Chapter Text
When a group of friends left school on that June day, the warm air was no longer a frustrating reminder that the next morning they would have to get up sleep-deprived or spend long hours bent over their books. At last, they had what they had been waiting for over several long months. At last, they were free.
And although somewhere in the back of their minds there lingered certain fears about the fact that these were their last holidays before the final year of high school, or before adulthood, which was meant to hit them the moment they were accepted into their dream colleges, at that moment, they did not want to think about it at all. And Will Byers, especially, did not want to do that. He had finally breathed a sigh of relief, knowing that he could at last feel full satisfaction from every sleepless night spent monotonously revising material.
Or from the moments when he had been forced to take breaks from studying, only to immediately spiral into panic over the topics he had not yet covered. He had lost count of how many times his mother had burst into his room, convinced he was on the verge of a nervous breakdown because of his grades. Yet even that had all been worth it. He knew that he had finished the year with good results, and even they could not stop him from leaving Hawkins next year, a place that had never shown him much love, and simply starting to live.
The sun stung his eyes while simultaneously warming the left side of his face as he waited with his friends beneath the school building. Although probably every single one of them dreamed of nothing more than escaping from under that structure, they had promised Dustin they would wait for him. Like some of the other teenagers, he had gone on a tour of the building, during which he wanted to thank selected teachers for the year.
Still, as time passed, they could not help but wonder whether he had perhaps gotten caught up in a long conversation with them, forgetting entirely about the teenagers waiting outside. They began to suspect it, especially when Lucas pointed out that several other female students who had earlier been walking in the same direction as the boy had passed them again after just a few minutes, heading toward the school exit.
“Maybe there are just a lot of people with him, and he didn’t want to be rude by ending the conversation early?” Jane picked up the topic, though she shifted impatiently from one foot to the other. “Or it suddenly hit him that this is our last year. I’ve been thinking about that lately, too.”
“But you didn’t turn it into a whole event,” Mike sighed, glancing once more toward the entrance. “And he could at least wait until the end of the holidays.”
No matter how intensely or how long he stared, Dustin still did not appear on the horizon. Realizing this, the teenager muttered something under his breath and leaned over to pull something from his backpack.
The movements of his nimble fingers were something Will could not tear his eyes away from. They were nothing extraordinary, and the action itself took only a few seconds. That was all Mike needed to pull a yellow lighter and a pack of cigarettes from the side pocket. Even so, the way he held the zipper and pulled it back up again—so quickly and carelessly—made it impossible not to watch.
He noticed it eventually. Will did not even have time to consider how intensely he must have been looking before his eyes finally found their way to those dark ones. As soon as they did, Mike raised his eyebrows in a questioning gesture and, without breaking eye contact, slowly pulled a cigarette from the pack. The other teenager did not know where all that courage had come from, but he was the first to break their brief interaction, only to glance at Mike’s slightly chapped lips, which parted subtly as the cigarette slid between them. The moment when Will nervously swallowed at the sight of him lifting his hand with the lighter and finally lighting the cigarette, then drawing on it, was the moment he knew he should stop staring.
Especially since, before he did, he managed to catch a subtle smirk on his friend’s face. For the sake of his own ego alone, he could not give him that much satisfaction.
“Do you really have to poison yourself with that right now?” Max snapped them out of their strangely intimate interaction when cigarette smoke hit her. “You could at least move away.”
“I’ve lost to addiction. You’ll have to forgive me.”
She rolled her eyes, but still glanced around. Not so much in search of the missing teenager as to make sure there were no teachers nearby. Even if their holidays had just begun, it was better not to tempt fate so quickly.
Will also occasionally looked around, though he did not pay as much attention to it. Unlike the others, he, much like Jane did not seem to worry about small obstacles quite as much. After all, this day was supposed to be perfect. And even if they had to stand in the sun longer than they should have, it could not ruin it. Still, the minutes continued to pass, frustratingly reminding them of how much time they were wasting. At some point, he even had to start worrying about how long they had been waiting for Dustin. And about the fact that Mike had been smoking long enough. At least, in his opinion.
