Chapter Text
Hawkins, Indiana, Mike Wheeler.
Mike had himself draped over Max's legs as they laid in her bed, both complaining about an AP class they were taking together. Max, who only joined the class because he had, threw her head back against the pillows propped up against her bed frame as she sighed deeply. “At least Will gets back today, it’s been a while since he called us last.”
“Oh shit yeah, I forgot.” Except Mike hadn’t forgotten, it was the only thing on his mind. He sat up and turned his head to look at his roommate with a sudden serious expression, earning a mildly confused one from Max.
“You don’t think..? Like, there’s no way.”
Max rolled her eyes and punched his arm with a scoff as the boy mumbled a quiet ‘ow’, shaking her head. “Of course not. Will? William Byers, having a girlfriend? There’s just no way.”
Mike rubbed his arm as he nodded, a sudden chime from Max’s phone broke through the silence causing them both to share a look before Mike rushed to grab it off of her nightstand. He quickly unlocked it and looked at the notification, his eyes widening as he snapped his head towards her.
“Lucas said Will is at the diner with him and Dustin right now. Come on, we have to hurry before they leave and forget to update us.” Mike passed the phone to Max as he bounced off her bed to run to his room, grabbing his jacket and shoving his wallet into its pocket.
As he was about to leave his room something on his dresser caught his eye, quickly grabbing the small wrapped box and putting it safely into his pocket. Max was already waiting by the door with an eager expression while twirling her keys around her index finger. “Ready slowpoke?”
“Hold on dude, I don’t even have shoes on.” Mike mumbled as he slipped his converse on, tying them a bit tighter than usual. He did a mental check of everything he had before realizing he hadn’t grabbed his phone, he dashed back to his room and grabbed it off the charger before coming back to nod at Max.
“Yeah, now I’m ready.” He gave the girl a double thumbs up with a stupid grin as she opened the door, letting him step out first so she could verify that the door was locked. Mike stared helplessly at Max as she finally unlocked the car doors for him to get in, slipping himself into the passenger seat of her red convertible Mustang.
Getting into the driver's seat she laid her bag in Mike’s lap before she started the car, tossing him her phone as well so that he could set up the music. They pulled out of the parking lot of their shared apartment as the black-haired boy turned on a random pop playlist they had made as a joke, his face lighting up as ‘Good Luck, Babe!’ came on first.
-
It didn’t take them long to pull into a space at the diner, Mike’s heart racing as the car shut off and the faint click of the doors unlocking as Max got out first, grabbing her phone and bag from Mike before he got out. He shut the car door and joined the other on the sidewalk, who held the door open for him with a smug grin. “Ladies first!”
Mike rolled his eyes and entered the diner, the smell of coffee wafting into his face as Max patted his shoulder before taking off towards a booth in the back where Lucas was waving his hand at them. He followed behind her and smiled at Dustin and Lucas, the two sitting next to each other as a third figure sat across from them.
They both locked eyes and Mike stopped in his tracks, staring at him. Will quickly stood up and pulled Mike into a tight hug, taking a few seconds to process what happened before he wrapped his arms even tighter around the brown-haired boy. Mike could see the look Max was giving him as she slotted herself into the booth, stealing the spot Will had been sitting in.
Will, pulling away first, gave Mike a gleeful smile with teary eyes as he stepped back, Mike’s eyes shifting to his face as he awkwardly grinned. Will pulled him into another hug, not as tight this time as he mumbled against Mike’s shoulder.
“I missed you.”
“..I missed you, too.” Mike hesitated to say as he patted Will on the back, pulling away and turning his head to look at the googly-eyed trio watching them. “Something funny, assholes?”
Max snickered before Lucas responded, “Oh Mike! I missed you!”
“I missed you too, Will!!” Max mocked, earning a groan from Mike as he moved to sit down next to her, shoving her playfully and scooting so that Will could sit back down as well.
As they began chatting about what Will’s life was like in California, a waitress walked up to their table with a bright smile. “Hey guys, what can I get you all to drink?”
Lucas was the first to order a cola, followed by a sweet tea from Dustin, water for Max, nothing for Mike, and a vanilla milkshake for Will. The waitress jotted everything down with a smile, nodding as she put the notepad away.
“Alrighty folks, I'll have those out for you shortly!”
There was a string of thank you's from the group as she walked away, and everyone went back to their discussion. Dustin, putting on a quizzical tone, stared at Will as he began to question him.
