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“You look pathetic.” Lucas said. Concern about Will’s mental health state all over his face.
“Thanks, I appreciate your kind words. Really helping, actually.” He replied with a sarcastic smile on his face, which almost instantly faded away though. He was snuggled up in multiple pillows and blankets.
“Dude, I am being for real. You need to get up.” But Will just shook his head and turned to the other side of his bed, facing the wall. A polaroid of him and Mike looking back – wondering why he still had it hung up. That asshole broke his heart.
“It’s Halloween – best night of the whole year! You’re missing out on all the fun.” Lucas pulled back Will’s blanket for which he got a hiss in response. “Okay, Okay. I get it. You’re still mad at him. I would be too.” Lucas took a longer pause than expected so Will slowly glanced at him from the corner of his eyes. “Now that I got your attention – you need a costume.”
Will just groaned. “Why do you hate me so much?”
“I don’t hate you, you know that.” Lucas opened the closet and started searching for some wearable pieces.
“Can’t I just go as Will the Wise?”
“Forget it, dude.” Lucas snorted. “You need something everyone can recognize.” He pulled out a white shirt and threw it right behind him. “And why is that?” Will asked while sitting up. “To find someone new. To get over that idiot.” If it only was so easy. That idiot meant everything to him. Sadly.
“You go shower, I’ll get you the rest of the outfit.” Will just nodded in response and grabbed some fresh boxershorts and a towel. “But I swear to God, Lucas. Don’t make me look stupid.” Lucas just raised up his left eyebrow. “You said you want to go as your DnD-character. Who’s the one of us trying to make you look stupid?” With a wide opened mouth Will glared back at him. “Don’t you ever call Will the Wise stupid again.” Lucas simply rolled his eyes over this. “I said that he looked stupid, not that he is stupid – now go shower!”
-
“Okay, I’m back, dude.” Will said while he dried his hair with his towel.
“Great, I just finished your costume.” Lucas replied while proudly holding it up. “Is that supposed to be Luke Skywalker?” It really was a low budget one yet seemed wearable for a college party. “Of course. Who else could it be?” Will just shrugged. “Now try it on!”
So, he put it on and actually looked nice.
“And with that look” Lucas said. “you’re going to make all the boys lose their minds. At least the gay ones.” Will smiled a bit. Even though he didn’t feel like it at all. Yes, of course, he looked cool and wearing a costume made him some kind of excited for the party, but he didn’t want to make some randoms lose their minds over him. He wanted it to be Mike. Only Mike. No other man could compare to him in the slightest bit.
“I just think that Leia is the way cooler sibling, you know. I would rather go as her.” Will stated. Everything to just distract himself from all those thoughts about Michael fucking Wheeler. “No way!” And just like that Lucas got offended (as if Will just cursed out his whole bloodline) and started to ramble about why Luke was definitely the better character. It was really funny watching him getting rage baited that easily.
“Why didn’t you make me a Leia costume?” Will asked with the corners of his mouth pulled right down to his chin – he looked like a sulking five-year-old. But it almost pushed Lucas off the edge.
“You’re out of your mind, bro!” He returned loudly, but Will just tried not to burst out in laughter. “You’re impossible, Byers. Impossible.” Lucas kept mumbling while putting on his own costume – Marty McFly from Back To The Future. He already wore it last year but apparently it was so ‘tubular’ he had to re-do it. Whatever tubular even meant.
“So, what’s the plan now?” Will asked. “Just going to the party and ‘have fun’?”
“Yeah?” Lucas replied. “That’s how parties work.”
“Okay but what if…” Even rage baiting his best friend didn’t help getting away from all the Mike-thoughts.
“What if what, Will?”
He took a deep breath. “What if, you know, Mike’s there.”
“Then my dear Will” Lucas re-adjusted his vest and put both hands on his shoulders. “you’re going to ignore him. Even better: You’re going to show him what he’s missing. Okay?”
“Okay.”
-
“Look Mike… there is something I’ve wanted to tell you.” Will said slowly. Hands sweaty, sore throat, heart that was beating so hard it would fall out soon. The light was too bright, the weather too warm. It was doomed to go wrong.
“And that is?” They were both sitting in Mike’s room, reading comics. Him on the bed, Will on the floor leaning against the wall. Enough distance so he wouldn’t flip out totally.
