Chapter Text
Standing in the mirror Will buttons his yellow flannel and tucks it into his khakis. He runs a hand through his hair and sighs. Jane always put him up to this trendy shit he didn't care about. He sits on the bed and reaches for his forest green converse next to the bed. He lets his mind wonder about the type of people that will be at this event tonight. Doesn’t need to ponder too long though because the dating pool at NYU for gay guys was vast but too vast. It was hard to meet good quality guys. Could be worse though he assumes. His phone buzzes next to him. He picks it up and in front of his wallpaper which is a picture of him and his sister is a notification from Lucas.
Are we gaming tn?
Will wishes he was but no he’s going to this damn speed dating event for Jane. Instead he replies
Can’t- twin duty calls
Lucas answers immediately
Damn
With that Will ties his shoes and grabs his phone. He takes one last look in the mirror then heads down stairs. He grabs his keys and his leather jacket. As he’s pulling the thick leather over the flannel trying to make sure the sleeves don’t bunch up under the jacket leaving him uncomfortable he calls out to see what the hell is taking Jane so long.
"Jane, I swear to god if you do not hurry up, I'm going to play video games with Lucas like I wanted to!" Will impatiently checks the time on his phone, tapping his foot. Then he hears hurried steps down the stairs. "Okay grandpa. I know it's past your bedtime" Jane swings on her coat and brushes past Will. " Jane, I don't know why I have to do this with you. I'm not interested in dating anyone from school, all these guys are either greasy or just experimenting before they propose to their high school girlfriends or whatever". He spins around and looks at his twin sister. Her hair is straightened and she's wearing her cleanest pair of black Doc Marten's. Her freckles are lightly dusted with a rosy blush. Damnit. She actually wants to do this. "Will god forbid you leave your room for 2 hours and make a friend you haven't known since the 8th grade." He scoffs at the accusation. Is it really an accusation if she's right though? "Okay fine, let's just get this over with"
After a windy 15-minute walk, they arrive at NYU's library. SGA is running a fundraiser at the here-- A queer speed dating event. Will hasn't dated someone since his freshman year of college. Just had a small fling that burned out rather quickly, before that he only ever dated one other guy. Needless to say, Will Byer's had a very short romantic life. Jane is bouncing with excitement next to Will. She is in SGA and is running this whole thing but did not want to go alone. That was her excuse to Will. He knew that Max was coming and was bringing her old friend though so an excuse that it was. Will just wanted to start his art final and play some games with Lucas. But now here he was, pretending that he didn't know Jane had all the company she needed. Don't get it wrong, Will is always there to support Jane. It's just dating wasn't his thing after two terrible experiences. He didn't need a 3rd strike. He looked around the dimly lit library. There were a bunch of small round tables set up with a satin pink tablecloth on everyone. There were round string lights hung up and a few red hearts hanging here and there. It was definitely cheesy, but he could appreciate the effort. Will followed his sister to the main table where SGA members were handing out checklists. It had small boxes to place names where you could check "yes" or "no". At the end of the event the coordinators would pair up couples who both checked "yes" for each other. Simple enough of a concept Will thought
Jane immediately began talking to her members and Will stood behind her quietly. He was used to standing in the background. He was always the quiet one. His friends made an effort but it's hard not to get caught up in the conversation and fun of it all. Will understood. He's only ever had one person in his life who made sure to always include him. He didn't even try, he just wanted to talk to Will. He didn't have that anymore. So, he grew to find comfort in being a background character. Not even ten minutes later he feels a frustrated presence next to him. He turns to see her red hair. "Hey Max!" Will says happy to move his attention elsewhere. He immediately notices the scowl on her face. "What's wrong?" he asks. Max turns to him and says "oh nothing just Lucas and his stupid video games he can't leave for two seconds" Will understands. Lucas and Max were constantly hot and cold. Max had a fiery energy to her and Lucas secretly loves a challenge. Everyone in the friend group has grown accustomed to their bickering. "And on top of that my supposed friend can't be bothered to show up on time" Jane spins around hearing Max behind her. She must sense the anger radiating off her as well because Jane asks, "what'd he do now?". They walk off together while Max vents, waving her hands up to add dramatic affect and Jane is nodding along. "Here for you Will." A blonde SGA member hands him a sheet. Will smiles and takes it then walks off. He finds a table yet to be taken and sits there waiting for the event to start. Checks his time on his phone at 9:15. "God when will this be over" he mutters to himself. The Blonde then stands up and introduces herself. She then starts giving directions on the process, even directing who moves and when. Then soon enough the event actually starts
Will has gotten through 3 five-minute dates. One guy who he was pretty sure was high out of his mind, and two guys who were just bland. The next switch was occurring and he took the time to check the time on his phone when he heard a familiar voice. "Will?" He slowly looked up scanning past his blue and red sweater to meet his brown eyes. "Mike?". "Fuck" is all that comes out of Mike's mouth. "Fuck indeed" Will responds rolling his eyes.
