Chapter Text
It was going to be a rough Monday for Mike.
He knew it the moment he had woken up late, stubbed his toe on the dresser when scrambling to get ready or when he had accidentally run face first into his door in his pursuit for speed.
Mike hated this week. With an absolute passion. Sadie Hawkins Dance week...who the hell even calls their damn child Sadie? It was the week leading up to the grand dance where the girls would ask the guys out instead of the other way round.
Knowing that he wouldn’t once again get asked to the dance, Mike just shrugged as he walked past the ladies bathroom on his way between classes to English. Girls don’t date nerds, it's been obvious from the past two years of absolute zero interest from girls. They always went for the jocks first, the athletes. Then the rest of the school population. Then, there is a gap the size of the death star, then finally nerds. Bottom of the rung. Mike couldn't help as he passed by, hearing the giggles of friends as they confessed who they planned to ask to the dance. Feeling his ears burn at hearing names of people he recognised, he quickly walked away. He always wished that his name had popped up, that it would be passed in hushed conversations in awe, like the star quarterback Johnny Brave. The thought of girls actually being attracted to him made him almost want to burst into impromptu air guitar session, but evidence pointed to the fact that the fairer gender paid him no mind at all. Faced suddenly with that reality, Mike deflated again and unplugged his imaginary air guitar. No legendary riff this time.
As he headed into English, he realised he had the big speech that he hadn’t prepared for at all.
'Crap'
Mondays suck.
Mike sat at his desk in the English classroom, right at the back where the typical cool kids sat. How times had changed. With his top grades, and the poor grades of the cool kids, well Mike had been shifted to the back and they had moved to the front. He was cool now, right? Only lowly peasants sat at the front!
With Dustin, Lucas and Will there, perhaps Monday wasn’t so bad. Too bad he had stayed up late on Sunday, caught up with preparing his next DnD campaign. The drone of students speaking had him quickly falling asleep and turned into him napping at his desk instead of frantically preparing his speech worth 20% of his grade.
“Michael Wheeler?” came the voice of the English teacher, Mrs Wadsworth.
Mike came to, blurry eyed and confused, mumbling to himself about gnolls as Lucas had kicked him harshly in the foot to wake him up.
“Michael Wheeler?" came the impatient tone, "Your speech?”
Mike shot a panicked look at his friends, as he headed up to the front of the class. He heard the words ‘Frogface’ and a few snickers from the jocks as he stood in front of the class, hands tucked nervously in his pockets. Casting his gaze at the room of students before him, he couldn’t help but swallow when his eyes connected with Eleanor’s as he carried his gaze through. His three friends gave him a big thumbs up. Sudden confidence out of nowhere surged within him, knowing that it was all or nothing, and he refused to embarrass himself in front of his crush. The creativity within him bubbled up, and with a rare flash of confidence, he glanced at Eleanor once again to see her attention completely focused on him.
'She's looking at me...' thought Mike.
Mike snapped back to reality. He could dream about her later.
“My speech today,” smirked Mike, improvising as he went, before glancing at the bored expression of Mrs Wadsworth. “Is on how pointless teachers are.”
Mrs Wadsworth just blinked slowly, only a hint of an eyebrow raising betraying any emotion. His eyes flashed with a challenge. Game on you old crone!
“And that concludes my speech,” said Mike, flashing what he hoped was a super cool winning smile.
The students erupted with clapping, excluding the jocks. They were too cool to clap obviously. Mike mockingly said ‘Thank you thank you,’ imitating the presidents of years gone by as he threw in a few exaggerated bows to laughter from the class. His improvised speech on how useless teachers were and the jokes he had cracked were a huge hit with the class. Laughter had carried itself through his improvised three minute speech. Brimming with confidence, Mike grinned as he made his way back to his seat. He spotted Eleanor out of the corner of his eye watching him shyly, before glancing back at her desk. Thinking nothing of it at the time, Mike strutted his way down back to his chair.
The successful speech had Mike's confidence and mood at an all time high. Maybe Monday’s weren’t so bad after all.
“Well Mr Wheeler…that was interesting,” said Mrs Wadsworth dryly. “Your comments I’m sure will be a big hit with the faculty. But for now…please report to detention after school Mr Wheeler."
Wadsworth looked back at her papers.
Mike took it back. Monday's suck.