“She’s right,” he said at last, eyeing the cigarette held between Mike’s fingers with distrust. Although it was nothing new, their friend had chosen this habit as an act of rebellion over a year ago, it was still not something one could simply get used to. “I think that’s enough already. Especially since you were smoking during the break too.”
Mike always had a lot to say. In every situation and on every possible topic, even from a losing position. But this time, he simply looked at him and, after taking one last long drag, actually dropped the object to the ground. Exhaling cigarette smoke, he crushed the litter under his shoe without commenting on it even once.
Lucas glanced at them with a faint smile (and yes, perhaps there was a small sense of satisfaction in that) just as Dustin finally burst out of the building and unceremoniously crashed into their group.
“You won’t believe what happened!” he blurted out, breathing as if he had just run an entire marathon. “Stacey invited us to a party! Stacey Albright!”
“What?” Lucas frowned at him, staring as if he were an idiot. “What are you talking about? You were supposed to go say goodbye to the teachers.”
Dustin nodded quickly, unconcerned by the fact that absolutely no one understood what he was explaining. Instead, he straightened with pride, as if they were the unreasonable ones.
“Well, I did! And it turned out she was saying goodbye to a few people too, and we ran into each other!” he explained, still not caring whether any of it made sense. No one just ran into popular kids at this school. And if anyone did, it was Lucas, which was exactly who his friend looked at. “She said she’s throwing a party and wanted to invite a few people from the team, including you! And since she knows we’re friends, she said we could come too.”
“A party at Stacey’s?” Will asked, beginning to nervously pick at the skin of his thumb.
He did not want to ruin anyone’s fun, but he did not feel particularly comfortable in those conditions. It was not even about her or the kind of crowd that might show up, although that played a role, too. He simply preferred to avoid environments where a large group of people might be fueled by alcohol. If he ever chose to take part in such activities (despite his age), he preferred to do so in quiet, comfortable conditions that he could fully control.
“I don’t know if that’s a good idea,” Mike cut in quickly, as if reading his mind. He also glanced at him, just to be sure that was indeed what he meant. “When was the last time we even spent time with her? I’m sure we have better things to do than sit around with idiots like that.”
“Oh, don’t be such a grump,” Jane chimed in quickly, unable to hide how her face seemed to light up at the thought of fun. “Because when? When was the last time we actually got to have fun with someone?”
“And I don’t think anyone we should avoid is going to be there,” Lucas added thoughtfully, glancing at Will as well. “I don’t think they mentioned going to Stacey’s. From what I heard, everyone had other plans.”
Before the teenager realized it, his thoughts pulled him out of his friends’ conversation. Although he could still hear their voices, they felt muffled, as if behind a fog. The only one that broke through was Mike’s. He assumed the boy was still trying to steer everyone away from the idea unsuccessfully, judging by how things were going.
With a sigh, Will made an uncertain decision. Even if he still was not convinced, he knew he would never forgive himself if he ruined everyone’s fun right from the start.
“I think it might actually not be such a bad idea,” he admitted at last, trying not to look toward the one person who seemed capable of burning a hole through his head with his stare. “I mean… if something goes wrong, we can always leave. Right?”
There was nothing any of them wanted to argue with. Seeing that, Will nodded to himself, trying to reassure himself. It could not be that bad. He was just going to a party with his friends.
“We can get ready at my place if you want,” Max clapped her hands together happily, addressing her best friend. “And then we’ll all meet somewhere near her house and go in together.”
Jane nodded eagerly. Even if the plans had suddenly changed, neither of them would have been particularly eager to turn them down now.
“Maybe you’d like to come with us?” She also turned to her brother, extending the invitation to him as well. “I don’t think anyone’s home anyway. Do you really want to sit there alone?”
“I don’t mind. It might even be better. I can catch up on sleep after the last few nights before we go out,” Will smiled at her, still grateful for the invitation.
