Will and Alex's waitress dropped off their breakfast and brought Alex his own cup of coffee. He drank all of Will's coffee already.

"So," Will said as he poked around at his eggs, "what are these lessons going to entail?"

Alex looked up from his pancakes and paused. The two were sitting in front of a window. The light filtering through the curtains cascaded over Will. The wriggling in his stomach turned to a gentle flutter as Alex's fingers twitched for his camera.

Must be indigestion, Alex thought, taking another sip of coffee.

"Well," Alex cleared his throat, "I figured we'd start with why you were so upset last night."

"Do we have to?" Will worried his lower lip.

"Yep," Alex said. "I'm sure it isn't worth your time anyway."

"I don't know about that," Will took a small bite and swallowed. He looked at Alex for a few moments before responding. "It was a lot of things."

Alex sat and listened as Will unloaded. Every fear, every worry for the past few days came hurtling out. Alex could see Will's shoulders getting lighter; see some of the strain leave his eyes.

"You done?" Alex asked around a mouthful of pancakes.

Will's entire face from his neck to the tips of his ears turned pink. It made Alex long to capture it on film.

"Well," Alex began, "I think a lot of your problems are in your head. You've tried your best with EJ. That situation isn't your fault. But props for aiding and abetting. Your dad sounds like a douche. You aren't there for your family? Please, I got stuck at the pity party with Adrienne. No one missed you. Not to mention, you were a little busy helping your aunt with the injured. On top of cleaning up the town. You know what I did?"

Will shook his head.

"I ditched the guy I planned on hooking up with and went to sleep," Alex said. "So, like hell you aren't doing enough."

Alex took a large gulp of his coffee. It pleased him to see Will's eyes riveted on him.

"That T kid doesn't know what he's talking about. If he has a problem with you being gay, that's it-his problem. You can't change how he feels and you don't need to waste your time trying. Now, you sure that's it?" Alex held Will's gaze.

"Um-," Will, picking at some skin hanging over his thumb, rushed out, "SonnykissedmeandwegotinafightandIsawhimwithBrianandhedoesn'tlikeme."

"Slower," Alex ordered, trying not to smile.

Stop that. You don't find things like that cute, Alex reminded himself.

"Sonny kissed me, yesterday morning," Will explained. "We got in a fight when I pushed him away. When I went to apologize, I saw him with this guy, Brian. And-well-I don't understand why Sonny would do that if he didn't like me."

Alex paused with his fork right in front of his mouth. "Sonny kissed you?"

"Yeah," Will nodded. "And I pushed him away. I don't know what he was thinking. Why then? Why there? And we got in this big fight. He said-well-he said that I don't know how to be gay. And then I saw him, you know, flirting with Brian and I don't get it. Why would he do that?"

Alex put his fork in his mouth and took his time chewing. He knew. He knew his brother better than people thought, better than Sonny thought.

Alex knew why Sonny kissed Will. From the frantic hair fixing and too big smiles when Sonny first introduced them, Alex knew. He even knew why Sonny would lash out at Will when he got rejected. Why he would relish in the attention of another man so soon after his ego got wounded.

Sonny liked Will.

Well, fuck, Alex thought, mashing his teeth together while chewing.

No one would ever confuse Alex for a perfect brother. Even he had to admit chasing after his brother's crush was screwed up.

Is it any worse than the time I slept with Joey's girlfriend in high school?

Alex knew the answer to that too. In high school, he was stupid and immature. He was an adult now. He should know better. He did know better.

But Will pushed Sonny away. He didn't want Sonny to kiss him. Last night, though, he couldn't get enough of me. He didn't push me away. He wanted to kiss me.

Swallowing, Alex said, "Maybe Sonny wasn't thinking. The explosion made a lot of people emotional."

"Oh," Will said, thinking it over. "Okay but what about Brian?"

"That I don't know," Alex admitted. "I've never heard of the guy."

"He's all smart and handsome and put together," Will pouted, elbow on the table.

