Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

6 years old.

"Could you be my best friend?

I'll tell you all my secrets [...]

Could you be my best friend?

Can we be friends?"

The September weather was leaving behind all the traces of the warmness of summer, leaving a gray sky over Wilson's head that soon released a cold drizzle.

He didn't even have an umbrella and he was by himself.

His mom left him in front of the big old scary building, gave him a kiss on the head and warned him to be a good kid.

Everywhere he looked around was crowded with parents with their children and teachers slowly calling the kids inside.

It's the first day of 1st grade and he was frightened.

He was never good at making friends in kindergarten cause he never liked what every other little boy his age liked.

He remembers going to school with the Barbie doll he received for Christmas, when David flushed her head down the toilet.

He never cried more.

He didn't understand why they did that to him and not to Emily who received the same doll.

That day his mom sat him down on her knee and explained to him that he's "different" than the other boys but still, he didn't understand why.

Why was he an outcast? He once heard his mom on the phone with Miss Elle saying that at his age he shouldn't know what loneliness feels like and that she should've encouraged the other kids to play with him.

And Miss Elle tried her best but the other kids simply didn't like him.

Maybe because he was the teacher's pet of the art and music teachers, or because his favourite colors to paint with were pink and purple while the other boys his age liked blue and black. Or maybe it was for the fact that he hated football but still silently cried everytime he was picked last for a team.

Maybe things would've been different at the new school.

Mom said that this is a school for grown kids. Maybe this time he would've fitted in and maybe... —

"Hey Wilson take this!" David kicked the ball directly to his face making him lose his balance and falling into a puddle of mud.
His face was burning for the ball's kick and tears quickly washed away traces of mud on his face.

Every kid around him was laughing at him.

David high fived Marcus and ran away into the courtyard.

Maybe things weren't going to get better at the new school.

Maybe he was doomed to be the weird kid that nobody liked everywhere he went.

Soon after they left he heard a nice soft voice coming from behind him saying a simple "Hey".

Wilson didn't respond because he felt like he was gonna burst into a pool of tears if he opened his mouth.

"I said hey. It looks like you need a hand."

The little boy, now standing in front of him had a nice smile and a comforting aura around him.

He was slightly taller than him and had dark blond hair and fair skin.

His eyes were blue like the ocean in the sunniest day of summer.

He offered Wilson his hand to get off the ground and when he was back on his feet he kept holding it.

"Your elbow looks scraped. Can I kiss it? When my mommy kisses where it hurts i always feel better."

Wilson was about to tell him that his arm was too dirty to get kissed but, before a single word could leave his mouth, the other kid was gently kissing his scraped elbow covered in mud.

"I'm Brando. But you can call me Bran."
Wilson was so confused. Why was this boy so gentle with him? If David saw it he would've given Bran hell too but he didn't seem to care.

"I'm... I mean my name is Wilson... yeah i'm Wilson."
Bran started laughing.

"Your name sounds so silly. I'm gonna call you Will. Can I?"

Wilson was confused to why Brando would ever need to use his name again, he wasn't even sure he attended the same school since he had just appeared out of nowhere and wasn't wearing a uniform.

But he seemed nice so he simply replied with: "Of course you can Brando.

"It's Bran. I don't like Brando."
"Okay so i call you Bran and you call me Will?"
"Okay, Will."
"Deal, Bran."

Chapter Text

9 years old.

"And my life, it flies by

Faster than you could say

I love you, goodbye

It's almost over

You say with a sigh

Will our lives be better

When we make it to the other side?"

It was a rather sunny day of March when Will's mom was adorning the playroom with balloons and other cute birthday decorations.

Pushed on one side of the room there was a big table with a giant birthday cake with a Spongebob Squarepants sugar figure sitting on top of it.

Wilson was sitting bored on the tall chair beside it and he was dandling his feet off the chair.

4 P.M.

Everyone was gonna be there at any given moment now.

Will's mom was so excited. It had been a difficult year for her son, it wasn't easy moving schools in the middle of the year but she had to get him out of that toxic environment for his wellbeing.

Will had been bullied so much during the past three years it was difficult to accept as a mother, but the last episode became too much to endure.

Her heart shattered into a million pieces when she received the principal's phone call.

A kid punched him in the eye during the P.E. class, tired of Wilson never catching the ball for their team.

That day, his son's best friend, Brando, also got in trouble for starting a fight with that kid and not wanting to apologise.

When she ran off work to get to his school she found both of them in the principal's office, Bran holding Will's shaky hand.

Her son's face was all red and puffy from the extreme shame and crying, his eye was swallen and dark.

"I came as soon as I could" she told the principal.

"Miss Shane I'm so sorry such a vile act of bullying took place in our school."

he looked at the crying kid in front of him. "David is gonna get suspended."

"That's the bare minimum!" she replied in rage.

"I know that, and that's why I think it's better to start exploring other solutions..."

"What do you mean?" she replied confused.

"I know how though it has been for Wilson these years, so maybe the best option would be for him to change schools"

He handed her a brochure of a private school twenty minutes away from where they lived.

"NO!" yelled Brando. "Will can't go away! I want to stay with him!"

"Brando, you can go back to class now."

"Will is still sad, I can't leave him." the boy replied in the most serious tone.

"I said class, now."

The kid had a rather angry look when he left the big room filled with books and vintage photographs.

And as soon as Brando left the room the adults were left to make adult conversations.

Will was big enough to understand what was happening but was too sad to say anything.

When they walked outside of the office he asked his mom: "Mom does this mean i'm gonna be far away from Bran?"

"We'll see" the mom responded.

They really tried to make it work for as long as possible but Will's parents decided moving was the best thing to do after seeing the kid crying every morning at the thought of going to school. He was frightened by his bullies.

Things were going better at the new school. The kid kept a low profile and he felt rather invisible.

But he didn't complain: being invisible was so much better than being constantly picked on.

He just missed Bran immensely, even though they saw each other pretty often.

There are some bounds just meant to last regarding the circumstances.

Will and Bran's was one of those.

Will's mom finished decorating the room and soon after Will's cousins entered in the playroom.

The room full of games was too big for a total of six people, all of whose were just relatives, which made Wilson feel like crap.

What a loser he felt.

He tried his best to not look too sad since his mom put so much effort into organising the party but he just wanted to go home and bury himself under the blankets.

After a bit finally the door opened and revealed Will's best friend in the whole world.

He had the biggest smile on his face and a present in his hand.

"I'm so sorry Will" he said while handing him the hot pink bag "we were stuck in the traffic"

"You really came" Will felt humiliated at the thought of Bran seeing no one at his party except for his extended family, but in that moment he stopped caring because the only person that he wished would come had arrived.

