Archive of Our Own

With his hair still damp from his morning shower, Mike ran into his homeroom. He made it seconds before the bell rang, which he counted as a great success. He couldn't afford to be late again. One more and it'll be a detention.

Sitting down next to Will, he noticed Will's hair had been growing quite long lately. It looked shaggy today, in a way that looked like some older lady would really enjoy ruffling it. He was dressed in a cream-colored sweater and dark jeans.

Not in his usual old t-shirt and jeans combo.

“You look nice today,” Mike said.

Will gave him a sheepish smile. “Well, it’s a holiday."

It was then that Mike noticed a pink bag with a red rose sticking out of it on Will's desk.

"Valentine's Day, really?" Mike scoffed, and Will's lips quirked in amusement. "Will, you can't be serious. The lamest holiday of all holidays."

"I'm sure there are lamer holidays, Mike."

"Well, why?" Mike said.

"Why what?"

"Why don't you think it's lame," Mike raised his eyebrows, "is there a reason you like it? This holiday?"

Could there be someone Will liked? And he never mentioned it?

Will should've told him.

Just 'cause, why? a voice in Mike's head responded. You're best friends? Will doesn't have to tell you everything... He's allowed to keep some secrets.

Yeah, but not this.

"Why do you like it?" Mike asked again.

"I don't know, Mike, it's just nice," Will said, turning away from him to face the front of the classroom.

Mike crossed his arms and faced the front, too, hoping to make Will feel as closed-off to him as Mike felt right now. "Well, I completely forgot."

"Cool for you, Mike." Mike could practically hear his eyes roll.

"Hey!" Mike snapped his neck to look at him. "I'm just saying, unless you tell me why you like it so much, I won't care for it."

Will squinted at him. "No. If you don't get it, you don't get it."

Oh, if Will really did like someone, then Mike was pretty sure he got it. Only couples or hopeless romantics liked this holiday. And Mike was pretty sure Will was neither. Right?

And that was the problem, really—he didn’t even know Will had a crush. The last time he had ever heard of Will having a crush was...

"And I had this crush on someone even though I know they're not like me."

And now Will had a whole reason to look nice during Valentine's Day?

"So I guess this means you're also not gonna tell me who that's for," Mike pointed at the pink bag on Will's desk.

“Chance gave it to me.”

Chance? The basketball player? That dumb jock?

“What?” Mike blinked. “Why?”

Will shrugged. "I don't know. We talk sometimes in our class together."

Something ugly twisted in Mike's chest.

"So, Chance... who you talk to, sometimes... got you a Valentine," Mike said slowly.

“Yes, Mike," Will sighed wearily.

"Just trying to clarify," Mike said defensively. "You never told me."

Will looked at Mike like he was speaking a different language. "There isn't anything to tell...”

Mike grabbed the small gift before Will could protest. He peeked inside, and found some chocolates and a card.

He held back a scoff. So lame and unoriginal.

He reached inside for the envelope. “Can I read it?”

Will raised both his hands in mock-exasperation, as if to say, Might as well.

Will,

Hope this candy is as sweet as you.

Chance

Mike's grip tightened on the card, crinkling the paper. And just when he thought he couldn't get more annoyed, Will held his hand out expectantly, wanting his card back.

"God, he's such a tool," Mike mumbled, giving it back.

What does Will want it for, anyway?

"He's actually pretty nice, Mike."

Why are you defending him?

Mike grabbed a chocolate. “Don't care."

⋆˙⟡♡

As the day went on, Mike's bad mood only worsened.

In Physics, he caught a girl checking Will out, and there was that feeling in his chest he didn't like again.

Will was oblivious to the staring, to the shy smiles, but Mike was on high-alert now.

And it wasn't Will's fault. Will was just like that. Sweet and attentive.

He was nice to girls, in a way most guys weren't.

And guys. Guys liked talking to Will, too. Apparently, even the basketball players.

But Will could be nice to whoever he wanted! Why did Mike even care? It's not like Will should only ever talk to him... be his friend and no one else's... That's ridiculous!

But then would come another Valentine, and another glance and smile thrown at Will, and Mike would forget why Will couldn't just be his. His friend. His best friend, who's not crushing on anyone.

"And I had this crush on someone even though I know they're not like me."

Mike groaned. They were about to be seniors, and here he was, still hung up on something Will said when they were 16.

The thing is, Mike was pretty sure Will's crush had been on Mike.

