Chapter Text
Once the bowl of chips is empty and the plate of cookies is left with only crumbs, Dustin plops the hat filled with names in the center of the table. Mike is dreading the Secret Santa draw. He really wants to get Will, he already has his entire present planned out. He’s going to make a campaign that Will will love and Will will think he’s so thoughtful. Then, later that night, his own Secret Santa will distract the rest of the party so Mike can give Will the second part of his gift–a letter confessing his feelings. Of course, he could do all this without drawing Will’s name, but where’s the fun in that?
“So,” Dustin begins, pacing back and forth in front of the table. He stops, slamming his hands on the rickety table and looking at each party member with the same devilish glare from earlier, “Who’s picking first?”
Max rolls her eyes and uncrosses her arms before sighing, “You’re so lame.” She reaches from the couch and dips her hand into the bag, pulling out the first name. She looks at it stoically before shoving it in her jean pocket. Everyone in the party has a tell when they’re lying, except for Max. Usually, this wouldn’t upset Mike, but he needs to know if she got Will. Lucas goes next, grabbing a name from his spot on the floor. He opens it and immediately Mike knows he’s got Dustin because he looks at everyone except for him.
“Me next,” El cheers. Dustin picks up the hat and extends it to her since her spot on the sofa to Max’s left is too far away for her to reach the table easily. She dips her hand in and feels around for a while before picking a name. She unfolds the paper and reads it quickly before folding it back up and setting it in her lap. She leans forward, propping her elbows up on her thighs and resting her head in her hands. Her body is angled directly towards her name, Lucas. Mike decides to go next. He starts leaning forward from his chair to reach the hat, his heart beating out of his chest and silently praying to every God out there that he pulls Will’s name as he does so. He reaches inside the hat and tries to feel who’s name is on each remaining slip of paper with his thumb, but it’s impossible to tell. He grabs a paper and brings it to his chest. He opens it hesitantly without looking. He takes a quick breath before looking down at his person.
Will.
Holy shit. Mike cracks a smile before looking back up to watch Will pick. Will grabs a name quickly. He reads it and looks directly to his left, past Max and right at El, for a second before tucking his slip of paper gently into the pocket of his flannel. Dustin eagerly grabs the last piece of paper and reads it.
“Everyone picked right? Lets see,” he says before letting Mike know who he picked, “Max, El, Mike, Will, Lucas…Yep! That’s everyone! Remember, the exchange is on Christmas Eve at the Byers! Don’t be late!” So, if Mike knows his friends, which he does , Will has El, El has Lucas, Lucas has Dustin, Dustin has Max, and Max has… him. Great. Now he has to get Max of all people to help him.
“Hey, I’m going up to get more snacks,” he says. He looks at Max. “Can you help me carry them down?”
Max raises a brow in confusion and, honestly, Mike doesn’t blame her. Usually he asks Will or Lucas to help him with snacks, but he needs to talk to Max about his plan.
“Uh, sure? I guess,” she says as she stands. She steps over El’s feet and starts walking up the stairs. Mike follows behind her. Max gets to the kitchen and starts rooting through the cabinet for something she likes, but Mike stops her.
“I need to talk to you,” he says with a serious tone. She turns to face him, chocolate bar in hand, with an even more confused look than the one she wore in the basement.
“You need to talk to me ,” she asks as she unwraps the chocolate. She takes a bite and Mike can feel his face grow warm with nerves and embarrassment.
“Yes. I need to talk to you.”
“Why me?” She speaks with her mouth full. Mike rolls his eyes.
“Because I know you’re my Secret Santa.” Max’s eyes go wide with surprise.
“How’d you figure that out?” He really doesn’t have time for all of this.
“Process of elimination. Anyway, ” he says, hoping to move on from this topic, “I know what I want my present to be.”
“Okay? You know this isn’t really how this is supposed to work, Wheeler.”
“ Yes, Max, I know. But I need you to do this for me.” Mike is starting to get frustrated, but he lets it go.
“Okay. Fine. What is it?” She takes another bite of her chocolate bar. Now Mike is really nervous.
“On the night of the exchange, I need you to distract the rest of the Party so I can talk to Will alone without anyone noticing.” Mike knows his face is beet red.
“What? Why Will?” Oh no.
“Um. I’m his Secret Santa.”
“The exchange isn’t supposed to be private.” She takes another bite. She’s not making this easy at all, Mike thinks.
“I know. I have a public gift to give him. I just have a second one that I want to be private.” He hopes she doesn’t press any further.
“ Why? I’m really not getting this, Mike. What’s so important that you can’t–”
“ I really like Will, Max.” Max doesn’t respond. Mike needs to fill the silence. “I really…really like him. I want to tell him as part of my present and I want it to be private. Please, just do this for me,” he pleads.
“Yeah, Mike. I can do that,” Max smiles. She finishes her chocolate and throws away the wrapper before hugging Mike tightly. “I didn’t mean to push, I was just confused. Thank you for telling me.”
Suddenly he’s grateful Max is his Secret Santa.