Chapter Text
The school field was set up with rows of seats that were filled with buzzing Hawkins students in their orange robes and graduation caps.
The bleachers held the family members of the children, who were sitting behind the graduates and facing the stage, where the principal and valedictorian were standing.
Green curtains were draped as a backdrop and a banner was hung high that read ‘Hawkins High School’ behind Dustin as he shared his speech with the crowd.
“And I don’t want order, which is why it’s hypocritical that I’m even wearing this thing. I mean, we look ridiculous. What is this? We look like Roman senators,” Dustin made a compelling point, tugging on his gown to accentuate it as he stood on the stage in front of the entire graduation ceremony.
“I mean, it’s not who I am. I don’t think it’s who any of us are. So, honestly, just screw it,” He declared as he tore off the hideous orange robe and revealed his ‘Hellfire Lives’ shirt underneath.
Gasps and applause slipped out from almost everyone in the audience.
“Screw the school! Screw the system! Screw conformity! Screw everyone and everything trying to hold you back and tear us apart, because this, this is our year!” He proclaimed, pausing between each sentence as the principal was desperately trying to get him to stop.
The Hawkins graduating class of ‘89 immediately shot up from their seats and erupted in cheers for their valedictorian.
No one had expected such an outburst to end their ceremony and their high school years, but no one was mad about it.
Dustin abruptly grabbed his diploma from Principal Higgins’ hand and flipped him off with no hesitation. The praises for him only grew louder as the graduates threw their hats into the confetti filled air.
Mike, Lucas, and Will immediately darted through the bustling crowd towards Dustin and melted into a congratulatory hug. A series of admiration and flattery spilled from their mouths and flowed straight to Dustin’s ego.
The immense happiness emitting from them was unmeasurable.
The last 18 months had been nothing short of exhausting and overwhelming, and filled with undeniable pain. However, the party had officially made it to their graduation day and they could barely contain their genuine excitement over the event.
This was the first time in a long time they had felt this sense of relief and comfort that they had finally done something right in their lives, and it led them to this moment.
“Dustin, you’re a madman. You’re an absolute madman!” Mike emphasized while Dustin shook him in excitement.
“You’re crazy!” Lucas added as he shoved Dustin, which resulted in them shoving each other back and forth and laughing.
“Hey,” The two stopped in their tracks and the group was met with a familiar, yet not necessarily friendly face.
“Hey Stacey” Dustin responded awkwardly, looking at his friends for reassurance that this interaction was actually real and not just in his head.
“I just wanted to say what you did up there was pretty badass” Stacey complimented, and looked between the boys before continuing. “So I’m having a party later tonight. You guys should come.”
The party looked at one another as she smiled and walked away, a state of confusion and shock washed over their faces.
“Did that just happen? Should we go?” Will asked with a tone of enthusiasm in his voice.
“Is that rhetorical?” Dustin huffed as he shoved him.
“I mean, do we have a better idea?” Lucas countered.
The friends shared a look, silently confirming there was, in fact, not a better idea amongst the four of them.
“It's decided then. Looks like we’re going to a party,” Mike decided to voice their collective, unspoken thoughts. However, it came out as more of a question rather than a statement, and followed by a slight sigh.
“Are we seriously doing this guys? I mean, we’ve never been to a party before,” Will admitted timidly.
Unfortunately for them, it wasn’t a lie. They had never really been acknowledged by other people before and especially not by a girl who was throwing a party, and inviting them.
Lucas was the only one with some sort of social experience through basketball, but it had never been the four of them out together.
“There’s a first time for everything I say! Hey! Stacey! Wait up!” Dustin called, jogging towards Stacey’s direction.
The remaining three boys figured he had caught up with her to get some more details for tonight, and most definitely used it as an excuse to talk to her again.
“Well would you look at that, the party goes to their first party. I guess two important events took place today, graduating from school and graduating from the bottom of the social totem pole” Lucas put a hand on both Mike and Will’s shoulders as he smirked and watched Dustin speak with Stacey.
It was definitely a sight to see, and not one they were planning on witnessing today. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to go find my amazing girlfriend and inform her of the plans for later. See ya fellas.”
