Chapter Text
Gosh, Mike needed to get out of here.
Saint Christopher's Preparatory was alright. Church every first Friday of the month, the hallways filled with boys and girls he has known since childhood, all in identical uniforms. Girls in the bathroom sneaking makeup on, the boys sneaking weed, and talking about girls they want. The classes that ran from 8 am to 2:45 pm every day, and the Religion class every single day of the week without fail, which was Mike’s least favorite class out of them all. Religion where they taught what was sinful, and what was holy. If you drank alcohol, had premarital sex, or weren’t the perfect Catholic child, you were going to Hell.
Saint Christopher’s, where girls were taken for purity lessons, and wore rings on their fingers. Where girls were taught to cover up because boys can get ideas. Where boys were given pats on the wrists instead of consequences, where being soft and kind got you into trouble.
This place has taken a turn for the worse since last year, when rumours sprouted about a boy named Eli Mercer. Rumours that spread throughout the entire school, church and community. Rumours that turned into bullying and pure hate crimes. Rumours that drove a kid to end his suffering with no resurrection in sight.
Mike was used to church and the teachings; he had to be. His father was the Deacon of their local Church, which unfortunately meant being dragged to Church every weekend and during school days. He hated it there. He’d much rather play guitar, skateboard, listen to his “satanic music” - as his mother called it- or even hang out with his friends, but if he did that, it’s one call away from church camp.
“Oh my gosh,” Lucas muttered as he, Dustin, and Mike were waiting for Will to head to Church. “Are you and Will attached at the hip or something? You guys are worse than Max and I.”
Dustin laughed like it was the funniest thing he had ever heard. “Did you forget Lucas? They are madly in love. Obviously, they are attached at the hip.”
Mike felt the joke sit badly in his stomach and felt his chest get heavy as if there was a cross on it. “Shut up.” He murmured, his cheeks going red.
“You desperately need a girlfriend, dude. You can’t just keep attaching yourself to Will all the time. It’s weird, dude, and makes you seem awfully queer.” Dustin spoke, and Mike felt his heart drop to the floor.
“Dude, shut up!” Lucas laughed as Mike forced a laugh out of himself. Dustin was joking, obviously.
He heard footsteps coming from the Jesus and Film classroom, and looked up to see a mop of brown hair. His heart jumped up as the boy came into frame.
“Hey guys!” Will stated, looking directly at Mike.
“Hi! You ready for Hell?” Mike said, getting a laugh out of his friends.
“As ready as I’ll ever be,” Will said as the four boys began to walk.
Mike felt dirty as the joke from before stayed on his mind.
The chapels always smelled the same. The oak wood from the pews, the smell of incense that Mike hated and reminded him of being forced to go to church as a kid and being an altar server. He also smelled the wax from the lit candles and the lavender smell of the cleaner used in the chapel.
He was in the last row, which meant he could doze off or not pay attention, and no Brother or Sister could whisper-yell at him.
Another smell hit him instantly, a hint of vanilla that he could recognize anywhere and any day. Will.
Will was next to him, of course.
Will Byers, his best friend since the first day of Kindergarten. The boy he had asked to be his friend when he had no one, and he said yes. That was the best thing he has ever done, because a world without Will Byers is not one Mike wants to imagine.
Will was next to him, their bodies touching through the fabric of their uniform blazers. Their bodies warm from the touch even through all the fabric.
Ever since they were kids, they had always been this close. Their hands always touching, their hugs lingering for a while, always having to be together side by side. Lucas and Dustin, their best friends, always made jokes, but this was them. This was Mike and Will, best friends for life.
And yet,
He turned towards Will, who had his face turned towards Father Brenner, who was talking about God knows what. The boys around him were whispering about the pure catholic girls they wanted to “ruin”, the boys that were too feminine and another word he hated, and girls that were disgusting, too masculine, so boys can never want them. God, he hated this place.
He looked down, their hands close- almost touching. In one tiny movement, he could-
No.
He couldn't- shouldn’t want this.
And he was in God’s house, where he could witness it, where he could see Mike want for something he cannot have, something that would break his mother and disgrace his father. Something that would have him on his knees during confession as if it were rotten and wrong.
Something that was too sinful to even discuss. Something that got you sent away. Something that got you killed or ruined in this place. Something dirty and perverted.
Something that destroyed boys like Eli Mercer.