When everything was settled, and the teenagers were focused on sorting out the details of their evening plans, no one paid any attention to what surrounded them anymore. Time suddenly lost its meaning, and the fact that Mike had gone quiet stopped seeming suspicious.
Just as no one paid particular attention to the fact that when they parted ways to head home and get themselves together before the agreed-upon hour, Will was not walking alone. And that Mike accompanied him with such confidence, as if he himself had forgotten that he was supposed to head in a completely different direction.
── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──
Will’s room was one of the most inviting places in his house. The walls were adorned with drawings created over so many years that the yellow color behind them was almost entirely hidden. And yet, the long curtains hanging by the windows still matched him perfectly.
The desk was always organized, although, just like on the shelves, in some places you could spot his art supplies or various decorations, whether bought or handmade. A folded easel stood tucked behind the door. Closer to his bed, many posters of bands he enjoyed listening to with Jonathan were hanging. However, they were not the best feature of the entire room. And that was particularly unfortunate, because unlike them, the various decorations were something the teenager could look at all the time. Even so, not even they posed real competition.
After all, no one could compete with Mike. With his beautiful dark eyes, the pleasant warmth of his body, or the way his tongue explored the familiar depths of Will's mouth, even now, his own neck tilted awkwardly as the other one occupied his thighs. There were moments when his boyfriend seriously feared they were millimeters (and seconds) away from painfully bending his neck in half.
Especially when Mike's hands, shamelessly and overconfidently, moved from Will's thighs to his hips. Even this gesture could be as brazen, even possessive, as he was. They didn't stay in one place, after all. No, because when they arrogantly slid over the fabric of the teenager's pants, they always ended up slipping under his clothes. Gradually at first, as if he intended to stay there. As if Mike Wheeler had accidentally placed them too high, his thumbs naturally slipped under the hem of his shirt. Then, just as he was doing now, he had the audacity to stroke his fingers over the bare skin where goosebumps were breaking out embarrassingly quickly.
Even now, though it was something Will had expected, he sighed softly, his voice raspy and trembling. Right into his mouth, which, as always, curved into a satisfied smile that made their kisses even sloppier, yet still drowned out any reactions. But he loved it with all his heart.
He loved how Mike never had enough when it came to him. He always had to take more, and take more, and then more, and Will never complained. Each time, he gave him more of himself, simultaneously hoping he would never stop taking him. He let the warm hands slide over his hips until they were completely beneath his clothes. Or for them to clench around them without hesitation and, with a decisive movement, guide him more firmly onto their hips. Will, on the other hand, loved holding the teenager's neck, so he could absentmindedly and comfortably throw them over his shoulders when everything became overwhelmingly perfect for him. It was also the best position for comfortably turning their heads to find the smooth rhythm of their already swollen lips.
Small moans and the sounds of kisses echoed through the room, drowned only by the creaking of the bed beneath them. Will felt instantly dizzy, especially when he couldn't catch his breath, but he would rather lose it forever than be separated from Mike. He was all he needed. He tasted of nicotine and the chocolate his partner tried to force into him to ease his breathing. And when Will gently bit and tugged on his lower lip, Mike's voice rose to an almost angelic hiss. One that would remain etched in the teenager's mind not only because of its high-pitched sound, but also because of the way his nails dug into his sensitive skin as he was drawn into subsequent kisses. He could only hope they would leave marks. They might sting with every wash or heal hopelessly; the only important thing was that their originator was clear.
The pain in his jaw began to gnaw slightly as Mike moved his possessive kisses to her, also trailing a trail down his neck. They were erratic, sometimes leaving too much saliva on his skin, but they made Will's eyelids flutter shut. Sighing with pleasure each time the teenager's lips touched his, he tilted his head back, giving Will better access. He tangled one of his hands in his partner's curly hair and ran his fingers through it tenderly, clenching it every time he felt his teeth teasingly graze his skin.
