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Will didn’t even have to see the time but he knew damn well it was too early for ruckus to be heard in his and Lucas’ dorm — Will didn’t even have morning classes so what the hell.
A frustrated hand rubs his face and he finds himself opening his eyes against his will.
“Dude, you have to wake up. We promised to have breakfast with the rest today.” Well shit. Will had definitely forgotten that yesterday in the process of finishing a project he had. Will sighs and begrudgingly pulls himself away from the comfort of his bed.
“You have 10 minutes, Will!” Lucas reminds him.
He waves a dismissive hand and walks towards their shared bathroom.
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“Who’s idea was it again to make our breakfast plan so early? Lucas and Will might not even be up yet.” Mike speaks as he goes through his daily hair routine to tame the curly locks and set his bangs. He’d decided to grow out his hair again and have his Mom cut it like she did back before his last year in high school before the semester started.
“Obviously, Jane and Max. They said the weather was perfect and that we needed more sun to go around.” Mike hears shuffles from Dustin before he settles behind Mike as he pulls down his shirt in front of the mirror that held their reflection.
“Dude, are you wearing that?” Dustin's eyes wander to the familiar ‘Hellfire Club’ print on Mike’s shirt.
“Yeah, I have classes after and I really don’t want to change clothes after eating. Besides, where we're going is nowhere fancy.” Mike mumbles as he finishes up applying the lip balm on his lips. Ever since Jane and Max had introduced him to it, he has not missed a day applying it on his lips. Bonus points for the compliments his lips get from Will when they kiss.
“You look so badass right now. You just have that natural vibe of… coolness mixed with mysteriousness and a gorgeous face. It’s uncanny how you look almost the same as you did in high school. Twenty bucks someone’s going to ask you out again before this day ends. Add another ten if Will gets jealous and you don’t come back to the dorm later.” Dustin’s eyes sparkle as he looks at Mike, a wide smile plastered on his lips.
“Are you betting on my sex life now? Don’t be silly, I look normal. What’s there to rave about?” Mike rolls his eyes and completely dismisses Dustin.
“Michael Wheeler, you don’t know what you do to people don’t you?” Dustin shakes his head and chuckles.
Quite frankly, Mike really doesn’t. He doesn’t notice how people actually remember him, nor the stares he gets, or the countless encounters he has from both genders — regardless of their program. His friends fill those in for him, they gossip over how some people in their class ask about Mike from them or how they get invited to parties as long as they promise to bring Mike. Even after all that, he doesn’t really understand. He dresses, acts, and speaks normally. It’s not like he’s got the most interesting face in their group — Will and Lucas take that cake, the attention they get is far more than what his friends are telling about him. He probably won’t ever care either.
They start to hurry up when Dustin's phone lights up with an incoming call from Jane. Muttered curses are heard when their feet just won’t fit in their shoes.
Mike grabs Dustin’s phone to answer Jane as they both move outside their dorm — Dustin locking the door behind. He continues to placate Jane when they arrive at the elevator, ending the call with a promise they’ll be down in a minute to meet up with them.
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“You’re wearing that?” Was the first thing Mike heard from Max.
“I said that to him too!” Dustin replies before Mike could ask what it meant again as they get off the elevator.
Mike sees Will and immediately latches beside him, Will’s hand finding home in Mike’s lower back. “Do I look weird? Are you going to question my shirt of choice too?” Mike’s eyes find Will’s that were already on him. “Will?” Mike tries again with a little nudge when Will doesn’t reply.
“Wha — No. No. I’m sorry, I think I got distracted, but I heard you. You don’t look weird, sweetheart.” Will assures Mike with a rub on his back as they continue to walk. Will thinks Mike was far from looking weird. In fact, he looked the opposite. Mike looked way too good for wearing something simple. The shirt wasn’t form-fitting but it definitely showed his lean figure. Not to mention, the shirt had somehow grown smaller making the fit somewhat like a crop top now. And his hair, so beautifully styled with the sunlight catching light from how shiny it was. Mike’s hair was tucked behind his ears and his bangs were styled perfectly on his forehead. Mike had his usual set of accessories adorning him — including a simple beaded necklace with a ‘W’ in the middle that Jane had randomly made for Mike. Was Will even going to survive their breakfast?
