Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

It was a day like any other. Wait, no it wasn’t. It would be one shitty life if it were a day like any other. Matt’s camping trip was cancelled so he went on over to Mike’s house. It was July 2, 1989. It was bright outside, the sun was out and it was scorching. A hot summer day that one would want to spend outside or in a pool. It looked nice outside.

Matt had ridden his bike all the way to Mike’s house, he was melting due to the heat. It had been a while since he saw Mike. He decided to give him some space after their last talk. Which was the day after Mike had lost his friends. It was over the phone but Mike sounded drained and like he needed some time. It had been less than a week but Matt wanted to check in and maybe hang out with Mike. 

Mike’s car was parked in the driveway so he was home. Matt put his bike near Mike’s car and made his way over. He stopped in his tracks as he saw some keys on Mike’s doorstep. He picked them up–

Matt quickly turned to look at Mike’s house. He had heard a crashing sound from inside. He knocked on the door.

* knock knock *

No answer.

He knocked again.

* knock knock knock *

The knocks louder and faster.

He didn’t hear anything. He grabbed the door knob and tried twisting it but it was locked. It didn’t seem like anyone was home. Maybe Mike isn’t home? Maybe wherever he went he didn’t take his car. But what about that loud crashing sound he heard?

Matt looked at the keys. Mike’s keys . They were Mike’s, he knew they were because Mike had a little wizard hat keychain. Matt fumbled with the keys, trying to unlock the door. When he found the right keys he unlocked the door. He stepped inside, and the door to the basement was half opened. He could hear whispering sounds coming from it, he’s sure they’re louder up close.

Matt didn’t close the door; he was panicking about what the sound was and about the sound coming from the basement. He grabbed a broom and hurried to the basement door and down the stairs. He almost stopped dead in his tracks, he knows he’s not strong enough. That’s what the broom was for so without a second thought he swung it and kept swinging it. Until he was out of breath.

He and Mike locked eyes, both breathing hard but for different reasons. Mike’s eyes were open wide and he still looked terrified. Matt dropped the broom, it was loud. Matt retched. He looked away and— he threw up.

That seemed to shake Mike out of his thoughts. He fixed his unruly clothes.

“I have a weak stomach,” Matt said after.

The room was silent.

“Thank you,” Mike said.

“Are you okay?” Matt asked.

“No,” Mike sighed, “My legs feel like jelly.”

Matt looked over at the unconscious Evan, “What do we do about him?” he asked.

Mike grimaced as he glanced at Matt, “I don’t know. I don’t want to deal with this.”

“Okay,” Matt nodded.

“Do you know how I can clean this up?” Matt asked, signaling to where he threw up.

Mike snorted, “There are some wipes over there,” he said as he pointed near the washing machine.

Matt went and grabbed them. Mike stayed on the ground watching Matt wipe it away. He saw Matt’s looks of disgust, which just made him want to laugh.

“Now what?” Matt asked after he finished.

“Get some powdered soap and put a bit there on the ground, there should be a brush there, wet it, and just scrub the spot,” Mike replied.

When Matt finally finished cleaning the spot he went over to Mike, “Need help?” he asked.

Mike was still shaking somewhat and his legs were still jelly. He nodded, Matt reached down and put an arm around Mike’s shoulder to help him up. He helped him upstairs and sat him down on the couch, Matt made his way to the phone, “Should I call Nancy?” he asked.

Mike nodded.

Matt called the Byers' home, Nancy was usually there. He was hung up on the first time by Will. So he called again, and Jonathan answered that time.

“Nancy is out with some friends,” Matt relayed to Mike. He held the phone away and covered it.

“Who’s on the phone?” Mike asked.

“Jonathan,” Matt said.

“If not Nancy then him,” Mike said.

Matt nodded and put the phone to his ear, “Can you come over to Mike’s?” Matt asked.

“Why?” Jonathan asked on the other line. Will was still pissed with Mike. And even though Jonathan knew the situation he didn’t want to leave his brother to see Mike unless there was good reason.

“There’s a situation here,” Matt said.

Jonathan was quiet, “Okay, I’ll be there soon.”

“Please hurry,” Matt said before hanging up.

Mike was on the couch, his eyes looking in the direction of the basement door. Matt sat down next to him, Mike was slouched on the couch when he rested his head against Matt’s shoulders.

“He’s coming,” Matt muttered as he leaned his head against Mike’s.

Mike blinked, and almost instantaneously his eyes were flooded with tears. The two were very much still on guard but Mike had relaxed a bit hearing someone was coming. It made him feel better. It made him feel that even if Evan regained consciousness right now someone was still coming. Someone who can help. 

By the time Jonathan arrived, Mike’s crying had quelled. Jonathan didn’t even knock, he just opened the door and looked around with worry until he saw Mike and Matt. The two boys were on the couch quietly, Mike looked lethargic and Matt seemed jumpy.

“What happened?” Jonathan asked the two.

Mike looked toward the basement door and motioned with his head there. Matt stayed quiet, he bit his lip in worry.

Jonathan made his way to the basement. He saw Evan lying on the ground. He got up close to make sure he was alive. He was relieved when he found a pulse. Even if he knew what it meant with Evan being here.

Jonathan’s guess? Evan will wake up in a few minutes so he’ll wait upstairs until then.

When he came upstairs he sat on the other side of Mike, “Are you okay?” he asked.

Mike lifted his head from Matt’s shoulder, “Yeah,” he murmured.

“What happened?” Jonathan softly asked.

Mike flinched, “He was on the front porch when I got home from taking Holly to a playdate,” he muttered.

Jonathan looked at Matt to add in his part.

“I came to ask Mike to hang out, his keys were on the floor outside and I heard a loud crash from inside,” Matt said.

Jonathan nodded.

“The door was locked, I unlocked it, went downstairs with the broom, and found Evan… on top of Mike,” Matt grimaced.

Jonathan felt goosebumps along his skin, “Okay,” he breathed, “Mike, are you okay ?” he asked again.

“It was only touching and kissing,” Mike said.

Jonathan nodded, “Okay, do you want me to call the police?”

Mike shook his head. He knows what he promised Hopper but it’s not bad enough to blurt it to anyone.

“So no Hopper?” Jonathan asked.

“No,” Mike replied.

“Okay, can I call Steve or Eddie?” Jonathan asked. 

Mike shrugged, “Sure,” he said.

Jonathan was sure he could handle Evan alone, especially after that knockout he got from Matt but he still wanted to call them so they could help. So maybe one or two will deal with Evan and the other(s) stay with Mike and Matt.

—

“Okay, I’ll be there in a minute,” Steve said.

“You want me to pick up Eddie on my way?” Steve asked.

“Yeah, I already called him, he doesn’t have a working vehicle right now,” Jonathan said.

“Okay, I’ll be there in less than 10,” Steve said and hung up.

He went over to the kitchen and grabbed his keys.

“What’s wrong?” Dustin asked.

“Jonathan said Mike’s in trouble.” Steve replied as he glanced over at Dustin’s comm, “Haven’t you been carrying the comm the past few days because you’re worried about something?” he asked.

“Yeah. Mike.” Dustin replied.

“Are you coming?” Steve asked.

Dustin nodded.

When they got in the car, Dustin sat in the back.

“Why are you back there?” Steve asked.

“So Eddie will sit in front,” Dustin replied.

Steve took that as an answer and started driving to Eddie’s trailer. Dustin on the other hand turned his comm on, “Code red, I repeat code red, over.”

Dustin wasn’t entirely sure if it was a code red. But Lucas and him have been worried about Mike, neither has heard a word, and now he’s in trouble? Sounds to Dustin like it might be a code red.

“What’s wrong, Dustin? Over,” Will replied.

“Code red at Mike’s house.”

—

Will might still be angry at Mike but hearing a code red at his house made his blood freeze over. All he could think about was how Mike was the last time he saw him. All he could think about that code red being is Mike being dead or so damn close to it. His heart was beating quickly and in a rush of putting his shoes on, he dropped a lamp.

El came opening Will’s door quickly, “What happened?” she asked as she saw the broken lamp.

“Knocked it over I have to go,” he said, he didn’t even tell her about the code red. He just ran out of his room and went to find his bike.

El left Will's room confused as to why he was in a hurry but she figured he was late meeting Evan or something. Before she closed his room she heard his comm go off. She went over to it, “What was that? over,” El asked.

“El, tell Will not to come, over,” Lucas answered.

El looked out the window, Will was riding away already, “Too late, he left, over,” she said.

“Fuck–” was all she heard before Lucas turned his comm off.

She stayed waiting a bit in case they said something else, “El, code red at Mike’s house, over,” she heard Dustin say.

El understood now why Will rode away in a hurry. She ran to get her bike and ride over as well.

—

Lucas had just gotten out of the shower and finished showering when he heard the code red.

“What’s wrong, Dustin? Over,” Will replied.

“Code red at Mike’s house.”

Lucas immediately reached for the comm, “On my way, over.”

He lived closest to Mike. He was there first.

“Dustin, move to a private channel, over,” Lucas said after hearing what happened.

“Copy that,” Dustin said as he switched.

“Dustin, do you copy? Over” Lucas said on the new channel.

“I copy, over,” Dustin said.

“Evan’s here, he’s the code red, over,” Lucas said.

“How’s Mike? Over,” Dustin asked.

“He’s okay but what should we do about Will, over.”

“He can’t come, what if they argue again, Over.”

“Copy that, switching channels and telling him, over.”

—

Mike was in the living room sitting down next to Matt. Jonathan was between the kitchen and living room, standing and just watching the basement door. Every now and then Jonathan would glance at Mike or the front door.

All their attention was drawn to the abruptly opened door. It was Lucas, he was panting like he had just run and he had the comm in hand like it was glued to him. He was holding on tightly to it. Mike looked confused that Lucas was there.

“Did something happen?” Mike asked.

“That’s my question, what happened? I just got a code red,” Lucas said, lifting his comm to Mike.

“I didn’t send it,” Mike said.

“No. Dustin did, he said code red at your house,” Lucas explained.

Mike looked over at Jonathan and then back at Lucas, “Where is he?” Mike asked.

“Steve, he always goes to Steve when he needs advice,” Lucas said.

“Steve must have told him I called him over then,” Jonathan interjected.

Lucas looked back at Mike, “What happened?” he asked.

“Evan’s here,” Mike muttered.

“He is?” Lucas asked.

“Basement,” Matt replied as he pointed at the basement door.

Lucas nodded, “Wait why?”

“Oh– Matt knocked him out,” Mike replied, Mike knew what he meant.

Lucas looked confused by Mike’s answer and Mike just snorted at his reaction.

Lucas shook his head, “I meant why is he here?” he asked 

“Because I get on his damn nerves and to check I wouldn’t explain to Will,” Mike replied. He looked smug despite it all. Maybe it’s because a guy like Evan saw him as a threat, that what Evan has done just makes him want to laugh. It’s so pathetic what Evan’s been doing, just laughable.

Lucas’ eyes widened, “I have to step out for a bit,” he said as he grabbed the comm close to his face getting ready to talk in it.

Mike nodded and Lucas stepped up.

“Why weren’t you going to tell Will?” Jonathan asked.

“I was going to but then that whole thing happened,” Mike replied.

“Did Evan know you were going to?” Matt asked. 

Mike nodded, “I sorta implied I would when I saw him at the pool,” he said.

“But after what happened, were you ever planning on telling Will? Jonathan asked.

“I haven’t thought about it yet,” Mike said.

“He’s on his way over now, you know he is, what will you tell him?” Jonathan asked.

“Nothing,” Mike said, “I don’t feel like explaining or arguing to him right now.”

Almost like clockwork, Will was there. Lucas was trying to block the door but Will still opened it and peaked in.

Mike could see the relief wash over him. He looked conflicted at seeing Mike. Will looked like he wanted to say something to him. He saw Will furrow his eyebrows, Will stood in front of Lucas, who was still blocking the door. He blinked and turned around, he noticed Jonthan’s car.

Mike couldn’t look away from Will.

“What’s going on?” Will asked.

Jonathan made his way to the door, “Lucas let him in,” he said.

Lucas got out of the way and Will entered, “Jonathan, what's going on?” Will asked, “Why are you here? And why did Dustin call a code red?”

“What’s code red?” Jonathan asked.

“Basically it’s for emergencies, one of us is in danger or something bad happens,” Lucas replied.

Mike finally looked away when he and Will made eye contact, he saw Will look at him, Will looked uncomfortable. Mike sat up and whispered in Matt’s ear, “I’m leaving, I’m not dealing with this.”

Matt whispered back, “Wait, what? how are you leaving?”

“Upstairs, through the window,” Mike replied.

“What do I do?” Matt whispered.

“Leave first wait a few houses down, I’ll be there soon,” Mike whispered back

Matt nodded then stood up and said, “Ugh I have to go, call me later Mike.”

“I will bye Matt,” Mike replied.