“You’re unbelievably beautiful,” Mike rasped against his neck, sending vibrations through the teenager’s body. The spot where he said it burned so much, as if he were trying to adorn his skin with it.
“Now you’re just trying to sweet-talk me,” Will laughed softly as the teenager kissed him on the sensitive spot above his collarbone. A blush gradually spread across his face.
He had always dreamed of it. Ever since he understood that the feelings he had for Mike were something real and romantic, he had imagined this moment countless times. Sometimes it even came to him in dreams, yet he would wake up drenched in sweat, feeling as if even his own mind was playing a joke on him. Only to end up on the thighs of a longing Mike.
He didn’t remember ever perceiving anything in his life as perfect. Even if he actively used something, in the back of his mind, there was always a reminder that it wasn’t permanent. He would involuntarily wonder when the wave of his happiness would finally end, so as not to reveal his true disappointment. In moments with Mike, he never did that. He always fully surrendered to the moment, silently asking for it to last forever.
It ended when the sound of footsteps and a closing door was heard.
“I’m back!” Joyce shouted cheerfully, shedding her outerwear at the entrance. “Hey! How’s the end of the school year?”
Will paused for a moment, considering how to answer his mother. Although it was almost comical, and he suspected they wouldn’t be able to return to the atmosphere they had created, he understood that her absence might have tempted her to check if anyone was home.
Mike froze, sitting beneath him. His hands were firmly holding his partner’s hips, but now they were rigid and still. The breath at Will’s neck quickened restlessly, and the other boy’s head remained there only out of fear of making another move. His boyfriend was about to open his mouth to reassure him that even his mom’s gaze couldn’t penetrate the walls, but suddenly he felt the pressure on his body intensify again.
Will didn’t even manage to pull his fingers out of Mike’s curls before he felt a firm, gentle push and was carefully, yet decisively, slid off the teenager’s thighs. His breath caught in his throat as his back hit the soft mattress. The gravity of what was happening hadn’t fully hit him yet, because he didn’t even pause to consider how Mike had moved away. It wasn’t crude, rude, or rushed. It was simply done under the guise of calm, ensuring that Joyce couldn’t draw any conclusions from their position.
“You know she knows I’m gay, right?” Will finally said, leaning so that at least his head rested on Mike’s shoulder. Not even a second passed before, uncertainly, the teenager wrapped his arm around him. “Didn’t I tell you? She found out then, with Jonathan.”
Almost two years ago, he had a very solid plan for coming out. He had rehearsed in his head what he wanted to say to his brother, and even though every part of the teenager’s heart believed that his brother would still love and accept him as he was, it was probably the scariest thing he had ever done. Especially because he feared he might not know Jonathan as well as he thought. Perhaps he was only assuming the mask of the perfect brother, which he would have to drop after sharing the most important piece of information about a member of his closest family.
The thought stressed him so much that he put off coming out for weeks. He only convinced himself to do it when it seemed like they were home alone. He hoped the same when it took just one empathetic and understanding look from Jonathan to make his carefully laid plan crumble, and tears streamed down his cheeks as he tried to share the burden he had carried for so long.
That he was gay. That he had never been able to look at any girl the way his friends did. And that, although it was such an important part of Will, it did not affect how he saw the world or his character in any way. Fortunately, in the end, it wasn’t him who had to reassure his brother. It was Jonathan who spoke the words, holding him in a suffocating embrace that suppressed all worries and included tears of relief. Will still remembered how he had practically soaked his brother's shirt with his tears when he heard that he had always been the younger brother everyone could envy. It was then that his mother also found out, as she had returned briefly to fetch something she had forgotten.
Seeing the scene, she didn’t let herself be convinced that her sons were discussing something trivial, and when she finally understood its significance, she quickly joined them. She hugged them so tightly that even over time, the two of them remembered feeling her trembling embrace. Only this way could she fully convey what chaotic and emotional words couldn’t entirely express: that they were always her children, and nothing mattered to her more than their happiness and safety.
