negativeoptimist



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  1. Public Bookmark *

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    1989. Senior year.  

    It took nearly three years of growing apart, but Will Byers has finally gotten used to life without Mike Wheeler. He has El, he has Max, he has his art, and, as of two days ago, he has a full ride to art school in Chicago, so things are good. Right? So when Mike climbs through his window one night and stumbles back into his life, Will’s not prepared for the resurgence of old feelings—and even less prepared for the possibility that they might not be as hopeless as he always thought. With the expiration date of graduation looming, Will has to figure out not only his future, but what exactly he and Mike are to each other.

    Language:
    English
    Words:
    33,017
    Chapters:
    7/7
    Collections:
    1
    Comments:
    145
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    1,444
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    504
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    11 Jan 2026

  2. Public Bookmark *

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    “I can see just fine,” Will snaps. He doesn’t even want to have this conversation with Mike in the first place. If he did, it would’ve been a long time ago. “Why do you even care?”

    “Why do I—” Mike splutters. “Because I care, Will! I care about you.”

    Honestly — what was Mike expecting? That the past month didn’t happen? That they aren’t being weird again? The end of a literal apocalypse did more harm to their friendship than good, apparently, and it’s not something either of them can ignore.

    Or,

    The world is no longer ending. Half of them have moved into the WSQK. Max is learning how to walk again, Mike is hanging out with Robin Buckley, of all people, and Will—

    —still hasn’t told anyone that he can’t see out of his eye.

    Language:
    English
    Words:
    27,213
    Chapters:
    1/1
    Comments:
    66
    Kudos:
    780
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    185
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    5,889

    10 Jan 2026

  3. Public Bookmark *

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    “... Will.”

    “Okay, sure, yeah. What about him?”

    “I’m a bad friend.” Mike admitted, breathing it out like a vomited confession, like something he was desperate to be rid of.

    “Did something happen?” Steve asked.

    “Yes.” He paused. “Well, no. It’s— it’s more like… more like… he got a boyfriend.” Mike huffed out a breath.

    “I know.” Steve agreed slowly, brows raised. “Carlton. Will, Robin and I met up a while back and he introduced us. Seems like a good kid. What about him?”

    Mike felt like a fucking idiot.

    Of course Steve didn’t get it. Why would Steve get it?

    “I… I just…” How was Mike even meant to begin to talk about this? “It’s driving me crazy, man. I hate the guy.”

    OR -

    Mike spirals about his feelings, gets in his car, and somehow ends up going to Steve Harrington for help. He gets a much-needed pep talk and finally goes after what he wants.

    Language:
    English
    Words:
    18,494
    Chapters:
    1/1
    Comments:
    41
    Kudos:
    1,126
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    276
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    14,028

    08 Jan 2026

  4. Public Bookmark *

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    “There was a boy,” Izzy’s dad murmurs. “He… he was my first friend—my best friend. And I…”

    His voice trails off. Tears well in her dad’s eyes, and Izzy reaches across the space between them, taking his free hand. She gives it an encouraging squeeze, and her dad laughs, soft and broken and free

    “I loved him, Izzy,” her dad whispers, meeting her eyes. “I loved him. I really, really did.”

    Or:

    The one in which Mike Wheeler has a crash out of epic proportions when listening to ’Good Luck, Babe!’ and his daughter, Izzy, decides to do something about it.

    Language:
    English
    Words:
    14,041
    Chapters:
    1/1
    Comments:
    227
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    2,747
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    615
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    15,185

    08 Jan 2026

  5. Public Bookmark *

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    Mike is sitting at the desk that technically belongs to both of them but has, by unspoken agreement, become his. His typewriter is centered in front of him, a stack of slightly wrinkled paper to the left, a mug with cold coffee to the right, and his glasses sliding down his nose every few minutes.

    The lamp is on low. Yellow light pools over the keys and his fingers.

    He types carefully at first, then faster, then pauses, his fingers hovering over the keys shakily.
    On the page, the name stares back at him.

    Will the Wise.

    Language:
    English
    Words:
    13,515
    Chapters:
    1/1
    Comments:
    63
    Kudos:
    1,857
    Bookmarks:
    452
    Hits:
    26,895

    08 Jan 2026