Chapter Text
May 27th Graduation Day at Hawkins High, 1989
The Party finished up their seemingly last D&D game for a very long time and watched as Holly and her friends rushed down the stairs to carry on the tradition of fantastic stories being told und lived through in the basement of the Wheeler House.
As Karen put out five plates of lasagna on the dining table, the Party gathered round and had their celebratory graduation dinner together.
Mike stared down at his plate and fumbled around with his fork, his mind wandering off.
“Is everything alright, darling? Do you not like the lasagna?”
Mike looked up and met Will’s eyes, who was sitting opposite of him. Will had a slight look of concern in his eyes followed by confusion.
Mike turned his head towards his mother to calm her worries about the food not being good.
His eyes hushed over his mother’s scars, and he quickly looked back down to his plate.
He started quietly eating his meal. Max noticed the exchanged glances between the two boys sitting next to her and looked over to Lucas, whose attention was fully taken up by his meal.
As Max shrugged it off for now, Dustin couldn’t help but wonder what this absent-minded Mike Wheeler might be so intensely thinking about.
“So, kids. Dustin mentioned something about a party at a classmate’s place. Are you going?”
“Yes!” “No.”
Will und Mike answered simultaneously and their heads snapped towards each other.
„You wanna go?“, Mike asked almost in disbelief.
„Well, yeah. In our four years of high school, we have never been invited to a party. This is literally our last chance. I’m going.”, Will answered more confidently than expected.
“Me too.”, Lucas added with a full mouth.
“Yep, me also, pal. Stacey directly invited me. To my face. I am not letting this chance go to waste."
Mike frowned and looked around the table until his eyes landed on his last hope.
“I kinda wanna go too. I mean, I don’t have any intention of befriending these people, but I’m definitely in need of just letting loose and you know party a little bit.” Max joined the partygoers and Mike almost felt betrayed.
“Just come with us Mike. I’m sure it’ll be fun! Even for you.”, Will added shyly.
He did want Mike to come along but even if he wouldn’t, Will planned on having a great time.
Mike shook his head. “No, thanks. But you guys go.”
Will furrowed his eyebrows and looked over to Dustin, whose look just told him to let it go.
The Party finished a slightly awkward dinner and all of them thanked Karen for the meal.
“Alright!”, Lucas clapped his hands.
“Everybody go get ready and we’ll meet at Stacey’s in an hour. You sure you don’t wanna come, Mike?”
“Positive.”
He mustered up a somewhat sincere smile.
At the end of the day, he did want his friends to have fun and do what they wanted, he just wasn’t ready to pretend like life was normal and nothing had happened. Life wasn’t normal and everything had happened. He had bottled up all his thoughts and feelings the past months, in hopes that the guilt and the pain would just go away. Or at least wind down.
Nancy had been pushing him to write about it in a diary, but Mike kept refusing.
He felt like it was all just too big to fit into a diary. It wouldn’t do it justice. It wouldn’t do El justice.
And in that exact moment the pieces of the thoughts occupying his mind all day formed a finished idea.
Will noticed a light turn on behind Mike’s eyes, like he had just had an epiphany.
“You guys have fun. I have something to do.”
Mike smiled at his friends and pulled all of them in for a hug. Will, Lucas, Max and Dustin happily, though slightly confused, joined in.
Mike pulled back and looked at his friends one more time.
His gaze lingered on Will for a fraction of a second longer and Will almost didn’t notice. Almost.
Mike rushed upstairs to his room and the rest of the Party made their way home to get ready.
Mike grabbed a notebook and a pen and began messily writing his ideas down. A story. From start to finish. Telling everything. Packaged as a sci-fi novel, written by Mike Wheeler. Or a Pseudonym, most likely. This way he could write down all his thoughts and feelings, in a format that, in Mike’s eyes, would bring justice to the lives they have lived those past few years.
And it starts November 6th, 1983.
“MOM??!! WHERE’S THE TYPEWRITER??”
Back home, Will looked through his closet and picked out the new shirt he had bought just a few weeks back.
When he bought it, he didn’t think he would actually have an occasion to wear it but the hope it gave him that one day he would have such an occasion, made it worth owning. Now that day seemed to have come sooner than expected. Way sooner. His first party. And definitely not his last.
He would make sure of that.
He took a quick shower, changed into the new shirt, some nice pants, put on his favorite necklace and went into Jonathan’s room to find some cologne.
After maybe one too many pumps of his brother’s expensive perfume, he went into the kitchen to say bye to his mom.
“Ohh, look at my pretty boy! Going to his first party.”, Joyce said, tears welling up in her eyes.
She engulfed him in a tight hug and gave him a kiss on the cheek.