Bran on the other hand didn't care, he thought Will's cousins were super nice and always had amazing toys to play with.

"How could have I ever lost your birthday!" the boy replied "I already miss you so much at school."

Will missed him too but he knew that going back wasn't in the cards for him.

So he just thought about enjoying the rest of his birthday with his cousins and his favorite person in the whole world.

When it was time for cake, as he blew the candles he only had one wish, so he closed his eyes and thought to himself:

I hope Bran never leaves me.

Chapter Text

11 years old.

"I think I'm ready for,

Only you and me

We made it out, it seems

I made it out, it seems

I think I'm ready to

Grow"

The brutally cold winter of that year was slowly being replaced by sunnier days as Wilson and Brando were about to finish elementary school in their respective schools.

Will was so happy to leave that chapter of his life behind because he felt really lonely and never made any new significant friends at the new school.

He only found comfort in music and he loved listening to his dad's old vinyls with him.

For this very reason the kid decided to ask his parents to buy him a guitar and to take some lessons, pledging that he wouldn't have neglected school for it, and his parents didn't hesitate to say yes since he always had straight As.

Even if he felt lonely he was never truly alone, he always had his best friend, but they were both so busy with homework and extracurricular activities that they were seeing each other less than usual.

The truth is that being in different schools sucked.

For this reason they were so excited to start the same middle school the following year.

They both needed a fresh start.

As the year progressed Will was getting better with guitar and would sometimes play Bran his favorite songs.

But his favorite song to play was Give Me Love by Ed Sheeran.

Bran loved when he sang him that song because the lyrics unleashed some feelings in him he couldn't quite explain.

Will had a way of singing that couldn't be put into words, and Bran thought his voice was angelic and deserved to be heard by the whole world, but he was happy to have the privilege to be one of the few people to hear it.

To make a long story short, school was coming to an end and the boys were as busy as ever with their final exams.

While Will was as happy as ever to leave elementary school behind, Bran on the other hand was going through a hard time because his parents' fights became more and more violent over the months.

He didn't tell anyone of his friends of what was happening at home because he didn't wanna feel pitied.

Of course that didn't include Will, who he always went to to find comfort.

He didn't know soon things would've broken into a million pieces.

He knew what a divorce was, his classmate Ally went through it with her parents, but his heart still dropped when his parents announced him they were getting one.

They told him it was for his safety and wellbeing, and he thought it was a bunch of bullshit.

He still remembered one day being in his room with Will, with the yelling of his parents filtering through the walls inside his room.

The usually strong boy was in shambles, and told his best friend: "Will I'm so scared of what is gonna happen to my parents."

The older boy held him close and caressed his back with his soft hands that were starting to assume the shape of guitar strings.

"I don't know what's gonna happen with them, but I promise you that everything is going to be okay."

The two boys stayed in that position for a while. It felt like comfort and home.

After a bit, Bran separated his body from his best friend's to look at him straight up in the face and tell him something in the most serious tone ever.

"Will, you have to make me a promise."

"What Bran?" responded his friend.

"We will never stop loving each other. You have to promise me that. We will never get a divorce."

Will didnt know how to tell him that he was the one constantly terrified by the idea of losing him.

That at every chance for a wish he wished for him, at every birthday, shooting star, or wishbone, his wish was always to never lose Bran.

"I solemnly promise that I'll never stop loving you. You're my favorite person Bran."

The boy in front of Will smiled with an undertone of sadness.

"Can I ask you to sing me a song? I'm a bit sad."

And Will knew what he had to do, he knew it wouldn't have been the same since he didn't have his guitar with him, so he held his best friends in his arms and started softly singing:

"Give a little time to me or burn this out

We'll play hide and seek to turn this around

All I want is the taste that your lips allow

My my, my my, oh, give me love

Give a little time to me or burn this out

We'll play hide and seek to turn this around

All I want is the taste that your lips allow

My my, my my, oh, give me love"

When he was done singing, he was happy to see Bran sleeping on his shoulder, since he knew he hadn't been sleeping well because of his parents' fights.

He felt proud of himself for that.

So he stayed there, motionless to not wake his best friend up, while his gentle perfume flooded his nostrils.

Chapter Text

14 years old.

"I know a place we could go

Unpack our bags and we'll call it a home

The sea will sing our minds to sleep

I know a place we could go"

"Okay this sucks" said Bran while coughing in a cloud of smoke.

He passed the cigarette to Will.

"I don't know, it's kinda relaxing after a while" said Will after taking a puff of smoke.

The lake was calm in front of them, reflecting the last rays of sun of the day, the grass around it was lukewarm under their bare feet.

"First cigarette together, check! Our list is coming together pretty well."

Will smiled. He always felt like time was after him, like he was losing his years being sad.

He was so young but felt so old at the same time.

When he talked to Bran about it they ideated this list of "first things to do together".

Trying to smoke was one of them.

They already covered three points on the list.

Go to a concert: — They went to see Hozier together in Dallas and it was magical.

Learn how to shave: — They both didn't have many facial hair. It was like puberty was making fun of them.

But as soon as they had the shadow of a stache they asked Bran's dad to teach them how to shave. Together because they did everything together. They were Will and Bran after all.

Smoke their first cigarette: — They chose to do it to the shore of this lake far from home because they were afraid of their moms smelling the smoke on their clothes.

Their plan was perfect, they told them they were sleeping at each other's houses, sure that their moms wouldn't have checked because they were at each other's every single day and they were to busy for them now.

This brought them to the fourth point of their list: sleeping under the stars.

They were lucky enough to live in a city in the middle of nowhere with not much light pollution so the stars were becoming visible after time passed and Will smoked several cigarettes.

"Okay now stop." said Bran "You smell like shit."

"What if i'm not designed for life, Bran?"

despite saying this Will had the most beautiful smile on. The saddest smile Bran had ever seen.

"Now stop this bullshit please, you're made to be my best friend. I promise you high school is gonna be a blast."

Brando really meant it. Will was the coolest person he knew and he didn't understand how people at school were so cruel to him.

Middle school wasn't as brutal as elementary school but it was still though.

Will became an introverted and sad person as rumors started circulating about him.

At first going to school was so anxiety inducing for him, then he became too depressed to care.

Bran really hoped going to high school was gonna be a fresh start for him. He deserved it.

He thought he deserved happiness more than any person in the whole world.

"What if we carve our names into this tree? To remember this day?"

"Okay but you do it. I don't want splinters in my hands."

"Pft." Bran smiled and pulled out a Swiss army knife and slowly and precisely started carving letters on the tree, that after a few minutes of work read:

W + B

BFFS FOREVER

Brando was proud of his work. He hoped Will would've always remembered the day where they went to the lake and lied to their moms just to taste cigarettes and sleep under the stars.

