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1. This is Me Trying by love_kurdt

   Fandoms: Stranger Things (TV 2016)  

   • Explicit
   • Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings
   • M/M
   • Complete Work

   23 Dec 2023

   Tags

   • Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings
   • Will Byers/Mike Wheeler
   • Mike Wheeler/Original Male Character(s)
   • Ted Wheeler (Stranger Things)
   • Karen Wheeler
   • Joyce Byers
   • Original Experiment Character(s) (Stranger Things)
   • Shameless Smut
   • Angst
   • Mike Wheeler is a Mess
   • Gay Mike Wheeler
   • Mike Wheeler-centric
   • Mike Wheeler Has Issues
   • Mike Wheeler is Bad at Feelings
   • Past Eleven | Jane Hopper/Mike Wheeler
   • Mike Wheeler Needs a Hug
   • Mike Wheeler Has a Crush on Will Byers
   • Gay Will Byers
   • Sad Will Byers
   • Will Byers Needs a Hug
   • Post-Canon
   • Internalized Homophobia
   • Consensual Underage Sex
   • Date Rape Drug/Roofies
   • Underage Drinking
   • Implied/Referenced Drug Use
   • Bad Parent Ted Wheeler (Stranger Things)
   • Supportive Joyce Byers
   • Joyce Byers is a Sweetheart
   • Good Parent Karen Wheeler
   • Mike Wheeler is in His Whore Era
   • Song: this is me trying (Taylor Swift)
   • will actually gets to be mad in this one ok
   • Panic Attacks
   • Drunk Driving
   • Near Death Experiences
   • Suicidal Thoughts
   • Suicidal Mike Wheeler
   • Angst and Hurt/Comfort
   • Hurt/Comfort
   • Emotional Hurt/Comfort
   • Emotional Roller Coaster
   • Self-Hatred
   • Angst with a Happy Ending
   • Fluff
   • Kissing
   • Boys Kissing
   • Emotional Baggage
   • lots of crying lmao
   • Unresolved Romantic Tension
   • Miscommunication
   • Flashbacks
   • Love Confessions
   • Not Actually Unrequited Love
   • mike wheeler is 6’3” and i will die on this hill
   • Jewish Will Byers
   • borderline smut but not actually smut

   Summary

   It’s December 1990, and Mike is at his last University of Indianapolis frat party. He’s going through hell; after having lost contact with his friends, tried to fill his emotional void with sex, and dropped out of college a year and a half in because of his worsening drinking habits, Mike stands at the edge of a lookout with only one thing— one person— on his mind.

   The title and story are inspired by the Taylor Swift song <3

   Playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/32sdnXCHQ5ahfidegL9Cmf?si=5493376540b34dae

   There's an audiobook! Listen here:
   https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLeWy_dqPXg4bb_0XIe_FhOM4ZIWLHo2TO&si=7y50F6pdFQlnlFys

   A Russian translation by the very talented (and dedicated) Olesya is available to read here: https://ficbook.net/readfic/018e355b-98f9-7b2a-9cf5-35b3361dc1cb

   Series

   • Part 1 of TIMT/NTWDT/DBM Universe

   Language:

   English

   Words:

   23,936

   Chapters:

   3/3

   Comments:

   58

   Kudos:

   606

   Bookmarks:

   66

   Hits:

   6,808