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Mike can hardly remember a time before Will.
Will skips into his life when Mike is eight, when he moves in next door. Mike stands on his tiptoes, peering out of the living room window as he watches a moving truck being unload by a bunch of different men. It takes a long time watching, his toes already starting to hurt, but eventually Mike sees a family getting out of a red car; there’s a mother and a father, and three kids – two boys and one girl.
The older kid is one of the boys, he looks to be about his sister Nancy’s age, while the other two both look like they’re around his age. The girl may be a little bit younger but the boy is definitely Mike’s age.
He keeps watching attentive as the two kids run around in their new yard with laughs that while he’s not able to hear, he still knows are loud and flashy. The older boy happily pretends to want to catch them both.
“Mike!” - His dad shouts, making him tears his eyes away from the younger boy that is now holding his sister’s hands while the both of them run away from the older brother.
“Yeah?”
“Your mom’s been calling you for two minutes now, son! Pay attention” - Mike sigh, before nodding his head to the man, Ted, who’s sitting on the couch, local paper by his hand. - “Well, go!”
Mike throws one last glance at the window, still wondering about his new neighbors, before he runs out to the kitchen.
-
Later that day, Mike’s entering his bedroom when he sees the same boy again – the younger one – in the room directly opposite his window. His brain is racking trying to remember if ever before did he realize how close his window was from the other house – Mike believes that maybe if he was taller, with bigger limbs, he could be able to reach out and touch the glass if he really wanted to.
He’s staring, and the other boy must notice him doing so, because he looks up, catching Mike’s eyes. The boy raises a tentative hand, blushing.
Mike quickly raises his hand as well and waves back at him, slightly nervous for some reason.
The boy smiles then, revealing his two front teeth missing, before turning away.
-
Mike learns that same week that the boy is called Will Byers and is in fact his age, all thanks to his mother. After her little “welcome to the neighborhood” visit to the new family, she came back home thrilled to tell his father everything about them at dinner – well, his father was barely paying attention, more focused on the chicken by his plate – but Mike listened to every word:
How they came to Hawkins after their dad, was transferred to work at the city’s police station. And how they are from California – Mike's never been to California, but it sounds hot and moist, so he doesn’t think he would like it. He also listens something about a second marriage, and how his mom does not approve of that, for some reason that she doesn’t care to explain. But what really gets Mike’s attention was the kids names: Jonathan, Will and Jane.
-
Mike watches Will sometimes, from his bedroom window. Watches him struggle with his homework; which is also how Mike learns that the boy doesn’t go to the same school that he goes to, in fact none of the Byers-Hopper family does. They all go to Hawkins Public School, while Mike goes to a private one.
He also watches him play with his sister from time to time, he watches him paint and draw. Mike likes that. Seeing Will painting, that’s it. He doesn’t know why but it’s captivating seeing how happy and focused the other boy looks while doing it.
Some days Will catches his eyes and offer him a smile, and the dark-haired boy can’t help but notice the way his teeth are slowly growing each time. But Will always close his yellow curtains after catching Mike looking, so he tries his best to be subtle.
-
It’s the height of summer when Mike hears Will’s voice for the first time. The sun is almost unbearable as both Mike and his best friend Dustin sit in his room in front of the fan.
“I’m going to die; the heat is killing me, Mike.” - Dustin says with a groan.
“Don’t be dramatic” - Mike says voice muffled by the pillow he’s resting his face against. - “Ugh!”
“Your fan’s not working.”
“It’s on high.”
“Doesn’t feel like it.”
Mike lifts his head to look at his friend, grimace full-on. - “Just stop talking, your breath is making the room warmer.”
Dustin groans loudly at that, and Mike ignores him.
On days like this, there’s nothing to do, and even if it had they’re both too hot to do something else than lay on the floor and complain.
They stay like that for minutes or maybe hours, so much so that Mike’s almost sleeping - despite the uncomfortable sweat forming on his neck - when Dustin’s loud voice interrupts him.
“Heeeeey!”
Mike head shots up swiftly, eyes searching for his best friend just to find him by his window-seat, waving excitedly to someone.
His eyes widen when he realizes who Dustin is greeting. It’s Will.
Mike doesn’t know why that makes him so highly strung, he thinks it may be something related to the fact that he’s been trying to gain courage to talk with the other boy for months now and seeing Dustin doing it so easily sets something almost jealous inside his nine year old self.
He jumps, running to get to the other boy.
“My name’s Dustin, what’s your name?” - Dustin shouts again, showing his toothless smile to the boy in the opposite window.
Will who until then had his eyes on Dustin, kind smile on his face, turns his eyes to Mike when he approaches.
“Hi. Nice to meet you, Dustin. I’m Will.” - He greets back, so polite and gentle that Mike almost doesn’t hear him.
“Hey Will, this is my friend, Mike” - Dustin points at Mike while holding him by the shoulder with his free hand. - “Say hi Mike!”
“Stop yelling in my ear!” - Mike tells, before pushing his best friend hands away from him.
There’s no real bitterness behind his actions, probably because it would take energy that he doesn’t really have to muster up irritation. He turns his eyes to the boy by the window again, seeing him watching his and Dustin interaction almost delighted.
“Uhm, hi Will! Nice to meet you- er.”
And God, why does he sound so lame?
“Hi Mike! Nice to finally meet you, too!” - Will answers, but all Mike seems to be able to do is notice how big and sparkle Will’s eyes look with the sun shining on his face. - “Well, I would love to chat, but my mom’s waiting for me, so, bye Mike! Bye Dustin!”
Mike and Dustin both wave him goodbye, watching as he leaves his room, closing his door.
“He seems nice!” - His curly-haired friend states, walking away from the window to sit close by the fan again.
“Yeah.”
“Do you think his house has A/C? Maybe he can be my new best friend.”
Mike roll his eyes. - “Do you ever shut up?”
Dustin pretends to think about it for a minute before saying - “Not really.”
This time Mike is the one who groans loudly, and Dustin ignores him.
-
Nothing really changes after that; Mike and Will still only interact with each other with glances and curious looks from across their windows.