"Let's put the sleeping bags, it's getting late" said Will while getting closer to the shore, leaving that tree with the promise of them always remaining friends carved on it behind them.

As the time passed the temperature lowered, leaving them in a cold spring night.

"Bran" Will turned his head to the boy that was looking at the stars.

"Yeah Will?" he responded without removing his gaze from the starry night.

"No... maybe it's weird."

"Well you ARE weird."

"Oh fuck off." said Will a little offended.

"In the best way possible. I wouldn't like you if you weren't weird."

Will didn't know what to say. Those words unleashed a strange feeling in his stomach. Something inexplicable.

So he went straight to the point: "Can you hug me?"

"Huh?" Bran was a little caught off guard.

"I swear to God i'm freezing can you just... hug me until i fall asleep?"

"Oh. Sure." Bran was sure he felt something he never felt before.

Maybe this feeling was something new to add to their list. But he didn't know how to put it into words.

"Thanks." Will snuggled up next to his best friend turned on his left side while Bran was on his back.

But he wasn't sleeping. He felt too many emotions at the same time. Like Will's life depended on him just because he was keeping him warm.

And that night, Texas' starry sky watched two boys snuggled up together hoping to catch a shooting star until they fell asleep into each other's arms.

Chapter Text

16 years old, winter.

"Don't be scared, little child,

You're no demon

There's a God, in the sky

Don't believe Him,

Gods do love you now."

Wilson was lost in his thoughts, with his arms resting on the railing of his terrace.

The night was cold, but the sky was clear and showed no signs of possibly raining.

He was in his dark blue pajama with little anchors embroidered on it but he simply couldn't sleep after the hell of a day he had been through.

Jenna had been clear. He had to solve his own shit before fucking other people up. And she was right, but he genuinely didn't want to hurt her.

Stupid, stupid, stupid Will and his stupid fucking ideas.

She was a nice girl with big doe eyes in his same history class that always looked at him with a sweet smile.

Will deep down knew she may have had a crush on him, but he didn't want to think about that possibility, because she was a nice friend and he didn't wanna screw things up with her since he didn't feel the same way.

So why did he accept her invite to go out when she finally confessed her feelings for him?

He was thinking about the answer to this question restlessly after the events of that day.

Their date had been nice, he went picking her up with his red truck and they went to Frank's for milkshakes.

Their conversations were pleasant and it was easy to switch topics with her: they ranged from complaining about the amount of homework that Mr McGlenn assigned them, to Leia, Jenna's cat who was apparently the only thing present in her camera roll, to their dreams and ambitions for college.

And just like that four hours flew by, with them talking about literally anything.

Will felt so happy, but there was an undertone of sadness about something he couldn't quite put his finger on.

Jenna giggled her feet under the table, she couldn't believe Wilson liked her back after months of silently watching him during class.

When they realised all the time that went by they decided it was time to go back home, so Will payed and asked Frank to say hi to his wife from him, Frank smiled at the boy and wished the two a nice evening.

"Oh young loves." said Frank while they were walking out, as he was cleaning an already super clean glass.

Will gained some courage and took Jenna's hand during the short walk  from inside the café to the place where the jeep was parked.

In the moment he inserted the key he felt a hand on his thigh.

He froze.

In the fraction of a second he turned his head to see Jenna leaning into a kiss.

By the time she was in front of his face he pulled away and raised his hands in front of his face.

"Oh." Jenna was mortified. "Oh I'm so sorry l didn't realise that you didn't —"

Will felt like he was about to cry.

"No Jenna it's not... It's not your fault... I like you, i just..."

Silent tears were rising up his eyes as he was panicking.

"I just don't like you like that ."

Oh.

"What do you mean you like me but not like that Will? Why did you even say yes to this date then?"

Will didn't answer as the tears finally released from his eyes.

" Oh my God. " Jenna's mind was going through a million thoughts at the same time.

The rumors.

The bullies.

The stories about him.

"Will are you gay ?" Jenna said with a tone that Will couldn't decipher.

Was it abhnorrence? Was she disgusted by him? Was being gay something to be repulsed by?

Will started shaking and the tears finally released and weren't silent anymore.

"I'm so sorry" he said in the shakiest voice ever. "Jenna i am not... I am... So sorry that..."

"Oh my God. Oh my God. Oh my God."

Will was dying to know what was going through the girl's mind.

"Will I don't give a fuck that you're gay." she continued, "but the fact that you made me believe I had a chance with you and leading me on was fucked up!" she said while trying to remain as calm as possible but with an obvious undertone of rage in her voice.

"Jenna, I..." Will's voice was a broken whisper.

He tried to remain as collected as possible while his heart was racing with anxiety.

"Good night Will. I'm walking home."

Jenna said as she walked out of the dark red jeep.

Will rested his head on the steering wheel with his arms over it, and started what would have been an inconsolable crying.

It wasn't the first time someone had called him gay, but it was the first time he finally accepted that it was the mere truth.

Usually it had been used as an insult by his bullies, even though things had been better since he went to high school, but this time Jenna said it as a fact.

Something he was and couldn't change.

"Couldn't change" these words were echoing in his head.

He would've been this way forever and nothing would've changed that.

That knowledge made his heart sunk.

He had to find Jenna.

He put the key into the engine and started driving as he felt like he was about to puke.

Tears were uncontrollable and heavy on his face. What would have he been told to his mother? What would've people thought about him? Everything was about to change and he was frightened.

He found Jenna a couple blocks away, with her fists closed in rage and slightly puffy eyes like she had cried on her way there.

He stopped the car and went to her.

"Jenna!" the girl turned herself to reveal a shaking boy, with big round tears running down his cheeks.

She stopped. He run up to her.

"Can we... please talk?" he was shaking so bad he put his hands into his sleeves.

"Will are you okay?" the girl, that was full of rage before, showed genuine concern in her voice. "I think you're having a panic attack."

Will shook his head and opened his arms a little to be welcomed in a warm hug by the girl whose heart he just broke.

"Do you wanna go inside the car?" she asked.

She was again received by a nod and they quickly went into the jeep.

They were in silence for a couple of minutes while Will calmed down.

"Nobody knows" the boy admitted while wiping his tears with the sleeve of his sweater.

"Will oh my God" the girl stopped trying to find the most appropriate words.

"I'm not gonna tell people you're gay." she continued "I just don't understand why you wanted to go out with me if you don't like me."

Will finally smiled a little "Because you're amazing. And i'm an idiot. Friends?" the girl smiled and nodded, ending the conversation in a warm hug that lasted two full minutes.

Will felt comforted and then it finally hit him.

He just made his first coming out .

…

Rethinking about his whole day made his head spin.

He had been on that terrace for more than twenty minutes and he had finally found the answer.