Jane and Hopper had suspected since that day that something had eventually spilled over in their house. Especially when the rest of their family glanced at each other in such an emotional way. Yet they didn’t push, wanting to give them the chance to open up freely.
That’s why Will knew that his mother being home changed nothing. He just hoped that Mike could understand that, too.
“And when it’s just the two of us here, we don’t hide anything, especially not subtly,” he continued, hoping that his words sounded reassuring. He must have misinterpreted the way Mike had inhaled sharply. “So even if she did see something… don’t worry about it. She wouldn’t think anything of it, and even less would she tell anyone else.”
“Yeah, maybe you’re right,” Mike answered quietly, slowly stroking him on the shoulder he was holding.
Maybe those were the words he needed. Perhaps he had forgotten that the Byers’ house was probably the safest place in Hawkins. Even if no one knew about them, there wasn’t a single person under that roof who wouldn’t be happy for their happiness.
Will let out a quiet sigh, closing his eyes again, as the mere presence and warmth of his beloved made him feel drowsy. He didn’t know what he had done to deserve having such wonderful people by his side, accepting him in a place that had hated him for simply existing. Yet there wasn’t a single second when he didn’t appreciate it with all his heart.
“I think I should get going,” he finally heard, which once again threw him out of the rhythm of their quiet, intimate peace.
“What?”
“We were supposed to get ready before the evening outing,” Mike reminded him, not even looking at him. He glanced uncertainly at the bed as he slowly slid his arm out from under Will, who immediately felt an unpleasant chill in its place. “And I still have to go home and leave my things there.”
“Can’t you just leave them at my place?” He finally sat up, trying to make eye contact with him. Unfortunately, unsuccessfully. “I thought we’d go there together? And then maybe you’d come back for the night, because…”
“Yeah, but I remembered that mom asked me to help her after classes. I forgot to tell her, sorry,” the teenager smiled absentmindedly. “But we’re still on, right? We’ll meet in a few hours.”
Will nodded uncertainly at these words, frowning. Although he didn’t want to overthink it, he would have been lying if he hadn’t noticed the unpleasant tightness in his chest. Especially when he saw his boyfriend hurriedly gathering his things, as if suddenly he couldn’t spend another second in that room.
Mike must have realized it too, because as he left, he gave him an apologetic smile. Yet even that was fleeting and vanished before he had even fully closed the door behind him.
── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──
The party at Stacey’s was everything one could expect. Will just didn’t know whether it was something positive or negative.
Her family’s house was much bigger than his own, and it was maintained so perfectly that it seemed as if they were expecting a visit from high-ranking officials rather than high schoolers simply celebrating the start of a few months of freedom. Moreover, the decision itself didn’t seem very smart, given that the party could already be heard from several houses away. And judging by the fact that it was just getting started, by the time it ended, the house couldn’t possibly remain in the same pristine condition as at the beginning.
Will had anticipated where things might go from the moment he stepped through the front yard. Despite the neatly trimmed grass and the flowerbeds separated by stones, he could already spot a few pieces of trash scattered across it. Before entering, he picked up some wrappers and discreetly tossed them into the first trash can he came across.
Fortunately, it turned out that Lucas might have been right. Although the loud music hit their ears, and those trying to get drunk bumped into them on the living room floor or while moving from one point to another, there were no guests anywhere to ruin their fun. Occasionally, the group of friends could feel curious eyes on them, but that mostly came from the fact that they had never been to this kind of event before. At least, not most of them.
That didn’t mean, however, that they were going to let it limit them in any way. After all, since they had come, they wanted to enjoy the party at least once—the one their peers themselves had dragged them to.
