The reception was...bumping. In a cruel, twisted, humorous fashion. Ethan, Marty, and Jamie took it upon themselves to make the failed event worth every penny. And soon enough, their insane ramblings convinced a bunch of other people to join in on the festivities. 

A shitty DJ sat atop the stage playing hits from the early 2000s, a banner with the label “Congratulations Will and Peggy!” hanging over the edge. While everyone else was getting their groove on the dance floor, Josh and Will sat side by side, beer in hand. 

The duo sat in silence watching as the cheap lights flashed from blue to purple to green to red back to blue to purple to green to red. Occasionally, Will would dissolve into fits of silent laughter, wait a beat, and then take a swig. Josh refused to say anything. An hour passed, but the party continued to rage. 

“Fuck,” Josh looked over at Will who was hunched over with his head in his hands.

“Yeah,” he took his beer, clinked it against Will’s and said, “Fuck is right.” Will sighs and murmurs something.

“What?” Josh scooted closer.

“This song,” Will turned his head and smiled, “Remember?” After close listening, Josh recognized the familiar riff and borderline drunk chorus of Come on, Eileen by Kevin Rowland & Dexys Midnight Runners. 

“Ha, good song. What about it?” Josh snapped out of his headspace and found that Will had inched significantly closer.

“Junior year, after that huge party after the Opera. And Ethan was our ride home, but he promised too many people rides, and we all crammed in that tiny ass car,” Josh jolted when Will got up and sat on his lap, placing an elbow on the table behind them. 

“And I was forced to sit on your lap,” Will laughed quietly and continued, “And Marty cranked the radio and this song came up and we were all like yoooo and we all sang along and you sang so bad.”

He paused to look into Josh’s eyes. His cheeks were red and his face was soft. Josh held his breath.

“And you just...sang. And laughed. And you looked so…” Will trailed off, his eyes going out of focus. He stopped and slid off of Josh, standing upright. 

“I’m drunk,” Will’s voice quietly trembled, “I’m going outside.” Josh sat back watching Will weave between the tables. His heart hurt. The familiar emptiness came back. He couldn’t. He wouldn’t. 

He must. A magnetic force, an unbreakable bond, the piece that didn’t complete him but made him feel whole. He was everything and everywhere and every reason why. 

The chair clattered to the floor as Josh sprung up and ran after Will. 

“Will!” Josh’s legs pounded against the shiny floors as Will reached the exit. 

“Don’t follow me,” Will croaked, cold air rushing in as he walked out. 

“Will,” he called again, grabbing his wrist as the door shut behind them. 

“I said, don’t--” Will turned, tears streaming down his face, “Don’t follow me.” He sniffed. Despite his words, Will didn’t tug away from Josh’s grip. The two stood there, the breeze engulfing them in the space and the silence. 

“She’s right,” the phrase barely reached Josh’s ears, “But she’s also wrong. I mean, she was right about us. I had just been denying it and letting it go, just cause...it was fine?”

Will looked up and swallowed. 

“But she was wrong. Cause it’s so hard to love someone with all your might when they don’t...care. Josh. It was so hard. It’s been so hard. You go around, letting life happen, and you let these things wax and wane and you...don’t care about me as much as I care about you.” Will’s shoulders began to shake and he collapsed within himself.

“And you mean so much to me. Peggy was my love, but you? You’re my life,” He sobbed as he looked at Josh with the most heartbroken expression. Bringing a hand up, Josh cupped Will’s face and felt the dam of his fear dissolve. 

“You’re right. I don’t really care about anything. I don’t care about anything, but you. I don’t care if my drink gets fucked up cause it’s you, I don’t care if you wake up late and make our first meal of the day lunch cause it’s you, I don’t care if you eat tens of thousands of boxes of those peanut butter cookies because it’s fucking you, Will. I don’t care as long as you’re here, with me, messing around or eating fried rice or...whatever,” Josh gasped for breath as he finished. Will looked at him blankly, still unsure.

“Close your eyes.” Josh demanded.

“Why?”

“Just do it.” Will sighed and shut his eyes.

“What do you see.”

“What the fuck? Uh, nothing?” He opened his eyes and to find a shit eating grin on Josh’s face.

“That’s my world without you.”

“That’s my--” Will laughed heartily and rested his head on Josh’s shoulder, “That’s so fucking dumb, I hate you so much.” The two wrapped their arms around each other, their hearts feeling lighter tenfold. Josh smiled. 

“Too bad, I don’t care about that.”