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Spring of ‘86 was not something easily forgotten. With another big battle already on the horizon, the fresh failure of their latest encounter with Monsters Unknown weighed heavily in the half poisoned atmosphere.
The summer brought tears and sighs, lows and highs, relief washing like waves over the eclectic collection of people who had gotten drawn into the madness of the supernatural, smoothing them like shells in the sand, desensitising them to all they had been forced to endure; they grew to accept that things far beyond their reach and control may actually hold off for at least a little while. Time slowed down as the long hot days crawled by, new challenges found and faced with less blood and firearms than what they were used to.
Conversations were had, hearts opened and hardened, and there in hiding lurked a new insufferable couple amongst The Party.
Autumn fell hard as “the anniversary” brought back old wounds, reopening the scars of the past in the basement on Maple Street where it had all begun. Then as friends, now as something more. The blanket fort once used to hide a certain super powered sister was set back up on Halloween, the first night of a brutal week that started when Will had a panic attack whilst he and Mike were taking Holly out trick-or-treating. But the comforting embrace of tucking under pillows and quilts like a child again gave him strength – as did Mike whispering words of encouragement, their hands clasped, foreheads pressed together.
Then the frost crept in, the leaves abandoning their branches; but the winter wasn’t cold. It was warm as cocoa, full of love and gingerbread. The Party was once again congregated in the Wheeler’s house, but they had been allowed into the forbidden living room to gather around the tv for the ball drop in Times Square, and every other person was fighting to not fall asleep before it actually struck midnight in Hawkins.
With less than twenty minutes to go, Will wandered outside wrapped up in one of Mike’s old sweatshirts. The crisp air bit at his cheeks, awakening his senses. He shivered a bit, but still enjoyed the sting, enjoyed the cloud that came from his lips with every exhale. Quiet as a cat, Mike soon joined him, pulling him into his arms and resting his chin on Will’s shoulder.
They had waded through the fire of desire, talking through their awkward reunion and unforgiven fights over the sound of fireworks; but with a breakup fresh on their minds they hadn’t acted on their feelings. Now, they had been quietly calling each other something more, still afraid to put a true name to it. Maybe their friends knew; they hadn’t told anyone, nor did they care – they knew they could trust those around them.
Cheers sounded from inside, announcing the start of a new year; and a secret kiss under the stars promised the darkness of the unknown future would be, if nothing else, not lonely.