Will had heard from the party that Mike got attention when he wore this back in high school and he was away in California. The kind of attention for a so-called ‘loser’ that was different. They said Mike had been approached by their classmates back then. Saw people swooning over him when they’d walk the hallway. He became the talk of the town and people saw him less of what he was labeled as.
Will never thought he’d see it in the flesh. Almost the exact same Mike that he saw from a picture the party had provided for a visual reference. He understood those gossips loud and clear. Was Mike going to class wearing this? He shouldn’t. For Will’s sake. Will suddenly wanted to kiss his boyfriend crazy and never let another set of eyes see this. Everything that Mike is right now.
He tightens a hold on Mike’s waist and brings him closer to him.
“I don’t know what to describe you, sweetheart. But you look like everything I want.” Will murmurs directly in Mike's ear and quickly pecks his cheek before resuming to walk again.
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After a filling breakfast and another walk back to their campus. Everyone bids their goodbye to each other as they leave for their morning classes. That left Mike — who did have a morning class and Will — who didn't.
“Are you not going to change before you go to class, sweetheart? Maybe you’d want to freshen up again.” Will innocently brings up.
Will badly wanted to become a reason to make Mike skip his class. That feeling of possessiveness simmering on his stomach since his first thought of people looking not so innocently at Mike. His Mike.
“So there is something wrong with what I’m wearing. Tell me what it is.” Mike stops his tracks and glares at his boyfriend with a pout.
“I did not insinuate that, sweetheart. There’s nothing wrong, I promise.” Will tries to make Mike walk again.
“If I see someone stare at me when I enter, I won’t let you touch me, William. So you better keep that promise.” Mike snarks at Will.
Mike's feet were planted to the pavement despite Will pulling him to walk. He gives Will the nastiest bitch face he could conjure laced with the promise of 'do it I dare you'. What was even going on with Will? Even with his friends? The burn of wearing a Hellfire shirt was already in the past. Everyone probably thinks this was just thrifted now.
“Hey! Why would you assume someone’s staring at you for no other reason than you looking pretty. Don’t go there, sweetheart. If someone stares at you in a funny way, I’ll deal with them, how about that?” Will calms his boyfriend and kisses his forehead.
“Why are you even walking me? You don’t have classes and I know you’re still sleepy.”
“Whaaat, I can’t even be a gentleman to my boyfriend and accompany him? I can catch up on sleep, sweetheart.”
Truthfully, Will was not ready to let go of Mike and have him hanging like fresh meat surrounded by animals — and maybe he was getting a bit dramatic over but it didn’t matter. He was doing this for himself and his sanity.
As they walked inside the building, chaos was present despite the mark of early morning. Mike calmly navigates the hallway with Will beside him clasping his hand. Mike tries to keep a calm face (Max had dubbed it a ‘resting bitch face’) and tries not to notice that eyes were on them — probably for Will who was rarely seen here. It not like the nature of their relationship wasn’t known, but Mike didn’t really like attention in the building where he usually was so he tries to avoid anything to get it. However, Mike wouldn’t really be able to do anything if Will insists, and it’s not like Mike sees anything wrong.
How Mike remains oblivious to this remains a mystery to Will. I mean, seriously? He thought the worst was Mike not seeing his more than obvious romantic feelings for him. Will should be glad, his boyfriend’s obliviousness was critical right now. Critical to Will’s sanity and his urge to gut people’s eyes out who were blatantly staring at his boyfriend.
“All right, I got what I need so I’m gonna go already. I’m okay here, see you later.” Mike closes his lockers and offers a smile to Will. He leans in for a kiss on Will’s cheek and immediately turns around to walk away as if nothing happened. Mike was clingy but he was still definitely shy of showing affection in public, Will loved it. And Will was loving it more that anyone who still had his eyes on them saw Mike kiss his boyfriend. Will couldn’t help but feel so smug.
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The party, minus Mike, had found themselves waiting for him in front of his building. Mike had the latest class today and it was their routine to always walk back to their dorms together — having their schedule get cross-checked meant they knew when and when not to do it. The swarm of students getting out dwindles and that’s when they see Mike finally coming out, only that he was talking to a guy no one was familiar with.
