Chapter Text
𝚂𝚎𝚙𝚝𝚎𝚖𝚋𝚎𝚛 9𝚝𝚑, 1984
Mike's fork scraped across his plate as he messed with his peas.
The other plates had been cleared, the other seats, beside his and his mother's, empty.
There was the hum of water flowing through the pipes, a clear sign of Nancy following their mom's request of bathing Holly tonight.
"Michael." Karen whispered softly.
Mike hummed.
"Michael, answer me so that I know you're listening."
"I am." Mike spit out.
"Please don't give me attitude." Karen asked, she was tired.
Tired of arguing with her son constantly, tired of having to pick him up early from school because he got into a fight with someone and was suspended.
She was tired of his talk back, his insistence on not following directions, and his constant detention slips she had to sign.
"Michael, you know that I love you, right?" Karen asked. She was sincere.
"And I can talk to you." Mike muttered. They already had this conversation last year. Why did they need to have it again? Will was back, everything was fine again.
Or at least, it should be fine.
"I love you because you're my son, Michael. And I will always love you because you're my son.
It's just..
It's hard to like you."
Mike stilled quietly. His body tensing and his grip on his fork becoming more firmer.
Mike looked up at her, his dark eyes trying to scan her face for a lie.
Karen looked solemn, but truthful. "It's just, everything that you've done... all of the fights and the graffiti and arguing with us. It's gotten harder to like you." She reached over and took his free hand in hers, rubbing his knuckles lovingly.
"I love you, Michael. But right now, I can't like you." She whispered with finality before letting go.
She stood up, took his practically full plate, and walked off into the kitchen.
Mike felt tears well up in his eyes, he sniffled.
Standing abruptly before he too left the dining room and disappeared into the basement.