Chapter Text
“We’re moving.”
Wilson’s brain short-circuits. Brando is leaving?
They had been inseparable since elementary school. Lunches shared under the big oak tree, swimming in the lake until their skin wrinkled, riding their bikes so fast it felt like flying during summer vacations.
Brando had always made friends easily, smiling and joking his way into everyone’s good graces, while Wilson… Wilson kept to a small circle. Few friends, but ones he trusted completely. And Brando- Brando was at the center of all of it. Without him, the world already felt a little colder.
“Wilson? Are you okay?” Brando’s voice cuts through the panic and disbelief. “We still have the whole summer. We can still make some good memories. You know that, right?”
Wilson swallows. Nods. Words feel heavy in his throat, trapped somewhere between his chest and the tip of his tongue. He wants to scream no, don’t go, but even that sounds ridiculous. Like screaming into a storm, unheard and meaningless.
Brando shifts, the movement nervous, hesitant. His eyes flicker toward the window, then back at Wilson, and for a second, he looks smaller than Wilson has ever seen him. “I… also need to tell you something.”
Wilson’s stomach drops. Something in the air changes, tense and delicate. He braces himself, heart hammering. Brando always had this way of making the world feel both safe and terrifying at the same time.
“Uh…” Brando starts again, his words catching. “Before we, uh… before any of this happens… I-” He stops, bites his lip, and Wilson can see the familiar sparkle of mischief- hesitation- but also something heavier, more real. Something that makes Wilson’s chest tighten.
Wilson’s thoughts spiral. Everything they had ever done together flashes in his mind: the late-night talks, the quiet understanding when no words were needed, the way Brando’s laugh could chase away even the gloomiest days. And now, this. This possibility of separation, of change, of… everything.
He wants to say something, anything. But instead, he just nods again. The only thing he can manage is the weight of feeling: don’t go. Please don’t go.
“I- I came out to my parents. And my mom, she was wonderful. Very supportive, she immediately told me she still loved me, and gave me a hug.” He chuckles slightly, thinking back to her reaction.
“But, you know how my dad is. He said it was just a phase, and that I’d find the right girl and forget that bullshit. His words, not mine.” Brando sighs. He looks away from Wilson, thinking back to the moment.
Wilson is also thinking.
Wilson had always been called too girly and feminine, but Brando didn’t care. When Wilson later came out as gay, he had stood up for him against bullies, not caring about the rumors now also focusing on him.
What Brando didn’t know was Wilson’s feelings had begun to change. Instead of friendly pats on the shoulder, he now wanted to hold his hand. He wanted to hug him, and maybe even kiss him.
A ridiculous idea pops up in his mind. What if they date? Not real of course, just to help Bran. That makes sense right?
It would be so nice to just pretend. And he would also help Brando, maybe even spend some more time before he leaves. It wouldn’t be taking advantage of the situation that way right?
“What if we date?” Wilson hears himself say.
Brando looks up, wide eyed. “Wilson what-”
“Fake dating of course. To get your dad off your back. Think about it. We could spend more time together, your dad would stop, and it would only be for two months.”
Brando looks at the sunset again, deep in thought.
Wilson continues rambling. “It would be just for the summer, since you’re leaving in two months anyways.”
Brando lets out a relieved laugh. “You would do that for me?”
Wilson nods. If only he knew.
“I would like that. Thanks Wil, I really appreciate it.”
Wilson just nods again, already thinking about how many ways this could go wrong. What if they slipped up? Or worse, what if Brando found out about Wilson’s true feelings? They should make rules about this, right?
“How would we do it?” He decides to ask.
“What do you mean?” Brando responds.
“I just- I don’t know how to act. I haven’t had a real boyfriend yet, let alone a fake one.”
“We can just be how we always are, maybe just a bit closer.” He says.
Wilson hums. Just a bit closer, that won’t be a problem. Right?