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On Monday, Will was already tired from attending school. High school, as he’d imagined ever since he was a child, was the exact replica of hell—if not hell itself.
He was already dreaming of his comfortable bed—the softness of the sheets and the fresh smell of clean fabric. He always kept his bedroom neat. He was snapped out of his thoughts by a familiar voice calling out behind him.
“Will!”
He turned to see his stepsister walking down the hallway with a bright smile. He closed his locker and immediately saw Mike walking slightly behind her, their fingers intertwined.
Will secretly wished on his lucky star that he could die right on the spot. No, of course not—that was just him being dramatic.
“Hey! What’s going on?” As soon as she reached him, he focused on her face, ignoring Mike’s presence. He could feel Mike’s eyes on the side of his face.
“Hey,” Mike said, casually hooking an arm around his girlfriend.
Will wanted to chop his arm off.
Stop. He had every right to do that. After all, Eleven was the love of his life—his happily ever after. Will was recently trying to keep his eyes off Mike Wheeler.
After everything that had happened, they’d stayed close while El recovered, and it was as if all their progress had gone down the drain. All those looks Will could have sworn were more than just casual glances, those warm touches that were subtle—and totally normal.
He really was going through it. How many times did the world have to punish him by making him watch the love of his life be in love with someone else?
A question that would never be answered.
“Uhm—hi,” he replied, smiling in a way he thought was perfect for the situation at hand. Mike’s eyes did a double take before he nodded in reply, but Will might’ve just imagined it.
El bounced excitedly. “You won’t believe it—I got an eighty on my English test!”
Will was genuinely happy for his stepsister. Of course he was. He just couldn’t bring himself to show her just how happy he was.
“What?! That’s great, El!” he said, with as much enthusiasm as his aching throat would let him. He couldn’t stand to casually be around Mike anymore.
Mike stood awkwardly as she nodded quickly, smiling widely. “I know! I’m so happy. Mike’s happy too—right, babe?”
Babe.
His face reacted before his brain could. Mike’s lips thinned when his eyes met his, reminding Will that there was something very wrong with his expression. He immediately relaxed his features into a soft smile instead.
“Yeah, you’re going to blow everyone away with your presentation next week—I know it,” Mike added, leaning down to give an already flushed El a kiss on the lips.
It was quick and chaste, but it twisted pain into Will’s chest as if they’d been full-on making out right in front of him.
He had no problem with that, of course—it wasn’t his business. El giggled, looping her arm through her boyfriend’s.
Will stood there blankly, the same expression frozen on his face. “I’m sure you will,” he agreed.
The strap of his backpack was starting to feel rough against his fingertips from how tightly he was holding it. “Well, we’ll see you at lunch!”
He nodded, meeting Mike’s eyes one more time before murmuring, “Bye.”
He didn’t turn around to look at them walking down the hall to their next class, nor did he move toward his own. Instead, he opened his locker, took a deep breath, and grabbed the packet of cigarettes he’d told himself he’d throw out a week ago.
On Tuesday, Will woke up with a headache. That’s how he knew for sure he was about to have a shitty day.
When he made it to school, he was late for history, and his teacher, Mr. Ember, gave him the dirtiest look known to man. Sometimes Will thought the teachers were in on it with the bullies.
As soon as he sat down, his headache only got worse—and the only thing he could think about was one person.
Mike.
What was he doing now? Was he cuddled up with El in one of the classroom beanbags? Was he smiling in that beautifully innocent way of his that wasn’t innocent at all?
He missed Mike.
As much as he liked to drown himself in the delusion that he and Mike were okay, he knew they were anything but. Yeah, they talked every once in a while when Mike came over to see El—but that was about it.
Sometimes Mike would chuckle at the things he said, even if Will hadn’t been telling a joke. Other times he’d catch the boy giving him a lopsided smile he’d never seen him give El.
He wondered if Mike Wheeler reserved those kinds of smiles for him only. It was a selfish thought, yes—but Will couldn’t care less.
He had spent most of his life being selfless anyway. Usually, it got him nowhere good—and ended with his heart shattered into a million tiny pieces. He could only hope that one day he wouldn’t feel the burning ache inside him to cling to his best friend.
RINGGGGGG!
The bell rang obnoxiously, and everyone got up automatically before Mr. Ember could finish his sentence about homework. Will enjoyed seeing the annoyed look on his face as he walked past him, holding onto his backpack by the thin strap.
“Whoa!” Firm hands grabbed him by the arms, failing to prevent the books from spilling out of his half-open bag. He hadn’t even noticed it was unzipped. He looked up to see who he’d bumped into so harshly—but he already had a feeling by the touch alone.