One night, Mike sees Will sticking different drawings and paintings all over his bedroom wall, he can’t exactly see what they are, even when he tries to squint his eyes to see better all he’s able to discern is a whole bunch of dragons, warriors and others stick figures. However, in the end it doesn’t really matter because what really catches Mike’s attention is how focused Will looks with his tongue poking out at the side and brows furrowed. Mike finds it... Cute? Yeah, cute.
At some point, Will looks at his direction and smiles, like he normally does. Mike blushes at that, suddenly feeling exposed and not knowing why. He’s almost averting his eyes when he sees that the other boy is pointing at the drawings on his walls, while with the other hand gesturing a thumbs up and then a thumbs down as if asking for Mike’s opinion on them.
Mike laughs before quickly motioning a thumbs up, nodding his head.
The other boy seems satisfied with his response; if the way his smile grows is any indicator for that.
Will doesn’t shut his curtains for the first time in months that night.
-
The last day of 5 th grade is the first time he talks with Will. Like, really talks.
Mike is in a good mood; he’s finally going to have some well-deserved rest days. No school, no homework and most importantly no Mrs. Brown to yell at him for talking, breathing or whatever that cranky bitch (bad word, he knows) keeps complaining about.
So yeah, you can say he’s the happiest he’s ever been. He’s biking by the park near his house when he catches a glimpse of chestnut-hair in a bowl-cut sitting alone by the swings, making him stop in his tracks.
He ponders for a bit on what to do, a big part of him wants to go and talk with the other boy, but there’s also another part, small but still very much real that fears some type of rejection coming from Will, because what if he doesn’t want to be friends with Mike?
In the end he chooses to be brave, for once. So, he gets of his bike, thinking about how much the thrill of being free from school and normal days obligations can change a man, and walks to the playground, where there are so many other kids playing and laughing but Will’s still by himself.
“Uhm, hi!” - Mike greets awkwardly, looking at his feet. - “Can I- I sit with you?”
Mike’s not looking up but he can almost listen to the smile on Will’s voice. - “Hi Mike. Y-yeah, of course.”
He hurries to sit on the swing beside Will, pushing off softly with his feet.
“You remember my name.” - Mike voices out stupidly.
“Of course I do. Why? Don’t you remember mine?” - Will looks at him with a hint of cheekiness.
“I- I do. Will. It’s Will.”
The other boy lets out a small laugh at him, nodding his head.
“So... What are you doing here all by yourself?” - Mike asks, gesticulating to the other kids who are all playing in groups. - “What about your sister?”
“Jane’s with our friend Max,” - He’s also rocking on his swing while he’s talking, but he’s doing it more slowly and Mike notices how his feet hardly reach the ground, just the tip of his sneakers. He’s shorter than Mike. For sure. - “They asked if I wanted to go with them, but they’re doing girly stuff, so I said no.”
Mike nodded. It makes sense. - “What about your friends? Do you have any, like, boy friends?”
“Uhm- no. Just Jane and Max.” - Will mumbles, sounding almost... sad?
And Mike doesn’t want the other boy to feel sad. Never. So, he takes a deep breath before shyly asking what he’s been planing on asking for months now:
“I- I can be your friend, if you want” - Will looks at him, eyes shining. - “Do you?”
Will nods then, big smile on his face. - “Yeah.”
“Yeah?”
“Yeah, Mike. We can be friends.”
Okay, so maybe this is the happiest Mike’s ever been.
-
After that day, both boys see each other more often; they play games together or go to the park together, and Mike also invites Dustin over sometimes and the three of them hang out in Mike’s basement till Mike’s mom says it’s time for dinner.
They still see each other in their bedrooms too, but they never talk in these moments, though. It’s like they’re back to being only Mike and Will, neighbors and not friends, when they’re up in their rooms.
Mike sees when Will, with the help of his older brother, swaps some of the drawings on his walls for band posters, bands Mike never really heard of – which isn’t surprising since Mike’s not really that into music. He also changes his old drawings and paintings for new ones from time to time too.
Mike likes being able to see the boy improvement every time a new paper makes its way to the wall.
Will still shuts the curtains, mainly when he’s focused on his art and he catches Mike staring at him, but Mike doesn’t care that much anymore because Will always smiles apologetically at him before closing them.
-
In the weekend before their first day in middle school, they have a sleepover – Mike, Will and Dustin. The three of them stay the whole afternoon at Mike’s basement playing D&D, a game all of them are slowly getting kind of obsessed with. Mike’s mom only interrupts them occasionally to bring some snacks but other than that it’s just them all by themselves.
When they settle down to sleep that night, they throw their sleeping bags across the floor in a way that the three of them are all sleeping side by side – Mike in the middle, Will by his left and Dustin by his right.
“Mike” - Will whispers just when Mike thinks he might be asleep. - “Are you awake?”
“Yeah” - He whispers back. - “What’s wrong?”
Will shifts slightly, turning on his side to see Mike’s face.
Will’s eyes are wide when he opens his mouth again. - “I’m scared.”
“Scared?” - Mike whispers back dumbly. - “Scared of what?”
“Ye-ah. School.”- He gulps - “Jane’s still has a whole year before going to middle school with me. I only have Max this year, and I can’t help but think she’s going to ditch me and find better friends.”
“Don’t say that!” - Mike says softly, his voice breaking a little bit by the look on the other boy’s face. - “That’s not going to happen!”
“How can you be so sure?”
Mike blindly searches for Will’s hand, when he finally finds it, he rests his own hand on Will’s slowly, tentative. - “Because I think you’re a great friend, Will. And I know she would agree with me if she was here right now.”
“I wish you and Dustin could be there with me.”
Mike squeezes his hand. - “Me too.”
Will grins at him. And for the first time Mike realizes how... Pretty? Yeah, that’s seems to be the right word - even though he never really saw anyone referring to a boy by the word pretty before. Still, he feels like Will can only be described as pretty when he’s smiling.
“Good night, Mike!” - Will whispers, taking the dark-haired boy out of his thoughts.
Mike let go of his hand, before whispering back. - “Good night, Will!”