And Will said he got over it, and so Mike figured it would be best for him to get over it, too. Even if it would sometimes pop into his head when their arms brushed, or Mike got the urge to smell what cologne Will was wearing.

But to now know that Will has a new crush? And that he's receiving all these Valentines?

It bothered Mike. it made him feel like he's missed something that was never even offered to him in the first place. And why did Chance get it?

By the time lunch rolled around, food was the last thing on his mind.

“Where’s Will?” Mike asked as he looked around the lunch table.

“Why do you want to know? So you guys can whisper to each other all lunch period and leave us out?” Max replied.

Mike rolled his eyes. His friends lately have been commenting on how it's always Mike and Will now. "Will has my lunch.”

Will had told him he made an extra sandwich on accident, and Mike could have it if he wanted.

“Alright, chill," Lucas said, "I just saw him in the hall. He was busy talking to someone, though."

"Who?" Mike said.

"Some guy, I don't really know him," Lucas shrugged.

Mike's nostrils flared, and his jaw tightened.

He was really getting sick of this.

He started walking to the hall, where he thought Will might be, before Lucas yanked him back.

"Dude, where you going?"

"To find Will."

"Mike, just give him space," Dustin said, hearing what was going on.

"You worry too much about what he's doing," Lucas agreed.

Mike licked his lips. "I mean, have you guys even seen Will today? He has, like, love letters falling out of his pockets, practically."

Max nodded. "Well, yeah. Will's hot."

Mike sputtered. "That's not the point!"

Max shot him a Really? look. "You're hopeless, seriously, Wheeler."

"What are you guys talking about?" Lucas interrupted.

Max sighed. "Just because Will is gay doesn't mean people aren't going to like him."

"We know that," Dustin said, offended.

"No, like, like him, like want. People want him," Max clarified.

"Who?" Mike exclaimed.

Max rolled her eyes at him. "Oh, my god, the people you are talking about! Girls who can't tell he's gay, guys who think he's cute... You just noticed it now?"

"Whoa, I never noticed Will had insane game," Lucas laughed.

Mike huffed. "Neither did I.... So can you tell me? Who does Will like, then?"

"Whoa," Dustin said, "Will likes someone? Like you mean other than—"

Max slapped her hand over his mouth. "He told you he likes someone?" she looked skeptical, as if Mike would lie about this. Mike wishes he were.

"I sensed it. He wouldn't tell me who when I asked."

"Then why would I?" Max scoffed.

Mike face fell. "You know?"

Max shook her head. "No! No, Mike, I don't know anything about that, but if Will didn't want to tell you, maybe don't try to pry it out of me."

"You know, you joke that Will and I leave you out, but what about you and him, you're always talking without us and giggling."

"Are you seriously getting jealous of me now?" Max pinched her nose.

Mike sulked in his seat. He was honestly too exhausted, hungry, and angry to keep arguing with Max.

Where was Will?

Max sighed. "Look, Wheeler, instead of worrying about other people in Will's life, why don't you think of yourself?"

Mike scrunched his eyebrows together. "What do you mean?"

"Hopeless," Max mumbled. "I mean," she said louder, "What did you get Will for Valentine's Day?"

Mike went quiet, averting his eyes.

"Yeah, thought so," Max said.

"Dude," Dustin chuckled in disbelief, "you didn't get him anything?"

"Did you?" Mike snapped.

"No—but I'm not obsessed with him."

Mike's face burned. "What the fuck? I'm not..."

"You are," Lucas said.

Mike saw Will making his way to the table, and hissed, "Shut up, he's coming."

“Missed me?” Will said, smiling.

"You only have, like 20 minutes left to eat, I hope you know," Lucas said.

Will sat next to Mike. “I know, I tried to be quick but...”

"Duty calls," Dustin said wistfully. "You have fans at this school, actually, Byers. I didn't know."

Will laughed. "No."

"Like a mini fan-club, at least," Lucas argued.

Will shook his head, but he was smiling.

Mike felt a tick of irritation.

“Seriously, how do you make so many people fall in love with you?" Max said.

"Stop, guys, please," Will said, embarrassed. He passed Mike the sandwich he promised him.

Mike begrudgingly took a bite. He didn't want to waste it, but the more time he spent around Will, the more annoyed he got and the less he enjoyed his food. He wanted to grab Will's shoulders and shake him. How could he be late to lunch, knowing Mike was waiting for him? How could he accept chocolates from tall basketball players, and smile at everyone?

Lucas glanced at Mike, and something clicked in his features. "So, you made Mike lunch, huh?"

