Chapter Text
Mike sprints out of bed as soon as his alarm clock rings. He might or might not have woken up earlier today to make sure he looks good. Good because the party’s all meeting up today for the first time since the summer before college and now it's spring break.
Not everyone made it to Hawkins for winter break just a few months ago. It was only Dustin who stayed in Hawkins the entire break, while Max and Lucas stayed for about two days, but Dustin wasn’t able to hang out during those days because his mom nagged him to clean the house, make it nice for Christmas. Which means the party didn’t get a chance to be all together.
Dustin only really said Hello and Goodbye to them in the same sentence to them before they drove off. Mike never asked why they stayed so short, all he was focused on was how Will wasn’t here and how he was just so sad Will didn’t make it. He really really missed him. It’s like he almost needed him.
College so far has been treating Mike like shit. Well maybe that's a little dramatic but he hates all his classes, professors and he almost already knows all his classmates since it's a small community college sitting right by the outskirts of Hawkins.
Being around the same people again and again, elementary to high school and now college, puts a huge pit in his stomach. A sense that he never made it out like the rest of his friends. He’s stuck here and he always will be.
So when winter break started, he felt a huge weight come off his shoulders knowing that he doesn’t have to worry about school for a little while and he finally gets to see his friends again. To see Will again. He counted the days and when the amount of days left went from triple digits, to double digits then single digits, Mike grew happier. Happiest he’d been in months. He swore he got some colour back in his face.
Except just two days before, Will called and told him he was going to stay behind since he took an extra course for the break. Some stupid self portrait painting course. He knows Will was looking forward to it and so Will signed up right away as soon as there was space. But Mike couldn’t help but feel so sad. He wrote a whole D&D campaign that they would play during the break and Mike had a list of things he wanted to share with Will. But most of all, he just wanted to see how Will was doing. They speak on the phone sometimes, a few times a month for a few minutes. He understands. They're both busy, Mike not really but Will for sure.
So yeah, now that everyone is finally getting together for the spring break, Mike obviously wants to look good and put together. It’s reasonable.
He walks towards the bathroom, a smile wide on his face. Thinking how he finally gets to see Will today.
Mike looks down at his digital watch on his wrist. Five. more. hours. He smiles impossibly wider.
He walks into the bathroom and looks at himself in the mirror. His smile fades. He raises his eyebrows, opening his mouth slightly and presses his teeth together. “This is not going to work,” he says to himself.
He combs his black curled hair and splashes some water to his face. Brushes his teeth, a little too hard. Like he’s trying too hard. Then he dresses in a very basic black t-shirt that is too tight around his arms and too loose around the waist. He then puts on dark blue jeans, he can’t even remember where he got it from.
He knows he looks boring but he hasn’t bought any new clothes in a while. Mainly because he doesn’t have a job. His dad is mad at him for it. “You need to get a job, Mike. Or else you’ll be nothing.”
But Mike already feels like a nothing so his dads words don’t affect him.
When Mike is done getting ready, his original plan was to head downstairs for breakfast but he feels like his excitement is eating at him. He’s too nauseous to eat.
So, he plops back down on his bed and stares at the ceiling. Thinking about what he’ll do when Will gets here. How he’s going to react. What they'll talk about.
Spring break is only one week but even just a minute to see Will is all he needs right now.
The smile on Mike's face grows wider. He doesn’t know why but he’s never felt like this before waiting for someone.
✩✩✩✩✩
The doorbell rings and Mike hears his mom yell from the bottom of the stairs, “Mike! It’s for you!”
Could it be Will? Did he come early? There’s still over three hours left.
Mike jolts up so fast he gets dizzy. He practically skips the steps when going down the stairs and he looks up. He sees Dustin and Lucas at the door.
Oh.
Mike forgot that they were coming earlier than Will.
Regardless, he’s happy to see them. Except a small part buried deep inside him wishes that he hadn’t gotten his hopes up.
“Wheeler!” Lucas yells.