“It’s like… it’s complicated.” An imaginary rope was tied around Will’s neck, making it almost impossible for him to speak.
“It’s okay. I’ll try to understand.” Mike answered while putting away his Spiderman-Comic. But his staring just made everything worse. It felt like Will was going to break under the pressure of his looks.
“I know you’re with El.” Will looked at his feet. “And… and I’m aware of the fact that this is super weird now.” All he could think of was that stupid ‘It’s not my fault you don’t like girls!” all those years ago. They were older now though. Mike changed. He apologized. He wasn’t like anyone else – he wasn’t homophobic. “Also, I just want you to know that I don’t want to like… destroy something now.”
“Will, what are you talking about? Like seriously, what are you talking about, dude?” Mike asked. Him and his stupid habit of repeating his words. Will couldn’t see it, but he just knew that his face was full of confusion. He couldn’t put one and one together yet.
“You’re my best friend, Mike.” He took deep breaths, trying really, really hard not to let the tears start dropping down. Yet the fear wouldn’t go away. Nevertheless, all these stupid breathing exercises. They just didn’t work. “And that’s the problem.”
“What do you mean ‘That’s the problem’? What does this have to do with mine and El’s relationship?”
“You don’t get it, do you?” Will’s voice started to crack and no matter how hard he tried to hold back the tears, one slowly ran down his cheek. “I like you.” He said with a smile. A painful one. “That’s the problem. That I like you more than I should. More than I am allowed.” And just like that the dam broke. His eyes turned into the Niagara Falls.
“Will…” Mike stopped. Thinking for a second. “I’m not like… that.”
“What?”
“I’m not like that. Not like you.” Coming out of his mouth it sounded like a slur. ‘Not like you.’ That hurt more than everything his dad or bullies had ever said to him. And it came from the person that meant the most to him. He didn’t even care that Will was crying. Not a single muscle in that face moved. Just a monotone expression. “I’m dating El. And… we’re friends. We’re friends.” Friends. Just the way Mike said it transported Will back into 1986. Back to stupid Rink-O-Mania in way more stupid and shitty California. There he said the exact same. In the exact same tone.
“Look, I don’t… want to hurt you or anything.” Will nodded. What did he even expect? That Mike would run up to him and kiss him? Not in a million years. Maybe in another lifetime or universe. But not this one. This one was made for Will’s suffering and his suffering only. Maybe he was a serial-killer in another and deserved all of this now. The bullying, his father, the upside-down. Everything. “Maybe you should go.”
“Yeah… sorry.” He gave Mike his Superman-Comic back, took his stuff and left without a word. He feared that if he said something it all would go to shit even more.
-
“Will, are you even listening to me right now?” Lucas asked.
“What? Yeah, yeah. Of course I do.”
But it seemed like Lucas wasn’t convinced. “Okay, what did I talk about then?”
Fuck. “Well… Max.” That would be the safest call.
“Okay.” He still wasn’t fully convinced but it seemed like he bought it. “Anyways – there it is.” They stopped in front of a big white house with way too much decoration. Fake spiderwebs were hanging from almost every window. Blood splatters were adorning the facade.
“That’s… big.” Will stated.
“Big house makes big party.” Lucas explained. “Time to have fun.”
As soon as they walked into the building they were greeted by hot air, sweat and the smell of alcohol. Disgusting.
“Yo” Lucas almost yelled. He had to since otherwise Will wouldn’t have heard him. The music and people were too loud to talk at a normal volume. “I’m gonna search for Max and Dustin, wanna come with me?” But he shook his head. “No, I’m gonna get something to eat.” Lucas nodded and left.
With a deep sigh Will made his way to the kitchen. He hadn’t eaten all day except some gummy worms, and it was already 8 p.m. – so he took a slice of the pizza laying on the counter.
“Dude!” Someone he never met just walked up to him. He wore a Terminator-costume, just like 75% of the other males here. “You look way too sober.” Will just awkwardly laughed about it. Thank God he was sober. He didn’t want to lose control and do something stupid. Something he would regret. “Take this.” The man just pressed a plastic cup full of beer into Will’s hand. “Drink, dance with a girl, have fun.” He said and Will just laughed awkwardly again. “Okay, see you, bro.”
