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“It’s not my fault you don’t like girls!”
Mike shouted, barely audible over the rain.
Wait, what?
Why did he say that?
Will flinched, face turning white but shaking his head.
”I can’t believe you right now.” He muttered, grabbing his bike and pedaling away.
Shit.
Really, Mike?
”W-wait! Will! I didn’t- WILL!”
Mike’s nails dug into his skin, running over to his bike, nearly slipping in a puddle.
He didn’t mean it.
But why did he run off?
Was will-
No.
It’s my fault.
I shouldn’t have yelled at him.
He just wanted to play d&d.
I’m the stupid one here.
So.
Stupid.
Mike jumped off his bike, running up to the Byers’ front door and banging on it.
”Will! Please- I’m sorry! I don’t like fighting with you.”
Tears were streaming down his face by now.
Castle Byers.
”Will!” Mike called again, running into the forest.
Please come back.
Please forgive me.
Mike slowed down, seeing the lamp in Castle Byers flicking between the branches of the fort.
Slowly, he peeked into the fort.
”..Will?”
He didn’t respond.
Great, now he hates me.
“Will.. I’m.. really sorry. I didn’t mean to say that. It’s not true.”
Carefully, Mike lowered next to him, hair dripping wet.
”What if…” Will said, but the rain was so loud it sounded like a whisper.
”What if it is..?” He murmured, voice trembling and face going a bit pink in the faint light. Will looked away, moving slightly away from him.
What?
What if what is?
What I said?
He doesn’t like-
Oh.
”Wait.. Will. What do you mean? What is?”
He probably meant something else.
Yeah.
”..that I don’t.. like-“ Will’s voice broke and he let out a sob, burying his face in his knees.
”Girls?” Mike finished, eyes wide.
Will didn’t respond and just let out a sob.
”Woah.. Will.. it’s ok- i don’t- it’s fine!”
Will didn’t like girls.
Will likes boys.
Will likes boys.
Slowly, Will lifted his head up and shook his head.
”No. It’s not fine.. I’m- im different. Not- normal.” He whispered, face wet with tears and rain.
What?
What was wrong with being different?
He didn’t have to be normal.
How could someone judge will?
Will, with his pretty eyes and gentle smile?
He’s- he’s not just different.
He’s will.
His will.
This made Mike mad. Pulling Will to his chest, he hugged him.
”Will. I do not care. You are my best friend, and nothing will change that. I don’t care if you like- like boys.” Mike said, his voice loud. “If anyone cares, they are all assholes. Those mouth breathers are just jealous of you, and how amazing you are.”
Will smiled slightly, pulling back to look at him, his hair a bit curly from the rain.
Damn it.
He was gorgeous.
(but like in a super straight platonic way of course)
”You.. really don’t mind..?” He whispered, leaning against the wooden walls of the fort.
”It doesn’t matter at all.” He whispered back, pulling Will back into a tight embrace.
I love you.
What?
I love you.
So. Stupid.
He loved El.
Not Will.
Well, of course I love Will. He’s my best friend.
Mike blinked, trying to block out his thoughts about Will pounding in his head.
Later that night, he lie in bed, not able to fall asleep
Will liked boys.
As in, he wanted to kiss boys.
Go on dates with them.
Spend his life with them.
Mike imagined what that would be like. Living with Will. Kids running around the house. Kissing him. The feeling of his arms around him.
It was nice.
He would have that with El some day
I don’t want that with El.
Maybe if Will was a girl.
But Will isn’t a girl.
He’s a boy.
Could I like boys, too?
I couldn’t do that to El.
Mike slowly drifted off to sleep, his mind swirling with thoughts of Will, his beautiful eyes, that stupid cute bowlcut his mom had given him since childhood, and how pretty his face was.
Some day, he would figure it out.