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hell is hot, and so is mike wheeler’s tender skin, feeling himself lean into the pressing of his lips with the girl in front of him. her hair rest on her shoulders, waves drooping towards the end. mike was attempting to be gentle and soft in the peck, not really enjoying the moment, but the passionate girl unsuccessfully aimed to go harder.
the slim boy instantaneously retreated from the girl’s lips, slightly panting from his agape mouth. he was unsure of the length of time they stayed touching eachother, feeling the other’s excessively heated skin, but it must of been long, as a certain brunette boy had stuttered in his tracks into the room.
he held the handle, steadily grasping the wood tighter. albeit his face appeared calm with a slight bit of shock, will was appalled by what he just witnessed.
el noticed the tall boy’s eyes wandering towards the door, twisting her head to overlook the boy standing in the doorway. the girl’s eyes leisurely yet worriedly widened in utter shock, turning back to mike, who sat on the bed with an unreadable expression.
“uhm…it looks like you guys are busy so-“ will barely finished his sentence before slamming the door shut. mike had outstretched his hand, but only for eleven to see.
“is will ok?” el quizzed, more worry glimmering in her damp brown eyes, tears forming from keeping her eyes open for quite a while. mike was trembling as he squeezed his eyes shut, forcing his hands open on his knees. he exhaled the breath he was unbeknownst to holding, turning back towards el.
“I’ll…I’ll go check on him.” mike nodded at el, already out of the suffocating room before the girl could say a word.
he searched the hallway, pondering for where the brunette could be. starting his hunt in the living room, all he found was jonathan and nancy lightly giggling over a tv show, not even noticing the boy standing strangely in the open space.
“nancy? when did you get here?” mike inquired, scrunching his nose while he furrowed his brows. nancy utterly ignored him, continuing to joke with Jonathan.
mike blinked once, before flipping around to check the rest of the cabin. he seeked hopper(and now joyce)’s room, wandering around the supposed master bedroom, which mike believed looked pretty worn down to be the fanciest room in the home. he caressed his finger over the grimy bedside table, yelping a quiet yuck from his lips.
following the larger bedroom, mike found himself in the kitchen, ending up between a thin wall with the cheesy nancy and jonathan on the other side. unfortunately, he could hear there stupid flirtatious jokes, and understood why will didn’t opt for the kitchen.
“and that’s how I fell so hard for you nance.” jonathan said in a baby-like voice. nancy chuckled, positioning her hands somewhere else as mike could hear the shuffling of the fabric from the couch.
out of places in the house, mike hunted outside. he didn’t have to go far, noticing will on the front porch. he sat in the rocking chair, swaying back and forth as he held a glass bottle in his hand. it had a greenish tint to it, with will shaking the unknown liquid in the bottle, before chugging it down his throat. a surprised mike quietly stepped over to the other boy.
“hey will, are you alright?” mike unsuccessfully tried to smile brightly, only to push out a weak one instead. will pressed his lips together, flashing a tight-lipped smile as he took a sip of the liquid.
mike stared down at the bottle, examining the labeling. will noticed, swiftly clinging his hand over the words. the taller boy furrowed his brows in confusion, leaning down to sit next to Will in the second chair.
not leaning back and forth, mike once again began the conversation.
“El and I, you uhm, looked really upset after you walked in on us k-kissing.” mike struggled to even utter the word. it shouldn’t have been hard. el was his girlfriend. why, he should be able to say it every second.
so why the hell couldn’t he?
“I’m fine.” will groaned almost inaudibly. a knowing look grew on mike’s face as he gazed into will’s glittering hazel eyes. the clouds took over that day, but somehow the lighting was set up perfectly for Will.
“will, it’s ok, you can talk to me.” mike reassured, placing his hand on the other boy’s shaky shoulder. will flinched at the sudden touch, immediately relaxing as he watched mike’s expression falter.
will had flinched at his touch.
“it’s not something you’d want- or even should know.” will spoke slightly louder this time, lifting his head to make quick eye contact with mike. he frowned, resting his hand back on his lap.
“I didn’t really, enjoy my kiss with el…” mike mumbled, loud enough for Will to hear.
“why…why not?” will hesitantly asked, setting the bottle down on his arm rest. he placed that arm on his lap.
mike eyed the bottle will held, shocked at what he saw.
“will…?” mike uttered, eyes wide at the labeling on the bottle. it was a brand mike had never heard of, underneath the brand name saying “the best vodka in America”. will realized what mike was looking at, instantly snatching the bottle.