-
The first day of middle school comes and goes in the blink of an eye, at least for Mike. Him and Dustin still have most classes together, which makes everything more bearable. But no matter how easy everything was, Mike couldn’t help but think about Will the whole day, worried about the boy even though he knows Will’s friend, Max, wouldn’t ditch him.
Like ditching Will was something possible for any reasonable human being. Yeah, right.
At night when Mike finally enters his room, he’s happy to see that the other boy is already there, on his own room. Will is sitting cross-legged in his bed, comic book on his hand and Mike really, really wants to ask him about his day.
He slowly gets up from his own bed, going straight for his desk before picking up an old notebook full of shitty stories that Mike likes to write sometimes. He scowls down at it for a second, before going back to his purpose – he scrabbles around for a pen, uncapping it and flipping to the next blank page in the notebook.
hey. how was school?
Mike can’t help but feel stupid, but whatever, he goes to his window and holds the notebook against it before he can second-guess himself. He knocks hard on the glass to get the other boy’s attention.
He watches as Will looks up from his comic book with a frown on his face, and then, slowly, his eyes start to flit over the words once, twice, three times. He laughs, holds a finger up and disappears, searching for something by his floor. He pulls out his own notepad and a pen and scribbles a response.
good! me and max made a new friend!! 😊
Will’s handwriting is adorable and cleaner than Mike’s. His heart makes a little twist at seeing the smile face.
really? that's great, will!
Will smiles when he reads Mike’s reply, already writing on his notepad again.
thanks 😊
Mike doesn't know what to say anymore, so he just smiles at Will and puts his notebook down. The both of them go back to their little worlds after that, just enjoying have each other's somehow company with their curtains open.
-
School makes it harder for them to hang out, maybe it’s because they go to different ones, but every time Mike’s free to do something Will has homework and vice-versa.
It’s a bummer, really. So, as the days go by, they go back to only seeing each other from their bedroom’s windows. They still don’t talk when they’re there, not even with their notebooks – Mike thinks that maybe it was an only time thing.
But like always, Mike still watches Will, even though later he’s been getting the feeling that, hey that's kind of creepy, but it’s not like he’s doing it on purpose, it’s just that both their windows are big and Will doesn’t really close his curtains that much anymore, and neither does Mike.
And that’s how Mike gets to know, or well, see Will’s new friend for the first time. It’s a Wednesday, and Mike goes up to his room to get a cassette tape Dustin forgot on his desk the other day when he sees the two boys working on their homework together; Will’s friend has short hair and he’s wearing some type of bandana that seems really strange in Mike’s opinion.
They are too focused on their books to see Mike, but what really strung Mike is his own reaction at seeing Will with another friend. Another male friend. He feels almost... jealous, for some reason. He knows he shouldn’t, Will’s allowed to have other friends besides him and Dustin.
Mike shakes his head trying to make his thoughts go away, looking at them a last time, before going downstairs.
Without the cassette tape, for the record.
-
Will’s laying on the couch in Mike’s basement, two months later after what Mike calls the “cassette tape incident”.
It’s a Saturday afternoon and the of both of them are waiting for Dustin – the curly-haired boy is almost half an hour late, and later both Mike and Will discovers it was because he stopped to buy himself some ice cream.
But the thing is; Will’s been silent since he arrived, only speaking when Mike asks him something and even then, he only gives him short responses. So, Mike’s starting to get worried.
“Are you okay?” - Mike asks, he’s sitting on the floor, directly in front of Will’s upper body, his back against the couch.
“Y-yeah.”
“Are you sure?” - He looks up then, catching Will’s eyes – they look wet, and the sign makes Mike’s heart ache. - “Will, what happened?”
“I- I...” - Will wraps his own arms around himself, he looks like he wants to keep talking but can’t.
Mike’s brows furrows in concern, he’s never seen the other boy like this before.
“You can tell me” - Mike whispers, his whole body now facing the couch, facing his friend.
Will nods and close his eyes. - “There’s this boy at school, his name is Troy... And he’s been-”
Mike lets out a pained sound. - “He’s been what, Will?”
“He’s been bothering me. Calling me names,” - Will mumbles, eyes anywhere but Mike. - “Bad names.”
There are tears on his face, and Mike quickly reaches out with his sleeves to wipe them away. He doesn’t know what to say, part of him wants to ask exactly what names this boy’s been calling Will and another part wants to scream and throw a punch at this kid he doesn’t even know.
“And I’ve been thinking,” - Will gasps out again, suddenly. - “And I’m so scared, because I- I think I may be... what he’s been calling me. I- I don’t know, I don’t know, Mike, I don’t know who I am anymore, and I don’t know if I am really- because- I. What if my mum stops loving me? What if you, Dustin or Lucas don’t want to be my friends anymore beca-”
“Shhhh” - Mike leans forward then, pressing a kiss to Will’s damp cheek, making him stop talking. - “I’ll never stop being your friend, Will. Never.”
“But you don’t even know-”
“I don’t care.” - He declares.
Will nods, slowly at first, and then more certainly. Mike smiles at him, softly and gentle. They stay in silence till they are interrupted by Dustin’s loud footsteps.
-
Will never talks about the subject again, no matter how much Mike tries asking him if the harassment stopped, if things are better at school the other boy never really answers him, always changing topics. So, at some point Mike stops asking.
They fall back into their normal rhythm and soon enough they’re in 7 th grade. It’s a cold night in February when Mike and Will talk with each other through notes in their bedroom’s window again.
It’s been a rough day for Mike, because he argued with Dustin for the first time in years. It was a stupid fight, and all started because Dustin couldn't stop talking about his new “girlfriend” Suzie; they met at summer camp last year and that’s all the other boy seemed able to talk about since then.
And yeah, maybe Mike shouldn’t have yelled at Dustin to stop talking about swapping spit with some girl in front of the whole cafeteria, but he was fed up. It’s not that Mike doesn’t like girls, and doesn’t dream about himself swapping spit with someone from time to time, because he does. But trying to eat his lunch while having the mental image of Dustin and his girlfriend – who said, and Mike quotes “loves to kiss Dustin, because kissing a toothless mouth is so much better” - eating each other's face is almost impossible.
So, yeah. Rough day.
