I Don't Wanna Know

by dontfear_thereaper28

Summary:

Summer 1985. The party gained two new members last fall; Max Mayfeild and Marcus Colby.

Basically Mike hating on Will's new friend because he feels replaced even though Mike's literally been ditching his friends for his girlfriend all summer.

Notes:

Sorry this beginning chapter doesn't have abundant amount of Mike hating on Marcus, I need to build it up a bit. If I let Mike go right out of the gate he's gonna be too powerful. Also this chapter may be straight booty but I'm tired and I've lost my groove but it will return one day. Perchance. Thank you brochachos.

Chapter 1

Last November was the worst November of Mike Wheeler’s life.  Well, maybe it was tied for first with the November before that one.  Along with watching his best friend get taken over by a dust monster from another dimension, that’s when he started getting involved... 

 

Marcus Colby. 

 

Mike hated Marcus.   

 

He only tried to tolerate him because Will liked him.  Which only made Mike despise Marcus even more. 

 

Max Mayfeild already disrupted the party enough by replacing El last fall, Mike didn’t need another person to mess up the dynamics.   

 

And Marcus was different, a bad different, maybe even worse than Max was, because he was replacing Mike.   

 

Not with the whole party.  Not with Lucas, not with Dustin, and not with Eleven after she was allowed to be out in public with them again.   

 

But with Will.  And that’s what really bugged him.  

 

_____________________________________ 

 

Currently, Mike, Max, Lucas, Will, Marcus, and Evelen were hiding in Dustin’s home to surprise him after he came home from camp. 

 

They had their backs pressed against the stone wall between Dustin’s dining room and living room.  Mike was standing with Will on his right and Eleven on his left, who was using her powers to cause Dustin’s toy robots and other figurines on wheels to lead a path for him to his living room. 

 

“Now.” Mike whispered, signaling to his girlfriend to stop the toys from moving. 

 

The sounds of quiet train whistles and fake space blasters came to an abrupt stop.  Mike took Eleven’s hand as they silently make their way out from behind the wall and into the living room. 

 

They approach in a clump behind Dustin’s turned back, Lucas in the center holding a sign that reads ‘WELCOME Home DUSTiN!’ writen in big red and blue block letters on the front. 

 

Max holds up her fingers, silently mouthing, “1, 2, 3.” 

 

They all blew into their noise makers, the sound shocking Dustin more than anticipated.  He immediately whipped around, screaming, and defensively pressed down on the top of his Farrah Fawcett spray... directly into Lucas’s eyes. 

 

The two boys scream in harmony for a few seconds before Dustin realizes what’s going on and stops pressing down on the top of the bottle, Max ripping it out of his hand and setting it down on the coffee table. 

 

“What the hell!” Lucas shrieks as he tries to wipe the hairspray from his eyes, which only causes it to sting more. 

 

“Holy shit!” Dustin yells at the same time.  “I’m sorry!  Oh my god, I thought you guys forgot about me!” 

 

“Stop touching it.” Max forcefully rips Lucas’s hands from his face and drags him off to the kitchen to wash out his eyes. 

 

Mike, Eleven, Will, and Marcus continue to stand there, all of them still looking shocked and unsure what to do now. 

 

“...Welcome home.” Marcus spoke up a little too loudly, smiling at Dustin as the other three hesitantly did the same. 

 

Dustin smiled back.  “Thanks for being here you guys, I really appreciate it.” 

 

“Yeah, no problem.” Mike nodded.  Eleven, who was clinging onto him from all the commotion that just happened, loosened her hold on his arm 

 

“How was camp?” Will asked encouragingly. 

 

Dustin’s eyes lit up in excitement at the question.  “I’m glad you asked.” He led the four of them to his bedroom.  Mike and El walked behind Dustin with Marcus and Will following them. 

 

Marcus’s arm brushed Will’s as they walked down the hallway side by side.  Will looked up from the floor to Marcus, smiling shyly.  Marcus was a few inches taller than Will, only about a centimeter or two shorter than Mike was.  His family moved to Hawkins last summer from Massachusetts to be closer to Marcus’s grandma after his grandfather passed away.  He was assigned to be partners with Mike and Will in an English project the beginning of the school year which lead to Marcus and Will getting close, which lead to Marcus sitting with them at lunch, which lead to him getting to know Lucas and Dustin and it all spiraled out of Mike’s control from there. 

 

Mike could hear the two giggling quietly behind them about something, and it bugged him more than he’d like to admit.  Mike had a feeling that something was going on between Marcus and Will.  Marcus seemed to be Will’s new best friend. They were always so giggly and soft with each other, and it pissed Mike off.  Mike knew Will way better than this guy who just showed up out of nowhere a few months ago. How did Marcus and Will get so close all of a sudden? 

 

They got into Dustin’s room, standing in a line side by side as they watched Dustin take out a few devises he made at camp. 

 

Mike crossed his arms boredly as he watched Dustin pick his first invention, Eleven wrapping her arms around one of his as she rested her cheek against his shoulder.  Mike could feel Will’s presence next to him but Mike didn’t look over.  Mike didn’t know what was wrong with him.  Ever sense the eighth grade Snowball dance last December he could barely look at Will anymore without feeling... weird. 

 

“I call it... the Forever Clock.” Said Dustin as he presented his invention. “All right?  Powered by wind.  Very useful in the apocalypse.” 

 

Everyone’s eyes followed as he handed the device to Will, who let himself smile slightly as he held it.  Mike’s eyes lingered a little longer, flicking from the ‘Forever Clock’ to Will.  His eyebrows raised a little and he forced himself to look away, involuntarily doing a double take to Will’s awed face.  And on top of that he ever so happened to catch Marcus looking down at the devise in Will’s hands.  From the quick look Mike couldn’t tell if Marcus was smiling at Will or the clock, and he also couldn’t tell if he wanted to smack himself in the face or Marcus for how close he was to Will.     

 

“Then, I give you...” Dustin picked up his second invention off his bed; a hammer attached to machinery that made it rapidly shake back and forth. “the Slammer.” Dustin’s smile widened as he held out the device towards Mike and El, chuckling as he pulled it back.  “Pretty neat, huh?  But this...” Dustin turned back to his bed and set down the Slammer, picking up his duffle bag. 

 

Mike shifted impatiently.  He wasn’t expecting to be at Dustin’s so long and the longer he was at Dustin’s the longer he was around Will and the longer he was around Will, the longer he was around Marcus.  

 

 And he did not want to be around Marcus.  

 

 Even worse, he was forced to be around Marcus and Will together, which was a whole other internal conflict Mike was tired of dealing with. 

