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“I don’t like girls” Will spoke softly, tears rolling down his cheeks.
Mike was not meant to hear this, he knew that. He didn’t mean to stumble upon this private conversation between Will and his family, and Robin for some strange reason that Mike couldn’t pinpoint. That’s besides the point, despite knowing this conversation was never meant to reach his ears, he couldn’t help but stay and listen.
And something about hearing those words come out of his best friend’s mouth seemingly made him question whether or not he was a good person. Mike was the one to tell Will “It’s not my fault you don’t like girls!”
Mike looked away, his stomach queasy. A giant pit had formed and it began to eat away at him. Was Will afraid to talk to him about this? Did he scare him away, with their fight that day in the train?
Mike gulped, his Adam's apple bobbing.
“I had this crush on someone, but I know they aren’t like me. I realized he’s just my Tammy. But it helped me finally be okay with myself. ” Will laughed through his tears. It was bittersweet, really.
Mike glanced at Robin, her eyes tearing as she stared at Will. She had a knowing look in her eyes, containing understanding and approval.
Mike stopped listening, all he could think about was what Will had said.
Had? Mike's heart sank hearing Will pine after someone else. Wills sobs echoed in the basement of the Squawk. They were full of fear and anxiety. Joyce was the first to embrace him, warm and comforting. Jonathan and Robin followed after her.
He felt guilty, he knew he was intruding. His heart pounded. He shouldn’t be listening, but he couldn’t help but question everything. Why didn’t Will tell him? Why didn’t he say something sooner, or anything at all? And who the hell is Tammy? Why did he feel so guilty and so jealous?
The sight of Will sobbing while being held seized Mike's heart. He swears he can physically feel it ache. All he wants to do is reach out, hold Will and tell him that it’s okay.
Mike needs to do something. About this great inner turmoil growing inside him; He swears he can feel it. Growing and eating away at him. Suddenly, the basement felt claustrophobic. He needs to get out. Mike spun around so fast, he almost fell. Stumbling out the basement and gripping his heart over his shirt. This feeling of anxiety eerily similar to how he felt that day when he and Will fought in the rain.
—
“I felt like I needed to tell you this because of Vecna, he showed me what would happen if you guys knew. And in the end,I’m left all alone and I just can’t let that happen.”
Will heard the loud sound of footsteps. He turned his head but all he saw was a mop of black curls running away. He'd recognized that head of hair anywhere, he doesn’t think he’d ever forget what Mike Wheeler looked like. Considering the fact that he’s drawn Mike from memory way too many times to count.
Will released himself from the tight grip of the hug he was engulfed in.
Shit. Will stared in the direction Mike was just in, hands shaking and heart racing.
Robin eyed Will, immediately noticing the worried expression plastered on his face. She bit her lip, trying to desperately come up with an excuse to get Will and her alone.
“Hey, uh, not to ruin the moment or anything,” She laughed awkwardly to herself. “But Vecna is still planning his world domination, and the merging of the two worlds is imminent. So I think me and little Byers here should convene while you two talk about the plan,” She rambled while shooting finger guns at Joyce and Jonathan.
Swiftly, she grabbed Will by the arm. Dragging him to a dimly lit corner, out of sight from everyone else.
“I saw him too.” No need to mention Mike's name, they both knew exactly who she was talking about.
“Robin, what if he doesn’t want to be my friend anymore.” Will’s voice shaky, tears welling in his eyes again. “I’m so scared he’ll see me differently, and I’ve tried so hard to convince myself I'm over him. But the truth is, years of loving someone. doesn’t just go away like that.”
“Will, this is Mike Wheeler we’re talking about. Your best friend. No way he’d give up a decade of friendship over this. I’m not saying this to be mean, but you guys are all freaks and outcast, and so am I!” Robin gave him a sympathetic smile. “I know he understands, maybe more than you think. All you need to do is talk to him and this will all be fixed. I promise, Byers.”