He dumbs his bag on the floor as soon as he walks in the room and kicks the door shut, leaning against it with his eyes shut for a minute. He’s so tired. Tired of arguing and for sure tired of listen about girls and what disgusting things they can do with their mouths.
When he opens his eyes again, he spots Will staring closely at him from his room and offers him a weak smile.
Will holds a finger up and disappears from sight, reappearing again after a minute or so with a notepad and a pen.
what's up? 🙁
Mike grins, opens the drawer of his bedside table and pulls out his notepad and pen.
fought with dustin. he's stupid.
Will frowns at that.
what happened? wanna talk about it?
It surprises Mike that he does want to talk about it. He starts writing then, Will already know about Suzie so he doesn’t really have to tell him the whole story since the beginning just the main argument and how much he’s fed up with the all that.
Will reads each page as Mike holds them up to him, nodding when he’s ready for the next one.
wow. i understand you, i really do. but dustin’s just excited and happy, mike.
Mike sighs.
but he needs to talk about it all the time??
Will’s scribbling before he’s even finished reading.
you will be just like him when u finally kiss a girl.
Mike’s kind of taken aback by that.
how do u know if i haven’t kissed one already?
did you?
Mike frowns.
no...
Will laughs at that, head thrown back.
figured it.
what about you? did u ever kiss a girl before?
Will’s smiling as he writes his response.
yep.
3 little words. That’s enough to turn Mike’s whole world upside down.
what???? who???
u don’t know her. it was a stupid dare.
-
Will kissed someone. Will kissed a girl.
One day later, and Mike can’t stop thinking about their conversation. He feels likes his whole skin is itching and burning every time he pictures Will leaning in to kiss some faceless girl. Suddenly he has the urge to know exactly who the girl was, and if Will enjoyed kissing her.
He wants to know everything.
Mike doesn’t understand how the thought of Will kissing makes him even more angry and unsettling than Dustin kissing Suzie, but it does. It’s a similar feeling in a way, but yet so different.
So maybe that’s why he goes straight to the Byers-Hopper's front door after school, not bothering to change clothes or anything. He rings the bell before having time to think about what he’s doing. And what his plan is here. Because he doesn’t think he really has one.
Will’s sister opens the door. Jane. She staring at him and Mike realizes in that moment that he's never spoken to her before.
“Uhm, hi, I’m Mike, I live next door and-”
“I know who you are” - She interrupts, looking at him with big eyes. They look scary like Will’s. - “Will, your friend is here!”
Mike grins awkwardly at her, making Jane raise her eyebrows at him. - “He’s coming.”
He nods and open his mouth to answer the girl but he’s interrupted by Will’s voice.
“Friend? But Lucas at-” - Will stops on his tracks when he sees Mike standing on his front door. - “Mike?”
“Uhm- Hi”
“Hi.”
Mike sees from the corner of his eyes that Jane seems to subtly roll her eyes at them, but it is almost imperceptible because soon after she’s waving at Mike and going back to wherever she was before he interrupted her.
“Uhm- can I come in?” - Mike asks suddenly unsure, seeing how the other boy is looking at him with a glimpse of confusion on his eye.
“Oh, yeah sure!” - He smiles, gesturing for Mike to enter the house.
Will waits for Mike to close the front door before speaking again.
“So, not that I don’t want you here but, is everything okay? You never came by before...”
Mike blinks at that, scratching his head. - “Uhm. Yeah- Can we talk?”
“Yeah. Sure” - Will nods. - “Let’s go to my room.”
The first thing Mike thinks when he enters Will’s room is how weird it is to be inside it. Maybe because he’s so used to seeing it only from afar, that it almost feels like he’s watching it from a TV, and now being inside it feels... different, like it’s not really something that’s happening. Does it make sense? He doesn’t know.
“Nice room.” - Mike lets out after a while, his eyes still browsing the covered walls.
“Thanks,” - Will smiles. - “It’s not like it’s the first time you’re seeing it.”
Mike laughs softly at that. - “Yeah, you’re right.”
“So... What do you want to talk about?”
Oh. Shit.
Mike didn’t think this through.
“I- I- It's stupid.” - He stutters, looking at the window, eyes focused on his own bedroom and how messy it must look to Will. It has clothes everywhere, but in the closet.
Will gives him a befuddled look. - “Just say it, Mike.”
“I know it’s weird, but I can’t stop thinking about yesterday...” - He begins, closing his eyes. - “About the kissing stuff.”
“Okay...”
“And trust me when I say I don’t know why I came here in the first place, but I just need- need to know how it was. How it is.” - He grimaces at his own words. God, he’s stupid.
“What? What do you mean?”
“I don’t know- I just- You and Dustin both already kissed a girl and I-” - Mike can feel himself getting redder and redder by the second, and it doesn’t help that he seems to have Will’s fully attention. He can feel Will’s eyes on him and it's making his hands sweat like never before.
“Oh” - Will interrupts him then, understanding apparent on his face. - “You want to know how- how to kiss?”
Mike closes his eyes again, before slightly nodding his head. - “Yeah. Something like that.”
“And you want me to tell you how?”
Mike nods again.
“Uhm,” - Will starts, and Mike swears that the both of them can listen to his heart beating faster and faster by the second. - “I guess I can teach you. Yes.”
“Really?”
“Really,” - Will smiles shyly. - “It’s what friends do, right?”
“Uhm, yeah. Absolutely.” - Mike answers quickly, nodding his head.
“Okay.”
“Okay?” - Oh God.
Will laughs a little at that. - “Yeah, Mike. C’mon, let’s sit.”
The shorter boy gently leads him to sit on his bed, which Mike does awkwardly, gaze focused on the floor. Will clear his throat before slowly sitting beside him, not so close but also not so far away from the dark-haired boy. They stay like that, without talking for what Mike feels like hours before Will finally breaks the silence.
“So... What do you want to- er- know?” - He asks shyly.
“Uhm... I don’t know, uhm, like how do I start it?” - Mike looks at Will, who’s already looking at him.
Mike sees when the boy takes a deep breath, chest rising and falling before slowly moving his hand to touch his shoulder. - “You can start by like, touching her shoulder?” - Will whispers and the way he words it sounds almost like a question.
