowly inches her hand towards Jane's upper arm. It glides across the table until it meets home. 

"You really are incredible," Max whispers softly. Just for Jane to hear. 

They share a long and heated look. Will can do nothing but smile. 

"Okay, everyone, get your letters ready," Dustin says while turning to rummage through his bag. 

The others follow. 

Will hears nothing but the soft sounds of zippers, envelopes crinkling, and people adjusting on the ground. 

He places his letter on the table. 

Jane does the same. 

Dustin, Lucas, and Max scramble with theirs. Some of the letters go flying a bit on the table. 

There's a fond chaos to this, Will thinks. 

Lucas waits for everyone to settle before speaking. "Let's do a countdown, shall we?"

He glances towards the party, waiting for nods of approval. 

Will nods with a force that he's sure could take his head right off. He's a little too eager. A little too afraid, but he pushes on. 

"One…two…three…" Lucas trails off in increasing volume. 

Once Lucas lets out the 'three', everyone starts to tear open the envelopes. 

Will rushes forward quickly and, due to the adrenaline, doesn't give himself time to worry or second-guess. The letter is in his hand, and he's opening it. He slides his fingers in the gap and shoves upwards. 

The seal gives way. With a shaky exhale, the note is freed. 

Will looks down and begins to read. 

"Dear William,

Congratulations! On behalf of the admissions committee, it is my honor and privilege to share with you that you have been admitted to the Studio Art program at NYU Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development."

Will isn't sure what comes next after finding out he's been accepted. It feels like cotton balls have been shoved in his ears.

He can't hear. His vision gets a little blurry. He might be crying. 

Will's definitely crying. 

His body is vibrating with energy. He feels like he can fly.

He's going to NYU, and he'll be learning art. Seeing art. Creating art. 

All at once, the crushing sounds of yelling and cheering can be heard. Will snaps back to reality and looks up at his best friends. The party is not doing much better than he is. 

Jane is sobbing. 

Max is laughing hysterically while clutching her letter. 

Lucas and Dustin are jumping up and down. Holding each other. Cheering so loud, Will's sure Mrs. Wheeler is about to come running down the stairs any second now. 

Mike is still. He has a soft smile on his face. 

Will knows that they're both taking in the party in the same way. There is an unprecedented amount of relief and happiness. 

Each one of them deserves this. 

Jane wipes her face with a shaky hand. "I got in." 

Everyone stills. 

Dustin and Lucas let go of each other. 

"I got in." 

Max gets up and takes Jane into her arms. She brings a hand up to the nape of Jane's neck and holds Jane there. 

"I'm going to make something of myself," Jane mumbles into Max's t-shirt. 

Max closes in tighter. "The world is ready for you, Jane."

"Lucas and I got in!" Dustin cries out. 

"Pre-med at UPenn, among other acceptances," Lucas announces. He runs a hand down his face, trying to contain his smile. "We all know it'll be UPenn, though." 

The party halts for a moment. They're all thinking the same thing. 

With a speed that should be worrying, they all jump up and rush in to hug Lucas. 

Lucas grunts at the impact. Will is nestled between Dustin and Mike. He can feel Mike's curls tickle his cheek. 

"Okay! Let me go, before you suffocate me!" 

Once they do, Lucas brings his hand up again. This time to wipe his tears. 

Will is so happy. Beyond happy. 

"You're going to be a wonderful doctor," Will says softly. 

Lucas nods at Will's letter resting on the table. "And you? Where is our cleric studying his magic?"

Just like earlier, Will feels the attention of the party fall on him all at once. 

A wide smile breaks across his face. "New York."

Lucas lets out a large whoop while throwing his hands in the air. 

Dustin and Jane begin jumping up and down. 

Max rushes to Will and clasps his hands in hers. 

"We didn't doubt you. Not for one second," she murmurs. 

Will presses his hands deeper into Max's. "I know."

"Dustin at MIT and Lucas at UPenn…" Jane breaks off with a slight frown. "You sure you both will be okay being that far apart?"

Dustin shrugs. "Oh, I'm visiting as often as I can. There's no concern."

"Who says I'll let you?"

"You're not going to let your best friend come see you?"

"Who says you're my best friend?"

Dustin cocks an eyebrow and halts. "You're messing with me…"

Lucas' laugh spills out of him with such an intensity that he almost topples right over. 

Jane crosses over to Max and Will. She steps close to Max, and soon they're shoulder to shoulder. Will notes how Max's pinky finger loops around Jane's. 

