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The lively and all too familiar buzz of the Hawkins summer circled around Mike. In the past, Mike would’ve described the summers as light and liberating, but after all that has happened, Mike can’t help but think the opposite.
He watched as numerous transport trucks passed by him, setting up for what he assumed was the annual 4th of July carnival. The smell that circulated around him, a mixture of mechanical scents and heat, wasn’t a scent the average person would describe as necessarily pleasant, but instead of attacking Mike’s nostrils, all it did was bring him back to the days where he and his friends were still young and free (he supposed those can be synonyms of each other) to enjoy the carnival together. It brought a gentle smile to his face, thinking back on the memories.
He turned his gaze away from the road, and back to straight in front of him. He skims the words on the memorial statue sitting in the middle of the park, almost serving as a centerpiece.
“DEDICATED TO THE CITIZENS OF HAWKINS, INDIANA WHO LOST THEIR LIVES IN THE GREAT EARTHQUAKE.
March, 1986”
His eyes lingered over that specific sentence until he finally decided he had moped around for too long. He continued his journey through the streets of Hawkins, looking for a store that could hold the perfect gift for Will. Will Byers.
Both Mike and Will went off to college a couple months ago, and their first college summer breaks were around the corner, or, more so Will’s summer break, as Mike’s had already begun.
They decided they were going to meet up at a local restaurant at 6 tonight and catch up with each other. Really, it’s the one thing Mike needed. It had been a while since El died, not enough time for someone to move on, rather enough time for someone to pick themselves up. However, the gap in him still hadn’t been filled. To be honest, he didn’t think El dying was the only thing leaving a hole in his very soul. He didn’t know what.
He was snapped out of his thoughts when he passed by a store stuffed in the strip of stores that he didn’t recognize. “The Green Man” the sign read.
Mike shrugged, pushing open the door to the store. He slightly crinkled his nose as the unfamiliar scent of incense assaulted his senses. The small store was covered head to toe in various kinds of crystals, used as different types of jewelry, decoration, and a whole section dedicated to the types of crystals and how they help your “energy.”
He wasn’t sure he’d find what he wanted here.
He scanned the store one last time before his eyes landed on the counter, where a hippie-looking man stood behind.
“One-Wish Willow.”
Mike awkwardly glanced up at the cashier before approaching the display. He took a box in his hands, examining it. “Spark the middle and break it in half” the box read on the back.
Mike was positive it was some scam only bought by little kids or people dumb enough to fall for it, but he came to the conclusion that Will might get a kick out of it. It’ll take both of them back to their childhood days.
He grabbed 2 of the small boxes, setting them in front of the cashier.
The cashier stared at him for a moment too long. “Be careful what you wish for, alright?” The cashier told him as he grabbed the items.
Mike raised a brow at that. “Uh, okay.” He chuckled dryly, trying to play along with the bad joke the cashier made.
He paid for the items and got out of there as fast as he could.
——————————————————————
6 P.M. rolled around faster than Mike had anticipated. He found himself sitting in a small booth, idly drumming his fingers on the table as he waited for Will.
Just as he was about to begin wondering if Will had gotten caught up in something else, he saw him walk in.
Mike stared at him for a long moment before waving at him. Will’s eyes landed on Mike, Will’s lips immediately curling into a friendly smile.
“Sorry,” Will apologized. “I got home late and got stuck unpacking.”
Opposite to how it felt when they were back in high school, and Will had gone to California, their conversation flowed easily, but it didn’t feel as deep as it did when they were kids. It felt like two old friends who hadn’t spoken in forever talking about what the other had missed. Which Mike supposed is exactly what’s going on.
“Oh, I forgot to tell you.” Will quickly intervened, cutting himself off from his own sentence. Mike perked up a little.
“So, there’s this guy in one of my classes.” Will starts, his eyes gaining a small spark. Mike felt his stomach drop. He tuned out what Will had been saying, only catching onto one sentence; “Y’know, I think we might end up dating, like for real.” Will said with a grin.
“Oh.” Mike choked out. Way to make it awkward, Mike. He thought. He quickly plastered a light smile onto his face. “Will, that’s amazing.”
After they were done with their little meetup, Mike sat in his car silently, watching as Will entered the passenger seat next to him. He had offered to drive Will home since Joyce just dropped him off at the restaurant, but he was beginning to regret his offer.
Mike thought back on what Will said. The food in his stomach all of a sudden didn’t seem to settle well.
Mike was overcome with horrific amounts of envy by the fact Will was crushing on someone. Will was supposed to be his best friend. He still wanted to stay best friends with Will. After all that’s happened to the both of them, there’s something that sort of intertwined their souls together, right?
Mike’s brows furrowed.
The pair sat in silence the rest of the way back to Will’s house, the only thing not making the silence awkward was the music Mike had started playing, breaking through the quietness and managing to distract the both of them.
He came to a stop as they reached Will’s house. “Bye, Mike.” Will said, to which Mike said his goodbye back. Will swung the car door open, stepping out before shutting the door behind him.
He made it a couple steps before turning back around, motioning for Mike to roll down the window. Mike jumbled around in his seat for a moment before holding down the button to roll the window down. “Thanks for paying!” Will exclaimed. A smile crept onto Mike’s face. “No problem.” He replied.
Will looked at Mike for a moment longer before turning around and scurrying up to his front door.
“Oh, shit,” He mumbled. “Will!” He called after him. He had completely forgotten to give him the One-Wish Willow.
Unfortunately, it was too late. Will had already disappeared into the darkness of his house. Mike slumped back in his seat, staring at the two boxes in the door bin of his car. He reached to the side, grabbing one of the boxes.
He opened the box to the small trinket, taking it out. “Spark the middle and break it in half..” He mumbled to himself.
“I wish for William Byers to never leave my side ever again.”
He snapped the stick in half, the crack noise conquering the sound of the music in the car. He stared at the broken stick shortly after. What the fuck was he doing? He thought.
He turned his head back to Will’s house, nearly jumping out of his seat once he saw the silhouette of Will standing right there. “Shit.” He mumbled, quickly turning his head and stuffing the broken sticks back into the door bins of his car.
As he turned his head back, he flinched once more to see Will standing right there, leaning into the car, arms folded against the rolled-down window.