“Bye,” Lucas said.

“Bye and thank you for calling,” Jonathan said with a small smile.

Will didn’t say anything, just ignored him. Matt smiled back at Jonathan and nodded as he left through the front door. 

“So can you tell me what’s going on?” Will asked.

Mike saw the door to the basement move a bit, and his heartbeat spiked.

Jonathan looked over at Mike after Will’s question, “Mike?” he called, seeing if he would answer Will’s question instead.

Mike looked away from the basement door and to Jonathan, “I’m not dealing with this,” he said, he momentarily glanced at the door again, Lucas seemed to have noticed and followed his gaze.

“I’m going to my room,” Mike said as he stood up, meanwhile Lucas stalked over to the basement door, fully opening it.

Will heard the creek of the door and looked over, Evan was standing right there. Will seemed to have frozen in place. Mike on the other hand wasn’t frozen, but screw his plan he was leaving through the front door.

Jonathan was quickly at the basement door where Evan stood, Lucas moved to the side as Jonathan got there. Without a second thought, Jonathan punched Evan.

Mike bolted out the door, El was outside and she had just gotten off her bike. The two locked eyes but Mike kept running until he saw Matt. El dropped her bike and didn’t even think to go inside and check she just ran after Mike.

“Run!” Mike yelled at Matt.

Matt began running alongside Mike.

El ran after them.

“Mike!” She yelled, “Slow down!”

Mike didn’t.

El didn’t have her powers and maybe it was the disparity of the situation but she reached out her hand, her palm pointing towards Mike and she tried using them. And it actually worked.

Mike was lifted off the ground a few inches, “STOP RUNNING!” El yelled.

Matt, noticing Mike no longer by his side, stopped and turned around. His eyes went wide.

“El! put me down!” Mike yelled, momentarily forgetting about Matt.

El didn’t let go until she neared Mike, she held onto Mike’s wrist so he wouldn’t run.

“WHAT WAS THAT?!!” Matt yelled, he looked a bit freaked out.

“That was Jane,” Mike sighed.

Mike had questions for El, questions like ‘ Since when do you have your powers back? ’

“We are not talking about that,” El said. She shook her head and with a serious look directed her attention to the two boys, “Why were you running?” she asked.

Matt walked closer to them.

“ Because ,” Mike answered.

“Why Mike?” El asked.

Mike shook her hand away; he didn't even try to run away again though.

“I was not going to stay there and be yelled at or looked at with horrified expressions and maybe even apologized to,” Mike answered.

El looked confused, “What happened?” she asked.

Mike grimaced, “What are you doing here, Jane.”

“I was worried about you.”

“You left last time El, weren’t you guys supposed to be ignoring me?”

El looked abashed, “I would’ve stayed but Max she–”

Mike shook his head, “You could have pulled away El, I told you guys I didn’t do shit.”

“I didn’t want to get into an argument with Max,” El said, “And I couldn’t contact you after because–” she looked away, “Because it seemed everyone agreed you were wrong, I didn’t want to betray them.”

That hurt. That honestly hurt. It felt like a personal attack to Mike, “I didn’t hit on him, I fucking told you guys I didn’t. I would never do that.”

“Well you couldn’t explain Mike, what were we supposed to think?”

“I don’t know, I don’t know!” Mike yelled, “But I didn’t fucking like Evan, I loathed him. I didn’t even want to be near him.”

Mike let out a loud sigh, “WHY do you think I have been avoiding hanging out with you guys?” he was exasperated.

“I don’t know Mike, but don’t make it sound like Max and I didn’t ask you why!” El yelled, “We asked and you didn’t tell us.”

“What was I supposed to say, Jane? ” Mike heaved, he put his hands up and in a sarcastic motion shook them as he said, “ I don’t want to hang out with you guys because I don’t like Will’s boyfriend. ” Even his voice reeked of sarcasm and mockery.

“You could have started with that,” El stated.

“No, I couldn’t,” Mike said, “You guys would have told me to man up and that I don’t like anyone or something along those lines.”

“Mike,” Matt called.

Mike turned to look at him. Matt motioned his head towards El. Mike grimaced.

“I didn’t hit on Evan and he didn’t hit on me,” Mike told El.

“He…” Mike shifted, and he looked uncomfortable, “He assaulted me, three times now,” Mike said, “ sexually, ” Mike added in a quieter voice.

El felt like time had slowed down. Like her heart had slowed down and all she could manage saying was, “wh at… ”

Mike saw El’s color drain. He saw her go pale. 

“ Three times?” Matt asked, “When– Mike, there was a time I don’t know about?”

Mike nodded, “You were camping and I didn’t feel like talking about it when we saw each other again.”

“The day– the day you slept over?” El cautiously asked.

“That next morning when he went to wake me and Max up,” Mike muttered.

“No– wait, is that why Nancy wanted you to not sleep with the guys that day?”

“I thought Nancy barely found out a few days ago,” Matt noted.

“She didn’t know all of it until that day,” Mike told Matt, “But she did know that Evan did something just not what, ” that part was direct towards what El had just said.

“How does Max not know?” El asked.

Mike was really starting to be more bugged with this chat, he could stand the first few minutes but now he didn’t want to deal with it, “She was asleep.”

“Mike–” El began to say.

Mike cut off whatever El was going to say, “Jane. I don’t want to talk about this anymore, I’m leaving.”

Somehow calling her Jane felt so impersonal.

El frowned.

“You can go back home or to my house, everyone else is there along with Evan,” Mike told her.

El winced, “Evan’s there?” 

“Mike, was that third time today? ” she slowly asked.

Mike stared at her for a while, he didn’t answer, and then he turned to Matt, “Let’s go,” Mike told him.

El felt like the wind was knocked out of her. Mike’s silence just now gave her a pretty loud answer to her question: yes.

She ran back to Mike’s house. When she got there Max, Dustin, Steve, and Eddie were there too. From the looks of it, they got there a few minutes ago. El didn’t greet them, she pushed her way to where Evan was.

“Will, get out of the way,” El warned.

It didn’t seem like Will knew yet what Evan had done but it seemed like Will was defending him from Jonathan. No one wanted to hurt Will to get to Evan so they were just trying to get him to back away. By this point, it seems most of the party but Will and Max knew. One way or another they were going to find out that day, so they should have just told him.

“El, you too?” Will asked. He looked confused, it seemed he was losing his resolution to protect Evan.

El just glared, not at Will but at the person behind him, “ Will. Move, ” she said.

Will didn’t move and El was not going to ask one more time. She used her powers to shove Will to the side, holding her hand out, palm pointing at Evan, she screamed and used her powers to throw Evan back into the wall.

“Evan!” Will yelled, running to his side.

Everyone else looked at El with surprise because she just used her powers. Not including Eddie, who as gnarly as he thought that was, was still freaking out.

“Stay away from him, Will!” El yelled.

“Someone, just tell me what’s going on first,” Will said. He was getting frustrated.

Everyone stayed quiet. Steve and Eddie didn’t really know either but they knew Evan was bad news. Max didn’t know either so she also wanted to know why everyone is suddenly like this.

“Seriously, you’re all angry at Evan but you won’t say why ?” Max questioned. She said that but she still made no effort to help Evan.

“Okay, fuck this,” Lucas muttered.

“Will, look inside Evan’s wallet,” Lucas said.

Dustin glanced over at Lucas, Lucas continued looking at Will looking somewhat mad but also determined.

Will was wondering how looking at Evan’s wallet would let him know why everyone was so mad.

“Look in his wallet, Will, behind the picture of you and him,” Dustin muttered.

Will froze. A few days ago Lucas and Dustin told him to check Evan’s wallet. They wanted him to check if Evan had a picture of him in his wallet. Will hadn’t done that yet. So why or how do they know Evan has a picture like that in his wallet? Before even grabbing and looking at the wallet Will was filled with dread. Will grabbed Evan’s wallet and stood up.

Everyone was looking over at Will with curiosity. None of them knew what Will was going to find in the wallet. Will opened the wallet and sure enough a picture of the two of them was in there. In any other circumstance, Will would have doted more on the picture. He pulled the picture out and discarded it on the floor.

Evan groaned on the floor, he was regaining consciousness after that impact he had with the wall. He glanced up at Will, “Will? What happened?” he asked.

Will didn’t answer, he was staring intently at Evan’s wallet, at the picture in there that was turned around, he took it out and dropped the wallet.

Evan heard the wallet drop, he looked at it and recognized it as his , He looked up at Will with a hint of terror in his eyes.

Will turned the picture around, his hands were shaky. 

“Will-” Evan called.

“Shut up,” Will muttered, his eyes glued on the picture.

“What is this?” Will asked Lucas and Dustin.

“Mike called it his proof,” Lucas said.

“Proof of what?” Will asked.

“He just called it his proof,” Lucas replied.

“What is it?” Dustin asked.

Will extended his hand out for Dustin to grab the picture and look at it.

“We can’t,” Lucas said, “Mike doesn’t want anyone else seeing it.”

Will retracted his hand, he glanced at the picture again and just felt so viscerally sick.

“Will, please–” Evan spoke again.

“No shut up, Evan, just shut up,” Will said.

Will turned around to look at Evan “Oh fuck you, Evan!” he yelled.

“FUCK YOU!” He yelled as he kicked him in the stomach.

“YOU LIED TO ME!” Will shouted, “You told me Mike was hitting on you, but he wasn’t was he?”

Evan was quiet.

“ANSWER ME!” Will yelled.

“You saw it yourself–” Evan was answering.

Will kicked him in the legs this time, harshly.

“It isn’t even me in the picture!” Evan rushed to defend himself.

Will felt goosebumps along his skin, “I don’t care that it wasn’t you!”

“YOU’RE THE ONE WHO HAS THE PICTURE!” Will yelled.

“Mike knew about it, didn't he? That’s how Dustin and Lucas knew,” Will huffed.

“ That’s why Mike didn’t explain himself last time…” Will heaved.

Will’s breath began to speed up and he started hyperventilating. El made her way to his side, leading him away from Evan and to the living room. Will started crying out of frustration.

“What did he do, El?” Will cried into her shoulder. 

El whispered into his ear what Mike told her. and Will’s stomach churned.

“Stand up,” Lucas said to Evan.

Evan was confused but stood up.

Lucas socked him in the face and Evan threw a punch at him too.

Max stepped up closer, she didn’t interrupt their fight but she started speaking to Evan, “I know if I find out later on what you did I’m going to regret not hitting you even once but even if I find out you did nothing I won’t regret hitting you since you did make Will cry.” Lucas backed up a bit so Max could get a shot in, she didn’t hit him with a fist. She kneed Evan where it hurt, in the groin.

“Hate to hit a guy while he's down but I won’t get another chance like this,” Dustin said before he hit him in the stomach with an uppercut.

Evan did push Dusting harshly to the ground, even with all the hits he had received. Lucas acted quickly after that push and shoved him up against the wall, “Don’t you fucking dare hit my friends,” Lucas snarled.

Steve, Eddie, and Jonathan just stood there, kind of amazed at them. They are all really sticking up for each other. They didn’t have much tact though but based on how often they had to deal with the upside down, the monsters, and even people, it makes sense. People died and not many thoughts were given, Even if those people were fighting against them. The world kept spinning when people died and they were kids being exposed to that. 

“That’s enough, Lucas,” Steve said.

Lucas didn’t listen and continued fighting with Evan.

“LUCAS, ENOUGH!” Steve yelled.

Lucas did stop then and Evan got the last punch, hitting him right in the face. Lucas almost punched back but his hand was held back by Steve.

“Go,” Steve said, pointing to the couch where Will and El were.

Max, Dustin, and Steve headed there.

Chapter Text

Mike got home about three hours after leaving. He was still with Matt since Matt had his bike at Mike’s house. At first Matt was thinking of leaving as soon as he got there but then they both saw that everyone was still there. Mike groaned when they neared the house and he still saw their vehicles and bike’s there. It’s not like he could just walk away though. After all, he needs to go inside for his car keys to pick up Holly from her playdate.

“I can stay longer if you want,” Matt told Mike.

Mike thought about it, “That would be great, do you think you can distract Holly after I pick her up?” he asked.

“Sure,” Matt nodded.

“Wanna come with me to pick her up?” Mike asked.

“Well I wouldn’t want to wait with all of them here so yeah,” Matt said.

“Okay, wait by the car, I have to go inside for the keys,” Mike said as he turned to walk up to his doorstep, Will was outside with Lucas, both looking at Mike.

Matt nodded and went to wait by the car.

Mike grimaced as he neared the door and Will immediately came up to him to apologize.

“Look, we can talk later, I’m busy right now,” Mike said as he passed by Lucas and Will to enter the house. Everyone immediately stood up and looked at him when he entered.

The only ones still sitting were Jonathan, Eddie, and Steve. The three were sitting by the kitchen table. 