Mike nods. It’s all he can do. They’re still very much apart from each other, only connected by the small hand touching him but he already feels like his stomach is doing some type of backflips inside him.
“You- You can also close your eyes- it's better this way.” - Will mutters, and he sounds so nervous that Mike finally takes his eyes away from his chest to look back at his face, he’s looking directly at Mike. He gulps when their eyes met. - “Well, close it.”
Mike nods slightly before complying. - “And... then, you just have to lean in... and touch her lips.”
The dark-haired boy waits for something, maybe for the other boy to lean in and show him just like he did with everything else but he’s not moving and the hand on his shoulder seems to be leaving its place on him.
He quickly grabs Will’s hand, keeping it in place. His eyes are still closed. He’s too afraid to open them. - “Uhm, Will?”
“Y- Yeah?”
“Do you think that, maybe, you could er-, show me how to do it?” - Mike whispers, brows furrowed.
“Er-…” - Will mumbles, and Mike’s sure he’s about to pull away and yell about how weird Mike was for asking such thing but suddenly and so so gently he feels the other boy getting closer to him. - “Okay. Sure.”
Mike doesn’t see but he swears he can almost feel when Will slowly tilts his head, leaning in. Mike feels his breath first, tickling his lips and then their mouths are shyly pressing together.
It’s a small peck, not more than that but Mike feels his head spinning. Will pulls away.
“You can, uhm, also move your lips just a little bit, but like only if you-”
“Yes, show me.” - Mike interrupts more eagerly than he intended to.
Will gently squeeze Mike shoulder before diving in again, this time he began to kiss Mike in small and soft little pecks, moving his lips timidly. The dark-haired does his best to reciprocate, doing the same things the other boy is doing, but it’s hard because he feels like he’s one second away from fainting.
Mike understands Dustin now. Really understands.
He will have to ask for forgiveness for ever doubting Dustin’s word about the wonders of locking lips with another person.
Will breaks away after some seconds and Mike slowly open his eyes, the other boy’s already looking at him.
“That was...” - Mike cuts himself off, finding himself breathless. - “That was... yes.”
“That was yes?” - Will repeats with a small chuckle, he sounds a little bit nervous.
“Uhm, very informative. That’s it. Thank you Will.” - He sounds weirdly polite, and it makes the other boy frown at him.
“Uhm, no problem?”
Mike nods, getting up from his bed in a swiftly move. - “I- I need to go now.”
He makes the mistake to look at the other, who’s still sitting by the bed with a confused look on his face. There’s also something else on his eyes that Mike can’t figure out what it is. - “Uh- Okay. I’ll open the d-”
“No- no, I know, uhm, the way. No need to bother.” - He fake smiles before grabbing his bag by the floor. - “Bye, Will. See you later!”
And then he’s running out of Will’s house like it was on fire.
-
Mike doesn’t open his curtains for a whole week.
After returning to his house that day he went to Will’s, his twelve year old self had a full-on panic attack thinking about what happened. And why it felt so real to kiss Will, his friend, his male friend.
He’s young but not so young to not know what every grown up seems to think about boys who likes to kiss other boys. In fact, Mike knows exactly what his father thinks about them. And you better trust him it’s not anything good.
So, yeah, he freaked out.
And maybe that’s why he’s being ignoring Will, well not actually ignoring since the other boy didn’t try to talk to him or anything, but he still has his curtains drawn. After the second day of that, he gives in for just a second and goes to his window to slightly peak at the other boy’s room, wanting to see him. Out of curiosity of course.
In the end he doesn’t see Will, because his curtains are drawn too.
-
“What happened?”
“What?” - Mike asks. Him and Dustin are both in his basement watching a movie Mike’s not really that interested in when the other boy breaks the silence.
“Will” - Dustin replies like it’s obvious. - “Why didn’t you invite him over?”
“I- I”
“And don’t say...” - Dustin interrupts him, index finger up as if proving a point. - “...It’s because he has homework because I talked with him earlier today and he didn’t mention a thing.”
“You talked with him? How?” - Mike is now one hundred percent focused on his best friend, body turn to the side to look at him.
“I went to his house.” - Dustin shrugs. - “I am his friend too. You know that right?”
“Of course, I know that.”
“Okay... Well, then, what happened?” - The curly-haired boy asks again, with a raised eyebrow.
“Nothing.” - Mike says quickly. - “I forgot, now it’s late he probably already has other plans.”
Dustin looks at him like he doesn’t believe a single word that just left his mouth.
“Can we watch the movie now?”
“Fine.” - Dustin complies. - “But I know you’re hiding something from me.”
-
It’s a Sunday, almost a month later, when Mike finally opens his curtains again when being in the room.
Will’s stay closed for the whole day, but on Monday when Mike comes from school, he’s surprised by Will’s bedroom on full display – he returned the favor.
He doesn’t talk with Will after that, but he returns to watch the boy doing his daily things, returns to watch him draw and sometimes Mike’s also able to hear the music the other boy is listening too. Always something different, always something Mike never really heard before, or if he did couldn’t really name the artist or the song.
The only thing that’s different is how Will doesn’t look at back, even when Mike knows Will knows he’s looking at him. Not even once.
-
8 th grade is kicking Mike’s ass, that’s all he knows. He’s been studying full stop and, God, does he hate it. Like, can someone tell him exactly when in his future grown up life, he’s going to have the need to use the Bhaskara’s formula?
It’s all bullshit.
However, bad things turns out to be good things sometimes – or at least convenient.
He’s been so focused on his academic life he barely has time to think about Will, or to watch Will. It’s better this way. Because, yes, Mike can be dense and slow sometimes but no matter how much he denies it or tries to convince himself other side; he feels something for Will. Something different.
It’s different from what he feels for Dustin, and he thinks that maybe he always felt this way but never really understood that. Slow, like he said. But after their kiss, and all the hours he spent on his room thinking and analyzing every bit of his memories it became clear to him.
Mike likes likes Will.
