Chapter Text
The cafe was a few streets away from the Byers home. The windows were covered in overhanging plants which had flowers blooming in the spring and summer, petals falling over the tables outside. A cat or two would usually be sunning itself on the window sill, cleaning it's fur or watching the customers closely. Whereas in the winter, the flowers would die and the chairs would fold back up and be taken to the back. That's when the inside was more packed.
Will had always prefered sitting inside no matter the weather.
Sure, the coffee and the desserts were delicious, but that wasn't what made him come every week. It was the person behind the counter, who Will had already memorized the work schedule of just because of how often he came. He knew the boy's name was Mike, from his name tag, and he guessed they were abouts the same age.
Will could tell a lot of things from what he'd seen. He knew Mike was nerdy because of his graphic t-shirts, he knew the boy liked writing since he had seen him write inside a notebook during every single one his breaks. He knew Mike had a sister since she came often and sat on a table close to Will, either writing or reading. He also knew Mike had noticed him too. They would often meet eye contact from where Will always sat beside the window in the corner, but would break off after a couple of uncomfortable seconds.
Will would also always speak with Mike when at the counter. He had noticed the rings (usually skulls or dragon claws), the occasional black nail polish, the one earring which was a black stud on the school days but a hanging sword on the weekends. He hated how much Mike was his type.
He noticed that Mike would only ever come bring his coffee over if Jonathan or Jane were there, but if he was alone then the red-haired girl (Max) would come over instead. He wondered if he was being a bit too weird, too stalker-y. Even though he only ever watched from afar and spoke to the boy sometimes. Nothing too weird. He wasn't the best at social interactions though so he never knew when he was looking too much.
He kept coming to the cafe alone more and more, just to prove his theory. Indeed, Mike barely ever came over. He had a feeling Max was sick of him always coming. Hey, at least the cafe cats had grown a liking to him and a tabby cat would always twist it's tail around his leg and lay on his shoes. So, he figured that not everyone there was sick of him just yet.
A meow shook him from his thoughts. The tabby cat had spotted him and rubbed against his legs.
"Hey there little guy." He stroked the cat behind the ears, leaving his pencil that he was drawing with on the table, almost rolling off.
"Same order as always?" Max's voice came from in front. He hadn't even noticed her there. She had the same braids she always did. Today, she was wearing a school basketball jacket. He really didn't take her for that kind of girl, so he guessed it was somebody else's, especially since it was definitely a size too big.
"Yeah. I don't think there's much point in always asking me. It's been the same for months."
"Cafe policy or whatever. And you're like our best customer since you're always here. I may as well come and speak with you once in a while. You looked lonely." She smiled at him, eyes going to Mike for a second, who was watching them. She mouthed something to him, probably something rude since Mike just rolled his eyes back at her and went back to writing in his notebook.
"Yeah well, it's only ever you who comes to speak with me. And the cat. Why does he never come?" He looked awkwardly from her to Mike, trying to see if the boy would look back up but he was too busy writing.
Max shrugged. "He's...shy. I guess." She sighed, looking down. "Well, he isn't. He is but not when you get to know him. He's an asshole. But, he doesn't usually speak to new people even though it's his job. You know?"
"I'm hardly new if I always come here."
"Oh, I know. He knows too, trust me."
He nods at her feeling a bit awkward, wondering if there was more she was going to say but instead she just gave a small wave and walked towards the counter to get his usual milkshake.
Will feels a bit helpless. He wants to talk to Mike so bad. It was eating him from the inside every time he came to this cafe. Mike only ever spoke to him when he went up to pay. He didn't even know why he came back so often, as if one day that would magically change and Mike would actually speak to him.
He didn't expect his day dream to come true that day.
Mike was actually coming over, carrying his milkshake. His face was neutral, not betraying any thoughts he had. So Will tried to do the same with his expression, even if a small smile tried to fight it's way on his face. He mentally slapped himself for acting like this.
The cat purred beneath him, looking up as if reading Will's racing thoughts.
"Cool drawing." Mike said as he placed the drink on the table in front of Mike, with barely any eye contact.
Will looked down at his page. It was a drawing he had been working on last time he came here. A drawing of the counter from where he sat, a person behind it, looking straight on. The person had the most detail and most careful line work, not even a single hair looked out of place.
"Oh- uhh." He felt so embarrassed. "Thanks."
Mike gave one of those awkward smile where he raised his eyebrows and nodded but the corners of his lips didn't go up, just stayed in a straight line.
"Sorry if I, you know, annoy you by always coming here." Will said just to fill the silence.
"Huh? It's not annoying. Why would you think that?" Mike genuinely looked a bit panicked. Will regretted saying anything.
"I just come a lot. You're probably sick of making the same drink over and over again."
"Oh I think I've mastered it. I could make it with my eyes closed by now." Mike let out an awkward laugh which was 80% breath. "But it's not annoying. It's became like, my favourite thing to make now. At least I know I'm not gonna screw it up after how many times I've made it."