He said yes to that date because he wanted it to work.

Because he had never felt normal and he wanted to be so bad.

Because he didn't accept himself for who he really was.

He maybe had found the answer to the reason he had always felt different than the other boys.

He had to tell someone.

But not anyone. He needed his best friend. He needed Bran.

But what if he wouldn't have accepted him? This made him feel sick again.

He then went to bed. Sadder than ever.

Chapter Text

16 years old, spring.

"And even if i cry all over your body

You don't really mind,

Say you like your shirt soggy."

Spring was moving really fast, replacing the cold temperatures with a humid weather no one truly knows if they hadn't lived in Texas.

Four months had gone by since Will and Jenna's date and they stayed good friends after all.

They often studied together and still went to Frank's from time to time.

She had been a real friend keeping Will's secret's safe.

Speaking about friends.

He still hadn't told Bran about their failed date because he was too afraid of what he would've thought about him.

That day he was sitting at the cafeteria with Jenna that, after seeing his puzzled expression, once again asked him "You haven't told him yet, have you?"

"No" the boy was playing with the food in his plate, he was not hungry.

"Will, he's your best friend" replied Jenna, "There's no way he's gonna react badly, nothing can come between the two of you."

The boy didn't know what to say. Jenna ate her last bite as she stand up "Oh fuck i'm gonna be so late" she gave Will a kiss on the cheek and as she moved away she told him "You can do this!"

Sigh. Will took his phone from the pocket and texted his best friend: "I need to talk to you".

…

The day was humid but Bran's house had always chill, which was amazing during summer but a real pain in the ass during colder months.

The two boys were on Brad's bed eating ice-cream.

Will's was kinda melting because he wasn't really hungry. He had been dying of anxiety since he sent that message in the cafeteria that morning.

"– and he was a mess i swear." Bran laughed as he finished telling Will a story about... what was he talking about? Will wasn't really listening.

He had a feeling of anxiety in his stomach for what he had to tell his friend.

"So..." Bran ate a spoon of ice cream "What did you want to talk about?"

"It's not important" replied Will. "I... forgot"

"Bullshit" Bran smiled "I've known you since first grade, i know when something's on your mind."

Will felt his heart drop: he didn't know where to start.

"Do... you know... Jenna..." the older boy's voice was hesitant and shaky.

"Will" Bran was about to laugh. "Do you mean the Jenna you've been spending every day with for the past months? Yeah I think i'm familiar with her"

Will was getting more and more anxious as the conversation progressed. He put his now completely melted ice-cream on Bran's bedside table.

"Yeah that Jenna. We've kinda been on a date" Will closed his eyes.

"WILL" yelled Bran, overexcited "Tell me everything! When was it? Where did you guys go?" the boy was speaking a little too fast for over excitement. "You're an asshole, i can't believe you didn't tell me you've been on a date with a girl"

Will laughed softly. "You're right. We went at Frank's."

Bran was confused. "Will, Frank's has been closed for the past week, how could you have gone there?"

Will started torturing his hands as he said: "It was four months ago."

Bran dropped a spoon full of chocolate ice-cream on the bed.

"You little shit! That's why you've been spending so much time together! Are you guys dating now?" Bran was smiling and kicked his feet giggling off the bed.

Will felt the tears climbing.

"No."

Bran was as confused as ever and waited for the boy with soft curls and pretty eyes in front of him to continue.

"We're not dating." a tear rolled down his cheek.

"Will I'm so sorry." responded Bran seeing his best friend cry "You must really like her if this makes you cry like this".

Will dried up a tear with his shirt. "I don't. And our date was shitty. I had a panic attack and she had to console me after I broke her heart" the boy emphasis on the words "she" and "I" and then lowered his head.

Bran was so confused. Why were they so close if their date had been so shitty?

"Will i fear i'm not following you" Bran had a sincere voice "But i'm listening to you."

"Can you hug me?" asked the older one.

In response Bran opened his arms wide in front of his best friend.

Their hugs always felt special. Will started sobbing on Bran's shoulder, soaking all of his shirt with tears while the younger one was gently patting his back.

He then had the perfect plan.

He could've told him while they were hugging so he didn't have to look at him in his face.

"It... didn't work 'cause... I don't like her"

Bran responded with a simple "Oh" like he understood the meaning of life in a simple phrase like that.

And then he realised.

The rumors.

The bullies.

The stories about him.

Bran remembered Will loving dolls as a little child and how he was the most sensitive person he had ever known.

He remembered him panicking while they were playing spin the bottle at Blake's party at Halloween and him going home before everyone else.

He remembered the years of bullying his best friend faced for never being masculine enough, for liking stuff no one of the other boys their grade liked.

Bran smiled. He wanted to make Will feel as safe as possible.

"Will it's okay if you didn't like her. You'll find your person one day."

Will's voice was shaky and he sniffed his runny nose in the other boy's arms, covered in tears.

"Bran I think I didn't like her 'cause... I don't... like girls..."

Bran was caressing his back.

"Then boy. You're gonna find the most amazing boy one day".

Will felt something he had never felt before.

It was a type of comfort mixed with some sort of anxiety and shock.

What did Bran just say? So he wasn't disgusted? He wasn't mad at him? Jenna was right after all. There was nothing that could've ever come between them.

"Bran what... do you mean... you..."

"Hey, don't tell me you thought I was going to react like a homophobic piece of shit".

Will separated his body from his best friend's for the first time after they started hugging almost 5 minutes before.

"Bran"

"Will, you're my best friend. And I love you no matter what. I don't care if you don't like girls."

Will started violently sobbing.

"I thought you would've hated me. I thought you would've cut ties with me"

Bran laughed "Oh come on! I've been standing your ass for the past ten years you thought I would've dropped you just 'cause you're gay?"

He said that word.

The second time someone said that word to him without disgust, without picking on him, the second time it was just a stupid word like another and nothing more.

Will stopped crying.

"Thank you for telling me." continued Bran. "ice-cream?"

Will laughted. Of course he didn't care. It was Bran. The Bran that always showed up at his birthday parties even when he didn't have anyone else. The one that was by his side when he had that awful fever that forced him at bed for two weeks in 10th grade. The one that stayed up with him all night for the VMAs every year hiding from their moms that wanted to force them to sleep so bad.

It was Bran and he loved Will for who he was, no matter what.

"Ice-cream" concluded the older boy, finally finding some appetite again.

Will was happy. As Bran started his silly discourses again about Hunger Games theories he put out his phone for a second and typed a quick: "Thank you" to Jenna.

He put his phone in his pocket with a little smile and started listening to his best friend in the whole world.

He was happy like he had never been in ages.

Chapter Text

17 years old.