"I doubt he's better looking than you," Alex said before clamping his lips shut. He didn't mean to say that.

"He looks similar to you," Will said. "So, yeah, he's better looking."

Alex, pleased by the insinuation, sat up straighter.

They sat in silence until Alex noticed the forlorn expression on Will's face. "Hey, Horton?"

"Yeah," Will asked, back to stirring his eggs.

Alex waited until Will looked him in the eyes. "I think you're hot."

Will's cheeks turned pink again, eyes wide.

"And one of these days, you're gonna think it too," Alex promised. "Now, you gonna eat your pancakes or what?"

"You can have them," Will said in a near whisper.

"Good, they're my favorite," Alex stabbed at Will's pancakes and put them on his own plate. When he noticed Will staring at him, he asked, "What?"

Will shook his head, feeling better about himself, just a tiny bit.

"Don't you think I should apologize?" Will asked Alex as they walked around the docks.

"For what?" Alex barked. "Not wanting Sonny's slimy lips all over you in public? Get real."

"But we argued," Will pointed out. "I don't want him to end our friendship."

"If Sonny ends your friendship over one fight, he's not a real friend," Alex insisted. "And I know my brother. If you apologize first, he's gonna walk all over you."

"What do you mean?" Will wondered.

"That's how he works," Alex shrugged. "If you don't stand your ground, you're gonna regret it. Sonny has to be right in every situation. It doesn't matter if he knows he's wrong, in fact, especially when he's wrong. If you give in now, he will expect you to give in every time."

"Are you sure?" Will didn't think that sounded right. Every instinct told him to beg Sonny for forgiveness and seek approval.

"Trust me," Alex insisted. "You give in now and he'll hold it and every other mistake over your head until the end of time. He's just like his mother."

"I see," Will said. "What about you? Are you like your mother?"

"My mom?" Alex snorted, "Of course, I am minus the long list of ex-husbands."

"I know how that goes," Will admitted with a laugh. "Are you two close?"

With Will's attention focused on him, Alex couldn't help opening up. "I guess. I didn't see her most of my life. But we reconnected when I was in high school. She's the only one that came to my graduation. Actually, she wants me to move to New York, closer to her. I haven't decided if I want to, though."

"You might leave?" Will frowned, stopping in place.

"I don't plan on sticking around Salem forever," Alex admitted.

"Well," Will frowned, "whatever it's worth, I don't want you to go."

"Aw, would you miss me?" Alex teased despite the strange sensation in his stomach.

"Yeah, I think I would," Will said, knocking his elbow against Alex's. "You're growing on me."

Alex pulled out a cigarette, his lighter, and lit up.

"Do you have to do that?" Will frowned. "It's disgusting."

"I don't do it that often," Alex said, blowing the smoke away from Will.

"Yeah, sure," Will rolled his eyes. "You're one of those guys that started it to look cool, didn't you?"

"I did not," Alex said a little too fast.

"Oh my God," Will laughed, "you did!"

"I didn't admit anything," Alex insisted, walking faster.

"You didn't have to," Will had to strain to keep up with Alex's long legs. "I see right through you, Kiriakis. Let me guess, you have a motorcycle."

"No, I don't," Alex sneered. "I rented a BMW, thank you."

"You're a leather jacket away from being a '90s movie," Will said.

"Keep talking, kid," Alex said, "I'll toss you in that water."

"You'd jump in after me," Will said with a huge grin.

"You wanna test that theory?" Alex challenged. "You don't know me that well."

"I think you-ah!" Will squawked when Alex reached forward and shoved him off the dock.

Alex barked out a loud laugh when Will landed with a loud splash. "You should have seen your face!"

Alex, shoulders shaking, continued smoking even when Will didn't surface.

"I'm not going in there!" Alex yelled to the water. "I know you're messing with me."

He's fine, Alex insisted, shifting his weight from foot to foot. Just fine.

Didn't he just tell me he almost drowned here when he was young?

"Horton?" Alex asked, looking over the edge. He couldn't see anything or anyone. "Son of a bitch."