But Mike is not allowed to feel that way. The world won't allow him this feeling, ever. So yeah, Mike decided that he’s going to distract himself till these feelings go away, and then he’s going to be able to look at Will in the eyes again. Like friends, only friends. The only way he’s allowed to.
-
There is a girl in Will’s room. And she’s sitting on his bed.
Mike’s unashamedly staring at her, but she didn’t notice him yet, so it’s okay. Mike never saw Will bring anyone besides Lucas (and him, that one time) on his room before, much less a girl.
She has red-hair and even from afar he can see she also has freckles all over her face, just like him.
She seems upset, like she cried not too long ago, Will is standing on her side, his back to the window, Mike can see that he’s talking with her, his hands are moving as he speaks and the girl is focused on him. Nodding her head at him, as if she’s really listening to what he got to say.
A part of Mike wants to know what he’s telling her.
They stay like that for minutes, Will speaking while the red-haired girl listens to him. When he finally stops talking the girl is crying again, and he opens his arms at her. She runs to his arms.
To Will’s arms.
He hugs her tightly, Mike can see from his room how tight Will’s hugging the girl, her face on his neck. Mike feels his stomach drops at the scene being played in front on him.
Mike feels something inside him, something ugly that he does his best to push away. He’s not allowed to feel whatever he’s feeling right now. But, what if?
What if Will found a girl? And what if it’s her? Mike wouldn’t be surprised. Will’s beautiful, the girl’s beautiful too. Mike can see how they would be a perfect match for each other.
They hug for a long time. Will kisses her forehead after. She smiles.
Mike drawn his curtains.
-
Mike still can’t bring himself to talk with Will in real life. It’s been months, so their friendship is for sure ruined and it’s all because Mike is a freak.
He wanted to kiss Will and created a stupid fucking reason to do so, and after doing it he couldn’t deal with his own actions and decided to run away like a stupid little boy. Will probably think Mike is the most foolish man to ever walk on his earth, and Mike doesn’t blame him.
Will who apparently has a beautiful girlfriend, and would never ever look at Mike the same he does. Will who kissed him just to be a good friend, because that’s what he is, a good and kind person.
So fucking different from Mike.
-
It’s a Saturday night. Mike is lying on his bed, looking at the ceiling, when he hears a knock coming from his window. He looks at it but his curtains are drawn, like they normally are now, so he suspiciously gets up and walks towards the window. Another knock.
Mike hesitates before opening the material. Will appears on his vision, eyes locking up with his immediately, but he’s not on his own bedroom, like Mike thought. He’s outside Mike’s window, climbing on a fucking ladder and holding a notepad with one hand.
can i come in please?
Mike is open mouthed, and for a second, he doesn’t know what to do but the realization that the other boy is probably one step away from falling makes him quickly open the window.
The boy smiles at him, before jumping inside his room. - “Thanks.”
“Will- What are you doing here?” - Mike asks confused. What the hell is happening?
“I- I need to talk with you.” - It’s been so long since the last time Mike heard his voice, fuck, he really is a dumbass.
“Oh.” - Mike breaths out. - “Yeah, sure.”
Will is in front of him, he looks a bit taller – still shorter than Mike, but he definitely has grown at least 3 inches.
“I- I want to know what I did.” - Will says calmly, like he’s been planing exactly on what to say.
“What?”
“I want to know why you don’t want to be friends anymore.”
Mike is wordless. He opens and closes his mouth at least 3 times before Will start speaking again.
“Is it because of the, uhm-” - Will whispers but stop before finishing, like he’s not able to say it. To say that they kissed.
“No, it’s not.” - Mike denies, way too quickly. - “I’ve been busy with sch-”
“Bullshit, Mike!” - Will interrupts loudly.
He’s a little closer now, and Mike has to take a deep breath and urge himself not to step back. - “Tell me.”
“It’s true.” - Mike says petulantly. - “You’re my friend. I am your friend.”
“Mike, it’s been months.” - He shaking his head, his voice is back at its normal volume but his tone is hard. - “We live next door.”
Mike is nervous and he doesn’t know what to say, because there’s nothing to say beside the truth and he’s too scared of the truth. So, he decides to go into defensive-mode.
“You could’ve tried to talk to me too. Why is it all on me?” - He asks, and he’s angry now, but he knows it’s not at Will, it's at himself. - “Why am I the bad guy?”
Will doesn’t say anything. He just looks at Mike, and his eyes have the same feeling that Mike couldn’t quite understand the last time, now it's clear what it is: it’s sadness.
Mike immediately regrets opening his mouth.
He shakes his head, hand coming to hold Will by the wrist. - “I- I’m sorry. I didn’t mean what I just said, I was being an asshole, you’re right.”
Will’s not looking at him anymore, instead he’s looking at the floor, or maybe at Mike’s shoeless feet. - “Yes, you were.”
“Look, Will-” - He starts, taking a deep breath. - “I- I can’t explain what happened with me these last few months... But I was confused and I don’t know- I guess I pushed you away and I’m so sorry.”
His free hand tentative touches Will’s chin, lifting it. - “I want to be your friend. I’m sorry if I made you think that I didn’t.”
Will nods at him with wet eyes, and Mike hates himself.
“You’re one of my best friends Will.” - He declares, and his thumb is slightly caressing the other boy’s jaw. - “In fact, I only have you and Dustin. You know that.”
Will nods again, but this time there’s a hint of a smile on his face. Mike’s heart aches at the sign.
“Are you telling the truth?” - Will asks, his voice is just a breath.
“Never been more truthful in my whole life.” - Mike whispers, smiling.
“Yeah?” - Will whispers back, they’re closer now, Mike still has his hand on Will’s chin.
Mike nods, slowly lowering his hand, but not before caressing will's jawline one last time. - “Yeah.”
Will takes a step back cleaning his throat. - “I- I think I should go now that we-”
“No!” - Mike interrupts quick. - “I mean, you can stay if you want, like a sleepover?”
What. Is. He. Doing?
“Oh,” - Will seems surprised at that, which is fair. Mike’s surprised with himself too. - “I mean, Jane helped me with the ladder so she knows I am here, so-”
“Great. You can stay, then?”
“I guess. Yeah.” - Will nods. - “Are you sure?”