Mike ignored the party who were staring at him, wanting him to look at them so they could say something, so they could apologize or talk to Mike about what happened. Per se, he didn’t ignore them, he just didn’t look at them and immediately turned his attention to where Jonathan and the others were.

“Eddie, can you throw me my keys?” Mike asked.

Eddie grabbed the keys and got ready to throw them, “Sure thing–” he was cut off by Max saying, “Don’t give them to him yet, he can’t leave, we need answers.”

Mike sighed, “Eddie, just throw them to me, I have to go pick up Holly,” he said.

Eddie nodded and threw them. Mike caught them and was about to walk out.

“Mike, before you leave,” Jonathan started saying, Mike stopped in his tracks and turned to look at him, “hm?” Mike hummed.

“Can you swing by my house and see if Nancy is home yet? If she is, bring her if not go check Robin’’s apartment,” Jonathan said.

“Fine,” Mike said.

—

The Byers’ house was closer so Mike swung by there first. Nancy wasn’t there so Mike left to go pick up Holly before going over and checking Robin’s apartment.

Matt and Mike sat in comfortable silence on the way to pick up Holly. Both feeling tired out for the day.

“It’d be nice to just get home and sleep,” Mike muttered.

“Tell me about it,” Matt yawned.

“Want to sleep over?” Mike asked.

“Can I? I don’t feel like biking home,” Matt chuckled tiredly.

Mike nodded a bit as he pulled into the house of Holly’s friend.

“Well, you wait here.” Mike said as he parked the car and got out.

On their way to go check Robin’s apartment Matt and Mike were quiet. Holly was telling them about her day and what they did at her friend’s house. She received a few hums and ‘ Oh really? ’ as responses.

“Where are we?” Holly said when they got to Robin’s apartment complex.

“Robin’s apartment, we’re seeing if Nance is here,” Mike responded.

“Can I go with you?” Holly asked.

Mike nodded, “Will you wait in the car again, Matt?” Mike asked.

“Yeah,” Matt said with a small smile.

Luckily or maybe unluckily, Nancy was there. Unluckily because it meant Mike would have to tell her about what happened. And luckily because if he didn’t tell her now with the others, he would have to tell her at some other point. Which just meant he would have to talk about it again and he doesn’t want that.

Honestly fuck comfort. Fuck feeling that feeling of comfort. Fuck feeling relieved and protected by someone. Just fuck it all. Mike wants none of it. He wants to live in turmoil. He wants to live on the cusp of insanity.

Nancy was confused to hear Mike and Holly were at the door.

“Why are you guys here?” she asked them, as she went to the door. Robin, who answered the door, got out of the way and back to the couch with Vickie.

Holly looked at Mike for an answer.

Mike looked down and kicked his feet, “Jonathan’s over at our house,” Mike said.

Nancy was quiet for a few seconds, “Why?” she asked.

“It’s better if you go,” Mike replied.

“Does it have to do with what happened last week?” Nancy asked.

“What happened last week?” Holly asked.

“Don’t worry about it Holls,” Mike said before turning to Nancy and nodding.

Mike saw Nancy move her hands upwards and towards Mike before she quickly retracted them, “Okay, let me just say bye to Robin and Vickie,” she muttered.

“Okay because everyone’s waiting at our house,” Mike said.

Nancy froze, “Holly, go inside with Robin and Vickie for a bit, I have to talk to Mike out here,” she said after a bit.

Holly nodded and went inside, Nancy closed the door after.

“Who is everyone?” Nancy quietly asked.

“The party, Jonathan, Steve, and Eddie,” Mike replied.

“Oh, Mike, what happened?” sympathy in her voice.

“Nancy, everyone’s waiting to hear that too, I’ll tell you then,” Mike said.

“Mike, almost everyone is there, for how long have they been there?” Nancy asked.

“Three hours,” Mike muttered.

“Three hours? Why didn’t you come for me sooner?” she questioned.

“I called the Byers home to see if you were there and you weren’t so I called Jonathan,” Mike answered.

Nancy nodded, “I’m glad you called someone when you couldn’t find me,” she said.

“I didn’t know where you were and Jonathan wasn’t sure either he told me to come check here after picking Holly up,” Mike added.

“Okay, Mike you don’t have to explain yourself, I’m just glad you’re safe and that Jonathan could be there,” Nancy softly smiled.

Mike nodded, he felt a bit choked up, “Can we go?” he asked.

“Okay, I’ll get Holly and say bye first though,” Nancy said.

“You could always invite them and have a sleepover at the house,” Mike muttered.

He didn’t want Nancy's fun to end and he wanted her to have someone else beside Jonathan to go to if she got stressed out. Not to mention, almost everyone was already at their house, they were just missing Robin and Vickie to make it everyone.

“Are you okay with that?” Nancy asked.

Mike nodded, “Just hope they don’t mind the heavy air when they get there,” Mike laughed.

Nancy tried her best at smiling before nodding and going to ask Robin and Vickie if they wanted to go. They agreed. Mike rode home with Nancy, Holly, and Matt in his car. Robin and Vickie followed behind him in Vickie’s car.

—

“Woah– why is everybody here?” Robin asked as soon as she stepped in.

“Robin?” Steve called out.

“Hey Dingus,” Robin smiled.

Steve frowned but still greeted her.

“The atmosphere is heavy,” Vickie commented.

“Something happened earlier in the day,” Steve grimaced.

“What happened?” Robin asked.

“Holly, go up to your room,” Mike said.

“I wanna hear what happened,” Holly said.

“No, go up to your room, Matt will go with you, so show him your drawing or something,” Mike said.

Holly groaned, “Fine,” she said as she marched up to her room. 

“Thanks again,” Mike whispered to Matt.

Matt gave him a smile and nodded as he followed after Holly.

“So what happened?” Robin asked.

“I got into a little dispute with Will’s boyfriend–” Mike was saying, “Ex-boyfriend,” Will corrected.

Mike rolled his eyes.

“Why?” Vickie asked.

“He lied, I was hitting on him and they all believed him,” Mike said as she pointed towards the party.

“Mike,” Nancy called.

Mike grimaced, “It’s true,” he muttered.

Nancy couldn’t say anything about that so she didn’t.

Robin looked over at the party, “Seriously?” she questioned.

None of them uttered a word; she only received guilty expressions.

“Oh… you’re serious,” Robin muttered.

Mike glanced over at Eddie, he was white as a sheet and staring at Mike. They locked eyes and Eddie looked away. Mike followed in suit and ended up locking eyes with Will. Mike looked away quickly then too. Mike wanted to fold into himself and tear his hair out. He didn’t know where to look and he just wanted some guidance right now. Someone to tell him what to do, where to look, what to say.

“How long ago did that happen?” Robin asked.

“Less than a week ago,” Jonathan muttered. He glanced over at Mike, who was just looking down at his feet. He stood up from the table, giving his seat to Vickie and went over to Mike.

Mike was startled when Jonathan put a hand on his shoulder. He looked over at Jonathan who just smiled and gave Mike’s shoulder a small squeeze. He smiled back and nodded. Nancy was standing on Mike’s other side.

“Eddie, Steve, Robin, Vickie, can you guys go wait in the basement?” Nancy asked.

“Sure,” Steve smiled.

“Just put on a movie, Jonathan and I will join you soon,” Nancy smiled back.

“Actually, can Eddie wait a bit?” Mike asked.

Nancy gleaned at Eddie who nodded. The other three went down stairs and Mike went up to Eddie.

“What’s wrong?” Mike asked as him.

“What that kid did, does it have anything to do with those hickeys?” Eddie whispered.

Mike’s face fell. It contorted into a look of horror, “ what… ?” It sounded so small and scared.

Mike’s response answered Eddie’s question, “You didn’t know?” Eddie asked.

Mike put a hand to his neck and shook his head, “No one has mentioned it and I haven't looked in a mirror,” Mike mumbled.

“That must have been terrible,” Eddie said.

“He didn’t get very far before Matt knocked him out,” Mike muttered.

“Still that must have been terrifying.”

Mike stood still for a second before nodding.

Eddie looked at everyone else, they were quiet and just waiting for Mike.

“They all know?” Eddie asked.

Mike followed his gaze, “Not Max,” Mike said.

“Good luck,” Eddie told Mike.

Mike nodded and Eddie left down to the basement.

—

Mike stood in front of them. Everyone was looking at him, waiting for him or someone to say something first. After a few moments Will made his way to Mike and handed him the polaroid picture. It momentarily stunned Mike that Will had it. It made sense but, did they all see it? Or was it just Will?

Mike crumpled it up as he took it from Will’s hand and then shoved it in his pocket. He looked at everyone’s faces for a little reassurance that they hadn’t seen it. They were either very good at acting or none besides Will had seen it.

“What… What do you guys want to know?” Mike asked.

“What happened today?” Nancy asked before anyone else. She knew the other stuff, she just didn’t know this.

Mike grimaced and glanced over at Will.

“I also want to know,” Will muttered, his eyes looking puffy.

“Evan…” Mike’s mind flickered through the day. He doesn’t know what to say or where to start, “He showed up outside the house.” His mouth closed like that was all that happened. His insides felt like they were shaking.

“I got home, he was outside,” Mike added. He was looking nowhere yet everywhere. A nervous smile plastered on his face, his insides still shaking as if he were cold.

Max had this confused look on her face.

“I was going to enter. He threw the keys and locked the door,” his mind felt muddled. Mike felt like he was telling a horror story where he was the protagonist.

Mike was certain he himself was shaking as well. Everyone was too busy listening to what he was saying to see his expression. To see that smile that just seemed to grow more and more, his voice sounded shaky too. He just felt shaky. Moving an arm felt like moving a rusty handle.

A part of him felt like telling everyone to put their hands to his ears so he could speak the next part without any of them listening, “I ran.” it was followed by nervous laughter, “not that it was much help,” joined by a joke.

His smile fell and he furrowed his brows, he felt like hiding somewhere. Nowhere to glance, nowhere to ask for help. No one to look at to make him feel stable enough to speak more. He wanted to lock himself up and not talk for days.

“Hands,” Mike said. He skipped ahead, he couldn’t keep track of his thoughts, “Hands,” he spoke again. His eyes unfocused and his breathing quickened, “Hands.” he heaved. His thoughts stayed focused on hands, everywhere. Hands, everywhere, hands, old, new, old, new, old, new, Troy, Evan. Hands. Hands. Hands. Hand- Fuck no more hands. Please.

Mike felt arms around him, he flailed and fell on the ground, he looked up at El, it was her arms.

Oh, god . Mike can’t do this.

There’s this freaked out look in his eyes as he continued staring at El. He looks utterly terrorized.

“Matt,” Mike said, grounding his thoughts on the moment he saw Matt after Evan was knocked out.

He looked away from El to the others, they looked worried, “He knocked out Evan.”

Yes. That’s right. Evan was knocked out. Those hands stopped. Those hands didn’t get very far. Nothing happened. Nope, nothing at all. Everything is and was okay. His pants were differently not undone. His shirt was definitely not lifted. There’s definitely not hickeys on him. 

It dawned on Max what had happened as she looked over at Mike and his phony smile. It dawned on her as she saw the hickeys on Mike.

Mike felt gross. It's like he could still feel Evan’s tongue in his mouth. He covered his mouth and retched. Fuck it’s so gross. The sensation is still so vivid. It’s so gross. Fuck, make it go away. Mike wants to gnaw at his skin to make that vivid feeling go away. He retched again.

He scurried off the floor and ran to the trashcan in the kitchen. He puked his guts out.

Mike wants to set himself aflame. Sensations felt so vivid. The tongue felt so vivid. The hands felt so vivid. It felt like there was a weight looming over him, holding him down even though he could move. It was like a phantom body pressed up against him. 

The first person at his side as he was at the trash can was Will. He held Mike’s hair and had a hand on Mike’s shoulder. It was like the others decided to leave them alone.

Mike sat up on the floor and against a cupboard after he finished, Will sat down next to him. Both of their legs stretched out. Mike’s right shoe tapping against Will’s left shoe.

“I should have talked to you first,” Will said.

“Yeah,” Mike mumbled.

“I didn’t know he was like that.”

“Neither did anybody else,” Mike said.

“I knew something was wrong, I just didn’t know what,” Will muttered.

Mike knew that feeling. He felt it before with Will. He felt it in that first spring break in his freshman year of high school when he visited the Byers in Lenora.

“I get it,” Mike muttered.

“It was obvious something about Evan bothered you,” Will said with a sniffle, “I just…”

Mike grabbed Will’s hand, “I just couldn’t think Evan would…” Will cried a bit.

Will clenched Mike’s hand, “I didn’t think he could do that.”

“You would never do that and I guess I… I don’t know,” Will cried, “I know there’s no excuse for it.”

“Maybe I was seeing things through rose colored glasses because he’s the first guy to like me, the first guy I dated,” Will sobbed.

