𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 • (byler)

07

"you gave her your sweater, it's just polyester."

it had been three weeks since will had slept over mike's house and it's finally the fourth of july.

though, the party had been hanging out almost everyday, will's been more distant from everyone, especially mike.

el noticed that things were a little awkward between mike and will. she knew that something happened between the two of them and she didn't want to ask either of them directly, so she went to someone else.

"hi." eleven stood in front of max while she hopped off of her skateboard.

"uh, hey." max replied with a quizzical look on her face.

max picked up her skateboard and held it under her arm.

"can we talk?" el asked.

"sure, why not." max nodded and the two girls sat on the curb. "so what's up?"

"will and mike. did something happen with them?" eleven asked.

"i don't know, why?"

"i've noticed that they have been very quiet and not talking to each other much." eleven replied.

"oh, well i have no idea what happened." max lied.

"you're sure you don't know?"

"yeah, maybe you should talk to your boyfriend." max stood up.

"max, friends don't lie." el grabbed her arm.

max pulled her arm away.

"i don't know anything, okay! gosh, just go ask mike." max rolled her eyes and started skateboarding again.

eleven squinted at the red-head for a few moments and then left, knowing that max was lying.

she had arrived at mike's house and went upstairs into his room with him.

immediately mike started making out with her.

"mike." el pulled away.

"sh, don't talk." mike said and started kissing her again.

"mike, stop." el pushed him off of her.

"what's wrong, are you okay?" mike asked.

"yes, but you are hiding something." el answered.

"what? no i'm not!" mike exclaimed.

"with will." el added.

"what are you talking about? will and i aren't hiding anything." mike said.

"mike, friends don't lie. you guys have barely said anything to each other in weeks." eleven pointed out.

it dawned on mike that she knew that something happened that night when will slept over.

will was the one that had been awkward in the first place. which mike was confused about because he had no problem with their cuddling. it's not like they liked each other.

"el, listen, will has gone through so much, so i don't blame him for being distant. i think he is trying to get over everything that's happened to him in the past and he's doing that by being quiet and distant." mike lied, hoping that el would just drop the whole thing.

"okay, fine. i don't believe you, but i am done talking about will." el sighed.

"good," mike kissed her on the head. "are you excited for tonight? i heard the carnival is going to be great."

"yes." el smiled.

finally, it was time for the party to go to the carnival. max and will decided to go together, dustin and lucas showed up together, and obviously mike and el had came together.

the fireworks were at 9:00, and it was 8:00, so they had an hour to ride all of the rides and play games and eat food.

"what should we do first?" mike asked.

"well, we should probably ride the rides, then eat some food, then play games because if we eat food and then ride the rides, we'll get sick." will explained.

"i like your logic will, i really do." dustin patted him on the shoulder.

ride after ride after ride they went on. will had sat next to max or dustin for most of them, but this time it was different.

"hey, will." mike said and sat next to him.

"hi. where's max?" will asked and looked behind him.

she was sitting with lucas behind them while el was in front of them with dustin.

"i'm right here." max smiled.

"why are you sitting here?" will asked mike.

"uh, because you're my best friend and i wanted to ride a roller coaster with you." mike answered.

"right." will looked down at his shaking hands.

mike put his hands on top of will's. "don't be nervous, the ride will be over before you know it."

if only mike knew the real reason why will's hands were shaking.

"okay ladies and gentlemen, strap in your seatbelts snd make sure they are secure!" the ride operated called.

everyone did so and made sure the person next to them was also secure.

"alright everyone. be safe and have fun!" he yelled and started the ride.

"here we go." mike smirked.

will let out a breath as they started to go up the first hill. they got to the very stop and slowly inched forward.

will's heart was beating so fast he didn't know what to do. he wiggled his legs and suddenly they shot down the first hill.

will started screaming and mike grabbed will's hand. will didn't even notice, and just squeezed it until the ride was finally over.

as soon as he could, will jumped right out of his seat. and realized him and mike were still holding hands, so he accidentally dragged mike with him.

they both looked down at their hands and ripped them away. el came over to mike and she put her arms around him.

suddenly, will had realized that mike had let el wear the exact same sweater as he gave to will during the sleepover.

will bit down on his tongue, realizing that the stupid sweater meant nothing to mike, even though it meant everything to will.

word count: 970