“Finally, lunch” groaned Mike, with the class finally dismissed.
The rest of the party stood at the back of the classroom. Mike ignored the shudder that ran through his body at the eerie death-like stare from that vulture of an english teacher. Talk about unable to take a damn joke. The woman glared for another second, before finally leaving the room.
Will, Lucas and Dustin shook their heads sadly.
“Sorry man, not for us. Mr Clarke has a task for us in the AV club room for the science class,” said Lucas. “Real important he said.”
“Yeah, sorry Mike,” said Will, voice sympathetic.
"Confidential" shrugged Dustin.
Mike had missed out at being paired with all three of them this year, stuck and isolated alone in Science. To hear that Mr Clarke had given the three of them a special assignment and not him disappointed Mike to no end. He was Mr Clarke! Their favourite inquisitive science teacher. And the party had always been in his class, until this year.
Mike just frowned and nodded. “Alright, don’t have too much fun without me.”
With that, Mike trotted downheartedly to the cafeteria to each lunch, alone.
Monday's really suck.
Mike sighed. With the other guys were caught up with extra-curricular activities for science in the AV clubroom, and even as club president he wasn’t allowed in. As such, Mike faced the uncertain task of eating alone at the cafeteria. As he grabbed his tray and scanned for a good seat, he realised the table and seats near the cheerleaders were free. No big burly football players around? Mike perked up. Maybe things are looking up.
‘Maybe Eleanor’s there?’ thought Mike, as he took the seat.
Eleanor Hopper. Since moving here at the start of the year, she had haunted Mike’s dreams from the very second he laid eyes on her. Stunningly pretty, with a kind personality and a gorgeous smile, the new girl had quickly fallen in with the popular cheerleaders, and her natural ability to dance had led to her integration quickly. Her winning looks and personality led her straight to the very top of the flag pole of popularity. Mike had made peace with his position. He could only watch from the bottom of the totem pole, where he belonged. Girls like Eleanor Hopper married guys like Johnny Brave, the star quarterback of Hawkins High. Interestingly enough however, Johnny had been pursuing Eleanor for some time, but she had always rebuffed him with a soft smile and ‘sorry, but no.’ Mike would secretly admit he admired how Johnny never gave up, even though he was heading towards his tenth rejection. Girls like Eleanor just didn’t come around very often. She was worth the effort in Mike's eyes. Shame he only shared English with her, and as such barely ever saw her around at all. As far as he knew, he didn't even think she knew he existed.
Mike glanced over at the cheerleaders, frowning in disappointment when he didn’t spot her, or her best friend Jennifer sitting at the table.
"The one damn time I get a good view as well" muttered Mike darkly.
Grumbling to himself and feeling isolated at the table, he glanced down at his meal, a paltry serving of a scrambled eggs and what was supposed to be bacon with toast. The toast and bacon were almost burnt to a crisp, while the scrambled eggs looked runny and uncooked. Mike sighed to himself. No friends. No Eleanor. As he took the first bite of the scrambled eggs, Mike winced internally. It couldn’t get any worse than this, could it?
A heavy hand landed on his shoulder, and Mike froze. Glancing up from his eyes, he looked up to see the frowning face of Johnny Brave staring at him. All 150 pounds of muscle staring at him. Pure, raw testosterone seemed to scream from his oversized biceps to his perfectly slicked back blonde hair and powerful jaw. Even though he was only sixteen, Johnny Brave was already a man child. And while Mike had height on his size, Johnny's muscles seemed to have muscles on them. In some way, Mike guessed he could see why girls found him attractive. While not the sharpest tool in the shed, his status as the quarterback of the team gave him star status. Right at the top of the rung. Like Eleanor Hopper. The King and Queen.
“Johnny,” acknowledged Mike, glancing back at his eggs nervously.
“You’re sitting here Wheeler? A place like this for someone like you? You like a beating?” asked Johnny, cruel smirk on his face.
While not the biggest mouthbreather in the school (that belonged to Troy, who found that copping nasty prank after prank meant bullying the Party stopped real quick. Not that the pranks did. Stupid Troy); Johnny did have a sadistic streak in him. Probably from getting smashed too many times on the football field by godzilla sized monsters with more testosterone than a 2 meter square room with Darth Vader, Luke Skywalker and Han Solo could ever produce.
