“Ahh, I can’t believe it!” Josh jolted up from the bed as a shrill voice echoed outside the hotel balcony. Despite the mind fog, he slipped the covers off of himself and tread over to the glass door. Will leaned over the balcony, still in pajamas and sporting wild bed hair. His face was plastered with a stupid silly grin. 

“This time tomorrow, I’ll be Mrs.Wilhelm Stamitz! I’m so ready for this!” the bride-to-be stood on the street, gazing at Will with heart eyes. Gag. 

“Yo,” the stark contrast of an exhausted alto voice drew Josh’s ear. Jamie stood on the street flashing a peace sign up at Josh. 

“What’re you doing with the bride troupe?” Josh leaned over to get a better look at her. 

“Breakfast,” she chimed. Josh scowled in thought. 

“I thought you didn’t like breakfast foods.”

“Peggy said chocolate croissants and then I was up and ready to go!”

“Ha. What about your husband?” 

Jamie scoffed as she moseyed up to Peggy and slung an arm around her, “My husband will live. He sleeps like a rock.” 

Will laughed at that, “What do you say, Pegs? Will you leave me behind to get chocolate croissants with James in the future?” A giggle chirped out of her.

“Only because it’s absolute hell trying to wake you up!” Another girl, presumably a friend, walked up to Peggy and said something in her ear. 

“Oh my gosh, we’re gonna be late! I’ll see you later, my darling!” she kissed her hand and tossed it up to Will. A short laugh slipped between his grin as he reached out to catch it and put it in his pocket. Gag. 

Josh approached the space next to Will as the two watched the group pile into the car. A dainty hand waved out the window as the car drove down the street. As the vehicle rounded the corner, Josh suddenly felt the weight of Will’s head on his shoulder. He scoffed.

“You good?” Will nodded and hummed dopily. 

“I’m gonna be married soon.” Josh scoffed again.

“You two are so gross.”

“Ha,” Josh can practically see that stupid smile on Will’s face, “You’re just jealous.” Instead of outright refuting or succumbing to the pressure of the truth, Josh settled for a simple grunt. Half-yawning and half-laughing, Will shifted his head. 

“When do you wanna get breakfast?” Will asked. 

“When do you wanna get off of me?” Josh shot back, turning his head to find his face reflected in Will’s irises. Their noses brushed. His breath slightly hitched, Will’s chin digging into his shoulder. Everything paused. An undetectable magnetic force seemed to desperately pull Josh, every muscle screaming to be let go. Don’t do this. You can’t do this. 

A crooked smile and an unreadable gaze set onto Will’s face.

“I know you don’t actually care,” his voice teasing and carefree. Everything paused yet again.

Josh almost leaned in, but Will shifted his weight to his other foot and stood upright. An all too familiar empty feeling sat in Josh’s chest as he gazed at the back of Will’s head.

“I’m thinking waffles,” Will scratched the back of his head before walking back into the room. Josh could only stand there watching him stride around the room without a single realization. He swallowed.

“Should I text Ethan and Marty?” 

~ ~ ~ ~ ~10 Years Ago~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Josh stepped through the door to the suite at 3 AM. The papers in his backpack dragged him down, his legs threatening to give out. His eyes burnt with exhaustion. And he hadn’t eaten since lunch. 

After dropping his bag in his room, he walked to the kitchen. To his surprise, there was another person leaning on the counter and looking out the window. The soft glow of the cabinet lights bounced off of a familiar face. 

“Hey,” Josh’s voice barely above a whisper. Will jumped, his head snapping up to turn to Josh. Face red, blotchy, and tear-stained, Will hastily wiped his face and sniffed. 

“Hi,” Will croaked. His eyes don’t meet Josh’s, instead finding solace looking at the teal-yellow patterned tile. Josh grabbed a random tupperware container in the fridge, but his eyes didn't leave Will’s defeated figure. 

“What’s uh,” Josh grabbed a bowl from the cabinet above him, attempting to sound casual in vain. “What’s up?”

“Y’know...vibing,” Will’s voice was quiet. “And you?”

“Also vibing,” Josh shrugged, “Gonna eat some... ” He opened the container.

“Fried rice,” Josh said as he scooped a helpful serving into the bowl. A beat of silence passed as he placed the bowl into the microwave.

“Did Jamie make this?” He asked. The microwave began to hum after Josh thumbed the start button. Minus the drone of the appliance, it was silent. 

“Will?” Josh turned and was shocked to see tears dropping from Will’s glazed over eyes. He rushed over and shook his shoulder.

“Will,” Josh’s steady voice snapped Will out of dissociation. A small gasp left Will.

“Sorry, sorry. What’d you say?” He turned his head as he wiped his tears. The conversation fell again as the microwave continued its song. 

“Is everything ok?” Josh found the question slipping out of his lips. He could feel Will’s chest expand and decompress as he sighed. Will turned to look at Josh, eyes wet. 

“I’m...” Will’s voice faltered for a moment to Josh’s confusion. He opened his mouth again when the microwave went off, causing the two to jump. 

“Shit,” Josh mumbled as he moved to grab utensils and the reheated fried rice. 

“So,” Josh said as forks clattered against each other and he pretended that the bowl didn’t burn his fingers, “Is everything ok?”

Will sighed before saying, “There’s a lot going on right now.” Josh hummed in response. 

“Tell me or don’t. Either way,” He turned around with a second fork held out to Will, “I don’t really care.”