Will paused. "Yeah..."

"I see," Lucas said with suspicion.

Mike's heart pounded in his ears. Was Lucas implying that...

"He always forgets his lunch," Will explained easily. "I had extra, so I made it."

"Extra sandwich supplies?" Max mumbled, and Will shot her a glare.

Mike met Will's gaze. "See, this is why we leave them out. They're annoying."

Will laughed. "So annoying."

"Hey," Max protested.

Mike ignored her and kept eating. He would never admit it to anyone, but somehow the sandwich tasted better now. He devoured it in four bites.

“Wanna hang at mine after school?" he looked at Will.

Will nodded.

"Thank you for the invite Mike. Why, yes. We would love to," Dustin said sarcastically.

"What? Oh, yeah, you guys can come, sure," Mike shrugged. "If you have nothing better to do."

"Crazy of you both to think Max and I don't have plans," Lucas said.

"So it would be me alone with those two," Dustin glanced over at them, Will shot him a threatening look that held no real malice. Mike chuckled because Will was so cute. "Yeah, hell, no."

⋆˙⟡♡

At the end of the school day, Mike saw Will one last time walking to his car. He had a rose in his hand that he had clearly been given.

“Will!” Mike shouted.

But then a girl walked up to Will, and Mike turned away in defeat. Really, he was so over this day. He started walking over to his own car when Dustin and Lucas ran up to him.

“We’re going home with you,” Lucas said.

“Yeah, we need—” Dustin noticed the look on Mike’s face. “What's wrong?”

Mike glanced at Will, who was still talking to a random girl. “Nothing.”

Lucas sighed. “Dude...”

“What?” Mike said defensively.

“Will doesn’t like her, okay? You don’t have to be all jealous.”

Mike snapped his head toward Lucas. “I’m not—”

“Sure, you’re not,” Lucas said.

Mike glared at him.

“Even if you were,” Dustin said, wrapping an arm around Mike’s shoulder, “you can’t let it get to you because what you need to be focusing on is getting a gift for Will.”

Mike paused. “What?”

“Come on, man," Lucas said, "you heard Max at lunch."

"Plus, not to mention, he made you lunch." Dustin said, "and you didn’t get him anything! Not even a card and chocolates, or something stupid and simple like that."

Ha! Mike knew it. It was stupid and simple.

Better than nothing.

Mike cursed his own brain.

"But you still can get him something!" Dustin continued, "and if I were you, I would make sure to give him something really special because you kinda have a lot of competition.”

Mike flushed. “But—We aren’t, like—”

“Dude, just save it," Lucas shook his head.

“Yeah,” Dustin said, “and I'm glad you aren't, by the way. You didn’t even remember to get him something for Valentine’s Day.”

“We’re just friends!” Mike exclaimed. "He doesn't like me like that, okay? So just drop it. It's not going to happen, even if i get him something." Mike walked away, and got into his car, not wanting to see the pity on his friends' faces.

Lucas opened his passenger door as Dustin into the back. They sat in the school’s parking lot for a second.

“You like him, right?” Lucas asked cautiously.

He's my favorite person in the whole world.

“What does it matter,” Mike groaned softly.

“Because what if he liked you, too?” Lucas said.

Mike shook his head. "He doesn't."

"Mike..." Dustin started.

"Stop," Mike said. "I know he used to, okay? I know he did at one point, but that was years ago."

“He made you lunch," Dustin exclaimed, "on Valentine’s Day!"

“He's just like that,” Mike shrugged.

Lucas laughed. "Mike, did you see anyone else with a sandwich from Will?"

"Well, no..."

"Tonight is the perfect night to talk to him," Dustin coaxed, "tell him how you feel, maybe see how he feels. It's the lovers day."

“First of all, don't say lovers ever again," Mike said. "Second of all, I don't think I can! Guys, really, I feel..."

"Alright," Lucas said. "So you don't care if Chance asks Will out."

Mike tensed. "What the fuck."

"He's going to, you know," Lucas said, "he wants to. Some of the guys I still talk to that are on the team told me."

"Are you fucking kidding me?" Mike's pulse quickened, his tone coming out harsh now.

Lucas didn't even flinch. "No, Mike, I'm fucking serious. He likes Will."

Mike bit his tongue. "Will would never go for that asshole."

"Will has never been asked out on a date before, so he just might," Dustin singsonged.

Mike saw red. "Fuck this."