It was unnerving how he could identify Mike based on his smell and a single touch.
“Oh—uhm—hi,” Will stuttered stupidly, face hot with embarrassment.
“Are you alright?” Mike asked in that soft tone he always used with Will.
“Yeah—better than ever! Awesome, actually.” He sounded extremely pathetic to his own ears.
Mike got on his knees to pick up Will’s books, and god—Will, holy shit.
“You don’t have to do that—” he said, crouching down as well, picking up some of the papers. A couple of people stepped on them while passing by, earning curses under his breath.
“Really—it’s fine,” he said firmly.
“It was my fault anyway. I was walking pretty fast,” Mike said, handing him three of his books. Will grabbed them, ignoring the brush of their hands in the process.
God, he longed for those hands to hold him and cradle his face in the same way Mike did with El whenever he cupped her cheeks to kiss her.
Will had to make sure to look away whenever they acted like that.
“Are you okay?” Mike asked him again, brows furrowed beautifully in concern.
He was so fucking beautiful.
“Yeah, really. Go—you’re gonna be late!” He gestured down the hall, to which Mike grimaced.
“Right. I’ll see you at lunch?” Will nodded, forcing a smile.
“Make sure to zip up your bag,” Mike added, before turning around and disappearing down the hallway.
Will let out a big sigh, releasing the tension from his shoulders.
Something was seriously wrong with him. Like, very wrong. He needed to get his act together, or he was going to give himself away.
On Wednesday, Will was peacefully lying on his bed after school when he decided to grab some water, his throat suddenly dry.
Unfortunately, he hadn’t considered the mere possibility that Mike might be over—and that he’d bump into either of them.
Mike and Eleven sprang apart the moment he made himself known, and to his disgust, he was sure they’d been smacking lips just a moment ago. Will didn’t see the appeal in kissing anyway, even if he sometimes wondered what his sister’s boyfriend’s lips tasted like.
He was sick.
“Sorry—didn’t mean to interrupt,” he said quickly, heading for the kitchen. His eyes met Mike’s over the counter, but he quickly looked away before Mike could assume Will was spying on them or something.
Will had no interest in seeing his sister and the love of his life make out.
“I’ll be right back,” he heard El say. He wasn’t eavesdropping or anything.
“Jesus!” He jumped as he closed the refrigerator door. Mike was standing right behind him.
“Do you need anything?”
Mike shook his head, leaning against the counter. “No, I just wanted to say hi.”
“Uhm… hi, Mike,” Will said, his tone much heavier than he’d intended. Mike’s brows downturned a bit.
“How’s everything with you?”
This was weird. Him and Mike never did small talk. He absolutely despised it.
“You just saw me yesterday,” Will managed a tiny laugh as he picked up the glass and took a long sip. Mike’s eyes followed the bead of water that dripped down Will’s jaw, but Will wiped it away with the back of his hand before he could even notice the movement.
“Yeah, but it’s good to check in on your… friends.”
The way he said the word friends made Will want to scrape his nails against a chalkboard.
“Hm? Well, I’m good,” he said anyway, forcing a smile.
“That’s good.”
“Yeah—really good, actually.” He didn’t even know where he was going with this.
The boy in front of him raised a brow, silently inviting him to continue.
“I met this nice guy…” he swallowed. “He’s really cool.”
And this, ladies and gentlemen, was how Will ended up digging himself a hole into his own misery. Why would he lie?
Mike’s shoulders stiffened slightly, and Will found himself not feeling guilty at all.
“Yeah? What’s his name?”
Will stopped to think.
“Chance,” he blurted out.
“Chance,” Mike echoed, scrunching up his face as if the name tasted sour in his mouth.
Good, Will thought.
“Is he nice?” Mike asked tentatively.
“Yeah. Very.” God, who was he kidding? He barely even went out with Chance. They’d grabbed food once, and that had been it. Chance had begged him not to tell anyone at school his secret, and—like the person Will was—he’d told him not to worry.
He knew what it was like, after all, since people had decided he was gay before he’d even had a chance to figure out what it meant.
“Will?”
He looked up, his thoughts drifting into fog.
“Uhm—sorry. You were saying?”
Mike shrugged, his cheeks a tinge red. “Nothing. I was just… you’re being careful, right?”
The question was so quiet that Will almost didn’t hear it.
“Of course, yeah. I mean, why wouldn’t I be? He’s a nice guy, Mike.”
Mike snorted.
Will couldn’t help but shoot him a narrowed gaze, annoyance flaring inside him. “What?”
