Work Text:
WILL
I’m in my bed, in two weeks this is the graduation’s day and Mike will leave Hawkins for New York, bruuh...i want him to stay forever by my side. Someone knocks on my door, i get out of bed and open the door and i see Jonathan, my brother.
– Will, do you want to go out with me ? I need to go shopping for tonight.
– Tonight ? We are doing something ?
– Nancy’s birhday Will...at the Wheeler’s house.
– Oh yes...i’m going with you. I just take my backpack and here we go !
My backpack on my back, i follow Jonathan and we get into his car. I turn on the radio and should i stay or should i go comes on.
I look at the landscape and thinks about Mike, at the fact that he leaves soon. I can’t accept that, not without tellings him what he needs to know but i can’t ruin our frienship because of my feelings...I snapped out of my thoughts when the car parked in front of the grocery store. I wander through the aisles, Jonathan puts all sorts of chips in the cart and desperately looks for a gift for Nancy.
– Does she likes flowers ?
– What the- you ask me that like i’m his boyfriend
– I’m just stressed okay ?
– Why ? You're going to ask her to marry you ? Oh ! He don’t answer..WAIT WHAT ?
– JONATHAN ?
– Leave me alone !
– Oh.my.god ! Do you have the ring ?
– Yes of course but i need an another gift for her cause imagine if she says ‘no’ ?
- Okay, so we need to buy their favorite flowers and his favorite book or vinyl !
- Thanks Will !
After that Jonathan buys the groceries, we're going to the florist and he's choosing lilies, im sure she'll love them. And let's buy the vinyl record of her dreams, according to what Jonathan told me, i hope he wasn't mistaken. We are going back home and after he wraps the present, he shows me the ring.
– Oh wow ! I really hope she says ‘yes’ ! Does mom knows about this ?
– Obviously that she knows, she always knows everything.
Oh yeah that's clear, mom knows everything, she knew my feelings for Mike before i even understood that what i felt for him was more than friendship. It’s finally time to go at the Wheeler’s house.
---
Jonathan knock at the door and Jane open the door. Bruuh i don’t like her to be honest, i’m jealous of her, she have Mike only for her...
Whatever ! Jonathan puts the gift on the table with all the other gifts and the flowers in a vase so they stay alive as long as possible.
– Will !
Holly runs to my arms and hugs me with happiness. Aww i love her so much.
- Can i show you my new drawings ?
- Yes, of course !
Holly is the best Wheeler in this family, she's like the sister I never had.
Ever since I taught her to draw, she spends all her time perfecting her skills and showing me her wonderful drawings.
I say hello to everyone and go up the stairs following Holly to her room. She shows me her drawings and Jane enters Mike's room, opposite Holly's. I roll my eyes and Karen asks us all to come downstairs to prepare Nancy's surprise birthday party.
I was blowing up balloons when I felt Mike's gaze on me. I knew perfectly well it was him; he'd always had that way of looking at me. I turn my head and our eyes meets. We stay lost in each other's gaze for a while before Jane ruined it by speaking to him.
Every fucking time, i think this is it THE moment but nothing's going as planned. Ugh, i can't take it anymore.
After almost an hour, we finished decorating the living room, prepared the meal, and turned off all the lights because she was due to arrive any minute.
Everyone was behind the couch, and i was behind the kitchen island, but i didn't see where Mike was hiding but i’m fixed on it when i feel a knee bump against mine. My heart stopped, literally, maybe one second or two, i don’t know, i never know when Mike is by my side. I smile like a fool and very intentionally place my hand on her knee.
– Will...
– Mike...
– We didn't even say hello...
- You were in your room with Jane so...
He sighed and removed his hand, which had been resting above mine.
– You’re too scared to see us kissing when you will open up my door ?
– Shut up.
Stupid asshole.
Our conversation ends there as the front door opens. Nancy is here.
– Mom ? Mike ? Holly ?
She barely has time to turn on the light before we emerge from our hiding places.
– HAPPY BIRTHDAYYYYY !
We all shout in unison and her smile lights up. She cries, happy with the surprise. We start the birthday party, we eat things here and there.
Around 11 p.m., Hopper comes to pick up Jane. Yep, i’m quite happy about that.
Karen comes back from the kitchen with a large cake and places it on the table.
Jonathan takes his camcorder to capture this moment. She blows out the candles and we decide it's time for Nancy to open her presents.
Phew, the vinyl record Jonathan chose for her is her favorite ! After opening the presents, we cut the cake and start eating it. Strawberry cake, my favorite !
Mike sits opposite me, playing along with a bit of his cake. Something is bothering him, or someone... I attract his attention by tapping my foot against his ankle.