 

“... this is my masterpiece.” Dustin set the duffle bag down on the carpet, the five of them kneeling down to the ground with it.  “I would like you to meet...” Dustin unzipped the bag and pulled the fabric back, revealing a clump of machinery and wires. “Cerebro.” 

 

The four stared at the bag in confusion. 

 

Mike looks at Dustin.  “What exactly are we looking at here?” His tone bordered on rude, but he asked the same question the other three were thinking. 

 

“An unassembled one-of-a-kind battery-powered radio tower!” Dustin announced gleefully. 

 

Will shortly glanced up at Dustin and back down to the duffle bag.  “So, it’s a...” 

 

“...a ham radio?”  Marcus finished, tilting his head to the side slightly as he looked at Dustin. 

 

“The Cadillac of ham radios.” Clarified Dustin, obviously more excited about Cerebro than they were, but Marcus tried to nod and smile and support Dustin in his excitement.  “This baby carried a crystal-clear connection over vast distances.  I’m talking North Pole to South.  I can talk to my girlfriend whenever and wherever I choose.” 

 

Will whipped his head towards Marcus’s at the word girlfriend, all four of their jaws dropping slightly as their eyes returned to Dustin. 

 

“Girlfriend?” They exclaimed in unison. 

 

Dustin grinned and nodded.  “Yep, her name is Suzie.  I had the honor of meeting her at camp this summer and with this bad boy you guys can meet her as well.” Dustin started taking out the parts for the unassembled radio, each of them grabbing a few sections as they stood up and made their way out of Dustin’s room. 

 

“Wait, so her name is Suzie?”  Mike asked as the group once again followed Dustin to his front door. 

 

“Suzie with a ‘z’.  She’s from Utah.” 

 

“Girls go to science camp?” Asked Will. 

 

“Suzie does.  She’s a genius.” 

 

“Is she cute?” Asked Marcus from the back of the line. 

 

“Think Phoebe Cates, only hotter.” 

 

“What’s going on?” Max called over from the kitchen, Lucas’s head under the running faucet next to her. 

 

“Going to talk to Dustin’s girlfriend.” Will answered happily. 

 

Lucas’s head flew up from the sink, not bothering to wipe his eyes which were still faintly burning from Dustin’s attack. 

 

“Girlfriend?” Him and Max exclaimed together, matching tone of disbelief the others did. 

 

The two shared a look of surprise, (Max being able to actually see Lucas unlike his blurry vision) before they ran out the door after their friends. 

 

_____________ 

 

The more they walked up the hill the more Marcus felt like vomiting. 

 

He was walking besides will, Max and Lucas in front of them as well as Dustin who continued to lead the group higher and higher.  Mike and Eleven dragged behind them, seemingly uninvested. 

 

“This seems high enough.” Marcus panted, wiping a bit of sweat off the base of his neck.  He usually didn’t mind walks, and he wouldn’t have minded this one if they weren’t walking up a giant hill when it was eighty something degrees out and he felt like his skin was frying. 

 

“Cerebro works best at a hundred meters.” Explained Dustin, who somehow never stopped walking sense they left his house. 

 

“You know, I’m pretty sure people in Utah have telephones.” Max replied, adjusting her hold on the bag she was carrying sense it was making her arm sore. 

 

“Yeah, but Suzie’s Mormon.” 

 

Lucas’s eyes widened at the discovery, “Oh, shit.  She doesn’t have electricity?” 

 

“Oh, that’s Amish.” Max lightly hit Lucas’s arm. 

 

“What are Mormons?” Asked will, walking besides Marcus.  Marcus had taken the parts of Cerebro Will was holding from him sense Will’s arms were getting tired.  Marcus could have sworn he felt eyes drilling into the back of his head but concluded he was being paranoid and kept on walking. 

 

“Super religious white people.” Dustin called back.  “They have electricity and cars and stuff but... since I’m not Mormon her parents would never approve.”  There was a beat of silence filled with the sounds of uncomfortable breathing and the brushing of uncut grass against their shins as they walked and walked and walked... “It’s all a bit... Shakespearean.” 

 

“Shakespearean?” Max chuckled teasingly. 

 

“Yeah!” Dustin continued, his thought too full of Suzie to realize she was making fun of him.  “Like Romeo and Juliet.”  

 

“Right.” Max nodded, growing a little irritated the more they walked. 

 

“Star-crossed lovers.” 

 

“We got it.” Marcus cut in quickly. 

 

“Hey, guys!” Mike yelled from a few feet behind them, causing them all to stop walking and turn around.  “This is fun and all, but, uh...” 

 

“I have to go home.”  Announced El politely and Mike exaggerated tapping on his watch. 

 

Dustin’s expression dropped to annoyance.  “We’re almost there.” 

 

“Sorry, man.  Curfew.”  He was clearly not sorry as he murmured something to El and took her hand, pulling her down the hill with him. 

 

Eleven smiled and called,  “Good luck!”  Before jogging down the hill with Mike. 

 

Dustin looked at his watch.  “Curfew at 4:00?” 

 

“They’re lying.” Lucas complained. 

 

“It’s been like this all summer.” Will agreed in frustration. 

 

Max shrugged, not seeing the big deal if the two wanted to leave to be alone together.  “It’s romantic.” 

 

Marcus shook his head. “It’s stupid.”  

 

“It’s gross.” Will added, watching as Eleven reached over to Mike with her free hand and gently squeezed his arm in the distance, neither of them letting go of each other. 

 

“It’s bullshit.  I just got home.”  Dustin sounded more hurt than irritated at this point. 

 

With one last glance at Mike and El, Dustin’s positive mood returned as he thought of his friends getting to meet Suzie.  “Well, their loss, right?  Onwards and Upwards!  Suzie awaits!” 

 

Max and Marcus groaned collectively, Lucas throwing his head back and sighing. 

 

The group turned to keep walking up the hill, Will remaining where he was. 

 

When Marcus realized Will wasn’t next to him anymore, he turned around, seeing Will facing away from him and staring down the hill. 

 

“Hey, Will.” Marcus walked back over to him, placing a gentle hand on his back so he’d turn around.  “C’mon, Mike and El will start actually hanging out with us one day.” 

 

Will nodded and let Marcus walk with him the rest of the way up the hill, unable to shake the cold tingling slowly fading in the back of his neck. 

 

They finally made their way up 100 meters and began to assemble Cerebro. 

 

By the time they finished the sun had started to set and the weather got a little cooler, letting them finally take a break. 

 

“Pretty impressive, right?” Dustin grinned as he stepped back to admire his work. 