He really should get to Lucas and the others. Or something else like this would happen again. Will put down the cup and went upstairs in the hope of finding his friends.
At least the music wasn’t so bad. Whoever decided to play Time Warp had a really good taste not only in music but also in movies.
On the second floor there were way less people. Probably because everyone was there for the alcohol and they bunkered it downstairs. Some of them just sat on the floor and talked. Others were sitting by the window and judging the costumes of people outside.
And for a glimpse of a second Will thought he could see Mike. Mike with his more or less curled hair, his perfect jawline, and the prettiest eyes ever to exist. But then he was gone. Like he has never even been there – as if it was just an imagination.
“I really need to find Lucas.” Will mumbled to himself. He went there to forget about that idiot for a night. Not to be reminded of him again.
So, he searched through all the rooms there till he finally found his friends. Max was holding Lucas’ hand while they both laughed extensively. She was wearing a Chucky costume – fake scars all over her face, which looked super realistic. Dustin was right beside her, vibing to the music, wearing a Link from The Legend Of Zelda costume.
“You guys look good.” Will said as he walked up to them.
“Wow, is that Will Byers – that Will Byers?” Max voice was full of sarcasm. “I already thought Lucas was lying when he told us he got you out of bed.”
“Haha. Very funny.” Will replied. “Where is El?”
“Dude, haven’t you heard?” Dustin asked, seeming a bit drunk already. “Her and Mike broke up.” Will had to force himself to close his mouth. No way that really happened. “Why haven’t you told me?” He turned to Lucas, who put his hands up in the air. “Wow don’t look at me like that. I didn’t know it was that important.” He defended himself. “Of course it was that important!” Will responded.
“Hey Will, El is okay, I promise. Like… their relationship wasn’t going well anyway. They would have broken up at some point eventually.” Max put a hand on Wills shoulder.
“But why didn’t she tell me?” The fear that he destroyed everything came back once again. Maybe he should have taken that beer. Then he wouldn’t be so tense now.
“She just needed a pause from everyone, that’s all.”
Will took a deep breath. And another. Maybe about ten. For a second he thought he was about to have a panic attack.
“Let’s get you something to drink.” Max gave a stern look at Lucas and Dustin and left with Will back downstairs.
“Water? Coke? Maybe something harder?”
“Water is enough.” If Will was honest, he was really craving something harder right now. Just to have some fun, because all he could think of was El and Mike. But he had principles and even El and Mikes ruined relationship couldn’t break them.
“Here you go.” Max gave him a cup of water and sat up the kitchen counter. For a moment they both didn’t say a word. She was just looking at him and he just drank his water.
“Mike is an idiot, okay?” She suddenly announced.
“I know.” Will replied slowly. Max has never been a huge fan of him, so no surprise she was saying this now. She probably also had a whole party with Hopper after the breakup.
“We didn’t tell you because we didn’t want you to freak out. You already been sad enough because of this whole rejection thing.” Will nodded. Acting like she didn’t just throw a spear on fire right into his already aching heart. “He doesn’t even talk to us anymore. Like, to no one. Not me, not Lucas, not Dustin. I mean it’s probably for the better considering what an asshole he has been to you and El.”
“Yeah, probably.” Deep down inside him, Will felt sad for Mike. Besides the party he didn’t have any real friends. The only other person he could speak to would be Nancy – but he would never ever talk about his feelings and stuff like that with her.
“How did they break up anyway?” Will asked.
Max shrugged. “Complicated story, really. El said that there was… I don’t know – something, I guess? But she wouldn’t tell me what it is.”
That didn’t sound like El at all. She would tell Max right away. Something was wrong. Like, really, really wrong. “But let’s get back upstairs, okay?” They both grabbed some coke and beer cans and left the kitchen.
Back on the second floor everyone was gone – the corridor was wiped out completely.
“Okay, weird.” Max said.
“Really weird.” Will agreed. He looked into the room where they talked just minutes ago – and voila – everyone was there. “Max, Will!” Lucas yelled. “Come here! We’re playing games.” They all sat in a big circle. Like literally everyone – Will didn’t count but they were at least fifty people.
“Idiots.” Max laughed while walking up to everybody. Will just followed her like a lost puppy. “What games?” She asked while sitting down on the floor. Lucas’ smile was brighter than he had ever seen. “Seven minutes in heaven.” Max rolled her eyes. “Idiots, like I said.” She told Will, who was sitting right beside her.
