Chapter Text
.𖥔 ݁ ˖ ── PROLOGUE . .✦
Mike Wheeler's Life as a Side Character
Some people grew up expecting love to arrive loudly; Mike Wheeler however learned how to recognize it by being quiet.
It wasn't the fleeting slow motion experience he would hear his mother, Karen, explain to his older sister – Nancy. How time seems to stop slower and the stars feel like it was slowly aligning by the realization. Nonsense. He'd call it – especially with the prolonging notion of love at first sight to actually exist.
He doesn't believe that at all. He could remember the debate lasting longer than their usual dinner, and he was rambling on how it wasn't true and that the term is more of attraction at first sight — which the two ladies found impressive for a nine year old. He was somewhat right there, and his belief strengthened when he found himself rejecting people when he grew older. He didn't find himself fond for anyone at all.
Well.. not really.
There is someone in particular who takes a reign in his heart, and has been for a few years since their childhood spent together. At first he had assumed it was some brotherly bond — or something as close to intimate closeness, knowing that the latter was the gentle and soft one between their little shared friend group. But the protectiveness slowly shone it's true colours when he thought his friend had this little crush on the popular girl in their school.
He couldn't help but remember how he disliked the feeling and almost threw up right then and there, only for the latter to reassure him that it wasn't anything more. Right after that happened, he showed a surprise gift which turned out to be a realistic drawing of him. And that's where he knew he fell down to the rabbit hole which was Will Byers. That was the exact moment where he knew he was hooked and anchored deep.
And that's where Mike Wheeler learned early that loving Will Byers meant standing a half-step behind him.
He was in deep denial at first, until it went to the next stage of sadness as he was once taught by his father that loving the same gender was something that wasn't okay. He felt like something wrong was with him, and there was something to fix. He tried to, and tried his best to like girls but nothing came to avail, he just managed to delve deeper into Will without trying.
He blamed Will for being too perfect – he was still the same boy he met by the swings, the boy who draws in the margins, who disappears in the hallways with a little sketchbook in tow after classes, who doesn't know how beautiful he truly is and if gains compliments from other people, would wave it off bashfully and humbly accept it.
But at the same time he had these little imperfections that made him him, and that made Mike's heart lock as it made this absentminded reservation just for him. He was stubborn, annoyingly honest, a horrible advice giver because he couldn't do his very own advice, oblivious and too closed off but that created opportunities for him to try and open him up with effort.
He had his first crush on a boy. This boy. And life couldn't have been more harder in the lens of a little kid – as young as eleven years old. He remembered avoiding Will until he got confronted by the usual swing set they used to go to when they were younger, the latter trying his best to follow him and speak until he tumbled and fell down to the ground, scraping his knee, that triggered the enhanced feeling of protectiveness towards him.
He couldn't help but feel like he was ridiculous for running away from him – thinking avoiding him would be the best solution. It never did, and he never could really do that him.
So he kept it still in his heart, bottling up those emotions until there he was, reaching past all his little childhood moments as they were both eighteen years old — by the end of their highschool and ready to reach their pinnacle at their dream universities. They weren't far from one another which healed his doubts, since Will aspired to become a great artist, he then being a writer. It was perfect.
Absolutely perfect.
Although he had been gaining small struggles on how to express his long-term feelings towards him each day, his separate, growing passion of music made a perfect introduction in his life that served as a subtle confession to all the unsaid words left in his mouth. Each song he strung with his rhythm guitar, note he sings along in every jamming session he does within their bedroom hangouts.. it had this subtle meaning that was meant for him everytime.
It was this slow progress, and he knew it was meant just for him — he believed in the slow burning of love, the yearning one would get to know more each and every day from it. And thus, faced the exact fate.
But he knew it was difficult to live up to, and sometimes he just shrugs all the hope up because he knows Will wouldn't exactly go that way — and if he did, he hoped he would tell him first. With a confession too for good measure atleast.
This was the main reason why he feels as though life is a romcom except for him — because in his eyes, it was more easier to narrate than to hope for a good ending.
So he stayed with his best friend and found himself alright with the thought of doing that, staying in the sidelines and just.. admiring him from afar. So close yet so far.
"You know, you're being ridiculous right now." Will looks over to him, shaking his head with amusement when he sees Mike relentlessly trying to snatch the box of paint cans and rollers he was struggling to hold, even if he already had the guitar bag case on. "It'll be too heavy, I'm fine, Mike."
Mike shakes his head and rushes over to stand infront of him, hands on his hips. He looks down at the latter, raising a brow. When Will takes a step to the left, he follows – and the same to the right, as if mimicking his movements to refrain him from walking past.
Will rolls his eyes, handing it over with a smile. "Fine, here you go. You happy?" He mused, walking past him, earning a victorious laugh.
Mike catches up to him, looking over to him with amusement. Yet the twinkle in his eyes shown something deeply affectionate – something that held answers to constant questions after all these years. Warm. Love.
