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Will sat on the porch of the Wheeler Residence. Will stared at the gloomy sky. Everything was going to hell. Nothing was going how it was supposed to and Will couldn't help but feel responsible. He started what happened and now everything isn't back to normal. Well, he wasn't actually the one who started it but it felt like it. The door opened but Will’s eyes didn't leave the sky.
“Hey,” Mike stated as he dropped down by Will.
“Hey,” Will answered obviously distracted.
“Lucas, Dustin, and Max are coming over soon. I just wanted you to know.” Mike smiled that cheeky smile.
Will smiled back as he nodded.
Will and Mike sat on the porch. Mike rambled on about how he messed up the cookies so now they're stuck with no snacks. Will watched the sky hoping it would just clear up and all of this is a dream. He should probably mention that everything was over but it didn't feel over. Everything didn't just magically go back to normal.
“Hey!” Lucas yelled from across the yard.
Mike stood up and walked over to Lucas. Will followed standing behind him like a lost dog.
Max started hitting Lucas’s ankle with her cane.
“Max!” He yelled as he grabbed his ankle.
“I want to talk to El,” Max yelled as she laughed.
Max looped her arm in Lucas’s arm. They made it inside and walked to the basement.
Will sat on the couch as everyone got in a circle on the floor.
Mike sat next to him after a few minutes.
“What’s going on?” Mike asks clearly knowing Will is being distant and distracted.
Will hummed in a questioning manner.
“What’s up with you? Your acting… Weird.” Mike laughed an unsure laugh.
“I'm fine,” Will says with no hint of emotion in his voice.
“No you’re not,” Mike stated in a stern tone.
Mike didn't hesitate when he stood up and pulled Will up. Mike dragged Will to his room uttering no words to the party as they asked where they were going.
Will couldn't tell Mike what was on his mind since it was selfish. He felt selfish for the thoughts that crossed his mind.
“Tell me.” Mike pushed again.
“Mike, just stop. I don't want to talk about it so let's just get back downstairs and act like nothing happened.” Will raised his voice.
“What is up with you? I can't go downstairs and enjoy the night if you're just gonna be moping about something you won't tell me.” Mike scoffed.
“Yea, because ill ruin the night like I always do.”
“That's not what I said-” Mike started yet never finished.
“That's exactly what you said. Mike, just admit that we can't be friends anymore.” Will stated.
“Woah- What the fuck are you talking about? How did we get from that to that? Will, you can't just say that.” Mike panicked as he sat on his bed.
Will paced back and forth anxiously.
Mike grabbed his arm and stopped him. Mike brought Will in front of him and stared up at Will with pleading eyes.
“Tell me what's going on because I can't go on with you acting like this,” Mike begged.
Tears left Mike’s eyes as he looked up at Will. He was desperate to know why Will felt this way.
“Mike, look outside. Everything has gone to shit and it's my fault.” Will laughed.
“Will, don't say that. It isn't your fault.” Mike pleaded.
“It is my fault. All of this is my fault. He’s gone but he’s never really gone.”
Tears began to leave Will’s face.
Mike yanked him down next to him and pulled him into a close hug.
“I'm sorry,” Will mumbled multiple times into Mike’s now wet sweater.
“You did nothing wrong. You didn't deserve what happened to you.” Mike whispered into Will’s hair.
“Mike, you didn't deserve what happened to you.” Will stated as he sat up. Before Mike could ask what he meant. “I heard about what happened at the Quarry,” Will whispered.
“How? I told Dustin not to worry you with it.”
“So what? You're just gonna commit ‘just because you can’? Mike, why would you do that?”
Will’s sobs became louder.
“It was for Dustin! Stop acting like I’m suicidal or something.”
“I will when you start acting like you're not.”
“I dont act like im sucidial.”
“Some normal person would not try to jump off in the first place but they most likely wouldn't keep going back.”
“What are you talking about?”
“You dangle your legs above the drop. Not truly feeling alive but not fully dead yet.” Will narrated not answering Mike’s question. Will narrated it as if he was reading it from something. “You wish that someone could make the choice for you but no one will so you just take the thrill of being careless with your life.” A beat went by. “Well, I’ll make the choice. I want you alive. I don't want you to ever go to that quarry. I want you to stop being careless. I want you to start acting like you want to live. Don't put yourself in harm's way just for the thrill. I want you to never leave me. For God's sake, Mike, don't leave me in this shitty world without you. We are Mike and Will and are never apart. I can't take life without you.” Will gasped for air.
Mike instantly knew that Will had seen the paper. The paper where he spilled all his worries.
Mike stared blankly at Will trying to find an excuse for why he went back.
“I went back because-” Mike started.
“You went back because you don't truly feel like you belong. Is that correct? Because you have felt this way since kindergarten. Mike, no one truly belongs. I don't belong, you don't belong. No matter how much we all try we don't belong. So embrace it.” Will smiled a whimsical smile.
“Why don’t you embrace it?” Mike asked. Will’s smile turned into a confused face but before he could say anything Mike continued. “I know El didn't commission the painting. I know everything in fact. You may take me as clueless but I know you were talking about yourself. Why wouldn't you just tell me you felt that way.” Mike questioned.
Will’s breathing hitched before it got caught in his throat and he started coughing up a storm.
“What do you mean?” Will panicked.
“Breath, Will, Breath.” Mike soothed. “Why did you feel that you would lose me?” Mike asked.
Will’s breath relaxed when he realized that Mike was clueless and his secret was still under wraps.
“Is it because you love me?” Mike whistled in a cocky tone.
“What?!” Will’s breathing hitched again.
“I'm just a hit in the Byers family, aren't I?” Mike laughed.
“How are you so okay with this?” Will panicked.
“Because of this.”
Mike’s lips clashed with Will’s lips. Will didn't fully render what was happing for a second or so.
Mike’s hand nestled into Will’s hair as Will’s hands cupped Mike’s face.
Mike broke the kiss. Will couldn’t believe what just happened.
Mike launched forward and started kissing Will again. Mike craved Will. Will is all Mike could think about for the past nine years. Ever since Mike met Will he was all he could think about.
Will pulled away making Mike long for more.
“I'm sorry, I can't do this,” Will whispered as he stood up.
“Why?” Mike jumped up after him.
“I can't do this to El. She is super sweet and doesn't deserve this.” Will stated as he made his way to the door.
“She didn't tell you?”
Will stopped at the door. Will slowly turned around with a questioning face.
Mike laughed. “We broke up while we were fixing up the cabin.”
“That was like eight months ago and I'm just now learning this?” Will sneered.
“Mhm,” Mike mumbled as he walked over to Will, gently placing a hand on Will’s face and giving him a quick kiss.
Mike stupidly smirked.
“Like I said I’m a hit in the Byers family.” Mike laughed.
Will groaned.
“You make me wish I didn't love you.” Will joked.
“But you do.” Mike smiled as he placed a kiss on his cheek.
Mike walked out of the room leaving Will to follow him once again like a lost dog.
“We’re going for a drive,” Mike yelled loud enough for his friends and parents to hear.
“Do you even have a driver's license?” Will asked.
“I’ve gotta practice some way.”
“Micheal, if you even hit a curb I’m walking home.”
“You don't trust me.” Mike joked with puppy dog eyes.
“Of course, I don't.” Will laughed as he walked out the door.