Chapter Text
Hawkins, Indiana, 1989.
It was graduation day right before summer break.
El, Will’s cousin, had gone back to Iceland with Hopper to visit some family and they’d be gone for some time so now it was just Mike, Lucas, Dustin, Max and Will.
This was the last day they would officially be high schoolers as they moved on to a new chapter of their lives. Away from bullies, high school hearts throbs and their daily bike rides together, establishing their move away from childhood as they enter a new chapter of their lives.
They realised things had changed, and for Mike he thought he had moved on from Will after all these months. Or at least tried to. He knew what he felt for Will was different to how he felt towards his other friends. Even El whom he dated a while back. He knew he had been a shitty boyfriend so their break up hadn’t hurt much, as it ended on mutual terms and they agreed to be friends. However, Mike couldn’t stand the thought of losing Will. He’d already lost him once or almost; the time he went missing back in 83. Mike couldn’t live with himself knowing the possibility of really losing Will.
“Hey guys!”
His trail of thought was interrupted as a woman with blonde curls approached them.
It was Stacey. A popular classmate of theirs.
“So I’m having a party this weekend and I was wondering if you guys would like to go?”
Previously, they had never been invited to the popular kids party. Mike realised maybe they were no longer losers - being acknowledged by the popular kids. Invited to Stacey’s party. That was a big deal. Now they were seen as ‘normal’ given the opportunity they can experience teenage things just like everyone else.
“Holy shit!” Dustin exclaims as he and Will start beaming with excitement.
“Are you for real?” Lucas asks.
“Yeah, you should all come! Oh, and Max is coming too! It’ll be so much fun”
“Uh yeah… I mean, I don’t see why not” Mike says with a slight hesitation in his voice.
“Sweet! Here’s the details! See you this weekend” she says with a smile as she walks away with her other 2 minions.
“Let’s go!!!” Lucas yells in celebration, as they all bring their arms together and start jumping up and down like a bunch of teenage boys who just hit puberty.
“Oh my god- I can’t wait!” Will exclaims.
Mike eyes instinctively turns to Will. He looks ecstatic. Like he’s finally being accepted into a place. Mike’s known Will the longest. Longest to the point that he understood his feelings, his expressions, his tastes better than anyone else.
When it came to emotions, Will was someone who didn’t handle them best. Will was the type to think without speaking; keep his feelings bottled up. Not wanting to become a burden. Mike however, always understood how he felt, whether he was quieter than usual or acting avoidant, he always knew, even when the others turned a blind eye. Almost like he knew him better than himself. When they’re together, there was always an unspoken understanding between the two.
~
The following evening, it was finally the day.
The day of Stacey’s party. Mike wasn’t necessarily one to party but today especially, he wasn’t in the mood. In reality he’d rather play D&D in his basement with his friends than get drunk shitless with a bunch of strangers cramped in some house.
Mike got ready, putting on a pair of navy jeans, and a striped blue shirt, looking at himself in the mirror before putting on some cologne. Maybe too much cologne. It’s not like he’s trying to impress anyone. There’s no reason to try so hard, is there? He thought. He tugged at the curled hair stands that fell loosely across his face, his hairstyle sort of mimicking his own fathers. One that resembled conformity - something he’d be damned to.
A knock came from downstairs.
“Mikeeee!” I think your friends are here!” Karen yelled from across the hall.
“I’ll get it!” Mike yelled back as he ran down the stairs and opened the door to be greeted with Lucas, Max, Dustin and- Will. His gaze immediately met Wills own, almost out of habit. Mike cleared his throat, almost as if he was clearing his mind. His thoughts of Will.
“Hey, guys” Mike welcomed them, though it seemed to come across sort of unenthusiastic.
“You ready yet?” Lucas asked.
“Yeah, let’s go” Mike replied.
“Sweet, time to take this bad boy out on a spin.” Lucas smirked as he gestured towards his new 1985, red mustang, gifted to him by his parents.
“Ugh, you’re so embarrassing, don’t say that again.” Max cringed.
Will and Dustin chuckled along with the couples frequent banter, before heading into Lucas’s car.
Mike yelled back to his mom to let her know he was going and that he’d be back soon.
At the front sat Lucas and Max, with Dustin, Will and Mike sat behind them. Will centred between the two. Mike tried not to make any awkward movements as he felt Will’s shoulder and elbow lightly brush against his own. Even just the light touch of his warm, soft skin was enough to send sparks into Mike. Sort of how one would act toward a crush. This was his best friend however, he can’t possibly see him as anything more, besides, he didn’t want to ruin the relationship they already had. They were both dudes aswell so that would be weird Mike subconsciously thought.
~
It was 9pm when they arrived at Stacey’s. The brightly lit lights drew attention from across the street. From the outside, Mike found see the disco lights seeping through the window partially covered blinds, obscuring much of the privacy. This setting was very much disproportionate to his own home - a home that’s usually undisturbed by loud noises and events. He wasn’t used to this. The thought that he’d actually have to socialise, drink and party amongst the very people who once used to mock him.
