Chapter Text
Mike didn’t know what to do.
At all.
He is staring at the white page for hours now; a white, soft, paper page.
He kept thinking why it’s that so difficult to him today writing something, but the problem is that he didn’t know.
He stood up from the chair, and walked two steps: the vinyls were just there. His vinyls collection in college was very small, he basically had just two discs: The Clash and Pink Floyd.
He couldn’t write so he couldn’t choose either.
The sun reflected itself in the window.
He has changed.
He wore glasses, big white t-shirt with stripes, no more D&D and no more friends.
Just him and his typewriter. His stupid and pathetic typewriter.
«Oh fuck all!» he said while his hand touched the desk repeatedly.
«Fuck. Everything. Off!»
The door opened quietly so Mike couldn’t even notice it.
«Man, you’re gonna break the desk and you’ll have to pay a lot of dollars for that.»
Jimmy just entered the room with his history book in one hand.
«Uhm, sorry Jim. Didn’t know you were coming back so soon.»
Mike was exasperated. In two years, Jim didn’t understand his mood swings.
«Yeah, my class was canceled.» He went in front of the fridge, grabbed a small can and started drinking.
«Ouh, I almost forgot! This is for you.» He gave Mike a little postcard, with some writing on it.
«Who gave you this?» Mike was very confused.
«The mail guy. He said it came from Italy.»
«Italy? What do you mea-»
Ouh.
From William Byers to Michael Wheeler.
Ouh.
He touched the paper with his thumb. Damn it.
He started reading it.
Dear Mike,
I hope you are doing well in college! I’m in Florence right now studying Botticelli’s works. They’re AMAZING! I read your book, it rocks!
Anyway, this is my new number. You can call me if you want.
Xoxo, Will
He didn’t even finish reading it while the player started to sound familiar.
Should I stay or should I go now
«Not again!» Mike yelled and started crying.
Meanwhile, Jim fell asleep in his bed.
Why does it have to be so complicated?
«Shitty disc. I know it wasn’t a good idea! FUCK!»
He grabbed the disc and put it away in the box.
«Man! Calm down, I need to sleep!»
«I DON’T GIVE A FUCKING PIECE OF SHIT OF YOUR SLEEPING TIME JIM!»
«Mike, relax! If you’re furious like this every day, you’re gonna have wrinkles in your cute little face soon. Here, take a cigarette.»
«I. DON’T. WANT. YOUR. FUCKING. CIGARETTE! Seriously, Jim, please go away. I need time alone.»
«What was this postcard? Let me see.»
«NO.» Mike answered really fast, putting the postcard away from Jim.
«C’mon man! Let me see! Is it from your girlfriend?» Jim started laughing.
Mike wanted him dead. So dead.
«My girlfriend is dead you idiot! And I said it to you like a million times! Now, please go back to your pathetic friends and leave me alone!» He started crying again.
«Mike…»
Jimmy felt really sorry for what he said.
«I don’t care about you! I don’t care about Hawkins! I don’t care about Will!»
He actually really wanted a coffee. To drink obviously. Or to throw it to Jimmy’s face.
«Will? Who’s Will?»
Mike sobbed. He was exhausted. His head was hurting so bad he had to massage it with his fingers.
«He’s—he’s a friend of mine.» He said to cut it off.
«He sent you the postcard, right?»
Mike’s eyes looked down.
«Uhm…yeah, yeah, he did.» He whispered.
«So, call him.»
«Why do I have to call him, we haven’t talked for ages and his boyfriend could get jealous and—wait. How do you know there’s his phone number here?»
Jim started to look away and started whistling.
«Jim, you read my mail?»
Mike felt nauseous.
«I’M SORRY OKAY! It was a very cute postcard, I couldn’t resist!»
Jimmy did two steps back.
«Get out.» Mike said, pointing at the door.
«Mike, listen I’m sorry it will never happen again!»
Other two steps back.
«I said, GET THE FUCK OUT JIMMY!» he cried.
«Okay, okay fair enough. You win.»
He did just other two steps before stopping and turning back to Mike’s face.
«I think you should call him.» Jim said.
«You know nothing about me.» Mike replied.
«I know enough. I’ve read your book. It’s amazing man! You’re very talented.»
Jim was truly sorry and Mike knew it.
«What’s the matter with you putting your nose into my mail!» But he was still mad at him.
