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and his heart stopped for a second.
what could he be doing back here? why would tyler come back? his mind spiraled as he cluched the plate in his hands so tight he could practically feel it cracking. he didn't turn, he couldn't bring himself to turn around and face him again, see him again. he heard the footsteps echoing across the floor, nearing and nearing and seeming so loud his ears hurt.
all his relief, the returning feeling of safety evaporated into thin air. he didn't know why he felt quite this unsafe, he really didn't. he didn't know why just the thought of seeing that fake smile again made his stomach turn, he didn't know why he wanted to run. but he did.
but he couldn't run. he couldn't even turn to see him, for fuck's sake! he could do nothing but hold the slightly-wet plate in his hands and try to keep his breath even.
"hey."
his heart returned beating almost at once, his shoulders slumping once again. every muscle in his body, muscles he didn't even know had been clenched tightly, let loose promptly.
because the voice, that low, wonderful voice - it wasn't tyler's.
he turned around, a smile already forming on his lips- because that voice, the tall boy standing in front of him- it wasn't tyler. wasn't tyler at all.
it was mike. curly haired, ironic-shirt wearing mike was standing right next to him, those dark eyes intent on him with this weird nervousness... and he has spoken the first words he had heard from him in two whole weeks.
"hi," will breathed, unable to contain the smile. he knew he had been mad at mike, he knew he probably still was, but at the moment all he was was happy. relieved, and happy. because he really had missed him, missed him a lot. more than he could admit to himself.
mike seemed surprised by the smile, but hurried to return it. his smile was wonderfully authentic, even though it held this weird carefulness will couldn't place, it was authentic. will didn't know why that authenticity made him feel so relieved, so safe, but it just did.
in this one second with mike, with that two words exchange, will felt more safe than he had with tyler in... a long time.
and that knowledge made him feel both guilty and confused.
because tyler hadn't done anything to deserve this feeling from will, because mike had been the one to be an asshole. tyler had done nothing but be amazingly sweet to him- but he couldn't help his feelings. he couldn't help being happy to see mike.
"so, um- do you mind if we talk for a second?" mike asked after another second of silence. his voice held the same carefulness as his smile.
"yeah, sure," will said. he wondered if he should be passive-aggressive, maintain that anger he had felt towards mike- but that day on the beach seemed so long gone he couldn't even remember being mad at mike. he had missed him too much to be mad at him.
mike's shoulders slumped with relief, identical to the one will had felt one he saw him come in. woah, had he thought that will wouldn't even let him talk? had be been that mean?
"great! i just wanted to, well, to explain that day." will opened his mouth to protest, but mike continued speaking quickly.
"p-please, just let me. i really need to."and there must have been was something in mike's eyes- because will couldn't refuse. he put down the plate (that was luckily un-cracked), and started towards the waiters' room, mike right behind him.
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"so," mike started as they sat down on one of the white couches. mike was sitting next to will, his whole body turned towards him, and their legs were so close will couldn't really concentrate on anything but that.
the dark haired boy floundered for words for a minute, but then sighed and started over.
"look, i know it doesn't seem like it but there truly wasn't anything going on. stacy is just... she's one of those girls. she liked to kiss and hug and yeah, maybe we had a thing a while ago but it's not going on right now. she's just like that. but i am sorry i let her. i shouldn't have done it, i know i shouldn't have, but everything with you- and i-" he seemed at a loss for words for another second, but then admitted, his voice turning gentler and lower, "i got scared. i panicked, and i self- sabotaged. it was dumb and i know i hurt you and i-"
he was talking like he had cheated. he was talking like they had been together- and though those days with mike seemed long passed will's heart fluttered once again. he hadn't been imagning it, there truly had been something going on and now-
no. nothing would go on now, because waiting for him at home was a sweet, brown-haired boy who was his boyfriend. a boy who didn't deserve will's weird bursts of anxiety, and definitely didn't deserve will cheating on him. and he wouldn't- he wouldn't do that to tyler.
because even though just the thought of being in mike's arms, of kiss- of being with mike made his heart race out of his chest, he really was happy with tyler. truly. and throwing all he had away for an opportunity for something that may or not turn into a relationship, because of some stupid gut feeling, was idiotic.
and will wasn't an idiot.
"i'm still with tyler," he burst out, cutting mike mid-speech.
mike stopped for a second before plastering another smile on his face, a different... almost painful smile.
"i know. and i'm not asking you to do anything to change that, but tyler-" and will was about to protest once again; he wouldn't let him insult his boyfriend again, but mike managed to speak before he could once again.
"no, i'm not going to say anything bad. i was just going to apologize for saying anything in the first place. i was actually good friends with tyler, it was just i heard this thing about him-" mike stopped himself mid sentence, and will appreciated that. "never mind that. it was wrong of me to say anything, he's a really great guy. you deserve him."
and though he tried to act normal, will could see that it was hurting him. and it was hurting him too, because a part of him wanted to jump on mike and kiss him until his lips fell off.
but another part, that part longed for tyler's arms. nevermind that weird fear, he wanted to be with tyler. he did.
but he appreciated that mike wasn't trying anything because if he as much as offered will a hug will was pretty sure he wouldn't be able to contain himself.
"so i'm sorry, and i'm happy for you, and i miss you, and i'm sorry, and can we please be friends again?" mike said, his smile morphing a more genuine one as his eyes stared at him with hope.
and it wasn't hard for will to agree. because he missed him too, missed him a lot. not because of the asshole, flirty mike- but because of this mike, the sweet, sensitive mike will was pretty sure he was the only one who got to see.
"yeah, of course," he said, and now mike's smile was back to that wonderfully authentic, wonderfully happy smile. and will really couldn't help returning it.
"so can i help you close up?" mike asked, and will nodded. that alone time he longed for when tyler was there didn't matter, because being next to mike again after so long was better than anything.
"sure, rich boy. i'll show you how," he said, and jumped to his feet. mike followed, not even protesting the nickname.
and will grabbed his hand to lead him back into the resturant, because it was normal for them and it was harmless and he just really wanted to touch mike again.
only as friends though, of course.
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𝐚𝐮𝐠𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝟏𝐬𝐭. 𝟏𝟑𝟗𝟓 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐬.
𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫 𝐬𝐚𝐲𝐬: i know i missed the last posting day but i paused umbrella academy for this so ya'll better be grateful lmaoo