Jane was the first to be pulled away. Her colorful dress, adorable hairstyle, and carefully applied makeup (done together with Max) immediately drew the attention of a few nearby girls, who ultimately whisked her off to a group standing nearby. Jane sent a checking glance to her friends, but when none of them stopped her, she smiled at her new acquaintances and let herself be swept into the unknown. Dustin and Mike disappeared shortly afterward. By the time the group had found their place at the party, and cups with drinks were in their hands (Will took a non-alcoholic version, and Mike followed his lead without asking), a few people whom he had to speak to in the school hallway hovered around him. Their conversation was drowned out by the shouts of the others, but in the end, he was pulled slightly aside, inevitably taking Mike with him.
Will could see his face twist into a grimace, his lips probably voicing numerous protests, but this time he didn’t step in to defend him. Everyone could agree that he could use a bit of socialization.
In the end, he was left with Lucas and Max, which might have been the best solution for him. Although he loved everyone in his closest circle and never doubted for a second that they could think of him as they did, this pair had always been the most affectionate and gentle with him. Of course, not like Mike. Yet they always knew how to approach him.
“Maybe you want to move a bit aside?” Lucas leaned toward them, placing his hand on his girlfriend’s back, ready to guide her. “The couch might be a bit less crowded. Unless you want to stay here?”
Will shook his head and glanced at him, holding his cup uncertainly. He truly appreciated his presence. Still, since they spent so much time together, he noticed that many people from school also hovered around Lucas. He, however, quickly shooed them away after a few words of greeting.
“But if you want to stay and have fun, don’t mind us. We’ll manage somehow,” Will assured him, trying to sound at least a little convincing. After all, he hadn’t come to his death; he had come to a party. “You worked hard this year, you deserve a break.”
“And that’s exactly what I’m doing. Just in the company I like most,” Lucas shrugged, nudging them in the direction he indicated.
“How polite,” Max interjected with a smile, though she didn’t express any objection to what was happening around them.
Squeezed onto the couch and pressed into the corner of the wall, Will felt truly comfortable, even better than he might have expected. He had friends by his side with whom he forgot how loud the party was, and the crowd pressing and milling around them somewhat dampened the chaos. Moreover, the trio had perfectly chosen a spot where quieter people or those who simply wanted a moment of rest also spent their time.
A few girls even spoke to the teenager, curious about how he knew Stacey. After learning the truth about their acquaintance and that it was his first official party, they seemed even more open to getting to know him. They even offered to show the trio the main attractions of the party and to try a homemade alcoholic drink. Although he politely declined, the little tour sounded somewhat intriguing.
However, at some point, he began to doubt even that. Not because of their new companions, as the partygoers around them were among the nicer guests in the house. Simply, during their conversation, one of the girls was approached by her boyfriend, who apologetically pulled her aside, explaining that they hadn’t spent much time together.
Of course. After all, these types of parties were also ideal places for couples to meet secretly.
Will realized this when Lucas returned from the tour he had offered to the kitchen, bringing them something new to drink. After taking his place on the couch, he draped his arm over the pillow Max was leaning on, which she accepted, leaning toward him. She seemed to tell something to her boyfriend, but Will didn’t want to eavesdrop. He was already intruding on their space enough with his presence.
Wanting to give them at least a bit of privacy, he shyly looked around at the other teenagers. Most had formed small groups spread throughout the house, actively participating in conversations on various topics. Others were still calling each other to play, resting on couches, or…cuddling in different ways. Some, forgetting the rest of the world, simply kissed on the furniture or by the walls, occasionally moving aside. Others just passed by, still carefully holding hands.
Will’s attention was drawn to a couple sitting on another couch, participating in two different conversations. Even though each of them talked to their own group of friends, the girl was still pressed to her boyfriend’s side, only pulling away when a topic caught her attention more. He, in turn, casually played with the ends of her hair, lazily wrapping them around his fingertips. It was such an inconsequential, fleeting moment, yet it meant so much.
Because as Will nervously shifted on the couch, trying not to look like a weirdo, he knew perfectly well that he would also like to be in that situation. He just wanted to not care about anything or anyone around him and enjoy life, knowing that Mike was right beside him. Whether at a stupid event, a simple walk down the street, or nights they had to spend alone when their sleepovers became too suspicious for just a friendly meeting. Because Mike was his safe place. The person with whom he never got bored, even when quietly attending to their own matters.
