Chapter Text
We should both find summer jobs, Mike had said.
It would be fun, Mike had said.
But Will couldn’t help but think quite the opposite of the entire situation as he scraped a clump of what seemed to be sauce, cheese and dough off of the floor.
Why would you even give a toddler pizza?
They should’ve probably stuck to the delivery-only stuff. But no.
As soon as moving back to Hawkins came on the table, together with the mention of the re-opening of Starcourt mall, Argyle couldn’t help but mention how his boss was talking about opening a restaurant somewhere, and how it would be the perfect opportunity.
This shouldn’t have been any bother for Will, but then all of these ideas and the opening of said restaurant in starcourt mall– quickly got followed by Mike’s job application for Scoops ahoy.
Lucas had talked Mike into it, so Max wouldn’t be alone.
And after that– it didn’t take long until Max was begging Will to also join them, so Max wouldn’t be left ‘stuck alone with shitty-worker-wheeler’ as she’d put it.
Will winced at the thought of sticky floors– kids with chocolate ice cream all over their faces, so he opted to work with his brother across from the ice cream shop– in the newly opened Surfer boy pizza restaurant instead.
A compromise.
A perfectly fine compromise, yet a compromise that felt extremely out weighed as Max was just chatting away at one of the tables while Will was scraping pizza-scraps off of the floor.
“No but like genuinely, he won’t ever shut the fuck up about writing scripts for movies, like he actually has a chance for his scripts to become actual A-listers. I just can’t, he’s too proud for his own good.”
Will scrunched up as he turned the dustpan filled with food, dust– and a thing or two that Will did not want to guess about what it was into the trash can.
Will spoke with a grin plastered to his face, trying to ignore the gross stuff he was handling.
“I mean, Jonathan’s the same, apart from the script stuff- ofcourse. but he’s a lot less proud.”
Max jumped off of the table.
“He’s at least someone who looks the part– I can see him as some mastermind movie maker, but Mike?, nah– Mike should stick to the books.”
Will snorted.
“Don’t be so hard on him.”
Max walked towards the counter, leaning over it to see if there still was something to eat left.
“I mean– I basically have to, since y'all are being way too kind to him. Someone has to balance it out– y’know?”
Will smiled, glancing down at the floor he was now sweeping.
“Sure.”
Max kept on talking as she set her eyes on the soda machine.
“I mean I swear– y’all have way too much of a soft spot for him, we both know he doesn’t deserve that. I mean, you’ve heard El!”
Will nods
“Yeah yeah, okay. I get it– enough Mike slander.”
He turned towards Max.
“Oh and please, stay away from the soda machine, I literally just cleaned it.”
Max rolled her eyes
“Mike always lets you have ice cream after hours.”
Will nodded, but he smirked– quickly following up.
“Yeah, but that’s Mike– I mean, I vaguely remember you lecturing me about how I'd have to help clean up the next day if I touched anything.”
Max scoffed.
“Okay fine, you got me there.”
Will raised his eyebrows.
“Woah, I just got the Hot-headed Mayfield to admit her wrong? Today’s a special day after all.”
Max frowned
“Shut up before I change my mind about listening to your soda machine rules.”
Will smiled as he swooped up the final food scraps into a pile, picking them up and throwing them in the trash.
“Thanks for keeping me company.”
Max nodded as she now sat on the counter, facing Will.
“Had to practically fight Mike to let me be the one to chat with you whilst the other closes off for once. I'm just enjoying this rare occurrence.”
Will smiles again at the mention of Mike.
“You should win more often”
Max scoffed
“I always win, I'm just not always trying so hard to spend just an ounce of time with someone. Mike’s just really pathetic.”
A slight blush creeped on Will's face. The thought of all this made his heart flutter. But Max coughed as she noticed Will wasn’t responding.
“Besides, this is the first time I've actually seen you close the place alone– where are Jonathan and Argyle?”
Will let a hand swift through his hair briefly, putting down the broom.
“Smoking weed out back– probably.”
Max sighs
“Okay I could’ve guessed that– I’m surprised their pizza’s aren't like contact–laced by now. Just from the weed smell that reeks off of them.”
Will snorted.
“It’s not that bad”
Max nodded in agreement
“Okay I'm overselling it a bit, but you know what I mean.”
The phone rung– Will grunted in annoyance, this was either a really stupid customer, or–
“I’m sorry, but we’re closed– you can contact us again in the morning from 11, and remember, All our ingredients are fresh, except the pine-”
“Will!”
A smile immediately creeped up on Will's face,
Max rolled her eyes.
“It’s Mike isn’t it.”
Will nodded embarrassingly as he listened to what Mike had to say.
“Can you tell Max to come back? I kinda forgot my own key at home so she’s the only one who can actually close off.”
Will chuckled
“Sure.”
“Max, he doesn’t have a key.”
Max scoffed
“No fucking way, that dude ony gets worse. I swear to god when I-”
She kept rambling as she left, closing the door behind her with a soft thud.
“Anyways, Will– before Max comes to shut me up again, do you still wanna drink at the lake tonight?”
Will smiled again.
"Of course, I'll be in the parking lot in like– five.”
Will couldn't help but laugh softly as he now heard Max rambling annoyedly in the background over the phone followed by Mike quickly hanging up.
Okay, maybe it wasn't all bad.
All of this had given him the chance to grow closer to Max, to his brother– and well, to Mike.
They had gone on these after work hangouts quite often recently. Just them– sharing a beer or two as they spoke.
Either in the car, or by the lake. Before heading home– their home being the same house for a while now.
Will in the basement, with Jonathan.
Yet Will had found spending his time up in Mike’s room much more favorable.
It was nice.
But it also killed Will, to be so close to the person who had in return– made his life an absolute hell to manage.
There was no denying it. He was still in love with Mike Wheeler.
And Mike would never know– nor feel the same.
But he knew that shouldn’t be something that would have to be put on anyone’s shoulders except his own.
It was Will's own fault that he had to feel this way–
and especially for his best friend.
Wills thoughts got stopped as he stepped outside, he was met with Max and Jonathan talking– Max looked worried.
as she spoke hesitantly.
“Fuck– are you sure?”
Max quickly changed her worrisome expression to a pitiful smile as she noticed Will.
“Hi, Will.”
Will smiled awkwardly as he met Jonathan and Max’s eyes.
“Uh, hey?- Why the sad faces?”
Jonathan sighed as he grabbed ahold of Will's shoulder softly
“Nothing, sorry– How was closing? Sorry we didn’t help.”
Will paused before looking to the side.
“It’s fine, really.”
Max put her hands in her pockets as she turned away from the two.
“See you tomorrow, Byers– both of you.”
Will nodded– and soon after, Jonathan also left with a quick nod.
Will's presence apparently being set as the stop to whatever important conversation they were having.
Will frowned, whatever could they be keeping from him–
This wasn’t like them, at all.
He was quickly turned in his mood as he felt a hand on his head, scruffing up his hair
“Well hello there, Wise.”
“Mike.”
Mike walked towards his car, opening the passenger door as he pointed his hands towards the seat, smirking lopsidedly.
“After you–”
Will scoffed as he followed him, sitting down– followed soon after Mike getting into the driver’s seat.
“Lover’s lake it is.”
Will nodded in agreement
"Sounds good."