Chapter Text
"We have Robin Hood, Back to the Future, Top Gun for some reason. Any of that sound interesting?"
Nancy had been trying to get the gang back in a cheery mood while we waited for the end of the world. She also told us not to call it the end of the world.
"No way! You have Top Gun," Steve shouted.
"Yeah, but it's probably my dad's, so be careful with it."
Steve gave a thumbs up and Nancy left to get some snacks.
I don't really know why I wanted to be at the Wheeler's that day. Maybe instinct; maybe loneliness. But that didn't change the fact that I was sitting on their basement couch, next to Mike and El. They'd made up since the whole "I love you" speech, but something felt different. Maybe they hadn't actually gotten back together. They sat next to each other, but with at least an inch of space between them and their hands in their laps. Mike had been physically closer with me lately. It was almost like how it used to be before we knew about the Upside Down and El. But I hate to think like that. Thinking about a time when my sister was being held captive and we didn't even know she existed.
The beginning of Top Gun started playing.
I tried not to get used to Mike’s closeness if we inevitably fought again. But over the past few weeks, he never went against what I had to say. It was almost as if he was being careful around me. And honestly, I was a little suspicious that something happened that I wasn’t fully aware of. Jonathan kept giving Mike looks any time we hung out. And if it wasn’t already obvious enough, it almost seemed like he wanted to hurt Mike. And while I wouldn’t necessarily prevent him from doing so, I would stop him before he could do any real damage. I saw what he did to Steve all those years ago. I was almost proud of my weirdo brother.
Robin came down the stairs with a bowl of popcorn and two cans of Coke. She almost handed one to Steve before she realized what we were watching.
“Top Gun? Really, Steve?”
“What? It’s the best-rated movie this year.”
“You don’t deserve this Coke then.”
She held it out in the direction of the couch and asked if any of us wanted it. Mike reached for it, but then offered it to me.
“We can split it,” I suggested.
“Sure,” Mike smiled.
That made me smile.
Robin looked at us for a second and then went to sit in the armchair next to El. She couldn’t possibly know about me being… liking… no, not possible. Unless Jonathan said something. That made me stand up.
“You okay,” Mike asked.
“Yeah just gonna go get some glasses for the Coke,” I lied.
I ran up the stairs and found Nancy and Jonathan talking in the kitchen. There was another bag of popcorn in the microwave, slowly popping and spreading the smell of butter throughout the room. Nancy saw me first. She looked as if she had been crying.
“Are you… okay,” I asked cautiously.
The microwave beeped.
“No, yeah.” She wiped her eyes. ”Yeah, I’m fine. Are you?”
“Yeah. Do you mind if I steal my brother for a second?”
“He’s all yours,” she smiled.
Nancy took the popcorn and a bowl and went down to the basement.
“What’s wrong,” Jonathan asked.
“You haven’t told anyone about… a-about… me being-“
“No. No, never. Not without asking you first.”
“Oh. Okay. Cool, thanks.”
“Why? Did something happen?”
“Uhh. No? Not really. I just- it’s- Robin kinda looked at me funny. I don’t know. It made me think… she knew something.”
“Well, I didn’t tell her anything. I don’t think I’ve ever had a full conversation with her. But she may have figured it out herself; like I did.”
“Is it really that obvious?”
“No. But, you and you know who have been pretty close. I guess it was only a matter of time before someone else unraveled it.”
“What are you saying?”
“Nothing. I don’t know. Just don’t worry okay? I don’t think anyone in this group would judge you anyways.”
I don’t think he fully understood what was going through my mind, but I didn’t want him to think he couldn’t help me.
“Yeah. You’re right. Thanks.”
“No problem. Now, let’s go make sure they didn’t start a war down there without us.”
I quickly grabbed some glasses and followed him down the stairs.
In the basement, everyone was sitting in silence watching the movie and eating their popcorn. I sat back down next to Mike and split the Coke between the two glasses. I handed one to him.
“Thanks,” he smiled.
All I could do was quickly smile back. I looked at Robin, but she was eating popcorn and reading a magazine. It took me a second to realize, but it was filled with models and weight-loss tricks. A little confused, I decided to ask her about it later.
