Chapter Text
Chapter 1
1991
Mike
It had been a year. A year since they had graduated. A year since he had seen Will. A year since everything changed.
The party had kept in touch but had all gone there seperate ways, heading off to collage.
Max and Lucas had moved into a small apartment, and were attending collage together. Dustin was living close to Steve and Robin, spending most of his time with them, whilst studying astrophysics.
Meanwhile, Mike was an aspiring author, he was almost finished with writing his first book. It was about love, loss, longing and everything in between. About missing someone, wishing they would come back o you. (El of course)
And Will. Will was somewhere in New York City, probably getting everything he ever dreamed. Everything Hawkins couldn’t give him. Everything Mike couldn’t give him.
Mike had imagined a million different scenarios, things Will could be doing while he was moping in his room. Will walking amongst the bustling crowds of the city, thriving in the bright lights of Times Square.
Possibly on the way to go get his favourite coffee, or catch up with new friends, the ones currently replacing Mike.
Or maybe he was suddenly a party animal, dancing in a club, charming everyone with that charismatic energy that had came so naturally to him since they were kids helping set the table.
But selfishly, in the darkness of his room, after the tv was off, and he could hear muffled snoring coming from a few doors down the thing he pictured the most was Will being miserable.
Not because Mike hated him, or anything was wrong, but because he missed Mike.
He knew this was a stupid thing to think, he and Will hadn’t spoken in a year, he probably only remembered him as true boy who had ripped his heart out of his chest and stomped on it. But in the silence he always found himself going back to that same thought. Though he had no idea why.
Alas, none of it was true, merely a figment of his imagination. So Mike channeled his emotions into the one thing in his life that wasn’t confusing, his book.
He was still workshopping the title, he was thinking something thought provoking. He loved books like that.
Mike would never admit out loud, but the painting, the one that Will had made him, well El really. Had helped him write a lot of the start of the book, inspiring most of it. But, although he couldn't understand why, he had taken it down. It just didn’t feel right.
Mike hadn’t exact.y moved on from El, he just didn’t love her like that anymore.
He didn’t have time to finish his train of thought, as it was interrupted by his mother’s voice. High pitched and practiced, like she was auditioning for some family sitcom.
“Mike, breakfast!,” she yelled from the bottom of the stairs.
“Coming!” Mike practically screamed back at her.
He quickly looked back at his now empty room before heading down the stairs.
Will
The lights were bright, the music loud, ringing in his ears. Exactly how Will had convinced himself he liked.
He sat hunched over the bar, staring at his drink like it owed him something.
The bartender was watching him with an empathetic look in her eyes, the lids coated in sparkly, blue shadow, that said you could talk to her about anything.
Will hesitated before saying, “I’m meeting a friend.” He chocked in that last word, fist clenching under the table where no one could see.
She hummed almost in agreement, and gave a knowing nod like she had seen this happen one two many times.
Her dark, bouncy hair reminded Will of Nancy. He wondered how she was doing in collage. And Holly, growing up without him around to see it.
And of course- his thoughts were cut off when he felt someone sit down beside him.
He quickly turned to see a boy with slightly curly, brown hair, dark, wide eyes, a defined face, and a slim figure.
He shot Will a cheeky, secretive smile, something only for him, and looked at him with wild eyes like a little kid.
It reminded Will of someone he knew, but he couldn’t put a finger in it right now.
“Hi Carlton,” said Will, rolling his eyes.
Well hello there stranger! Sorry I’m late.”