Mike looked at Johnny, as the uncanny confidence from earlier rose up. “I think that’s one thing I won’t be needing.”
'Need to go for the jugular to get out of this pickle' thought Mike, watching as Troy's face darkened with anger.
Mike’s eyes widened to comical proportions as he glanced over Johnny's shoulder.
“Whoa, is that Eleanor?” he said, her name like a prayer on his lips.
'I am not worthy to speak your name' thought Mike dreamily.
The dumb jock turned his head to glance in the direction of Mike, face full of hopeful joy.
Success! Deception! Smarts! Cunning! Powerful agents to the uninitiated.
“ROGUE!” shouted Mike, directly in Johnny's ear, dancing away from Johnny’s heavy grip as the man child flinched in pain. Sensing escape at hand, Mike sprinted for the cafeteria doors.
“HEY! Wheeler!” roared Johnny, turning to face Mike, clutching at his ear painfully from Mike's battle cry.
Mike glanced back as Johnny began to run after him, watching as Johnny began to chase, only to crash into a passing student and sending them both stumbling to the floor.
'Your sacrifice will be remembered brave soldier' thought Mike.
With a grin, Mike pushed through the double doors and out into the hallway. Mike sprinted around the corner, smirking to himself as he’d manage to lose sight of the angry face of the quarterback.
Whistling a victory fanfare tune, he decided that was enough excitement for one day and head to the AV club room. The hallway was mostly empty, with only a few students passing through. Most paid him no heed as he headed for the eastern wing of the school where the small AV club room was. Lunch or no lunch, it was better than being beaten up by an angry Johnny.
“I guess I am rather smart and cunning” muttered Mike to himself, grinning.
Mike slowed to a walk, feeling safer at the distance he had covered in the short amount of time. As he turned around a second corner, he stumbled to a stop, barely running into his crush, Eleanor Hopper, with Jennifer by his side.
The stunning girl stopped him right in his tracks.
“Oops! Sorry Eleanor,” apologized Mike, swooning internally.
‘Pretty’ thought Mike, feeling like melting into a puddle with her soft hazel eyes looking at him.
He began to move around Jennifer and Eleanor, however noticed Jennifer nudge Eleanor slightly from the corner of his eye. Eleanor was following him with her eyes, cheeks pink and hands wringing together in nervousness. He made it a few steps past her before Eleanor stopped him with her sweet voice. Mike grinned to himself, glad for any excuse to talk to the pretty cheerleader, wiping the dumb love-struck look off his face before facing her.
“Hey, Mike?”
Mike couldn’t help the enthusiastic turn as he whirled to face her, hair flying in all directions like a shampoo ad. Jennifer had a hidden grin on her face which she was unsuccessfully covering with her hand as she stared at her best friend whose face was turning pinker by the minute. Eleanor opened her mouth, almost frozen in time as she stared at him, but no words escaped her lips.
“Hey...Eleanor?” asked Mike curiously, confused at her behaviour.
His response seemed to prompt Eleanor out of her stupor, and she shook her head slightly. Jennifer stifled a giggle at her friend's antics as she heard Eleanor whisper 'Get yourself together girl'
Eleanor looked at Mike. “You’re smooth Mike. And…and your good with talking,” she blurted out, face red with embarrassment. “You go with me, to the Sadie Hawkins?”
Mike almost fell over in shock. Eleanor Hopper? Of all people? Had asked him to the Sadie Hawkins dance? Mike felt the seconds tick by as it began seeping into his head that Eleanor freaking Hopper had asked him to the Sadie Hawkins Dance.
He could tell from the look in Eleanor’s face that she was desperately searching for an answer, fingers scrunching at her skirt nervously, her eyes flickering between him and Jennifer, who was starting to look concerned with each passing second.
“Yeah!” exclaimed Mike, wincing at how loud the yeah had come out. So much for smooth. “I’ll be honored to go with you El.”
Eleanor’s eyes widened as Mike accidentally shortened her name, before she gave him a brilliant smile that took his breath away. She tucked a curl of hair behind her ear in embarrassment, babbling away.
“G-good...that's...that's great!” she stuttered back, as Jennifer stifled another set of giggles. “Um...I’ll…I’ll uhh, talk to you later Mike!”