“Ok, ok! Thanks, Mom. I’ll probably sleep at Dustin’s after the party, he lives closer.”
“Yeah, good idea. I still don’t want you biking alone through the woods in the dark…”
Will almost laughed at Joyce’s statement but decided to just smile gently.
“Everything will be alright, mom. I’m planning on having fun.”
“Have fun, kid.”, Hopper smiled.
Will smiled back and walked out the door to hop on his bike.
Joyce ran outside and shouted after Will, who was already halfway down the street.
“But not too much fun! Stay safe, baby!”
Will waved to her without looking back and let the fresh spring air hit his face and fill his lungs.
“Will! Over here!”, Dustin shouted to his friend after seeing him look lost.
Will pushed his bike towards the group who were standing in the front yard of the house and greeted them excitedly.
There were some other people standing outside with red cups in their hands, chatting while the music from inside the house seeped through. The party seemed to be in full swing.
Lucas and Max wore matching shirts while Dustin opted for a bolder look. A multicolored shirt with different patterns Will couldn’t even make out.
His shirt was a little more subtle, but he looked quite nice, he thought.
“Alright guys, let’s go in.”
Lucas led the group on and through the door.
The moment the door opened they were immediately hit with Iron Maiden’s “The Trooper” blasting through the speakers.
“I need a drink.”, Max said and dragged Lucas along towards the kitchen.
“I’m going to look for Stacey and say hi.”, Dustin said while absent-mindedly patting Will on the back.
And just like that Will was on his own.
He recognized a lot of faces, to some he was even able to match a name but no one he could actually talk to. He decided to get something to drink first. Without alcohol.
He’s going to need more courage to try that.
He walked in the direction Max and Lucas went and found the kitchen, though without his two friends.
He poured himself a coke and grabbed some snacks.
“Can’t believe you actually came.” A surprised voice spoke next to Will, and he looked up.
It was Chance.
“What, was I not allowed to?”, Will said already annoyed.
“No, no, of course you are. I was just surprised, that’s all. Haven’t seen you at any parties before.”
Will tensed.
“Yes, I’m aware that I was never invited to any, no need to rub it in my face now.”, his voice became quieter with each word.
Maybe it was a mistake to come after all. These weren’t his people.
No. He couldn’t give up yet. He hasn’t even been here for five minutes.
“No yeah sorry I didn’t mean it like that.” Chance rubbed his neck and thought of what to say next without sounding like a douchebag.
“About last year, man…. I- I just wanted to say I’m sorry. Andy was just being a prick for no reason, and I never said or did anything to stop him.”
Will looked confused. Why suddenly apologize?
“I’m sorry isn’t going to make up for what you put my friends through. Especially Dustin.”
“I know, I know! I just wanted to tell you.”
Both stood awkwardly still and looked anywhere but at each other.
Will was about to walk away when Chance started speaking again.
“You know I… I was really scared. At the time. So much happened here that I was just scared to… to be alone, I guess. I thought it’d be better to have Andy around than no one. In case something happened, or I don’t know… I’m not even sure if Andy would have done anything to help me if I was in danger. But still, someone seemed better than no one. Not that it's an excuse for my behaviour… and I mean, I never even understood why Andy still cared so much to make your guys’ life miserable. Like the town literally split in half, but his biggest concern was Dustin’s stupid shirt.”
Will let out a chuckle.
“We really had bigger problems than that, didn’t we?”, Will laughed.
“Totally! You mean to tell me the entire town is in quarantine, there’s military dudes everywhere, we can’t leave and are almost like prisoners in our own houses, but we need to harass some nerds that play a fantasy game? Like who cares?! I don’t know- I-…”
Will wasn’t offended by being called a nerd, he was one, but hearing Chance stumble over his words trying to defend himself in front of Will made him laugh.
“I also didn’t understand why you guys were so obsessed with us. I mean you said it. We were just some nerds.”, Will said with a small smile on his face.
Chance looked at him and was relieved to see that the other wasn’t mad.
“Also, there’s nothing wrong with being a nerd or something! It’s totally cool, I mean I’m not into this Dragons and Magic stuff or whatever but yeah… What I mean to say, is that I think we are too old now to be separating ourselves into these groups. Nerds, jocks, theater kids… at the end of the day we are all the same you know. The past months have really shown that. We all have the same problems, we alle have dreams and wishes.”
Will looked at Chance. This time, Will was surprised.
“Why are you telling me all this? We have never actually spoken to each other before.”
Chance blushed and seemed to be getting more and more nervous.
