Chapter Text
Mike Wheeler sat in his bedroom, his eyes glued to the flickering screen of his TV. The latest episode of "Full House" was playing, but he couldn't focus. His thoughts kept drifting to Will Byers, his best friend since they were in kindergarten. They'd been through everything together—their first stolen kiss behind the old library, the time they built a treehouse in Mike's backyard, and the endless nights spent playing Dungeons & Dragons with their friends.
But things had changed. Will had started dating Ethan Carver, the new kid in town. Ethan had rolled into Hawkins like a tornado, all charm and good looks, and somehow, he'd managed to sweep Will off his feet. Mike couldn't help but feel a twinge of jealousy every time he saw them together. It didn't help that Ethan was Jason Carver's brother, the same Jason who had made their lives hell in middle school. Ethan lived with his mom in Indianapolis, but his mom couldn't afford to take care of him anymore so he sent him to live with Jason and his dad. The Carver name carried a certain notoriety in Hawkins High, and Ethan seemed to revel in it.
Jennifer Hayes invited the entire school to a party at her house. The party agreed to go, for whatever reason Mike doesn't understand. The night of the party, Mike felt his stomach twist into knots as they approached the Hayes' house. The bright lights and thumping bass spilled out into the quiet neighborhood, announcing the party's presence like a police siren. Max, Lucas, and Dustin were all there already, eager to see what kind of trouble they could stir up. They pushed their way through the crowd of teenagers, the smell of cheap beer and cigarette smoke thick in the air.
Mike's eyes scanned the room, searching for Will. When he finally spotted him, his heart sank. Will was in the corner, his cheek red and swollen, with Ethan's hand wrapped around his wrist, pulling him closer. Mike's fists clenched at his side, his knuckles turning white. He had to do something. He nudged Lucas and Dustin, nodding in their direction. They followed his gaze, their expressions turning dark. Max looked surprised but not entirely shocked.
They approached the couple, trying to keep their cool. "Hey, Will," Mike called out, his voice strained. Will looked up, his eyes bloodshot, a forced smile plastered on his face. "You okay?"
Ethan's grip tightened on Will's wrist, and Mike could see the flash of fear in his friend's eyes. "Yeah, I'm fine," Will replied, a little too quickly. But the bruises on his neck and the tremble in his voice told a different story.
Mike's blood boiled. He stepped closer to Ethan, his eyes narrowing. "Let him go."
Ethan smirked, his grip not loosening. "Why don't you make me, Wheeler?"
Mike's jaw clenched. He knew he couldn't let this go. "You're hurting him," he said through gritted teeth.
Ethan's smirk grew wider. "Your boyfriend's fine. We're just having a little disagreement."
Mike knew he was messing with him, trying to get into his dead. The tension that Mike felt escalated as Ethan taunted Mike, referencing his feelings for Will, that he obviously didn't have.
Mike saw red. He lunged at Ethan, fists flying. The room around them blurred as the two collided, the crowd parting. Ethan stumbled back, his grip on Will momentarily loosening. Will took the opportunity to slip away, retreating to the safety of his friends' arms.
The fight was brutal and quick. Ethan had the advantage of size and a cruel streak a mile wide, but Mike had fury on his side. They crashed into the makeshift bar, knocking over bottles and spilling drinks.
The partygoers shouted and cheered, egging them on like it was all a spectacle for their entertainment. But the horror on Will's face told a different tale. He didn't want this. He didn't want Mike to get hurt, but he also didn't want to be with Ethan anymore. The reality of his situation slapped him in the face, leaving him unable to move as he watched the two.
Mike and Ethan rolled onto the floor, trading blows. Each hit resonated through the room, a stark reminder of the violence that lurked beneath the surface of their once-normal town. Max and Lucas did their best to keep the growing circle of spectators at bay, as Dustin shielded Will from the chaos.
"Mike, stop!" Will yelled, tears streaming down his cheeks. "It's not worth it!"
Mike heard his friend's pleas, but he couldn't. Not now. Not after seeing the pain Ethan had caused him. The rage in his heart fueled his fists, driving him to hit harder, faster. Ethan was strong, but Mike had something to fight for.
Ethan managed to land a punch that sent Mike reeling, stars exploding in his vision. He stumbled back, catching his breath, but he didn't fall. He saw Will's desperate eyes, and that was all he needed to stand firm. Mike charged back in, tackling Ethan and slamming him into the wall. The plaster cracked, sending a fine dust into the air that caught the disco lights, casting a rainbow of shadows across the room.
The fight grew more intense, the two of them a blur of motion and anger. They crashed into a table, sending it flying into the crowd. Glass shattered, and a hush fell over the room as everyone took a step back, the party coming to an abrupt halt. In that moment of stillness, Mike felt a sudden surge of power, a primal instinct to protect his friend at all costs. He swung his fist with all his might, and it connected with Ethan's jaw with a sickening crunch.
Ethan's head snapped back, his eyes rolling into the back of his head. He crumpled to the floor like a rag doll. Mike stood over him, his heart racing. The room was so quiet you could hear a pin drop. Ethan took one final, shallow breath before going still. The realization of what had just happened dawned on Mike like a cold, hard slap to the face. He had never meant to go this far.
All the color drained from Will's face as he stared at Ethan's lifeless body. The room was filled with shock and horror, everyone frozen in place, unable to comprehend the sudden turn of events. Mike's knees buckled, and he collapsed beside Ethan, his hands shaking as he reached out to check for a pulse. But there was nothing.
The air grew thick with the scent of fear and the metallic tang of blood. Mike looked up at his friends, their expressions a mix of shock and disbelief. They had all seen the bruises on Will, heard the whispers, but none of them had expected it to end like this.
The next few minutes were a blur. The partygoers slowly started to leave, murmuring in hushed tones. Someone called the police, the wail of sirens growing louder in the distance. Mike couldn't move, couldn't think. He had killed Ethan Carver. The weight of his action settled in his chest, a heavy stone that threatened to crush him.
The cops burst into the room, their flashlights bouncing off the walls, the blue and red lights casting eerie shadows across the floor. They shouted orders, and the remaining partygoers scrambled to get out of the way. Mike barely registered the handcuffs being snapped around his wrists, the cold metal biting into his skin.
He was led outside, the cool night air slapping him in the face, a stark contrast to the stifling heat of the house. He looked back at Will, who was being held by Lucas and Max, sobbing uncontrollably. Mike's mind raced but there was no going back now.
The sirens grew louder, the red and blue lights painting the neighborhood. The police officers' stern faces were a blur as they ushered him into the back of a squad car. He heard the doors slam shut with a finality that echoed in his soul.Inside the car, Mike felt the adrenaline drain from his body, leaving him cold and empty. He stared out the window, watching his friends' distorted reflections in the glass as they were questioned by the officers. The partygoers milled about, whispering, pointing, and casting judgmental glances his way. The reality of the situation began to sink in.
The car ride to the station was silent, the only sounds being the hum of the engine and the occasional crackle of the radio. Mike's thoughts raced, his mind a tornado of doubt and fear. He knew he had to tell the truth about what happened with Ethan, but he was scared of what that would mean for him, for Will, and for their friendship.