He walked away and made his way towards Max, who could be seen talking with Holly and Steve on the bleachers.
Mike and Will were still trying to process exactly what had happened in the last few minutes, despite being present the entire time.
They just faced the crowd for a moment, taking it in, before Will broke their silence.
He turned to Mike and attempted to read his face, which was somewhere between insanely intrigued and insanely disgusted.
“It could be fun,” Will tried to persuade and change the expression to a more positive one. “Wouldn’t you like to say you’ve been to at least one party in high school?” He joked and shoved his elbow into Mike’s arm.
Mike’s face relaxed a bit and Will could see the corners of his mouth start to tug up. “Yeah, yeah I guess you’re right,” He turned to face Will, his grin in full effect. “But if it absolutely sucks, I’m making Steve come get us and we’re leaving. I’m giving it an hour max. Deal?” His words were draped with sarcastic scolding and he wagged his finger at Will.
”Deal,” Will rolled his eyes followed by a chuckle, which was a result of Mike’s attempt to sound like his mother.
The smiles they shared in that moment were authentic, and they didn’t seem to fade as the two boys walked over to the bleachers to find their families.
That brief interaction was able to completely change Mike’s mood in an instant, a result of the effect Will subconsciously had on him.
The ceremony finished fairly quickly despite all of the parents wanting photos of their kids. Even Steve had pulled out a camera and insisted on a photo of his little nuggets on their big day.
“No, I don't care how many photos you already got today. All five of you are going to stand together and pose for one more goddamn photo before we go back to the Wheeler’s!” He was irritated easily when the kids kept giggling and talking mid shot. It took him losing his cool to finally get their attention and they did as they were told while he finally got his photo. “Thank you.” He nodded, proud of them and the fact that they actually listened to him.
Once all the parents, siblings, and babysitters were pleased with the photos and film they had collected over the evening, everyone made their way back to the Wheeler’s as Karen had invited them over earlier to have dinner together - against Ted’s willingness.
The boys and Max made their way to the basement as if it were second nature to them, while the adults headed towards the kitchen and Holly to her room. The party made themselves comfortable in their second home of Mike Wheeler’s basement.
Lucas and Max sat on the couch, his arm around her like he didn’t want to waste another moment that they had already lost over the past two years.
Dustin sat on the other side of Lucas, barely being able to contain his anxiousness about the plans that would be taking place later that night.
Will plopped down on the arm chair as Mike found a seat on the floor and leaned his back up against the chair.
“Okay wait, Dustin, so she just came up to you and asked?” Max asked him, completely dumbfounded that this could be true.
“Yes and why is that so shocking to you, Max?” He raised an eyebrow in response to her.
“To be fair, I think we’re all a little shocked,” Mike chimed in.
“Yeah, like if you would have come up to me yesterday and said this happened, I definitely would have told you that you were full of shit,” Will giggled in agreement with Mike.
“Oh yeah fine laugh about it, but remember who got you guys invited!” Dustin warned, a finger lifted and pointing to everyone in the group which earned a low chuckle and snort from Lucas.
“Apologies my king, we appreciate your noble work that allows us to attend such a wonderful experience tonight!” Lucas teased in a deep British accent.
“What he means is yes you’re right, thank you Dustin,” Max swatted Lucas. “Did she give you, like, a time? Or were we just supposed to show up whenever we felt like it?”
Dustin checked the watch that sat on his wrist. “Uhh I’d say in about an hour.”
“You’d say?” Will asked skeptically.
“Yeah well she said to just come whenever because that’s what she told everyone else!”
Mike also checked his watch. “Okay so if it’s 7:30 now, we can aim for 9?” Looking up at the group for confirmation at his suggestion.
“I actually agree with Mike for once. Never want to be too early and look super eager. Even though we know you are, Dustin.” Max approved, emphasizing Dustin's readiness. “Do any of you little girls need to get ready before we go, or are you staying like this?”
The boys were dressed in jeans and shirts, that weren't necessarily casual nor fancy. Giving freedom to dress them up or down. The outfits complimented them well and they figured they were good enough for a party.