«The point is: I know enough about you. The book tells your past; your friends, your girlfriend, your family and Will.»
«Will is part of my friends.» said trying to keep his inner peace.
«Really? Really Michael? C’mon, don’t make me laugh.» Jim laughed.
«I’m dead serious. And how do you know his name? In the book the names are different.»
«I’ve already said Mike: I know enough. Call Will.»
Jim was a great convincing person. Inside of his heart, Mike cared about him.
«No.» He said while looking around.
«Call him.»
«I SAID NO!»
He was worse than exhausted now. He was literally dying.
«Pff, loser.»
Silence. The whole room went silent.
«What?»
«I said, you’re a little pathetic and paranoid LOSER!»
Jim pointed to his chest.
«I’ll kill you. Ouh I swear to my mum I’ll kill you Jimmy!» This was the only thing Mike could say.
«Now I’ll go. Mike, call Will. It’s for your health. I care about you man, really.»
He didn’t know what to do.
He felt sorry for what he said but it was his natural instinct; Mike always does like this.
«I’m sorry Jim please c’mon…»
Jimmy turned around for the last time before going out of their Yale dorm room.
«You love him Mike. Call him.»
Mike stayed there. Silent. Paralyzed.
The door closed.
What the fuck?
Minutes blurred into each other. Maybe hours.
Mike didn’t know how long he’d been sitting there, thinking and unthinking, replaying memories he didn’t want.
The phone never moved.
Eventually, his eyes drifted back to it.
He looked again at the phone.
Max? No, she was probably at her music lessons.
Nancy? Definitely not. C’mon, she is his sister! Not even Will and Jonathan were probably sharing their secrets and feelings, and they were the closest.
Lucas? Definitely waiting for Max’s class to be done.
The one and only person left was her.
Robin Buckley.
She helped Will to come out, and she was definitely his mentor. She also maybe knew all Will’s secrets.
He sat down on the floor, grabbing his knees to his chest. He started swinging back and forward.
The idea of Robin knowing Will’s deepest secrets and not him was alienating.
When did they finish talking like friends? Best friends.
They were best friends since kindergarten; he asked Will to become friends the first day of kindergarten, for god’s sake.
He couldn’t do it anymore.
He grabbed the phone and called her.
«Uhm, who’s here?»
«Robin?»
«Yeah? Who’s here?»
«It’s Mike, Mike Wheeler. I can’t believe you don’t remember me.»
«I know who you are, you idiot! How are you, Wheeler? I didn’t expect a call from you.»
«Well, I need to talk to you.»
«Tell me everything. Are you in danger? I can be at Yale in 20 minutes if you want.»
«You really are this close?» he was confused.
«I am! Radio interview stuff! Do you want me to come? I need a coffee.»
«Uh, okay. I’ll wait in the canteen.»
«How am I supposed to find it?»
«You’ll figure it out, Robin. I’ll wait there. See ya.»
«Wheeler!»
«Yes?»
«Why did you call me?»
«It’s about Will.»
Robin hung up and Mike changed his clothes to be more presentable.
«You’re late, Buckley! I have been waiting here for ages!»
She slid into the booth across from Mike, dropping her bag onto the vinyl seat.
«Sorry, man, traffic was terrible.» She rubbed her eyes with the heel of her hand.
«What’s up with Will? Where’s my coffee? I really need a coffee… oh, hang on, I have to call Steve a second and-»
«STOP!» Mike’s hands slapped flat against the table, making the silverware jump. «Now you’re here and I need you. Please, Robin, call him later.»
She froze, fingers already digging into her jacket pocket. Slowly, she leaned back, studying his face. «Uh… okay. You’re desperate, man. What’s happening?»
Mike reached into his jacket, pulling out a slightly bent postcard. He slid it across the table like it might bite him.
«I received this postcard. From Will.»
Robin picked it up, squinting at the handwriting. «Uh, okay. I receive them all the time.» She shrugged. «Will’s really living his best life.»
Mike’s shoulders loosened just a bit.
«So it’s not that weird?»
«It’s definitely not weird at all!» She smiled, tapping the card against the table. «We all receive them.»
«We?»
«Yeah. The boys, Max, me. Everyone.» She paused, eyes narrowing. «Wait—you didn’t get any of this before?»
Mike nodded, staring at the coffee-stained tabletop.
Robin set the postcard down carefully. «Okay… so it is weird.»
«Why? Why is it weird?»