 

“Yup.” Marcus sighed, the hint of exhaustion from climbing up the hill never really left him. “Pretty impressive.” 

 

“Now, you ready to meet my love?” 

 

They all agreed and huddled around Dustin as he sat in the grass, switching the radio on and holding the microphone up to his face. 

 

“Suzie, this is Dustin.  Do you copy?  Over.” 

 

Static. 

 

Dustin looked up at the four staring down at him and held up his index finger.  “One sec.  She’s probably... she’s still there.” He clicked back on the mic. “Suzie...” 

 

Static. 

 

“...this is Dustin.  Do you copy?  Over.” 

 

Will rolled his eyes and gave a look to Marcus who shrugged and looked down at the ground, lightly kicking the grass as more static came through the other end of Dustin’s super radio. 

 

“I’m sure she’s there...” Dustin reassured the group indifferently.  “It’s just... you know, maybe she’s, like, busy or... it’s around dinner time...” 

 

“Yeah” 

 

“Mmm” 

 

“For sure.” 

 

“...Here.” Dustin finished. 

 

Thirty more minutes went by with no sign of Suzie. 

 

Marcus was laying down on the grass next to Will, the sun was set completely now, leaving scattered stars visible around the shining moon. 

 

Dustin was somehow still trying to get Suzie to respond. 

 

“You think he’s gonna stop any time soon?” Will murmured to Marcus, turning his head towards the other boy laying next to him. 

 

Marcus looked at his watch.  “Given the fact he’s been doing this for over thirty minutes now?” He laid his hand back down on his stomach, glancing over at Dustin who was now standing up as he repeated, ‘Suzie, do you copy?’ over and over again.  “No.  I think he’s just lost it.” 

 

Will let out a soft chuckle, turning his head back to the sky.  “Yeah, that’s probably true.” 

 

“Suzie this is your Dustin, do you copy?  Over... Suzie--” 

 

“Dustin, come on!” Max interrupted, also laying on the ground next to Lucas.  “She’s not there.” 

 

“She’s there, all right?  She’ll pick up.”  

 

“Maybe Cerebro doesn’t work.” Said Will as he pushed himself up to lean back on his elbows.  

 

“Or maybe Suzie doesn’t exist.” Corrected Lucas. 

 

“She exists!” Dustin’s voice pitched up defensively. 

 

“She’s a genius and she’s hotter than Pheobe Cates?  No girl is that perfect.” 

 

Max sat up.  “Is that so?” 

 

Lucas sat up after her, clearly terrified that he just said something that would make his girlfriend break up with him for the sixth time.  “I mean... you’re perfect.  I mean, like, per—perfect in your own way.  In your special-- your own special way.” 

 

Max slowly let a smirk slip onto her lips before she let out a small laugh.  “Relax, I was teasing.  I’m obviously perfect and Dustin’s obviously lying.”  Max stood up, extending her hand to Lucas.  “Come on, Don Juan.” 

 

“Where are you going?” Dustin called after them. 

 

“Home.” Max replied simply as she and Lucas skipped down the hill together. 

 

“Well... guess it’s just us three now.” 

 

Will and Marcus stood up from their spot on the ground, casting a small, knowing glace at each other. 

 

"Y’know, it’s getting late.” Marcus checked the time on his watch; it was 9:54 P.M. 

 

“Sorry.” Will added softly.  “Maybe tomorrow we can play D&D. Or something fun.  Like we used to?” 

 

Dustin nodded, looking defeated.  “Yeah, sure.” 

 

“Welcome home, Dustin.”  Marcus waved goodbye to his friend. 

 

“Welcome home.”  Will smiled slightly at Dustin, before him and Marcus started their descent down the hill. 

 

“I can walk you home today, if you don’t mind.”  Marcus spoke up as they got almost halfway down, he could see the figures of Max and Lucas walking off at the base of the hill. 

 

Will shook his head.  “No, I don’t mind.  I think my mom would have a heart attack if she realized I came home by mysel--” 

 

Will was cut off when he accidently stepped in a small hole hidden by the grass, causing him to trip forwards. 

 

“Oh,” Marcus quickly grabbed him to keep him from hitting the ground and rolling down the hill, Will grabbing at Marcas’s arms to stabilize himself.  “Jesus, Will.” Marcus laughed despite himself.  “Are you okay?” 

 

“Yeah.” Will laughed with him, his heart still beating fast because of the fall. “I’m okay.”  He soon realized how hard he was gripping Marcus’s arms and let go with an embarrassed chuckle.  “Sorry.” 

 

“It’s fine, don’t worry about it.” Marcus smiled reassuringly and Will felt a weight in his chest starting to lift a little.  “C’mon, we can go slower this time.” 

 

They made the rest of the way down the hill in comfortable silence, although Will’s mind was going a mile a minute. 

 

He couldn’t place it for sure what the feeling he had for Marcus was.  It wasn’t a crush, but Will had a feeling whatever it was wasn’t going to stay semi-platonic for long. Will knew he liked boys; he’s known that he does.  Something felt different about Marcus.  Something about this didn’t feel so wrong.  It made him feel almost hopeful. 

 

If only there wasn’t another boy he was already hung up on. 

Chapter 2: Girlfriends

Notes:

I am terrified for vol 2 of Stranger Things.

See you all again after it drops!! =)

Somehow in the span of barley even 24 hours, Mike and Eleven’s relationship was straining. 

 

“She knows I’m lying.  She knows I’m lying.”  Mike was pacing back in forth in his basement complaining to Lucas about his troubles with his girlfriend, Will sat at a small table with Marcus, arranging his D&D board. 

 

“I don’t even understand.  Why lie?” Lucas questioned from the chair he was sitting on. 

 

“Hopper.  He threatened me.” 

 

“Did he say he’d kill you?” 

 

“What?!  No.” 

 

“So then, what’s the big deal?” 

 

“The big deal is, if I don’t do what he says, then he’ll stop me from seeing El.  Like permanently.” 

 

“The horror.” Marcus whispered to Will, who despite being concentrated on setting up let out a quiet chuckle. 

 

Mike turned to the two sitting at the table in pure irritation.  “I’m sorry is this funny to you?”  He wasn’t mad at Will for laughing; he was staring directly at Marcus. 

 

Marcus’s eyebrows raised, a little taken back.  “Oh, uh... no, not funny.  It’s just... I mean c’mon Mike, you two have been together all summer, maybe a break would be good.  For the both of you.” 

 

“For the both of us?” Mike’s voice rose a little.  “If El finds out why I’m ignoring her she’s not gonna get mad at Hopper for threating me, she’s going to murder me.” He gestured to himself before gesturing to Marcus and Will. “Besides, you two have been together all summer too.”   

