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Spring of ‘87.
Surely they were out of their mind when someone said the holidays were the most wonderful time of the year, because here Mike is with Will Byers on spring break, basking in what is probably the best moment of his life so far.
Will Byers, the glorious, god-like boy that is laying next to Mike in the sand at Lover’s Lake.
Lover’s Fucking Lake.
Mike Wheeler had the guts to take his best friend (of whom he’s been crushing on for 5 years) to Lover’s Lake.
The audacity!
If you told Mike 4 years ago that he’d be at Lover’s Lake with Will alone, he might have just slapped you for leading him on.
But here he is.
“Mike, you’re staring again!” Will exclaimed, his head turned toward him, “Are you sure I don’t look weird?”
Oh. Mike was staring again . Will was probably totally weirded out and now hates him. Maybe Mike should just leave, like he seems pretty content with being alone. Maybe he didn’t want to hang out with Mike at all today, and just agreed to please Mike. What if Will’s hated him this whole ti-
“Mike, are you okay? You look sick, should we head to your house?” Will looked concerned, maybe he did care for Mike, “Mike, hey! Are you spaced out?”
“Oh! No- no I got caught up in my head, I’m okay, thanks.” Mike answered, but not completely satisfying Will.
“Are you okay, Mike? You’ve been spacing out a lot,” Will scooted a little closer to Mike, who has sat up.
“Uh, I’ve just got a lot on my mind these days, ya’know,” Mike mumbled.
Will looked directly into Mike’s eyes, almost like he was staring into his soul.
“I’m always here, in case you need to like- talk or something,” Will assured.
Suddenly, it didn’t feel like the best moment of Mike’s life anymore. He really did feel sick now. His stomach dropped, all because there is something he wants to talk to Will about, but he doesn’t have the courage.
Will Mike ever have the courage to?
Will he have the courage to tell Will that he’s in love with him, when he knows it isn’t reciprocated?
God. Or whatever’s out there, Mike didn’t know what to say. He just nodded, and Will turned away, facing the lake infront of them.
‘In case you need to like- talk or something.’
Will was completely oblivious, huh?
Was totally unaware of Mike’s die-hard feelings for him.
Or maybe Mike’s also oblivious.
Or maybe Will does know that Mike loves him, and just avoids the topic.
Or maybe Will isn’t actually here and Mike has been dreaming since he went missing in ‘83.
Or maybe Mike isn’t gay and just hasn’t found the right girl yet.
Or maybe El is right for him and he just psyched himself out.
Or maybe he should just get it over with and tell Will.
Yeah. That sounds okay. Mike will tell Will that he’s in love with him, right here, right now,
Fuck the consequences, Mike’s in love.
So Mike takes a quick side glance at Will, before looking down, and in the quietest voice, he whispers into the wind,
“I’m in love with you.”
Mike doesn’t pretend to not notice the blush that spreads across Will’s cheeks.
Will looks over at Mike, not fully sure if he heard correctly.
“You- what?!” Will whispers back.
Mike turns his head to gaze into Will’s beautiful hazel eyes and he repeats himself.
“I’m in love with you,” He says a little louder this time.
There’s no going back now.
Will’s entire figure turns a shade of deep scarlet, and Will seems to lose all his composer.
Mike was expecting a lot of things as a response,
A slap across the face,
Will running away,
Will to start spitting slurs into his face,
Maybe, in a cruel way, Mike was also kind of hoping for a kiss.
But despite all that, he had not expected Will to burst into sobs.
Will faced in front of himself, and held his face in his hand.
“I– I never… thou–ght I’d ever… hear that f-f-from you,” Will gets out between cries.
“I… I’m so sorry, Will! I didn’t mean to hurt you!”
Mike looked panicked.
Will looked up at Mike, and the amount of distress that displayed on Will’s face completely broke Mike’s heart.
“Sorry? Th-at’s all I–’ve e-ever wan-ted to hear f-from you, and now y-you’re sorry?!”
Wait a fucking minute. Will wanted Mike to love him? What kind of sick prank is this?
Mike sat there, confused, as Will took a moment to pull himself together.
Then, Will looked into Mike’s eyes, reached out and cupped Mike's jaw in his hands.
In a deep, soothing voice, Will said,
“Don’t be sorry.
I love you too.”
Will and Mike simultaneously leaned in and placed a mutual kiss on the other’s lips.
Will hooked his lip with Mike’s and they slowly moved together.
Mike found his hands placing themselves at the top of Will’s back but then moved downward to then embrace Will’s waist, pulling him closer.
Will pulled away after a moment, his hands still engulfing Mike’s face.
“Hm, maybe I should stare at you more often.”
Will let out a responding giggle that could probably cure cancer, and Mike just smiled.
Will all of a sudden stood up and held out his hand to help Mike up. After they were both standing, Will ran over to the glistening lake water, tugging Mike with him by the wrist.
They both played in the water for what felt like eternity, and by the end of it they were both completely soaked, hair all wet and cheeks and shoulders red from the sun.
Mike pulled Will flush against him, and Mike looked into his eyes all smug, before pressing a warm, chaste kiss to his lips. Will smiled, making their movements messier, but oh well, they were happy.
They broke apart once again, for it was obvious that Will had something on his mind.
“Can we be boyfriends?” Will asked as if Mike might say no.
“Duh!”
Maybe this is Mike's favorite moment after all.