“So, Will.. did you make any new friends while you were there?”
“Uhm, not really? I mean, it was really just me and Jane for the most part. There was this girl, who I think had something for me?” Will responded awkwardly as he gave a slight smile to Dustin.
Mike stiffened up, a cold sweat forming across his brow, feeling as though the last part of the sentence seemingly confirmed one of his deepest fears. Lucas eyed Mike with a raised brow but thought nothing of it and dismissed it, focusing back on the current conversation between Dustin and Will.
“Abby. That's a cute name, right guys?” Dustin asked as he looked around at everyone, Max and Lucas being the ones to nod as Will shrugged slightly. Will was prepping to give his opinion but was interrupted by the server, carrying their drinks on a tray.
“Sorry that took so long, guys! They wanted to make sure that everyone's drinks went out together.” She said cheerfully as she placed everyone's respective drinks and straws in front of them.
“Lemme know if y'all need anything else!”
The group shook their heads and she walked off, and Will began to speak again as he fidgeted with the straw that poked through the absurd amount of whipped cream piled on top of his milkshake.
“I don’t know.. it kind of is. But I mean, she was waaay out of my league.”
Dustin nodded suspiciously as he turned his focus onto Mike, who had barely given any input into the conversation. He leaned back into the booth and crossed his arms, kicking Mike’s shin lightly.
“Ow? What the fuck was that for dude?” Mike’s brows furrowed as he questioned Dustin, who shrugged and stared at the annoyed boy in front of him.
“I don’t know what you're talking about.”
“Yes, you do. You just kicked me.”
“Nope, must've been Lucas.”
Lucas shook his head as Mike groaned, leaning his head back and covering his face with his hands. Max side-eyed him before striking a new conversation with Lucas, questioning him as to why they hadn't updated the group chat about Will's return sooner.
Will nudged Mike’s side and moved his milkshake so that it'd be in-between them, catching Mike’s attention as he looked at the brown-haired boy with a raised eyebrow.
“Try some, it's pretty good.”
“What?” Mike questioned, feeling his heart picking up pace as he stared with a puzzled expression.
“You didn't get a drink, so.. I thought, you know, that you'd like to try some.” Will averted his eyes down to the table before glancing back up to Mike, rubbing his hands together under the table as he added on quickly. “Sorry, it was a silly offer.”
“No, no, it's not silly. It's not silly at all..” Mike mumbled in response to the unnecessary apology, he took the straw in-between his lips and took a sip. He hummed in response to the taste and nodded approvingly as he moved it back to Will's side.
“I like it, it's good.”
“I'm-” Will was suddenly cut off as Lucas began choking on his drink with Max cackling in the background while Dustin did his best to pat on Lucas's back, also trying to stifle his laughter.
Apparently they had been racing to see who could chug their drinks quicker, and with Lucas having a carbonated drink he immediately failed.
“Oh god, it's like- like in my nose!” Lucas painfully exclaimed as he tried to lean his head back to get the soda to travel back down his throat, a few tears running down his cheeks as Max did her best to catch her breath back.
“I can't believe that happened! I knew you wouldn't get far, but I didn't expect it to be so violent!” Max devolved back into laughter as she held her sides, shaking the table slightly as she laid her head on it.
Mike and Will shared a confused look before Will focused back on Lucas, asking him if he was okay and if Will needed to flag down the waitress.
Mike’s eyes lingered on Will after he looked away, only pulling them away once Max had finally finished laughing to herself. Her phone chimed and both of them perked up, pulling it from her bag as she unlocked it.
“.. Oh shit, hey guys I have to go, like now.” Max urged as she slipped her phone back into her bag, practically shoving Mike and Will out of the booth so that she could get up.
The four boys looked at her with mixtures of concern and curious expressions, “What happened? Is it your mom?” Lucas asked as he prepared to stand up as well.
“No, but yes? I don't know, I can't explain it. Mike, I'm so sorry to ditch you like this.” Max spoke quickly, applying more pressure to her tone. Mike shook his head and gave her an understanding smile, patting her shoulder.
“Don't worry about it, worry about getting there on time.”
Max nodded and swiftly left the diner with a wave to the group as they settled back down into the booths, Lucas clearing his throat as he began to question Mike. “Do you know what that was about?”
Mike shook his head and took the unfinished cup of water from where Max sat and took a sip of it, turning his head to look at Will as he spoke a little softer.