“Should I go look for him? I have no idea what I'd even say.”
She nodded enthusiastically. “Yes! He couldn’t have gone very far. Just trust me, once you find him, you’ll know exactly what to say,” She winked and playfully punched Will in the shoulder.
—
Mike has no idea where he's headed, but he just needs some air and time to think. He ends up outside the Squawk, everyone busy doing their own thing. He gazes up at the sky, eyes darting back and forth before finally landing on the roof of the Squawk. Perfect.
Mike climbs up the ladder, and once he reaches the top of the roof, he lays down. Back flat on the roof, feeling the rough floor and staring up into the sky.
His mind was like a machine with no off button, just constantly running. He couldn’t stop thinking about Will, and who he liked, and why he didn’t feel comfortable enough to tell him? But he could tell Robin? His heart ached and knots formed in his throat. Why didn’t Will trust him? Why did he like someone else?
Mike sat up abruptly, unable to keep the tears at bay. He blinked hard, trying to keep his tears from falling, but his throat just ached more. He pressed his palms to his eyes, a sad attempt to stop tearing up. He felt the tears roll down his face, hot against his cheeks.
He didn’t even understand why he was crying, or why he cared so much that Will liked someone else.
He was so deep in his thoughts he didn’t even hear the clanging sound of someone climbing up the Squawk ladder.
“Mike?”
Shit.
“Mike?” Will repeated himself, more worry in his voice this time.
He quickly wiped his eyes, but to no avail. They were still puffy and red, and a telltale sign that he was crying.
Will sat down next to Mike, knees touching.
“I know you heard what I said.”
Mike doesn’t dare to look at Will, too ashamed. Too afraid to show his true self. Too scared to talk about what he feels.
Silence. Mike can’t bring himself to say anything.
Will sighs loudly, he can’t force Mike to say anything.
Palpable silence lingered in the air. ”Okay, Mike. I can’t force you to talk to me. I just want to know what you’re thinking for once,” Will sighed, anger present in his voice. He turned around to leave.
Will felt a firm grasp on his arm. Looking back, he sees Mike staring right at him. As if he was reading him like a book, analyzing, studying.
Will immediately spotted damp cheeks, puffy, and glossy eyes.
“I don’t think differently of you, but there are things I wanna know. Like, who’s Tammy? And who did you like before? ” Mike questioned, voice raspy and cracking.
Will settled down next to Mike once again.
Will pursed his lips, unsure of how to explain.
“Tammy, she’s just a metaphor. The guy I liked helped me realize a lot of things about myself. But, the truth is, I'm not over him.”
“Do I know him?”
Will's heart is beating so fast, nearly beating out of chest. Debating whether or not to confess to Mike. Ultimately, he decides to just get it off his chest. After all, the world might end.
“Mike…” Will's voice is soft, packed with vulnerability and fear. “It’s you.”
Will scrambles to explain himself, afraid of rejection, afraid he just ruined a friendship. “I know you’re not like me, I know you have El, I understand. I just needed to get it off my chest.” Will averted his gaze. Silence.
“I’m exactly like you. We have the same interests , we enjoy the same movies, the same snacks. And for the record, I don’t have El. At least not the way I used to.”
“Not like that, Mike.”
“I know what you meant, and my statement still stands. I am exactly like you.” Mike bit his lip. “I think, I just didn’t know it before. I knew our friendship was different compared to Lucas and Dustin’s. I get jealous and over protective over you. I always put you before myself. That’s just not how friends act.”
“I didn’t know you felt the same way.” Will breathed a sigh of relief.
“I didn’t know either.” He chuckled.
“But,” Will took a deep breath. “What does this mean for us?”
“I think it can mean whatever we want it to. I mean, who cares what other people think, you know? Screw them!”
“Yeah, screw them.”
Both boys smiled wildly. Just delighting in each others company, not thinking of the journey that lies ahead of them.