???? ?? ; ????? ?

I treated these chapters as a way for me to get more comfortable with writing, hence why they're very short and not very fleshed out. In this part of the story I am somewhat able to balance out each of my four characters, which later on will become a problem as I run out of plot to give to certain characters (El).

Recap
In chapter five we get an example of Lonnie's abuse, the man waiting on Will to get home so that he could take his anger out on something. Joyce came home to find him surrounded by beer bottles and argued with him about it (these were the beer bottles that he usually cleaned up, Lonnie threatening Will to help him keep the secret of how much he really drunk)

In chapter six, Mike reflects on his encounter with Will and the first signs of his crush appear, Mike thinking that he's sick, oblivious to his feelings. Also in this chapter is the first time he speaks to him, getting no response to his dismay as Will was too scared to talk to him. He talks to Troy about Will, learning that he was friends with Dustin and the correct way to say his name.

Chapter seven is when Will gets asked to the upcoming dance by a girl named Blaineley, but he rejects her. Will draws Mike while he's at football practice and blushes thinking of how cute he is.

In chapter eight, Troy and Dustin get in a fight where Dustin beats his ass. Troy greets his new neighbors and learns that his father has lost his job.

Chapter nine is very simple. El yells at Heather while at cheer practice, she and Max go to the mall and she lies and tells her that she's going with Mike in an attempt to make her jealous. It doesn't work.

In chapter ten we learn that both Mike and Lucas are very oblivious to the true nature of Max and El's relationship. Mike and Will actually speak for the first time in this chapter, Mike inviting him over to his house to hang out. It's pretty awkward but successful. When asked about what they were talking about by Lucas, he lies and says that Will was doing his homework.

Chapter eleven is a direct sequel to chapter 10, starting with Will and Mike hanging out. Will tries to act cool to get Mike to like him, but ends up dropping his guard once he realizes he and Mike share the same interests. Dustin points out that Will likes Mike after he stares at him for an entire lunch period. Will ends up apologizing to Blaineley and they become friends. This chapter ends with Will having an encounter with a monstrous being in his backyard.

In chapter twelve, Troy gets a job and almsot comes out to his dad.

And finally, in chapter thirteen, El asks Mike to the dance and he agrees, again, in attempt to make Max jealous. El falls of the cheer pyramid during a game and gets yelled at by Heather, further cementing their fued.

Analysis
I don't understand why Will and Mike like each other. The story goes that Mike wants to get closer to him because...he feels bad about what happened the other day? He's supposed to be oblivious to his crush yet he acts on it multiple times, and because he doesn't really know Will at all personality wise, what excuse does he have for wanting to be around him? It's one thing for him to lie to everyone else, but it would have worked for his character if he also wasn't truthful with himself.

The biggest change id make is giving Mike and Will a reason to stay in each others proximity's, whether that be, Will is actually doing Mike's homework or tutoring him (possibly because Mike wants to keep up his grades because it's the only thing his family praises him on and Will is too much of a doormat to say no) or, maybe Mike has to join the art club with Will to flesh out his resume, whatever the reason, it should make more sense then Mike introducing himself to Will for the first time and instantly inviting him over. It seems like some steps were missed. This also gives the boys an opportunity to get deeper within their psyche's, and learn who they really are to their core.

In the beginning, this story making sense is very contingent on the fact that it's fanfiction. If it was a standalone novel my shit would've been ignored and we wouldn't be having this conversation right now. At least that's my theory.

Also, I'd like to note that Mike's obliviousness teeters on sheer stupidity in chapter six where he mistakes his crush on Will for being sick. Has Mike never liked anyone before? Have the drugs he's taken warped his perception of reality? We may never know.

These chapters are the beginning of people complaining about Troy's presence in the story, but it's one of those things that switches up the formula of Byler fics. Conflict is the driver of the plot, and what better conflict then another person interfering with the romance, testing their love for each other and strengthening it?

One last thing, I noticed that in the plot of this book I use so many tropes it's not even funny. Fake dating, love triangle, enemies to lovers, homophobic bully who's really gay, forbidden love, etc etc.

coming next:
The Dance (Part 1 & 2)