"You're killing me

I just want you to free me

And though I am crying and bleeding and barely breathing

I can't let go of your heart"

"Tell me he's okay" Bran rushed to the doctor as soon as he left the operating room.

"Are you part of the family?" responded the middle aged man.

"He's my brother."

The doctor seemed more confused than ever while Will's mom approached him.

"Excuse Bran. He's my son's best friend. How's Will doing?"

"I see... Wilson is so lucky to have a friend like you young boy. The operation went well. It was just a fractured leg, nothing major." replied the man while taking off his mask.

"When can I see him?" Brando rushed to ask the doctor, who remained calm and collected despite the boy's agitated behaviour.

"He needs to rest for a bit. But you'll be able to see him in a couple hours."

Brando's mind was spinning so fast he couldn't think straight.

It was his fault Will broke his leg. He shouldn't even have been there.

If he didn't get drunk after Isabelle broke up with him, Will wouldn't have gone to take his ass up from the bar at 2 AM.

If he wasn't drunk they wouldn't have lost their balance on the bike that was getting both of them home.

If he hadn't been so stupid they wouldn't have ended up in the hospital together.

He said the word "sorry" over a million times during the past day to Will's parents but he still felt like shit.

He felt so guilty his best friend ended up with a broken leg while he didn't have a single scratch.

Almost as Will tried to protect him from getting on the asphalt with his whole body.

Almost as he...

"He woke up" the nice nurse with ginger hair announced.

How long had he been in his mind for? He bit all of his nails so much all of his fingers hurt, but he was so anxious he felt like his heart was getting out of his chest.

"I'm going in Brando, do you wanna come with me?"

How could he tell Will's mom that he wanted to see him by himself?

And why did he want to be alone with him? Maybe to properly apologise.

Maybe cause he felt like crying and he didn't want to do it in front of Will's mom.

"I'll just go to the bathroom for a minute"

"Okay Brando. If you need anything i'm inside."

Brando waited for 47 minutes until his mom had gotten out of Will's room to enter all by himself.

His mom smiled at him like she knew something he was unaware of.

The second he walked in Will was eating some chocolate, his beautiful face was bruised and his leg was up in the air with three pillows under it.

The first thing he said was "Don't even try to apologise or i'll have to throw you a crutch."

"I..."

Will put his hand on a crutch but soon realised he was too weak to throw it on the other side of the room.

"Stop you're gonna hurt yourself!" exclaimed Bran while getting closer to him. He slowly kneeled next to Will's bed.

They stayed silent for a bit while Will's hands went through Bran's hair.

He felt like Will was about to open his mouth to say something when he stand up and said "Give me a little bit of space, I haven't slept in two days"

"You mean since you woke up from alcohol poisoning?" said Will sarcastically while getting on his side to give Bran a little space in the tiny hospital bed.

"Now watch me throwing a crutch at you" said Bran putting emphasis on the words "me" and "you".

"You would never" said Will as he put his hand on his own forehead dramatically "I'm so sick and battered"

Brando laid down in the bed next to his best friend.

"Please be careful with the leg" were the last words of Will before falling asleep.

And of course Bran would've been as careful as possible. Like his best friend was made out of crystal and could shatter into a million pieces any moment.

After two days he finally could rest a bit, cause Will was okay and he wasn't mad at him.

Because he was Will and he never got mad at anyone.

Because he was Will and he was his best friend.

…

While Maya was reading a magazine she realised almost two hours had passed and Brando didn't seem to come out of his son's hospital room.

She went into Will's room to check on them only to find the two laying down together, Brando trying to occupy the tiniest space possible in the already small bed.

She walked in silently and put a green soft blanket over the two boys sleeping peacefully.

"I wonder when they'll realise." she said, and left the room with a soft smile on her face.

Chapter Text

18 years old.

"In my head, we're dancing in the dark

In my head, we kiss under the stars."

It had been a year where Bran and Isabella had probably broken up and got back together a thousand times.

Wilson was getting annoyed at them, at how he had to console Bran every other week but at the same time he was kind of jealous.

Not for anything specific, they didn't exactly have a relationship worth being jealous of, he just felt jealous of Isabella taking up so much space in Bran's life, space previously reserved to him.

Other than that, now that he was out to most people he was trying to put himself out there.

Finally Jenna and Bran weren't the only people that knew about him anymore, as he started gaining some confidence after coming out to his parents.

He would've always remembered that day with love, the day when he went up to his mother, with tears in his eyes because he felt so agitated to talk, and told her: "Mom... I think... I like someone..."

To whom his mom smiled and cupped his son's face in her hands and simply replied: "That's amazing honey, what's his name?"

His.

He hugged his mom, not responding to the question and silently cried at the thought of her knowing about it.

How long had she been knowing for? Did she still see him with the same eyes?

Paranoid thoughts were eating him alive when his father just added himself to the hug as Will explained them in the shakiest voice: "I think I might be gay..."

And the truth is that his parents did see him differently.

He was no longer a scared child, he had grown into a beautiful compassionate man, and now that he was out he had a different glow to himself, like he was finally allowing himself to feel happiness.

And they were so proud of him for that.

For this very reason he decided it was time to find a date for prom, that was getting closer and closer. He deserved to have his perfect night as well. He deserved to feel love.

He pretty soon learned that Grindr wasn't the ideal place for that (or an ideal place in general), and that's why he managed to find the courage to ask out Nick, the drummer of the school's band, and one of the only other openly queer people in the school.

Nick was sweet, charismatic and had one of the nicest smiles Will had ever seen.

But the best thing about him was probably his motorcycle, with whom he  accompanied Will at school every day, ending like this the tradition of going to school by riding a bike with Bran, who just came by himself now.

Bran found Nick cocky and overconfident, but he never dared to tell Will, he just gave him the silent treatment whenever they came into each other proximity.

And that's pretty much the same thing Will did with Isabella, trying not to acknowledge the girl's existence 'cause she annoyed him so much.

And with the prom approaching, this had become their new friendship dynamic, they became kinda distant with each other, always too busy with each other's partners and with something unspoken in the air.

Soon they both started fearing the idea of losing each other, but never told one another.

The day of prom was a sunny spring day. Will was getting ready in his room, he had the most elegant black tuxedo he owned and fancy uncomfortable shoes.

His long hair were left loose on his shoulders.

When he came out of his room his parents were holding back their tears.

"So... I think this could work..." said their child shyly.

"You're the most handsome young boy ever Will." his mom kissed him on his cheek.

"Let me shot some pictures!" she continued excitedly.

Will felt so embarrassed, he didn't know how to pose and felt awkward, when he was saved by the ring of the intercom.

"Nick must be here! Let me shot some pictures of the two of you together!" Will's mom was so happy and excited because she never went to prom and was so happy her son was able to live it.