 

Marcus raised an eyebrow. “...and?” 

 

“And?”  Make stumbled on his words.  The hell was he supposed to say?  Stop hanging out with each other so I can have my best friend back who I’ve been neglecting all summer?  

 

Lucas bewilderedly looked back and forth from Marcus and Will to Mike, trying to connect some kind of dots. 

 

 “Nothing.” Mike waved a dismissive hand at the two.  “I’m just so dead.” He turned back to complaining to Lucas.  “Hopper is actually crazy.  You don’t understand, he lost his mind.  I had no choice, Lucas.  I really had no choice.” 

 

Lucas was still thinking about the pervious conversation when Mike started speaking to him again, but he pushed on.  “I just wish you’d consulted me, because the way you handled this, you’re in deep shit.” 

 

Mike groaned, throwing himself down on the couch with more theatrics than needed. 

 

“I’m not gonna lie, it’s gonna be bad.” Lucas nodded bluntly. 

 

Mike groaned/screamed again, his hands flying to his head. 

 

“But... you can fix this.”  Lucas stood up from his chair and stepped closer to Mike.  “It’s just one little mistake.  I’ve made hundreds, thousands.  Max has dumped me five times.  But what have I done? Huh?  Have I despaired?  No.  I’ve marched back into battle, and I’ve won her back every single freaking time. 

 

Mike’s eyes widened hopefully. “How?”    

 

“I’ll show you.  Come on.” 

 

Mike jumped up from the couch and two boys started jogging excitedly up the stairs. 

 

Marcus looked up from the almost completed D&D board, his brows furrowing as he watched Mike and Lucas leave the basement. “Hey, wait!” 

 

“We’re still here!”  Will called with him. 

 

Marcus sighed and leaned back in his chair.  He looked over to Will, who was staring at the flight of stairs in disappointment, or longing.  “You wanna finish this?” 

 

Will shook his head.  “What’s the point anyway.” 

 

Marcus reached over and gave him a reassuring pat on the back.  Will made Marcus feel soft.  Well, Marcus was always a soft-hearted person but especially with Will, he hated seeing him upset. 

 

The two boys stood up and made their way out of the basement, following Mike and Lucas wherever they were planning on going. 

 

____________________ 

 

They ended up at Starcourt Mall.   

 

On the way Lucas shared his plan to Mike on how to win Eleven back.  Apparently whenever Max dumps him (sense it’s a monthly occurrence at this point) he buys her something nice she likes and bikes over to her house to do a small grand gesture. 

 

Marcus thought it was cheesy, but it seemed to work on Max.  He wasn’t so sure if it would work on Eleven however.  Marcus didn’t know Eleven that well, but they’ve had a few interactions over the last few months and Marcus liked her, he thought she was sweet.  From what Marcus gathered about El’s personality he assumed she would have preferred if Mike actually talked to her about it instead of just buying her something.  But hey, Mike most likely knew her better than anyone.  I mean, Mike hung out with her one on one all the time.  Plus, she was his girlfriend so how could he not?  

 

Right? 

 

They walked through the mall, first making a stop at Zales, a jewelry store. 

 

Mike browsed some pieces of jewelry at the counter. 

 

Will turned to Lucas.  “Did he bring enough money for this?” 

 

Lucas shrugged. “I’m sure if he gets something small then yeah.” 

 

“Excuse me, Sir.” Mike looked up from the glass case to the man working at the counter.  “How much for this little teddy bear right here?” 

 

The man looked at the small golden bear and back at Mike, giving him a fake ass grin. 

 

“Three hundred.” 

 

Mikes expression dropped, his voice raising without his control for the second time that day. “Three hundred?  For that thing?” 

 

There was a lengthy back and forth between Mike and the worker which resulted in them all getting kicked out of the store. 

 

“Three hundred?” Lucas exclaimed in disbelief as they left the store. “Three hundred.” 

 

“I should have taken that teddy bear and shoved it right up his ass.” Mike grumbled. 

 

They went from store to store and stand to stand, smelling perfumes, looking in jewelry stores that they weren’t kicked out of, running into women’s stores and quickly running out. 

 

They couldn’t find anything. 

 

They were walking around the main area, looking for new stores in hopes of finding something.  Marcus was looking around when he saw a blur of a redheaded girl running around hand in hand with a brunette.  They looked awfully familiar.  “Hey is that—“ 

 

“What about that one?” Mike interrupted, pointing to a Zales store. 

 

Lucas looked at him like he was stupid, which wasn’t far off. “That’s literally the first one we went to.” 

 

“Ugg.” Mike sat down on the nearest bench, burying his face into his hands. “This is hopeless.” 

 

The other three boys sat down with him.  Marcus and Will didn’t want to be there anymore, Mike was frustrated and defeated and aggravated, and Lucas was annoyed that Mike rejected basically every gift he suggested. 

 

“You literally hang out with El all the time how have you not found anything for her?” Asked Lucas. 

 

“I don’t know.” Mike mumbled, still holding his head in his hands. 

 

“Do you know her favorite color or anything?” Asked Marcus, attempting to be somewhat helpful. 

 

Mike rolled his eyes before Marcus even finished his question. “No shit, it’s purple… or yellow.  I don’t know man, she likes a lot of colors.” 

 

“Maybe we surrender for today.” Lucas suggested. 

 

“Deal.” Mike agreed quickly, being in the mall for so long was irritating him.  Everything in the mall was irritating him. 

 

They sat in silence for a while, staring at the floor like it was the most interesting thing in the building.  Marcus could feel the impatience radiating off Will next to him. 

 

“Can we play D&D now?” Will asked.  The entire time in the mall all he could think about was going back to Mikes house so they could all play D&D together. 

 

Mike and Lucas scoffed together, Mike’s tone noticeably more annoyed than Lucas’s. “No.”  

 

 

The four of them walked outside to their bikes a few minutes later, Mike still complaining about the man that works at Zales. 

 

 “I don’t know why he was so dead set on how I’d never have enough money.  I mean, that’s ridiculous.  Why can’t I just… mow old man Humphry’s lawn or something?” 

 

Both Will and Marcus had tuned out Mike’s complaints.  Neither of them cared enough about the situation in the first place. 

 

“We haven’t got that much” Lucas replied as he took his bike off the rack. 

 

“Okay, what if we split it?” 

 

“Split it with what?  Does that even make sense?” 

 

“Isn’t this a nice surprise?”  A girl’s voice interrupted.  It was Max, who had Eleven next to her.   

