Chapter Text
Today's new agenda is: fuck the new math substitute.
Seriously! Who does this lady think that she could give our entire class a whole homework PACKET when Christmas break is in 10 days? Where is the Christmas spirit? The joy? On top of all this, she's a SUBSTITUTE!
And get this, it's not the only bad thing that's happened to Mike today. He woke up late and entirely missed breakfast, tripped on his way to said geometry class right in front of Troy fucking Walsh. The laughing and teasing he endured walking into class just to get stared down by the substitute. What did Mike even do to have this all happen to him the first 3 hours of the day? For god's sake, it's 10 am! It's not even lunch yet…
All Mike has to do now is make it alive for the next 2 periods then it's lunchtime and he can see his friends again. Or maybe just his one friend, he's not entirely sure where he stands with everyone right now. And isn't it just lovely that he can't even complain about his bad luck to anyone, well probably just Dustin…
Dustin would just make fun of him… he's seriously no help.
Back onto the ungodly large geometry packet, which there's no need for AGAIN. The substitute which Mike vaguely heard was Ms.Maya, told him to meet with her after school. What the fuck man was all Mike could think, he didn't have to meet with her at all, he has an A in the class!
Today is seriously just too much for him, but it's Friday so fingers crossed.
…
It's finally lunchtime, just the halfway point for this awful day to end, time needs to go by quicker than it is. Mike wandered the halls to get to the cafeteria, there's not much life in it anymore ever since Eddie's been gone, just kids talking to one another in their respective groups. It gets Mike's mood down every time he comes in here and can't immediately spot the ravenette at the DND’s group table. Mike misses Eddie at this time of the day.
He gets his tray of food which is the final GODSEND of the day, the yummiest looking sloppy joe, and the best crinkle fries that the school only gives out like twice a semester. He sends a quick prayer saying how grateful he is that this day gave him one good thing.
“Hey, Mike! Wassup man you look awful” Dustin says playfully while Mike approaches the table where Dustin, Will, and El are sitting at. The Byers are staying permanently again so Will and El have been attending Hawkins High, it's nice to see them so often again.
Sitting down between Dustin and Will, Mike responds “ You won't believe the bad luck I got today, it's record-breaking.”
“No man, you too? I think it's just a curse at this point, none of us had a good day today” Dustin giggles, Will and El respond giggling in agreement not looking at Mike. Which again is fine! Mike is aware of how awful he has been lately but cut him some credit, he's trying this time! “ Really what happened to you three?” Mike looks at Dustin.
“ You've had geometry today, right? We all had it on the 3rd and the substitute gave us the six-page packet. Six! It's Christmas soon! Who gives out a Six-page packet on a Friday??” Mike groans “ I know! Why would she give that out, Mr.Marshell didn't even assign it, SHE made it herself.”
“You're kidding, Mr.Marshell didn't even make it?” Will said, jumping into the conversation. “Yeah! That's why it's so stupid, she's NEW too! There's no reason for the six-page packet we already closed up the unit” Mike said looking directly at Will. He's talking to him! Friendly friend like a friend talking to Mike! He's gotta play it cool now, Their relating and can be best friends forever.
“And get this, before class ended she stopped me and said I had to meet with her after school! What did I even do!” Mike said frustrated, flaring his hands around. El giggled at him, giggled! He was happy he made her laugh but this is not the time, this is a serious issue! “You probably did something, Mike,” she said softly, covering her mouth with her hand. “You know how you get.” she ended up giggling a little more.
Mike flashed a look of utter betrayal at her “No! I am a perfect student, there's no need for a meeting after school!” Mike slumped into his chair, grabbing a fry drenched in ketchup and angrily ate it. The whole table started giggling at his ministrations.
Look, don't get Mike wrong he's happy the group's bonding like they used to, it feels like nothing happened and they were 8th graders again but not at his expense! He will not stand for this.
Okay maybe that's why he gets into so many arguments, he can't stand being the butt of the joke. But it's for good reason! Giggles can be mean!
“Perfect student huh? Hey Mike, what's your grade in Spanish again?” Dustin laughed. That's not fair! Spanish is a hard subject! “Oh shut up Dustin, your grades are only good because of
hacker girlfriend!” Mike threw a fry at Dustin's head. “You're just mad! I put my resources to good use, which is what you should be doing! A C’s is not gonna look good on that college application!” Oh god not college, Mikes not even sure he's gonna survive till senior year with all this upside down business.
“Give him a break Dustin, Spanish is hard.” Will is my savior and is all things holy, “Thank you Will! See Dustin it's not that hard to be nice!” Mike said, sticking his tongue out toward Dustin. “I mean… I think it's hard I wouldn't know, I'm thriving with an A+” Will smirked at Mike, it looked really nice and made his knees a little weak but that's besides the point.
“What the fuck Will!” The whole table bursted out laughing.
