Chapter Text
“What the fuck.”
Jonathan glared at the two boys in front of him, his pupils extremely dilated– his stance unfocused.
Mike practically jumped up– almost making Will fall backwards, onto the ground. But Will does not fall.
And that made their position quite more unfortunate.
Cause now Will was kneeling- and Mike was standing, right in front of him.
If it looked suspicious earlier, it looks straight up real now.
Jonathan’s mouth was still open. His eyes slimmed.
Then he just shrugged, and turned to go back upstairs.
Will could hear him mumble ‘nonofmuh-buisness’ under his breath as he walked -or well- some sort of hopped up the stairs.
This was the first time in a while Will had been grateful for his brother being high.
Will looked up towards Mike. And Mike had already been glaring at Will.
Mike’s face was red. Like fully- red.
“I should probably er-”
Will mumbled, trying to think of a way to stand up- being in such close proximity to Mike.
“Right, sorry I’ll just”
Mike stepped to the side, leaving room for Will to stand up- which he did.
Silence.
Mike just glared at the wall- obviously processing what had just happened.
Or, just- thinking?
Cause there wasn’t really anything to process, cause nothing really happened.. right?
Mike just– Helped Will out.
with his sunburn.
Will averted his focus as he kneeled down, closing his sketchbook as he put it back on his nightstand, where it should’ve been in the first place.
Mike spoke gently behind him.
In that one tone that felt so usual to Will- but he’d heard a million times from Max that that was definitely a tone Mike had only preserved for Will.
“I’m sorry.”
Will turned around, his eyebrows furrow.
“What?”
Mike expressively moved his hands as he talked, he looked stressed.
“I- just, that was weird. I’m sorry.”
Will shakes his head.
“You don’t have to apologise, it’s fine.”
Mike shook his head.
“You don't..- you don’t get it.”
Will was about to speak- but he was briefly interrupted by Mike who was already hurrying towards the stairs. Leaving Will here. Alone.
Will sighs. He will not let Mike get to his head. Not again.
At least he had an answer now- he couldn’t look into anything anymore. Mike likes a girl.
Mike wasn’t staring at his lips earlier- Will must have pathetically imagined it to be so.
That was the logical explanation.
So Will continued, and he got ready for bed.
The next day went by quicker than Will had hoped it’d be.
Maybe it was because Mike didn't disrupt his shift this time.
Maybe it was because- After Max came over, during her break- all Will could think about now, was planning.
Max had thought of the amazing idea to host a get together of sorts- at Scoops Ahoy.
Their boss would be out this evening, some weekend thing with his Wife, and Max wanted to- celebrate?
It was an extremely stupid plan.
Max would sneak people in through the back- after hours.
and she’d cover the cameras in the mall facing scoops ahoy.
It was scarily well thought out.
I mean, he should’ve expected it. If Max decides to plan something- she prepares.
Lucas was already getting stuff- as ordered by Max, El was sneakily hiding in the back of Scoops ahoy, waiting for their shifts to end to help prepare.
And Mike- was there too. Probably.
Will doesn’t know, nor has he decided to care.
And that was probably because his head was racing more so over the thought of if Mike would invite this- girl.
Will did not know what we would do if she did show up.
Would he be jealous?
Will isn’t sure- but he didn’t have any more time to think on the subject as he was interrupted by Steve, putting down a bag full of bottles that contain god knows what onto the counter, landing with too many clinking sounds.
“Your wish is my command.”
Will shakes his head as he opens the bag carefully, grabbing a hold of a few bottles, reading the labels carefully.
Some looked okay- and then there were other ones that were named very un-inviting names. Will scrunched up his nose.
“Who was in charge of giving you a list?”
Steve smiled.
“El, and er- some of my favourites are in there too. I don’t drink so much anymore though.”
Will shakes his head as he grabs ahold of the bag, carefully carrying it towards the back- to store it carefully.
He earns a very not so subtle death-stare from Jonathan.
Jonathan glared at Steve, and back at Will.
“What exactly do you guys think we’re doing here?”
Steve sighs, Jonathan smiles astonishingly.
“You know giving people below drinking age alcohol is like- illegal, right?”
Jonathan stares at Steve, silence falls- and Will is kind of sure a fight is about to begin, until they both erupt into laughter.
Will did not understand their bond, like at all.
It was a love-hate relationship of some sorts- but the specifics did not matter as of now, cause this was the perfect time for Will to sneak to the back, storing the drinks into the cooler carefully.