 

So Marcus wasn’t delusional. 

 

Mike made eye contact with his girlfriend and dropped his bike, which was unnecessary.  “What are you doing here?” 

 

“Shopping.”  Eleven replied simply. 

 

“This is her knew style.” Max raised her eyebrows at Mike. “What do you think?” 

 

Mikes jaw dropped in pure disgust and further irritation that was directed at Max this time. “What’s wrong with you?  You know she’s not allowed to be here.” 

 

“What is she, your little pet?” 

 

“Yeah,” Eleven agreed.  “Am I your pet?” 

 

Mike shook his head defensively.  “What?  No!” 

 

“Then why do you treat me like garbage?” 

 

“What?” Mike repeated, he was so confused on where this was coming from. 

 

“You said Nana was sick.” 

 

“She is!  She is.  She is sick.” He gestured to Lucas to get him to back him up in his continuous lies. 

 

“Yeah, sick—“ Lucas agreed quickly.  “She’s sick.  She’s super sick.  That’s why we’re here actually.” 

 

Mike nodded aggressively. “Yeah— yeah we’re shopping!  Not for us but for Nana.” 

 

“For Nana!” Lucas backed him up.  He could tell for a fact both girls could see through their bullshit. 

 

“Also, we’re here to get a gift for you.”  Mike finally admitted.  “Just, we couldn’t find anything that suited you and I only have like $3.50 so it’s hard.” 

 

“Super hard.” Lucas agreed.  “Everything's expensive.” 

 

El glared at Mike and called out his bullshit bluntly.  “You lie.  Why do you lie?”  

 

Mike opened his mouth to speak but nothing came out.  Why was he still lying?  Hopper wasn’t here.  He wouldn’t know if Mike told El the truth. 

 

A bus braked in front of the mall, its doors squeaking open. 

 

Eleven turned her head towards the bus, watching different people load into it.  With a look of defiance, she turned back to Mike, taking a few slow, suspenseful steps towards him. 

 

“I dump your ass.” 

Chapter 3: Too Clingy?

Notes:

Vol 2 was so disappointing. =(

I hope vol 3 can save the season 5

“This is so stupid. How do I deserve that?”

 

Mike was angerly raiding his kitchen pantry, pulling out a bag of cheese balls and tossing them at Lucas. Mike had been on a rant ever sense they got back to his house.

 

“You don’t.” Lucas confirmed as he caught the bag “Girls are just different. They have their own system of thinking.”

 

“Clearly.” Mike glanced in the direction of the living room. “Are they seriously down there setting up right now? Still?”

 

Marcus and Will were down in Mikes basement together. They‘ve been down there the second they got back to Mike’s house. And they got back an hour ago.

 

“Will wants to play. He’s been begging to all summer.” Lucas shrugged, pretty unbothered by Marcus and Will seemingly not caring about the breakup.

 

Mike bit the inside of his lip, shifting uncomfortably. “Do they not bother you?”

 

Lucas raised an eyebrow. He was caught off guard by the topic switch. “Marcus and Will?”

 

Mike nodded slowly. “Yeah.”

 

“No... why?”

 

“I mean, ever sense last December they’ve been basically inseparable. They’re always running around together, whispering things, acting like I-- we don’t matter.”

 

“I don’t feel that way.” Lucas opened the bag he was holding and popped a cheese ball in his mouth. “Maybe they just got close. Shared trauma n’stuff”

 

Mike shook his head. “When I was close with Will, we didn’t act like that. Will never acted like that with me.”

 

Lucas was flabbergasted. He almost dropped the bag he was holding. “Mike, what are you even talking about right now?”

 

“I’m just saying we weren’t this…” Mike hesitated on the word, “clingy.”

 

Lucas had to set down the bag of cheese balls in disbelief. “Weren’t this clingy? Mike, when Will has having his episodes last fall you barley even let us speak to him.”

 

“What are you talking about?”

 

“Halloween last year. When we found Will hiding after one of his episodes? We literally just asked if he was okay and you got all mad at us and took Will back home with you.”

 

“That was different.” Mike scoffed. “He was scared, Lucas. He didn’t need all of you surrounding him like that. And you and Dustin ditched both of us for Max the whole night anyway.”

 

“First of all, neither of us ‘ditched’ you.” Lucas clarified quickly. Mike just had to make everything about himself. No wonder he was so clueless. “And second, that’s not the only time you’ve been possessive of Will. It’s just a recent example.”

 

“Alright, then give me an old example if you just know everything.” Mike set down the bag of chips he was holding on the counter before defensively folding his arms.

 

“Oh wow, when should I start?” Lucas brought his hand up to his chin like he was thinking really hard about this. “The first day of seventh grade. When Will forgot his lunch at home and didn’t bring any money so I kindly suggested I would buy something for him. But you repeatedly insisted that you could share your lunch with Will instead. Repeatedly insisted”

 

“Maybe I just didn’t want you spending your money.”

 

Really Micheal?

 

“Oh bull!” Lucas shot back. “Because the same thing happened with Dustin last school year and you let me spend money on him.”

 

Mike opened his mouth with the intent of firing back something, anything. “You... that--”

 

“Was different?” Lucas finished for him. “I don’t get it Mike. You literally hate Marcus for treating Will just like you used to treat him. Hell, Marcus is ten times less clingy than you were.”

 

Mike rolled his eyes, getting suspiciously defensive. “Okay whatever, but I still hung out with you guys. And neither of them even give a shit that my girlfriend just dumped me barley over an hour ago.”

 

Lucas buried his face into his hands. He was about to give up on this boy.

 

“Neither of them have girlfriends either.” Mike continued. “They don’t understand the gravity of the situation.”

 

Lucas dragged his hands down his face and to the sides of his neck. One of his hands moved to point at Mike. There was so much more he could say, but he knew Mike’s head was too far up his ass to listen.

 

“What?” Mike muttered for him to keep talking. Lucas instead picked up the bag of cheese balls and went around Mike to get more snacks from the pantry.

 

“Lucas, what?”

 

Lucas still didn’t say anything. With an arm full of snacks he went around Mike again walked to the living room to get to the basement door.

 

“Lu--“ Mike huffed and cut himself off, grabbing the bag of chips and a case of Coke he set on the counter and jogging off after Lucas.

 

The basement door creaked open. Marcus looked up from Will, both of them sitting at the same table they were at before they left.

 

“What were you guys doing up there?” Asked Marcus.

 

Mike avoided eye contact with him as he walked down the basement steps. “Eating.”

 

Lucas set down the snack foods on the coffee table while Mike placed down a few Cokes.