“Look, Mike,” Dustin said quickly. "You were extremely jealous all day. We could all tell. So either you stop behaving like a complete dumbass, or be honest with him.”

"Yeah," Lucas agreed. “You've always had this thing over Will, but today it was, like—I thought you were going to explode.”

Mike remembered the way he spent all day acting like Will wasn’t allowed to talk to anyone but him, and he felt the embarrassment creeping up on him.

Will probably thinks you are so annoying.

“Hey, we never said it was a bad thing,” Dustin said. "Will clearly doesn't hate it."

"Stop acting like you know what Will wants," Mike argued.

"You know, too," Lucas said. "If you're honest with yourself."

Mike shook his head, and put his key in the ignition, finally. "What should I get him?"

“I thought you'd never ask,” Dustin grinned.

⋆˙⟡♡

An hour later, Dustin, Lucas, and Mike were finishing up cleaning and arranging the basement into something that looked straight out of a romance novel. They turned off the lights and lit every lamp in the room for soft, intimate lighting. They laid out pizza, snacks, and drinks on the coffee table. Mike’s basement looked nicer than it had in months, maybe even years

It technically wasn't a first date, but, boy did it feel like it, and that was making Mike very nervous.

“You could write him a letter!” Dustin suggested as a last minute gift.

Lucas scrunched his nose up in distaste. “Dude, Will got plenty of cards today at school. I think Mike probably wants to give him something better than that.”

"I didn't say 'card' I said 'letter'."

Lucas waved dismissively. "Same difference."

"No, actually—"

"I can't write right now," Mike said. "I'm too anxious. I'm overthinking everything. I can't put it into words. I just need to see him."

“Well," Dustin said, "got any better ideas?”

Mike sighed, rocking back and forth on his heels a bit. “I might have something...”

“What?" Lucas said

“It was supposed to be for his birthday—”

“Whoa,” Dustin said. “You already have Will’s birthday gift? His birthday isn’t for another month.”

Mike cleared his throat. “Well... I may have had it custom-made,” he mumbled.

Dustin and Lucas laughed in disbelief. “Holy shit,” Dustin breathed out, “You really are into Will.”

Mike clicked his tongue. "The real reason is that ever since that one year when I forgot his birthday, I’ve been trying to make sure I don’t forget it again.”

Lucas and Dustin exchanged knowing looks. Mike gave up.

“Just show us what you got him,” Lucas said.

The three of them made their way upstairs to Mike’s room. Mike ran to his closet, where he pulled out a box and opened it. He took out what was supposed to be Will’s birthday gift.

It was a custom moleskin sketchbook, engraved with the words ‘Will the Wise’ and stars all around the cover.

Lucas and Dustin’s eyes widened when they saw it. “That must have cost you a fortune,” Lucas said.

Mike could feel his face turning red. “It wasn’t that much.”

“Either way, it’s perfect!” Dustin cheered.

“You think I should give it to him today?"

“Obviously,” Dustin said. “You have nothing else.”

Mike bit his lip. "It’s not too much?”

"For you guys?" Lucas grinned. "Not at all."

⋆˙⟡♡

Lucas and Dustin dipped soon after, and Mike was left an anxious mess in his basement.

In theory, he had nothing to be scared about. It was just Will. But—What if Dustin and Lucas were wrong?

Maybe Will would see the gift Mike got him for Valentine’s Day—a holiday meant for couples—and think it was weird.

Mike was in the middle of rehearsing how he would give his present to Will when the doorbell rang. He ran up the stairs to get the door since no one else was home, thankfully.

“Hey,” Mike said, aiming to hide the nerves from his voice.

“Hi,” Will beamed at him. He was holding a box and a rolled up piece of paper.

Mike stepped aside to let him in. “So I guess it’s just us tonight.”

“Cool,” Will replied easily.

As they made their way downstairs, Mike felt his heart in his throat. He really hoped he wasn’t about to make a fool of himself.

“So, we had some cookies...” Will gasped softly when he saw the basement.

The faint smell of boy sweat was gone, the DnD game maps were put away, and the lamps and tv illuminated the area kindly.

“Um... I thought it would be nice to clean up... for— for Valentine’s Day,” Mike explained.

Will caught his gaze and smirked. "I thought you didn't care about Valentine's Day."

Mike blushed. "Changed my mind.”

“Really?" Will chuckled, and looked around to take in the scene once more. "It looks really cozy. I like it a lot."

Mike sat the box of cookies Will had brought onto the table, next to the other food he had laid out.

