Chapter Text
“You guys are disgusting.”
Mike squinted at Max and wrinkled his nose. “We’re not even doing anything, Maxine.”
Will was laughing beside him, hiding his face in his shoulder, and Mike couldn’t bring himself to be mad, not really.
Max scoffed. “I don’t even have to look at you guys to know you guys are doing something sickening. Honestly, it’s like we’re not even in the room anymore,” she complained, pouting at Lucas and El. Lucas laughed and put an arm around her shoulder.
“We’re not any worse than you guys! We can’t even do what you guys are doing right now,” Will pointed out through his laughter, and Mike pointed at him, agreeing.
“At least you guys have someone here!” Dustin whined, and Mike would feel bad for him, but it was his choice to have a long distance relationship with Suzie in the first place, so Mike decided it was his own fault he was feeling lonely.
“Yeah!” Jennifer said, setting her lunch tray down next to Dustin. Then she paused. “What are we talking about?”
“Mike and Will are being gross!” Max said loudly, over the protests of Mike and Will.
Jennifer looked at them, considering, then at Lucas and Max, and she seemed to decide something. “I don’t think Mike and Will are being as gross as you and Lucas right now, Max.”
Max threw her hands up as Mike and Will cheered, and Will held his hand out for a high five. Jennifer slapped his palm, then looked down at Will’s other hand, and Mike couldn’t help the color that raised to his cheeks. Her mouth dropped open, then shook her head in disappointment. “I take it back, they are being really gross.”
“Yes!” Max cried, standing up, and Lucas’ arm fell from her shoulder. “I knew you guys were doing something disgustingly cute! Stop!”
Mike wrinkled his nose at her as he raised his and Will’s intertwined hands. “Make us.”
Maybe that was a mistake, because Max nearly leaped across the table to pry their hands apart, laughing the whole time, and Dustin still complained about Suzie not being there, and El was holding up her hand to keep her milk from spilling in the process.
Will was giggling so hard that his hand was holding Mike’s in a death grip by the time that Max sat back down in a huff. “ Max ,” he chastised, and then he turned to Jennifer. “Can you believe this?”
Jennifer was grinning back at Will, and Mike gripped Will’s hand tighter despite himself. “At least you guys aren’t being so annoying about it. Some couples here are obnoxious .”
Some couples.
Mike smiled, and he leaned into Will’s shoulder to hide how pleased he was that Jennifer considered them a couple. That they were a couple.
It had been easy, really; asking Will if he wanted to date him. Especially after Mike had accidentally confessed his love for him.
Will had said it back, and then they’d stayed in Mike’s room for a long, long time.
And yeah, they’d talked eventually, but…Mike liked kissing. A lot. Especially when he was kissing Will. So talking? That hadn’t really been a first priority.
A girl came up behind Jennifer and put her hand on her shoulder. She whispered something into her ear, and Jennifer laughed and turned a bright red.
“I’ve got to go…study,” she said suddenly, standing up and giving a small wave to El. El waved back, and Max grabbed her hand to hold it under the table.
“Hypocrite,” Mike said under his breath, and Will squeezed his hand.
As Jennifer walked by them, Will gave her a thumbs up and a fist bump. She made some sort of fanning motion, and Mike laughed. “I’m glad she’s moved on,” Will observed quietly, and Mike nodded to no one in particular.
Dustin groaned. “What does a guy have to do to get a date that lives around here?”
The entire table laughed at his misfortune as Lucas did his best to comfort him.
Things were good. Great , even. Spectacular. A plethora of adjectives came to Mike’s mind, and every single one of them had positive connotations.
Things were finally going to be okay .
As the bell rang, ending lunch, and everyone began to get up and move around, Mike stayed sitting. Will must’ve sensed something was up, because he ended his conversation with El to stay put next to Mike, always staying with him. He pinned Mike with a curious look, and Mike looked both ways before leaning forward and pressing a soft kiss to Will’s lips.
The rush of people in the cafeteria made it easy for them to get lost in the crowd, and honestly, even if someone did see them, Mike didn’t really care.
Let them look.
Mike was in love, and nothing was going to change that. He didn’t care if people saw, anymore; he just wanted to be with Will.
Will pulled away slightly just to smile at him, then he dove back in for one more kiss.
A
real
kiss.