Chapter Text
Some Time on Tuesday
Since I graduated from high school, my two friends have all moved on from the drama and gotten into stereotypical “perfect” relationships, the kind that are marriage-worthy, that they spend every second together. Bleh. My life has been so boring, honestly. All that silly high school drama used to give me something to think about, but now, it's kind of lonely when my friends are always busy with their lovers. I usually spend my days just drinking coffee and sulking. I mean, some days I wish I had someone to go on dates with and just hang out with, but I'm just so picky, I can't seem to like anyone. A voice calls, and I'm suddenly aware of my surroundings. My two friends and I are sitting in a dingy apartment. The lighting is horrible, and the wood floor gives you splinters, but it works for us.
“Will! Jeez, you're just gonna stare out the window all night? Loosen up!”
… It's Max. Honestly, Max is quite pretty; she has medium-length ginger hair and green eyes. She and I have been friends since seventh grade.
“Sorry, sorry,” I say, shrugging with a slight giggle.
“Comon’ let's go out, guys!” she calls out to El and me as she begins walking toward the door with her back turned to us. El, a nice girl with short brown hair and brown eyes to match, starts to follow Max while rolling her eyes. That's when I get my queue and mimic El’s movement to follow. The next thing I know, the three of us are all chatting at a booth in a bar with awkward orange lighting and ripped leather seats. It's kind of charming, honestly. I'm lost in thought, admiring the bar, until Max snaps me out of it, “We should have a group date!”
“What date?” El replies, like she's about to burst out with laughter.
“A group date, like a double date, only with the whole group,” Max states, making a gesture at us with her hands.
But… I'm not with anyone? “I don't think that's such a good idea, there would be way too many people.” I blurt out.
“Yeah, I mean, that's like six people,” El says, supporting me.
“Ughh, you're such party poopers. Pleaseeeee.” Max begs, raising her eyebrows with a dramatic pout. What am I even supposed to say? I can't tell them that I'm going to be single and alone forever! I mean, I could get someone to pretend to date me, just for the weekend, like in the movies, but that's basically impossible.
“What do you think, Will? Wanna go on a group date with us? You have a date, right?” Max says, raising her eyebrow and adding a sarcastic snark at the end of her questions.
“I- uh- yeah, of course I have a date.” I hope they didn't notice my hesitants and the fact that I'm a horrible liar.
“Hmmm. Then why are your pants on fire?”
“What?” What does that even mean?
“Like liar, liar, pants on fire.” Max bursts out laughing, and El joins her. I let out a little chuckle to match.
“It's true, guys! I have a date; I'm seeing this guy.”
Both of the girls ‘oooh’, Max speaks up,
“Soooo who is it?” She has a genuine curiosity in her voice and leans over the table we're sitting at.
“Uhmm, it's a surprise for date night.” I blurt out.
“Well, I look forward to meeting them, Will.” She says it like she knows I'm lying.
“So, when is it?”
“Saturday,” Max says it with so much authority. Saturday?! But that's in three days? How am I supposed to find someone in that little time anyway?
Wednesday, 9:03 am
I get ready to head to my usual coffee place. It's cute, a little outside town, but has a nice interior with a brick accent wall and soft couches. It always smells so good there. I get dressed wearing a black Star Wars shirt and a yellowish-brown flannel over it and slip on some Converse that match the flannel. On my walk to the coffee shop, the early spring breeze actually felt nice. I usually don't like how hot it gets in Hawkins, but today it's perfect.
When I arrive at the coffee shop, there's an odd abundance of people; it's not usually this busy, considering there aren't many popular places near here. After waiting in line for what seems to be forever, I finally get to order, and it looks like there is a new barista working. Normally, only two workers are here, taking into account that it's a small shop. The worker looks up at me. He has such dark eyes; it reminds me of the night sky but with a tint of brown.
“What would you like today, Mr. Star Wars?”
I chuckle at that and order my usual iced latte. He was kind of cute. Looking him over more, I noticed his hair matched his eyes, and he had such a sharp jaw. After I got my coffee, I was about to go to my usual window seat, right at the front of the store, but it was taken, so instead I sat on one of the olive-green cushion chairs that were on the opposite end of the cafe. I sat journaling and drinking my coffee for what felt like five minutes until I was pleasantly interrupted by the new barista.
“Hey, watcha’ writing, Mr. Star Wars?” His voice was so nice and soft.
“Oh, uhmm, just journaling.” I tried not to show how nervous I was.
“I see,” He took a seat next to me in the twining olive chair, still wearing his cream-colored apron. “So, what's really your name?”
“Will, and yours?” I was so lost in his eyes that I totally forgot I hadn't introduced myself.
He smirks and points at his nametag. Internal facepalm, his name was right in front of me. The tag read, Mike Wheeler.
He spoke up, “No date, huh?”
“What?” My stomach drops. What is he talking about?
“You don't have someone to take to your group date, and you lied to your friends about it?” His eyes widened questioningly.
Huh, how did he know all that? Apparently, I was staring again and completely unaware of what face I was making. He says, “Sounds tough.”
“Uhm, yeah I guess.” I sigh, still confused about how he knew about that. The boy smiles, one of the prettiest smiles I've ever seen.
“Well, I gotta get back to work. I'll see you around, sounds like you come here a lot,” he gets up to walk away and turns over his shoulder with a wave. I wave back, stunned at what just happened, and watch him disappear behind the counter. I look down, wait. He knew all that because he read my journal. I had completely forgotten that I had it open. Jeez, he really read the whole page.