“What movie?” Mike asked, walking over to the stash of VHS tapes he had in the basement.

“Something a little scary,” Will said.

“The Terminator?”

Will nodded.

Mike popped the tape into the VCR player and took his seat next to Will, who was already comfortable on the couch, a slice of cheese pizza in hand.

After eating half the pizza, Mike tried scooting closer, until there was hardly any space between them. Will looked curiously, but Mike only offered a sheepish smile in return.

“I forgot how good this movie is,” Will commented.

“Yeah, it’s great," Mike said uselessly. He had been so distracted, he hadn't been paying much attention to what was going on. Thankfully, he had seen this film before. He forced himself to look away from Will and focus on the movie.

“Do you remember when we first watched it? Dustin and Lucas got so scared we had to leave the lights on the whole night. And it’s not even scary at all, not even a little bit,” Will chuckled.

Mike laughed. “Oh, yeah. They get scared so easily," he bit his lip, "Do you wanna know a secret?"

Will snapped his head to look at him eagerly. Will loved secrets. Mike loved when Will talked during movies they had already seen together.

"Max and them were right, about us leaving them out—I prefer when it’s just us two.”

Will laughed softly. “Are you messing with me?”

“No!" Mike said. "It’s just—we have similar taste. You’re the best person to watch movies with because you’ll point out things I don’t notice. And Lucas and Dustin can get annoying sometimes. But... I don't know."

"What?"

"You never annoy me," Mike admitted.

Will was looking at Mike like he was a very hard math problem now. "I don't know if that's true. I think I annoy you sometimes."

"You don't," Mike said instantly. "Do I? Annoy you, I mean."

Will gave a small smile, but his gaze dropped to somewhere on the floor. "You don't. Ever."

Mike's heart pounded.

They talked throughout the rest of the movie, eagerly sharing their thoughts on the plot. “Well, I would never write a story about a cyborg who tries to pass as a human. The robot part is the only interesting thing about him," Mike declared, very opinionated about this. Will just laughed.

Somewhere in the middle of the movie, Will put his legs up and tried to get himself into a comfortable position.

“Do you want to lay down?” Mike suggested.

“No—um—I think the couch is too small for that,” he chuckled.

Will could easily lay down if he didn't mind having half his body in Mike’s lap. Yeah, maybe that was too much. But Mike wanted to be closer to Will. Desperately.

His heart was racing when he offered up his shoulder, “You could lean on me?”

Will looked surprised. He studied Mike’s face quietly.

Mike felt a blush creeping up his neck. He was about to play everything off as a joke, but then Will put his head on Mike’s shoulder.

Mike's heart was racing. He couldn't remember the last time he was this close to someone.

A beat of silence passed as they adjusted to their new positions.

“So," Mike said, rubbing his sweaty hands on his jeans,"who do you think would win in a battle, the Terminator or RoboCop?”

Will snorted, and Mike felt it against his shoulder. “I don’t know, maybe RoboCop."

“Really? Even with those muscles?”

“You’re staring at his muscles?”

“What?” Mike said defensively. “They’re huge, they’re impossible to miss!”

Will laughed. “I guess they are.”

Mike was about to say something else just as ridiculous when he felt Will cuddle up to him even closer. Mike put his arm around him, and Will so much as sank into him.

Holy shit.

They were, like, properly snuggled up at this point.

Mike didn't want to ever move. He started thinking of what excuse he could come up with to convince Will they should, like, leave society and just cuddle in Mike's basement until they die. Nothing had ever felt like this to him.

Once the ending credits rolled, neither of them moved to get up.

“So...” Will said, still at Mike's side.

“How was your Valentine’s Day?” Mike asked. His heart beating loudly.

“Great," Will said.

"Yeah?"

"Uh, yeah," Will hid his face against Mike's chest. "Especially now."

Mike's stomach fluttered helplessly, his heart caught in his throat. It all felt so real all of a sudden. They were about to cross a line Mike wasn't sure they could ever come back from.

"How was yours?" Will said.

“Good. Now," Mike agreed, his grip around Will tightening as he remembered how horrible his day started. "But I wasn’t the one who got a million Valentines.”

“Jealous?” Will teased.

Mike looked at a spot on the couch. "No."

Will lifted his head to look at Mike. “You're not jealous you didn't get any Valentines?”

“Oh, you meant... Of course not," Mike said truthfully.

Will hesitated. "What did you think I meant?"

Mike let his arm fall. “That I was jealous because of you.”