Mike runs up to them and pulls them both in a hug. They’re on either side of him and between their heads, he can see Max pulling into his driveway, riding on her skateboard.
She settles it next to Lucas’ and Dustin's bikes.
They let go of Mike and as soon as they do, Max squeezes her way in and pulls Mike into a tight hug.
“Good to see you guys again,” Mike says.
They settle in Mike's basement and catch up over small things. While eating snacks Karen prepared for them.
"Now we just need Will here and we’ll finally be all together again,” Dustin says.
The sound of Will's name makes Mike's head involuntarily jerk towards Dustin. Mike thinks he’s just so excited to see him again.
“He should be on his way, if traffic is low in New York and everything, he should be here in the next two hours,’ Lucas says.
Two hours. That feels incredibly close.
Mike looks back up at the ceiling and imagines when the doorbell rings. Will is going to be there. Finally, at his door step. He’ll be closer than he’s been in months. They've been through three season changes practically without seeing each other. Summer into fall, fall into winter and now winter into spring. It’s been too long.
He never knew that one day he’d miss experiencing the seasons changing from his childhood with Will. Seems like a basic stupid faint memory but he hates change. He hated when Will moved to California and he now hates that all the things they did together, they don’t and can't anymore.
Mike sees a shadow appear above him and then hands inch closer to his zoned out face, he doesn't process. He’s busy thinking. The hands clap and Mike jumps.
Max takes a dramatic seat next to him that bounces the two of them. “Mike. Helloooo! I’m trying to ask you something,” She blurted.
Mike licks his lips and blinks slowly, forming a thought. “Oh,” he fixes his posture and turns his body towards her. “What is it?”
"You talk to Will the most out of anyone right?” Now she’s got his full attention. “Did he ever mention a boyfriend?”
Mike’s heart slowly picks up for some reason. He doesn’t know why. Maybe because if he did hypothetically have a boyfriend, Mike would know. And if Will didn’t tell him, it would hurt because they’re best friends and then Mike would really feel the drift. That they're growing apart and maybe don’t tell each other everything.
It takes him a few seconds to answer. “No. Why? Did he mention it to you?”
Max chuckles a bit. “No. That’s why I'm asking.”
“Why are you asking?”
“It’s college Mike. I know you’re lonely so obviously you don’t have a girlfriend. And Dustin is seeing that girl from his physics class. So I'm updated on everyone besides Will. And maybe you’d know.”
“Well from what I know…no he doesn’t have a boyfriend.”
Max slightly nods and gets back up, sitting next to Lucas at the D&D table.
“Did you write a new campaign for us to play?” Lucas asks.
“I did one for the winter break. But you and Max abandoned me. Then Will didn’t come so it was only Dustin,” Mike replies
Lucas waits for him to say more. Then he breaks the silence, “Okay so did you play it…?”
Mike must not be thinking straight today because nothing has been processing directly in his brain.
Dustin gets up from the floor and sits at the table next to Lucas. “No we didn’t,” He looks at Mike then back at Lucas. Smirks slightly and says, “He was too busy moping.”
He's not lying. Mike was incredibly sad during those days. Without Will- OR anyone else…he felt as if playing would be a waste of time. All that excitement building up to the winter break was shattered the moment he got the call. You could forget about being productive for the rest of the time until school started.
Mike didn’t even try to defend himself against Dustin. All he did was a little nod and let out a half-faked low energy chuckle.
“So we still have a campaign to play?” Lucas widens his eyes, hopefully.
“Yes. But we have to wait for Will.”
“Yeah man, Obviously…”
Max, Lucas and Dustin start talking about something and Mike doesn’t care to join because Will is on his way, and he can’t wait to see his face–, to see him for the first time since the Summer.
✩✩✩✩✩
A little over an hour passes by and Mike manages to get his ass off the couch to clean the wrappers left on the floor from the snacks they ate awhile ago. He puts them into a bowl and heads upstairs to throw them into the trash.