His gaze met mine directly. He murmured a 'what' and then whispered, "Are you okay?". He simply nods, looking everywhere except at me. Is he really okay ? Why isn't he eating the cake ? Why did Jane leave, bruh ? Do I have anything to do with this ?
I was pulled from my thoughts when I saw Jonathan get up and ask Nancy to follow him. I know exactly what he's going to do. He gives me a quick look and i smile at him to encourage him. I can't believe he's going to do that, oh my god, i'm so happy for them, they deserve it.
They returned a few minutes later, both with tears in their eyes, and Nancy with the ring on her finger. We stood for a moment admiring her ring, chatting about this and that, when a clap of thunder resounded. Mike was always scared of the thunder. Karen approaches Jonathan and me while looking through the living room window
– Jonathan, Will, stay with us for the night, the weather is so bad outside, Your mom is okay !
– Yes, it’s more raisonable, driving with this weather is dangerous.
– You’re right Karen, thank you.
We thank Karen and everyone who helps her put away the food, dishes and balloons. Mike went to his room. Karen prepared a duvet and pillow for me on the couch. Everyone said goodnight, they're all in their rooms, and i'm on the sofa, staring at the ceiling while my thoughts collide.
Should I go up these damn stairs ?
Enough with the thinking !
I get up from the couch, grab my duvet and pillow, and climb these damn stairs. I arrive at Mike's door and knock gently. The door opens and Mike seems confused.
- Uhm ?
- Can i sleep with y-
- Get in...
Okay, so easy ! I go inside, he closes the door behind me, and before i can put down what i’m holding on the floor, he stares at me without saying a word.
– What ?
– Come with me...i mean in my bed, i’m scared of thunders...
Oh my dear Mike...
He never says that to me in eighteen whole years oh my god, i’m gonna faint right now.
He slips under his duvet, his back to me, and i join him. None of us speak, i stare at the ceiling with my hands clasped over my stomach. A clap of thunder, much louder than the others, rang out outside. Mike jumped, and i put my left hand on his shoulder.
– Heyyy, it’s okay. I’m here.
– Can you hug me...please ?
MIKE
– Uhm...yes if you want.
I smiled, i've waited for this all my damn life. His hand gently leaves from my shoulder, and i let out a sigh as his hand rests on my waist.
Oh my god...
I hear the duvet rustle and her body move closer to mine. His cold nose gently rests in the hollow of my nose and i can't close my eyes. I don’t love Jane, she knows why but Will no. She’s my bestfriend, Will too but not like her...
I don’t know if i like me like i do. But i need to know before i leave. I have two weeks to spend with him and only him.The storm has stopped, yet he hasn't moved. His breathing is calm, i think he's fallen asleep. My eyes close and i fall asleep much more easily than on any of the other nights before this one...and i wonder why.
---
I open my eyes and am confronted by Will's face. The sunlight illuminates his face. He is handsome to be honest.
I don't know what time it is and i don't want to know, i just want to stay in this bed for the rest of my life with the person by my side.
– Mike ? Will ? Breakfast’s ready !
Will wakes up and his gaze meets mine. Suddenly, he gets out of bed and hurries out of my room. Oh, okay...
I go downstairs and sit down at the table. Not a single gaze in my direction. Did i do something bad ?
I'm waiting outside the bathroom to brush my teeth, but Holly is taking forever to wash, she's probably putting on a concert with the shampoo bottles as spectators.
I sigh and decide to go to the bathroom in the basement. I always keep a toothbrush downstairs because with my two sisters spending hours in the upstairs bathroom, you never know.
I open the basement door and it's so hot in there in May, i don't know how we could have stayed down there for hours or even days as children.
I open the bathroom door without knocking and Will is standing in front of me, a toothbrush in one hand and the tube of toothpaste in the other.
– Hi
– Hi
I standing next to him and start brushing my teeth. I glance into the sink when i feel myself being watched. I lift my head and look in the mirror facing us, and my eyes meets their. I clear my throat and here we go...
- Thank you for protecting me from the storms last night.
Seriously, i don't even know why i said that. I don't know, Mike should just say something simpler instead of talking like a 5-year-old. Shit. I lose my mind every time i have to talk to him, it's not normal !
- Oh, your welcome and your bed is more confotable that the couch.
I smiled and after we have brushing our teeth, we go back upstairs with the others and we both sit on the sofa.
– Will ! What are you going to do after graduation ?
– Uhm...i don’t really know yet.
– Mike leaves Hawkins for New York, you don’t want to leave here for a new life, like Mike does ?
I see Will's jaw tighten at the question. I frown, and just as he's about to answer, someone knocks on the door.