“How's Jane? Is she doing okay?”
“Oh yeah! She's actually super excited to be back, and she wanted to come but someone had to help mom with unloading..” Will replied with a smile, glancing at the boy before going back to his milkshake.
“Why did you guys move back anyways?” Dustin questioned, earning a look from Lucas that definitely read ‘He already told us this.’. Will tilted his head slightly with a small smile, staring down into his cup.
“Joyce was invited to join the police force as one of the lead detectives, by Hopper.”
Dustin nodded and grinned, “Does that mean your mom will vouch for us when we go on the roof tops?”
“Dustin! You weren't supposed to say anything!” Mike said frustratedly as he huffed a deep breath out, beginning to bite the inside of his cheek.
“Oh fuck- sorry Mike.” Dustin apologized and gave the frustrated boy an apologetic smile as Will glanced at the three of them, settling on Dustin's face as he spoke.
“Wait, why weren't you supposed to say anything??”
“Because-” Dustin started, only to be cut off by Mike.
“Because we had plans to take you up to the café's roof, when the sun started to set. It was supposed to be a coming-home surprise, but someone had to ruin it.”
Dustin furrowed his brows and frowned slightly as Lucas sighed, shaking his head at Mike’s tone. Will looked at Mike with a worried expression as he rubbed the other boy's arm.
“Mike, I'm sure Dustin didn't mean to ruin it. Besides, Jane doesn't know, right? So you can still surprise her!”
Mike just stared at Will with an unreadable expression, his brows knitted tight together. ‘It was supposed to be your surprise, not hers.’ Mike thought as his expression turned to disgust, brushing Will’s hand off.
“Yeah, sure. I think I'm gonna go, and check on how Max is doing. Could you..?”
“Oh, right, okay..” Will mumbled sadly as he stood up so Mike could slip himself out of the booth, Mike fumbled with his wallet and put a ten dollar bill on the table to cover the drinks.
Walking away, he gave a small wave to the group before he sped walked out of the diner, shoving his hands into his jacket pockets.
Will stood dejected until Dustin made a small comment to Lucas, earning a shrug from him as they watched Mike run off.
-
Mike didn't exactly know how long he had been walking, but he didn't care. He couldn't get the thoughts out of his brain, eating him up and festering into anger. ‘It should've just been me and him.’ ‘Why did Dustin ruin it?’
It didn't feel fair to him, fair to have his plans ruined. He had worked so hard to plan this, so why did Dustin fuck it all up? Mike felt like his head was going to split in two, his lungs burning with each breath he took.
And it festered, ‘It's not fair, I made the plan, he should've kept his stupid mouth shut.’, and festered. ‘It's not fair. It's not fair.’ He suddenly stopped in the middle of the sidewalk, staring at the person in front of him, disheveled and out of breath.
“Mike! Finally.. I've been looking everywhere for you.”
Will.
Mike didn't respond, staring blankly at the figure as his heart pounded heavy in his ears. Will is standing in front of him, so why can't he do anything? Why is he just standing here?
Will.
He moved without realizing what he was doing until he was already squeezing the boy in a hug, laying his head on Will's shoulders. Will made a sound of surprisement before hugging him back, and for a moment, everything seemed to go silent.
.
.
“.. Mike?” Will asked again as he rubbed Mike’s back soothingly, doing his best to comfort the other despite being at a total loss. The black-haired boy sniffled as he pulled himself away finally, staring down at Will with a glazed over look in his eyes.
This is okay. It's okay to be like this.
Mike couldn't force himself to say anything and instead just focused on Will's face, admiring all the details and flaws on it. One of the street lights flickered a little as Will tilted his head a little, trying to read the undefined look in the others eyes.
“Mike.” Will tried firmer this time, stepping back a little as Mike’s eyes never left his face. There was a moment of silence before Mike broke it, his voice distant and slightly raspy.
“Do you hate me?”
“.. What?” Will let out an exasperated laugh, staring at the boy in front of him with a baffled expression. Mike’s brows furrowed as he watched Will's expression change, a sick feeling started brewing in his stomach.
“.. Forget it.” Mike basically spat out in.. frustration? Discontentment? He couldn't place it, but it hurt Will. The sudden change of tone had caused him to flinch slightly, and it made Mike feel shitty.
