Will's treatment of Carlton

Will's insults were totally light-hearted; he didn't truly mean it. Deep down, he actually loved Carlton, and Carlton knew it.

For example, in the episode "Just say Yo!" (where Carlton gets hospitalized for taking Will's drugs), Will starts crying profusely and apologizing to the family at the end. He pointedly says in reference to Carlton, "Someone I loved dearly almost died."

Carlton in that same episode actually tries to help Will by telling Uncle Phil and Vivian that he found the drugs in "some kid's locker," not "Will's locker." By keeping Will's possession secret, Carlton shows that he loved Will too.

Will's jokes, again, were just meaningless.

He did, his hands got stuck to his head in a prank which angered him so much he elbowed will in the face and knocked him out cold.

Will took that time to focus on some stuff while in LALA land.

I don't think it's any different then siblings who tease each other though.

"I'd rather lose for what I am than win for what I ain't"

Kacey Musgraves "Pageant Material"

Will was only half the toughie Carlton was. Carlton even through a mean punch in one episode. "Bro"-sayers (Hispanics and Italians; OK Carlton is black but he acts Latino) are tougher than most "bro"-haters. Will usually never punched. When he fought it was an act.

My best friends and I were like that, always insulting and teasing. They said things to me that would offend me if a stranger or less familiar person said it. A relationship has to be deep to get to that point.