Chapter Text
Boring.
"Boring, stupid and lame" Mike thought.
"why did I even want to take this job in the first place?!" Mike groaned like a little kid, leaning his curly head on the counter.
Max rolled her eyes, "shut up wheeler, it's not that bad."
She stretched her arms above her head, and slipped her Walkman over her ears. Mike could hear The faint tune of Kate Bush singing, god he knew how much Max loved her. Ever since max had gotten out of the hospital, it seemed max had a Kate Bush cassette and Walkman attached to her hip.
Mike knew that max kept it close just in case vecna came back, he knew that he was dead, long dead, but he still couldn't help but feel his heart rate spike and pupils dilate with fear when he thought about it. "Stop being a fucking pussy" Mike would think to himself. Mike sat down on one of the little bar stools they kept behind the counter, taking off that stupid sailor hat. God he hated this job. The stupid uniform, the stupid hat, and being stuck with ONE coworker who had more sarcasm and sass than Carrie Fisher. Yes, he loved Max like a sister, but she got hella grumpy when she was tired or when it was her time of the month.
The day was slow, Mike mostly read a book that will had recommended, It by Stephen King, Mike really liked it, he could relate to the Losers Club a lot. Especially Richie Tozier. He didn't know why but he just did. He heard they were making a Mini series of the book and he was secretly really excited.
Someone walked in, and Mike looked up and a wide smile split his face. Will Byers had walked into Scoops Ahoy.
"Byers!" Mike said, dropping his book and bolting out from behind the counter, to thump will on the back.
Will was wearing his own stupid work uniform, a bright yellow t-shirt with "Surfer Boys Pizza", which had expanded to Indiana and was now at the Starcourt, stamped across the front and back with a matching baseball cap. Will flashed his smile that Mike had known since he was five and for some reason for the past couple of months, made his palms sweat and his heart flip.
"Hey Mike! Reading the book I recommend?" Will said, patting mikes arm. Mike smiled and gestured to the thick book lying open on the counter.
"Yep!! It's so good! I understand why you and Jonathan like Stephen King!"
"Exactly! Now you can understand my references!"
Will put on a sarcastic teens voice "when you grow up, you gonna, ah-"
"say you find out life ain't always this easy, boy!" Mike finished.
Max, who had taken off her Walkman and was watching Mike and will talk like it was an interesting nature documentary, watched Mike try to awkwardly laugh it off. Will just smiled, not picking up in mikes awkward demeanor. "Whats up max?" Said will walking forward, to the counter with his arm around mikes shoulders.
"hey Byers." Said max, giving him a fist bump. Mike knew that Will and Max had a sort of connection, platonic, of course, Will had come out as gay a year prior.
"Well,guys, I better go, we're supposed to stay in the shop for our break." Will said.
"Your still coming over later for dnd right?" Mike questioned and will nodded.
"Wait!" Said Mike, dashing behind the counter and quickly scooping vanilla ice cream into a waffle cone and handing it over the counter to will,
"on the house, sorcerer. For the road" Said Mike, and he could feel his cheeks grow warm, and a smile spread across his face and he didn't know why. But he could've sworn that he saw wills cheeks flush with slight color too. Will smiled for the dozenth time, licking his ice cream.
"Thanks...Paladin"