“Okay, I am David and I’m just going to explain the rules for everyone real quick.” A guy, wearing a Freddy Krueger costume, said. “This bottle” He hold it up. “Goes into the middle of our circle.” So, he put it there. “Now I’m going to spin it.” After some seconds it laid still again. “And it landed on Stephanie – so she would be person A. Now I am going to spin it a second time.” It took some more time for the bottle to lay still again. “And person B would be Andrew!” He exclaimed. “Now these two would go into the bathroom down the floor. There they have seven whole minutes to do anything they want. Everyone understood?” David asked and everyone nodded.
“Hey.” A sudden voice from the door said. Will could recognize it in a million. Mike. His eyes didn’t fool him. He really was here. Wearing a fucking Han Solo costume as if it was arranged that they would match. But that wouldn’t make sense now, would it? Will slowly glanced over at Lucas, who was in shock just like him. So, he couldn’t be involved in this.
“Can I join you guys?” Mike asked.
“Of course, bro! Come on, sit down. We were just about to begin.”
Will couldn’t believe this. What was Mike doing here? He has never been a party guy. So why would he go to this one – alone? For a moment he had to pinch himself to make sure this wasn’t a dream. But it was real. Mike sat down directly in front of him – staring into his soul. And Will had to admit that he looked more than good as Han Solo.
Lucas pulled Will back. “Can I make a lowkey inappropriate joke?” He whispered. “Go on.” He whispered back. “I really should have made you a Leia costume.” Will tried his best not to laugh. “I thought I was here to get someone new?” He asked. “You are! But the template was too good to not make that joke.”
“You know the rules of seven minutes in heaven? Just so I don’t have to explain again.” David asked Mike.
“Yeah, I know them.” He replied.
“Great, then let’s start.”
The first pair to go were a girl in a ghost costume and a boy who went as a zombie. But Mike didn’t stop with all that staring – his eyes were only directed at Will. While everyone was full of thrill because of the spinning bottle, he didn’t care. Not even a single glance at it. And that for the whole eternity the game went on.
“Okay guys – last round.”
“Thank god.” Will whispered to himself. Finally, he could get rid of Mike.
The bottle spun and spun. It took ages for it to stop.
“Person A will be… Han Solo here!” David swung an arm around Mike. “So, let’s see who’s gonna be the lucky lady, alright?”
For a second Will didn’t pay attention. He didn’t even want to know which ‘lucky lady’ was about to leave with Mike.
“Damn, Luke!”
“Wait what?” Will blurt out. This couldn’t be real. What even were the chances?
“Look guys if you don’t want to… I mean, I know, it’s pretty weird and” But Mike interrupted him. “It’s fine.”
It was indeed everything but fine. How should Will survive seven whole minutes alone with that guy in a bathroom? He looked at Max, Lucas, and Dustin but they all also couldn’t believe this mess.
“Are you coming, Will?” Mike asked. His voice was gentle. Like a hot milk bath with candles all over the place. Or a hot chocolate on a cold and stormy winter day. So how could he even think about saying no?
“Yeah… yeah I’m coming.” So, Will stood up and made his way over to Mike. It was a stupid decision. Really fucking stupid. But everyone besides their friends found it somehow really entertaining. Most of them were heavily drunk though, maybe that was why. And the idea of Luke and Han Solo making out really seemed bizarre, given the fact that Han Solo was dating Leia, Luke’s sister.
Mike shut the door behind them, and someone yelled that the seven minutes would begin now.
Both of them just looked at each other, not knowing what to say. Last time they talked was weeks ago – the day Mike rejected Will. And now they had to spend seven whole minutes in a small bathroom at someone’s party.
“Will” Mike began. Now his voice wasn’t gentle. Nor rough. It seemed… anxious somehow. A tone Will didn’t hear in a long time. “Uh… I don’t know how to start, really.” He began to scratch his hands and arms under his white shirt.
“Okay.” Will didn’t have anything to say if he was honest. He wasn’t going to beg Mike to talk to him again. He wasn’t fourteen anymore. So as long as Mike took to find his words, Will just sat down on the edge of the bathtub and listened to the muffled music that came from outside the bathroom.
