Chapter Text
Getting over Mike was harder than he thought, being around him all the time but overall not being able to find a rebound was even harder.
It's not like there was a whole lot of other gay people out especially in this town.
Max suggested finding someone to just forget about Mike for a day at the least, which is not easy... Usually he'd have standards but at this point he'd do anything just to get over Mike.
This brings us to graduation day,
"Dude, I can't believe you did that" Lucas says "right, mightve been the coolest the thing you did this year." Mike says smugly. Dustin just had his big speech. Honestly seeing the shock on the teachers faces was hilarious but seeing everyone cheer for him was amazing. "HEY?? so uncalled for." Dustin squeaks out, Mike rolls his eyes and pushes him playfully.
"Hey dustin," someone walking up says, Dustin and the other look to see who the voice came from. "What you did up there was like.. really cool." Dustin just stares for a second before stuttering out "I was kinda going for this thing... you know uh yeah..." "oh yeah sure.." Stacey giggles out "I'm hosting a party, it'd be cool if you guys would come.." they all looked at each other before Dustin shoots out a quick "of course!", " are you serious" Mike spits out , Dustin shoots a look at the others before looking at mike "I mean, yeah? We've never gone to a party." Dustin says unsure, Mike opens his mouth but before he can say anything will speaks up "I think we should go.."
Mike just looks at will not knowing of what to say at this point. Stacey and her friends are just standing there till Stacey says "well whatever you decide, I hope to see you there" she looks between the group then keeps her eyes on Dustin for a second more before walking away. Mike is still silent but his face looks strained, "Mike, this will be our first and last party.." Lucas says then continues "we have the whole summer ahead of us, we can do this one thing" "but I have this whole campaign already planned." Mike says, there's an awkward tension in the air, will shuffles his feet before talking " like Lucas said.. there's a whole summer ahead of us, I think going to this party will be cool" Mike looks betrayed " whatever, but if anything happens I'm leaving right away" he spits out "well, unlike some people.. I really am excited." Dustin says with a grin and just trying to lighten up the air.
Joyce had finally been able to get a house of their own instead of living rent free at the wheelers, of course with the help of hopper. Will was finally had his own room and here he was now, the album disintegration is playing in the background, will humming while trying to figure out what to wear to the party. Then he hears a phone ringing but not paying any attention to it till "Will honey, max is calling for you" joy calls out, "OKAY give me a second!" will puts down the clothes he had picked up and walked out of his room picking up the phone in the hallway.
"Hello," max interrupts "WILL!! are you busy?" "Well no, I was just picking out what to wear for tonight.." "good good, can I come over in a few" will snorts "asking so politely wow, I'm surprised you didn't just come over without announcing it" "hey, I have SOME class" will could feel her rolling her eyes behind the phone, "I'll be there in 10 mins" "wait I didn-" will hears a beep signaling she hung up, will puts the phone down and heads back to his room.
Will is doing his hair when max barges in and he almost stabs his eye out with his brush "heyy" she smirks, "holy shit! You scared the fuck out of me. I didn't even hear you get here??" "Hey well, maybe if your music wasn't sooo loud, you would have heard me." Will sighs dramatically "whatever.. whyd you wanna come here?" Max walks over to his bed and sits down, "so we can get ready together, duh?" "Don't need to have an attitude," will says jokingly "I'm surprised you didn't come with lucas" "Yeah well he's stuck with his parents, making him do some.. I don't know I was only partially listening." Will laughs "is he still driving us?" "I'd hope so," max removes her bag from her shoulder and starts rummaging through it, will hadnt even seen it when she barged in. "Whats in the bag?" Max looks up at him and smirks "just some.. stuff to help you look good." Will looks at her confused, before he can reply she whips out makeup. "Max, what is this??" "Makeup!!" will looks unsure "come here,"
Will sits down next to her "we don't have to do a lot, just enough to.. make you stand out." Will groans "do I even want to stand out??" "Maybe you'll meet someone!" Will groans louder and drags his hands down his face, "max there's no one here that likes boys, and even if there was what would I do if I got outted??" Max reaches her hand over and rest it on his knee "it'll be okay, we're going there to have fun. Just.. there's always a possibility of meeting someone." Max smiles at him. "Okay fine.. just not a lot" "youre lucky, you already have a nice face you only need like 2 things!!" max laughs
"And.. done!" max exclaims and will gets up from the bed, "that was pretty quick.. are you sure you weren't just messing around.." max scoffs "just go look in the mirror" will walks over to the mirror and looks at himself in the mirror ",oh wow.." Will had black eyeliner around his eyes, not a lot but it made a difference, there was dark brown eyeshadow for depth, and lipgloss so his lips looked plump, but not too much where you'd automatically assume it was lipgloss.