After a very long- very annoying conversation, that only ended because El was the one to finally convince him, Jonathan obliged to let it happen as he handed Will the key to the mall. So then began the preparations.
Lucas and Max were the least productive ones, already too busy with each other– and it seemed like their lovey dovey effect had also spilled over onto El and Dustin, who were standing very close to each other
‘Sorting the drinks’ El had yelled out once Will had asked what they were doing.
Total bullshit.
and total bullshit that left Will to do most of the preparations with Mike.
Mike Wheeler, who was actively avoiding his eye contact.
Mike Wheeler, who kept looking around them, all paranoid like.
Like he was waiting on someone.
Will walked over to Max and Lucas. and he sighs.
“Max.”
Max quickly gets Lucas’s hands off of her,
Lucas just grins- too widely.
“Can we get started? Like, I don't wanna be awkward when people actually arrive.”
Lucas nods as he tips his beer in the direction of Will
“Beer?”
Will shakes his head. He knew he couldn’t really admire the taste of beer right now. It reminded him too much of his father, and now also- too much of the lake, of Mike.
“Something more tasteful, preferably.”
Max nods.
“I know what you need.”
And she scurries away towards El and Dustin, who were basically wrapped up in each other's arms now, obviously not busy with the drinks.
They looked cute together.
Lucas follows Will’s gaze, and he nudges Will, Will smiles.
“Maybe this could be the chance for you to meet someone, y’know.”
Will kept his eyes on the other people as he shrugged, arms crossed.
“Yeah, maybe.”
As she returned, Max smiled innocently, handing Will a cup.
Will smelled the drink softly- the very alcoholic smell hitting his lungs almost immediately, yet once he took a sip- it surprisingly was the more fruity flavour that took over the taste. Leaving Will with a soft smile, it didn’t taste awful, not at all.
“Not bad- not bad at all, Max.”
Max nods, nonchalantly swooping Lucas’s arm around her again. “It’s my specialty. Call it the Mad-special.”
Will takes another sip as he grins.
“You need to make more of these later on.”
Max nods “At your service, of course. But they’re stronger than you think.”
Will scoffs it off.
“Yeah yeah, I’ll be fine.”
Will indeed, was not fine.
As people started arriving, Will was already on his third drink- majorly feeling the effects.
Especially since he hadn't been properly drunk, like ever. He’d usually stick to the classics, and not so much of them.
With the way he was walking around, it should have all been embarrassing. Except it wasn’t.
Cause everyone else was right at that level Will was, if not worse.
Will wasn’t used to being like this, but it felt free.
Free of thinking of Mike- or the girl he had invited.
He couldn’t bring himself to care as his head was more prominent on focussing on things with all of his effort, for they would otherwise fall out of his grasp.
His vision felt a bit delayed- but not too much.
His skin felt like it was prickling. In a good way.
He felt buzzy.
He felt oddly social, starting conversations with people he’d normally never speak to- or well, people he hadn't even met before today in the first place.
Chris, Macey- Jack, Chance-
There were so many people, and Will suddenly felt the need to talk to all of them.
And Max, Max just kept handing Will drinks- while she herself looked like she was dancing perfectly, whilst obviously being drunk.
Lucas was the literal life of the party, talking with everyone so enthusiastically- that Will was sure he’d known everyone here for his whole life. He was the most popular of them, and it was now for sure visible why, his charm uplifting anyone he’d talk to.
El and Dustin were both obviously intoxicated, El’s legs were laying over Dustin’s as they sat in a booth, faces- very. close.
And Mike was sitting too. Beer in hand- and by the looks of him, probably a followup to some stronger stuff he had already had.
Will was about to walk towards the still obnoxiously dancing Max, but Max stopped dancing.
She slapped her hand onto her mouth, her body moving in a way not natural as she ran towards the bathroom.
Will furrowed his brows, but his gaze landed on Dustin and El again, who were now- very much so, kissing. Will slimmed his eyes, it was cute they finally took the final step, sure.
But watching two people so inherently making out, wasn’t exactly a tasteful sight.
But once he looked back towards the booth Mike was sitting in, it was immediately obvious Mike saw El and Dustin too.
Cause he walked- or more so, ran away.
Will sighs. Things had gotten worse. Of course Mike wasn’t over it.
As Mike hurried into the bathroom, he practically slammed open the Bathroom stall door as he kneeled down towards the toilet. He gagged, before throwing up.
Afterwards, Mike caught his breath, letting his back fall into the cold tiles of the stall’s wall.
