Chapter Text
Summer had finally arrived, and with it came the freedom of post-graduation days. The small room above the Wheeler’s garage felt unusually quiet for a Saturday morning. Boxes from school projects still lingered in corners, but for the first time in months, Mike could breathe without homework or schedules pressing down on him.
He wasn’t alone, of course. The Byers had been living with the Wheelers for a little over a year now. The most important one to mike was will, and the summer sun made their shared space feel even smaller. Somehow, it was comforting—and also a little dangerous. Every glance, every accidental brush of hands, reminded Mike of things he wasn’t ready to admit yet.
Mrs. Wheeler almost shouted into the kitchen, cheerful as ever. “Summer break is officially on! I’ve been thinking about a camping trip for all of us—fresh air, sunshine, and maybe a little bonding. I booked Yesterday. You guys are going to love it!” Well that sounded nice, until it didn’t.
„We don’t have a lot of tents since we are more than usually now but we will make it happen.“
„Oh yeah and how’s that?“ Ted said annoyed from the livingroom. Not wanting to leave his newspaper and TV for a trip he thinks will be boring.
„Well we have 4 tents. Me and Ted are gonna share one, Holly and Nancy, Joyce and Jonathan and Mike you can share with will since you guys are friends I guessed it wouldn’t be a problem.“
Mike froze. Camping. With Will. And the thought of sharing a tent… well, he wasn’t ready to even think about that.
„What? What do you mean sharing a tent? They are obviously too small for two people.“ Nancy said, looking with a confusing face at her mother.
„Right? It’s obviously not going to work. I can’t sleep with will in a small tent how is that going to work huh?“ Mike agreed with his sister because he was too nervous even to thing about that. Even though he would love to be near Will every second but he knows Will would be uncomfortable because he knows Will doesn’t feel the same.
Will, seated at the table, frowned. Not saying a word because the love of his life just crashed his heart into millions of pieces. He was upset and actually a little mad at mike because he knew if Will would be a girl, mike wouldn’t mind to spend his days with him in a tight tent.
„Kids, it’s going to work out don’t worry about that. I already booked for the weekend there is no back now. And we will be there only for 4 days anyway. I’m sure we’ll have fun.“ Mrs wheeler said, with a calm voice and a gentle smile.
The first sparks of a long tense, slightly awkward summer were already flickering in the House. And neither of them wanted to admit just how much that scared them, knowing deep down that’s all they ever wanted.
Will pushed back his chair, muttering something under his breath that no one could quite catch. Without looking at them, he stormed toward the basement stairs—the old room he played D&D with his friends when they were kids, now a mix of nostalgia and his own space.
Mike hesitated at the top of the stairs, his heart thudding. Part of him wanted to follow, to smooth things over, but another part—the part that had been scared of his own feelings for months—froze.
“Will…” Mike started, his voice softer than he intended.
Will didn’t turn. He slammed the basement door behind him, the sound echoing through the apartment. Mike’s shoulders sagged. He hated that Will could get under his skin so easily, that he could make him feel exposed without even trying.
„What was that?“ Nancy asked carefully.
„That’s probably because of mikes words not wanting to share a tent with him. You know he gets upset easyly. Sorry mike.“ Jonathan said. Mrs wheeler looks at mike with anger and said:
„Mike dearie, that is very rude of you. How could you say that? You should go and apologi-"
„what- no- no I didn’t mean it like that. That sounds like I’m disgusted from my own best friend. I meant it like it would be too tight to sleep. I didn’t mean to hurt him.“ mike quickly interrupted his mother.
„Yeah but still. He is your best friend why would you say that, you guys used to share beds at sleepovers too when you were kids. That really sounded rough. I wouldn’t want talk to you either if I was him. I’d be mad a whole week. Nancy said with disbelief and giggles trying to make fun of her brother.
„Not helping.“ mike replied and rolled his eyes. He went upstairs to his room trying to find a way to apologize but everything that comes to his head doesn’t make sense. He could just be lying to make Will feel better. What can he do? Right now - nothing. He laid on his bed and fell asleep.
———
The morning sun shined across Mike’s room, warming the small space he’d called his own for years. He groaned and sat up, the memories of yesterday’s argument and the looming camping trip twisting in his stomach. He’d barely slept, replaying the look on Will’s face when he slammed the basement door.