And yet, at the party—which was so new and strange to him—he paid less attention to him than to people who were completely indifferent.
“I’m going to the bathroom,” he leaned toward his friends as all of this became too overwhelming. He needed to be alone. And preferably with the boy he loved.
The worst part was that he didn’t even know where Mike could be. Despite occasional glimpses of him when Dustin dragged him along, Will could hardly figure out when or where Mike was. He didn’t guide him in any way, as their only interaction during the event had been a few random glances. Pushing through the crowd, at one point, he even lost hope of finding the teenager he was looking for.
He even felt that finding his way through a maze would have been easier, especially when he was convinced that this time he had taken a right turn. And yet, for some strange reason, he ended up in the kitchen again, which lay on the left side of the house, the one from which he had begun his journey.
Sighing, he finally stopped looking around. His nerves made his head spin, and even started to throb as the loud conversations became too overstimulating. At that moment, all he wanted was simply to return to the couple he had left and somehow survive the rest of the evening. Suddenly, the door leading to the yard opened, and a group of boys entered. At first, he didn’t pay attention to them, only wanting to slip past and get to the living room. But then he heard him. Dustin’s shout, as he tried to say something to the people still coming inside.
Will instantly turned toward the source and finally fixed his wandering gaze on Mike Wheeler. He wasn’t the last person to enter after everyone else, but he was also talking to a few of them. After stepping inside, he turned near the trees to add something, and that’s when Will also caught a glimpse of him out of the corner of his eye, so he immediately looked in his direction.
They weren’t really doing anything. Just staring at each other, still keeping a certain distance. Yet Will couldn’t stop himself from sending a shy smile. He was sure his heart beat faster, just like it was supposed to for a lovesick teenager, but he couldn’t help it. He couldn’t and he didn’t want to, especially since that feeling intensified when he subtly nodded toward the nearby bathroom.
Mike hesitated, glancing in that direction, but finally discreetly nodded and followed him. It was something that never changed, even if the atmosphere between them felt strange.
“Hey,” the teenager greeted him as they finally entered. He closed the door behind him, but not locked it, just as Will might have wished. “Everything okay? Having fun?”
“Yeah. From what I saw, you are too,” he admitted quietly, despite his inner doubts. It really wasn’t as bad as he feared.
Mike chuckled softly but continued avoiding his gaze. With a strange intensity, he looked at the wall behind his partner, but before Will could notice, he was pulled into a tender embrace. It was no different from the ones they always shared. Strong, warm, and with each passing second they held each other tighter, wishing they could become one. This time, though, there was something else.
Like a faint scent of alcohol, which Will Byers certainly hadn’t drunk.
“That’s…”
“Just… I missed you. We haven’t even spent a minute together, and now we’re sitting among all these couples, and I thought about you even more,” Will added shyly, inhaling the pleasant scent of the teenager. “I missed you. Maybe it’s a bit silly, but I also wanted to experience one of those moments.”
“Moments… as a couple?” Mike repeated slowly, cautiously. He strangely slurred the ends of words, so Will furrowed his brows but quietly nodded. “Ah, right, right. It’s… always nice.”
Will’s surprise didn’t lessen. In fact, it grew even more, especially when he sensed them slightly turning toward the door. He didn’t need to look to know that Mike was checking again if it was locked.
“Something wrong?”
“What? No, it’s just…”
“Because we’re a couple, right?” Will interrupted, finally pulling away from him. Still frowning, he looked at the freckled face of the boy, who nervously darted his eyes across the bathroom, unable even to look at him. “You’ve been acting so weird ever since…”
Ever since Joyce came back home. And even more so ever since he had hinted at the possibility that the relationship they shared wasn’t something trivial, something that could be ended in a few seconds without worrying about anything else.