"Jane and I both got into UCLA," Max beams. 

"You're kidding!" Will shouts. 

Jane giggles. "We wanted to apply together. I'm sorry for not saying anything."

Will frowns. "You don't have to apologize. You can go wherever you want."

"So, you won't miss us?" Max challenges. 

"I'll miss you more than you can ever know." Will shrugs sheepishly. "Both of you."

Max softens at this. 

"We'll plan many visits, don't you worry."

"I'll hold you to that. You're not getting out of visiting New York during the winter," Will jokes while struggling to contain a small laugh. 

Max groans. 

"If I say so, Max will agree. She'll follow me wherever, whenever," Jane gushes. 

Now it’s Max's turn to blush. And blush she does. 

Will thinks they'd make a fantastic couple. He's not so sure if they both know it just yet. 

Max leans in closer to Will. "If there's anyone to worry about, it's Mike." She flicks her head sideways. "Just look at him. He seems…deflated."

Will follows her gaze. 

Sure enough, Max is right. 

Mike looks like he has no air. He's barely able to hold himself up. He's standing some feet away from Dustin and Lucas, who are arguing. 

"Go to him," Max says quietly. 

"What?"

"Will, he needs you. Go." 

Max takes her hand and pushes it lightly against the center of Will's chest. The momentum of Max's shove launches him towards Mike. 

Will makes his way towards Mike, slowly. The minute Will starts to move in Mike's direction, is the moment Mike's gaze notches into place. 

Mike studies Will's every move. He visibly swallows once Will reaches him. 

"Are…are you okay?" Will softly asks. 

"I-" he cuts himself off. Mike clears his throat and resets his posture. "Yes. I'm okay. I wanted to talk to you."

Will examines the features of Mike's face, looking for any clues. He doesn't find any. 

"Yeah. Of course we can talk, Mike."

Mike shifts a bit closer. "Can we talk privately?"

Will's breath catches. "Yeah. Whatever you need."

Mike nods and moves his hand to lay lightly on Will's lower back. He feels that touch with such severity that it takes everything in Will not to crumble to the floor. That touch presses in deeper and urges Will to move forward. Mike guides them to the basement bathroom. 

Once they cross the threshold, Mike's touch slips away. It must be Will's imagination, but he swears Mike's touch lingers just so. 

Will walks in further to give Mike the room to close the door. He hears it shut with a soft click. They're alone. And this is okay. It's just fine. 

Will's fine. 

There's a thump against the door. It's a heavy sound that ricochets across the tiles and right into Will's heart. He turns to face Mike. 

Mike gazes back unflinchingly. 

Will clears his throat a bit, just to give himself something to do. "So… you wanted to talk?"

"Yes."

What follows is a very long pause. They're both waiting for the other to speak. Will thinks it really should be Mike. He should be the one to start this. It's only fair. 

Will raises a brow, waiting. 

Mike lifts himself off the door and reaches behind himself. He lifts the back of his shirt. Will's gaze is glued to the sliver of skin that's exposed. 

Will blushes a bit. He wonders what Mike's doing. When Will shifts a bit closer, he manages a glimpse of something.  

What Mike reveals is a letter. 

A letter. Another one.

Will lets out a wet gasp. He feels his mouth open. It stays agape. He doesn't quite believe what he's seeing. 

"You… there's… letter…?" 

Mike's tension lessens at Will's poor attempt at forming a sentence. A slight smirk begins to etch itself a home on his face. 

"I have another letter," Mike mutters. 

"I can see that."

Mike cocks an eyebrow. "Oh?"

"I can see, Michael."

"News to me," Mike jests. 

Will's eyes flit back and forth. To the letter. To Mike. To the letter. Back to Mike. 

"You have another letter," Will parrots back. 

Mike nods. Clutching the letter to his chest. Like he wants to keep it safe. 

"You didn't tell me you applied to more than one school."

"I'm sorry," Mike winces. 

"Why? Did you not trust me? Or want me to know?"

Mike takes a desperate step closer to Will. "No!" 

Will frowns. "No? Then why keep it a secret?" 

Silence. Mike's back to looking like he's fighting something instrumental. 

It's Will's turn to step closer now. "Why open the other letter without me? It-it just doesn't make any sense, Mike."

Will's pleading now. Trying to make sense of Mike's actions. 

Whatever Mike sees in Will's face arrests him. His breath catches. His shoulders rise. Mike inhales deeply, as if he's trying to steel himself. "I applied to NYU."

Will can't help but gasp at this. The shock is reeling him backwards. He takes a couple of steps back to seek space. 

