Chapter Text
Will Byers was moving back to Hawkins.
Mike’s heart swelled with joy at the news, his mind racing. He was going to see Will again! Will, his best friend! As those thoughts ran through his mind, he put emphasis on the best friend part. Because in reality, Michael Wheeler felt guilty. Guilty, because no matter how much he tried to deny it, he wasn’t sure if he saw Will Byers as just a friend anymore.
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Mike stepped through the front door of the house that was once so familiar to him, now nearly unrecognizable with the barren walls and stacks of boxes. He set the box he was carrying down onto the floor, his gaze flitting around the room before landing onto the motherly, brown-haired woman peering inside of some boxes.
``This should be the last one, Ms. Byers,`` The lanky, black-haired boy addressed the woman, brushing his hands off on his old Hellfire shirt. He had left the D&D club a while back, the death of Eddie Munson, the leader of the club, combined with his guilt of joining another party pushing him to do it. He had kept the shirt, however. Partially because of the memories, and partially because it would be a waste to throw out a perfectly good t-shirt. Mike hesitated, glancing down at the faded designs on the front. The club logo was a horned demon along with a flaming sword, a mace, and a couple of dice. Eddie had designed it himself. Mike could remember how enthusiastic he had been when they’d finally received the shirts for the club. They had all been excited. Mike smiled a bit at the memories, and Ms. Byer’s voice brought him back to reality.
``Oh! Thank you so much, Mike,`` Joyce Byers responded, her face falling into an exhausted but genuine smile. Mike knew she likely hadn’t gotten much sleep recently, too caught up in getting everything from California back to Hawkins. Jonathan, her oldest, probably had to make her get some sleep. He was always the one to make her step back and take care of herself when she overworked. ``I’m glad you offered to help us move back in. You’ve been so helpful already!`` He glanced up, smiling at the woman.
``Don’t mention it,`` Mike replied, just glad to be a help. He had known Ms. Byers practically his whole life, and she had been like a second mother to him. He was always glad to assist her when she needed it. His attention drifted away from Joyce, however, as a boy stepped out of the hallway behind her, his soft hazel eyes meeting Mike’s. Mike’s heart skipped a beat.
``Hey, Mike,`` Will said, a soft smile playing across his lips. They were slightly chapped, but still looked soft enough to- Stop looking at his lips! Mike scolded himself mentally and quickly pulled his gaze up from Will's grin to his eyes, giving a small, nervous smile back. Mike’s heart fluttered in his chest. His best friend had definitely grown taller since the last time they’d seen each other (though still not as tall as Mike), and his voice was deeper, but he still had his signature bowl cut. His shoulders were also wider, and- what are you doing, Mike? Stop staring at him like that, you probably look like a creep!
``Hey, Will,`` Mike responded after a moment, his body moving on autopilot as he stepped forward and embraced Will in a warm hug. After a second of hesitation, he could feel Will curl his arms around Mike’s waist, hugging back. ``Good to see you again,`` Mike said in Will’s ear, resting his chin on his friend’s shoulder.
When Mike pulled away from the warm embrace, he thought he could see Will’s cheeks flush pink, but it was gone as soon as it appeared. He figured he’d just imagined it. ``Great to see you too, Mike. I’ve missed you.``Mike couldn’t repress the smile that slid onto his lips; he loved the way Will said his name. Something about the way it rolled off his tongue. Especially with his deeper voice…
``I’ve missed you too,`` He responded, beaming at his best friend. And it was true; there had been too many nights where Mike had stayed up, unable to sleep, thinking about Will. Hawkins was different with Will gone. Movement in the corner of his eye caught his attention and he glanced away, seeing someone else running towards him. A girl, with short hair and a colorful shirt on.
``Mike!`` El said happily, embracing him in a hug. Mike laughed, hugging back. He held her tightly, smiling.
``Hey, El!`` He planted a kiss on his girlfriend’s lips, but she pulled away instead of kissing back. Maybe she’s just too excited to catch me up on stuff, and doesn’t want to waste any time. Mike thought to himself, dismissing it.