Alex tossed his phone to the side and hopped into the water, cigarette and all. "Horton? Horton?"

Alex looked all around, searching. "Will?!"

He heard a snicker behind him. Underneath the dock, perfectly safe, was Will.

"I knew you'd jump after me," Will said, water dripping down his face. He held onto one wide wooden pole to keep above water.

Alex swam over to Will's side. "You're an asshole."

"You pushed me in," Will defended with a chuckle. "You owe me a new phone."

"I don't think so," Alex said. The water was lower here than he expected. His tip-toes brushed the bottom's edge.

"Mmm hmm," Will argued.

Face-to-face, so close Alex could count the freckles on Will's nose, he said, "Not gonna happen."

Will's eyes dipped down to Alex's mouth. Without thinking, he licked his own lips.

Alex smirked, reaching out to put one arm around Will's waist.

"I think you need to make it up to me," Will whispered.

"Uh-huh," Alex said, lips connecting with Will's.

Will's arms latched around Alex's neck, moaning into the kiss.

With gentle waves lapping over them, Alex held them both up. He teased his tongue along the seam of Will's lips.

If Will were any other guy or girl Alex messed around with, Alex would have already mapped out the best way to get them naked, to get release. With Will, though, Alex didn't think at all. His head drifted and the fluttering in his stomach grew restless.

Alex closed his eyes and let go.

The two could have stayed there all day, all night. Kissing and kissing with no aim in mind but to stay close to one another. But a loud voice stomping above their heads interrupted them.

"I could have sworn I saw Alex walk this way," Adrienne Kiriakis said.

"I thought I did too," Maggie Horton agreed. "Oh, well, we better keep looking."

Faces inches apart, Will and Alex caught each other's gaze and laughed.

"I guess this isn't the best spot for an impromptu make-out session," Will said. He almost couldn't believe he kissed a guy in such a public setting. He couldn't stop the nervous giggles from escaping.

"I don't know," Alex let go of Will. He used the water to slick his dark hair back. "It seemed pretty perfect to me."

Will, eyeing the way Alex's white shirt clung to his shoulders, swallowed. "Uh-huh."

"We better get out of these clothes," Alex suggested, having trouble keeping his eyes off Will. "Who knows what diseases this water is carrying?"

"Okay," Will agreed. As the two swam out from under the dock, he said, "Hey, Alex?"

"What?" Alex, the taller of the two, pulled himself up onto the dock before helping Will.

"I'm not kissing you after you smoke again," Will said before walking ahead of him, a certain swagger in his hips.

"I can just go get some of my own clothes," Will reminded Alex. He walked out of the bathroom in Alex's hotel and into the living area. "I don't have to wear yours."

"Today, you are relaxing," Alex said, keeping his eyes away from Will. "If I let you go back home, your mom will keep you. Or your million siblings will need you. Today, you're all mine."

"If you say so," Will tugged at the blue shirt of Alex's he wore. It was too big. Alex wore his shirts pretty snug but this one hung on Will. The v in the neck came down to expose a lot more of Will's chest than he was used to.

Alex, glancing at Will, tried to keep his cool seeing Will in his shirt. He cleared his throat. "Let's go."

"Where are we going now?" Will wondered, following Alex to the door.

"I owe you a phone," Alex reminded him. "Besides, I've got a craving for coffee all a sudden."

Will, playing with his new iPhone, followed after Alex through the square.

"Let me see that," Alex ripped the phone out of Will's hands before he could respond. "There."

"There, what?" Will took the phone back.

"I put my number in it," Alex said like it was no big deal. "How else am I gonna tell you where to meet me?"

"Oh, that's cool," Will opened up his text messages and sent one off fast. "There, you have my number too."

Alex nodded. "Now, coffee."

"Uh," Will slowed his pace when he saw where they were going. "Do we have to go to Common Grounds?"

"No but it's free," Alex said. "So, we're going."

"I haven't talked to Sonny since our fight," Will reminded Alex, catching up to him. "You know that."