“What do you mean, 'because of me'?”

Mike shook his head. Will was not making this easy for him. “You know, Chance, the girls, everyone at school... they're all just a little annoying.”

Amusement glazed over Will's features now. “You think most people are annoying.”

“Not you,” Mike reminded him.

Will's mouth fell open a little, any trace of playfulness gone. "Mike..."

"You just know so many people," Mike continued. "I didn't know that."

"I didn't think that is something that would bother you."

Mike sighed. "Do you like Chance?"

"What?"

Mike felt his stomach churn violently. "You do..."

"No!" Will said before looking at Mike more closely. "But what if I did?"

Mike grabbed Will's waist, his grip tight. Will gasped softly.

"Don't do that," Mike's voice came out low and serious. "Don't try to annoy me on purpose."

Will's head dropped back onto Mike's chest. “I didn’t know you found Chance that annoying,” he said weakly.

“I do."

Will stared up at him in way that made Mike soften, his grip loosening.

"I got you something,” Mike said before Will could say anything else.

Will looked at him questioningly as Mike stood up. He walked over to where he had Will’s present hidden and could feel Will watching him. He brought the gift over to the couch and sat back down.

“You wrapped it appropriately,” Will said, eyeing the pink paper, which was covered in white hearts.

Mike flushed. "Just open it.”

Will tore it open, and Mike watched his face light up in recognition. “Mike,” He ran his fingers along the brand new sketchbook. “I love it."

“I thought you might need a new sketchbook soon. Your old one looks like it’s completely full.”

“It’s perfect.” Will said, reading the engraving. “Thank you.” He bit his lip, “I got you something, too."

Mike raised his eyebrows in surprise as he watched Will reach over to grab the rolled up paper he arrived with.

Will smiled shyly. “It’s just something small I painted."

“Will,” Mike gasped, unraveling the painting, “this is incredible.”

The painting was of their D&D characters, plus Lucas and Dustin's. It reminded Mike of the one will gave him all those years ago in the back of a van. But there was no three-headed beast or battle going on in this one. Instead, the Party was standing high on a hill, celebrating their victory.

“I can't wait to hang it up” Mike said, his eyes moving around the canvas, trying to take in every single detail.

Will blushed. "It's no big deal. I just got the idea and thought you would appreciate it."

Mike's lips twitched, threatening a smile. "I do."

⋆˙⟡♡

Thirty minutes later, Will had to go home because they still had school tomorrow.

Mike walked Will out of his house until they found themselves at the end of Mike’s driveway. Outside, the night was quiet, and it made Mike feel like they were the only two people on earth. The remnants of winter nipped at their cheeks.

"I’ll see you tomorrow...” Will said, looking up at Mike.

“Yeah,” Mike said, his eyes unintentionally falling to Will’s mouth. “See you tomorrow.”

“Cool,” Will replied, but Mike watched as his gaze fell down his face.

And before Mike could convince himself otherwise, he pressed a kiss to Will's lips.

The kiss only lasted a second before Mike realized what he had done.

Will went very still.

Mike could hardly breathe. “Uh, bye,” Mike said hastily, no longer in control of his body. He barely spared Will a glance before scurrying inside.

Once the door was completely shut, he tired to get the pounding against his ribcage to settle down.

What had he done?

⋆˙⟡♡

Mike almost stayed home from school the next day, but he decided to be brave even if he was terrified of what Will would say after kissing him out of the blue.

It was barely a kiss, Mike argued with himself. Maybe Will didn't even count it as a kiss. It was just a peck goodbye, the way french people did it. Maybe Mike could explain he was aiming for the cheek and missed a little.

What if Will is pissed at you?

What if he was into it? echoed a voice in his head that strangely sounded like Lucas.

When Mike walked into class, Will was already in his usual seat. As if he could sense Mike’s presence, he looked up, and they made eye contact.

Mike was first to look away, making his way to his seat with his head down.

Will smiled gently when Mike sat down next to him. Mike recognized that smile. It was the smile Will gave people when he was trying to be careful, as if he could scare Mike away at any moment. “Hi."

“Hey,” Mike breathed.

A tense silence fell over them.

“How— ” “So—” They both started at the same time.

Will let out a nervous laugh before he tried again. “Dustin was just telling me about a new movie coming out this weekend. He said it’s supposed to be really good. Bill Murray is in it.”

“Sounds cool,” Mike said.