“I liked you first,” Mike muttered, “I loved you first,” he corrected, squeezing Will’s hand.

That made Will freeze before he sobbed again, “And I loved you,” he said.

Neither said anything afterwards. Mike let Will sob, he even leaned his head on Will’s shoulder as Will cried. Neither of it meant it. Neither meant the ‘ loved ’ because it’s not like their love is in the past. The two still love each other. It just didn’t feel appropriate to say.

Mike would have kissed Will. He would have if he hadn’t just puked his brains out minutes ago. He’s glad he didn’t. It would have been appropriate if he kissed him. Not when Will just broke up with someone. Not while Will’s sitting on the ground crying. Not when Will is probably heartbroken. 

“Stay over, tonight,” Mike whispered after Will stopped crying.

“Hm?” Will hummed.

“You and the party should stay tonight,” Mike muttered. He was looking at his hand in Will’s hand. Playing around with it and intertwining their fingers.

Will sniffled, “I’ll stay and tell the others too,” Will said.

Mike nodded, Will could feel it.

“Just I don’t wanna talk about what happened anymore, let’s just hang out like normal, play some games, talk, watch a movie,” Mike suggested.

“Okay, I got it,” Will said.

“Matt’s staying over too,” Mike added.

“Okay,” Will said, he retracted his hand from Mike’s.

Mike clenched his mouth and moved his hand down to his side. He sat up straight, “Okay,” Mike mumbled.

Will stood up and left to tell the others. 

Nancy and Jonathan came up to him.

“Mike?” Nancy called crouching down a bit and reaching a hand to help him stand up.

Mike shook his head and swatted Nancy’s hand, “I don’t feel like standing,” he said. It was true but his legs also felt like a newborn baby deer walking for the first time.

Nancy nodded, she grabbed a chair and sat by him, looking down at him and his sullen expression. Jonathan sat next to, criss-crossed style. 

“I’m glad Matt was there to help you again,” Nancy said.

Mike nodded, not meeting her eyes.

“And I’m proud of you for calling for help afterwards and not just dismissing it,” Nancy spoke.

Mike nodded again. This time it scared him. It scared him because he was home alone this time. He was home alone and Evan had locked the door.

Nancy looked at Jonathan.

Jonathan gave her a small nod, “It’s great you told us last time, it would have been great if you told us sooner,” he told Mike.

“I know,” Mike muttered.

“I’m saying this because if you hadn’t told us sooner and I had gotten the call, I don’t think I would have come after your fight with Will,” Jonathan said with shame in his voice.

“No,  I probably would have if you and Matt were more descriptive or said it was an emergency,” Jonathan retracted, “Point is if you hadn’t spoken up last time it would have taken me longer to get here or I would have sent someone else to come in my stead like Steve or Eddie and they live farther from you then I do.”

“Mike, do you know what we’re trying to say?” Nancy asked.

Mike took a while to say or do something for a response. He nodded and said, “I should have told you guys sooner.”

“Mike, I hope something like this doesn’t happen to you again,” Nancy said, which sounded like a bargain, not a bargain to him, but a simple plea to the universem, “But if it does…please, please , come and tell me or Jonathan or one of the party members.”

“And by again we don’t necessarily mean just Evan, but anyone , be it guy or girl,” Jonathan added.

Mike curled into himself a bit and nodded, “I will,” his voice sounded dry.

Nancy reached a hand out, and Mike grabbed it. Nancy softly smiled, “I want to be there for you, Mike, I want to be involved in your life and know your woes and highs,” Nancy said,

It made Mike snort. Nancy sounded like one of those parents who saw their kids go down the wrong way in life and just realized they fucked up while raising them.

“Sorry,” Mike said half-smiling, “I–” Nancy was way more open then he was, “want that too,” he said it in a quieter voice. 

Maybe Nancy was way more open since she was with Jonathan? She had someone to rely on, someone who knew what it was like to lose it all. Someone who learned to be open because he lost it all. 

Mike turned to look at Jonathan, “Thank you,” he said as he and Nancy let go of each other's hand. It was a thanks for being there for Nancy and helping her but also a thank you for helping him today.

“Anytime,” Jonathan said as he stood up.

Nancy stood up as well and put the chair back, “Now, you can go shower if you want to,” she told Mike.

Mike nodded.

“If you need us, we’ll be in the basement,” Nancy said.

Mike nodded and watched them leave, “Hey Max,” Mike said after they closed the door. She stood next to him, she waited for them to leave to have her chance to talk to Mike.

“I’m not good with this type of thing,” Max said.

“I know,” Mike responded.

“And I know you aren’t either,” Max sighed.

Mike nodded, “sit,” he said.

Max smiled a bit, that seemed like a good start. So she sat next to him, with her legs pulled up close to her.

“It’s easier to tell others how they are feeling,” Max said.

“So you want me to do that? Or do you also want to do that?” Mike asked.

Mike could see it in her face. He could see how apologetic she felt.

Max shook her head, “No, I should try this time instead of guessing how we both feel like always.”

Mike grimaced, “Okay, talk then,” he said.

“I’m sorry about last time,” Max said.

Mike nodded, that sounded about right.

“You’ve been avoiding us lately and then last time at the pool you were buddy buddy with Evan at the pool, and then last time when I saw you with Evan it felt like something clicked,” Max said, she shrugged, “I don’t know I guess it felt like or I rationalized that maybe you were avoiding us because you felt guilty about what was going on with Evan.”

“And you were weird about Evan from the beginning,” Max added, “I wasn’t just angry with you, I was angry with Evan, I thought you two were going behind Will’s back and then it blew up and Evan was covering his ass and just blaming it all on you.”

“No one seemed to think the same and if I went and told Will or the others, none of them would probably have believed that Evan also cheated,” Max continued, “I thought I had seen through his bullshit,” Max took a deep breath in, “But I guess one way or another I felt for it too even if it wasn’t how he planned it.”

Mike was stunned. He could see this from the others perspective and know how he’d handled it if he was in their shoes but this just left him stumped. He isn’t sure how he would have reacted in Max’s shoes. 

Okay, Max and El are dating. He tried putting it in different terms to see it more clearly. But Max has been avoiding them. And then one day Mike is with El and the two of them walk in on Max with Lucas. How would he react to that?

Well, he would be angry at Max. Max was angry at him, when she thought Mike had cheated with Evan. He would be angry at both of them, even if Lucas didn’t know Max and El were dating. Mike would comfort El, who probably wouldn’t yell or out Max, just run away and cry. El would probably talk to Max later when she isn’t with Lucas. Not the point. How else would Mike react? He would avoid and ignore Max for a while, until her and El work things out.  Max also avoided him but she also avoided everyone else except El. Mike would have iced out Lucas for a bit, but Lucas would muster through it and eventually get to Mike on why he’s been like that.

Mike breathed out, “Okay, I get it,” he said to Max after a long while of silence, “If I thought you were cheating on El, I would have done the same.”

“I’d never do that to her so hit me if you end up thinking that,” Max snorted, “Because if it seems like I am and you think I am, El probably would too, so hit me to knock some sense into my actions,” Max explained.

“I’ll definitely hit you,” Mike said.

“So are you going to get up now?” Max asked.

“In a bit, can you call Matt down?” Mike responded.

Max got up, “Alright,” she said and left upstairs.

Lucas and Dustin came up to him this time. Essentially they were the final two he needed to talk to since he technically talked to El first before any of them.

“Thank you for telling Will about my ‘ proof. ’”Mike said to them.

“Mike, what was that proof?” Dustin questioned.

“Seriously, man, it left Will pretty shaken up,” Lucas said.

“It was an old picture from high school,” Mike said.

“We just graduated about a month ago,” Dustin mentioned, “How old?” he asked.

“Just a few years,” Mike sighed.

“It doesn’t matter, it’s old news,” Mike said.

“Can we see it then?” Lucas asked.

Mike shook his head, “No, I’m getting rid of it.” No, he isn’t. He’s going to hide it away somewhere, with the other two he has.

“What was in that picture?” Dustin asked.

Matt arrived just at that time, “Max, said you called for me,” he said to Mike.

Mike reached a hand out to him, so he could help him stand. Matt got closer and helped him out. He had an arm wrapped around Mike to help him stand.

“Jelly legs?” Matt quietly asked.

“Yeah, but I think it’s almost gone,” Mike whispered.

“So?” Lucas continued questioning about the picture.

“It’s an old picture from a party,” Mike replied, “Evan blackmailed me with it.” Mike figured that was enough to get them to stop asking about the picture.

It seemed to have worked.

“How’s Holly?” Mike asked.

“I fell asleep for a bit and when Max woke me up, my nails were painted,” Matt responded.

Mike glanced at Matt’s nails and laughed, “Purple, is so your color,” Mike teased.

Matt rolled his eyes, his face reddening.

“You guys can watch tv, while I shower,” Mike said to Lucas and Dustin. Who just nodded and left to join Will and El on the living room couch.

“Is Max still upstairs?” Mike asked Matt.

Matt nodded, “Holly’s painting her nails now.”

“Alright,” Mike said, “Can you help me upstairs? I don’t wanna lose balance while climbing,” Mike added.

Matt just held him up a little tighter and began walking towards the stairs.

“If I had strength, I probably could have carried you upstairs,” Matt kidded.

“In front of my friends? That’s embarrassing,” Mike replied.

“Nothing wrong with a friend helping out another friend,” Matt smiled.

“So you’re saying you wouldn’t be embarrassed if I carried you in front of your friends?” Mike questioned.

“That’s complicated,” Matt hummed, “but– I would love to be carried.”

“Just not in front of your friends?” Mike laughed.

“Maybe if I have a twisted ankle or something, I’d find it less embarrassing if one of them carried me though,” Matt replied.

“I can’t exactly say the same,” Mike said.

When they reached upstairs Matt let go of Mike, so he could walk by himself. 

“So what are you going to do?” Mike asked.

“What do you mean?” Matt asked.

“You can go with Holly and Max, wait downstairs with Dustin and the others, or just wait in my room and then head downstairs when I’m done showering,” Mike responded.

“Too awkward if I go downstairs and wait with them,” Matt ruled out the second option.

“I’ll wait with Holly and Max,” Matt said.

—

When Mike finished showering and dressing he went inside of Holly’s room to get Max and Matt. Holly was asleep, using Max’s thigh as a pillow.

“What are you guys talking about?” Mike asked.

“When did you and Matt stop your fling?” Max asked.

“How do you know about that?” Mike questioned.

“You really think I wouldn’t notic–” 

“I told her,” Matt said.

“And you couldn’t have told her when?” Mike asked.

“I was going to but then you barged in here,” Matt huffed.

“So when?” Max questioned.

“Earlier today, while we were out,” Mike replied.

“So I’m the first to know?” Max asked.

“Max, you and E– Jane are the only ones who knew we were a fling to begin with,” Mike sighed.

“What about Will?” Evan asked.

“Will knew?” Max looked surprised.

“He found out like two days after we started,” Mike said.

“He doesn’t count though, he thinks Matt and I were seriously dating,” Mike said.

“I’ll tell him for you, since I owe you,” Max shrugged.

Mike nodded, “Thanks, it’d be weird if I told him.” Especially after he just told Will this very same day that he loved him.

“Let’s go downstairs with the others now,” Mike told them.

Max pointed at her lap, “Help me?”

Mike gave it some serious thought before going over to her.

“Do you think I’m strong enough to carry a 9 year old girl?” Mike asked Max as he reached down to carry Holly.

Max shrugged, “Matt help him.” 

Matt rolled his eyes at Max’s command but still went over to help Mike, Mike did all the heavy lifting Matt just had his hands hovering under making sure Mike didn’t drop Holly. The best and gentlest way Mike could put Holly in her bed was near the edge of it. After making sure she wouldn’t fall Mike, Matt, and Max left to join everybody else.

—

[March 1990]

A little over half a year had passed. The party was back to being their regular selves. No one besides Will knows what was in the picture Mike “burned.” Which he didn’t actually burn, he just told others he did. And something that just happened at the beginning of their spring break, in college? Max and El came out and told the rest of the party they were dating. 

Now, 2 days had passed since then. The party was walking up a grassy field, Dustin trying to find the best spot to put his new and improved Cerebro. It was an empty grass field, no one in sight. So El and Max were walking hand in hand. Lucas was walking next to Dustin, talking to him about a girl in one of his classes. Mike was walking alone and so was Will. It seemed the only thing that didn’t go back to normal was their relationship, even though they have both tried to get it back to normal. Now it seems like the two were never meant to be best friends.

When they reached a good enough spot, Dustin set it up. He goes to the same college as Susie, so the two have only been separated for a few days. They can always call each other but they’re both being extra with this. And honestly, if they’re smart and can do it they should go ahead and be extra. Not to mention calling would cost money.

“Will,” Mike said as he went to stand by him.

“Hey Mike,” Will replied, turning to face Mike.