 

Mike threw himself down onto the couch, lazily resting the bag of chips he was holding previously on his stomach.

 

Lucas took a seat on the couch’s arm rest. “Eating and trying to solve the mystery of the female species.”

 

“Species?” Marcus echoed. He stood up from the chair he was sitting in the grab a small bag of chips. “What do you mean species?”

 

Mike glared at him shortly before looking back at his chip bag. “We mean they’re different.”

 

“Totally different.” Lucas agreed.

 

“Different because women act on emotion and not logic.” Mike added.

 

“Guys it’s ready.” Will stood up from his seat, proud of his completed board.

 

Lucas held up his hand towards Will. “Will, not right now.”

 

“C’mon they broke up with you.” Marcus commented. “Why waste time worrying about it?”

 

“Yeah, what else is there to talk about? Will added, obviously a lot more frustrated than his friend.

 

“Tons!” Lucas replied.

 

“Yeah, we’re trying to solve the great mystery of the female species.” Mike shoved another chip in his mouth.

 

Will scoffed. “By wallowing on the couch in your basement and shoving snacks in your face all afternoon?”

 

Mike gave a half assed defense. “We’re not wallowing we’re plotting.”

 

“Oh yeah.” Marcus nodded sarcastically like he was talking to an eight year old. Because suddenly he felt like he was. “We can tell.”

 

Mike’s face crinkled. He took great offense by that comment. “You can’t talk to me like a child when you’ve been sitting down here setting up a fantasy game all day.”

 

Marcus crossed his arms and raised his eyebrows. “The fantasy game you like, Mike?”

 

Mike sighed and rolled his eyes. “When I was twelve. And I’ve been busy. I am busy.”

 

“Right. Really busy.” Marcus walked back over to the table he was sitting at with Will.

 

Mike sat up abruptly, the bag of chips on his stomach sliding into his lap. “You know what--“

 

“You know what?” Lucas interrupted, clapping his hands together. “It’s getting late.”

 

Will looked at his watch. “It’s 6:40--“

 

“Like I said,” Lucas re-interpreted, “it’s getting late.” He stood up from his spot on the armrest. “Why don’t we all calm down,” he grabbed Mikes ankles and crossed one over the other so he looked less tense, “relax. And start winding down.”

 

“Get ready to sleep? Now?” Marcus questioned.

 

“I didn’t say sleep.” Lucas walked over to his other two friends, placing a hand on each boy’s shoulder. He looked at both of them, giving a small smile. “I said start winding down.”

 

__________________

 

They actually started “winding down” an hour later.

 

Marcus came back downstairs after taking a shower, the other boys had already brushed their teeth and such in the basement bathroom.

 

It was mostly quiet as they set up where they were sleeping. Marcus set up his before he took a shower. Mike took the couch sense it was his house, Lucas slept on the floor next to the couch in a sleeping bag he had left over from a few nights before, while Marcus and Will set up their own place to sleep on the floor with blankets and pillows they found in Mike’s basement.

 

“Oh,” Will took a step back to look at where he was sleeping, realizing he needed another blanket to actually cover himself with instead of just laying on. “I need another blanket.”

 

Marcus walked all the way down the stairs. He looked at Will’s makeshift blanket mattress set up close to his own. “If there’s not another one we can share mine--“

 

“I got it.” Mike quickly interjected. He scooped up the blanket from the couch he was laying on, handing it to Will. “Here. I can go get my own from my room.”

 

Will watched Mike approach him and despite his best efforts he felt himself get slightly flustered by the gesture, his palms starting growing a little sweaty. “Oh.” He took the blanket from Mike. He shouldn’t have been making such a big deal out of this, he was just being nice. Mike has always been like that. “Thanks. You sure?”

 

Mike nodded, smiling a little at the other boy. “Positive.” He turned around towards the staircase, his gaze meeting Marcus’s. Mike’s smile slowly dropped as he walked past Marcus. He let his shoulder hit his indiscreetly but firmly before he climbed up the stairs.

 

Marcus was confused, but he didn’t dwell on it too long, he knew Mike didn’t like him. He just didn’t know why.

 

Not yet at least.

 

_______________

 

Later that night, they shut the lights off and laid down.

 

Marcus was finding it hard to fall sleep. Besides Lucas’s occasional snores the room was dead silent which made it harder for his mind to relax.

 

He drifted into a half-asleep state before he felt a faint tapping on his shoulder.

 

“Mmm?” He hummed drowsily, unmoving from where he was laying.

 

“Were you sleeping?” A voice whispered from behind him. It was Will.

 

Marcus’s eyes fluttered open at the sound of his voice. “No.” He slowly rolled over to face Will. It was so dark he couldn’t see much of anything. “I wasn’t.” He yawned quietly as he adjusted to his new position.

 

“I didn’t think so. You weren’t snoring or anything.”

 

Marcus grinned tiredly. “I snore?”

 

“Sometimes.” Will chuckled quietly.

 

“Well that’s good to know.” Marcus liked listening to Will talk when he was tired. “What’d you tap me for?”

 

Will let out a breath before he spoke in his hushed sincere voice that was reserved for late night conversations. “I’m sorry.”

 

“Sorry?” That caught Marcus off guard. “For what?”

 

“For Mike.” He clarified.

 

“For Mike? Why are you apologizing for him?”

 

“I… I feel bad. Because he is a good friend. He’s a really good friend and… and I don’t know why he was issues with you but I think it’s because of me.”

 

“Because of you?” Marcus’s voice softened, the haze of sleep fading away at the other boy’s words. “Will, I think him not liking me is my problem, you didn’t do anything.”

 

“I know but… I um,” his voice slipped above a whisper for a moment but he quickly corrected himself, “you know how close I used to be with Mike, I mean last fall was… a really insane time to get involved with all this. But I think that’s when our friendship really reached its peak. And I think because it was also around the time I started getting close with you that…”

 

“He felt like he was losing you?” Marcus completed gently.

 

Will shook his head, his voice was barley a whisper, barley audible. “I doubt that. I mean, he hasn’t exactly acted like he wanted to hang out with me at all this summer so… I don’t think that’s why.”

 

Marcus wished he could actually see Will right now. He could see the faint outline of his features once his eyes had adjusted to the darkness but he couldn’t see any emotions on the other boy’s face. “Then… what do you think?”

 

“I don’t know exactly. Mike is… confusing.” Will let out a slow, shaky exhale, the small tremor in his voice giving Marcus the idea that he had started to cry silently, or that he was trying not to. “I really like you Marcus and I really like Mike too. I just hate how he treats you sometimes and… I know this is so selfish but I don’t want you to start treating him the same way.”

