Chapter 12
On the bus ride back to Indiana, Will was depressed. He didn't want to leave Mike, but classes would resume the next day, and both had to stay focused. Will was desperately hoping he would hear about his transfer request soon; being away from Mike was nearly killing him. Trying to sleep on the ride back wasn't going to happen, as his stomach had turned to knots. He bundled up in Mike's hoodie, inhaling Mike's scent to ease the pain. Will tried to fight the lump in his throat and ended up with a few tears rolling down his face. Will had to get distracted and pulled out his sketchpad and pencils. He figured drawing would ease his lonely heart.
Later, his bus arrived back in Indiana, and as he was putting his sketchbook away, he realized what he had drawn…or who he had drawn. Staring up back at Will was his sketch of Mike's gentle eyes and sharp cheekbones. His curls laying softly over his forehead and lips slightly swollen. The sketch of Mike seemed to be hypnotizing, begging Will to return. As the sound of the bus door startled his trance, Will exited the bus, got into the first taxi and made his way back to his own dorm. Will yawned and rubbed his eyes, it was getting late and he was physically and mentally exhausted. The "fun" activities wore him out, he could only imagine how Mike was feeling.
Will arrived at the dorm and walked down the hall to his door. With his heart full of joy and exhaustion setting in, all he wanted to do was collapse on his own bed, not minding falling asleep in his clothes. But as soon as he put his key in the door, he could hear Dustin moving around. As he opened the door, Dustin gave him a huge hug.
*Will!" Dustin exclaimed and noticed Will's bag, "Where did you go this weekend?"
Will hesitated as he placed his bag on the ground, "Oh I uh…went home…"
"Aww! I miss Hawkins!" Dustin replied.
"Yeah," Will said "I do…I mean...I did too," he caught himself and attempted to change the subject, "How was the camping trip?"
"Dude, it was insane," Dustin smiled.
"Really? What happened?" Will began to unpack his bag.
"Well," Dustin began, "Paul wanted to see how flammable a plastic bag was compared to a soda can. So he took both items and set them on fire. But he forgot that he was holding them both, so the flames began to crawl down his arms and th-OH MY GOD WHAT ARE THOSE?"
Will was startled by Dustin's sudden shouting, but before he could turn around and respond, Dustin had crossed the room in a flat second. Dustin then yanked down the collar of Will's shirt, gasping and grinning excitedly.
Will grabbed Dustin's hands and pushed them off his shirt, thinking fast for a response, "Uh…it's…poison ivy."
"Oh whatever, Byers," Dustin laughed, "we all took that nature survival course. And don't try me on the whole 'I burnt myself with a hair dryer' excuse."
"U-uh.." Will stammered, struggling to find words.
"You didn't even go home, did you?" Dustin arched an eyebrow at Will. Will looked down to the floor and sighed heavily.
"No.." Will said with the tiniest whisper.
"I KNEW IT!" Dustin shouted, " you spent the whole weekend hooking up! I'm so jealous of you. I literally throw myself at these girls and don't even get a single pillow talk."
"Is that all you ever think about?" Will asked.
"No…yes….that's not the point! The point is you got laid! I'm so proud of you, buddy!". Dustin ran to his snack drawer and took out two cupcakes, "We gotta celebrate!" Dustin threw the cupcake in his direction and Will barely missed, to stunned and nervous with Dustin's excitement. Will wasn't sure if he was ready to discuss his weekend activities in full detail.
"So," Dustin said with a mouthful of cupcake, "is he hot?"
"Dustin!" Will shouted.
"What?" Dustin exclaimed, "I can't ask?"
"I mean…yes Dustin, I obviously find him attractive."
"I bet so, and I assume the feeling is mutual with all the love marks on your neck?"
Will didn't answer his question. Instead, his faced turned red and he was trying not to grin like an idiot, "If you're asking how my weekend was, then yes, it was fun."