“Can we talk?” Mike asked.

“About what?” Will asked.

“I just wanna talk with you,” Mike smiled.

Will smiled back, “Yeah, we can talk,” his voice oozed.

Mike grabbed Will’s arm and pulled him aside so no one else would hear them.

“How’s college?” Mike asked.

“My classes are good so far, not too much work but enough to keep me busy,” Will replied.

“And how are yours?” Will asked.

“A lot of writing and reading in my English class, and my other classes give me an okay amount of work, not too heavy of a workload,” Mike replied.

“And your dorm?” Will asked.

“Small,” Mike replied, “Especially since I have a roommate.”

“Is he good?” Will asked.

Mike nodded, “Yeah, he is very tidy and organized and is always in bed and asleep by 10,” he said, “And how’s your dorm and roommate?”

“The dorm is small, like you said but I didn’t even bring a lot of stuff so it’s enough space,” Will responded.

“My roommate… well he’s okay, kinda messy but he’s not even there half the week,” Will shrugged.

They stood in silence for a bit. Both trying to think of something to say.

“Will, can I tell you something?” Mike asked.

“What is it?” Will looked somewhat serious.

Mike stood there for a bit wondering whether words or action is better. They’re both good but he’s too nervous to talk and he doesn’t even know how to start out talking. So instead Mike leaned in and gave Will a quick peck on the cheek then leaned back, “I still love you,” Mike muttered.

Will blinked up at Mike. His eyes widened a bit and he put his hand where Mike kissed him. It was only after Mike called his name. “Will?” that he realized he hadn;t said anything back.

“I still love you , too,” Will unblinkingly said, “I never stopped, I don’t know why I said ‘ loved ’ back then.” 

“I didn’t stop either,” Mike said, a smile on his face that he tried so hard to keep from spreading.

Mike leaned in and Will also leaned forwards, and this time the two properly kissed.

Chapter Text

Mike had no time to think, everything was happening so fast and everyone’s eyes were on him. 

Everyone in the party looked at him, their expressions a mixture of appallment and betrayal, Matthew was among the party members but he didn’t share their expression he sported a look of worry.

Mike glanced at Evan, who was hiding a smile that was only visible to Mike. He looked back at everyone else, “It’s not what it looks like!” he yelled.

“Well, Michael!” Will coldly yelled at him, “What does it look like?!”

Will along with the other party members stood on the stairs of the entrance to the basement to Mike’s house.

“I know this looks bad but this isn’t what you think!” Mike yelled back at him.

Mike's parents weren’t home and neither was Holly or Nancy. It was about 7 pm and a week til 4th of July.

No one could believe the sight before them; Evan was sitting down on the couch with his hands on Mike’s shoulders keeping him in place, but to everyone else, it looked like he was pushing Mike away and Mike was straddling him looking like he was making a move on him.

Mike tried pushing himself away and Evan pushed him back as he did so making him harshly fall on the floor. Evan ran up to Will as Matt pushed to the front.

“See Will, I told you,” Evan said to Will, a pitiful expression on his face.

“I’m sorry for not believing you,” Will said with a sigh.

Will glared over at Mike, “I expected better from you, Mike,” Will sounded disappointed.

Tears pricked Mike’s eyes as Matthew made his way to Mike and hugged him, “Are you okay?” Matthew whispered.

Mike nodded his head and pushed Matt away.

“I never did anything!” Mike yelled at the party.

“Mike we just saw you,” Max muttered, it looked like she was avoiding looking at Mike.

“Never did anything?” Will questioned but it wasn’t an actual question.

“Evan told me you’ve been trying to make moves on him,” Will uttered.

“Bullshit! Mike would never do that,” Matthew yelled at him, “Evan’s-”

He was cut off by Mike, “I can explain!” Mike yelled.

“Explain,” Will said.

Mike kept quiet, he couldn't explain because then he’d be telling them about the picture.

Everyone stayed quiet for Mike to explain but he didn’t.

Will sighed, “See, you can’t,” he said.

“I can’t believe you would do this, Mike,” Max said as she left, dragging El with her.

“But I wouldn’t,” Mike said under his breath.

“Can we leave, babe?” Evan asked Will, “I don’t want to be around him much longer.”

Will smiled at him and quietly said, “Sure.”

But, before leaving he coldly stared at Mike, “I never thought you would stoop so low, Mike.”

Matt was thinking of what he should do or what he could do but then Will was leaving so he had to think quickly, “WAIT!” he yelled.

Will didn’t wait. He held Evan by the hand leading him out trying to move around Dustin and Lucas who stood there, hurt and confused.

“WILL DON’T LEAVE!” Matt yelled, he was desperate.

Mike stayed there quietly; he didn't know what Matt was yelling but he knew he was. and he just wanted to break down and cry right there.

Matt glanced at Mike and could see he was about to start crying and Mike was losing or maybe just lost what he needed the most, “COME BACK!” Matt yelled out towards the door, Will and Evan were out the door already.

Matt heard Mike start to cry, “PLEASE STAY!” Matt yelled as he looked over at Dustin, “Bring Will back, please!” he yelled.

Dustin and Lucas stood there mouth agape and Matt felt like crying himself, he was so overwhelmed by the situation and it felt like nothing he did was helping and Mike needed his friends and he needed their comfort. Because they’re closer to Mike than he is and he just can’t provide that same level of comfort.

Matt was starting to cry, “Please!” he pleaded, and it snapped them out of whatever shock they just had, “Please, he needs you guys!” He sounded somewhat terrified.

Dustin and Lucas looked at each other. nodding to one another, before Lucas ran out of the house to get Will before he drove away and Dustin rushed to Mike’s side.

Mike was on the floor sitting, crying. Dustin was by his side, still confused and not knowing what to do. He didn’t know what had happened before, he didn’t know what was wrong or what exactly was making Mike cry. He hasn’t seen Mike cry much or at all.

“Please don’t leave,” Matt cried, “I can explain so please don’t leave him.”

Matt kind of felt like Mike would disappear if his friends left him.

Dustin was hugging Mike, he looked at Matt with a confused expression. How could Matt explain the situation if arrived at the same time as him and the others?

“LET GO, LUCAS!” Matt and Dustin could hear Will yell as Lucas dragged him into the basement. Evan was following behind the two. The only ones not there were the girls who were in the car waiting.

Will was fuming standing right there, his face momentarily looking crushed when he saw Dustin comforting a crying Mike. He turned away from them, to look at Matt. Matt had stopped crying but it was apparent that he had.

“I’m waiting,” Will seethed.

“I don’t know what happened but Mike hasn’t been making any moves on Evan,” Matt said, his voice sounding shaky. He stood up and faced Will.

“I don’t even know you that well,” Will glared, “what makes you think that I’m going to believe you over my fucking boyfriend?”

Like ire building inside him, “I just fucking met you not that long ago!” Will yelled, so angry, “Shouldn’t you be angry at Mike for cheating on you?” he sounded bitter.

Lucas and Dustin were surprised at hearing that.

“Mike’s been avoiding you guys!” Matt yelled at Will, “So why would he hit on your boyfriend?”

Matt looked over at Evan, he looked smug. He couldn’t stand that look on his face. He lunged himself toward Evan, throwing him a punch in the face. It came out of nowhere so Evan couldn’t dodge and the others could only stare, he tried throwing another punch but was pushed away by Will, “FUCKING BASTARD!” Matt screamed at Evan. Evan placed his hand on his cheek where Matt hit him.

Mike had stopped crying; he was just quiet and looking over at the commotion, unresponsive to whatever Dustin was telling him.

Matt looked at Will with anger and Will did the same. Evan looked like he was about ready to hit Matt. 

“You want a piece of me, Mathew?” Evan snarled, putting his fists up for a fight.

And Matt hasn’t gotten in any fights before. But he was ready to fight like his life depended on it. He glared at Evan, raising his fists as well.

The two started fighting, Matt losing, Lucas and Will trying to separate the two, and then Matt seeing he was miserably losing tried to get Evan’s wallet without him noticing. Once he did he allowed himself to be dragged away from the fight by Lucas.

“What happened, Mike?” Dustin quietly whispered to Mike as the fight ended.

Mike blinked and shook his head.

“What the fuck was that all about?!” Lucas yelled at Evan and Matt.

“He punched me first!” Evan replied.

“HE ASSAULTED MIKE!” Matt yelled in anger.

And that snapped Mike out of his unresponsive state, his expression riddled with fear and shock. 

Matt directed his attention to Will, “and you…” he muttered, “YOU’RE SUPPOSED TO BE HIS BEST FRIEND! ” He was exasperated.

The room fell silent, Will looked taken aback, he backed away from Evan and turned to look at Mike. Mike’s expression terrified him.

“That’s such a terrible accusation,” Evan snarked.

And Will wanted to believe Evan’s words but Mike’s expressions were all off.

Lucas and Dustin didn’t know what to believe. Lucas blocked the way out, though, just in case.

“Oh please! You’ve been trying to blackmail him!” Evan yelled.

And Mike just looked more terrified to where this was heading but his voice wouldn’t come out. Will looked at Evan with unease.

Evan looked at Will, “You’re not believing this are you?” he tried laughing it off.

Will didn’t answer, he just looked away.

“I just met him, how would I even blackmail him?” Evan tried explaining to Will. Will looked at Matt for answers.

Matt opened the wallet he took from Evan, “Hey that’s my wallet!” Evan yelled as he double-checked himself to make sure it was. Matt took Mike’s picture out, the one that Evan still had.

“With this picture,” Matt said holding it up, he was closer to Will so he angled it towards him.

“GET OUT!” Mike yelled. It was sudden so it made everyone jump.

Will was frozen, he went pale as he looked at the picture. 

“MATT! EVERYONE, LEAVE!” Mike yelled.

Dustin was still by Mike’s side, he didn’t know what to do, he backed away but he didn’t leave. Matt stood where he was holding the picture, Lucas walking over to take a look at the picture. Evan looked unsure of what to do.

Mike stood up, “DROP THAT FUCKING PICTURE, MATT!” Mike shouted.

Matt dropped it, Lucas picked it up to look at it, and Will turned to Evan and without thinking, just slapped him. Evan looked surprised that Will hit him. Then Will threw a punch at him.

Mike walked up to Lucas snatching the picture, there was no way out. The exit to the basement was blocked out by Evan and Will fighting and Lucas looked like he was about to tap Will out, to fight Evan in his stead. Mike cradled the picture close to him, there was no way out. No matter how many times he looked around, there was no way out. So he just locked himself in the bathroom.

He could hear a knock on the bathroom door, He stayed quiet. The knocking wouldn’t go away and neither would his feeling of disgust, for himself. He ended up breaking down into sobs right then and there. Lucas and Evan fighting outside the bathroom.

Mike just wanted everyone to go away. He wanted to disappear.

At some point it was quiet. Inside and outside the bathroom. Mike was just in the bathroom, no longer crying. He was just eerily quiet and not moving at all. His gaze is on the picture in his hands. He could no longer hear the others fighting or a knock on the door. He wasn’t going to risk going outside because then it would all start back up, and his sobs would begin again. And his oldest friends will be there, knowing what Mike didn’t want them to know.

Mike doesn’t know what happened to Evan since he couldn’t hear him or Lucas fighting. It was just quiet with the exception of a few murmurs from outside the bathroom.

A few minutes more passed and Mike heard a knock at the door. He lifted his gaze to look at the door, he didn’t say anything. He just waited to see if whoever knocked would knock again or talk or maybe do nothing and finally leave him.

“Mike?”

That was Nancy’s voice.

Mike didn’t say anything.

“Mike, please open the door,” she sounded desperate. She sounded scared.

Mike didn’t move, he was so fucking tired. He just wants everyone to leave him. He wants to disappear like he never existed. As if maybe he was a ghost all along.

“Mike, Open the door,” she sounded more authoritative.

Mike looked at the picture and crumpled it and shoved it in his pocket. It wasn't meant for anyone to see, especially his sister. 

“Mike, PLEASE !” her plea filled with fear, “Mike say something!” she implored.

Mike could almost feel her terror spike as he didn’t say anything. He kind of just wants to go mute and never talk to anyone ever again.

“Mike, you’re scaring me, say something,” she sounded near tears.

He moved in front of the bathroom door, he sat with his back against it.

He could almost hear Nancy let out a little nervous laughter of relief. Relief he was still breathing and alive. Mike doesn’t want to die, he just wants to disappear. Start a new life in a different state or country with a different name, Somewhere no one knows him or can track him.

Mike could hear noise outside the door, he thinks Nancy just sat on the ground with her back to the door too.

“I don’t know what happened,” Nancy said, “No one told me anything but they’re all very worried about you.”

Everything just feels so heavy to Mike right now. It’s so tedious to even respond or move. 

“Are you okay?” Nancy asked.

Mike nodded, knowing she couldn’t see but he still wanted to answer.