Nick made his entrance into the living room and smiled at Will.

"You look so good." he really meant it.

Will had always been an handsome boy but his look that night made him glow.

He also put glitters on his eyes and hair that made him sparkle and look like a prince.

He gave him a kiss on his cheek since he was too embarrassed of Will's parents looking at them and opened a little box in front of Will.

"A wrist corsage!" Will was getting emotional at the little blue flower bouquet in front of him.

"Can you... put it on me please." he asked his mother shyly.

"You guys are so cute" replied Will's mom as she put on the bouquet on his son's wrist, then she added "I wish Bran was here with us, is he coming to prom?"

"Yeah he's going with Isabella" replied Will.

"I thought they broke up."

"I thought so too mom."

Nick laughed, which Will didn't appreciate, he didn't understand how heartbreaking it was for him to see his best friend trapped in a toxic relationship. There was nothing to laugh about, but he didn't say anything.

After his mom snapped the last pictures of the two boys together they set off to prom.

Will's parents waved their hands at them on the porch, while the boys were going away on Nick's motorcycle.

"Do you think he's happy?" his mom asked her husband.

"I hope so, Maya.", he pulled out a cigarette, put it between his lips and repeated: "I hope so."

While Will was going to prom with Nick, Bran was at his dad's home ready to go and pick up Isabella.

He felt a lump of anxiety in his throat, as if something wasn't right but he didn't exactly know what.

Then he received the message. "Oh."

…

9:30 PM.

Up to that point prom had been disappointing. Not at all how Will had imagined it after dreaming about it for years watching hundreds of 2000s movies.

But in that moment he didn't care, the only question that was suffocating the boy's head was "Where the hell is Bran?"

He thought they would've seen each other there, maybe also snapped some pictures with their partners and gone back home together but up until that point there was no sign of life of the younger boy.

For this reason he told Nick he was going to the bathroom as he e alked away from him to go look for Bran when, going outside, he found Isabella laughing with her friends.

He found the courage to go up to the girl he didn't like at all and asked her "Hey Isabella, do you know where Bran is?"

The girl laughed and responded: "I have no idea. We didn't come together. It's over between us." she said, then made a little bubble with her bubblegum.

Hearing those words Will got filled with anger.

She did it again. On prom night.

She hurt him again.

"Hear me out Isabella. I don't know which games you're playing but you need to stop playing with Bran. He really loves you and you keep hurting him, do you realise how selfish you are?"

The girl let out a big laugh and told him with anger: "Love me? Will I wish he gave a fuck about me. He loves YOU. He only talks about you. It's always been about you and I need to realise it will always be. There's no space for me in his life."

She stopped for a second and then added: "Now if you want to excuse me i'm going to dance with my friends, they really care about me, unlike your beloved Bran!"

Will then remained by himself, petrified at those words. A million thoughts spinning in his head.

He didn't even have time to think about the implications of what Isabella just told him because his brain was just telling him "Go to him. Go to him. Go to him."

And so he did.

He ran as fast as possible towards his house, breathing heavily as he raced as fast as he could to his best friend.

Isabella's voice was echoing in his head: "He loves YOU." and it quickly became the only thing in his mind in that moment.

When he was in front of his house he stopped for a minutes to catch his breath and then he rang the bell to reveal his best friend in a dark blue tuxedo, more beautiful than ever, and with the saddest eyes he had ever seen.

"Bran we need to go." the older boy was approaching Bran's bike when he grabbed him by the arm and responded: "Go where? Why aren't you at prom? What about Nick?"

"Fuck prom. And fuck Isabella."

Bran was flabbergasted. "What do you mean fuck prom? You've always dreamt about it since we were young. You and your stupid 2000s romcoms."

"And we can still have our prom. Just follow me."

Will went up to Bran's bike and asked him, still on the porch: "Are you coming?"

And Bran followed him. He would've followed him at the end of the world to be honest.

He was sitting behind Will, hugging him from the back to stay in perfect balance  on the bike and he just let the night breeze go through his hair, while Will's longer hair caressed his face and his perfume flooded his nose.

He didn't know where they were going but he was with his best friend in the whole world and thing would've been okay after all.

After an indecipherable amount of time Bran realised where they were going.

The lake. The lake that saw them grow up and never lose each other.

The lake that had a special tree with the promise of being best friends forever carved on it. That lake.

Bran smiled behind the other boy's back.

When they arrived Will let out a scream like he was on top of the world.

They just left their bike in the tall grass behind the lake and put their shoes off.

"Let's go find our tree, shall we?"

"Yeah" responded Bran as he turned on the flashlight of his phone, scrutinising every tree in front of them.

Then they finally read:

W + B

BFFS FOREVER

The writing was a bit faded but still legible, and their promise was still intact.

Bran had tears in his eyes as he said "I'm so sorry I let a girl come between the two of us I..." and Will interrupted him.

"Shhhh we're at our prom now, grant me a dance sir?" to which Bran silently nodded.

Will took out his phone to put on music when he read 13 unread messages by Nick on his display.

1. hey will where are you?
2. will?
3. are you kidding me
4. will i'm getting concerned please answer
5. it's been two hours
6. i'm going home, i hope you're okay
7. i just met isabella. i hope you're fucking kidding me
8. tell me you're not with him
9. of course you are
10. it's over
11. fuck you and fuck him too
12. you could've at least replied me
13. you're a piece of garbage

The old Will would've cared, and he wanted to, so much. But this Will just put on the "do not disturb" mode to enjoy his prom night with Bran.

He would've thought about the consequences of his own actions the following day, and allowed himself to be happy.

Just for one night.

So he opened his playlist and started playing "Can't help but falling in love" by Elvis Presley.

He then took Bran's hand in front of him and pressed his head to his chest as they slow danced.

Will soon started muffling the words of the song and slowly moved into his best friend's arms as he sang:

"Shall I stay?

Would it be a sin

If I can't help falling in love with you?

Like a river flows

Surely to the sea

Darling, so it goes

Some things are meant to be

Take my hand

Take my whole life, too

For I can't help falling in love with you"

They were letting the rhythm control their movements as the scenery in front of them dissolved and they were alone in the whole world. Just Will and Bran.

Where they promised they would've been together forever years before.

Will set his head on Bran's shoulder, all he could think was what Isabella told him.

"He loves YOU. He loves YOU. He loves YOU."

With each step they seemed to melt into each other when the song stopped only to start again.

In that moment Will raised his head off Bran's shoulder and locked his gaze into the boy's ocean blue eyes.

Uncontrollable feelings were going through the boys bodies, incapable of holding them back.

They froze at the possibility of anything happening.

"Will..." Bran looked at his best friend's wrist. "What is that?"

"Oh." responded the older boy, "Nick got it for me but that's stupid..."

