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1. Friends Don't Lie (Friends Do Keep Secrets) by ElleinnetGrace

   Fandoms: Stranger Things (TV 2016)  

   • Not Rated
   • Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings
   • M/M, F/M, Multi
   • Work in Progress

   05 Aug 2026

   Tags

   • Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings
   • Will Byers/Mike Wheeler
   • Maxine "Max" Mayfield/Lucas Sinclair
   • Steve Harrington/Eddie Munson
   • Mike Wheeler
   • Will Byers
   • Maxine "Max" Mayfield
   • Lucas Sinclair
   • Dustin Henderson
   • Eleven | Jane Hopper
   • Nancy Wheeler
   • Jonathan Byers
   • Steve Harrington
   • Eddie Munson
   • Robin Buckley
   • Joyce Byers
   • Karen Wheeler
   • Original Characters
   • Ted Wheeler (Stranger Things)
   • byler
   • Lumax
   • no carlton
   • Eddie Munson Lives
   • Siblings Will Byers & Eleven | Jane Hopper
   • Gay Mike Wheeler
   • Gay Will Byers
   • Eventual Relationships
   • Will Byers & Mike Wheeler are College Roommates
   • College
   • Roommates
   • Aged-Up Character(s)
   • Not Actually Unrequited Love
   • Friends to Strangers to Lovers
   • Friends to Lovers
   • Eleven | Jane Hopper/Mike Wheeler Break Up
   • Mutual Pining
   • Secret Crush
   • Sexual Tension
   • Awkward Flirting
   • Nightmares
   • Angst with a Happy Ending
   • Slow Burn
   • Forced Proximity
   • Fluff
   • Idiots in Love
   • Will Byers Has Powers
   • Slow Build
   • Miscommunication
   • POV Mike Wheeler
   • POV Will Byers
   • Jealous Mike Wheeler
   • Jealous Will Byers
   • Mike Wheeler Loves Will Byers
   • Will Byers Loves Mike Wheeler
   • Mike Wheeler is a Sweetheart
   • Will Byers is a Sweetheart
   • Bisexual Lucas Sinclair
   • Bisexual Maxine "Max" Mayfield
   • Maxine "Max" Mayfield & Mike Wheeler Friendship
   • Eddie Munson is Steve Harrington's Bisexual Awakening
   • Drinking Games
   • steddie
   • Work in Progress
   • Implied/Referenced Self-Harm
   • Sharing a Bed
   • Mike Wheeler Needs a Hug
   • Happy Ending
   • Mike Wheeler Has Eyebrow Piercings
   • Eventual Sex
   • Ted Wheeler Being an Asshole (Stranger Things)
   • Ted Wheeler Being Homophobic (Stranger Things)
   • Halloween
   • Mike Wheeler's Unsent Letters
   • occasional other POV

   Summary

   Mike is chronically LATE. If he had missed his flight to California to visit El, how would that have changed the trajectory of his life? Let me tell you a story..

   Mike and Will haven't really spoken in two years, not since Will moved to California. Will and El finished out school in Cali before moving to New York for College. Mike, Dustin and Lucas join them... only, Will and Mike don't know the other will be there.
   -
   Mike & Will unknowingly are both:
   1. Gay
   2. Hopelessly in love with each other

   First year of college, Mike and Will try to regain a friendship they both miss, and protect their hearts and secrets while they try to move on from their (presumably) unrequited feelings for each other.

   (Canon till S3 - only moved the timeline forward 2 years so Will is kidnapped at 14 not 12 - Adjustments for S4 will be addressed. Eddie Lived, Nancy Killed Vecna S4 Attic)

   Language:

   English

   Words:

   71,266

   Chapters:

   9/20

   Comments:

   76

   Kudos:

   55

   Bookmarks:

   40

   Hits:

   5,022