“Just knock twice for yes and once for no.”

Mike knocked twice.

A small smile was on Nancy’s face, “What happened?” she asked.

Mike knocked once.

“The others are in the living room, I’m the only one here,” Nancy told him.

“Do you wanna talk about it?” she followed it up with.

“No,” Mike muttered.

“Do you want me to leave?” she asked.

Mike went quiet. He did wanna be alone a little while ago. Right now he just wants to drop like dead weight into someone’s arms. He wants to be coddled and comforted like a child who just witnessed something absolutely terrifying.

He knocked once.

“I won’t.”

Mike stood up and unlocked the door, he could hear rustling on the other side. He opened the door and Nancy and him just silently stared at each other. Nancy looked at him with worry, he looked tired and agonized. As if they were in sync Nancy reached out her hands to hold Mike, Mike dropped into her hands, and he put his arms around her in a hug. The two dropped to the ground and Mike wished he was a small child right now so he could fit into her hands and hide away. 

Mike started painfully sobbing, as he held onto her like he was afraid she would leave him. 

“ I wanna leave, ” Mike sobbed.

Nancy didn’t know what was wrong but her baby brother was crying and he looked absolutely destroyed when she opened the door and saw him. It hurt to see him like that.

“Leave where?” she asked.

“I wanna leave,” he repeated.

Nancy failed at something. She isn’t sure at what but she knows she did.

“Where?” she asked.

Mike didn’t answer where, “Please, I wanna leave,” he blubbed.

Mike didn’t know where. He just wanted to leave. He wanted to go home. He isn’t sure what he means because he’s at his house. He just wants to cry and tell Nancy he wants to go home. And he knows about the whole ‘your house isn’t always your home thing ’ and that it can be a person, place or thing. But he doesn’t have anything or anyone he considers home.

“Mike, where?” she sounded defeated.

Mike sniffled, “I wanna go home.”

Nancy looked perplexed, she didn’t know what to do or what Mike meant since they were home , “We are home ,” she soothed.

Mike wants to cry out for a home he isn’t even sure he ever had. Maybe this home is just a feeling? Maybe he’s just yearning for a simpler time. It’s weird because for a few years now it feels like he’s been in an unfamiliar place, as if he has been displaced from before.

“ I wanna go home ,” he was a sobbing mess, “I don’t wanna be here anymore,” he hiccuped.

Nancy was quiet, she held Mike a little tighter. Hearing Mike cry and saying he wants to leave and go home, made her just wanna take Mike and run away. She can’t though, she has college and it’s her last year. Not to mention Mike starts college in less than two months.

“It’s okay,” Nancy hushed Mike, “You’ll leave eventually,” she whispered to him.

Mike liked hearing that he’ll leave but he wants to leave now and ‘eventually’ sounds so far away.

—

Jonathan was in the Wheeler’s living room, waiting for Nancy or Mike to come out of that basement. Will, Lucas, Dustin, El, and Max were also in the living room. Will looked like he was a second away from passing out, Lucas switching between fuming anger and guilt, Dustin looked like he hadn’t processed whatever happened, and El and Max just looked confused but worried about the situation. Max also looked guilty.

Matt had left home, he was just leaving around the time that he and Nancy arrived. He had called the Byers home, where the two were at the time to urge them to come over. When the two arrived Lucas and Evan were outside fighting, the girls yelling and trying to separate them. El didn’t use her powers so she wouldn’t hurt either, she didn’t know what happened. Jonathan and Nancy stepped in and broke the fight. Matt didn’t even explain anything he just said that Mike needed help.

Nancy already has a distrust for Evan so when told that Mike needs help and seeing how Lucas was fighting Evan, she worried. She quickly ran to the basement. She saw Will by the bathroom door looking like he was going to hurl but anxiously calling Mike’s name as he knocked on the door. He stopped when he saw Nancy. Dustin was by Will’s side also calling out for Mike. Will also didn’t tell Nancy what happened, he only told her what was going on. And that was that Mike was in the bathroom, not responding, or getting out, and that he wasn’t okay. Nancy didn’t hear much more before telling the two to go upstairs while she stayed and checked on Mike.

It had been a few minutes by the time Jonathan broke the silence, “What happened over here?” he asked the group.

The silence felt heavier after he asked. They all looked between each other. Will looked like he was gonna hurl and ran out of the living room to the bathroom. And Lucas just looked at Will as he ran out, now his eyes were averting looking anywhere but the ground. Lucas was suffocating, ever since he saw the picture and Mike’s reaction. And that picture looked old . Not old, but Mike looked younger in that picture. He momentarily had that image out of his mind, that was until Will ran out looking sick to his stomach. Now he feels like his heart is beating a million beats a minute, his vision looks shaken, and he’s a moment away from breaking down.

Dustin didn’t see the picture so he didn’t know how bad it was. He knew it was bad though, Matt yelled it out and Lucas and Will’s reaction confirmed it. Now he’s on the couch in distress and what could only be described as shell shocked; His mind reviewing that night over and over. He was scared when Mike locked himself in the bathroom since he was hysterical just some moments before. Especially with that last conversation he had with Mike at the pool.

The girls knew it was but they also didn’t know how bad. They didn’t hear what Matt said. They didn’t see the picture. They only saw Lucas and Evan fighting. They only saw Nancy and Jonathan arrive. They only saw their panicked faces and Nancy hurriedly running to the basement. They only saw Will running out of the room looking sick. They only see Lucas and Dustin having their own little freakouts. That’s all they knew but it was enough for panic and worry to seep through their pores. And they’re just so fucking worried about Mike and no one has said what happend but they don’t even know if they want to know. Especially when this is how the guys reacted to whatever happened.

“Max and I don’t know,” El breathed out after a few minutes. Such high tension made her want to cry.

Jonathan nodded at them and gave them a small smile of comfort. He looked at the guys, “And you guys?” he asked.

They didn’t respond but they heard another voice, “Evan’s a fucking bastard.” They drew their attention over to where it came from, it was Will. He looked worn out and angry.

And Jonathan thought back to Mike’s little breakdown a while ago and the conversation he had with Nancy that night, “Did… did he do something to Mike?” he asked.

“ Mph ,” they heard a muffled cry. It was Lucas. He stood up, “I need a moment,” he said and then left to the front porch.

And fuck that scared Max because Lucas is crying. And you know that means this is serious. Mike’s not much of a crier but after Mike it’s Lucas. Dustin felt like he was sinking seeing Lucas’s and Will’s reaction. It wasn’t just that, it was Jonathan’s question, like he may have known about it. It was that hesitancy Jonathan had in asking the question that just made him sink. And that position and the freaked-out expression on Mike’s face when they entered the room. He saw in Mike’s face that little expression of relief when he saw them enter before it quickly soured by Will’s words. He saw Mike’s expression fall.

El latched on to Max, hiding her face behind Max’s back, crying just a bit. It was Will’s turn to just stare silently as Lucas left. He wanted to go check on Mike and apologize.

It was like everyone paled when Will finally muttered yes .

And the girls didn’t know what Evan did. And their mind certainly didn’t go to Evan sexually assaulting Mike. No, they thought maybe he had fought with Mike. 

For Dustin it just confirmed what he already guessed. And for Jonathan it was a sour taste in his mouth. He stopped asking questions and everyone was just quiet.

When Lucas came back in, Nancy finally came upstairs. She was alone.

“Is Mike okay?” Will hurriedly asked, “Can I see him?”

“Mike’s okay,” she smiled, “But he doesn’t wanna see anyone right now.”

The room was quiet, “It’s probably best you guys come back in a few days to see him,” Nancy said after a while.

Lucas nodded, “He can take all the time he needs,” he quietly said.

“Call us when we can see him again,” Dustin added.

Will didn’t say anything; he looked dejected and just said a small bye as he left with the others.

That left Jonathan and Nancy in the living room alone.

“Are you okay?” Jonathan asked.

Nancy nodded.

“Do you need some time?” Jonathan asked.

He wanted to know if she needed some time to be there for Mike. He assumed he was also part of the people Mike didn’t wanna see for a while.

Nancy shook her head, “No but I’ll be staying here for a little while.” she responded, “You can come over tomorrow or stay the night tonight or any other night I spend here.”

Jonathan smiled a little, “I’ll stay tonight.”

Nancy nodded, “Can you help me with Mike?” she asked.

Jonathan cocked his head to the side with a confused expression.

“He fell asleep, I need help getting him to his room,” Nancy told him.

“Of course,” Jonathan replied to her question.

He followed her to the basement, finding Mike curled up on the ground sleeping. With the help of Nancy, he managed to pick Mike up without waking him.

“How long until your parents get home?” Jonathan quietly asked.

“About an hour,” Nancy estimated.

“Need help making sure everything’s good?”

“No, I already checked and everything’s okay.”

Chapter Text

It was around 11 pm when Ted and Karen along with Holly, arrived home. It was late at night and Holly was asleep, Ted was carrying her as Karen unlocked the door and turned the lights on. Ted entered and went to take Holly up to her room. Karen didn’t follow behind, she went for a glass of water before going upstairs. She got a glass cup.

She took 1 sip of water when she noticed some ‘ trash ’ on the ground.

She picked it up to throw it away but she didn’t. No, this trash that looked like a small bunched-up paper, felt like a picture. She unfolded the picture and lost grip on her glass cup.

It shattered as it hit the ground. It was a loud noise in this quiet house. She didn’t think about that. Her only focus at the moment was a picture. A picture of her son. Her son who appeared to be about 15 in the picture. The picture Mike didn’t want anyone else to see.

She needed a moment. She took a seat by the table, laying the picture upside down in front of her. 

“What was that noise?” Ted asked, he looked worried.

But who wouldn’t when you just heard glass shattered and for all you know it could have been someone breaking a window. Karen discreetly laid her hands over the picture. 

Ted looked at the ground, noticing all the glass on the ground, “What happened?” he asked.

“I got dizzy and needed to sit down for a bit,” Karen answered.

She didn’t tell him about the picture. She didn’t know how he would react and she wasn’t going to risk a bad reaction until she processed it a bit more and… checked up on Mike.

Oh god… Mike.

“I’ll be up in a second after cleaning this up,” she told Ted, hoping he would leave back upstairs so she could dwell on her thoughts a little longer. 

He nodded and left.

She took a few breaths. That picture made her feel ill, sick to her stomach. It was horrendous to look at. She didn’t even look at it for long but it did make her feel disoriented when thinking of it. It was so much worse when she realized the picture was a couple of years old. She doubts Mike would just carry around a picture like this so she wonders how it got here, in the kitchen, of all places.

She looked in the trash just in case Mike was throwing away stuff like that and this picture just managed to maybe roll out. She was looking for an explanation but she couldn’t find one. Not for the picture being here and not for the picture existing in the first place. 

Maybe the picture wasn’t as bad as it looks? Maybe Mike likes that sort of stuff.. She doesn’t believe that but she also doesn’t believe something like this would happen to her son and she wouldn’t know about it. It was an inconceivable thought. Mike’s been the same for years but how does something like this happen and she doesn’t know? It’s her son for god’s sake. Her son.

Karen cleans up the shattered glass and heads upstairs. She didn’t go straight to her room though. She went to Mike’s. She opened the door and turned the lights on. Mike was on his bed sleeping wearing the same clothes from earlier in the day. She took note that he wasn’t in pajamas. She was quiet and just staring at him. Her eyebrows were furrowed and she saw Mike stir in his sleep as she turned the light off. She was about to close the door and leave when she heard Mike. She couldn’t hear what he was saying so she stepped closer and heard him say, “ No. ” Mike was sleep-talking. 

He stirred in his sleep again, “stop,” he muttered.

Karen stilled, she was frozen in place. She paled as the words sunk into her, as that picture crawled into the forefront of her thoughts, and as everything just felt like it was being muddled together. There was nothing she could do to make it better because it already happened. It happened and she never knew. It happened and Mike never told her. But why?

Why?

Why?

Why?whywhywhywhywhy– WHY?

Why didn’t Mike tell her? Surely this wasn’t an easy thing to keep to yourself. It also isn’t an easy thing to tell anyone but she’s his mother. His mom . Why couldn’t he come to her about it? Who did he go to about it? Did he go to anyone about it? Did he just keep quiet about it?

Mike stirred in his sleep again and Karen let out a shaky breath. It felt like the wind had been knocked out of her.

She heard some shuffling, “Mom?” she turned to face the door, to see Nancy in pajamas, clearly tired. Nancy turned the lights on.

“What are you doing in Mike’s room?” Nancy asked.

Karen opened her mouth to say something but nothing came out. She just looked back at Mike and then again at Nancy, shaking her head with a smile. 

“Is everything okay?” Nancy asked.

“Everything’s okay, honey,” Karen replied as she walked over to the door. Nancy backed away from the door so her mom could step out, turn the lights off and close Mike’s door.