As he takes a look at his watch, a smile grows again on his face. He’s never felt so jolly. An excitement that buzzes in his chest, he physically sways just thinking about it. And again, he’s never felt like that. He thinks it’s because of how lucky he is to have a best friend that he can feel this happy about. Becoming Will's best friend is the best thing he’s ever done. He’s so happy Will Byers is his best friend.
The phone rings as he throws away the wrappers. He settles the empty bowl in the sink and picks up the phone.
Mike asks, “Hello?”
There's silence. Maybe it's Will. The thought makes Mike eager for the person at the other end to break the silence. So he can hear Will's voice. Only to make sure he’s safe and on his way.
But it wasn’t him. It was some survey to win a Sony 45 inch TV. Mike hung up right away. He probably shouldn’t have done that. His dad would be mad.
Mike heads back downstairs.
“I’m in the mood for some milkshakes. Do you guys want to bike there while we wait for Will?” Dustin asks
No. Mike does not want to do that. He would only want to if everyone was here.
Mike lays on the couch, crunching up tissue paper as he throws it in the air and catches it, then repeats. “Why don’t we wait for Will?”
Dustin replies, “Because. He’s been in the car for like 10 hours. He probably wouldn’t want to bike with us after that, he’s going to be tired.” Dustin stands up and pushes the chair back in. “I’m just suggesting anything to waste time. We can get him a milkshake and put it in the fridge.”
Mike thinks about it. But still, he doesn’t want to experience a single thing more without Will. It’s too much.
Mike throws the tissue back in the air but fails to catch it and it falls right onto his mouth. He blows it away and sits back up. “You guys can go. I’ll stay here in case he comes early.”
They don’t try to argue with him and they agree and head out.
With his family out of the house too he lets out an exaggerated low breath he’s been holding in. He doesn't know how he feels. He just can’t wait the hour or so left.
He looks behind him on the couch. Wills drawings are still up there. He’s so talented, Mike thinks. No wonder he’s in art school.
Mike turns his body fully and stands a little on the couch, carefully taking one of the drawings down from the wall. He sits back down normally and Mike holds the drawing in his hand. A smile crinkles his eyes. He gets lost in the drawing for a second that when the phone rings it startles him so bad, he rips the paper ever so slightly. Not too noticeable but it makes Mike want to cry.
He puts it on the table in front of him and walks towards the phone and picks it up. Maybe it’s a stupid survey so he can hang up and cry in peace. Mike doesn’t speak first this time.
“Mike? It’s me Will.”
Mike's heart does a whopping 50 somersaults before he can answer back.
“Will! Oh my god! Are you here soon…?”
Will breathes slightly. “No, Mike. That’s why I'm calling. I’m not coming."
Mike's heart freezes. Stone cold. He stays quiet, unable to move. Blurriness fills his eyes. The blurriness had been built up from ripping Will's drawing, but now, it falls out from his eyes due to Will breaking his heart again, just like he did a few months ago.
“What? Why? Again? Everyone's here now Will-”
“I know. I’m sorry, okay? I just keep getting busy. But I promise summer break. I'll be there.”
Mike can’t argue with him, it's impossible. He can't. But he’s just so mad and sad and all his excitement just crashed. Again.
“Why didn’t you tell me this morning? I’ve…we’ve all been waiting for you,” Mike’s voice cracks.
“I changed my mind last night. And I didn't want to wake you up so I was going to call this morning. Then I fell asleep and only woke up now, I'm sorry, Mike.”
Mike wants to say and ask so much. What made him change his mind? Is he avoiding Hawkins, the party, or even Mike himself? He wants to tell him how unfair it is. How his life has been so off the tracks that he just needs his best friend.
But Mike says nothing. Tears roll down his face and he doesn’t want Will to hear it. He stretches out the phone away from his face. His thoughts that he was able to hear so clearly before have turned into a ringing deep in his ears.
He quickly wipes his tears and swallows his emotions down. Hard. “It’s okay, Will. Talk soon, bye.” And Mike hangs up the phone. Gripping tightly onto it. He stands there paralysed.
Then a wave of sense crashes over him. He needs to do something. Matters need to be taken into his own hands.