Chapter Text
Even through all the noise – bowling pins scattering, pings and beeps and explosions from the video games, kids yelling, music blaring through the PA system – Mike heard Will all too clearly. “Well, what about us?”
Mike froze. I can’t have this conversation, he thought wildly, not here, not right now. Frantically, he tried to think of something to say that would change the subject. What came out of his mouth was, “What?”
“You’re mad that I didn’t talk to you?” Will closed the distance between them, shrugging. “Seems like you made it super clear that you're not interested in anything I have to say.”
The denial was automatic. “That’s just not true!” Mike spluttered. I am. I always have been, I just couldn’t …
“You called maybe a couple of times.”
Fully defensive now, Mike did what he always did -- lashed out, without stopping to think about what he was saying. “Then maybe you should've reached out more! Why is this on me?”
I tried, thought Will miserably. I did. But I just couldn’t …
They stared at each other, months of unspoken, unsent words piled up between them like a wall. The pressure to say something, to finally break their silence, was nearly unbearable.
I wrote you every day.
I told you everything.
I want you to know.
I’m scared.
Mike crumbled first, unable to hold Will’s frightened, hopeful gaze. “Whatever, man.” He could hear himself – cold, dismissive, giving no hint of what was churning inside him. “Let’s just …” Do what? Grab another snack? Play a game? Then he remembered, and felt cold all over, because how could he forget? El. El needed him. “Let’s just find her.”
He turned away, pretending he didn’t see Will’s face fall. He’d apologise later, he told himself. Right now, he needed to be the good boyfriend El thought he was.
Will followed, because what else could he do? His sister – Mike’s girlfriend – was in trouble. That mattered more. That was always what mattered more.