“Yeah, but I don’t know. The idea of going to the movies again after last time is kind of..." Will scrunched up his nose. Mike felt the urge to kiss it.

Then Mike laughed, remembering how they got asked to leave for screaming at the top of their lungs when a rat ran past their feet in the dark theater. “We’ll be fine. Steve said they started putting out mouse traps daily after that happened.”

“Still," Will giggled, "I feel like I’ll be too distracted to watch the movie. I mean, I’m the one who noticed the rat in the first place. You guys would’ve never even seen it if it wasn’t for me."

“Exactly,” Mike teased, “We would have never seen it, and then we would have never gotten kicked out. It's all your fault.”

“We could’ve gotten diseases, probably!”

Mike waved his hand dismissively. “We would’ve been fine.”

“I’m not going,” Will said definitively, but there was a playful smile on his lips, and Mike's gaze caught there. He felt his cheeks heat up as he remembered the way Will’s lips had felt against his.

“You have to go,” Mike said weakly.

“And why is that?” Will smirked.

Mike bit his lip. Was Will flirting? With him? “Fine, then," Mike crossed his arms, "If you don’t go, I’m not going."

“But you love Bill Murray.”

“Yes, I do,” Mike nodded dramatically. “Which is why you're being cruel, if you think about it. Depriving me of a good movie."

Will rolled his eyes. "You don't need me there."

"You know I do,” Mike said, a seriousness in his voice he hadn't meant for popped out.

"What if I want to hear you say it?"

Mike flushed. Their teacher started talking, and his throat still felt tight. Will Byers was indeed very cruel, he decided.

⋆˙⟡♡

In Physics, they worked on their lab report together, and Mike resisted the urge to lean into Will every time their shoulders brushed.

It was shaping up to be a pretty productive period until a girl was suddenly standing in front of their lab table.

“Hey, Will,” the girl said.

Mike tensed.

Will shot her a friendly smile.

“We really should get this done,” Mike said.

"Oh, yeah," Will nodded. Then he turned with an apologetic smile to the girl. Mike felt a flare of annoyance.

Will turned to him once the girl left. “Really?"

“Sorry," Mike scoffed. "I forgot you always have to be so nice to everyone."

Will’s face twisted in irritation. “Wow, Mike.”

“I'm just saying,” Mike shrugged. He knew he was being an asshole, but he couldn't stop. “I don’t see why you feel the need to talk to everyone all the time, and be friends with everyone, especially when we need to get our work done.”

Will raised his eyebrows. "You're upset I have another friend in this class besides you?”

Mike knew he was being irrational, but yes! Exactly, he wanted to say. Because, why did Will want to make other friends? Shouldn't he just be fine with Mike?

“Whatever, this is stupid," he said instead.

A hurt look came across Will's face. "You're the one who started it," he snapped.

Mike huffed. “You can think whatever you want, Will, but the problem is that you—” his voice fell to a whisper, embarrassed about what he was about to admit, “you go and flirt with everyone that talks to you, without even thinking about me.”

Will pursed his lips, shaking his head. "And why would I think about you, Mike? Why do I have to think about you when I talk to other people?"

Mike gripped his pencil so tight, he thought it might snap.

"And you know, I don't flirt with anyone, or whatever," Will continued, hissing. "You're angry at me for nothing, and it's not fair. It's not fair to kiss me, or keep me like this."

Mike gulped. "Like what?"

"Like there's something—"

“And there’s the bell, folks! Have a good weekend, don’t forget to bring your reports back next week,” the teacher’s voice startled Mike enough that he dropped his pencil.

He carelessly threw his stuff into his backpack and ran out of the room, leaving Will behind.

⋆˙⟡♡

Mike had been dreading lunch after how him and Will left things.

“How did it go with Will? Did he like his gift? Tell us! We've been waiting all day,” Dustin said as soon as Mike walked up to their usual spot.

“Yeah, he liked it a lot.”

Max’s eyes narrowed. “Then why do you look so miserable?”

“It was good," Mike groaned. "It was really good yesterday, but... I think it’s all ruined.”

His friends looked at him expectantly.

“In class this morning, I was—I was acting like... I got upset and started a fight."

Max sighed. "Wheeler, I swear to god."

“Whatever,” Lucas reassured him. “I'm sure it'll be alright. You just have to talk to him and apologize.”

"And now's your chance," Dustin mumbled as Will walked up to them.

“Hey, guys,” Will greeted them. He smiled, but it didn’t reach his eyes.

Mike needed to fix things. Now. “Can we talk?” he blurted out.