"Very."
He could hear the sound of melodic laughter coming from his side, and he looks away, smiling until he accidentally hits the wall, forgetting to look where he was going. Will gasped, immediately rushing over and asking him if he was alright – his face reddening with embarrassment. He could see some people watching them, sneering and muttering.
Will however, didn't care about such thing and looked at him with worry. "Are you okay? Mike?" His voice echoed, and he only managed to give a thumbs up and a weak smile, the boxes still on his secure grip.
"Mike— Mike —" his voice went louder, until it sounded distorted and more female.
"MIKE!" He shot up hearing cymbals clanging against his ear – and he looks up seeing his bandmates staring at him with confusion and annoyance. He scrambled out of his comfortable position from the couch, clearing his throat awkwardly. Robin, the one who called him, lowered the percussion instrument and rolled her eyes. "Took you long enough."
"You seem dozed, did you even sleep, Man?" Max snorted, grabbing the cymbals from Robin – placing it back close to her blazing gradient red and black drum set.
Eddie grins, shaking his head – he placed his guitar aside and patted his shoulder. "Have you even asked your older sister if she was up and ready for her little cameo in our band?" He mused playfully. "You better have."
Nancy occasionally joins their band time to time – working in bass. She had that hobby running through during her earlier years, especially since she loved the feeling of being steady and in control. She was also the professional one between the group, but did not take herself as a permanent member.
"Well.. I have." Mike nods, pinching the bridge of his nose. Surely he deemed himself a goner because of how delved he was in the memory of Will and his little moment this morning. Daydreaming, He calls it. "She said yes, and she'll try her best to finish her task at the journalism club back at her university – so it's smooth sailing once it's prom here in Hawkins High."
"She better, we're getting close to it." Eddie sighed, plopping down at the couch beside his guitar, hands behind his head as he stares at them lazily. "What about those Byers brothers? I know Jonathan is already in for sound tech. But what about our little designer friend of yours, Bill?"
Mike's heart skipped a beat at the mention of his best friend, biting the inside of his cheek. "It's Will." He corrected, before turning to him. "I'll be checking on him later – ask him if the band flyers for our prom performance is finished, and our album art. We have the same class anyways." He said, looking away. "It probably looks amazing, as always. He really works hard for his art, you know? Passion.."
Robin crossed her arms, smiling ear to ear at the obvious affection the younger Wheeler had for his best friend. "Well sure. Are you coming with him at prom though?"
"What?!" Mike turns to her immediately, eyes wide and cheeks red. The two girls snickered at his reaction, shaking their heads.
"Why are you surprised?" Max retorted. "Come on, we've been your bandmates for how long. It's practically old news here."
Eddie perked his head up, "What's old news?"
".. Well except for Eddie, it seems." Robin muttered, before turning around and heading to her boxes – the sound of cluttering heard until she lets out a comical Aha! And brought up a vinyl disc, looking over to Mike with a smirk. "Hand this over to Little Byers, yeah? He was asking for this vinyl of Should I Stay Or Should I Go and I promised to give it to him as a hand me down."
Mike sputters, walking over to her and hesitantly grabbing the object. "Why don't you just come with me or something?"
"Because," She exaggeratedly said, looking at him with a playful wink. "Wouldn't it be better if the best friend gives it than some rando bandmate? Besides, I'm busy later. He needs this pronto, and you know where to go better than I do." She waves him off.
Mike face palms himself, biting back a witty remark of after classes but stopped himself. "Fine, fine. Whatever."
Max checks the time before fixing her cap on, grabbing her backpack. "It's almost the start of class – I think we should definitely head out now." She glanced over to the two college students warily, "You guys are real time lucky you guys don't have classes for today.."
"Oh we do." Eddie simply stated. "We just didn't want to go – my sched is waaay later than now. Boring, I know."
"Maybe that's just you." Robin snorted. "I don't have important classes for today."
Mike sighed at their bickering, mimicking them with his hand while grabbing his bag. He took a quick once over to the mirror and fixed himself, looking down at the vinyl in his hands before stuffing it inside to hide.
He left the room saying a casual bye, and rushed through the hallway – the soundproof band room fading into view. He sees students chattering and walking around the long corridor, and he sighs to himself, trying to spot Will from the crowd.
He gives a small heartfelt smile when he finally sees him – it felt like a breath of fresh air but at that same time, it gets sucked back in and go compressed each step he took closer to him. He meets his eyes and he exhaled shakily, hand itching to reach over to him.
Too quick. He thinks, and he smoothly places it behind his head instead, anxiously looking around. Hesitate for once.
Will had this messy appearance, blue and yellow paint coating his cheeks that he wished he could just easily wipe with his thumb. He bit the inside of his cheek, taking in the disheveled hair, his honey brown eyes that had this hint of green staring back at him, the beautiful moles that were kissed on his skin quite similarly to his own freckles.