"It's blue." responded Bran.

"Yeah?"

Bran left the other's boy's arms and walked barefoot to a bush of flowers.

He then started a careful selection of the flowers and made a wonky bracelet of pink flowers.

"Your favorite color is pink. It's always been."

He then carefully removed his wrist bouquet to put him his beautiful creation of pink flowers on.

Then Will realised. It was Bran. It had always been Bran. It was the boy with those beautiful blue eyes that kissed his scraped elbow in first grade.

But he didn't know how to act.

Their gazes were locked one into the other as they were both slowly realising something they always knew.

And in that moment Bran asked Will: "Shall we go in the water?"

Will was too immersed into the other's boy's eyes, when he began to undress and he felt butterflies in his stomach.

It was late not to ruin their tuxedos but they didn't want to get them wet.

And in a minute they were into the cold water of the lake. Bran fully immersed himself to not feel cold anymore and soon started splashing Will.

They then found themselves one in front of the other and crossed their hands as they pressed their chests together.

As Will began to withdraw his hand to brush away his long wet hair from his face, Bran took it and put it on his shoulder.

And after having his full attention he asked: "Will, can I..."

Will didn't even let him finish as he responded "You can do whatever you want Bran."

He then slowly leaned in and locked his lips with the older boy. Will wrapped his fingers around his neck and in return Bran held him tight as the kiss continued.

Will's heart rate was increasing as he kissed his favorite person in the whole world.

His mouth was soft against Will's, desperate and hungry.

Will moved his hands from the neck of the younger boy to put his arms stretched onto the other's boy shoulders.

That's what happiness really felt like. Will finally knew it.

That's what he had always wanted but was too buried inside of him.

He was in love with Bran.

They separated their lips and giggled together because it was obvious.

They were Will and Bran.

Will went into Bran's arms and blushed.

That wasn't how Will had imagined his prom night to go, it was so much better.

It was just the two of them in the whole world, with the Texas' sky stars watching over them, the same stars that saw them cuddling at that same lake four years prior.

It was like those stars had always known.

Chapter Text

18 years old, the aftermath.

"And I don't even care

If it's just a summer fling

If it's all experimental

And you go back to safer things

But I swore hands were made for fighting

I swore eyes were made to cry

But you're the first person that I've seen

Who's proven that might be a lie"

They woke up to the first rays of the sun whose light filtered through the branches of the trees above their heads.

Their legs were crossed over each other, as were their fingers, Will's head buried in Bran's neck.

He gently kissed that spot as they were waking up.

He then moved his head and found himself a few inches from Bran's face.

The boy was as beautiful as a spring day.

His long eyelashes crowned his wonderful midnight blue eyes, as his complexion became pinkish from embarrassment.

"Good morning Will." he said as he stamped a kiss on the other boy's forehead.

Will had never felt so safe like in that moment.

"Morning." Will was extremely tired by the night before but also the happiest he had ever been.

The other boy giggled. "We kinda need to talk, don't we?"

Will crossed his fingers into Bran's again and whispered: "Maybe, but kiss me before."

So he leaned into a soft kiss, the desperation of the night before's kisses disappeared because now they had all the time in the world.

Their lips moved against each other in curiosity, when Will found the courage to slightly open his mouth to make the kiss more intense.

Bran smiled during the kiss, he liked Will's bold move, and suddenly their smiles were pressing one onto the other.

"We should've added making out to our list of things to make together a long time ago." Bran concluded.

Will smiled. "I had no idea you felt this way. I still can't believe it actually, are you...?"

"Gay? No. I really liked Isabella and I wanted things to work with her but..."

"But?"

"But she wasn't you. I realised how jealous I was of Nick and I couldn't get what was wrong with me. Then my mother got concerned for me, she sent me to a therapist and let's say I learned a lot about myself."

"You went to therapy? How was it?"

"I mean it made me look at things from a different perspective. I'm not gay but..."

"Well you didn't seem so straight either yesterday." Will chuckled.

"I might be Willsexual."

"Stop, you're so cringe." replied the boy with long black curls, blushing.

"It's true though. I fell for you every day of my life. I just didn't have the words for it."

"Bran you don't have to..."

Bran shut the older boy up with a kiss.

Will blushed. He would've never get used to those he thought to himself.

Bran's touch was electric and sent a shiver down his spine.

"Can you believe that we now have all the time in the world? How cool is that?"

said Will, blushing.

"About that..."

"What? Did I misinterpret things... I thought that..."

"NO! It's just that... We may not have all this time."

"Bran I don't get it. What are you talking about?"

Bran sat down and didn't dare to look to the other boy in his eyes.

"I got into UCLA. I'm moving to L.A. Will."

"What are you saying... we were supposed to go to Rice University together... It's always been our dream..." Will was trying to hold back tears.

"I am so sorry Will. I didn't tell you 'cause I never thought I would've gotten in. I wanted to tell you at prom but things didn't go as... planned." he giggled.

"Bran you... I... It's like I just found you again please don't... leave me..."

"Hey Will" Bran raised his chin with his thumb to reveal silent tears running through the older boy's face.

"Turn around." They both turned around to the sight of their special tree that held their promise of being together forever, sunkissed by the first rays of morning.

"We are forever. We promised that. Distance isn't gonna change that."

The boys locked into a desperate hug as they both started crying.

…

Time revealed that Bran wasn't lying about not losing each other. They spent the few months they had together as always.

They were boyfriends with an expiration date and they knew that.

For this very reason they didn't even bother telling each other families or friends.

They locked pinkies together at graduation, as tears ran down their faces, knowing about the fact that a chapter of their lives was ending.

Only Jenna knew about them as she once found Will crying in a corner of the library and consoled him.

Her reaction was simple, she smiled and said "Of course it's Bran. It has always meant to be him."

To whom Will replied in tears: "We wasted all of our lives and now he's going away."

"You didn't waste anything, you loved one another since the first time you met, the only thing that changed is how you guys refer to each other now."

Boyfriends.

Will realised he had a boyfriend he loved more than life itself.

And he was supposed to say goodbye to him in a couple of months.

Why was life always so cruel to him?

He hugged Jenna as he soaked her shirt with tears.

…

Bran's dad was ready to take off, his car filled with his son's stuff, ready for college.

Will was on his porch, tearing up, hoping he'd get one last kiss, instead Bran kissed him on his cheek and told him "I'm kissing you next time we're seeing each other. Promise."

Will held into that empty promise.

Waiting for a kiss that he didn't know if it would've ever came.

Chapter Text

21 years old.

"The years have passed but you laugh exactly the same

When I see you for the holidays

In those eyes, I see lifetimes I've had with you."

The years passed and not a day went by without Will thinking about Bran.