"Yeah...i guess." Will replied, giving a small smile. He had never heard Mike speak so much at once. His eyes went to the way the boy was fidgeting with the string of his navy apron, twirling it around.
The cat was now purring louder, practically on Will's lap as it stretched against the chair and it's nose poked his knee. At least the little friend comforted him.
"He seems to like you a lot." Mike smiled down at the cat, who now jumped up into Will's lap and nuzzled his jacket.
"Yeah, he always comes to visit me." He paused for a few seconds, eyes focusing on the cat so he didn't have to look at Mike. "What's his name?"
Mike laughed, his tense posture relaxing. "You really don't know? You haven't thought to ask what his name was after months?"
Will blushed, trying to hide his smile. "I guess I should've thought of that."
"His name is Paladin." Mike rolled his eyes at the way Will looked at him. "Don't ask, I'm not the best at names."
"You named him?" For some reason he felt so warm inside from the realization that the cat that seemed to adore him was named by Mike.
"Max says it's a shit name."
"It's...not that bad. It's more creative than what most people name their cats."
Mike shrugged, glancing at the cat before at Will again. At least both of them looked lost for words and not just one of them.
Will decided to ask something again, wanting to know more about Mike. "So, what are you always writing?"
The other boy's eyes seemed to light up slightly, pink beginning to spread across his cheeks. He was already blushing slightly but now it was more obvious.
"Just some stories. Fantasy stories. Based off of this club I'm in at school."
"Club?"
"Yeah, err- DND. Me and my friends joined it this year but we've always loved it and...actually i don't know I dont want to bore you."
Will began to love how Mike stumbled around his words. "It's not boring. I used to be into it as well and I used to do it with my brother and sister, who sometimes come here with me, but I figured they were beginning to get a bit sick of it as we got older so I stopped asking them."
Mike listened, nodding. It felt weird how one of them was standing and one was sitting so Will had to look up at him.
"Mike, just sit down already. I'll take over the counter for a bit. You're extra lazy ass today isn't helping much anyways." Max nudged the black haired boy as she walked past to clean a table beside Will.
Mike looked like he wanted to say something at her but he just rolled his eyes and sat in front of Will. They waited until she was gone before they began talking again.
Now Will was really losing his mind.
"Me and my friends do it at my house often. If you ever wanna...you know." Mike found the menu on the table and began folding the corners as he spoke.
"Yeah, sounds cool."
"Cool."
After another awkward pause, they spoke for a bit longer. The milkshake was sitting there basically forgotten. They talked more about DND, their families, how Mike went to a private school and his friends Dustin and Lucas also got in because Dustin was extremely smart and Lucas was awesome at basketball. They sounded like the sort of guys Will would've been friends with. He also learned that Max was dating Lucas (thanks to Mike who introduced them two years ago).
Will didn't usually like talking about himself much, so he preferred listening and everytime Mike asked him something, he would talk about it briefly before moving back onto Mike. He knew Mike noticed that.
The cat, or Paladin, had also jumped onto the table and layed in between them, purring loudly.
After what seemed like hours, when in reality was probably only 45 minutes, Mike was called back by Max who was struggling to make drinks for all the guests. For some reason it got like 10x busier since they started talking.
Will was actually grateful for this because otherwise he would've spontaneously combusted. Although now he had to down his drink which he completely forgot about.
"So erm, talk to you next time I'm here?" Will said, packing his drawing book and pencils into his bag.
"Yeah, sure." Mike nodded, standing up but hovering beside the table.
Will waved him a goodbye but left his bag and drink at the table as he quickly went to the bathroom to stare at himself In the mirror and smiling like an idiot. He couldn't believe that just happened. After months he finally got to speak to Mike properly. He laughed, looking at the mirror. Someone walked in and he knew he looked insane, so he quickly left the bathroom without looking at the other person who was definitely judging him.
When he got back to the table and slung his bag over his shoulder, he stroked Paladin a goodbye and noticed there was a piece of paper slotted under his empty glass. He took it and unfolded it, a smile spreading across his face.
It had a phone number written down in blue ink.
Underneath it read:
" Call me later when you have the chance. I end work at 6pm. It was great talking to you.
P.S. hope you don't mind me using you as character inspiration in my stories over the past few months. "
If it was possible for someones heart to burst from a couple of sentences, it would definitely have happened now. He tucked the paper in his jacket pocket, glancing at the counter and saw Mike looking at him and quickly looking away.
"Bye, Will, see ya next time." Max waved at him as he made his way to the door. She was definitely smirking.
Will returned the wave, then smiled at Mike who smiled back at him from behind her.
He walked down the street to his home, trying to stop the smile that kept threatening to spread across his face as he thought about today.
His hand was In his pocket, fingers closed around the paper which had Mike's phone number on it.
He knew exactly what he was going to do when he got home.