It made him feel shitty, and he didn’t care. Not at this moment at least. Mike couldn't feel anything other than pure disgust for the one in front of him, recoiling slightly on himself.
“Mike.. what's up with you? I tried calling you so many times.. are you on something or-”
“I said, forget it.”
Will just stared at him, with that stupid, wounded expression. It was so, stupid. Mike huffed out and slumped his shoulders as he turned his head away, staring at himself in the reflection of a store-front.
Neither of them could find anything to say, both hurt in separate ways. Will let out a shaky breath and nodded slightly, swallowing hard as he wiped his sweaty hands on his pants.
.
.
“Text me, when you're not like this anymore.” Will mumbled as he gave Mike a hopeful smile before turning on his heel, heading back the way he came.
Mike stood there, only looking at Will once his back was turned. He watched him leave, and all he could think about was how repulsed he felt.
He was a disgusting, selfish bastard.
And he couldn't even fake the ability to care about it either. All he could do was stand there like an asshole, and now? He wishes he hadn’t met Will. Ever.
He hesitated to grab his phone from his pocket, sucking a deep breath in before sighing as he pulled it out and turned it on. His lockscreen greeted him, a photo of the group from when they were younger.
Mike had his arms slung around Will and Max's shoulders, Jane and Lucas making peace signs while Dustin posed in between them in the middle. It was easier back then, simpler.
He let out a shaky sigh as he unlocked his phone and opened his contacts, hovering over his roommates contact. Tears burned the corners of his eyes and he could feel that stupid fucking pressure building in his throat as he pressed the call button.
Placing the phone up to his ear, the call tone rang, once. Twice. Before the third one it went through, a sleepy voice cutting through the silence. “Mike?”
“.. Could you come get me?”
“It's 1 o'clock in the morning.. where are you?”
Mike looked around at his surroundings and rubbed his neck awkwardly, “Uhm, I'm close to the town square. I'll just send my location.”
Max sighed on the other side of the line and shuffling sounds could be heard, presumably her getting up from her bed. “Alright, gimme me ten..”
Mike thanked her and hung up the call, dropping his arm to his side as he made his way towards the side of the road. He sat down on the sidewalk next to one of the lampposts, leaning his head on it as he pulled his texts up to send Max the directions.
He shut the phone off and slid it back into his jacket pocket, sighing as tears finally filled his eyes. The pressure he had been trying to keep from bubbling out escaped as a choked sob, trying so hard to not break.
He tried. He tried so hard, and yet the tears wouldn't stop. Mike Wheeler, sitting on a stupid sidewalk, sobbing his eyes out.
-
Max eventually pulled up next to the sidewalk, still in her pajamas and hair messily braided. Mike stood up and depressingly walked to it as she opened the passenger door, he slid into the seat and closed the door with a soft sigh.
Max looked him over and rubbed his shoulder, which caused him to start tearing up again. He looked at her, eyes red and puffy while his bottom lip quivered.
“You wanna talk about it, or do you just wanna go home?”
“.. I just want to go home.” He whispered as he leaned his head against the passenger window, covering his mouth as muffled sobs filled in the heavy air.
Max nodded and withdrew her hand, putting the car into gear and making a slightly illegal u-turn. The drive to their apartment was quiet, filled with the occasional ‘It'll be okay.’
-
Mike was the first to walk through the door into the walkway of their shared apartment, kicking his shoes off and shrugging his jacket off. He grabbed his phone and began to walk to his room before Max grabbed his wrist, looking at him with an understanding smile.
“You'll be okay, Mike.”
He stared at her and nodded slightly before pulling her into a hug, sighing deeply as she hugged him back. They pulled away and said their goodnights before going to their rooms, silence overtaking them.
Mike closed his door and tossed his phone onto his bed before switching the lamp on his desk on, he made his way to his dresser and pulled his pants and shirt off. He threw them onto the floor by his closet door before searching through one of the drawers, pulling out a random pair of pajama pants to slip on.
He shuffled over to his bed and collapsed onto it, grabbing one of his pillows and hugging it tight as he tried to sleep. His brain tormenting him with the images of today.
He'd apologize to Dustin in the morning, hoping that he wouldn't be too upset with Mike’s unsightly behavior at the diner. Lucas too, but he was more understanding of why Mike typically lashed out due to spending a lot of time over at their apartment.
Thoughts and feelings blended together as he finally drifted off to sleep, a constant emptiness filling his chest.