Space to give him clarity. Maybe Will didn't hear right. 

"What?"

"I applied to the creative writing program at NYU," Mike iterates slowly because Will needs it. 

Those words hang in the air. They wait. 

Will gazes at Mike. Noticing how sincere Mike looks. 

"That doesn't really explain why you didn't tell me and why you just opened your other letter without me?"

Mike stutters out a breath. He pauses. "I wanted to open this letter with you."

He inches nearer, but does so hesitantly. Like he wants Will to take it all in. 

Mike doesn't want Will to miss this. 

"I wanted to open it with you. Just you," Mike whispers. 

"Oh…" 

Will feels like he's on the precipice of something. 

"And… I wanted to open it with you the moment you got here, but I didn't get the chance to say that." Mike lets out a huff of laughter. 

There's a buzzing in Will's brain. He needs it to stop. 

So, Will steps closer to Mike. He's close enough that their socks almost brush each other. If they dip their heads, they'd knock into one another. 

"Open it, then." Will motions with his hand. 

Mike nods and begins to slowly open the envelope. Will tracks the shaky hands of his best friend. He wants to offer some comfort, but is too cowardly to touch. 

Once it's finally open, Mike begins to read. 

If Will thought he was anxious before, that was nothing compared to this. Facing off interdimensional monsters is an easier feat than this. 

Mike's face is hard to read. Will waits with bated breath. 

Slowly, like how the sun itself rises, a smile begins to grow on Mike's face. 

"I got in," Mike mumbles. 

Happiness like no other crashes into Will with full force. All he knows is Mike's warmth. Will's arms are around the shoulders of the boy he loves. The next thing he feels is the steady pressure of being hugged back. 

"You got in!" Will laughs into Mike's chest. 

There's a soft rumble where Will's ear is resting. Mike's laughter, Will realizes. 

"I got in."

Will pulls away. "You should've opened this with the party, Mike. Let's go share this with them!"

He starts for the door. 

Mike freezes. "Wait!"

Will halts. 

"What's wrong?"

"You're not getting it, Will." Mike shakes his head slowly. 

Will lifts his head, and he scans Mike's face once again. "What am I not getting?"

"I couldn't open this letter in front of them for the very same reason I opened the other without you." Mike steps into Will's space. 

Will doesn't even realize his fingers are around the door handle until he feels Mike peel them off it. 

"I needed a decoy, Will," Mike explains. 

Will can feel puffs of air as Mike spits out each word. 

"I didn't need them asking any questions. I also couldn't bear the thought of not getting in."

Will finds his voice. "But… but you got into the other college. Right?"

Mike lets out a small chuckle. "Yeah… I did."

This confuses Will. He's trying to piece this together because at this rate, Mike's never going to give him all the answers. 

"What's the problem then, Mike?"

"The problem?" Mike inches even closer while slipping his hand up towards the bone of Will's wrist. "The problem is that I worked myself up over nothing. Old fears came rushing to the surface. Us being parted. You not getting in, being the biggest problem."

"Mike," Will murmurs softly. "You'd still go to NYU, even if I couldn't."

Mike brings his head down to rest on the door. Will's trapped now. 

"You really don't get it," Mike complains. 

"Yeah, you've been saying that. So, explain better."

Mike huffs out another stint of airy laughter. It hits Will on the neck. 

Will inches himself closer to the door, needing to be grounded to something. 

"There's no NYU without you, Will," Mike admits while sweeping his thumb across Will's wrist. "Actually, there's nothing without you."

"What are you saying?" Will breathes out with air caught in his lungs. 

"I'm saying good things can't exist without you. There's no first-day nerves. No first big assignment. No first Party. No hangovers," Mike stammers. "There's no moving into an apartment. No decorating-"

Will flinches at an unexpected touch on his hip. 

"Fuck, Will." Mike tightens his grip. "There's not even first dates. Falling in love. I literally can't do anything good if there's no you."

Will is physically and emotionally incapable of doing anything. His brain has turned to goo. His heart turned to jelly. 

Mike slips his hand under Will's shirt. Skin to skin contact. 

A touch so searing, Will feels it to his very marrow. 

"And the bad. I want it all." Mike moves even closer. Hips meet. There's heat. There's tension. "I even want the truly awful bits and pieces of sharing a life. I want fights. Stupid arguments. Silent treatments that end over jokes. Jealousy. Even jealousy, Will."

Will's very being is being held hostage. 