He just hoped he wouldn’t run into any annoying people.
“Well… now that we’re here I’m feeling a little nervous to be honest.” Will professed, rubbing his neck as he usually did out of habit, when he felt nervous.
Something only Mike really picked up on and understood.
“Don’t worry guys, we just gotta let lose and enjoy ourselves” Max remarked.
“Yeah, it’s all about having fun!” Lucas replied.
“Which means getting black out drunk.” Dustin teased, though he wasn’t really joking. Something which might’ve been influenced from Steve.
Mike chucked at that thought. The party getting pissed out after tedious amounts of alcohol. It would certainly be a night to remember.
They walked up to the door. Mike rang the doorbell. He wanted a few seconds and to his avail, no answer. Another ring. That’s when he hears some footsteps approach the door and it’s Stacey.
“Hey guys, so glad you could make it!” She says, cheeks lightly flushed red. They could all tell, she had been working up more than a few drinks.
“Hey” they all say collectively.
“We’re glad that you have us here!” Dustin answers.
“Come on in!” Stacey gestures a warm welcome as they go inside. She follows them in from behind as she shuts the door.
As they enter the house, Mike observes the surroundings. The party atmosphere was apparent; neon lights shining throughout, music blasted well over the recommended decibel limit and confetti littered throughout the walls, floor and tables. Getting past a bunch of drunken teenagers was another challenge in the limited space they had. There must have been at least a few hundred here. Even making it out to the backyard was almost impossible - the pool being fully occupied. The whole thing made Mike feel dizzy almost immediately, like he’d just entered a fever dream.
Was this really the popular kids idea of fun? It would take Mike some adjustment to find himself fully engaged in this.
“Hey, you ok?”
A soft voice emerged from his right side, breaking him out of his chain of thoughts. One he immediately recognised. It was Will.
“Y-yeah, I’m good. It’s just uh- there’s a lot going on here.” Mike replied stumbling over his words.
“You sure?” “You wanna go back outside for a bit.”
Will said this as he lightly pressed his hand on Mike’s shoulder. The feeling of Will’s touch calmed Mike’s nerves down. It was a small gesture but it was enough. It made him feel reassured, no matter the situation.
“No it’s fine, I’m probably just tired or something.”
As the party developed, the group ended up splitting into subgroups.
Lucas goes on to speak to some of his friends from basketball. Max goes off with one of her friends from PE. Dustin is basically being the life of a party, already between the point of being drunk as he’s thrown in the middle of a dance circle. Strangely he was wearing a pair of black shades indoors while a bunch of people surrounded him, hyping up. Now even this was a side of him Mike had never seen before. Maybe it was time he let loose too.
Like usual, it was just Will and Mike left. Standing awkwardly as they decided what they wanted to do. Whether they should also go off with the others or stick together, like they usually did. Mike still felt himself as a protective figure for Will, though after they had defeated Vecana, the connection between him and the hivemind had been severed so there was nothing to really worry about. It was all over.
Will was independent. He knew what he was doing. He didn’t need Mike anymore. Not like he used to.
“So…um what do you wanna do?” Mike proposed in an attempt to break the silence, despite his awkward demeanour coming through.
“Uh I don’t know, maybe get a drink or something?” Will replied.
“Yeah- sure.”
As they head over to the drinks table in the kitchen, Mike notices Will’s pause. He took notice as something or someone stopped him in his tracks.
“Will?”
A man’s voice emerges from behind the kitchen counter.
“Oh my god, Carlton!” “You’re here?” Will enthusiastically greeted the man from across the table.
Who is this strange man? They clearly looked close. Maybe too close.
Mike got his answer when Will greeted him into a deep hug. Then a kiss. It was quick but intimate. One that most wouldn’t take too much notice of, especially being surrounded by many other people making out in almost every corner. This however was the only thing Mike could focus on, admist all the chaos, it felt like he was trapped in a void. A void where he couldn’t speak. Like he involuntarily witnessed the most horrific thing known to man. He felt his heart drop to the floor.
Why did he feel like this though? It’s not like Will was Mike’s boyfriend or anything. They were simply just friends. Best friends. So why did he care so much about that small interaction. Will wasn’t his in that way. Will had moved on, so why couldn’t he do the same?
“Oh heyy, you’re here too gorgeous” the man replied, looking at Will with the same eyes Mike had towards him and only him. His hands on Will’s waist. Oh how Mike hated to see this.
Mike’s envy only grew further as this man pulled Will into another kiss. One that lasted at least a few seconds, before Will broke it apart realising his best friend was literally watching. Wide eyed in bewilderment.
Mike could only guess. It was right in front of him - that was Will’s boyfriend.
This was gonna be a long night.