Waiting for That Day on AO3 by stacy_lacy123
https://archiveofourown.org/works/78363611/chapters/205421786#main
(short snippet, enjoy!)
Years after their high school graduation, Lucas, Max, and Will have moved into a shared apartment, enjoying the day-by-day. While Lucas and Max have each other, Will has Carlton, and he's great... he's nice. The three of them have lives now, class, hobbies, and relationships. Things are stable, at least until the routine is shaken by Mike’s abrupt visit. Will doesn't need the any more reminders of his past and Mike always seems to have a way with reawakening those memories.
Will thought he had moved on, Mike thought so too.
The bus pulled up with a deafening, painful screech, reeking of diesel. Folks started spilling out. Families, singles, and every combination in-between until a familiar pale face caught Will’s eye as he stepped down onto the sidewalk.
Mike’s hair fell flat. His gray jacket swallowed his tired frame. The backpack of his travel necessities weighed down on his shoulders. His eyes peered absently through the lenses of his reading glasses. Will barely recognized him.
He could have swore last time Mike visited, he still maintained his childhood smile despite all that was running through his head. Maybe Will had been romanticizing too much in hindsight, this change hadn’t occurred overnight.
The drain seemed to have begun even before that final night. Will figured with everything that had been going on, Mike had been managing just as everyone else, day by day. But the man that stood in front of him might have been mistaken for a shadow, a shell of the person he once loved.
Lucas jogged over to greet Mike in a solid embrace. “Missed us much?”
“Hey! Yeah, yeah… Hi, Max.” Mike remarked as Max was the next for a reunion hug. “Your hair!”
“Oh yes!” Max laughed, remembering Mike hasn't seen her since before she cut it chin-length, “You can’t talk, you used to seriously consider getting a hot-orange mohawk." That made Mike crack a half-smile.
“It’s good to see you guys.” Mike’s eyes finally met Will’s. Jesus Christ.
Will was 12 again. “It was a seven.”
Will was 13 again. “Crazy together.”
Will was 14 again. “You’re destroying everything and for what?”
Will was 15 again. “What about us?”
Will was 16 again. “He was just my Tammy.”
Will was 23 now. He swallowed. He waved. “Hey.”
Mike stalled for a beat, eyes still locked on Will’s, he suddenly averted his gaze, studying the pavement. “Hi, man.”
pixelskylines
ellievsbear
kaledo-art
turnnoffyourmind
blakekathryn