“Here for the same thing I assume, Wheeler.”
Max.
Mike coughed softly.
“Yeah, but I feel a lot better now. The ceiling has finally stopped spinning for me.”
Max hummed in agreement.
“I guess we Puked it all up, all of that for nothing, I mean– we must be as good as sober now.”
Mike scoffs.
“Let's test it, interrogate me.”
Mike could hear Max laugh softly before she spoke.
“Ok. Interrogate you, sure.”
“Uhm, when was the last time you peed your pants?”
Mike furrowed his eyebrows.
“Does in-water peeing count?”
“Yes.”
Mike shakes his head
“Er- well, then like a day or two ago. In lovers lake.”
Max gasps audibly.
“I knew you were a pool-pisser!”
“It’s literally not a pool.”
“Still counts. But like, didn’t she mind?”
Mike paused.
“She?, Who?”
Max sighs
“Who?!- who have you been going to the lake with recently?”
Mike shrugs.
“Just Will, and at least until yesterday- that was basically everyday, after work.”
Max breath hitched.
“You were with Will. No one else?”
“No, what- why?”
Max cursed under her breath.
“fuck, okay-
She hurriedly changed the topic
“but like. the pee, was it a little bit or-”
“Who can say.”
Max laughs again
“Mike, you are disgusting, and yes- the alcohol is definitely still in your system.”
Mike scoffs, already brushing over the confusing earlier topic.
“Alright, my turn.”
“Hit me.”
“How did you know you were like- in love with Lucas.”
Max chuckles, the topic surprising her.
“I don't really know. I guess I always have been. He's quite the guy.”
Mike scoffs
“He so is not ‘that guy’, you remember when he was a douche right? when he ran with the popular kids.”
“He's always been sweet. and you know it. Sometimes just- below some douchy football lingo-”
Mike laughs, so does Max.
Max begins to speak again.
“But that’s not, that’s not really the point. It doesn’t matter. The point is, even when we barely talked– when we broke up, y-know. There was always still that look in his eyes. Showing that despite everything- every expectation from me, him- or the people around us, didn’t matter. He loves me. You know, he’s just unlike anyone I've ever met before.
Mike doesn’t answer. He was deep in his thoughts.
The way Max just spoke- about Lucas, it reminded him all too well of someone.
Max coughs.
“Mike, did you just die in there or something?
Mike shakes his head, as the tears pooled in his eyes.
“No. I’m still alive.”
Then Max lowers herself, sliding over the bathroom floor as she now sat in the same stall as Mike, across from him. There was pity visible in her eyes as she noticed the tears dwelling in Mike’s eyes.
Mike ignores the throbbing ache in his chest as he speaks, trying to be lighthearted
“The floor’s disgusting.”
Max smiles again.
“Yeah well I’ve already got a bunch of puke on my shirt so..”
Mike nodded as he let yet another silence settle in between them. Max spoke, trying to meet Mike’s gaze.
“What’s the matter?”
Mike put on somewhat of a smile again
"With?"
“There’s something you’re not telling me.”
Mike shakes his head, denying it.
Max sighs. testing the waters, trying to get to the bottom of this. Deep down she knew.
“Is it Will? Did you fight?”
Mike sighs- before speaking hesitantly.
“He’s not. Look, I don't think– He just doesn’t want to be around me anymore, and if he did, I don't think he could ever look at me the same. And I don’t blame him. I'm not exactly like-able.”
Max softly rests her hand on Mike’s shoulder, speaking hesitantly.
“Listen to me, Mike. It shocked me to my core, but you're cool, like- I really like you. And Will, Will thinks so too, I’m sure of it.”
Mike sighs
“I know, he’s special to me. It’s just. I can’t pull my eyes away from him. He's so special- and so amazing. And I just really want to find a girl that's just like him. Cause if I could find a girl like him. I just really would want to be with her, you know? But- There’s just not- anyone like him.
“Then be with Will, Mike.”
Mike furrows his eyebrows, pausing as he swallows softly.
“But, Will’s a boy.”
“Mike.”
Max gazed towards Mike, troubled. She really wanted Mike to connect the dots.
Something changed in Mike’s gaze.
“Oh.”
Max smirked.
“Oh.”
Mike’s eyes widened
“Wait, holy shit.”
Max nodded, letting go of Mike, satisfied.
“Yeah, holy shit.”
Mike didn’t speak. His whole body was frozen.
Max crossed her arms
“Mike, did you OD over there?”
Mike’s mouth fell open.
“No, just uh.. just thinking.”