"What are you doing here? I didn't even know you lived in New York?" Will asks with genuine curiosity
"I don't or I didn't" Mike responds. He licks his lips. Will sees how uncomfortable he is.
"What are you doing here though?" Will asks.
"Same thing as you I suppose" Mike responds.
Oh.
"Oh." is all Will says. He processes a minute then realizes something.
"Wait, I thought you were straight" ... invasive much, Will thinks to himself after asking that.
"I am. Wait! No, I'm not"
Mike runs his hands through his black curls slightly frustrated. He takes a shaky breath in and says "Sorry". Will just blinks at him confused. "Sorry, reflex. I am freshly out. But no, I am very much gay." Mike finally responds. Will nods. He gets it. Coming out is very hard especially in the small town they are from. "Yeah, me too" Will states with a small laugh at the end. There’s a brief awkward silence. Mike is staring at his hands. Suddenly he breaks the silence.
“So how have you been?” he asks. Will is not trying to entertain this idea of small talk. Mike is not his friend, he is not a potential partner and he doesn’t deserve even politeness from Will.
So he snaps “Why would you care?” Mike’s eyes widened in slight shock. He lowers his voice “I still care about you Will. You know that. If not because it’s you but also because you’re a person”. Mike finishes then turns away. Will just scoffs. “You didn’t care back then so why now.”. Mike begins to get defensive “that's just not true-” Mike is cut off by a sudden alarm. The alarm that indicates it’s time to switch. Will briefly looks at Mike who seems defeated. Mike is rubbing his hands on his jeans. He stands abruptly. “It was nice to see you Will.” All Will can do is roll his eyes “Yeah can’t say the same” Will responds. Mike rushes to exit this awkward conversation. Will just sighs to himself. His mind starts to wonder. Why is Mike here in New York? Why is Mike at an NYU event if he's not even a student here? When did Mike come out? Was his dad mad? Did his dad disown him? "Hi, it's nice to meet you," a smooth voice says. Will is startled out of his thoughts. Will needs to get his mind off of Mike. It took 2 years to get to a point where he wasn't thinking about Mike nonstop so this cannot restart. Will continues the last two dates he has then grabs his coat and stands to find Jane. He checked “no” on everyone because again, Will was not looking to date.
He stops in his tracks when he sees who Jane is talking to. Mike. "Great" Will says to himself. He watches them share a hug and Jane seems happy to see him. Of course he goes to see her. That’s probably why he is really here. He just told Will he is gay to mess with him. Why does he need to go any further? He didn’t get a lifetime dose in high school.
Will considers turning around and walking out right now. No one will miss him, he thinks. Max turns and waves will over. "Will!"
Fuck, there goes that idea. Will paints on a fake smile and strides towards them. "Soo, how'd it go?" Jane immediately asks Will. Will just holds up his card as an answer, "How do you think?" He responds. Jane rolls her eyes and Will catches a glimpse of Mike's face. He looks disappointed. Uncomfortable maybe. Max throws her arm around Will's shoulders. "Well, c'mon let's meet up at a bar with Lucas and all catch up." Will gulps. Catch up? With Mike Wheeler? The guy who dumped him because he was straight then went out with his twin sister. Yeah, no thanks. Will wiggles out of Max's grasp. "Actually, uhm I'm busy. You know homework. Duty calls." He says attempting to be nonchalant. Jane immediately replies. "We haven't even started fall semester, we don't have homework yet". Shit. That excuse usually works for Will. "Right, well I uhm-" "No you're not getting out of this" Max cuts him off. Jane gives a nod of agreement. Will rolls his eyes. "Fine but you are each getting me a diet coke."