Mike ran a hand through his hair and glanced at the door. He took stood up and took a peak to the stairs. He could see the basement door from up there. The basement - Will’s space, his refuge - was quiet. He didn’t know if Will was still there or had already gone out.
“Great,” Mike muttered under his breath, pulling back in his room. He pulled on a t-shirt and jeans, trying to convince himself he’d handle it better today.
Downstairs, the faint smell of Mrs. Wheeler’s breakfast drifted up. He could hear Nancy playing with Holly, the clatter of pans and laughter filling the House. Mike paused at the top of the stairs. Maybe Will was still in the basement… maybe he’d sneak a word in if he was.
He took a deep breath and crept down. “Morning?” he called softly, just in case Will was lingering downstairs.
No answer.
Mike’s stomach twisted. He peeked into the living room, but Will wasn’t there. The basement door was closed. Silence. Mike’s chest tightened. He wanted to knock, to say something, anything, but he froze instead.
He slumped onto the couch, trying to calm himself. Two days before the camping trip, and already the tension between them was suffocating. He didn’t know if Will was avoiding him or just lost in his own thoughts, but either way, Mike knew he had to fix it, or the tent situation would be unbearable.
Mike’s stomach was empty, but he couldn’t bring himself to care. All he could think about was Will—where he was, why he wasn’t talking to him, and whether this silent treatment was permanent.
“Mike, eat something, please,” Mrs. Wheeler said, sliding a plate in front of him. “You’re going to need your energy if we’re going camping soon.”
Mike forced a small smile. “Yeah, thanks, Mom.” He poked at the pancakes, staring at the syrup like it held the answers to life.
Nancy leaned over, smirking. “You’re distracted. Let me guess—Will?”
Mike choked on his bite. “What? No! I mean… maybe.”
“Uh-huh,” she said, giving him a knowing look. “You’re in trouble, little brother.”
Mike rolled his eyes, muttering, “I’m not in trouble…”
Holly giggled. “Yes, you are. I can see it from a mile away.”
Mike groaned. “You’re all just ganging up on me.”
Meanwhile, the basement door stayed shut. Mike’s heart twisted every time he thought about it. Will hadn’t been home all day. He hadn’t answered texts or calls, and now Mike felt like he was tiptoeing around a minefield he didn’t know how to diffuse.
The day dragged on. Mike tried to keep busy, helping his mom organize camping gear and tidying the living room, but every creak of the stairs made his stomach flip. He kept glancing at the basement door, wondering if Will would suddenly appear.
At lunch, he sat across from Nancy and Holly. “You guys ever just… mess up with your best friend and then they avoid you forever?” he asked, trying to sound casual.
“Sounds like someone’s talking from experience,” Nancy said with a grin.
Mike rubbed the back of his neck. Avoiding eye contact. “Maybe.”
Holly piped in, “Just say sorry. It’s not that hard.”
Mike sighed. “I tried… yesterday. I don’t think it helped.”
Nancy smirked again. “Maybe you have to do something dramatic. You know, like a song or a speech.”
Mike groaned. “I am not doing a song.”
The day continued in this cycle: Mike helping with small chores, sneaking glances at the basement door, and attempting to act normal around his family. Every little sound made his heart race: the click of the front door, the hum of a car outside, the creak of the floorboards.
Finally, as the sun dipped below the horizon, he heard a familiar shuffle. The front door opened, and there was Will, looking tired and slightly disheveled.
“Hey,” Mike said softly, trying not to let his relief show too much.
Will didn’t answer right away. He set his backpack down and ran a hand through his hair.
„Are you just gonna ignore me till I die?“
Mike said, crossing his hands at his chest and looking at Will.
Will looked annoyed. „Probably.“
The rest of the evening was quieter than usual. They ate dinner with the Wheelers, but both Mike and Will spoke less, carefully avoiding each other’s eyes. Nancy and Holly tried to keep the mood light, teasing Mike about his “mysterious best friend problems,” but Mike barely laughed.
At the end of the night, Will retreated to the basement, and Mike lay in his own room, thinking about how fragile everything felt. Two days before the camping trip, and already they were walking on eggshells.
Mike closed his eyes, wondering if the next two days would be enough to bridge the growing distance—or if the weekend in a tent would finally force them to face what they were both too scared to say.