“Are you sure?” Nancy asked. Her mom didn’t look okay, she looked shaken up. Almost as much as Nancy did a few hours ago. There’s no way her mom knows about what happened so what happened?

Karen gave Nancy an uneasy smile, “Yes, goodnight,” Karen told her.

“Is Mike okay?” Nancy asked.

“Why? Did he tell you something?” Karen answered.

“No, why did something happen?” Nancy looked worried, “I’m just asking because you were just in his room and you seemed concerned.”

“I don’t know,” Karen honestly replied, “It’s late and I’m tired, goodnight Nancy.”

Nancy didn’t say anything and Karen walked away to her room, “Goodnight Mom,” Nancy muttered before Karen entered her bedroom.

—

When Mike woke up he stayed in bed. He lay awake, just thinking. Avoiding thinking about the day before. He wondered though, since they had plans to hang out for the 4th of July, are they still doing that?

He heard a knock at his door, he expected it to be Nancy, “You can enter!” he shouted. Unexpectedly, it was his mom. So Mike sat up on his bed, “Mom?” he sounded confused.

“We need to talk,” she said.

Mike nodded. This seemed serious.

“Mike, you know you can talk to me, right?” she asked.

Mike nodded, slower this time. He was confused about where this was going.

“I told you in the past, I want you to feel like you can come talk to me, about anything and I mean anything , Mike,” she looked uneasy.

“I know,” Mike muttered.

She furrowed her brows and clenched her mouth, “Mike,” she called. Mike looked at her, cocking his head a bit to the side, “Is there anything you want or need to tell me?” she asked. It looked like she was expecting something. Like she already knew but needed to hear it from Mike.

Mike tried thinking if he had screwed up at any point these past few days and his mom wanted him to fess up but there was nothing. Or at least nothing he could think of. So he shook his head.

His mom let out an estranged sigh. The look on Mike’s face let her know that it wasn’t because he didn’t wanna tell her but because he didn’t know what she was talking about it could be referring to. He looked confused.

“I know it’s a hard thing to talk about,” Karen said.

Mike still looked confused but his heart was beating a little louder.

“Mike, it’s okay, I’m just here to listen and maybe help you if you need it,” she said. “I know it’s not easy to keep that to yourself.”

Mike grimaced, “What are you talking about?” he asked.

Karen sat on the edge of Mike’s bed, she put one of her hands over Mike’s, “I’m sorry if you felt like you couldn’t tell me and I’m sorry that happened, I don’t know if it still hurts or if it’s still too painful to talk about but I’m here for you,” she told Mike.

Mike’s heartbeat was as loud as thunder. His expression fell and he felt uneasy. He dug a hand in his pockets, the picture was gone. 

Karen watched Mike’s reaction. She watched Mike’s face fall, she saw panic in his eyes, she saw as he looked up at her with utter terror in his eyes. She saw him open his mouth to speak, just to close it. She saw him freeze and retract his hands from hers. She saw him clench his fist. He opened his mouth again, only a painful sound came out before he closed it again. 

“ Mom… ” he cried out, as tears started spilling out.

Karen was quick to pull him into a hug, she cradled his head.

Before Mike or Karen knew it, he was full-on sobbing, holding on to Karen like a lifeline and calling out to her like there was no tomorrow. He allowed himself for a bit to be a kid. A kid who needed his mom. A kid who could really use his mom and tell him everything will be okay. A kid who just wants someone with him, someone who will protect him. And his mom may not be that person, but he still needs her. 

She let him cry all he wanted.

As Mike sniffled he asked, “Can I get it back?”

“Who was he, Mike?” Karen asked, she sounded devastated.

“ Mom… ” Mike said.

“Mike, who?” she asked again.

“The picture, please ,” Mike begged.

Karen took the picture out of her pocket, “Who was it?”

“Mom, please, ” Mike’s throat felt tight.

“Just tell me,” she said.

Mike shook his head, “Why?” his voice cracked.

“We need to report him,” Karen said.

Mike looked panicked, “No, no no, mom, no no, please don’t, ” he cried.

“Mike, please, he hurt you,” Karen soothed.

“ Mom, no… ” Mike cried.

“Don’t protect him,” Karen told him.

Mike flinched, “I’m not… I’m not,” he cried, “I just don’t want everyone to know.”

“I know, Honey, I know,” she comforted, “But we have to, he needs to face consequences,”

“Mom,” Mike sobbed.

“Who was it?” Karen asked, one last time.

Mike sobbed, not responding.

Karen idly stood by.

They heard a knock at the door before Nancy opened the door. She saw Mike crying and ran to him, “Mike what’s wrong?” she asked.

Mike shook his head at Nancy.

“Mike, tell me,” Karen spoke. No longer asking but telling him to tell her.

Mike cried a little louder, “Troy,” he said, taking a deep breath, “Troy Walsh,” he finished saying. He held his hand out so she would give him the picture.

Karen took in a struggling breath, “You’ll get it back after.”

Mike nodded as he sobbed and Karen walked out of the room.

“Who’s Troy Walsh?” Nancy asked Mike.

Mike took a few deep breaths, trying to quell his tears and regulate his breathing.

“It doesn’t matter,” Mike told Nancy when he finally managed to keep more tears from spilling. 

“What happened yesterday, Mike?” Nancy asked.

Mike was quiet, he blinked a few times, “Evan…” the name was sour on his tongue, “told Will I was hitting on him.”

“Will believed him?” Nancy asked.

Mike shook his head, “No, but Evan made it seem like I did so Will would believe him.”

“So Will believed that?” Nancy asked.

Mike nodded.

“What else happened?” There was this feeling in Nancy’s gut that there was more to it.

“That’s all, they all believed him, all of them,” Mike was in disbelief.

“After all we’ve been through together,” Mike added, “How can they believe that?”

“How could Max, who I’ve grown closer to, believe that? When we tell each other mostly everything?”

And maybe Mike hadn’t given it all much thought until now. Now, when he decided to give Nancy a bullshit answer that was 100 percent the truth but also missing a few details.

“What about Lucas? He may not have followed them but he doubted me. He thought I would really do something like that. After everything, after all that upside-down stuff, why would I? ”

“Dustin hesitated as well and is my character that bad? Am I that bad of a person? That they would all doubt it or think I did hit on him? Dustin? After sacrificing my life for him?”

“El? After all that time we spent together? After I tried my best so she wouldn’t be holed up alone at home back then? After all that time I spent calling out for her and doubting she was dead when everyone said she was?”

Mike looked at Nancy, “Am I really that bad?” he furrowed his eyebrows, “Please, I need to know. Am I?”

“You’re not,” Nancy said.

Mike frowned, “I know it looked bad but I implored them, I told them it wasn’t what they thought.”

“I couldn’t explain myself, yes I get it, that’s suspicions, but still, Nance , they thought I would do something like that.”

Nancy was quiet. She didn’t know how to respond because if all of them had shown up back at the Byers's house angry at Mike and saying he was hitting on Will’s boyfriend, she wouldn’t believe it, but if they told her they saw it, she probably would. She knew Mike disliked Evan and knew he was to some extent scared of him so she doubted she would. But a small part of her thinks she would.

“But I just couldn’t tell them, I couldn’t explain it to them because… because then I would have to tell them about Troy .”

Nancy just pieced together a puzzle. Whatever Evan had attempted to do to Mike a while back, Troy did do. That’s what she pieced together. The only thing she didn’t know was what they did or tried to do. 

“What did he do to you?” Nancy asked. It was almost a whole puzzle, with just a piece in the center missing, a crucial piece so for it to be whole. 

Mike looked at her, his eyes piercing into her. He opened his mouth, but no words came out so he took in a large inhale and exhaled. He knew what he did. He could think about it and he could find words to say it but nothing would come out. Even simplifying it to one word didn’t work. 

Mike pursed his lips and with a frown looked away from Nancy. 

“Mike, what did he do?” Nancy asked, her voice charged with concern.

Mike grimaced, the word was at the tip of his mouth but all that came out was a retched sound. 

Nancy’s eyes widened and she quickly got up, Mike retched again and Nancy grabbed the trashcan in Mike’s room, threw the papers away, and handed it to Mike. Mike took it quickly and before he knew it he was throwing up. When he stopped he was heaving and he felt gross. 

“Feel better now?” Nancy asked.

Mike nodded, he took his blanket off and swung his feet off the bed. He sat on edge, he looked at Nancy then down at his feet.

“I don’t really wanna talk about it,” Mike murmured.

Nancy couldn’t hear him, “What was that?” she asked. She sat down next to him.

“I said,” the only part he said clearly, “I don’t wanna talk about it,” it was quiet but Nancy could make out the gist of what he said.

“Is it hard to talk about?” Nancy asked.

Mike nodded, he was quiet and continued looking down at the ground.

Nancy turned to face him, “Do you want to write it down?”

Mike shook his head.

“You don’t want anyone to know?” Nancy asked.

Mike talked this time, “Too late,” he said, “mom knows.”

Nancy was taken aback but based on how his mom was before leaving and her reaction last night, it was bad. Her mom yesterday looked like she was on edge like she was on the verge of breaking down. A moment's notice from having a panic attack.

“How does she know?”

“ Picture , ” that was all Mike said.

This puzzle had more pieces missing. Nancy must have just been too focused on the center to realize other pieces were missing.

…

“The lesser of two evils,” Nancy muttered.

Mike looked at her questioningly.

“That’s what you said at the Byers’ house Last time you went.”

“What you found that day was a picture and what Evan found was two other pictures, right?” she asked.

Mike nodded.

“What was so bad about the pictures?” Nancy asked.

Mike made an effort to say something, but nothing came out. He just keeps having difficulty talking. He’s never been this open before, he and Nancy have never had such an intimate conversation.

When he couldn’t say what was so bad about the pictures he said, “Top drawer, on the far left side all the way at the bottom.”

Nancy blinked but she understood. She went over to Mike’s drawer, she opened the top one, and looked where Mike said. There were two pictures. The one on top wasn’t so bad, she turned it around and her blood went cold. In clear writing the word ‘slut’ was written, along with Mike’s name.

Mike saw her freeze, he wanted to look away but he couldn’t.

Nancy was just a bit scared of looking at the second one. She turned around so her back wouldn’t be facing Mike, she moved the first picture to the back to look at the second one, it was just a quick glimpse but she felt sick. It was just a quick glimpse because Mike had come across the room and covered the picture almost as quickly as Nancy looked at it.

“Did he…” her eyes were wide, “Did he rape you?” she asked.

She didn’t like Mike’s reaction one bit. She didn’t like Mike’s response one bit. She didn’t like the way she failed at something one bit. Most of all she hates how she just found out what exactly she failed at. She failed at protecting her brother. She failed as a sister, she wasn’t there for Mike when it happened. And Mike didn’t come to her for help and Nancy knew their relationship has always been strained but now she sees how bad it is.

Then she realized something else, “Evan,” she muttered, “He… attempted to do it?” she slowly asked.

Mike nodded again.

Nancy took in a sharp breath. And she never even tried to get Mike to talk more about it back then. She saw how Mike was sparsely hanging out with the Party and while she did question why she never actually talked to him about to find out why or see if there was a problem or something.

“And last night?” she asked.

“He… he touched me a bit but that was it because he was just trying to make it seem like I was making moves on him,” Mike replied.

Nancy looked horrified. She was right to not like Evan.

Chapter Text

Two days after the incident, Mike was still in his room. He was lying on the ground, staring at the ceiling, when he heard his supercomm.

“Mike, it’s Will, over,” Mike heard. 

Mike didn’t make an effort to reach for his super comm and reply so after a little while more of silence he heard, “I don’t know if you’re listening or if you even want to hear from me.”

Mike waited for Will to say something more. He knew Will was still there because he could hear a tapping noise come from the comm. After a few seconds, he heard Will clear his throat, “I’m sorry… I’m sorry, I didn’t know.” he heard Will say.

“I shouldn’t have believed him, I should have talked to you about it,” Mike propped himself up on his elbows and turned to face the comm, “I’ve known you for what feels like my whole life and I’m sorry, Mike,” Will’s voice cracked halfway, “Over.”

Mike stayed starring. He was thinking. Thinking if he should respond and thinking the whole situation over. He can’t blame Will for not knowing since Mike did actively try to keep it from him. But Will was right about going over to Mike and confronting him about it. Before what had happened down in that basement, he could have come to talk to Mike. Mike just can’t find it in himself to be mad at Will or anyone at the party. He isn’t angry at all. Not about what happened and not at anyone. He turned to lay on his stomach and reached over for the comm, “It’s fine, over,” that’s all he said before turning it off and throwing it on his bed.

Mike stayed on the ground a little while longer, eventually falling asleep. About an hour later, he felt like packing up and leaving, but he didn’t want to leave without a word. So he finally got out of his room and knocked on Nancy’s door.

