MIKE POV-

"I need to talk to you!" Lucas uttered, his demeanour serious as always, it was never easy to read the athletic boy's emotions; the air felt thick as the environment reflected the way Lucas felt; a wind brushing pass causing a harrowing of leaves flying through the air.

"Oh... okay?" Mike tilted his head confused "Is there something you wanted to say?"

Lucas took a deep breath; his voice wavering, determined to say the truth "I can't help but notice the way you look at Will!" admitting as it was a difficult thing for him to do. Not because he was afraid of how Mike would react, nor was he afraid of confrontation... he was scared of the future relationship between the two boys having a crush on the same person; It wouldn't end their friendship, right?

Mike's eyebrows raised from its resting position "What's that supposed to mean?" taken aback from the sudden accusation; it was blasphemous. He was so careful, no one could have possibly noticed the crush he had on Will. Right now he needed to deny it, it was the only thing he can do "Me and Will are just friends... no more, no less"

Lucas could feel his heart sinking, his bubbling insecurities arising to the surface "Don't you dare try and lie Mike" the athletic boy retorted placing both hands on his hip, his voiced laced with frustration "I see the way you act around him, the way you look at him... the way you treat him"

The ravenette's expression hardened, his face scrunching in upon itself "I think you're reading too much into this! Maybe you should mind your own business" he insisted, as the denial in his voice became clear; he liked Will but couldn't let anyone else find out for the time being.

"I can't believe you're denying it" The athletic boy crossed his arms, "You should have seen your face back there, when Billy was flirting with Will!" the tension growing with every passing word.

"Thats where your mistaken! Me and Will are just friends, you're just imagining things that aren't there!" Emphasizing his words, Mike raised his voice attempting to be as convincing as possible.

Lucas rolled his eyes, scoffing with a hint of sarcasm lacing his words "You expect me to believe that? You get all flustered and nervous around him!" the argument spiralling into a full-blown confrontation, with accusations being thrown left and right; it wasn't a pretty site as the pair projected their insecurities onto one another. The hateful words flew off the tongue like poems, except these were poems of hatred.

"I don't even know why you care Lucas?" Mike scoffed

"It's because I LIKE HIM" The athletic boy clenched his fist, his voice falling "I like him a lot" repeating the words he had never told anyone before. Sighing deep the boy stepped back leaning against the wall keeping his gaze low.

The words hung in the air, dissipating into the winds. The realisation hit Mike as he began speaking "Why Will?"

"What?" Lucas questioned tilting his head upwards.

"Out of all people... why him?" Mike repeated

"I- I don't know" Lucas shrugged "I've only felt like this recently, but it keeps growing!"

As the tension subsided, the boys looked at each other; they were close friends for Heaven's sake, they couldn't let something as trivial as a crush get between them, the feelings of their unrequited love for the brunette hung heavy in the air; almost suffocating.

"I... like Will too" The ravenette whispered feeling comfortable with exposing his secret with the boy who trusted him

"So, you finally admit it?" The athletic boy softly giggled, his eyes averting to Mike's face

"You're the only person I've told" The ravenette quietly admitted

"Same here" Lucas mumbled "We shouldn't argue over this! We are friends... good friends"

"Yeah! So, what do you think we should do..." Mike questioned stretching his words "About Will?"

"I think we should both get a fair chance" The athletic boy placed a finger to his chin "This way, Will can make his own choice, without pressure"

"You're right!" The ravenette announced "But beyond everything we'll still be friends"

"Deal?" Lucas extended a hand out for the ravenette to shake

"Deal!" Mike repeated accepting the hand both with a comforting smile feeling peace be restored.

WILL POV-

---- Thursday 2:38 PM ----

"Where is he?" The brunette scrunched his face, waiting at the exact place he was told to wait for his date. He had everything ready: the sunscreen, the nice clothes and shades; it seemed as though the only thing he was missing was the date himself. But Will gave him the benefit of the doubt, perhaps his shift overran? Or he's in traffic and his phone ranout of battery?

"Hey sweetheart!" A raspy voice called from his left, walking over. The brunette scanned the boy up and down, he was decently dressed so perhaps that's why he was late, but with no apology or excuse, Will narrowed his eyes waving back. The muscular boy stalked over enveloping him into a tight hug without prior warning, allowing his hand to caress the brunette's back going lower and lower reaching his...

Will wrestled his strength pulling away before the boy's hand could go any lower.