 

“Hey,”. Marcus shifted closer to Will, leaving a respectful amount of distance in case Will didn’t want to be touched at the moment, “you don’t have to worry about that, okay? I know Mike doesn’t like me for some mysterious reason. But trust me, I am really, really bad at holding grudges.” He paused. “And I guess it helps I’ve kinda been through this before.”

 

“What do you mean?” Will sniffled.

 

Marcus shrugged. “He’s not the first person to hate me for ‘breaking into’ a friendship.”

 

Will let out a quiet snort, lightly reaching out to hit Marcus’s shoulder, the dark lighting made him hit more of his bicep than his shoulder but it was close enough. “Homewrecker.”

 

“Homewrecker?” Marcus chuckled, a little louder than he anticipated. “God forbid a guy likes to make friends every once in a while.”

 

Will rolled his eyes, his grin never faltering. “Well you’re too good at it, obviously.”

 

“Obviously.” Marcus echoed, his expression relaxing once again. He could see Will’s face a little clearer now and he was happy to see he was smiling.

 

There was a short moment of silence before Will spoke up in a whisper. “I think I’m gonna try again tomorrow. With getting them to play D&D.”

 

Marcus nodded. “Yeah, it’s probably a good time. It’ll distract them from the female species for a day.”

 

Will chuckled quietly. “I hope so.”

 

There was another period of silence

 

The silence ended when Will suddenly broke out in laughter muffled by his pillow.

 

“Shh, Will, what?” Marcus’s voice wavered as he tried not to laugh as well.

 

“The female species?” He whispered. In his efforts to stop laughing he let out a really loud snort.

 

Both Marcus and Will quickly covered their mouths, but the more their visions started to adjust to the light so they could see each other, the more they slipped.

 

Both boy’s suddenly gave up on their efforts and laughter exploded between them. It was not that funny but both were a little delirious from just laying in the dark for so long.

 

Lucas’s snoring continued but there was a mumbled grumble from the couch. “Can you guys shut up.”

 

“Sorry.” Marcus snickered, his laugh slowly dying out. “Will, stop you’re upsetting the people.”

 

“I’m sorry.” Will giggled, finally calming down.

 

Finally with a long sigh from Marcus both boys settled down.

 

“Goodnight Marcus.” Will murmured, there was a slight chuckle in his voice that refused to vanish completely.

 

“Night Will.” Marcus whispered back. He rolled over to his side and pulled his blanket back up so his shoulders, a faint smile still staining his lips as he finally drifted off.

Chapter 4: Stupid Girl

Notes:

Disclaimer because I'm scared I'm gonna magically get sued. Any of the dialog from the original script is obviously not mine, I'm not claiming it to be mine so please to not sue me Duffers. Just had to get that off my chest real quick. Okay thanks,
- Your friendly neighborhood Ao3 writer.

Marcus was awoken by the sound of medieval music blaring throughout the basement. 

 

His blurry eyes peaked open to find the blankets Will had been laying on were vacant.  

 

“What are you doing?” Lucas groaned from his spot on the ground. 

 

“Yeah Will, can you turn down the music?” Mike yelled over the booming stereo. 

 

Marcus sat up slowly, rubbing his eyes.   

 

“Please address me by my full name.”  Will ordered. 

 

Marcus looked up in the direction of Wills voice.  He was dressed in a full purple wizard’s costume, hat and cloak and staff and all. 

 

“What?” 

 

Will slammed his wooden staff down in the floor.  “My full name!” 

 

“Oh my god.  Okay,” Mike rubbed his face in exasperation, “Will the Wise, can you please turn down the music?” 

 

“That is not music.” Will corrected assertively. “That is the sound of destiny!  I have seen into the future, and I’ve seen that today is a new day.  A day… free of girls!” 

 

Lucas looked around in confusion, though his eyes were barley open, so he wasn’t seeing much of anything.  “What is happening right now?” 

 

“Will, come on.”  Mike groaned.  “It’s so early.” 

 

“Is it?  Is it early, Micheal?” Will took a step towards Mike.  “Tell that to the villagers crying for your help, the children so frightened, they cannot sleep.  Are you truly going to let them perish?  Or are you going to come to their rescue and be the hero’s you were always meant to be?” 

 

Lucas looked over at Marcus in genuine confusion and back at Will.  “Uh… can I at least take a shower first?” 

 

 

 

 

About an hour into the campaign Marcus realized there was no chance of getting Mike and Lucas to give a shit about anything besides their girlfriends… or ex-girlfriends now. 

 

Before they started, Will woke them up around 7:00 in the morning, Lucas’s shower delayed them at least twenty minutes.  

 

 After that, Mike and Lucas disappeared upstairs to eat breakfast around 8:00, leaving Marcus to convince Will to drop the act for a moment and eat something as well.   

 

They finished eating around 9:30.   

 

Then Mike complained some more about El, which was followed by being forced by his father to clean the living room, which resulted in Mike starting a small argument with Marcus because he was talking too much with Will. 

 

They finally started playing closer to 10:30. 

 

Marcus felt so bad, he was the only one actually playing. 

 

Mike moped the whole time while Lucas wouldn’t take anything that was happening seriously. 

 

A few hours in, and after plenty of ‘bathroom breaks’ requested by Mike, Marcus’s heart broke watching Will’s confidence fade and falter as the storm outside built and strengthened. 

 

“Do you guys hear that?” Will continued optimistically. “It sounds like… thunder.  But no, wait!  That’s not thunder… it’s…” he slammed four figures down on the table, “a horde of juju zombies!  Sir Mike, your action.” 

 

Mike looked like he’d rather kill himself than be sitting at that table. 

 

“What should I do?”  He asked Lucas in false interest. 

 

Lucas just shrugged. 

 

“Try attacking.” Marcus encouraged. 

 

Mike cast him a quick side eye before grabbing the die. “Fine, I attack with my flail.” He set the die down on the table.  Didn’t even roll it, just dropped from a centimeter above the board. 

 

“Woosh!  You missed.” Will pushed on. “Your flail clanks the stone, the zombie horde lumbers towards you, and…” Will aggressively shook the die and rolled it on the table. “the juju bites your arm, flesh tears!  Ahh!  Seven points of damage!” 

 

“Oh no my arm!  Look at my arm.” Mike groaned sarcastically as he grabbed his shoulder.  Lucas covered his face with his hand to hide his quiet snickers. 

 

Will’s shoulders slumped and his expression fumbled a bit.  He looked over at Marcus. 

 

Marcus nodded at him.  Desperately trying to motivate him to not give up… or snap. 

