"Oh, I wanna dance with somebody.
I wanna feel the heat with somebody.
Yeah, I wanna dance with somebody.
With somebody who loves me."
He was still debating whether or not he should tell Will why he was acting the way he was. Because while he knew Will would reassure him, he didn't want Will to feel bad for him. 
"Man, why couldn't they have picked a shorter song?" Lucas asked as he sat down next to Mike, Darren sitting next to him. Will and Mike turned their attention to them.
"It's only a five-minute song." Dustin replied. 
"But that's like.. half of ten minutes!" Lucas responded. Dustin rolled his eyes.
"Wow. You're a total math genius." Dustin said sarcastically. Lucas rolled his eyes as Will and Darren laughed a bit.
"What song did you guys pick?" Mike asked.
"We picked 'Don't You Want Me'." Darren replied. Will smiled a little bit, looking down. That was Mike's favorite song.
"Yeah, Darren's gonna be the waitress part." Lucas added. Darren looked at him in confusion as Will, Mike, and Dustin laughed a bit.
"Why do I have to be the waitress?" He asked.
"Because your voice is higher than mine. We have to harmonize, you know?" Lucas responded. 
"I have.. no clue what you're talking about." Darren replied. Lucas sighed.
"You'll see what I mean when we start singing." Lucas responded. Darren sighed as he took a sip of his beer. The boys turned their attention back to El and Max, who were mostly done with the song.
"I need a man who'll take a chance
On a love that burns hot enough to last
So when the night falls
My lonely heart calls."
"Did you hear how they harmonized on that last part?" Lucas asked Darren over the cheering of the other party guests.
"Still don't have a clue!" Darren responded. They all laughed before watching the girls finish the rest of the song. After they finished, Lucas excitedly got up, pulling a hesitant Darren behind him as they got their microphones from El and Max. 
"You ready?" Lucas asked as the music started playing.
"Not really!" Darren replied. Lucas laughed a bit, before beginning to sing.
"You were working as a waitress in a cocktail bar when I met you."
"Isn't this your favorite song?" Will asked as he turned to Mike, trying to break the awkwardness between them and start a conversation. 
"Yeah.. you remembered that?" Mike asked. Will smiled softly.
"Of course I did." Will replied. Mike smiled a bit before looking down.
"Hey um.. after this.. can we talk?" Mike asked. "I just feel really bad about earlier." Will sighed.
"Mike... I told you it was okay." Will replied.
"Yeah, I know... but I still shouldn't have done that. It wasn't okay." Mike started, looking down a bit, "You were just making sure I was alright.. like you always do." 
"Yeah.. but still, if you don't want to tell me stuff, you don't have to." Will responded.
"No, I want to. I was just... I didn't want you to worry about me." Mike started, looking into Will's eyes. "But.. I think I might've made you worry more." Will and Mike laughed a bit.
"Yeah.. you did." Will responded. Mike nodded.
"Okay.. so after this, we'll go upstairs and talk?" Mike asked. "I want to clear things up." Will nodded with a light smile.
"Don't. Don't you want me?
You know I don't believe you when you say that you don't need me."
"Okay." He replied quietly. Mike smiled back before lightly grabbing Will's hand and giving him a reassuring squeeze. They both turned their focus back to Lucas and Darren, who had just started singing and was actually doing better than he thought he would. 
"It's much too late to find
When you think you've changed your mind.
You'd better change it back or we will both be sorry."
After a few minutes, they finished off the last part of the song. Lucas grabbed Darren's hand so they could bow as everyone cheered them on. Mike turned to look at Will as they both clapped. 
"Now?" Mike asked. Will turned to look at him before nodding.
"Sure." Will replied. Mike nodded before grabbing Will's hand as he got up. They both headed upstairs as Lucas and Darren walked up to El and Max, who were still cheering them on from next to Dustin. Darren noticed them leaving, and knew what it was probably about. He smirked a bit before he turned his attention back to the other four.
"You guys were incredible!" El exclaimed as they sat down.
"No, it was all Darren. Trust me." Lucas responded. 
"Definitely not." Darren said. They all laughed a bit before they heard the sound of the phone ringing near them. "Shit. I'll go take that really quick." They all nodded as Darren got up and walked over to the phone, which was pretty close to them.
"So should I sing a solo or what?" Dustin asked. 
"Depends.. what song are you singing?" Max responded.
"I'll go find out!" Dustin said before heading over to the songbook. Max rolled her eyes as El giggled.
"Hello?" Darren asked as he answered the phone. Lucas turned his attention to him as Max and El continued talking.
"Hey, Darren... it's me." A voice said. Lucas watched as Darren's eyes widened, a look of what seemed like fear forming on his face.
"P-Peter?" He responded. Lucas furrowed his eyebrows a bit. Who the hell was Peter?
"Yeah... I remembered that today was your birthday, and I figured I'd.. you know... give you a call." Peter said.
"How the hell did you get my number?" Darren asked, slightly raising his voice. Max and El stopped their conversation, turning their attention to Darren as well.
"Oh uh... I asked your grandma for it.. sorry." Peter replied. "I just... I really.. really miss you." Darren felt tears fill his eyes. Lucas looked at him in concern as Darren's hand started to shake a bit.
"This isn't.. a good time, Peter." Darren responded.
"Come on, you can't still be mad." Peter said, "I apologized."
"And I forgave you.. but I can't do this right now." Darren responded. He heard a harsh sigh over the phone.
"Darren, please-" Peter started.
"No. Bye, Peter." Darren responded before quickly hanging up the phone. He turned to see his three friends staring at him, concern on their faces.
"Who.. was that?" Max asked. Darren sighed shakily.
"Nobody." He started, "I'll.. be right back." He quickly headed upstairs, Max, El, and Lucas watching. 
"I don't think the person who called him was a friend.." El said. Lucas sighed.
"I'm gonna go make sure he's okay." Lucas responded. El and Max nodded before he quickly got up and went upstairs.
To be continued...
an: hope you enjoyed! 
(ooo Darren's backstory ooooo)
anyways 😍