"So?" Alex said. "Like I said, make him apologize first."

"I can't go to his own store and expect him to apologize," Will said. "That's rude. And what if I see Brian?"

"Again, so?" Alex rolled his eyes.

"Brian hates me," Will responded, "which is screwed up considering I introduced him to Sonny."

Alex stopped and rounded on Will. "Here's another lesson for you. It doesn't matter if people hate you. You can't please everyone and it's pointless to try. If Brian," Alex said his name like it was something diseased, "has a problem with you, that's his issue. He doesn't get to tell you how you should come out. He doesn't get to decide your process or how to be gay. The fact that he doesn't understand your reservations means he's a dick. So, stop caring what he thinks. Got it? Good."

Alex turned back around, expecting Will to follow. It took Will a few moments, but he trailed after Alex with a big smile on his face.

Sure enough, when they got to Common Grounds, Brian was sitting at a table by himself. A table with a perfect view of the counter where Sonny stood.

"Bathroom," Alex said, "Find a table."

He left without waiting for Will to answer.

Feeling awkward, Will sat at the closest table. He played around with his phone again, getting used to the newer model. He couldn't believe Alex bought him a new one after all.

"Hey, Will," a waitress said, placing a large mug of coffee in front of him. "I didn't see you yesterday."

"I was busy, explosion and all," Will told the girl, Lauren. "Thanks, by the way."

"You've got the easiest order to remember," Lauren shrugged, "like ever."

"Thanks anyway," Will smiled, glad he wouldn't have to go to the counter and talk to Sonny.

Will turned back to his phone. It was amazing how many little changes there were in the models.

"So," a smug voice said, interrupting Will's concentration, "look who decided to show up."

"Brian," Will glanced at him before focusing on his phone again. He tried to keep Alex's words in mind. Brian's a dick. I don't need to care about him. I don't have to feel bad around Brian.

Taking a deep breath, Will connected his phone to the free Wi-Fi. He might as well check to see if his professor posted grades on the latest chemistry test.

"You know, Sonny," Brian emphasized the name, "and I are going to the movies later. I'd invite you but I'm sure you would be in the way."

Will put his phone on the table, eyes flashing.

"I'm back," Alex declared in a loud voice. "Miss anything good?"

"I'm checking my Chem grade," Will answered. He smiled when Alex shoved Brian out of the way to pull out his chair. "And I didn't even have to order my drink."

"What's with the toolshed?" Alex nodded toward Brian. He turned his chair so he only had to look at Will.

"Oh-uh," Will glanced at Brian's affronted look. He held his mug up to his mouth so no one could see his smile. "Alex, this is Brian, Sonny's-uh-friend."

"You know I don't care," Alex said. He swiped Will's mug and took a drink before handing it back. "So, Horton, what grade did you get?"

"I got a high B," Will shrugged. "Chemistry's not my strong point."

"You know, I'm pretty good at-," Brian attempted to say.

"Well, if nothing else," Alex said in a loud voice, cutting off Brian, "I can help. Not that you need any. Complaining about a B? You're such a nerd."

"Like I said," Brian cleared his throat, "I can help. I aced all my chem courses."

"I can meet up with you tomorrow," Alex said, giving Will a mild smile.

"Hello?" Brian said, frowning.

"Are you still here?" Alex turned to give Brian a dismissive look.

Brian sputtered for a few seconds. Will clamped down his lips, enjoying himself a little too much.

"Does my brother know you have a speech impediment?" Alex asked. "I don't think he has the patience to deal with that."

"I do not have a-," Brian, fists clenched, growled.

"Hey, what's going on?" Sonny asked as he walked up.

"Oh, nothing," Alex stole Will's mug again and saluted Sonny with it. "Nothing at all."

Will dissolved into giggles when Alex turned toward him and winked.

"Alex, what are you doing?" Sonny demanded, hands on his hips.

"What?" Alex said, lifting up his hands. "I thought he had a stutter. How was I to know he's just a dumbass?"

