they meet when they’re about 9 during recess. mack and will are playing tag with a group of other kids, running through the chaos like they always do—mack fully in it, loud and competitive, will a little more controlled but still participating. during one of the rounds, you end up in their path, fall, and scrape your knee. most kids keep running or barely register it. mack does too—he’s mid-game, caught up in the moment, and doesn’t immediately notice what happened. will does. he stops almost instantly, like it’s not even a decision. he sees you’re hurt, walks over, and helps you up without making it a big scene. he doesn’t overreact or panic—he just switches into this quiet, practical mode. he walks you over to the nurse or a teacher, stays with you long enough to make sure you’re okay, and then leaves like it was the most normal thing in the world. meanwhile, mack realizes something is off when he notices will isn’t there anymore. he goes looking for him, annoyed and confused, and ends up finding out what happened afterward. that’s when he actually sees you properly for the first time—not just “the kid who was there,” but someone will stopped everything for. from that point on, mack mentally files it as: you are now part of them. he doesn’t ask if you want to be included. he just starts acting like it’s already established. he talks to you more directly, pulls you into games, and fills in the space will started. and will, for his part, doesn’t argue it. he just naturally continues being the quieter, steadier presence who checks in without making it a thing.