And of course when everything seemed fine, and he was just getting along with the Byers again, tragedy struck.
Okay, it wasn't that bad. But here comes Ms.Maya, no care in the world with her teacher's lunch tray, and tripped. Guess where she tripped! Right beside Mike. And guess where her tray of food and protein smoothie went! Right over Mike. Sloppy joe all over his head and protein shake all over his food. He didn't even get to eat it yet…
All he heard was El and Wills combined gasp and a bunch of kids from other tables laughing, Dustin included. What the fuck Dustin.
He stood up, trying to get the slop out of his hair, shoving one of the pieces of bread off his shoulder when Ms.Maya spoke up. “Micheal Wheeler! What's the meaning of your chair sticking out so far from the walkway!” she was dusting herself off then gave him a stern look.
…What?
For one, their table is one of the closest to the wall with TONS of space between each table! What was this lady on! You actually have to TRY to get this close to someone from a different table to spill your ENTIRE lunch onto them!
“ Im… sorry?” Mike responded, not knowing what else to say to her. She stomped her feet, and got closer to him “I knew you were trouble! This is exactly why I wanted to talk with you today! I just knew someone of your caliber would start something”.
What the actual fuck. Start something? She split her whole food tray on him! He's still picking out the meat from his hair! “ Ma’am? You literally just spilled your tray on me. I don't think that's starting something..” He gave her a deadpanned look.
“He's right, you're kinda in the wrong here Ms.Maya, there's a large gap between tables, he didn't purposefully do that to make you trip.” Will said giving Mike some napkins, Dustin took
Mike's soiled lunch to throw it away.
“Nonsense! I want you in my office after school today Micheal Wheeler!” She said storming off.
Mike turned to look at everyone, he heard whispers around him talking about what just happened. “What just happened?” He said. “Bro I dont even know, she's actually on one” Dustin replied. “Why is she angry?” El said, giving him more napkins. “I don't know! I literally just met her!”
Will gave him a pitying look, Mike hated it just a little. “C’mon Mike let's go get you washed up.” Will said as they made their way to the bathrooms.
…
And here it is ladies and gentlemen! Mike's most dreaded part of the day has now come, the meeting with Ms.Maya. which is so unfair, this was entirely her fault! Why did he have to come here to defend himself?
Mike stood at the door absolutely dreading having to open it.
And then that's when he heard it.
That nail scratching, ugly, raspy voice.
Right behind the door.
Mike's veins rain cold, his breath hitched. Fear struck through him, his hands got shaky as he took a step back. This voice… this voice was the same one from his nightmare. How? The only one in there was Ms.Maya…
Mike shook his head, what's he thinking? That his nightmares just randomly came to life? What a joke, he just had to get this meeting over with then he can go home. He's just freaking over nothing… It was absolutely nothing.
He knocked on the door, his entire body was still shaking. “Micheal Wheeler, come on in” the voice sneered. Fucking sneered. He slowly opened the door against his better judgment, this was a geometry substitute not a reincarnate of his nightmares. Maybe..
“You… you wanted to see me ma’am?” Mike's voice came out more like a whimper than anything. The person behind the door was definitely Ms.Maya, his brain must be playing tricks with him. He's still on edge after venca after all..
“Why yes.. I was wondering how you ended up here.” She snickered. “Ended up here…?” Mike raised his brow at her.
“You don't belong here.. Or anywhere.. Hell! You don't even know anything about yourself, do you Micheal?” What's up with this lady and only saying his FULL name?
“I don't think you should talk to me like that ma’am” Mike nervously giggled. But seriously! Why
is this lady just degrading him! She's been nothing but cruel to him, what gave her the right?
Ms.Maya started manically laughing, full on final boss laughing. “A fresh half-blood is always so delicious!” there it is again! That half-blood word, what does it mean?
Ms.Maya started walking towards him, her body morphing. Her face turning gray and her blonde hair turning into horns. Bat-like wings sprouted from her back as she pounced onto Mike.
Mike screamed, harder than he ever screamed before as he tried to push her off. They were face to face as she kept laughing at him. “Get off of me! Help!” Mike yelled, kicking her stomach and pushing her face away.
He kept thrashing and turning as her claws dug into his arms, as her laughing echoed in his head. Tears were brinking in his eyes as he tried to break free, fear and adrenaline fully enveloping him.
He faintly heard running towards him, hope blooming that someone, anyone was coming to help him. “He's over here!” Ms.Maya started banging his head onto the ground, consciousness going in and out with each hit of the ground.
“..Ver! Shes.. him over… get her off!”
Mike didn't know what was going on anymore, sleeping felt better than trying to understand.
“ the… sword! An.. the sword!!”
What a funny way to die, to your demon geometry substitute.
Mike felt a weight being thrown off him, screaming and the sound of people coming toward him. Maybe he won't die today. Maybe he just needs some sleep.
Mike passed out on the hallway floor just hoping that he'll wake up.