WILL POV-

---- 10:11 AM ----

The brunette sat in class changing seats not wanting to sit any longer near his old friends who passed hateful glances at him. Finding it weird how quickly they turned on him for absolutely no reason. He continued writing, ignoring the daggers in the back of his head from Troy and James. They were furious that their earlier plan didn't work cursing at him, whispering to one another already in the process of discussing a sinister scheme. The brunette felt eyes from the other direction as if someone was analysing his movements; turning his head around seeing Mike staring making him feel jittery and awkward.

The ravenette studied him understanding the reason for the different seating arrangement made him feel bad wanting to help the brunette but why? After bullying El for over eight years straight and when he's finally getting payback Mike felt a nagging feeling as a pit forming in his stomach urging him to protect the small boy.

The teacher rambled on as the lesson continued. Mike knew what he was going to do as soon as the lesson ends, he would go over to the brunette gently asking him to talk alone. Yes, he was sure of it

"Mike!" Dustin whispered

"What?" The ravenette hummed not bothering to avert his gaze

"Pay attention" The curly haired boy reprimanded hitting his knee

"Who are you? My mother?" Mike sarcastically joked

"Well, I certainly don't remember pushing you out through my vagina" Dustin chuckled causing Lucas to turn his head around scrunching his face casting his eyes between the two opening his mouth "That is a graphic image"

"How dare you imagine that" The curly haired boy shook his head crossing his arms

"You said it" The athletic boy complained

"BOYS!" The teacher turned around crossing her arms tapping a foot onto the ground "Is there something you'd like to share with the class?"

"Sorry" The three boys whispered in unison. Mike tilted his attention back at the brunette who turned to see the commotion seeming uninterested on the work almost as if he had better things to do.

---- 11:02 AM ----

Hearing the bell ring, Will's expression lifted tired from the morning but noticing that the work given was easier than the work at his real high school. Tilting his head to the right seeing the doe-eyed girl smile blocked by the figure blocking his view, he furrowed his eyebrows wanting to spend time with El in the comic.

"Hi" The girl smiled looking bashfully at Max but poked her head pass slightly pushing the redhead to the side "Me and Max are Umm... going to the snack bar! Would you like anything?"

"Oh no! No thanks" Will mumbled as El popped up from her seat interlocking arms with the redhead skipping out the room. Will watched them, it wasn't the first time he would be alone for break honestly used to it at this point; normally he would just roam the halls of the high school while listening to music but decided against it. He tapped his fingers on the desk sneaking a small snack out his bag nibbling on it.

"You're quiet today!" A voice called bringing a chair beside him "And you've been acting different the usual this week" Dustin stated the observation he made

"W-what?" Will turned his attention seeing the curly haired boy ahead of him "Well I'm just a naturally quiet person"

"Bullshit! We can never not hear you, you're always the loudest thing in the room" The curly haired boy joked.

"Well, the old me is just how the writer wanted me to be!" Will complained raising a fist to the air not completely understanding why Dustin chose to speak to him right now but enjoyed the company.

"You're speaking as though you were forced to be mean" The boy raised an eyebrow

"Maybe I was" Will mocked

"Well, I like this new you!" The curly haired boy smiled alerting the attention of the ravenette at the back of the classroom who originally wanted to speak to Will as soon as the lesson was over but only beaten by Dustin competing him by getting Will's attention first. He walked over "Can you lot tone down this little tea party?"

"S-sorry" Will mumbled

"I need to speak to you" Mike firmly spoke grabbing the arm of the brunette and dragging him out the room without even waiting for him to answer; so much for a gentle approach. Will was confused and rolled his eyes knowing this was probably going to be another lecture.

Mike dragged the brunette away to a secluded area of the high school, he wanted to be alone with Will to ask the questions he wanted just in case any passersby get the wrong idea or overhear, escalating the situation.

"Are you gay?" Mike blurted the first question that came to mind without any proper build-up, asking so that he knew how to go around the pink-note situation

"W-what...?" Will stuttered shocked taking a step back, not understanding the reason for the random question

"I asked if you were gay" the ravenette repeated as though it was a general question you would ask your friends.

"I-Um..." Will mumbled taking a further step back needing to run away as anything was better than this. As a closeted queer kid, a question like this broke his heart reminding him of his bullies all throughout his life.

He was worried of what Mike would even say about the truth never telling anyone before. But it wouldn't be today, he wasn't ready for it. "Look!" Will pointed in a random direction running to the library erratically stepping his way over as his feet felt like jello. Mike stood confused furrowing his brows not having a single question answered but now having many more.

Will sat at one of the desks near the back hiding himself behind a textbook he picked peaking his eyes over the book, he looked around muttering incoherently under his breath "How did Mike even know? Does he think I like him?"

The thoughts spiralled trying to make sense of the question. Will knew he was gay since he was twelve but never told anyone about it before feeling the need to throw up as he wanted to go home but the portal he had seen yesterday hasn't showed itself ever again "Why did he ask me that?"

"Who asked you what?" Lucas questioned popping up from the side of the book

"Lucas?" Will's eyes widened "Why are you here?"

"I'm the librarian" The athletic boy answered

Will scanned his face in awe "Do you do everything in this school?"

"Maybe I should" Lucas chuckled "So what brings you to the library?"

"Ah... I'm kinda sorta avoiding someone" The brunette admitted

"By coming here?" Lucas questioned

"Yep! I hope he won't turn up" Will smiled "Wait... You're Mike's friend, right?" his demeanour quickly changing to a bright smile as he shifted his body around to face the athletic boy pleadingly.

"Are you hiding from Mike?" Lucas furrowed his brows as Will nodded looking hopeful blushing upon seeing his face "Wh-why are you avoiding him?"

"It's a long story" The brunette pouted "All you need to know is that I don't want to be around him right now"

"Fine" The athletic boy sighed hoping this would give him more time to spend with this new and improved Will

"Thank you!" Will grinned placing the book back down on the table; his breathing calm hearing the bell ringing "We should go back to lesson" Will tilted his head standing extending a hand to the athletic boy to help him up.

"Umm Yeah" Lucas muttered accepting the hand bashfully.

---- 12:12 PM ----

The smaller boy sat at his desk waiting for the bell to ring before he could go to lunch feeling Mike's eyes piercing through him wishing he could read minds so he could tell exactly what the ravenette was thinking about. He was still confused why Mike asked him that earlier but let it go powering through to avoid Mike for the time being. Glancing back at his desk one last time squinting his eyes.

Upon seeing the brunette turn around, he looked down trying not to make it obvious that he was staring. Mike scanned his paper where he had jotted down questions he wanted to ask Will. It contained many along the lines of 'why he was suddenly being nice to El' to his sexuality. Biting down on the tip of his pen cap leaning his arms against the table.

Hearing the bell ring both boys sprung up; Mike attempted to rush to Will's desk trapping him to force the answers but stopped as Lucas bypassed him cutting off the destination, smiling at the brunette "Lucas!" Will smiled "Let's go to the cafeteria!"

The small boy scurried out taking the athletic boy with him happily skipping down the hall "Do you need to go to the library first? I'll take you" The brunette chirped as their voices became distant down the hall, Mike watched them annoyed.

"What the hell is wrong with you?" Dustin placed an arm around him

"Nothing" Mike deadpanned slipping the curly haired boy off his shoulder

"It doesn't look like nothing" Dustin joked "What's on your mind?" He asked suddenly changing expression

"I think I'm about to do something stupid" Mike simply stated watching the figures of the two boys get smaller in the distance. 

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1601 Words

Stay Safe <3