Dustin bounced around with excitement, causing Will to bust out laughing. Their moment was interrupted by the ringing of the dorm phone. As Will continued to unpack his bag, Dustin struggled across the room to answer it.
"Hello?"
"Hey Dustin," said a familiar voice.
"MIKE!" Dustin shouted into the receiver. Will's head popped up in a state of panic. He turned around and rushed towards Dustin.
"You will never guess what happened," Dustin continued, "Will just walked through the door and he—MMPHHMMPHMM!" Will tackled Dustin to the ground and held his hand over Dustin's mouth. He did not want Mike to find out from Dustin that he knew about the antics of Will's weekend.
"Hello?" Mike's voice continued through the receiver. Will picked it up, while continuing to hold Dustin down.
"Hey Mike, it's Will."
"Will, what's going on? I was calling to make sure you made it back ok."
"Yeah, I did. Sorry, Dustin and I are….wrestling."
"MMMMPHH!" Dustin screamed through Will's hand.
"Can I call you back?" Will asked, out of breath.
"Um…sure," Mike said, confused.
"Thanks, bye," Will hung up the phone and turned back to Dustin, "Are you crazy?"
Dustin pushed Will's hand off him, "What?"
"I may not be ready to share details yet," Will argued.
"Why not? Everyone will be happy for you! Besides, you're gonna tell Mike eventually."
"How do you know?"
"Because you tell Mike everything. You always have since we were kids."
Will swallowed hard. He knew where Dustin was coming from. Dustin had been somewhat jealous of Mike and Will, since they knew each other longer. Since Lucas was with Max, Dustin began to feel lonely.
"Dustin," Will wait slowly, "you know I trust you. What I'm about to tell you is strictly confidential. Do you understand?"
"Yes," Dustin sat down, "I won't say anything."
"Can I trust that you won't think any less of me after what I am about to tell you?"
Dustin adjusted his cap with unease, "Ok."
"Ok," Will say down across from Dustin, "you're right. Mike already knows."
"I knew it," Dustin began before Will interrupted him.
"Mike knows because it was him. I was with him this weekend," Will confessed.
Dustin looked confused, "I-I'm not following…Mike's met this guy?"
"No," Will responded, "Mike is the guy."
Dustin blankly stared at Will and blinked a few times. Will's face was unmoved, as Dustin was anticipating his face to change into a joking smile, which didn't happen. Dustin slowly began to register what Will just said.
"So…." Dustin began, "you…..and Mike…."
"Yes," Will responded.
"You and Mike…" Dustin gestured his hand in a rolling motion.
"Yes, Mike and I….spent the weekend….together…"
"As in…sex?"
"Well….almost. But pretty close."
Dustin stood up and began to pace the room slowly. Will watched Dustin, waiting for him to say something. The deep look on Dustin's face worried Will. Was Dustin going to judge him or Mike? Will know this would change dynamic within the Party.
"Ok Will," Dustin spoke up, "I do have some questions, but they are not important at this very moment. However, there is one question that is important."
Will swallowed hard, "Ok."
Dustin place his hands on Wil'ls shoulders, "Are you happy?"
Will felt a wave of relief wash over him, as he was worried Dustin's question would be about El.
"Yes, I am very happy." Dustin pulled him in for a long hug. Will felt at ease that Dustin accepted his newfound joy.
"And Mike," Dustin continued, "is this what he wants?"
Will's heart melted at the thought of Mike and him together. "Yes. He told me he was ending things with El."
Dustin's face perked up and mid-gasp, Will interrupted, "You cannot say a word to anyone! It is not our place to get involved."
Dustin chuckled, "I won't say anything to anyone, not even Lucas and Max. You have my word. But, Will?"
Will stared at his friend, "Yeah?"
"You and Mike hooked up. You're already involved. Congratulations. El's gonna love it," Dustin said sarcastically.
Will didn't think he would have to deal with El, since Mike would be breaking the news. However, she would find out about them eventually.
Shit.