“Nothing.”
“There’s clearly something you want to say, so say it,” Will said firmly. That was one thing he was getting better at—he was sick of people speaking for him all his life.
“Why do you assume it’s something bad?” Mike asked, clearly annoyed.
Will stiffened. “Mike, just say what you want to say, okay? I can see it on the tip of your tongue.”
The boy shifted, resting his hip against the counter.
It was oddly quiet.
“He’s not so nice, Will. He’s… friends with Jayson, and you know that. What are you even doing hanging out with him?”
Will couldn’t believe it. Why was Mike so worried about who he hung around with?
“I don’t need a bodyguard, Mike,” Will said, rolling his eyes.
“That’s not what I said,” the other replied defensively.
They stared at each other in silence for a few seconds before Will’s gaze drifted to the floor.
Coward.
“All I’m saying is—be careful who you hang around with.”
“I am!” he argued once again.
“You’re clearly not!” Mike exclaimed loudly, throwing his hands in the air.
Will bit down hard on his lower lip. “I don’t even know why you care. Aren’t you too busy making out with El?”
He couldn’t believe those words had tumbled out of his mouth. As soon as they did, his eyes widened with embarrassment.
Mike stilled across from him, his mouth slightly ajar.
“What?”
“Nothing.”
“It’s clearly something, because it’s bothering you.”
He was tired of this conversation. He returned the water jug to the fridge, attempting to walk away.
He knew it was childish—and out of character for him—but he didn’t care.
A gentle hand stopped him, the grip firm yet so soft in the way only Mike Wheeler knew how to hold him.
Fuck this.
He peered up at him, swallowing hard. Mike’s eyes were sharp, his mouth pressed into a thin line. His hand was still wrapped around Will’s wrist.
“What’s wrong?” he asked.
Will almost laughed. What else was there to do? Cry? There were so many things wrong.
“Nothing.” His voice came out in a pathetic whisper instead of the steady tone he’d wanted.
Mike’s eyes softened, looking deep into his.
No no no no no—
“Mike, let me go,” he said quietly.
Mike didn’t need to be told twice. Will almost missed the warmth of his long fingers wrapped around him.
“Nothing’s wrong. I didn’t mean it. I’m sorry.”
He’d promised himself he’d stop apologizing for everything—but this didn’t count.
He was sorry.
“Okay,” Mike said simply, his voice quiet.
Will walked back to his room, resisting the urge to slam the door—to let Mike Wheeler know just how frustrating he was. Just how much Will was angry at him. To let him know just how much Will was so infuriatingly in love with him.
On Thursday night, Will couldn’t sleep. His brain was having one of those moments where millions of thoughts collided and debated amongst themselves.
He was starting to think he’d gone insane.
All this thinking—wasn’t he supposed to be less stressed now that everything that had haunted him and his friends for years was finally over?
Why was he still getting these surges of anxiety?
He dropped his pencil in frustration, wiping the building tears from his eyes before they could fall.
There was a gentle knock on his door.
Weren’t El and Mike studying? Maybe it was his mom.
“Come in.”
A familiar head of black wavy hair poked through the door, scanning the room.
“Are you… busy?” Mike asked, nodding toward the homework scattered on Will’s desk.
Will grabbed the math sheet, crumpled it up, and tossed it toward the trash can.
He missed.
“Can I come in?”
Will looked up and nodded.
“What’s up?” he asked casually, avoiding Mike’s eyes.
“Nothing—I just missed you, I guess. I was bored of studying anyway.”
Will smiled at that. Mike had always despised homework more than anyone else when they were kids.
“Seems like you are too.” Mike bent down, picking up the crumpled paper and tossing it properly into the bin. Then he sat on the edge of Will’s bed, palms pressed flat against his pants.
“So.”
“So,” Will echoed. The silence was heavy.
“Are we okay?”
Will’s eyes widened at the unexpected question.
“W-what? Of course we are. W-why wouldn’t we be?”
Mike shrugged, as if to say no reason.
“I don’t know. I just wanted to make sure. I don’t want you to feel like I’m trying to be an overprotective jerk or anything. With, uh, what we talked about yesterday.”
Will rubbed his temples with both hands, giving his friend a look. “Mike—it’s really no big deal. I promise.”
He was a terrible liar.
“I could tell you were mad at me. Don’t say that,” Mike murmured quietly.
“I wasn’t. I was just—frustrated. But really, I could care less. It’s whatever.”
“Do you like him?”
Will almost choked on air.
“What?! No!”