Will’s barely glanced at him. “I'm a little hungry, Mike.”

The table went quiet. Max looked at Mike, and Mike could probably guess the profanities she was spewing at him in her head.

"Will, please. At least come over after school if you won't speak to me now."

Will bit his lip. "Fine, after."

⋆˙⟡♡

“Mike, Will’s here!” Mike’s mom called out to him from downstairs.

“Coming!” Mike yelled from his room, but he made no move to get out of bed.

He came home from school and plopped down on his bed, allowing himself to wallow in self-pity.

He was trying to get the courage to go downstairs when he heard a soft knock on his bedroom door, and then Will was peeking his head in.

“Your mom let me in,” Will said, stepping into the room.

Mike sat up instantly. “Hey...”

“Were you taking a nap?” The corner of Will's mouth titled up, and Mike felt relief. He's not mad at you anymore. He watched as Will sat down at the foot of his bed.

“Yeah, I was tired,” he lied. That was a lot less embarrassing than what he actually had been doing.

“Sorry for interrupting your nap-time," Will whispered.

”I don't care...” Mike scooted up until they were sitting side-by-side on the bed. “I always want to see you."

"Mike..." Will said tiredly.

“I’m sorry,” Mike blurted out. “I know I shouldn’t have acted like that in class. I was a total jerk.”

“It’s fine.”

“No, it's not.” Mike sighed. "That thing that you said about me being unfair to you... it's true."

Will paused. "What's true?"

"It's not fair of me... to be so... I just feel like... you're my closest friend. You're my best friend. And I don't like the thought of someone taking you away from me."

"Mike," Will said, and there was a hint of disappoint in his eyes for some reason, "that's never going to happen. You're my best friend, too."

Mike bit his lip. His heart fluttered. Now or never. “Can you just tell me something?”

"What?"

"You do like someone, right?"

"Yeah," Will frowned. "I do."

“Oh...” Mike said, his heart sinking a little. He waited for Will to continue, but he never did. “You can tell me who it is. I won’t be weird or upset, I promise.”

“Upset?" Will echoed, confused. "You’ve been acting weird since last night... And I wanted to tell you that it’s fine. We don’t really have to talk about what happened... it’s okay.”

The kiss. The kiss Mike gave him with absolutely no warning.

Mike’s face grew hot. “I’m so sorry. I shouldn’t have done that either—shit—I’m so sorry, Will.”

Will looked sad now, and Mike desperately wanted to change that.

"You like someone else," Mike said, "and I kissed you. I'm an idiot.”

A look of realization took over Will's face. “Shut up, Mike."

"What?"

"You are an idiot," Will said, "But I don’t like anyone else.”

Mike froze.

"Uh, what?" he repeated, dumbly.

"There’s no pressure, alright?" Will let out a nervous chuckle. "About last night, it’s still okay if you regret it—”

“I don’t regret anything about last night! I regret the way I’ve been acting lately, but that was only because I was so jealous,” Mike ran his hand down his face, "But I was only acting that way because I just—I just like you. I like you a lot."

Will’s entire face lit up. Mike's heart was 2 seconds away from pounding out of his chest.

"You like me?" Will asked. Mike wanted to kiss him.

“I do." Mike bumped their knees together, his chest feeling lighter. "What do you think about me?"

"Oh, you're alright I guess," Will said, but he was blushing and smiling at him in a way Mike couldn't believe was real.

"Just alright, huh?" Mike grabbed Will's waist tightly and Will laughed.

Mike surged forward and closed the gap between their mouths. It was a real kiss this time, exactly what Mike had been waiting for.

They both sank into it, until all Mike could taste and feel was Will. It was perfect.

Will smiled against his lips, a small noise of content escaping him. Mike had died and gone to heaven. He let their kiss dissolve into small pecks.

“How could you not tell I liked you? Even after everything I did yesterday,” Mike said, rubbing circles on Will's waist with his thumb absentmindedly, just because he could.

Will’s mouth fell open. “Were you planning on telling me yesterday?”

“I wanted to," Mike confessed. "Lucas and Dustin got all these ideas in my head about you going out with someone else, and I just had to do something."

“But instead you just kissed me and then ran away."

Mike groaned. "Not my finest moment."

Will kissed him again. "It's okay, you have me now."

“Do I?" Mike breathed.

"You do."

And if tomorrow at lunch, they announced they were together, that would be the least shocking news any of their friends heard all week.

⋆˙⟡♡