However, not actually ever being invited to one or attending one, caused Max’s comment to make them slightly self-conscious.
“What’s wrong with what we’re wearing?” Will doubted.
“No, nothing is wrong, I just wanted to make sure we had enough time in case you all wanted to do your makeup or braid your hair,” she giggled at her own stupid joke.
“Ha ha, so clever Max,” Mike responded back flatly with a roll of his eyes.
“Well, I packed a few things,” she pointed to her backpack on one of the chairs next to the D&D table. “And I think I’m gonna change out of this sweater.”
She removed herself from Lucas’ embrace and hopped off the couch, walking towards her bag to grab it and change in the bathroom.
She came out a few minutes later, still in the same jean shorts but changed into a fitted striped t-shirt and white zip up wrapped around her waist.
She clicked through the tv so the group could keep themselves occupied as they patiently waited for 9pm to arrive, before returning to her spot on the couch.
“I cannot believe we’re actually going to a party,” Will spoke up about 20 minutes later as he put his head in his hands. He shook his head side to side and chuckled lightly.
“Well, believe it because it’s happening!” Dustin said with a grin ear to ear.
“Looks like someone's excited,” Lucas elbowed him.
“Honestly, I really don’t see the hype around it,” Mike chirped up, his negativity being visibly expressed to the rest of them.
“Coming from a person who has never had a social life,” Max retorted.
“I have a social life. I’m here with you guys, aren’t I?” Mike protested. The statement only being half true, the first part being a painful lie.
“The five of us playing D&D in your basement doesn’t count, Wheeler.”
He rolled his eyes followed by a muttered “Screw you.”
Max smirked in response.
“Oh come on Mike. You aren’t even the least bit excited? Or at most, intrigued about how this thing will play out?” Lucas asked.
“Not even a little,” he replied without hesitation. “Why can’t we just stay here and play?” Mike nodded over to the table where the end of their previous game was laid out.
“Because this is like a once in a lifetime opportunity?” Dustin responded. Possibly overreacting, possibly not.
“Yeah and we can play D&D tomorrow, Mike. It’s only for a few hours,” Will tried to be a rational voice, providing a compromise he knew Mike couldn’t say no to.
“One hour.” Mike corrected him.
“One hour? Are we serious?” Lucas interrupted.
“At least two,” Dustin added.
“An hour. And we’re all coming back here and spending the night, and then we’re playing D&D tomorrow.” Mike was set in his ways and not in the mood for negotiations.
“Okay that’s fair. Right guys?” Will wanted to lighten the mood before they all left the house.
They all murmured something different but the overall consensus was that they were in agreement.
It was obvious Mike didn’t want to go to this party in the slightest, so they all accepted one hour and figured they’d make it up to him by playing tomorrow.
Max kept an eye on Will as he looked down to watch Mike. A hint of sadness flickered across Will’s eyes at the fact that Mike didn’t share the same enthusiasm as the rest of the group.
Max noticed Will’s expression, keeping her little mental note to herself as the group sat in silence and watched whatever was playing on the tv.
Finally, Karen called down to the basement to ask when they were heading out and Mike looked down at his wrist.
“8:56. Ready?”
He looked around at his friends as they nodded and got up from their seats. Dustin was the first one up the stairs, Max and Lucas following close behind, but Will stayed with Mike as he quickly neatened up the basement and closed the tv.
“Ready?” Will asked him, even though Mike had just asked that question seconds prior. It was his attempt to lighten the mood and remove the annoyance from Mike’s face.
“Oh yeah, totally ready,” Mike sarcastically said back. He looked at Will, noticing the hopeful glimpse in his eyes. Mike decided to rid himself of the irritated front he was putting up, especially in front of Will.
“Definitely gonna be the best hour of our lives!” He spoke with his hands to add some exaggeration, offering a smile and making Will laugh as they headed up the stairs.
“Mike, it will be fun, what’s the worst that can happen in an hour?”
Oh William Byers and Michael Wheeler, you are about to find out what’s the worst that could happen in an hour.