Mike gazed at his girlfriend, smiling a bit. She looked nice today. The outfit she’d chosen matched her personality, colorful and energetic, and her hair was just starting to grow out again. Mike’s smile faded a bit- El had been so proud of her long hair, and then Dr. Brenner had shaved it all off.
However, El didn’t seem to be in the mood for chatting. She pulled away from the hug, giving Will and Mike a smile and wave before disappearing back into the hallway, presumably to go back to her room to unpack. Mike glanced around to notice that Joyce must have also gone to a different room to start unpacking. Will and Mike locked eyes, and the silence hung awkwardly in the air.
``So…`` Mike cleared his throat, unsure what to say. He looked at Will, who was staring at him. Will turned away quickly when Mike met his gaze. Why is it so awkward? We never used to be like this around each other. What’s changed?
``I’m going to go unpack now,`` Will said stiffly, picking up one of the boxes labeled Will’s room and walking out of sight. Mike blinked after him, wondering if that coldness he detected in Will’s voice had been real, or if he’d made it up.
He glanced around, grabbing another box for Will’s bedroom and starting to follow him. As he walked through the hallway, he slowed down a bit, peering into one of the rooms. El was sitting inside on her bed, going through a box.
Mike put down the box he’d been carrying and stepped into the room. El lifted her gaze, staring at Mike. She gave him a small smile, but it faltered as she turned away from him. Mike’s smile faded as well.
``Mike,`` His girlfriend said, acknowledging his presence before continuing to rummage through her things. Mike bit the inside of his cheek, watching her. It was like ever since the pizza dough freezer, everyone was acting strangely towards him. He wasn’t sure what he had done wrong.
El pulled a shoebox out of her stuff, opening up and looking inside. The top of the shoebox was decorated with stickers and miscellaneous scribbles and drawings. Mike couldn’t see much from the doorway, but he did see a hot glue gun and some other art supplies inside the box. It looked like she was getting into art just like Will, except she went more the crafts route, as opposed to Will’s drawings and paintings.
It occurred to Mike that he didn’t know much about his girlfriend at all. He didn’t even know she was into arts and crafts until now. He supposed that when they spent time together, they spent more time kissing than actually getting to know each other. What else does El like to do? He wondered to himself.
``Hey, El. Do you need help with anything?`` He offered, watching her quietly. She shook her head as she placed the shoebox aside, and he shrugged, picking back up the box he was bringing to Will’s room. ``Well, if you do, I’m here to help,`` The boy said before walking out of the room.
Mike could hear the door creak closed behind him. Of course, it wasn’t fully closed; El always kept it open at least three inches. Mainly because her dad, Jim Hopper, had enforced it so strictly a couple summers ago, but Mike also thought it made her more comfortable too. He remembered when they had first found her in the woods and gave her clothes, she had reacted extremely strongly to the thought of closing the bathroom door fully to change.
Mike frowned a bit, glancing backwards towards the door. Why didn’t she want to spend any time with him anymore? Maybe she just needed alone time after the fight with Vecna and what happened with her friend, Max Mayfield. Recently, they had finally defeated Vecna, but Max had died. Somehow, El had used her powers to keep her alive, but now Max was in a coma at the hospital. Mike wondered what would happen when she finally woke up; Max’s mother had passed away during the opening of the gates, because their trailer was right next to Eddie’s. Maybe Max would go away to live with some distant family. El would be devastated.
Yeah, that had to be it. Mike was just being selfish and overreacting. Of course his girlfriend wanted some alone time after her best friend fell into a coma and nearly died. He fought the panic rising in his throat; surely she still loved him, right? He couldn’t have her breaking up with him now, not when-
When what? He asked himself, shaking his head. When nothing. I just don’t want her breaking up with me, because I love her. I don’t… But as Mike trudged down the hallway, lost in his mind, El wasn’t the main focus of his thoughts- Will was.