Mother will never understand why you had to leave.
But the answers you seek will never be found at home.
The love that you need will never be found at home.
“Look the thing is that… I broke up with El.”
“I know.” Will said.
“You know?”
“Yeah, Dustin told me earlier.” Suddenly Mike looked away and started to walk in circles. “Well. Yeah. Great.” He said completely confusing Will with his behavior.
“Is there something wrong?” He asked and Mike stopped.
“It’s just… I wanted to tell you something.”
“Is that why you were staring at me for the whole game?” Everyone made bets about what will happen between person A and B, but not Mike. He just glared into Will’s soul.
“No?” Mike took a pause. “I mean, yes. I guess, kind of?” It sounded more like an unsure question than a real sentence.”
And as hard as they would try, they'd hurt to make you cry.
But you never cried to them, just to your soul.
“Is that it? Just that?” Will asked.
“No, of course not.” It was quiet till Mike decided to speak further. “When I tell you this now, you have to… you have to listen to me, okay?” He started to play with his fingernails which were already bitten down to the core.
“Yeah, fine.” Thousands of question marks were on Will’s face. He didn’t know what Mike could possibly mean by this. It all sounded like some cryptic shit. His heart ached with fear of being rejected once again. Or even worse – that Mike would make him responsible for the breakup with El.
“Remember the last time we spoke? When I… you know, said all that stupid stuff.” How could Will not remember? It followed him into his dreams. So many times, he decided it was better to not sleep at all anymore.
“Yeah, I remember it pretty clearly.” There was this bitterness in his voice. Maybe the hope that Mike would recognize it. Realize how much he hurt him.
“All that I said… I didn’t mean it. Everything about it. Except that I didn’t want to hurt you.”
“Why did you do it then?” Will asked.
“I know. I know. I was a total asshole. And that’s why I want to apologize.” Mike sat down on the floor in front of Will and looked at him with Bambi-eyes. “For real. I shouldn’t have done that. I shouldn’t have sent you away nor not talk to you for weeks.” Mike took his hands. “I’m sorry, Will.”
This time Will promised himself not to cry. Not again – not in front of him. “Okay.” He slowly said. “But I don’t think that”
Mike interrupted him. “That’s not the whole thing. There is something else I have to tell you.” He took a deep breath. “When I said that I wasn’t ‘like you’ that was a lie. Like a completely full-on lie.”
“What?” Will couldn’t believe his own ears. This couldn’t be true.
“I was scared. Like seriously, so freaking scared. Of everything – but mostly I think of my own feelings.” Will wanted to speak but Mike wouldn’t let him. “I realized that now. I know it took me long, but that’s why I broke up with El. When I… go back. When I think of you and me, I feel weird. Weird in a good way. And now I can finally see why. I always thought it was because you’re my best friend and I care about you. And I mean that’s true. You are indeed my best friend and I indeed care about you – more than about anyone or anything else to be honest.”
Everything happened so fast. Mikes words overlapped with the music in the background, his hands around Will’s. There wasn’t one straight thought in his mind.
“Are you… confessing right now?” Will asked. This sounded like complete bullshit. Was Mike making fun of him?
“Yes! Yes, I am.” He let go of his hands and stood up again. “I know how that sounds. After everything I have said. After everything I have done even.” It was weird listening to Mike reflect on his own actions. He was the last one who would do such things. “But I like you. And that’s real, I swear.”
Smalltown Boy ended and faded into Heroes by Bowie.
“You’re playing with me.” Will laughed. “Great acting, really. I’m impressed.”
“No, I am not. Why should I?” Mike asked.
“Because… I don’t know! You like to see me sad or something.” Will realized that his own words sounded more than wrong. That what he said was probably not the truth, but there was no other plausible explanation why Mike fucking Wheeler should be gay. Why would he reject Will and then come back to him?
“No, I don’t!” He tried to defend himself. “You’re talking bullshit, dude.” Mike kneeled down in front of Will – not in a proposal way though. Both knees were down on the floor. “You’re the best thing that ever happened to me. I am not playing with you.” He looked him right in the eyes. “I swear, I am not playing with you.”
Though nothing will drive them away
We can beat them, just for one day.
Slowly Mike put his lips on Will’s. Just for a short time. “I… I love you, okay?”
We can be heroes, just for one day.