"Like I said, you didn't need a lot. Even just this little bit made you look really good" max says getting up from the bed standing next to him and putting an arm around him. "I look...different" "good or bad?" "I'm not sure.." max removed her arm around him to grab his hand, "hey, you look awesome. EVERYONE will be swooning over you." Will looked at her and smiled "thank you max" will gave her a quick hug, "we should finish getting ready, lucas will be here soon." Max nodded and decided to do some of her own.
A car is honking outside annoyingly, obviously someone is impatient. Max and will walk outside and spot Lucas's car right in front of the house, they end up reaching the car where Dustin and Mike are already in. "Hey sweetness" Lucas says to max while she's getting in the passenger side, "Lucas. Ew" max laughs. "WOAH WILL" will just sat down in the back with Dustin and Mike and he turns his neck so hard it cracks, "Do you have makeup on??" dustin exclaims "oh.. yeah just a bit of eyeliner" will looks wary "hey it looks supperrr cool" Dustin pats him on the back. Lucas looks at will in the mirror and agrees, "see will!! everyone thinks it looks good" max says proudly, Mike is just staying silent. "Alright let's get going party people!" Lucas says driving off.
there's music playing loudly, kids sitting outside talking. Lucas parks, "you guys ready?" all of them are slowly getting out "hell yeah!" Dustin yells, will gets out and max steps out next to him, "you good?" Will glances at her then back at the house "yeah" max links her arm with will and starts walking ahead of the others "if you get uncomfortable, just talk to me and we can leave, okay?" Will nods, people dont even glance at them, it's kinda nice usually people with throw insults at them, the other 3 are still a bit behind while will and max finally get in the door, instantly spotting Stacey and Stacey spots them, "Hey! Welcome" she says while walking up to them and glances behind, when she notices Dustin she seems to be smiling.. the 3 finally catch up and immediately Stacey steals Dustin away.
"that was quick" Lucas scoffed dramatically walking next to max putting his arm around her, "you wanna get some drinks" Lucas speaks to will and max, "of course, will you should at least drink a little to ease up" max pokes at will "dont have to tell me, I was already planning on it" will smiles, glancing at mike who's not really paying any mind to them clearly not wanting to be there, lucas starts dragging them to the kitchen before yelling out "Mike, come if u want man"
Mike follows behind slowly but ends up changing his mind and strays away to probably go sit somewhere out of trouble, will looks back for a split second about to look away when he notices of someone looking at him, he takes notice of his features, tall.. tanned.. sharp features, he makes eye contact and the mysterious man smiles a bit, max notices he's not paying attention glancing to where will is looking then looking back at will nudging him knocking him out of his daze.
Max takes a shot then continues to pour another offering it to will, he quickly downs it using punch as a chaser, will gags a bit "that was stronger than I thought it'd be.." "you wanna take another?" Max suggests, lucas walks up with beer "or do you want beer" Lucas winks, will thinks for a moment "just give me the beer, I'll go slow for now" max smiles "Okay!" Lucas gives will beer and puts his arm around max and will, "look we will be having fun tonight, no worries Alright?" Lucas exclaims.
At some point while max, will and Lucas were dancing, will wanted some fresh air so he decided to step out back, will sighs appreciating how the wind feels on his skin. Unbeknownst to him someone was stepping out the back door, will heard a slam and snapped his neck to the noise, the mystery boy from earlier was standing there look a bit embarrassed, "I didn't mean for that to slam.." Will stays quiet looking away, "I'm chance" he says taking a step closer to will, "hi, I'm will" looking back at him with a small smile "I know.." Will looks a bit confused "I've seen you around, hanging out with lucas you know.." Will nods and chance continues "me and him were on the basketball team together" will pops up at this "really? I don't think I've seen you?" Chance walks over and sits down on the porch next to where will is standing "well its a good time to meet now" he smirks and pats the spot next to him, will looking unsure but sits next to him
"So, why are you out here?" Will asks "I saw you come out and ive been wanting to talk" "why?" Will looks at him with a hint of worry in his eyes, "because I wanted to.." Will looks away from him and doesn't reply. "Will," will hums "I'm sorry for what we did, or at least.. I'm sorry." Will listens and chance continues to talk "what we did was unfair, and not any better than if Eddie really was a killer. I still have speculations after everything, but I think it's time to face things and realise what we did was wrong and I'm sorry for.. jumping your friend that one day and just everything else." Chances trails off not wanting to look at will, will doesn't know what to say.
It was silent for a bit before will spoke up "that was brave of you..," chance takes a peak at will "you seem like you've changed but that's just my impression of that.. you know we could talk more. What you did back then was a bit cruel.. but apologizing is a good start, doing it to all my friends is a good idea." Will says firmly, chances fully looks at him with promise in his eyes "of course I'll apologize!" Chance exclaims putting his hand on Will's which is resting on his thigh "and.. do you really wanna talk more?" Will looks down beginning to blush a bit but he keep his composure and smiles "of course" they sit there for a bit longer talking about little things.