“Of course!”
They get ready for bed after that, Mike’s already in his sleep clothes – and Will ensures Mike at least three times that it's ok for him to sleep in the clothes he's already wearing, which in reality don't really look uncomfortable, but Mike may or may not be willing to see Will in one of his clothes, just to torture himself a little bit.
Well, he tried.
“Do you have any sleeping bags here?” - Will asks, interrupting the comfortable silence.
“Uhm,” - Mike thinks about his question for a second before realizing that, no, he doesn’t. His parents are already on their bed, and yeah, he could go to the basement and get one their sleeping bags without them seeing him – but oh, let’s tread one torture for another, shall we? - “Not really.”
“Oh-”
“You can sleep with me in the bed” - Mike mumbles fast, eyeing the window, Will’s bedroom has it lights off. - “I mean, there’s plenty of room for the both of us.”
“Okay...” - Will agrees softly.
The both of them lay in their backs, side by side, there’s a uncomfortable feeling in the air and Mike’s heart is acting like the boy just ran a marathon.
“Mike?”
“Y-yeah?” - Mike responds, his eyes on the ceiling above him.
“You can... turn off the lights, if you want.”
Mike nods - “Yeah" - He says. - “Yeah, alright.”
He quickly reaches out and turns off the light next to the bed. - “Good night, Will.”
“Good night, Mike.” - Will whispers.
Mike slowly turns to his side, back to Will, and tries his best to regulate his breathing. Will’s heartbeat is so close to him, Mike swears he can almost listen to it. Like a persistent thud. He shifts then, and Mike can feel the movement in the bed, in the blankets. He slips a little bit closer, but Mike knows that he’s also lying on his side, his back to Mike.
They’re back-to-back, almost touching.
He stays awake for a long time, and at some point, he’s hyper aware of not only Will’s heartbeat and breathe but also his scent – fresh soap and something else, something he can’t really put his finger on.
It lulls him. A small reward for his stupidity and his constantly wishes for torturing himself.
-
Everything goes back to normal after that, well, as normal as it can get. Will, Mike and Dustin are back at hanging out with each other like the past few months never happened, Dustin doesn’t comment on it, but Mike sees that he’s happy that Mike stopped being an asshole, or something.
Mike’s happy too.
It was stupid of him to try to stay away from Will, who cares that he may have some feelings for the other boy? It’s not like he’s planing on acting on them. In fact, he’s pretty much decided on burying these feelings the deeper he can. They’re friends, just friends. And that’s okay, that’s great.
Mike has Will in a way again, and God, it’s better than nothing. So much better.
-
It’s a Thursday night, weeks later after Mike’s fourteen birthday when Will asks him to go out with his other friends for the first time.
Both boys are in their rooms, not interacting but still very much aware of each other's presence; Mike’s by his desk working on his biology homework while Will is by his bed, reading a book Mike can’t really recognize.
Mike is focused when he hears the familiar sound of Will knocking on his window glass, they’re back at talking with other thru notepads again.
are u free tomorrow night?
Mike’s breath catches in his throat, pencil falling from his lips with a small “thud”
He quickly reaches out for his notepad and his fallen pencil.
yea. why?
want to go to a basketball game?
Mike raises his eyebrows. Basketball game?
basketball game?
yeah, lucas is on the school’s team, tomorrow is his first game
Oh. For some reason the acknowledge that Will wants Mike to go to one of his best friend’s game with him makes his stomach feel funny.
nice! yeah i can go!
great!!! 😊 can’t wait! see you tomorrow, then?
Mike bites his lips. He’s smiling.
sure! 😊
-
Hawkins Basketball Team wins the game, with the winning point being scored by Lucas – which makes Will almost lose his voice with how much he screams and Mike almost lose his goddamn mind at seeing the shorter boy so excited and happy.
The three of them – Mike, Will and Jane – are leaving the court when someone suddenly jumps on Will’s back, making him let out a shocked noise. It’s all very fast, Jane is laughing and Mike- well, Mike has an open mouth, and he knows he looks like an idiot, but he can’t help it because it’s the red haired-girl. The one he saw that one time on Will’s bedroom.
“Max!” - Jane greets, when the girl finally gets off Will’s back. - “Where were you? We didn’t saw you at the game.”
Wait... Max? Will and Max? His childhood best friend Max? What in the fucking hell is happening.
“Oh, my stupid brother didn’t want to drive me here so I had to-” - She’s talking and rolling her eyes, but then she stops and - “I know you,” - The red-haired is looking at Mike now, index finger pointing at him - “you’re the creepy guy.”
“What?” - Mike lets out a strangled noise.
“Max!!” - Will says loudly at the same time.
But she’s not looking at Will, her mouth is open and Mike can see her eyes shining bright by the street lamp on the school parking lot - “Yes, it’s you!!!”
“Max, what the hell are you talking about?” - Will asks trying to catch her attention again, Mike quickly looks at him and he looks just as confused as Mike is, Jane on the other hand looks one second away from a giggling fit.
Max looks at Will before speaking. - “I saw him,” - She points at Mike again. - “spying on us that day on your room.”
“What? Bullshit.” - Mike squeaks.
“Really?” - She bats her eyelashes at him.
“Yes!!” - Mike almost yells. Shit. He was so sure that she didn’t notice him.
“Well, I don’t believe you...”
Will takes a deep breath before stepping in between Max and Mike. - “Okay that’s enough, Max stop playing with him.”
The red-haired starts laughing them, making Jane laugh with her. - “Fine. Nice to meet you, creeper!”
Both Mike and Will open their mouths to answer but are interrupted by Lucas who’s finally leaving the school – already showered and with proper clothes.
“Hey guys!” - He greets, putting his arms on Max’s shoulders. - “Hi Max.”
Mike quickly looks at Will, just to see his reaction, he looks unbothered by it. In fact, he’s not even looking at Max, he’s looking at Mike – they're close and Mike swears he sees Will blush at being caught looking at him.
“So, Lucas, this is Mike” - Will says, clearing his throat. - “Mike, this is Lucas.”
“It’s the creepy guy I told you about...” - Max whispers loudly in Lucas’ ear.