With that, she dashed off, mortified. Jennifer stared at the spot where Eleanor had just been and started laughing. Mike stood there like a complete wastoid, just wondering what to say or do, still processing internally. He had just pulled a date with Eleanor Hopper!
“She really likes you," grinned Jennifer.
Mike just stared at her, and at the spot El was just standing before she had run off. He felt like he was in a daze.
"Did that just happen?" mumbled Mike, sending Jennifer into another round of laughter.
"It did. The moment she realised after English it was lunch time and it was actually Sadie Hawkins week, she was like a bat out of hell, searching all over the school to make sure you weren’t snatched up just yet. She wanted to get to you first” Jennifer flipped her long hair over one shoulder, smiling at Mike as she spoke affectionately about her friend. “Silly girl. Really likes your sweaters as well. I’ll see you around Wheeler. Maybe Byers too...”
With a friendly wink, Jennifer was gone. Mike just stood there, processing everything internally.
“She likes my sweater?"
Mike perked right up.
Maybe Mondays are pretty damn good after all.
Home from the painful stint in jail that was detention, Mike realised it was time. It was time to bring out the big guns. Mike knocked on the door in front of him. To ask the advice from his secret weapon, his most valued ally. Each of the party had a person who was their secret weapon. Dustin had the former King of the school, Steve Harrington. Will had Jonathan, his brother. Lucas had his Uncle James, or as he liked to call himself, LL Cool James. And Mike? As he patiently waited, the door finally opened and Nancy poked her head out, scrunching her face in confusion as she saw Mike standing outside her room.
“Mike? What’s wrong?” she asked, seeing the nervous look on her face.
“Sadie Hawkins Dance,” blurted Mike, as he ran a hand nervously through his hair, unable to cope with the overwhelming emotions welling within him. “I got asked to it, and I said yes.”
Nancy’s eyes widened. “You got asked to the Sadie Hawkins Dance? By who?”
Mike paused. “You probably wouldn’t know her. Eleanor Hopper. Cheerleader. Pretty. Popular, universally loved by all students. Sort of the female version of King Steve?”
Nancy blinked at her brother, confused. “You’re saying you snagged a female version of Steve?”
“No!” exclaimed Mike, wincing at the comparison. El was nothing like Harrington. “Steve’s a dick. Well. Was. But she’s right up there in popularity, like right at the very top. And I’m in the bottom of the pits…like you were when he asked you out.”
Nancy’s eyes narrowed in anger. “I wasn’t in the bottom of the pits Mike. I just didn’t care for those things.”
“Sure Nance,” said Mike, dismissing her comment. “Come on, I need your help.”
Nancy paused, before sighing.
“Come on in then brother dearest. Let’s get you sorted. You think this girl may like you?”
“She likes my sweaters!” exclaimed Mike excitedly as he entered.
“Marry her,” deadpanned Nancy, as she shut the door behind them.
Mike wasn’t sure how to broach this subject the next day, so he had called an emergency meeting Tuesday lunch time in the AV room. The four boys crowded in the room, door locked for maximum sneakiness and security.
“So what’s going on Mike?” asked Will, curious at the sudden Code Red.
Mike ran a hand through his messy hair. “Alright, so Sadie Hawkins dance is coming up…just out of curiosity, are you guys going?”
Dustin blanched at the statement. “No way man, we all know we don’t get asked to these things. We’re nerds!”
Lucas was suspiciously quiet, looking at anywhere but Dustin, who quickly caught on.
“Wait,” said Dustin, looking at Lucas, pointing an accusing finger at him. “You’re kidding me right?”
Lucas blushed. Guilty. “You know Max? Max Mayfield?”
They all nodded in agreement. Everyone knew Max. Pretty, long red hair and ultra-athletic, she was the superstar of the track team. A terror on the track and off the track, her fiery personality and brash nature made her a whirlwind of fire, or as affectionately nicknamed by her friends, MadMax.
“Well,” trailed Lucas. ”She asked me yesterday after school. And I said yes.”
“Son of a b-“ began Dustin, before Will interrupted him.
“Since we're confessing sins...I got asked by Jennifer Hayes,” admitted Will.
Dustin’s head whirled to Will. “You?!” he asked dramatically, eyes widening. "You! You have a date with Jennifer Hayes?"
Will nodded, staring back at Dustin. The cleric was about to go on the offensive. “You can't talk Dustin, that girl Suzie approached you after school as well…” he shot back.