 

Will sat up a bit straighter at the encouragement, internally hyping himself up.  “Sir Lucas.” He directed his attention at his other friend. 

 

Lucas snapped his head back up, his lips pressed together tightly as he tried not to laugh. 

 

“The zombie horde roars!  Do you fight back?  Or do you run?” 

 

Lucas’s eyes squinted, and he slowly raised his finger as he tried to think of a semi-genuine response. 

 

Suddenly, his thoughts were interrupted by the basement phone shrilling loudly throughout the room. 

 

All four boys’ heads whipped towards the sound. 

 

“No!”  Will stood up from his seat, banging his staff on the ground for attention.  The only boy’s attention the action instantaneously grabbed was Mike’s.  “It’s a distraction!  A trap!  Do not answer it!” 

 

Mike did a triple take from the phone to Will.  Eyes wide, he looked over at Lucas, and the two boys leapt up to answer the intruder. 

 

“Wait.  No!”  Will attempted to stop them, but they reached the phone too quickly. 

 

“Guys –-” Marcus stood up as well. 

 

“El?”  Mike practically yelled into the phone.  “No.  Sorry.  Not interested.”  He slammed the phone back into the receiver.  “Telemarketers.” 

 

“Maybe we should just call them.”  Lucas suggested. 

 

“We can do that?” 

 

“I think so.” 

 

“Yeah but, what would we say?” 

 

“We will say nothing!” Will banged the staff on the ground again. “The Khoisan tribe still need your help!” 

 

“Alright then, I’ll use my torch to set fire to the chamber, sacrificing ourselves, killing the juju’s and saving the Khuisar’s.  We all live on as heroes in the memories of the Kalamar.” 

 

So Mike had been paying attention. 

 

“Victory.” Lucas gave Mike a high five. 

 

Marcus looked over at Will to see his bottom lip tremble once.  Not in sadness, but in anger. 

 

“Fine.  You guys win.  Congratulations.”  He threw his hat and staff on the ground, turning off the stereo and ripping off his cloak. 

 

Mike’s voice softened.  His whole attitude softened. “Will, I was just messing around.  Hey, let’s finish for real.” He walked around the table to stand back by his seat.   

 

Will ignored him. 

 

Mike frowned, “How much longer is the campaign?” 

 

“Just forget it Mike.” Will snapped at him. 

 

“No, you want to keep playing.  We want to keep playing right?”  Mike hit Marcus’s shoulder.  He was Will’s best friend now, wasn’t he?  He should be able to stop him. 

 

“Yes, we do.”  Marcus nodded sincerely.  “Will, I promise you we want to keep going--”   

 

Alright, Mike decided that was enough out of him. “Yeah.  We’ll just call the girls afterwards--“ 

 

Will whirled around to face him, his countenance radiating in anger.  “I said forget it Mike, okay?!  I’m going home.”  

 

Mike’s chest squeezed in agony as he watched Will start walking away from him. 

 

Marcus’s eyes winded in shock.  He’s never seen Will snap at any of his friends like that.  “Will…”  

 

Lucas reached out an arm to stop him. “Come on Will,” 

 

“Move!” Will shoved Lucas to the side and stormed up the stairs. 

 

Marcus was mid step after Will when Mike grabbed his arm almost violently and yanked him back.  Without a word more, Mike jogged past him and Lucas and climbed the stairs after his friend, leaving the two stunned boys alone in the basement. 

 

 

 

Mike caught the door to the garage before it could swing shut, following close behind Will. 

 

“Will come on.  You can’t leave, it’s raining.” 

 

Mike walked up next to Will who was rummaging through his backpack.  Mike imploringly stared at him to stay. 

 

“Listen, I said I was sorry, alright?” 

 

Will continued to rummage through his bag, frustration building as he struggled to find his house key. 

 

“It’s a cool campaign, it’s really cool.  We’re just not in the mood right now--“ 

 

Will slung his bag back over his shoulders and turned to Mike.  “Yeah, Mike.  That’s the problem, you guys are never in the mood anymore!  You’re ruining our party.” 

 

“That’s not true!” 

 

“Really?  Where’s Dustin right now?” 

 

Mike hesitated.  The storm outside the garage increased in volume.  Rain slammed against the driveway so hard Mike could feel it shatter into the ground and hit his ankles; cold and uncomfortable. 

 

“See?  You don’t know and you don’t care and obviously he doesn’t either and I don’t blame him!  You’re destroying everything and for what?!  So you can swap spit with some stupid girl?” 

 

That got to Mike.  The accusation hit him hard.  “El’s not stupid!”  He fired back.   

 

Why was it his problem Will couldn’t find a girl on his own to make out with?  It was Will’s fault for making him feel weird about girls after all.  If it wasn’t for him, maybe he wouldn’t feel the need to keep lying to El anyway.  If it wasn’t for him, he’d still have a girlfriend.  “It’s not my fault you don’t like girls!” 

 

Will froze.  He took a slow, half step back.  His body trembled ever so slightly against his will.  Out of everything Mike could have said, that wounded a part of him that was buried so deep he felt his skin start to burn. 

 

Mike paused and swallowed nervously.  He knew he fucked up.  He always managed to fuck up when it came to people that he cared about.  And he cared about Will more than anyone.  Or anything. 

 

“I’m not trying to be a jerk, okay?”  He started again, slowly, trying to be more careful with his wording.  But the same defenses came flowing back before he knew how to stop them. “But we’re not kids anymore.  I mean, what did you think, really?  That we were never gonna get girlfriends?  That we were just gonna sit in my basement all day and play games for the rest of our lives?” 

 

Will wanted to shrink.  He wanted to disappear.  How could he be so damn stupid?  This whole argument was his own fault.  If only he could get himself to move on from clinging onto the same bullshit childhood memories that pervaded his mind and dreams like a relentless, meretricious parasite.  He needed to grow up and learn another way to overcome his trauma and unhappiness instead of believing his friends could fix that.  Instead of letting himself believe Mike would even care about him enough to help fix that. 

 

Because he knew Mike’s heart wasn’t big enough to give two shits about anything besides Eleven. 

 

Only if he knew the truth… 

 

But instead of hiding, Will lifted his chin slightly, anger again fogging his previous sense of fear and crushing disappointment.  

 

“Yeah.  I guess I did.  I really did.” 

 

Mike’s chest did the same agonizing squeeze it did in the basement as he hopelessly watched Will mount his bike. 

 

Will pedaled off into the raging storm, the sound of rain hitting the pavement drowning out the sounds of Mike calling after him, leaving Mike alone.  Trapped in his own oppressive guilt.