“Smile,” Will said quickly, leaning in closer, pulling himself into frame with Mike.
Their heads were touching. Will’s smile came easy, like he could pretend this was nothing more than two friends hanging out.
But Mike was still looking at him. Not the camera. Him.
Click.
The flash went off. Will blinked, laughing under his breath as he pulled back just slightly. The countdown for the next photo started.
“Alright, focus,” he said, still smiling. Leaning back in.
Mike doesn't move.
“I can’t,” Mike says nearly against Will’s ear.
He turned his head. Their eyes locked.
Click.
The next flash went off, but neither of them reacted to it. They were too close now. Noses nearly brushing, breath slipping into the same shared space.
“Mike,” he said softly.
“Will,” Mike answered.
Their eyes searched each other. Will couldn’t breathe. Couldn’t move.
Mike reached out and touched Will’s cheek.
“I missed you,” Mike murmured, his gaze flicking down to Will’s lips before lifting again. “so much.”
Click. The flash goes off.
Something in Will sparked all at once. His whole body buzzed, like he’d been thrown back onto one of those spinning rides, except he wasn’t moving at all.
He couldn’t speak. Couldn’t think. His lips parted, but the words dissolved before they could form. Confusion and want tangled together somewhere beneath his ribs, too knotted to pull apart.
Mike must have seen it on his face, because he nodded, tilting his head as he leaned in.
“Yes,” he whispered, and Will felt the words against his lips. “Just like this. I missed you like this.”
And then Mike kissed him. His arms came around Will and pulled him closer, and the tiger slipped from Will’s hands and fell forgotten to their feet. Will went weak under the kiss.
Click.
The photo booth flashed one last time, catching the moment.
Time cast a spell on you — Chapter 34
Artist: sqnnnvvviii (on TikTok) / shrimphater333 (X)
Thank you for this beautiful sketch.