Mike began defending himself in the background, but Will’s memories and the music filtering into the bathroom effectively silenced him. The other didn’t even try to register what he might have heard, instead lost in recalling the past hours—really, months. As if by magic, he remembered how Mike panicked and pushed him away whenever someone else was around. How he found the dumbest excuses not to spend time together outside their rooms, as if the whole town would suddenly discover their romantic relationship.
Will had learned to hide. He had been doing it since he was a child. And he wasn’t foolish enough not to know that it was far stranger to not see them together than to see them apart. But that wasn’t the most important thing. What mattered most was that he couldn’t recall Mike ever confirming his question. Or expressing any interest over the months.
“…and I’m just afraid it’ll be too risky… not just for me, but for you!” he continued, not even noticing that no one was listening. “And I’m also afraid that if something goes wrong, or we don’t want to be together… it’s just… not because I don’t want to, but in that case… it’s less awkward to not have any fixed labels, because…”
Will felt as if a bucket of ice water had been poured over him. He shuddered, not knowing whether to laugh or cry.
“Mike,” he cut in, his voice serious enough that the other immediately fell silent. “What are you talking about? We’ve been together since January.”
“Yeah, I know! But…”
“We’ve been together since January. June’s almost over,” Will repeated, feeling his knees weaken. He couldn’t let this conversation get to him. Not now. “Am I not your boyfriend? After half a year of you shoving your tongue down my throat, touching me, and leaving marks that I have to hide?”
The whistle of air as Mike inhaled so sharply said it all. Just as it did when the teenager struggled to stand upright during their conversation, Will was sure it wasn’t just nerves.
“And on top of that, you drank. Really?”
“I just tried a little from Dustin! I didn’t take much, I swear,” his friend quickly denied. The way the words poured out was almost repulsive. “It’s the first party like this, I wanted to…”
“You’re impossible.”
Will didn’t want to hear it. He just couldn’t. Not when the boy he had loved from the first moment he could remember was standing in front of him, making himself the biggest fool in the history of mankind. And worse, doing so while breaking his heart.
He had to get out. He couldn’t stay in a place that suffocated him with its mere existence. He couldn’t believe he had come here for the pleasure of someone who hadn’t thought of him for even a second. Placing his hands on Mike’s torso, he gently pushed him aside. Enough to walk around him and grab the doorknob, which he pulled down energetically, not wanting to waste even a second escaping.
“Will, wait!” Mike shouted after him, but he only quickened his pace. He must have stumbled over his own feet, because he swore loudly. “Shit… Will! Wait!”
He had no intention of waiting. Not when he was fighting back salty tears that stubbornly filled his eyes, threatening to make him an even bigger spectacle. At one point, he choked on them, not allowing them to fall, he couldn’t loosen the grip on his tightening throat.
His trembling legs made it difficult to move straight, so he kept mumbling apologies to the teenagers he bumped into. He knew he was shaking. He heard some discreetly commenting on his disturbing appearance, but it no longer mattered. He had to get out, and he had to do it now.
When he reached the exit, sniffling, he glanced at the couch where he had been sitting earlier. The figures on it were already blurred, but it seemed that Jane had joined Lucas and Max, taking his previous spot. He even thought the trio might have stood up at his sight, but that wasn’t something he wanted to dwell on.
Without saying or doing anything else, he simply left Stacey’s house. Although the weather outside was still warm and pleasant, the dark sky and gentle wind gave him goosebumps. The dim street, once lively, now seemed strangely deserted, even though the party continued at full swing. Perhaps returning home alone wasn’t the best idea, especially since Will was trembling as if caught in the deepest winter cold.
But he didn’t care. He didn’t even feel fear as his path darkened due to a few broken street lamps. It was hard to believe that this was the same route he had walked just a few hours ago. Back then, he had done it in much better spirits, with newly born optimism for the rest of the day. Now, all he did was wipe the hot, salty tears that at one point had mingled with his runny nose.
Thinking about it, he felt even more disgusted.