“will, you drink?!” mike shouted, causing a panicked Will to clasp his hand over the taller boy’s mouth.
“mike!” he whisper yelled, glancing back and forth around the proximity. mike relaxed his shoulders, his face still tense.
“I thought you wouldn’t…ever drink…” mike vaguely motioned at the green bottle. will shrugged.
“I didn’t think I would either.” he weakly smiled, fiddling with his hands while examining the floor.
“but…it makes everything feel a little better, y’know?” the brunette asked for understanding, but mike couldn’t and wouldn’t accept.
“will you can’t drink!” mike exclaimed, flailing his thin arms around in the cool air. will shrunk back down into his seat, quieting himself as he allowed mike to continue.
“that’s what…” mike once again hesitated, slightly bringing his arms back down.
“I know.” will rubbed the back of his head, reminiscing the days of his father. the booze-filled breath, the alcoholic stench. will had vowed to never go down that route. and yet here he was, slowly turning into the man he hated the most.
“i’m sorry mike.” will apologized, still gazing towards the floor. mike was now confused, placing his hand on will’s knee. this time the boy didn’t flinch, instead getting hotter. the kind of heat mike felt on el while they embraced each other’s soft skin.
“it’s not your fault.” and even will knew this was true. but Will would forever blame himself, because half of it was his own fault.
being born the way he was.
will persistently fiddled with his fingers, not listening the few words mike piped in, obviously uninterested.
“-ill? will?” mike lightly tapped the other’s still heated knee, gazing into his soft eyes. will whimpered, glancing at mike.
“hm?” will inquired, asking as if he hadn’t spaced out.
“I asked if anyone else knows.” will’s lip pouted, a slight frown on his face. a groan escaped his lips, giving mike his answer.
“…just me?”
“just you.” will nodded, reaching for the nearly empty bottle only to be quickly slapped by mike.
“ouch…” will muttered, retreating his hand back.
“no vodka anymore.” mike declared, holding the drink in his hands. will acted like a toddler, reaching and nabbing for the liquid. mike held it high in the air, bashing it onto the ground.
“MIKE!!” will gasped. his breathing quickened, huge huffs pressing out as he watched the liquid evaporate speedily.
he stretched out his tongue, shakily licking the leftover liquid that spilled out of the bottle. unfortunately, grime and dirt from the floor mixed with vodka was awful, but Will did not care. he wanted it. he needed it. just one more taste.
not even realizing it, Mike was already on the ground, pulling Will off the wood. he gripped the other’s shoulder firmly, wiping away the excess will still attempted to lick.
“will! WILL!” mike finally heaved the boy off the porch, using all of his body strength. will fell back into his seat, panting with his tongue still filthy. dirt and grime splattered over tastebuds, leaving a nature-like taste in his mouth.
tears pooled out of the brunette’s eyes, realizing what he had just done. all for a drop of alcohol. a taste of that bitter sweetness. just like his father.
“I’m sorry…I’m sorry…I’m sorry…” will continuously muttered, holding the ends of his hair as he pulled on them. mike was in front of the boy now, down on his knees as he gripped will’s shoulders. mike’s face tensed up with the rest of his body. the boy had never been good at comfort.
he never received it.
“hey it’s ok alright? you’re ok will!” mike grasped for the kindest things he could say in the moment, anything to get will stop blaming himself. he could feel the wave of self-loathing thoughts shooting out of will’s mind, even if he didn’t say it. he held will tighter, tearing parts of his sleeve.
then 3 words shot out. words mike couldn’t ever remember hearing, or even saying.
“I love you.”
will’s eyes widened in shock, the grip on his hair loosening. mike was shocked too, wondering when the words came out.
was will angry? upset? would they never be friends again?
he wouldn’t get an answer though.
will’s body started to get cold, his shoulders going limp. his sweat drenched face relaxed as his eyelids felt heavy, as if he was drifting into a deep sleep.
“will?” mike lightly tapped the boy’s shoulder, watching as his eyes went completely shut. the brunette did not respond, his body cold as if he was…
dead.
mike shook the sleeping boy, desperate for a response.
“WILL!” he cried. at this point, jonathan and nancy had rushed out at the pained screams and cries that echoed from outside.
mike was hurting, struggling to even stand as nancy held him in her arms, cooing things mike couldn’t understand. like his head was full of water.
he knew what was happening, it had happened to one of his relatives. back at their family reunion when he was 7.
will had been poisoned by the alcohol.
alcohol poisoning.