“I know yeah, I’m sorry this is probably really weird for you. To be honest with you… I often went to the school counselor during senior year and she has really helped me. I haven’t told Andy about this. He’d say it’s weak and embarrassing. But Counselor Kelley, she told me I have to really think about what I want and what I don’t want. How I want to treat people and how I want them to treat me. She also said I should make amends. With the people I’ve hurt. I just saw you standing here now, and I just went for it, I guess. I’ll have to talk to Dustin as well.”
They locked eyes and Will could see that Chance was sincere. He really meant it.
Will usually wouldn’t have just forgiven people that easily but after being kidnapped into another dimension, having died and then coming back to life, fighting multiple interdimensional monsters and destroying a wormhole, Will has seen worse than some high school bullies.
“Well, I’m glad you figured it out, Chance. Even if it took you a while. And I think it’s really great that you went to Counselor Kelley. Must not have been an easy decision.”
Will could clearly see in Chances expression that Chance was extremely grateful for his positive reaction. Chance nodded and sighed relieved while pouring himself another drink.
“You want something?” Chance looked in Will’s cup.
“Is it just coke? There’s vodka or whiskey if you want to mix it. I saw some Tequila as well.”
Will became nervous and was unsure of what to answer. Chance noticed.
“Or not, man. It’s totally cool if you don’t wanna drink. Really, don’t sweat it.”
“M-maybe later.” Will was thankful Chance didn’t make it a big deal. He had already noticed many of his classmates being at least tipsy already.
A girl stumbled against Will and drunkenly apologized while giggling with her friend.
At this point there were too many people here for the size of the kitchen.
“It’s getting pretty crowded in here, wanna go outside for a smoke?” Just wanting to escape this sudden feeling of claustrophobia, Will nodded and followed Chance outside.
They walked through the living room, where people were dancing and sweating to the music.
There was a beer pong table set up in the back yard, a bunch of kegs and a garden swing in the back. Since everyone was too busy gathering around the table to cheer on the competitors, the swing in the back was empty.
Will pointed to it, Chance nodded, and they walked towards it.
Chance had already taken out a cigarette and was about to light it.
“You want one?” Will stared at the cigarette Chance was holding out to him.
Screw it.
If Jonathan can get stoned every day in California, Will can try one cigarette.
He accepted Chance’s offer with a small thanks and put the cigarette in his mouth. Chance held the lighter up to Will’s face and lit his cigarette.
Will took a deep breath and tried inhaling as much as he could.
For a second, he thought he was fine and and then he started coughing intensely.
Chance started laughing and patted Will on the back with some force.
“You good, man?”, Chance said in between chuckles.
He finished lighting his own cigarette and put the box with the lighter back in his pocket.
“First time is always like that, don’t worry.” Will had calmed down and leaned back on the swing.
After a few seconds of cold clean air coursing through his lungs, Will took another drag. This time with less coughing.
Chance smiled at Will.
“Same thing goes for smoking by the way. You don’t have to if you don’t want to.”
Will closed his eyes and pushed against the floor with his leg to make it swing.
“I know, thanks. Wanted to try it though.”
A few silent minutes pass between them but it’s not awkward. It’s pleasant.
“So, how was the party?”
Mike asks Dustin the next day, who came round his house again.
“So fun, man. I talked to Stacey for like an hour! Got a little tipsy as well, you know. But kept it responsible, of course. Max and Lucas were killing it at the beer bong table and Will was having the time of his life.”
Mike was happy to hear that Will had good time.
“Who was Will with the entire time if you were all busy with something else?”
Dustin made an expression Mike couldn’t read.
“He, um. He was with Chance the whole time, actually. They came to me at some point and Chance apologized for the whole, you know, bullying and harassing me thing. He said he even went to Counselor Kelley to better himself. I believed him, he really seemed sincere. And after all the, you know, outer space-interdimensional fights we’ve been through, I thought it would be quite alright for me to forgive him. We’re graduated now, I’m glad we’re on good terms. Andy hasn’t changed though, that son of a bitch. But Chance is cool, as I said.”
Mike was confused.
“Wait but Will was with Chance? The whole time? Doing what, just talking?”
Dustin shrugged.
“I guess. They were outside a lot, alone. Don’t know what they did. At some point I’m pretty sure they were somewhere upstairs.”
Mike looked at Dustin in disbelief. He seemed almost angry.
“If you ask me, they definitely did more than just talk, if you know what I mean.”, Dustin said while wiggling his eyebrows.
“Good for Will, good for Will. Didn’t think Chance swung for that team but as we know Hawkins is full of surprises.”
After hearing Karen announce that the cookies were ready, Dustin leapt to the Kitchen, leaving Mike to be deeply confused about why he despises the idea of Will and Chance together.