(for Darren face cast go to end of book)

Over the next few days, Darren and Will had become pretty close. He introduced him to the party, and the only person who seemed to not really like him was Mike. Will thought it was because Darren and El seemed to get along really well, but El got along with everyone, except for you know, evil people. Darren was also pretty funny, the party was now at the lunch table laughing at his stories he would tell them, except for Mike, but Darren didn't really care.

"Wait, so there was seriously an alligator in your backyard?" Dustin asked in disbelief.

"Yup. I didn't go back there again for weeks, even after it left." Darren responded.

"I would move immediately." Will said.

"I would wrestle it." Max asked.

"No. No way you could wrestle an alligator." Lucas replied.

"Wanna bet?" Max asked. Lucas smiled at her as he shook his head, which earned a laugh from her.

"These stories are so interesting." El said.

"Yeah yeah, is there anything else about you other than the fact that you lived in Florida?" Mike asked. Max rolled her eyes at him.

"Okay, Mike." Darren said putting a lot of emphasis on Mike's name. "Let's see, any questions guys?"

"Oh oh! What do you like? Boys or girls? If you don't mind me asking, that's kind of a thing I ask all my friends." El said. Darren smiled.

"It's one of her interests right now, ever since she's started taking psychology as one of her electives." Max added, looking at Darren.

"Well, I don't mind at all." He started, "Well, I definitely like girls, but I also definitely like boys." Will's eyes widened as Mike just kind of got quiet and looked down.

"Wait, really?" Will asked, shocked.

"Yup. Really." Darren said. "I was honestly gonna tell you guys that anyways."

"Yo same." Max said as she reached across the table to give him a high five.

"Well, just know that we accept you." El said smiling, Darren smiled back.

"Cool." He responded, "Oh! I just remembered something, at my old school there were snakes in the vents."

"Seriously? Snakes?" Dustin asked. Suddenly the bell rang, signaling that lunch was over.

"I tell you the full story next time." Darren said. Dustin groaned as everyone got up to throw away their food and began walking to their next classes. Will quickly walked up next to Darren.

"Hey uh.. you have a free period next class right? Because you don't have an elective yet?" Will asked.

"Yeah why?" Darren asked.

"I.. I actually have to talk to you about something.. I feel like you're one of the only people who'd understand so yeah. Is that okay?" Will asked. Darren smiled.

"Of course, lets go to patio." He said as they began walking.

"That Darren dude is such an ass." Mike said. El rolled her eyes.

"How? He's just telling us funny stories." She responded.

"Well, he.. he just is okay? He's so like overly confident." Mike said.

"Are you.. jealous of him?" El asked, "Why?"

"I don't know it's just that Will's been acting weird lately and now he's suddenly talking to Darren and not me." Mike replied.

"Maybe he just wants to make new friends." El said as they walked up to her locker. "Besides, it's not like he's replacing you."

"It sure seems like it." Mike said crossing his arms.

"Just don't worry about it okay?" El said. Mike hesitantly nodded.

"Do you think maybe he.. likes Will or something? You know cuz he likes.. you know." He responded as she took her books out of her locker.

"Maybe, and even if he does who cares? It's not like it affects you." El said. Mike sighed and looked down. He felt a pit form in his throat when she said that.

"Hey uh.. you said you asked all your friends what they liked right?" Mike asked.

"Yeah, why?" El asked.

"Have you asked Will?" Mike responded.

"Yeah, but I can't tell you his answer." El replied. Mike nodded, feeling the pit in his throat become more prevalent.

"Okay." He said, "I'm gonna go home, I don't feel good."

"It's that why you've been so grumpy all day?" El said jokingly.

"Shut up." Mike said laughing a bit. El laughed too. "Anyways see ya Monday." He began walking away.

"See ya. Get better!" El said as Mike was already halfway down the hall. Mike didn't end up walking home, he ended up walking and going on a bus to a completely different place. He rang the doorbell of apartment 209 of an apartment complex. He heard rustling before someone came to open the door. It was exactly one of the people he wanted to see, Robin. Robin and Steve, who went to the same college and worked at same job, decided to be roommates. And over the past three years of them being in college, Robin has sort of become like an aunt to Mike, and when she wasn't home or if both of them were home, Steve was like an uncle. And they never really cared when he came over and talked about his problems, because usually his problems were entertaining to say the least.

"What are you doing here, kid? Shouldn't you be in school?" She asked.

"I can't be at school, something happened that I need to talk to you about. Are you busy?" Mike asked.

"Well.. well no, but-" Robin said before Mike pushed pass her and went into her apartment. "Well.. okay. Well make yourself at home I guess." Robin sat down as Mike paced in front of her couch. "Go ahead, spill."

"There's this new kid, right? And his name is Darren. He is annoying the fuck out of me!" Mike said as he continued pacing.

"Go on." Robin said.

"And- and he thinks he's so cool, just because he's from Florida, and his hair is curly, and he parts it to the side." Mike said kind of in a mocking tone.

"Is.. is that all that annoys you about him?" Robin asked.

"Everyone else is so impressed with him, especially Will." Mike replied, "And he told the whole table he likes boys and girls, you know, big fucking whoop! And I think he likes Will, actually scratch that I bet he likes Will."

"And.. why does that bother you?" Robin asked.

"I don't know. I don't fucking know. That's why I'm here. It shouldn't bother me, Will can do whatever he wants." Mike said, "It's just that, it's comforting to talk to him and I feel like Darren is stealing him away from me."

"Okay. Mike. You have to be very clear on this, stealing him away from you how?" Robin asked.

"Like.. like.. Will has barely talked to me in a week.. but it was even before Darren came, he's just been so awkward toward me and I have no idea why." Mike replied.

"So you just miss Will?" Robin asked.

"Yes, yes exactly." Mike started as Robin raised her eyebrows at him, "I mean, what if Will happens to like guys and likes him back and he never talks to me again."

"I'm sure he wouldn't, you're his best friend right?" Robin asked.

"Yes, but lately it just feels like he doesn't tell me anything." Mike said. Robin sighed as she patted the seat on the couch next to her.

"Okay, the way you're feeling towards Darren is the way I felt towards Steve and his stupid hair too." Robin started as Mike sat next to her, "You know that story, right? I'm not saying you like Will the same way I liked Tammy Thompson, but I think that Darren isn't the problem here. You need to try and talk to Will." Mike looked down a bit.

"I did, but he won't tell me anything." Mike said.

"Maybe don't try too hard, start trying to get more and more in touch with him everyday, maybe even try to befriend Darren." Robin said.

"Fat chance." Mike responded. Robin laughed.

"Point is, if you think that there must be a reason why he's not talking to you, try little by little to talk to him more and more that eventually it won't even matter and he'll tell you." Robin said. Mike smiled.

"Thanks, Robin." He responded.

"You're welcome, now go before Steve gets here, were going on a double date. Steve brings his girl.. or boy, and I bring my girl." Robin said smiling. "He would probably say you're ruining his vibe or something." Mike laughed a bit as he got up.

"Have you met Steve's.. partner.. yet?" Mike asked as he began walking to the door.

"No, but he hasn't met mine either." Robin responded, "Hopefully whoever it is doesn't fall for me."

"Didn't that happen before?" Mike asked.

"Yup, sadly for Steve." She replied before they both started laughing. Mike left feeling better than he felt before he got there. He decided he would try and talk to Will tomorrow.

To be continued..