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It was April, 7th 1996, and Mike Wheeler was spending his 25th birthday alone, he deserved it after all. He'd had his mid-life crisis at the ripe age of 21. After dropping out of college mid-way through his second year, he moved to New York, got an uneventful job at a popular bar, and spent his free time drinking and participating in casual hookups.
He knew he didn't like girls but actually acting on his queerness was just too much for him. He had to play pretend— keep up the act of normalcy.
Tonight will be just like any other night of work, after all he could ignore the dread of spending yet another birthday by himself, he's used to it by now.
···
Tonight was not the calm flow of regulars he'd expected for a Sunday night, but instead the bar was packed full of college students who probably should have been studying early for their spring finals.
His co-workers didn't wish him happy birthday either, but he couldn't blame them, he didn't know anything about them other then their names — which he'll admit he sometimes he forgets — let alone their birthdays.
He served so many beers, shots, cocktails, the occasional coke that it all blurred together, It was like he was on auto-pilot whenever he got to work. One of his regulars, Tiffany, always liked to spark up some conversation with him, but she wasn't here tonight to give him a little bit of entertainment within his boring shift. Maybe she had a thing for him or something, It's not like he would know with how oblivious he can be sometimes.
But wait, something caught his eye, or should he say someone.
His childhood best friend, Will Byers. And he was dancing—no— grinding against someone. And god, did he look good. His left ear was pierced, and his hair slick with gel, he was wearing a leather jacket which complimented his eyes. He looked happy, a sharp contrast of his own mood. Mike knew he was gay, but seeing him in action like this… it brought back old feelings. He was jealous. Oh fuck he was walking right over to the bar, to him! Did he recognize him?
"Hi could I please have a glass of water? I don't drink." Will was smiling, looking down at his hands, twisting a metal ring that was worn on his middle finger.
"Yea-yeah, of course." Will stopped fidgeting with his ring, he looked up. Mike could see the gears turning in his head.
"Mike…?" He spoke no louder than a whisper, and if Mike wasn't staring directly at his lips he might not of even noticed that he'd spoken.
"Will." Their eyes met one another's.
"I… I can't do this. Forget about the water I have to go." Will spoke quickly, his volume increasing with each word. Pushing his way through the crowd, he made it to the men's room, the door slamming shut behind him.
Mike didn't even process what just happened before scrambling through the crowd himself. He wasn't able to let Will disappear from his life again, not after all this time. He wouldn't have it. Soon he made his way to the door, slowly he opened it.
…
Wills back was facing him, shoulders shaking as he looked down at the sink. He was crying, crying because of the sight of Mike, and he was pretty sure they weren't happy tears.
Slowly he uttered, "I can't do this again Mike. Please don't put me through this again…" He didn't understand why Will was reacting this way, and what did he mean through this again?
"I'm sorry Will I don't understand… what am I putting you through again? Why are you crying?" Mike didn't understand what could he have done that Will is so upset about? Could these be about their fight in the rain all those years ago..? He hopes not because what he said that day was unforgivable.
"Are you really that dense Micheal? You still don't know after all these years?" Know what? A puzzled expression was clear on his face. Why was Will so mad at him? Is this anger or something deeper, more complex? Mike had this overwhelming urge to defend himself, over what? That part he wasn't sure.
"You could at least tell what I did that's making you so mad Will!" Mike shouted, he was upset now.
He continued, " I mean it's been 7 years since we've seen each other with you going off to art school here, meanwhile I stayed stuck in Hawkins unable to let go. For gods sake it's my birthday Will, we're 25, and I don't want to spend it with you mad at me. Please just tell me what I did that's was so wrong!"
Mike was practically begging him at this point.
Will let out a long sigh, "I can't believe you're this oblivious. I've been in love with you for years Mike."
What. It felt like his ears were deceiving him. He couldn't have really been in love with him this whole time… could he have?
His face conveyed realization. "I thought you knew… after all this time you never knew? Even after I told the party and everyone I was gay, I was looking right at you. You were Tammy, Mike." He's still processing the whole being in love with him thing, so he just stands there stupidly, mouth wide open.
"You were in love with me?! How come I never knew…" Mike trailed off.
"I am in love with you Mike. I always have been, I just realized it when we were 14. I guess it was too late." His hands gripped the sink like a lifeline.
"With our conversation on the tower… it felt like you were taunting me." He whispered quietly, his anger fizzling out. Memories of that day rushed back to Mike, the tower conversation.
Oh.
He couldn't believe how cruel he must have sounded, "Friends? No. Best friends." he whispered to himself.
"I'm so sorry Will I never meant to hurt you. It's just… I never realized how I felt about it—you— until a few years ago. Until you were already gone."
"What are you saying Mike? I don't understand you're not like me." He muttered furrowing his eyebrows.
"Will I- I am like you. I have loved you the way that they said. I've always known that our relationship was different than other friends, my dad was always telling me so. I wish things hadn't gone the way that they had, our lives could have been so much different. So much better." His tone was warm.
"I don't believe you."
"How can I prove it to you?" Mike would do anything if it meant Will knew he loved him.
"Kiss me. Kiss me and I'll know." Will didn't expect Mike to actually do it so imagine his surprise when he feels those oh-so soft lips meet his own.
The kiss was slow, as the best first kisses are. Will was frozen as Mike slowly pulled away, scanning his face Mike softly said, "Believe me now?".
Words weren't needed in a time like this. Will gripped Mikes hair, drawing him in for another kiss. This kiss wasn't slow, in fact it was quite the opposite, their lips moved quickly together. Will sucked the bottom of Mikes lip slowly luring gentle noises of satisfaction out of him.
Will broke the kiss. “Happy birthday Mike.”