"You're a bit late" Will sarcastically rolled his eyes

"Sorry babe" Billy rolled his eyes with attitude "I didn't know it was gonna be such a big deal!" belittling the small boy for bringing it up as though he was the problem.

"I guess" The boy mumbled, he had never been on a date before so it could be very possible that it was natural for people to turn up fashionably late. At least the small boy knew he made an effort to be here; examining Billy's red shirt that remained half unbuttoned, exposing his chiselled abs.

Will gawked covering his face upon entering the café. It was clear to the brunette that something was wrong, Billy directed them to a table allowing the small boy to sit down before pushing the seat in. But the muscular boy didn't move afterwards, instead moving his hands toward Will's shoulders, steadily squeezing them while ducking to his ear allowing the small boy to feel the hot breath against his neck "You look so breedable" before retracting with a smirk to his own seat opposite.

The brunette's eyes widened; WHAT? How could he just say that, and so casually too? He took a deep breath hoping conversation would salvage the situation or perhaps he had heard incorrectly. "So Billy? I realised I actually don't know how old you are!" speaking the first thing that came to mind

"I'm 27! What about you?" The blonde boy rested both arms on the table

"Oh... I'm 18... I just turned 18" Will mumbled, his birthday was only mere months ago! If he was still in his real high school, they would be preparing for their finals right about now.

"So, are you a virgin?" The muscular man smirked nonchalantly

"Excuse me?" The brunette couldn't believe his ears... Did he really just get asked that? No! Surely not!

"I was sceptical but FUCK, it would be so good if you were! I bet your tight!" Billy moaned reaching under the table, slithering a hand on the boy's thigh.

Since it was warm, the brunette wore shorts. Allowing their skin to touch; Will shivered feel his thigh being squeezed prompting him to slap the hand away scrunching his face.

"I love a feisty bottom" Billy winked seeing the brunette's face turn a shade of crimson. No, this was not a blush of love rather a face of someone who was so confused and embarrassed that he didn't know what to do- he would rather eat glass then be here right now. Suddenly a woman cut off the interaction walking over, slightly older than the pair with a bright smile on her face.

"Hey guys! What can I get you today?" poised to write in her pad, the lady looked over.

"BOOZE!" Billy screamed "Whatever you recommend" whispering to the waiter, planning to pile the boy with alcohol but obviously wouldn't work as Will was below the legal age of drinking and therefore doing such a thing is illegal even in a comic book world.

"Sure..." The girl nervously wrote down, flinching from the muscular boy's abrasive attitude "And for you sir? Pointing at Will with her pen.

"A gun!" The small boy joked scrunching his face, seeing the girl chuckle.

"I don't think we have 'guns' on the menu" she chuckled back, knowing the boy didn't really want to be on this date "But I can check with the chef" smiling and continuing with the joke "Is there anything you want for real though?"

"Oh, umm can I just have a mango bubble tea please!" Will answered, quickly scanning the menu saying the first item he came across, luckily the boy liked mangos!

"Okay! Will that be all?" The girl scanned both their faces "So one glass of wine and one Mango bubble tea?"

"NO!" Billy snapped; his demeanour suddenly changing.

"Oh..." The girl looked down at her notes

"It was a bottle of wine... for the table" The muscular boy deadpanned stretching his words condescendingly as though the waitress was an idiot.

"I'm sorry but I can't give a bottle until I see his I.D." taken aback form the harsh words she moved closer to Will, afraid of the muscular boy "He looks a bit young"

"You don't trust us?" Billy scoffed

"That's not what I'm-" The girl defended herself, her voice barely audible.

"Billy!" Will gritted through his teeth "Stop it!" instructing him with anger written on his face; the small boy hated when people were mean to the waiters and shop workers who were just trying to do their jobs.

"I'm sorry about him!" Will smiled soft seeing the girl quietly nod, her head down.

"You shut up!" Billy cut off pointing at the brunette

"And you!" The muscular man turned his attention pointing a finger at the girl "I want a BOTTLE of wine! Do your fucking job and get it" his voice raising with every word dominating the surrounding area as couples turned to see the commotion.

Will prayed to the comic book Gods that someone was out there watching him, to help. Lucky for him the small boy did have that guardian looking over him; It only turned out he was 5' 11 with a raven mullet and bad posture.

Mike had been observing the boy since he left the cabin that day wearing sunglasses and a baseball cap to seem not suspicious; sneaking behind random objects. He was giving off stalker vibes and probably scared a lot of women on the way here. But didn't care as his sole objective was Will's safety.