"Alex!" Sonny hissed.

"Excuse me?" Brian spat.

Will buried his face in his arms, trying to regain control of his giggles.

Alex shrugged again, turning to face Will.

"Who the hell is this, Sonny?" Brian voiced.

"My brother," Sonny said through his teeth, "and he's leaving."

"I just got here," Alex said. "Will and I haven't even finished our coffee."

"You don't have any coffee," Sonny gestured to the single mug on the table.

"We're sharing," Alex gave Sonny a condescending look and stole another sip.

"Alex," Sonny grumbled.

"There's that party trick again," Alex said. "You open your mouth but all I hear is Adrienne."

Will noticed Sonny's face turned red and his eyes looked a little crazy. He finished the coffee off and said, "I'm getting a refill."

He got up, patting Alex's shoulder on the way to the counter. Like he anticipated, Sonny followed him.

Sonny ripped the mug from Will's hand, muttering under his breath.

"You shouldn't let him get to you," Will said. He couldn't stand it when Sonny got upset. "You know he's just teasing."

"You don't know Alex the way I do," Sonny insisted. "Why are you with him again anyway?"

"Ran into him earlier," Will said. He put his hand over his mouth. He could still feel Alex's lips against his. Could still taste Alex on his tongue, a mix of syrup, smoke, and coffee. It should have been unpleasant but wasn't.

Will hated that he finally kissed a guy and couldn't even tell his best friend about it. Sonny would freak out if he knew.

"You don't have to hang around him," Sonny promised. "He's a jerk."

"And you sound like a typical little brother," Will realized.

Sonny slammed Will's mug down and crossed his arms. He stared at Will for a few moments before sighing. "I missed you," Sonny mumbled.

"I missed you too," Will admitted. Apologies were on the tip of his tongue but he remembered Alex's advice.

Sonny tapped his foot a few times until he realized Will wouldn't say anything else. "Look, I'm sorry, okay? I might have overreacted the other day. A little. Kinda, maybe."

"I'm sorry too," Will said. "I had a lot going on and I took it out on you. That wasn't right."

"No, it's not your fault," Sonny uncrossed his arms and leaned on the counter. "I should have known better. You're still figuring everything out. I shouldn't push."

"No, you shouldn't," Will smiled when Sonny stared at him in shock. "But thank you for saying that."

"So, you wanna hang out here?" Sonny offered. "I have invoices to do. It always goes by faster when you help me."

"Sorry," Will wrinkled his nose, "I already have plans."

"With who?" Sonny wondered.

"Alex," Will said.

"Alex?" Sonny repeated, crossing his arms again. "Why are you hanging around him so much?"

"I don't know," Will said. "He's funny. We get along. Do you have a problem with it?"

"No," Sonny said faster than even he expected. "Just curious."

"I thought you were going to the movies with Brian anyway," Will said when he felt a hand on his lower back, Alex.

"You ready to go?" Alex wondered.

"Yeah, sure," Will replied. He took a large drink from his coffee and handed it over to Alex.

Will didn't know when that became a thing but it had.

"Hey, Son?" Alex asked once he polished off the coffee. "You free tomorrow?"

"I guess," Sonny said in a quiet voice. "Why?"

"Haven't seen you much," Alex said. "Thought we could do something."

"Alright," Sonny nodded. He looked between Will and Alex for a moment. "Why is your hair wet? Both of you?"

"We went for a swim," Alex smiled. His fingertips brushed the edge of Will's waistband. "My clothes don't look too bad on him, do they? Bye."

Alex pulled on Will's belt loop and pushed him toward the exit.

Sonny stared at them until they were out of sight. As soon as they left, he grabbed the mug they shared and threw it into the dirty dish bin a little too hard.

"You okay?" Brian asked, slinking over as soon as they left.

"No," Sonny answered, glaring at the door again.

Author's Note:

This holiday week has got me all confused. I legit thought today was Friday. Apologies for the late update.

Thanks for reading and please let me know what you thought.