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Matthew was a replacement, and he knew that fact well. He was aware that he had came in at just the right time for Michael Wheeler to make a new best friend, but of course he didn't have 8 years worth of friendship with Michael Wheeler. Mike had mentioned Will many times, talking about his perfect green eyes, and his cute bowl cut, as Michael had described. It had always gotten into his skin that he would never be Will, he wasn't okay with this.
After Matthew stopped showing interest in Mike's “best friend” Will, Michael had finally shut up about the boy. It’s not like Matthew didn’t want Mike to have any other friends, he was okay with Dustin, Max, and Lucas even if they kept secrets from him, but he talked about Will in a way that he’d talk about a girl he’d like, and it made Matt’s stomach churn.
He hated to think about it, about Will, or even Mike liking a girl. He knew about “El”, if that even was her name. He knew the two had dated for a half a year, then they broke up because of her scary dad and Mike’s terrible communication skills according to Max. He highly doubted that though, Mike had always been great at talking to Matthew. The two didn't get into arguments often, and when a conflict was occurring Matthew had always gotten Mike to talk it through with him over a movie. Which had usually ended with the two passed out in each other's arms like soldiers conserving heat in the military.
But that brings them to now. Matthew was on one side of the couch in the Wheelers basement, with Mike on the opposing side, while Ghostbusters played in the background. His arms were crossed as he avoided eye contact with the other boy.
“Oh come on, Matthew?” Mike spoke first, pointing his arms to Matt. “Is this about Will again? Really? Are you mad because I had another best friend before you?”
Matthew furrowed his brows, pressing his lips into a fine line. “Well yes actually, Michael.” Matthew rolled his eyes at Mike’s cluelessness. He knew it wasn’t just that though, he could barely even explain why he felt such disdain towards Will. “I mean seriously, It's almost every day you compare me to him, and guess what, Michael? You only do it in front of your party.” He knew well that he wasn’t a part of the party, Lucas and Dustin had made that known since the day that Mike introduced him to his other friends. “Its never when we’re alone.”
Mike knitted his brows, “That's not true. That's not true.” He repeated, scooting a little closer to Matthew. “I don’t compare you to him, I just talk about him a lot, I miss him! Don’t you miss your friends in Lenora?”
Matthew scowled at the mention of California, sure he did have a best friend, but he wasn't a good one. “Oh yeah, and I totally tell you about how much you remind me of Anthony, right?” The movie was practically drowned out as the two spoke. “I mean, I barely talk about my friends from Cali, you constantly talk about Will and El when you’re around your party.”
“You wouldn’t understand!” Michael blurted out, shrinking as he spoke.
“Oh yeah, my fault. You guys have your top secret past that I can’t know for my own safety, isn’t that right? You’re so full of shit, Mike.” Matt mockingly nodded his head as he spoke.
Mike put his hand on top of Matt’s squeezing lightly. “Matthew, I swear it’s true.” Mike paused, “I couldn’t tell you unless the party is on the same page. I swear I’m telling the truth.” He repeated.
Matt scrunched up his nose. “Right of course.” He scoffed, turning away from Michael, focusing on Ghostbusters instead.
“Matthew. Matthew, don’t ignore me!” Mike shook his arm. “Why are you so worked up about me talking about Will anyways?”
Matthew almost snapped his head at Mike, glaring at him. His eyebrows furrow with antipathy.
“Because I’m not him!”
Michael looks uncomfortable as Matthew chokes out the rest of his sentence “You constantly talk about how great he is– and I feel like I just can’t compare!” He snapped, turning away again then he rested his head on his fist. “I mean, really. How can I know you as well as some dude you’ve known since kindergarten?”
Mike went silent for a moment, “I mean, I don’t.” He cut himself off, unable to give Matt an answer.
“Look, Mike. I don’t want to be angry at you, I just needed to get that off my chest.” Matthew turned his head to look at Michael. “But this is what I’m talking about, you can’t even give me an answer. So we’ll just drop it.”
“Matty, please.” The last thing Matthew wanted to hear right now was that nickname.
Mike’s eyes darted around the room, as if he was looking for something. His eyes darted back to his hands like he was looking for the answer in them. “Look, I– I just don’t understand.”
“You don’t understand?” Matthew started, scoffing. “Mike, if Will made a new friend in Lenora, and he constantly talked about him, how would you feel?”
Mike stared at him, his eyebrows making him look pitiful. “That’s different, Matty, you know that's different.”
“How different, Mike?” As Matthew spoke, Mike pressed his lips together in frustration.
“Why does that matter!?” Mike shot his hands out, shaking them for emphasis.
“He– he needed me. He needed me, Matty.” His voice was strained, and he was now holding onto Matthew’s arm again.
Matt uncomfortably wriggled as Mike held on. “Have you ever considered that I need you too? I don’t have other friends to go to like you do Mike. I don’t have someone like Dustin or Lucas to run too when you upset me!” Matthew shook Michael's hand off, springing to his feet.
“Hey– Matthew don’t do that, you're gonna fall over.” Mike reached out as Matt stumbled back, nearly avoiding the small coffee table placed in front of the sofa.
“Really Mr. Professor? Oh wow I didn’t notice, thank you for this shocking revelation!” He rolled his eyes, shaking his hand away from Mike's. “I think I should go home.”
“Matty, come on! Don't go, please?” Mike stood up, giving Matthew those pleading eyes. “Look I’m sorry, alright? I didn’t mean to make you feel like you mean less to me than Will. It's just been hard, okay? It’s been really hard for me since he left, and I can’t even talk to him over the phone because his mom is constantly clogging the line!”
Michael slowly intertwined their fingers, making Matty’s stomach tie in a knot. “I know, I know you can’t talk to him, and I know it's been hard for you. I just want things to just be me, you, and your party sometimes. Bringing someone up who isn't here gets… awkward. Especially since I don’t know him.” Matthew let out a breath he barely knew he was holding. “Why don’t we just finish the movie together, I’ll even let you play the second one if we’re still awake?” Matthew smiled awkwardly, tilting his head.
Michael beamed, pulling Matthew back on the sofa, unpleasantly stumbling over the others feet. Matthew always enjoyed this part of their arguments. It's not like he enjoyed arguing with Mike, but getting to lay in his arms feeling warm and safe made him somewhat look forward to the next time. Their awkwardly long limbs reminding them that they weren’t just kids anymore somehow made this feel more special, but of course it was just something they did to calm each other down.
Michael routinely slipped his hands under Matty’s shirt to warm his hands up in the almost freezing basement, and Matty instinctively raised his hands into Mike’s hair. The two in each other's arms, a rather compromising position to be seen in, but Mike didn't seem to care.
He knew it wasn't normal, and he knew Mike wasn't thinking about this in the same way he was.
But it had always been nice to pretend for a little longer.