The ravenette peered around the corner, watching everything! An eye on the pair; he wasn't sure what to do as the feelings harbouring inside of him but the poor treatment by Billy only filled him with a mix of anger and jealousy.

Seeing how Billy treated Will, Mike's protective instincts kicked in, unable to stand the thought of someone treating him any lower than subpar. His eyes narrowed observing the situation, but upon seeing the brunette physically uncomfortable, the ravenette couldn't just watch anymore needing to intervene before Will was seriously harmed. He approached their table with a determined stride attempting a rescue mission from the disastrous date.

"Hey, Will! I've been looking all over for you," Mike said, his voice laced with a hint of urgency.

The brunette's eyes widened with surprise; why would Mike be here? He knew of this date but glad to see him bringing some calm to the table "Mike? What are you doing here?" Tilting his head

Mike shrugged casually, trying to hide the intensity of his emotions. "Just happened to be passing by and saw you here so I thought I'd join you."

Billy, caught off guard by this sudden appearance and already annoyed by the refusal of wine, scowled annoyed. "Why's he here? I thought we were on a date."

Mike shot a challenging look. "Not anymore. I don't think you're what Will deserves."

The blonde boy kicked the table standing up from his chair hearing it scrape against the floor, some people taking out their phone recording the commotion to occur.

Will averted his gaze between the two; as much as he was sure Mike could competently defend himself in a fight, just taking one look at Billy and one could tell he works out... hard. "How about we all just calm down?" the brunette nervously giggled scanning both faces standing up from his seat, trying to push Mike away before something bad happens seeing the waitress no longer by his side.

"And who are you exactly?" Billy spat into the ravenette's face

"His boyfriend!" Mike lied, knowing it was one way to get the muscular man to back off.

"Well, maybe you should know your boyfriend was actually on a date with me before you came" Billy scoffed as though he won the argument.

"Whatever!" The ravenette shrugged bumping shoulders with the mean man before grabbing Will's wrist maintaining a harsh grip walking away.

"Heh! I didn't want him anyway!" Billy shouted "He probably sucks people off for money!"

Mike tuned the voices out, not succumbing to such words knowing the best thing for the both of them was to get Will away from the toxic environment, until...

"He's just a little slut..." Billy shouted cupping his hands around his mouth so the voice was amplified allowing the whole café to hear. Of course, from the apparent it seemed like the truth; The ravenette proclaimed to be his boyfriend, yet Will was on a date with a totally random guy. The brunette hung his head low embarrassed from all the judgemental stares.

Mike abruptly stopped, turning around dropping Will's hand stomping over "Apologise to him!"

"For what?" Billy smugly crossed his arms knowing he touched a nerve in the taller boy "It's the truth, isn't it?"

"It's not!" Mike gritted through his teeth "So apologise!" repeating; his tone harsher this time.

"Why should I?" The muscular boy retorted seeing how riled up Mike, scanning his eyes between both him and Will a few meters away "He's nothing but a disgusting, little fa-"

Without warning Mike swung at him, knowing the word he was about to say; one that would hurt the small boy deeply. Billy took the blow chuckling then lunging at the ravenette both flailing about kicking and screaming throwing plates and other crockery at one another. Onlookers gasped; some cheering Mike on, while others watched in shock.

With each punch, the ravenette's anger fuelled his determination to keep Will safe. He fought not only for himself but for the boy he had a crush on. The adrenaline rushed through his veins as he landed a solid blow, causing Billy to stumble backward.

Their heated fight drew the attention of security guards nearby, rushing over to stop the pair causing a scene. Mike ran off; not wanting to be exposed for fighting by the police and attaining a criminal record so he ran grabbing Will's hand hiding in the safety of the cabins; the pair alone.

Dustin and Lucas busy with Mr Clark, while the two girls had gone on a little shopping spree for their last day here.

Breathing heavy, Mike turned his attention to Will their fingers still interlocked, but neither noticed keeping it that way "Are you okay?" the ravenette questioned, a concerned look on his face

"Me? How could you be thinking about me?" The brunette raised his eyebrows "You got hurt trying to protect me? You should be worried about yourself" his face morphing into a tender expression.

"It was nothing!" the ravenette shrugged nonchalantly,

"Nothing?" Will repeated "You're my hero!" a clumsy smile spreading across both their faces. 

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2688 Words

Stay Safe <3