"Jonathan, can I talk to you?" Will asks his older brother when he's home on break from college.
"Always," Jonathan says, sitting up from his bed to make room for Will. "What's up?"
Will sits down on Jonathon's bed, knowing he would chicken out as soon as he started speaking. "I'm... into someone."
Jonathon gives him a look. "Okay? You're making it sound like the end of the world. Will, are you feeling okay?"
Will's eyes meet Jonathan's. They shared the same eyes from Joyce. "It's someone in the party."
His voice is small and delicate like it could break at any second. "Oh. So you're nervous they won't see you like more than a friend?"
Will nods but scoffs internally. That's one way to put it.
"Is it El?" Jonathan asks. He already knows the answer before Will gives it. It's been obvious since they were kids. Hell- Nancy and him had bets on when they were finally gonna get together.
"No, she's like a sister to me." Will shakes his head, knowing the next question and the one that will inevitably follow. He's known he was in love since 1985. Now, two years later, as a sophomore in High School, he was finally ready to tell someone what was eating away inside of him.
"So... do you like Max?" Jonathan asks, again knowing the answer. He's known for a long time but didn't want to say anything until Will was ready.
"No." Will's voice shakily answers.
"Is it Mike?" Jonathon asks, trying to keep the smile off his face.
"Yes." Will waits for Jonathan to blow, to be angry, to hate him. Instead, he claps him on the back.
"Finally figured it out, huh?" Jonathan chuckles.
"Yeah." Will chuckles too. "Wait what?"
"It's kind of obvious, bud. Hate to break it to you, there's a reason you've never gotten a girlfriend. It ain't your personality, it's him."
"So, you're not mad?"
"Mad? Why would I be mad? Nothing's different? Now you just know how hopelessly you're in love."
Will threw a pillow at his brother's head. "Jon!"