Mike frowns at her, opening his mouth to maybe yell at this girl for the second time that night but Jane interrupts him.
“Okay... Will why don’t you and Mike wait here while me, Lucas and Max go find Jonathan so he can take us home?”
“Oh- yeah. Totally.”
“Let’s go, Max, stop torturing the poor guy...” - Lucas says before following Jane.
“I’m not torturing anyone!”
“Of course not, baby .”
Oh . Okay.
Good.
-
“Is it true?”
The two boys are sitting side by side on the floor, backs on the wall while waiting for the other three to find Jonathan – who’s probably smoking weed with a friend somewhere inside the school’s ground, when Will breaks the silence making Mike look at him. He looks beautiful illuminated by the yellow lights.
“What?” - Mike asks confused.
“That you were spying on me and Max?” - His tone is playful but Mike still feels the urge to defend himself.
“No-, of course not,” - Mike denies quickly. - “I mean, you know how big our windows are and yes I got a little curious because I thought that she was your girlfriend or som-”
“Wait, you thought Max was my girlfriend?” - Will asks holding back a laugh.
“Yes, I mean-” - Mike knows he’s blushing and he knows that Will knows it too. - “You can’t blame me for thinking that, you guys are hugging and you kissed her forehead...”
“Oh, so you really were spying on us!”
“What? No-”
“I’m joking, Mike” - Will is laughing now, no holding back. - “But just so you know, I would never date Max.”
Mike raises his eyebrows at that. - “Really?”
“Yeah, I mean she’s a great girl but...” - Will stops for a moment, pursing his lips, and Mike can tell that the other boy is thinking about his next words carefully. - “She’s not my type.”
“Uh, yeah?” - Mike says, feeling himself start to blush ever harder. - “And... What’s your type?”
Mike doesn’t know how but they moved closer to each other, and Will’s looking at him directly at him, mouth agape just a little. Mike thinks he can almost feel Will’s breath hitting his face, but it may be only his imagination.
“I don’t...” - He starts and his eyes are so wide, so full of wonder. - “I don’t think you would like my answer.”
“Why?” - Mike says confused, looking right in his hazel eyes.
“Mike, I-” - Will sighs, his eyebrows are furrowed and his eyes flick down at Mike’s mouth. It’s so fast that Mike almost doesn’t notice.
Almost.
The dark-haired boy is trembling slighly with nervous, at the atmosphere him and Will created so suddenly and how he can’t help but flick down his eyes too. Is Will thinking about the same thing that he’s thinking? He has to be, right?
Mike leans forward then, on pure impulse, making his nose bump with Will’s. Their lips are so close, and fuck he’s going to break his own rule. He’s going to kiss Will again. It’s stupid, but he can’t take it any longer, not when the other boy gentle moves his hand up to his cheek, closing his eyes.
Their lips barely brush before a loud laugh makes both of them jump in the spot, Will quickly moves away.
The others suddenly appear on Mike’s vision, laughing and talking, unaware of what they just interrupted.
“Hey boys, let’s go?” - Jonathan asks, playing with the car key on his finger. He’s definetely high.
“Yeah,” - Will gets up, clearing his throat and making his best to not look at Mike. - “Let’s go.”
-
Mike jumps out of Jonathan’s car, not even saying goodbye to the three of them and just speeds straight home. He doesn’t stop when his mom asks him about his night, throwing her a quickly “sorry” before getting on his room. He scribbles up a note on his notepad to hold to the window. Will walks into his own room just has Mike is finishing writing, he immediately goes over to his own window to draw his curtains before Mike holds his notepad up.
wait. please.
Will hesitates, but after a second or two he finally nods his head.
Mike smiles and starts to write again.
do you wanna know my type?
Will frowns at that.
what?
i asked what was your type, u didn’t answer. can i tell you mine?
i mean, i guess...
Mike bites his lips, before he starts writing.
i like pretty big eyes with light brown hair. i like the artsy type too. smart, kind and way braver than i am. that's my type.
Will reads the words over and over.
this seems very specific. seems like u are describing someone.
i am.
does she know?
i mean, i hope so. but i tried my best to not show them, so idk
why?
i was scared. i still am. but it doesn’t matter anymore.
Will shows his “why?” page again.
because i think he may like me back.
Will opens his mouth and closes it a few times. Mike’s heart is beating like crazy.
he?
Mike just nods. Will’s looking at him in a way he never did before, even from afar it’s enough to make his stomach fill with butterflies. It takes Will a good 2 minutes to finally write out again.
who is it?
c'mon will. you know who.
Mike is grinning nervously now, and his stomach still feels like it's filled with things it shouldn’t.
meet me in front of my house.
Mike nods, chucks his notepad and sprint downstairs.
He quickly skips out the door, glad his parents are nowhere in sign to stop him with questions and runs towards Will’s house. The boy is waiting for him by his doorstep. The lights are off, so it’s hard to see his face but Mike can see the movement of his chest, raising and falling just as quickly as his.
“Hi” - Will says, grinning as he takes a step closer.
“Hi” - Mike breathes walking to the other boy.
“Mike, are you serious abo-”
Mike doesn’t let him talk, he just presses on and kisses Will square on the mouth. It’s a little bit harsh, but it still feels good. Will lets out a surprised sound before kissing him back.
Their lips slide together in a proper kiss, (at least Mike assumes it is). Will’s hands are holding his shoulders, pulling Mike closer. Mike moves his hand up and around the nape of his neck, weaving his fingers at Will’s hair. They’re soft. He clenches his fist and Will groans in his mouth.
They kiss till they’re out of breath, and it’s not enough. Bit by bit, they slow down and their lips separate. Theirs faces stay close, foreheads touching.
“Since when?” - Will whispers, eyes still closed.
“A long time. Maybe since I first saw you.”
Will smiles then, and God, it’s like sunshine. - “Really?”
“Yes, really.” - Mike whispers. Smiling back.
Will laughs, like he’s the happiest he’s ever been.
“Me too.” - Will declares back, pecking Mike on the lips softly.
“Good, because it would be really awkward if not.”
Will’s giggles at that before his lips are caught by Mike’s again. And again.