Will tries not to see red. Tries not to march up and be rude to the guy taking Mike’s attention. He was a sweetheart to everyone, a known campus crush with a charming smile, kind eyes, and soft voice — even when Mike should have replaced him a long time ago. Will was a man who knew restraint. And restrain he did. The only reason he wasn’t going to Mike’s aid is because he could see that Mike didn’t feel uncomfortable yet and can still handle himself. Will sees a lot of gestures of no from Mike’s side and the guy’s incessant trying to shove a paper to his boyfriend. In the end Mike did take the paper and shoved it in his back pocket.
“Wheeler! We can only do so much to calm Will, y’know? I’m surprised he’s even lasted long.” Max starts and Mike’s head snaps to them.
Mike tries to cut the conversation short now, gesturing to his friends waiting for him to the guy who was still desperate for more attention from Mike.
Will was in need to know the guy’s name and have him on watchlist. He’s going to get that number from Mike and he’s teaching the guy a lesson.
“I’m sorry. He wouldn’t leave me alone and it was getting annoying. Thanks, Max.” Mike smiles gratefully at Max who only winked to reply.
As they walked back, Mike could feel Will’s hand travel from his waist to his ass in hopes to retrieve the paper he had put in his back pocket — Mike’s hand jumps to grab Will’s arm to stop it and tries to distance himself from Will so he could shove his own hand and give the paper to Dustin’s hand before Will could get a hold.
Of course, Will did not appreciate the gesture and grabs Mike once more and pulls him closer. Feeling betrayed by Dustin who should be giving that piece of paper to him right now. What the fuck was he even going to do with it? If Will had asked Dustin to pay for an etsy witch to get back at the guy, would Dustin agree? I mean, if he made a deal involving Jane, then maybe Dustin wouldn’t think twice to do that.
“Nuh uh. You can’t have this, William. We have to keep your sweetheart reputation. Can’t have you scarring this guy one way or another.” Dustin teases Will who glares at him.
“Hey! He was flirting with my boyfriend AND giving him his number. He deserves it.” Will fights back at Dustin who only stuck his tongue.
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“Why did you give Dustin the paper?” Will throws his bag haphazardly on the floor. The feeling of possessiveness still thrumming within him.
“Hey now, none of that. You don’t need to have to prove anything to a random guy. I love you and only you. That’s enough, right?” Mike takes place near his boyfriend and leans down to give him a long and deep kiss. Enough to loosen Will and make him slowly forget about the guy.
“Of course it is. I don’t think you understand how crazy people go for you, sweetheart. And I’m on top of that list.” Will says as he pulls Mike to him and makes him lay down beside him.
“How crazy? I want to know.” Mike’s eyes move up and down between Will’s eyes and lips while he bites his lips — waiting for Will to take the bait.
Will quickly moves their position, ending with Mike on his back and Will looming over Mike. He dives for Mike’s lips and kisses him with fervour — translating everything he felt through it.
“I have the whole night to let you know, sweetheart.”
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A knock comes from a different door and Dustin hurriedly opens it up.
“Pay up, Sinclair. You lost by ten, did you really think Will was gonna let Mike unscathed? We could save the guy, but Mike? Prayers only for him.” Dustin extends his hands towards Lucas who hesitantly places a crumpled ten dollar bill.
“Man, I should have made it twenty when I told you about it. My spidey senses were tingling about me being right.” Dustin teases Lucas more.
“And Will is going to kill you when I let him know you’re making is sex life a bet.” Lucas taunts.
“Mike is my roommate! He’ll back me up — his puppy eyes and decision would overrule Will. Cut the crap, Lucas. Will won’t do anything just like you when it’s Max.” Dustin confidently strikes back.
“At least WE have partners and are doing it willingly. When are you going to stop this little dance with Jane? I wouldn’t be surprised if she’s the one to ask you out. But since I’m a good friend, I’m going to save you from the wrath of Max and Mike shitting you until the end of time, so I’m begging that you start planning something. And maybe don’t embarrass yourself while she sleeps with you tonight.”
Lucas starts to walk away from Dustin knowing he’s damaged him enough for him to stand dumbly in front of their door.