Jonathan opened the door, “Hey Mike, how’re you feeling?” he asked. Since that day, the day it all came to light, Jonathan had been staying over at the Wheeler's house with Nancy.

“Hey Jon’, I’m good, you?” Mike smiled.

Jonathan moved to the side so Mike could enter, “I’m good too,” he said.

“What’s up, Mike?” Nancy asked, she was sitting in front of her vanity applying some light makeup.

Mike’s resolution seemed to just wash away now, “Nothing, I was just bored,” Mike replied.

“Jonathan and I are going out in a while to some underground concert,” Nancy told him, “Wanna come?”

“Where is it?” Mike asked.

“It’s about an hour away,” Jonathan replied.

Mike nodded, “Sure, when should I be ready?”

“We’re leaving in 15-30 minutes,” Nancy informed him.

Mike nodded and left back to his room he sorted through his stuff on what to wear. He ended up picking some ripped jeans and a bleached Bronski Beat graphic t-shirt. He grabbed a sweater as well a dark grey zipper sweater. 

About 20 minutes had passed when he finally chose his clothes and changed. He heard a knock at his door.

“Are you ready, Mike?” He heard Nancy loudly ask.

Mike sprayed some cologne on and replied, “Yeah!” as he went to open the door.

“Okay, come on let’s go,” Nancy said.

—

The concert was awesome. Mike was really into the music. Not to mention it feels as if it had been forever since he last felt okay. But this, this, honestly made him feel so much better. Like he forgot his troubles and woes. It all seemed so clear. The music entranced him.

By the time the 4th of July had come around, Mike no longer felt like running away. It was a hectic past week, with the whole basement incident, and with his mom finding that picture, having to go to the cops and talk to them, and Troy not even refuting what he had done. No, he owned up so they didn’t have to go to court. It was all so quick and felt way too easy in Mike’s opinion. But he was glad it didn’t drag on or become a huge public thing. 

Though Karen, his mom, talked to Mrs. Henderson, Mrs. Sinclair, and Ms. Byers about it. She didn’t give them the specifics or say what had happened. She only told them of what Troy was convicted of and that they should check in with their kids and make sure it didn’t happen to them.

If you were to note the good things that happened that week though it would be that Mike bought a guitar, an electric guitar. Ever since he went to that concert he’d been wanting to learn and play. He did always have an interest in music but he never thought about pursuing it or at least having it as a hobby. But now all he wanted to do was be in a band. To sing and play the guitar in a band.

It’s not easy for Mike to learn to play all by himself. but a teacher would be too expensive. It’s only been two days since he bought it so he hasn’t actually learned much so maybe he’s speaking too soon saying that. He made a resolution to himself: Before going off to college he would go to another concert. 

“Mike, are you going out today?” Nancy asked as she entered Mike’s room.

Mike was playing around with his guitar just plucking the strings.

“I don’t know, I haven’t talked to the others in a while,” Mike responded.

“Do you think you’re ready to see them again? They’re just waiting for one call that says it’s okay,” Nancy said.

Mike shrugged, “Are you going to the fair?” he asked.

“If you don’t have plans by the time I go, you can come with us if you want,” Nancy offered.

Mike thought about it, “Who’s going?” he inquired.

“Me, Jonathan, Steve, Eddie–” Eddie, Mike had forgotten that Eddie knows how to play the guitar. Maybe he could teach Mike how to.”– Robin, and Vickie,” Nancy replied.

“Sure,” Mike said. If he does go with her it’d give him a chance to ask Eddie. 

Mike’s pretty sure that Eddie was also another reason he was inspired to play and why he chose the guitar of all instruments.

—

Around 2 pm, someone, well someones, was impatiently knocking on the door. Mike was home alone at the moment, Nancy had gone to the mall a little while ago with Vicky and Robin, and his parents were out with Holly. So Mike opened the door to find all his friends there. They looked pretty surprised and shaken up.

Dustin was the first to tackle him with a hug, Mike was confused but hugged him back. Soon after Dustin, they all hugged him. When they finally backed up Mike asked, “What are you guys doing here?”

“We were worried about you,” El replied.

“You don’t need to be,” Mike said.

“We heard about Troy,” Lucas said.

Mike closed the front door and swooshed everyone to the couch, “That’s old news,” Mike stated.

“I actually didn’t even know until they all were calling each other about it,” Max said.

“I called Will up after my mom talked to me about it, it was so awkward and Erica was there too,” Lucas groaned.

“I told Lucas that my mom and Hopper also talked to me and El about it, so we called Dustin and so did he,” Will added.

“Then they called me to see if I did, I didn’t ,” Max said, “But they told me all about the conversation.”

“Is that it?” Mike asked.

“No, because afterwards Will and I remembered the picture,” Lucas quieted down, “…And we realized why they talked to us about, I don’t think they knew it was you, except for Hopper that is.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?” Max asked Mike.

She wasn’t the first person to ask that question but she was the first to ask out loud. The first to ask Mike and not themselves like Karen or Nancy did. While there was more to the story than Troy since there was that whole time between Troy and Evan. That time in between that Mike was sure was probably the only thing he’d get to keep secret, or just to himself. No one will ever bring it up and if Mike ever acts off about something it all be sanded down to it just being because of Troy or Evan.

“It’s not exactly an easy thing to talk about, especially since I’m a guy,” Mike replied. And Mike’s been told various times this past week that it must be a hard thing to talk about or at least not easy to talk about so maybe he’s taking from that. Though it's true. Mike couldn’t find it in himself to tell Max, who he had grown close with and while she had told him stuff and he had too, he never told her about Troy or his ‘ extracurricular ’ activities.

“Did you tell anyone, at all when it happened?” Dustin asked.

Mike shook his head, “I was ashamed,” he said. And Mike’s glad no one had outright said what happened. That no one mentioned the word rape or assault or anything about it. He’d shut down if they did.

They all were quiet for a bit until Max spoke up, “I’m sorry Mike, about my reaction last week.” She looked at Mike for a reaction but he wasn’t giving any, “I shouldn’t have doubted you like that,” she added.

Mike smiled a bit, “It’s fine,” he said.

“I’m sorry too,” El said, “I shouldn’t have walked away, I wanted to go and talk to you at that time and find out why and hear for myself what happened.”

“It’s fine, El,” Mike sighed and he glanced at Max then back at El, “I get it.”

Max grimaced, she knew what Mike was getting at.

“We’re sorry too,” Dustin said pointing between him and Lucas, “Even if it was only a bit we doubted you, I know you wouldn’t after what you’ve done for me but a small part of me was believing what he was seeing.”

“Hey, you two helped bring Will back,” Mike told him and Lucas. From the corner of his eyes Mike could see Will wince at that.

Will looked like a scorned child, “Mike,” we quietly said, “I’m sorry, I really am.”

“It’s fine,” Mike said.

“No it’s not, please don’t forgive me,” Will replied.

Mike looked at him, “Don’t forgive me either, for any of my past mistakes,” he told him. Mike could understand this from Will’s point of view and his own as well, so this just seemed complicated to him.

Will looked choked up, “No,” Will shook his head, “If I had been in your situation I would have been angry at you, Mike, I would have difficulties forgiving you.”

If Mike was in Will’s shoes he wouldn’t have wanted Will to forgive him. But also if Mike was in Will’s shoes would he have walked away if Will was on the ground looking like he was about to break down? Would he have walked away if someone was yelling at him to stay? 

“Me too,” Mike said to Will, “But I wouldn’t have walked away to begin with,” Mike had a hurt expression.

The room was tense, it felt tense to the others but to Mike and Will it just felt vulnerable and forgiving.

Will nodded, he knew he was wrong to some extent for walking away. He was thinking with his emotion, letting them get the best of him. He wasn’t thinking with his head and seeing the whole situation. And Will’s heart was unrespondant the moment he saw Mike and Evan so he definitely was not thinking with it either.

“I’m sorry,” Will said and for once Will understands why Mike apologizes so much to him even though Will has already forgiven him.

Mike half-heartedly smiled at him, he nodded and then looked at everyone in the room, “You guys don’t need to apologize more, I forgive you guys so just don’t bring it up again.”

The party had mixed reactions. On one hand they’re glad Mike forgave them but on the other hand it shouldn’t have been so easy and Mike should’ve been angrier at them. So they never really accepted the apology but they still never brought it back up in the years to come.

Mike sighed, “Are we still hanging out today at the fair?” he asked. He wanted to clear the air and stop everyone from acting so cautious around him.

“Do you still want to?” Lucas asked.

Mike sent him a pointed glare, “No, don’t answer like that, act like normal,” Mike said.

“I still wanna go,” Max said.

They all more or less agreed.

It was just Mike and Lucas who hadn’t said anything. They were staring at each other, neither looking away.

Lucas looked away first, “I will or try at least,” Lucas muttered.

Mike hummed accepting the response then looked back at everyone, “I guess I’ll see you guys in a few hours then,” Mike replied.

—

Will and Mike found themselves alone. They were at a bench waiting for the others to return. The others went to get food, while Mike and Will stayed so they would have a spot to eat at. The fair was great so far and the party was aiming to hit up every stall there was, including the food. They ran into Nancy and the others quite a few times. Mike even got a chance to talk to Eddie and ask him if he could teach to play guitar. Eddie agreed, he smiled so bright and looked proud of Mike for “following in his footsteps” with music. Though Eddie said he’d never really taught anyone before. But never mind that, Mike’s alone with Will right now and neither is talking. There was awkward air around the two.

“So ugh– where’s Matt?” Will asked.

“Camping trip,” Mike said.

“He sure goes camping often,” Will said.

“He likes camping, so he almost always says yes to a camping trip,” Mike snickered.

“You don’t care he’s gone so often?” Will asked.

Mike looked at him confused for a second before remembering that Matt and him currently are having a fling, “Oh! No, it’s not really serious between us,” Mike replied.

“It’s not? But haven’t you two slept together?” Will looked confused.

“No, we haven’t, that time was just a one-time thing,” Mike said.

Will nodded, “Cool,” he cooed.

“Mhm,” Mike hummed, “Me and him, we’re just a fling,” Mike said.

Will looked surprised, “Why not date?” he asked.

Mike narrowed his eyes as he looked at Will, he then leaned back on the bench and looked up at the sky, “The reason we were together in the first place was because I was trying to get over someone,” he said.

“Who?” Will quietly asked.

Mike was quiet, you could hear a cricket chirp, “You,” Mike said after a while.

Will sat up straight.

“I was going to ask you out this summer before I found out you got a boyfriend,” Mike muttered.

“Why didn’t you ask last summer?” Will asked.

“I was afraid you’d reject me and then I thought, I had the whole school year to braven up and ask you this summer,” Mike told him, “And I wanted to do it in person not over a letter or phone call.”

“If I had known you liked guys I would have asked you last summer,” Will murmured.

Mike chuckled at that.

“I love you, Will,” Mike said, “And I don’t mean it as a friend.”

Will looked starstruck, “Gosh Mike,” Will muttered, “I’m in love with you.” he whispered.

Mike smiled.

Will drowned in that silence that followed, after a little while he asked “So what now?”

“What do you mean?” Mike asked.

“Us, what about us now?” Will answered.

Mike turned to face Will, “There is no us , Will, at least right now there isn’t,” he told him.

“Oh,” Will muttered, his eyes looking shiny with the tears forming.

“Will,” Mike said.

“Yeah?”

“There can’t be an us right now.”

Will resignedly nodded.

“Will, you just got out of a relationship, your first relationship at that, and then there’s that whole situation that just happened with Evan, so I also want to just not date anyone at the moment,” Mike explained.

“That makes sense, so when?” Will asked.

That question made Mike laugh, “Maybe next year, next 4th of July or maybe sooner, I don’t know yet,” Mike snickered.

“I’ll wait,” Will smiled.

“You think you’ll still like me then?” Mike asked.

Will blinked and laughed a little, “I’m in love with you, Mike and I have been for years now so why would that change a year from now?”

Mike shrugged, “Well, I’ve also loved you for years,” he said with a smile.

“Wow, we could have been together sooner,” Will said.

“If only you knew I liked guys and I knew you liked me,” Mike added.

“Did you ever talk to El about me?” Will asked.

“She knew I liked you,” Mike said.

“And she knew I liked you too,” Will laughed, “She probably thought we were idiots.”

“She did keep telling me to just go for it and ask you out,” Mike lightly chuckled.

“And she told me to just tell you ‘I like you’ already and date,” Will said..

“Will Byers, will you date me next summer?” Mike asked, he said it in a half-joking manner.

“I will and you, Mike Wheeler, will you date me next summer?” Will repeated.

“Hmm,” Mike hummed, “I don’t know I might need some time to think about it,” he joked.

“Mike!” Will huffed.

Mike broke out into laughter, “I will, Will ,” he said with a smirk.

Will jokingly glared at him.

“It’s a promise then,” Will said.

“Good,” Mike said.

The party arrived just in time with the food.