She leaned forward, lowering her voice. «Mike, what do you know about John?»
«Who’s John?»
«Will’s boyfriend. You know him?»
Mike’s head snapped up. «No. I didn’t even know his name or that Will has a boy-b-boyfriend.»
«So okay, you didn’t know that Will has a boyfriend.»
«I said no, Robin, Jesus!»
Robin crossed her legs under the table, fingers starting to tap nervously against her coffee cup. The ceramic clicked softly each time.
Mike watched her with a tight, uncomfortable expression. His jaw clenched.
«Mike, why did you call me?»
He didn’t respond. His hands had started to shake, fingers curling into his sleeves like he was cold, very cold.
«I- I need to talk to someone about this.»
«About a postcard, Mike?»
«Yeah! Yeah, about this postcard.» He laughed once, sharp and breathless. «So is it weird, uh?»
«Did you call him?»
«No.»
«Why not, Mike?»
«Because—b-because we haven’t spoken for years!»
«And why, Mike?» Robin tilted her head. «I know Will tried to contact you, but you never answered back.»
Mike swallowed hard. He already knew this was a mistake talking to Robin, of all people. Still, he forced the words out.
«I- I- oh, shit! I think I’m in love with Will, Robin.»
She nearly knocked over her coffee. «JESUS, WHAT?»
«And thanks to you, now I know he has a boyfriend!» Mike pushed back from the table. «I’ll never gonna call him.»
«Mike…»
«No, Robin, seriously. Thanks.» He grabbed his jacket. «You can go.»
«Mike…»
«I have to go.»
«You know who was Will’s crush back in 1985?»
Mike stopped mid-step. Slowly, he turned back.
«Maybe some guy in California. I don’t know. I don’t care.»
«Oh, you care a lot, Wheeler.» Robin crossed her arms. «It was you.»
The room seemed to tilt. Mike grabbed the edge of the table.
«What?»
«Yeah. You heard me well.» She shook her head. «It was you, you idiot.»
«Why- why didn’t I even notice it?»
«Seriously? Are you kidding me?»
«Uh… no, Robin. I’m not lying.»
She dragged a hand down her face. «Oh my god, Mike. You really had your eyes closed. Will’s been deeply in love with you. Maybe since forever.»
«I- I- was Will’s crush?»
«Yes, Mike. Yes.»
He sank back into the booth, hands pressed to his temples. «I- I don’t know what to say. I- I need a minute.»
«It was a long time ago, Mike.» Her voice softened. «He’s got a boyfriend now. John is so sweet with him, so kind, and- and…»
«It was supposed to be me, Robin.»
«I know,» she said quietly. «But you were with Eleven and- sorry, I didn’t want to bring her back.»
«It’s okay.» Mike stared straight ahead. «I’ll probably never loved her in a romantic way.»
«What do you mean?»
«I’m confused, Robin. I don’t know what I’m saying.»
«Okay, calm down.» She reached across the table, resting her hand near his. «I can help you, but you have to call Will.»
«No.» Mike stood up suddenly. «I’ll go to Florence. I’ll go there and I’ll declare myself.»
«Are you stupid or what?» She shot up too. «I said he has John!»
«Screw John! I don’t care!»
«You’re crazy, Mike!» She grabbed his sleeve. «You cannot get into a plane for nothing- Will is happy with him!»
«I don’t care, Robin. I don’t care.»
This time, he really walked away.
«DON’T YOU DARE, WHEELER!»
He turned at the door. «Or what, Robin? Or what?»
«You can’t go there and ruin a relationship just because you woke yourself up after two years, Jesus!»
«I- I don’t care, Robin. I need to say it to him.»
She exhaled sharply. «Listen. I’ll talk to Will. He’s coming back from Italy in a week.»
«Okay-but don’t tell him anything about me because-» He ran a hand through his hair. «Nothing about this. Okay?»
«Can I hug you?»
He hesitated, then nodded. «Uh… yes. Yes, you can.»
She pulled him into a tight hug. «Welcome to the real world, Mike. I was waiting for this.»
«I’m feeling better, actually.»
«I’ll call you.»
«Thanks, Robin. And… sorry.»
«It’s up to you.» She stepped back, giving him a look. «Take care.»
Robin walked out, chin high. She stopped near a phone booth, fished coins out of her pocket, and dialed the number, heart already racing.
«Sorcerer, it’s dragon here. Our plan worked.»