Chapter Text
Chapter 1: Mike
“You are pretty much the only thing that makes me want to get up in the morning.” - Me Before You
December 8th 1989
Mike Wheeler woke up to the most annoying sound on planet Earth.
His mother, Karen Wheeler.
“MIKE! Breakfast!” She shouted
Mike let out a groan, he hated mornings. It was a reminder that you have to get up early and endure everything you don’t want to endure.
Mornings were a reminder that life insisted on continuing. School. Expectations. Debate practice.
And Will Byers.
Mostly Will Byers.
He messily grabbed his glasses and shoved them on his face.
Close enough.
Mike went on to wear a grey shirt, a long-sleeved white shirt, dark denim jeans, and his Converse laces tucked into his shoes, since Mike never really taught himself to tie his shoes but he likes Converse.
Mike plopped into his seat at the dinner table, his eggs already getting cold, the yolk forming that weird rubbery skin he hated but the bacon and toast were good. Nancy was jotting something down while eating, and the purple hair clip held her curly hair back. Nancy worked in the Hawkins Newspaper, a newspaper group that chose a topic every week to focus on.
“Are you guys not gonna eat?” Karen questioned.
“No, the food is good, Mom” Nancy replied.
“No, the food is good, Mom” Mike mimicked.
“Shut up,” Nancy demanded.
“No,” Mike shot back.
“You two cut it out! You’re being a bad influence on Holly!” Karen urged.
Karen rubbed Holly’s honey blonde hair as she ate her pancakes, giggling as she read some new book of the week.
“Kids, listen to your mother.” Ted sounded
“I’ll eat at school” Mike declared, grabbing his backpack and heading out of the Wheeler residence.
Mike walked fourteen steps before hearing a shout he knew all too well.
“Mike!” Jane let out.
Jane Hopper. Mike’s best friend since he was eight years old, she stepped out of her house (which was across the street from Mike’s) and sauntered towards Mike, her long brown hair and baby bangs bouncing, Jane was introduced to the party around the same time Mike befriended her. Dustin became almost friends with her but Mike noticed how he was flustered all the time, Lucas was fine and Max immediately welcomed her since she was the only girl in the party.
“Mike, hey” Jane sounded.
“Hey, El. Is Hop still okay with me walking you to school? Because the last time, I was literally berated” Mike explained.
“Nope he is fine, I got grounded for 2 weeks! It’s so psycho!” Jane complained.
Jane and Mike walked all the way to Hawkins High School. Talking about comics, Mike’s debate practice with someone he does NOT get along with and Jane’s new bike being broken in the first day of riding.
“He corrects my phrasing mid-sentence,” Mike said.
“Maybe he’s just precise,” Jane shrugged.
“He’s insufferable.”
The duo reached the threshold of Hawkins High.
“Mike, good luck with your debate practice with Will” Jane exclaimed.
His pulse kicked up the moment Jane said Will’s name.
It was probably just stress. Or caffeine. Or dehydration.
It had nothing to do with Will Byers.
“I don’t need luck,” Mike muttered.
Jane just smiled like she knew something he didn’t.
Good luck was all Mike needed right now as they walked into the school.
He told himself that was the only reason his heart beated like a million times every time Will Byers looked at him.
Mike lost to Will exactly 8 times. Most of them were science stuff but the one time was recently. On November 6th 1988, Mike Wheeler finally won against Will Byers.
It was a cold Thursday afternoon and it was the School-Wide debate tournament.
Karen was there, Ted was there and Nancy was there.. with Robin, giggling about something. Mike and Will stood opposite podium’s and Mr Waters gave Will the opening statement and it went off. Propositions, glares and some ‘oo’s’ and ‘ahh’s’ were everywhere, Mike gave it his all and Will did too, but Mike was obviously gave it better. Mike backed up his arguments with real evidence but Will kept trying to poke holes so Mike can screw up but Mike stood strong.
They closed their arguments as Mr Waters and two other teachers gathered and made a unanimous decision and Mike was made the winner! Will was announced second with silver.
His family and Robin congratulated him and Karen took some pictures, with Will , whose eyes were at the back of his head, was in the back with Hopper holding his silver medal with a arm wrapped around him.
Mike looked back and gave a smug grin as Will flipped him off, Joyce immediately slapped his hand and Will winced and took it back down. It was the best feeling Mike felt, in a long time.
But the only thing that mattered to Mike was the look on Will’s face.
Mike didn’t know why but he did.