Lucas and Mike stared at Dustin, who was fiddling with his hat. “Suzie? As in, choir singing star Suzie?” asked Lucas.
Dustin flushed red. “What could I do? She finds me irresistible. I said yes.”
“And you’ve been acting up this entire time Henderson?!” hollered Lucas loudly.
“Save your accusations Sinclair,” snapped Dustin. “It was for dramatic effect.”
Mike paused in reflection, blinking at his friends. From social pariahs, they had all gotten dates. Dustin, with Suzie, a cute bespectacled girl with a singing voice of an angel. Will with popular cheerleader Jennifer Hayes. And Lucas, with track superstar Max Mayfield. One year ago, if everyone had told him they all would get dates to the Sadie Hawkins dance, he would of laughed in their face.
“How about you Mike?” queried Lucas, turning his attention back to his friend.
Mike snapped out of his thoughts. 'Wuh-woh'
“Yeah, why are you suddenly so curious about the Sadie Hawkins Dance?” asked Will.
Mike paused, unsure of how to reveal the news.
“Maybe he was asking because he doesn’t have a date! Guys! We need to get Mike a date!” exclaimed Dustin with a hint of panic, mistaking Mike’s silence for acceptance.
“A party member is in need!” declared Lucas solemnly, slamming a fist into his hand with determination. “We must assist!”
“Will the Wise stands with you Mike,” said Will, standing up dramatically. "I will go with you to Mordor."
Mike paled. “No, you guys…I-”
“And Dustin, the mightiest Bard in the land will stand alongside,” declared Dustin, tightening his cap as he stood up.
“Guys…” began Mike, frustration building at being interrupted.
Lucas stood up swiftly. “And as the fearsome ranger, I too will join this quest to find Mike a date.”
“Guys! I’m going with Eleanor Hopper!” exclaimed Mike, stopping his friends from continuing to carry on like a bunch of pork chops.
“Eleanor Hopper???!” they all exclaimed at once, staring at Mike.
“How the hell?
“What in the world?”
“The f-“
“I ran into her on the way to the AV club yesterday at lunch time. She...she said I’m smooth,” blurted out Mike, cheeks blushing at the memory. “That I’m good with talking. She asked me to go with her…to the Sadie Hawkins.”
Mike watched as his friends all sat down in disbelief. Dustin pulled off his hat and ran his hand through his hair, trying to process it all.
“Mike’s pulled a Nancy…” whispered Dustin with reverence, eyes wide as he stared at Mike, like he was some sort of mythical fairytale creature. The finger of judgement came up, as Dustin pointed at him. “Now Mike’s done the same and snagged the damn Queen! What talent…what skill…what poise!”
“I didn’t pull a Nancy,” retorted Mike, pausing in confusion. “And what the hell does pulling a Nancy even mean?”
Dustin snorted as if it was common knowledge. “The King, Steve Harrington dated your sister for a while,” lectured Dustin.
“Yeah,” nodded Mike. “For like, a year and a bit.”
“Right,” nodded Dustin, agreeing with him. “But she was near the bottom of the totem pole. Steve was at the top. Naturally, by going out with him, she rose to the very top as well.”
“You’re going to be popular Mike…” intoned Lucas. “Don’t forget about me man!”
Mike swore as he pushed his friend off him, who was pretending to cry and trying to hug him. “Piss off Lucas.”
The boys all chuckled at their antics, and a silence settled over them as the reality of their situation sank in.
“So you’re telling me…we all have dates to the Sadie Hawkins? With popular girls as well…” mumbled Will.
“Yeah,” breathed out Mike. “Mike Wheeler from a year ago would laugh in your damn face if you told him this story.”
“Pulled the damn royal flush Wheeler,” muttered Dustin, shaking his head in pure disbelief. “Pulled the damn queen herself...”
Lucas cracked a grin, as they felt normalcy creep back into the room, shock wearing off “Well, if there’s one thing we know, it’s that there’s not a chance in hell Eleanor likes Mike’s sweaters”
Will and Dustin chuckled at Lucas's statement, but paused as Mike looked at them.
“Jennifer admitted to me she does,” confessed Mike.
All three of the party stared at him, Mike flinching at their unwavering gaze.
“Marry her,” they all said, in unison.