The bar was busy. Busier than usual. I mean it was the last Friday before school started back up so it makes sense. Will hates going to bars because he doesn't drink and always ends up getting someone slurring home safely narrowly avoiding being puked on. Lucas and Dustin were already at a table with beers in their hands.
"Hey guys" Will says as he slides next to them. Max gives Lucas a dirty, clearly not over their little fight earlier. Mike slides in next to Will. Great. Will leans back immediately taking his role of silently sitting back and watching the group in conversation. His diet coke arrives at the table soon leaving him with at least one good thing. "So, you don't drink." Mike suddenly says. Will looks over at his direction making sure to purposely avoid direct eye contact "Diet coke isn't a drink?" Will responds half joking.
"You know what I mean." says Mike.
"What this is a beverage. Someone's got to watch after Jane." He nods his head slightly in his sister's direction. He’s still making a conscious effort not to look into Mike’s eyes.
"I'm not drinking. I can watch after her if you want to let loose." --Why is he being so nice, Will thinks. Will shakes his head.
"No you know I don't drink. Go ahead and help yourself Mike."
"I don't drink either." Mike says flatly. Will wants to ask "why?" but would rather cut the conversation short
“You think I want you to ‘watch’ after my sister”. He snaps back doing air quotes. As expected Mike doesn’t respond instead he just looks down into his drink. “Yeah that’s what I thought” Will mutters as he turns back to the conversation and hears Lucas and Max flirting. "So you guys are on again I see." Will says. Lucas turns to him "We always are baby" He responds. Will laughs. “No lies detected there” he says. Next to Lucas, Max rolls her eyes. “Say some shit like that again Lucas and we’ll be off.” Lucas quickly responds “Woah woah woah baby” That’s when Will takes it as his sign to exit that conversation. He turns to Jane who is showing his friend Dustin something on her phone. They are sitting side by side, shoulders touching. Dustin looking at Jane and not even the phone. Barf. Another one of his friends just wanted his twin sister. When did they get so close anyway. “Hey Dustin scoot away from my little sister” he says half joking half serious. Dustin leans toward serious and scoots away. “Excuse me, I am not your little sister, I was born seven minutes before you!” Jane shouts. Will rolls his eyes and laughs. “I’m just kidding anyway guys.” Dustin visibly relaxes. Something is definitely going on. Will likes to play the tough older brother but Jane can handle herself, and Dustin is a good guy. It can just be weird when everyone Will knows has a crush on his twin and no one wants him. Like we are twins. Max stands up and asks "anyone want to smoke?" Will nods and stands to step outside with Max. Mike does as well. Will side eyes him almost telling him to sit back down. Mike does not. "Those things are so bad for you. Are you trying to kill yourselves?" Dustin asks. Will hears Jane's laughter as the three of them walk away. Once they are outside Max pulls out her pack of cigarettes and passes them all one. She pats her pocket for her lighter. "Fuck I left it inside; I'll be right back". Mike nods. The two stand outside in awkward silence before Mike breaks it. "Can we talk?" Will looks at Mike. "There's really nothing to talk about Mike" Mike swallows. "I-uh well" . Mike clears his throat. Will is no longer facing Mike, he kicks a small pebble on the ground waiting for Mike to finish. He never does. Max comes back out with her lighter. Will finishes his cigarette first and heads inside while the other two continue smoking.
"So did you talk to him?" Max asks once Will is inside. Mike runs his hand through his hair.
"No I didn't" is all he says
"Oh c'mon Wheeler I made up that whole elaborate plan with the lighter and stalled so you had a chance"
"It's clear he wants to hear nothing from me," Mike says .
"Well duh dipshit you dumped him then dated his twin sister"
"I didn't-" Mike doesn't finish.
Max pats Mike's shoulder. The nicest she ever is to him. They are close friends, but she does not let him get away with anything. Mike just nods and stares up at the sky. "Can't see a damn star in this city" he says.