Chapter Text
"two full boxes?!"
"yes, including those headphones you're always wearing. you need to be more present. you can't just sit there, listening to music staring glumly at a wall for hours! It's not healthy."
mike didn't respond, just rolled his eyes.
"mikayla, respond to me. you talk so much, are you unable now?"
"oh, so now it's responding to you but any other time would be talking back to you, huh?"
his mother gasped. "mikayla!"
"behave, daughter." his father warned.
"so am i talking back when i say something you don't like? something with the wrong tone of voice?"
there was a beautiful silence for almost a minute.
"i don't see why you still try to make me confirm to your rules, to societies rules. they're all dumb, everybody should just do what they want. and, also, it's my life, so i'm going to live it how i want."
"we are your parents! i gave you your entire life!" his mother screeched.
"that does not mean you're smart. teens get pregnant all the time, you weren't special."
"that's it, you're grounded." his father said.
"ohhhh really? that's such a threat, as if i don't sit at home all the time anyway."
he stood up from the table.
"mikayla, sit back down right now."
"no! i'm going to go pack those two boxes i have to give."
before he could hear the next word, he ran to his room.
he latched and locked the door before scrambling to find his backpack. He took out everything, rearranging everything to make more room. he got everything he would need for school, put his headphones in there and all his music, and his radio.
he went into the bathroom, grabbing his toiletries then putting them in his bag. He put two changes of clothes in there, his favorite stuffed animal (a weighted shark!), and all the money he has.
he went out with his backpack, and knocked on nancy's door.
she opened it. "hey. is dinner done already?"
"no, i left. uhm, can i come in?"
"yeah, of course."
he stepped into her bedroom.
"so, what's going on?"
he shuffled his feet. "they're pissed at me so i'm gonna spend the night at lucas's house, i might stay at my friend's houses for a little bit, y'know, until they calm down."
nancy pursed her lips. "okay. be safe, okay? i'll try to warn you if they get close to where you're staying. please let whoever you stay with know what's going on so they can turn away our parents. i love you, alright?"
"i love you too. you be safe, too. and make sure holly's alright."
"of course."
she pulled him into a hug, which he reciprocated easily. when she released him she went over to her window, unlatching it for mike to slip out of. he got to the ground with only a little struggle, he had done this a lot recently. he waved to nancy as he got on his bike, and waited till she waved back to bike away.
it was a short ride to lucas's house, and he waited about five minutes til he radioed him.
"lucas, do you copy?"
...
"lucas, do you copy?"
...
"lucas?"
"...mike?"
"yes! hey, so, can i stay the night? my parents are being pissy."
he heard a sigh on the other end. "yes, of course, are you outside?"
"yeah, can you let me in?"
"on my way there."
he waited impatiently by the door before lucas opened it.
"hey." lucas greeted him.
"what's up?" mike replied.
lucas moved the door open further, signaling him to step in, so he did.
"sorry for the impromptu sleepover, i figured it would be fine. i'll probably be going to the byers' house tomorrow, i know joyce will be fine with me crashing there. probably."
"it's fine man, i know your parents are dumb sometimes, and you're always welcome here. i'll get your blankets down, do you wanna sleep in my room or the couch?"
"ooh i'm gonna have to go with your room. are your parents fine with feeding me tomorrow morning?"
lucas looked at him like he was crazy. "yeah dude, of course. you do spend a lot of nights here, and my parents know that your home life is not exactly the best, so it's all good. let yourself be cared for, man."
tears welled up in his eyes. "thanks man."
"course, man. now c'mon i'm tired." he set off upstairs, mike following.
they set up his bed, a cot that was fairly comfy after cushioned by blankets. he brought his toothbrush and toothpaste into the bathroom, starting to brush.
erica walked into the bathroom, startled for a second before shrugging and grabbing her toothbrush. they brushed in silence for a minute. once they both rinsed off their toothbrushes (toothbrushi? teethbrush?) erica said, "you spending the night again?"
mike leaned against the counter. "yeah, you got a problem with that?"
"no, i'm just wondering if you should move in at this point." she started walking towards her room.
"god, i wish. i have a few more years until i can move out."
she hummed. "hey, i know i act like i don't really like anyone, but you're cool. you're always welcome here, got it?"
he huffed a laugh. "yeah, alright i got it. thanks."
"goodnight, nerd." she said in the doorway of her room.
"goodnight, erica." she gave him a little wave before shutting her door. he walked back to lucas's room.
lucas looked up from his bed. "hey man, what took you so long?"
"eh, i was talking to erica. she's pretty chill, y'know?" he switched his toothbrush for his stuffed animal as he settled into his bed for the night.
"yeah, i know." he grinned.
they talked for a little bit more before mike yawned.
"you ready to sleep?"
"yeah, just about." mike gripped his plushie.
"i'm gonna turn off the light. do you want the nightlight?"
the nightlight in question was an adorable cat shaped nightlight that can glow rainbow, filtering through all the colors smoothly. it was very soothing to watch.
"yes, please!"
"alright. goodnight, mike." lucas switched the light off, moving to his bed to turn on the nightlight.
"goodnight lucas, thanks again for letting me stay."
"of course, man. always."
and with that mike drifted to sleep.