The boy in front of him looked exactly like little Mike—pouty lips, furrowed brows—whenever Mrs. Wheeler forced him to end their campaigns early.
“I mean, I wouldn’t have a problem with that—”
He continued mumbling so much that Will could barely make out what he was saying.
“It’s not like, you know—”
“Mike, what are you even talking about? I don’t like Chance. He’s just a friend,” he reassured.
Mike shrugged, shaking his head. “I see the way he looks at you at school.”
Will’s jaw almost dropped to the floor.
“He doesn’t look at me like anything!” he exclaimed.
“Fine. Point is—it’s okay if you do.”
“I don’t, but thanks.”
“You look annoyed.”
Will couldn’t help but laugh at his best friend’s madness. “I’m not annoyed. I’m simply… surprised.”
“Can I have a hug?”
Will paused and looked at Mike like he’d grown two heads. His tone was soft, quiet—so unlike the usual him.
That’s how Will knew Mike wasn’t okay.
He stood from the chair and, without hesitation, enveloped him in his arms.
Mike melted into him immediately, wrapping his arms around Will’s back. Will felt like he was floating and drowning at the same time.
“Are you… okay?”
Mike nodded against his shoulder. “Yeah. I just wanted to make sure that you were,” he mumbled.
“Oh,” Will replied softly. “Well, I’m okay.”
“Okay.”
Will’s stomach fluttered at the way Mike’s thumb rubbed slow circles on his back—the same way his mom used to when he was little, to calm him down.
But that might’ve just been his imagination.
Will loved Fridays. Who didn’t ? Fridays are the start of the weekend, and one of the only days when his body seems to actually rest.
He spends them either napping and drawing or lying in the grass outside with the sun warm against his face.
He feels much more comfortable going outside now, though there are still moments when he flinches at the slightest sound of a leaf crunching or a twig snapping in half.
He was currently sitting in his living room, surrounded by his friends. Instead of spending the rest of the day sleeping, he’d decided to invite them over to talk nonsense, as they usually did. It was chaotic—but fun nonetheless.
“Will you guys stop making out for a second?” Max scrunched up her face at Mike and El, who weren’t even kissing, so Will just chuckled and assumed she was exaggerating.
“I’m allowed to show affection toward my girlfriend, Maxine,” Mike hissed, earning a poke from El as a reminder not to argue.
Will cleared his throat to get his attention, giving him a narrowed look. The boy thinned his lips, containing his smile.
“Leave the poor lovebirds alone,” Dustin added, sipping from his juice. “Is there any chance I can steal all the juice from your fridge, man?” he added, his lips red from the cranberry juice his mom had made.
“Mrs. Byers is always up to something. This is her best creation yet,” Max said, taking a sip from Lucas’s cup. He made a sound of protest, but Max shut it down with a glare.
Mike and Will looked at each other, and Will couldn’t help but grin.
“I agree. This is just an excuse for me to come over more,” Mike said with a nod.
Will groaned, ignoring the small stab of jealousy he felt at the way El smiled up at her boyfriend.
“Please—I already see you enough as it is.”
Everyone laughed, especially Lucas.
“Will Byers and Mike Wheeler being sick of each other? Since when is that a thing?”
Will blushed, immediately thinking of a million different ways to shut the topic down.
Dustin let out a mock gasp. “This is historical. Ever since we were like seven, they’ve been attached at the hip. Maybe the glue’s wearing off?” he joked.
Will averted his eyes to the floor, fiddling with the string of the worn-out beanbag.
“That’s true. You guys are like the ultimate best friends—I used to be scared of Mike because of how protective he was—or is—with Will.”
When Will dared to look over, Mike was as red as a berry. El looked like she didn’t know how to chime in.
“That’s bull!” Mike argued, rolling his eyes at Max.
“Oh, shut up!” Max shot back with a dramatic eye roll.
“Okay, okay, let’s calm down,” Lucas said with a chuckle.
“Yeah, Max,” Mike snapped, sticking out his tongue.
“Michael!” Will hissed, and Mike immediately zipped his lips.
Dustin stared at them, and Will wished he hadn’t noticed the tiny smirk on his face.
And so, they spent the rest of the afternoon like that—laughter filling the room. Lucas and Max sat pressed together on the couch, mirroring Mike and El, except Mike was more laid back against the side of the couch than El.
Dustin sat beside Will, legs crossed.
“You alright?” Dustin asked in the middle of Max and El’s fit of laughter over some joke Lucas had made.
Will hesitated, his eyes drifting to Mike. Then he looked back at his friend and nodded firmly.
“Better than ever.”