"I'd be fine with jealousy. I know you might not feel the same, and that's fine- it is," Mike tapers off with a hitch in his voice. "I can deal with that. I'd suck it up. I'd make good friends with jealousy."

Will's brain somehow manages to catch that, and now he's giggling like a love-struck fool. 

"You'd buddy it up with jealousy… you?"

Mike's laugh hits the softest parts of Will's neck. "Trust me, we'll be pals. Maybe lifelong companions because I don't think there's anyone else for me but you."

"Mike-"

The grip on Will's hip gets firmer. Heavier. "Shh... let me get this out."

Will can do nothing but nod. 

"And that would be fine, Will," Mike continues. "You can date other people. Settle down with someone else even-"

Will breaks at that and can't help but finally interrupt. "I don't want to read this wrong."

"You're not. You're not," Mike whines out. 

"What are you saying exactly?"

"I guess I am really bad at this-"

Will's quick to stop that sentence. He needs Mike to know. "You're not. You aren't. I just-this is real?” 

Will feels the soft nod Mike manages to make. It finally snaps into place. The why. Mike still hasn't explicitly said why just yet. No matter, Will's figured it out. 

"You were going to use our college acceptance letters as a tool to confess to me?"

Mike peels his forehead off the door and looks down at Will. "Yes?"

"Is-wait, why are you asking me? That's something you should just know," he points out. 

"Sorry. Yes. Yes," Mike affirms while beginning to tap his index finger along Will's inner wrist. "Yes, Will. I was going to stupidly use our college acceptance letters to finally confess to you and tell you how hopelessly in love I am with you."

A smile that Will is sure has never graced his face before breaks out. Wide. Warm. And sure. 

Mike grumbles something incoherent. Will nudges Mike's ankle with his foot, prompting him to speak up. 

"I'm the biggest idiot ever, probably," Mike chokes out. 

"Not so much of an idiot that NYU is opening its doors for you," Will empathizes with a small laugh. 

"Well, there's still time," Mike smirks. 

Will makes the decision to anchor himself in a different way. He brings his hand to Mike's chest. Mike releases a small exhale when Will's fingers dig into the fabric of his shirt. 

They're properly touching now. Will couldn't be happier if he tried. 

Will gazes into Mike's eyes. "You… you love me?"

Mike tilts his head down further. "Why do you think I was such a nervous wreck?"

Will can't help but make a quick glance at Mike's lips. 

He unconsciously wets his own. "Are you still nervous?"

A different kind of smile forms on Mike's face. "Probably more nervous for what I'm about to do."

Will opens his mouth to retort and to ask what Mike means, but he's beaten to it. 

"Just to be sure, you feel the same, right?"

Will rolls his eyes at this. "Mike, I've been in love with you before I even knew it."

"Why didn't you just say so?" Mike mutters, lowering his head even closer to Will's. 

Will pushes at Mike's chest harder. Trying to get Mike to stop teasing him. 

Before Will can even begin to open his mouth to answer, Mike grabs his face and pulls him upwards. 

Lips meet. A warmth Will never knew he could feel begins to travel from their connected lips to his brain, his chest, and to his feet. To everywhere. 

Mike is kissing Will. Will is being kissed by Mike. 

Mike slots his lips more firmly over Will's, and it goes from good to better. Will brings his other hand to rest on Mike's shoulder. Needing the extra contact. The moment Will starts to slowly kiss back is when Mike physically jolts. 

Mike rips away with a heavy breath. 

There is a tingly feeling left behind, and Will wonders if it will ever go away. He hopes not. 

"I can't articulate it enough, Will," Mike sighs. "The thought of you going where I couldn't follow made me sick."

Will lifts his head, grinning. "You're doing a great job at explaining it, Mike. I understand now. I do."

They stare at each other for a long time. They also remain tangled up in one another. 

Will doesn't want this moment to end. He wishes he had Jonathan's camera. An idea pops into his head at that memory. 

Will removes his hands from Mike and begins to mime holding a camera. 

Mike's grin gets sloppy. "What is my sorcerer doing?"

"Taking a picture. Of you," Will states. 

Mike looks so beautiful and so happy, Will doesn't even hesitate. His finger hits the imaginary button. 

Click. 

"How do I look?"

"Transcendent," Will beams. 

Mike blushes hard. "And do I get to take one of you? I mean, it's only fair?"

Will nods. 

Mike holds his hand out expectantly. 

Will hands it off to Mike. 

"Look at me," Mike says. 

Will says what he has always wanted to: "I always am."

Click.