They told him time heals every wound but he just didn't believe in that anymore because so much time had passed and he didn't move on. How could he? Bran had been his everything since they were 6 years old.

The most difficult days were when he came back to Texas to visit and they just pretended that they never loved each other.

Things between them just went on without them ever acknowledging their past, as if they could ever forget the taste of each other's lips, the touches, the secret moments, locking pinkies when they couldn't hold hands, talking about their future together.

They just went back in time to before that prom night as if it never happened.

Suddenly everything about their time together disappeared and only existed in their memories.

What Will didn't know was that Bran felt the exact same.

He actually tried to move on and date around but the truth is no one was like Will and no one loved like Will.

No one would've ever known him like his favorite person in the whole world did.

Because the truth was that even if they weren't dating anymore Will would've always been his favorite person.

So he just gave up on love because he knew who is person was and he simply couldn't have him.

There was a specific time when he came back for Will's birthday and they just spent that day watching movies with Will's little sister while eating cake.

He couldn't help but think that his best friend was only getting more and more handsome as the years went by.

He became the most beautiful man he had ever seen, with his soft black curls, big brown eyes and a perfectly imperfect smile that made him feel all kinds of things.

But one of the movies they watched that day just made his heart drop.

It was called "Love, Rosie", about a couple of best friends who lost each other about a hundred times but life always managed to get them back together. Until they discovered they were actually meant for each other.

Because it's never too late for soulmates to find one another.

Will cried at the end of the movie, and it broke Bran's heart because he knew exactly why he was crying.

So he decided what he had to do.

That night Will accompanied Bran on the porch of his house, thanking him to have come at his "lame birthday party" like every year, and Bran reassured him that he would've never missed one.

They gave each other a long hug and soon they were within an inch of each other's faces.

Will's big brown eyes were lost in the ocean that were Bran's eyes.

Once again the world stopped and revolved around them, until Will broke that perfect balance by moving himself further from his best friend.

And just like that Bran's heart shattered in a million pieces.

They both went to bed thinking about that moment: they both felt the urge to call one other but they didn't have the courage to face the situation.

Why was love so pure yet so cruel?

…

That day was sunny in Los Angeles and the few people Bran cared about came all the way from Texas to attend his college graduation. These few people of course included Will.

It wasn't his first time visiting Bran, but L.A. still confused him, he was loyal to small towns because he thought they were more practical to move around in.

Bran was so excited about that day and Will was happy for him, as he always was for his best friend's accomplishments.

But the truth is that Bran wasn't excited about his graduation, like at all.

He was excited for what he had planned after.

The day went by in the best way possible, and when Bran received his degree Will applauded stronger than anyone and raised his pinky, as a sign of what they did together at their high school graduation.

Bran just responded with a wide smile and raised his pinky as well.

"This is dumb" said Alicia, Will's sister.

"It's so clear you still like him, why don't you tell him?"

Will froze. "What do you mean... we..."

"You thought I didn't know you were together? Will that shit was so obvious" she replied.

Will smiled a little to the thought of them not being slick, he smiled at the thought of their past together as a couple even if it was short lived, he smiled at the thought of Bran.

He hugged his little sister and muffled a: "Sometimes I love you, you know?"

…

Bran had organized a little party for his graduation, Will remained in a corner most of the time because he didn't know most of his friends. He was drinking just a little bit.

When everyone had left the only person staying was of course, Will and his sister, they didn't have time to book an hotel in L.A. so they were just gonna sleep at Bran's place.

There was a strange tension in the air so Alicia decided it was time to leave them alone to sort things out. "I'm going to take some fresh air" the girl announced, and left Will and Bran by themselves on the couch.

"So... you graduated."

"Yeah seems like I did" responded Bran with a slight smile.

"I can't believe I've been knowing you since the first day of the first grade and now you have a university degree, time really flies"

"It really does."

Will could only think about how much he missed his lips on his.

They've really explored the whole world together. They went through every first time together, seen places, experienced things, went through phases.

Always one by the other's side.

"Do you wanna go on the porch for a bit? We could take some air, smoke a cigarette like the old times."

"Sure." Will was nervous for some reason.

They approached the porch and Bran lit up a cigarette.

"You know Will, I don't really like it here."

"I thought you loved this place."

"How could I love a place that is so far from you?"

"Now don't be cheesy."

"I'm deadass. These years I barely felt like a person because of not being around you all the time. It's like you shape my sense of identity Will, you always did."

Will didn't know what to say to those words, so Bran continued.

"I still can't believe it's my last week in L.A."

"Wait what do you mean the last week?"

"Surprise?" the boy opened in a beautiful smile, "I'm coming back, who needs to stay here when you're not by my side?"

Will thought he was dreaming.

"And to this matter" he took a little box "I wanted to give you something."

"Are you proposing?" the boy joked.

Then he opened the little box to find a silver necklace shaped like a tear with a little star inside.

He touched with his thumb delicately as if it was made out of crystal and asked his best friend: "What does it mean?"

"It means that... You're my Rosie Will."

"What are you even saying?"

"Remember that movie we watched together? With that Rosie girl that was the love of his best friend's life all along? I think you're that for me. Life always tried to put itself between us but at the end of the day you are and will always be my Rosie."

"Did you call me..."

"The love of my life. Yes I did."

Will started tearing up at those words.

Bran just slowly leaned in and when he was an inch away from his face he asked: "Can I...?"

"Yes please. You are required to."

Bran cupped his face and just kissed the boy like he had never kissed anyone.

Like someone that had been separated for three years from his soulmate.

He kissed like someone in love, like someone that had made a promise to kiss his lover when he would've come back from university and was finally keeping his promise.

Like he was discovering new parts of himself with that kiss.

A tear finally released from Will's big brown eyes but it wasn't sadness for once, it was feeling complete again, as if he started breathing again after years without taking air.

And he smiled as he kissed his soulmate, the boy that kissed his scraped elbow decades prior.

When they separated they hugged so tightly you would think they would've never seen each other again after that.

That hug felt like home.

They thought that no one could've ever be happier of them in that moment.

"What does the necklace mean?"

"It's a drop for the tears we shed by being apart and a star for the magic that is gonna be life from now on. I saw it and immediately thought of you."

Will was so touched at that he swore his stomach was full of butterflies.

"Can I put it on you?"

The boy nodded and raised his long hair as Bran put him the necklace on.

Will chuckled.

"Will."

"Yeah Bran?"

"Stars are starting to show up."

"Nothing beats Texas' stars though."

"You're right."

Bran hugged Will from behind and there was no more desperation in his actions because now they had all the time of the world.

So they just hugged under the Los Angeles night sky as the same stars of many years before watched over them like if they were just waiting for this to happen, like if a prophecy was being fulfilled.