As soon as the movie ended, Robin, Nancy, and El stood up and said they needed a break. I wanted to follow, but Mike had fallen asleep on my shoulder. I gently picked his head up and pushed him against the back of the couch so he wouldn’t fall over. I ran up after them and Robin was just in the kitchen stretching.
“Hey, Robin.”
“Oh, hey little Byers.”
How do you ask someone if they know something about you without giving it away? How was I supposed to do that?
“Why did you smile when I offered to split the Coke with Mike?”
“Hm? Oh, that. Haha. Well, let’s just say I notice things.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Hey, it’s okay. Come sit down.”
She walked over to the table and sat down in one of the chairs. I was curious enough to hear what she had to say, so I sat next to her.
“I like girls. I always have. That’s why me and Steve never dated.”
“Oh.”
I looked around, but not a soul was in sight, thankfully.
“So, when I see the way you look at Mike, I know how you feel. And it’s okay to feel like that.”
“But it’s not. He’s in love with El, he said so himself.”
“Listen to me, kid. I’ve seen the way he looks at you, and the way he looks at her. There’s a difference. And let’s just say, it’s in your favor.”
“But he’s my best friend, I can’t do that.”
“Says who?”
She just stared at me but I didn’t know what to say.
“I rest my case.”
She patted me on the back and started to head to the basement.
“Thanks, Robin.”
“Of course, kid.”
She went down the stairs and shortly after, El came in.
“Hey,” I said.
“Do you like Mike?”
Uh oh.
“I heard you and Robin talking. Do you like Mike?”
“I’m sorry, El. I’m so sorry.”
“It is okay, Will. We broke up. I am figuring out what I like.”
“But, El. You’re not mad?”
“Why would I be mad?”
“Because you love him?”
“I love him, but I am not in love with him. I was told there is a difference. Like how I love Hop, but I do not want to marry him."
“Is that why you guys broke up?”
“Kind of. Mike felt like he had to say it, even if he did not mean it. And I needed time away from him and to myself.”
“I see.”
“So it is okay if you like him. Just be careful, he is a lot.”
“Haha. I know.”
El went back to the basement behind Robin. But wow, I was stressed out of my mind. Three heart-to-hearts back to back in one day? I think the last time I felt this emotional was my last summer in Hawkins when Mike and I had a fight in the rain and I destroyed Castle Byers. I headed back down to the basement and they were arguing over Back to the Future vs Risky Business.
“I am NOT watching Risky Business again.”
“C’mon, Steve. You used to love it,” Nancy piped in.
“Yeah, when we were dating. But now is now and Back to the Future is amazing.”
“You only thought it was amazing because you were drugged.”
“Oh, shut up Robin. You thought it was amazing too,” Steve chided.
As soon as I walked in, Robin, Jonathan, and El all looked at me, then at each other, then back to me. They all knew the others knew. The only people in the room who didn’t know were Mike, Steve, and Nancy. But now that I knew Steve was cool with it, that might change. Definitely not today, but eventually.
We ended up watching Back to the Future. After finishing it and listening to Steve and Robin try to recount the events of when they were drugged, we packed up and got ready to go home. It was almost dinner time and Mom wanted us home to eat. On the drive home, El fell asleep in the back seat, so Jonathan attempted conversation.
“Robin and El know now, huh?”
“Yep.”
“And you’re fine with that?”
“As fine as I can be. I mean, El didn’t quite understand the whole situation, but she’s cool with it.”
“And Robin?”
“Let’s just say I was a little surprised with what she had to say.”
“She wasn’t being mean about it, was she?”
“No. I just didn’t expect something she said is all.”
“Oh. Okay, good.”
We made it back to the cabin where Hop and Mom were setting the table for dinner. While we ate, small talk was made and some awkward looks were thrown around. After that, I just lay in my room and thought. I thought about how Robin was gay too and how El didn’t care that I liked Mike. And also how Jonathan cared so much. It was good to know there were people I could trust with this. Now, I had to think about how to tell everyone else.