Present Time

Mike walked into El's room as she went on about what she learned in 6th period. Mike could hear Darren and Will laughing in the next room over. He had totally forgotten that Darren was coming over to study. He sighed as he sat on El's bed next to her.

"Anyways.." She continued, suddenly catching Mike's attention. "What happened?"

"When I skipped lunch yesterday?" Mike asked. El nodded in response.

"Yeah, that's what you came over for." El replied, smiling. Mike laughed a bit.

"Yeah.. sorry. So basically, the day before, my dad and I got into a huge argument because of something." Mike started, "And I found out my uncle is dying."

"From what?" El asked.

"Classified." Mike replied.

"Well.. I'm sorry." El responded, putting her hand on his. Mike nodded.

"It's okay.. my dad was just being an- he was being mean." Mike said. El laughed a bit.

"I um.. can I tell you something now?" El asked. Mike nodded.

"Sure, what is it?" Mike asked.

"So um.. the last time we were on a break.. I-" El started, cutting herself off as she pulled her hand off of Mike's, "Don't be mad."

"I won't be, okay?" Mike responded. El nodded.

"I kissed Max." El said. Mike's eyes widened. He did not expect that.

"What?" He responded, not mad, just shocked.

"Yeah and I've been really confused and guilty ever since." El said.

"You.. you don't need to feel guilty. It's fine." Mike said. El sighed.

"I think we.. need to take a break." El started, "We've both been off lately, you know?" Mike looked down a bit, a bit of guilt filling him. He nodded.

"Yeah you're right. I'm sorry." Mike responded.

"It's okay, it's just until we get back on our feet." El started, "Deal?" She said holding out her hand. Mike sighed before grabbing her hand and shaking it.

"Deal." Mike started, "So um.. do you like girls?"

"I.. don't know." El said, frowning a bit. Mike nodded.

"It's okay to not know, okay?" He responded. El sighed.

"I have another question." El started, "Was that thing the only thing bothering you?"

"Yeah, why?" Mike asked.

"I don't know.. you just seemed off before that." El replied. Mike thought about it, after what El just told him, would he really be okay with telling her he might have feelings for someone else? His mind told him no.

"Nah.. just school you know." Mike responded. El nodded.

"Okay.. just making sure." El said. Mike got off of El's bed.

"I should probably go.. I haven't been home since yesterday morning." Mike responded.

"Where were you last night then?" El asked.

"I stayed over.. after me and Will talked." Mike replied. El nodded.

"Ah, okay." El started, "Well.. bye."

"Bye." Mike said as he began to leave.

"Love you." El said. Mike froze. He turned to her and nodded, before quickly leaving, kind of in shock of what she just told him. He wasn't mad, just kind of surprised. He stood in the hallway for a second before he heard faint music coming from Will's room. He slowly walked up to his door and knocked. "Who is it?" Will asked from inside. Mike slowly opened the door to see Will sitting on his bed. Mike smiled.

"Hi." He said. Will smiled back.

"Hello." Will said as Mike came in, closing the door.

"Darren left?" Mike asked as he looked around Will's room.

"Yup, a few minutes ago. He didn't want to be late for dinner." Will replied.

"Ah, okay." Mike said as he came and sat on Will's bed. "Are... you excited for prom?"

"Eh, not really." Will started, "It's not really fun if you have no one to go with."

"Aren't you going with Darren?" Mike asked.

"I mean someone you like." Will replied. Mike nodded.

"Don't worry, I'll save you a dance." Mike responded. Will laughed.

"Nah, I don't dance with annoying people, plus I don't like you that much." Will said. Mike smiled.

"You danced with me at my party." Mike started, "To the orgy song, you have to like me a little bit to do that."

"Because you made me, and stop calling it 'the orgy song'." Will responded.

"What? That's what it is." Mike said, Will laughed a bit.

"Well then what would you call this song?" Will asked, pointing to the radio. Mike listened to the lyrics, It was "I Think We're Alone Now" by Tiffany.

"Hmmm. The murder song," Mike replied.

"What?" Will responded.

"Think about it, 'I think we're alone now, doesn't seem to be anyone around.' It's about murder." Mike responded.

"It's supposed to be romantic." Will said.

"It's creepy," Mike responded. Will laughed a bit.

"You're weird." Will said.

"So are you." Mike responded. Will looked at Mike and smiled a bit.

"Wanna dance?" Mike asked as a new song started playing on the radio. It was "Time After Time," the same song that played at the skating rink.

"Isn't this the same song as last time?" Will asked as Mike stood up.

"We can continue where we left off." Mike said as he held out a hand to Will, smiling softly. Will grabbed Mike's hand and Mike pulled him up. Mike grabbed Will's hands and put them on his shoulders, before putting his hands around his waist. They started moving to the rhythm as Mike pulled Will closer to him. Mike and Will both got deja vu as they danced and stared into each others eyes.

"I'm glad things are back to normal between you and me again." Mike said suddenly, "Funnily enough, after the skating rink was when things got weird."

"Guess we're really starting where we left off then." Will responded.

"Yeah." Mike said softly.

"I'm glad too." Will started, "Though it was nice to have peace from your annoyingness." Mike smiled a bit.

"I'm not that annoying. Some would just say I'm.." Mike started, "Persistent." Will laughed a bit.

"You seem happier than yesterday." Will responded.

"Yeah, well I haven't really been home much yet so we'll see." Mike said. Will nodded.

"You and El didn't talk long." Will responded.

"Yeah um.. we're going on a break again." Mike started, "She said it's what's best for me and her to get back on our feet."

"Oh, I'm sorry." Will responded.

"Eh it's fine, we'll get back together eventually." Mike started, "Plus I think she's right. We both have a lot going on."

"Yeah." Will responded. They both stared into each others eyes for a few seconds before Mike spoke.

"Will, do you think we'll ever not be friends?" Mike asked.

"Of course not." Will replied.

"But what if.. I said or did something that made you not want to be my friend?" Mike asked.

"Well I wouldn't be your friend if you like murdered somebody or something like that." Will responded. Mike smiled a bit.

"I think.. um.." Mike started before he was interrupted by the door opening. Mike and Will quickly let go of each other.

"Hi, honey, I'm home." Joyce said as she opened the door. "Oh, hi, Mike."

"Hi." Mike said awkwardly.

"Hi, mom." Will started, "Um.. Mike was just saying goodbye."

"Yeah." Mike said.

"Oh, okay." Joyce said.

"Yeah.. um.. bye now." Mike said as he waved at Will and then at Joyce before quickly leaving.

"Why is Mike here?" Joyce asked.

"He came over to talk to El about something really quick." Will replied.

"Oh, mkay." Joyce responded as she set a bag down on Will's desk. "I got you some new paper for school."

"Oh, um, thanks, Mom." Will responded.

"You're welcome, honey." Joyce said as she put a hand on Will's shoulder before leaving. As the door closed Will sat on his bed, thinking about what just happened. What was Mike about to tell him? He sat and wondered. He didn't even feel awkward until his mom walked in and they both pulled away. They both knew what they were doing wasn't a thing friends did. He then remembered what Mike said about him and El, and he decided he should go talk to her about it. He imagined that she was probably sad, she always was when her and Mike took breaks.

To be continued..