I could be kissing those if I could. He restrained himself, his voice brokenly speaking back when Will could be easily seen giving an anticipating oblivious smile on his face.
"So uh.." he starts, rubbing the back of his neck. He felt himself barely getting a single spark of thoughts in is head. "We.. we definitely need to head to class, yeah?"
"Yeah," Will agreed before slowly pointing on his bag. "But.. you haven't gotten your books."
Right. Books. His eyes widened and he hastily opened the locker beside his friend's — something he did on desperate measures during their freshman years. He could vividly remember trading with Jane, Will's stepsister, giving her his stash of candies. "Books.. I forgot mine.." he whispered quietly.
Will hums as if he was used to hearing that, seeing him close his door and lock it, distraught. "I can share." He suggested, making the latter beam happily, nodding.
"I thank God you're alive every night." Mike exclaimed, wrapping an arm around his shoulder and pulling him close – his cheeks red as he tried to casually put the truthful words into a joking tone. It was the closest I can get to confessing, atleast.
Will giggles, walking with him with his bag in tow, looking down at the crusty dried up paint in his hands, sighing softly. "You know you shouldn't be putting me too close to you, I was by the art club room earlier, I'm too messy."
"Don't care." The guitarist shrugged his shoulders, looking over to see their friend, Dustin Henderson walking over with goggles and a lab coat on, eyebrows raising.
Dustin grins, "Hey man!"
Mike lets go of Will a bit reluctantly, and does his little fist bump with the latter, Will giving a sweet smile and a little signature wave. "Hey! How was your little trip to Switzerland? Seems cool – but our band's performance in prom would definitely be cooler."
"Sweet. Switzerland was cool, met a cute girl called Suzie." Dustin said coolly, making both of them gasp with surprise, taken aback from the news. "We're kinda in the.. dating stage."
"Already?!" Will croaks, before laughing. "Thanks amazing! Congrats!"
Dustin nods proudly, before puffing his chest. "I got a girl before any of you in the Party." He sighs with happiness. "I knew it they like it when we're nerdy."
"I'm sure you're forgetting about Lucas.." Mike gestures. "Doesn't he have his girlfriend too?"
"Oh right." Dustin comically paused, before raising a brow. "First half freak. Don't forget that he's trying to join the popular kids with their.. Cool Basketball League." he emphasizes dramatically, making the two laugh.
"I wish he could be here to play D&D, I really miss him." Will comments, pouting softly.
Mike hums, thinking of an idea to make him feel better. "I'll try to reach him." He then smiles, trying to change the topic to a lighter notice. "By the way, the flyers and the album art, how's it going?"
Will's eyes widened and he immediately turned to him. "Oh right!" He chirps, scrambling over to his bag and unzipping it quickly, trying to find the papers. Once he did, he did an accidental flung that made it scatter around, other students snickering and mumbling about him.
Mike noticed and frowned, reaching out to help him. He couldn't help but give a once over as he saw the jocks that stared at the miserable sight — some in particular being the annoying King of Hawkins, Jason Carver, speaking with Chance Romanillos with some scheming look in their faces.
He huffs, about to stand up for Will, already pent up with the constant bullying for the brunet. It's been years since middle school and their group were always targeted as nerds, atleast for him, it stopped for a mere fracture because of how he had joined the infamous band, Corroded Coffins, it took some time for Lucas to start joining in, trying to fit in but.. for the jocks — the true popular kids.
The school divided with groups for all kinds, and Dustin and Will were the ones falling out short. They didn't want to impress anyone and feel the need to prove themselves to belong in a certain setting. Even until now.
Lucas shortly arrived, wearing some new varsity jacket – the green barely fitting him well. It sneered with this awful signature colour the jocks had. Disgusting.
"Hey man, are you guys good?" He helps them up, holding a short stack of flyers.
Will glanced around, feeling humiliated. He nods quietly before continuing their walk out – not even bothering to listen to the little taunts and call-outs their schoolmates would try to give to him. Pester him with.
Mike silently holds the pile of flyers, smiling softly. "It wasn't that bad, don't worry." He says, shaking his head, before raising one paper up before smiling ear to ear. "It's so pretty, Will! I think Eddie would like this very much!" He exclaimed, before walking over to a nearby wall. He struggled as he tried to stick the doublesided tape on – the demo paper prepped and tested. "– See!"
And then it fell a little.
Dustin snorts and gave a snide remark, "Yeah, sure dude. Looks cool and all."
Mike glared at him, the tips of his ears red with embarrassment. But hearing the laugh coming from Will's lips, his smile twitched and his heart fluttered. He sounds so pretty.
His heart could've stayed afloat and his mind in cloud nine if it weren't for footsteps nearby, and chuckles from afar. He snapped his head over to the direction a bit quicker than the rest, meeting the gazes of none other than those stupid jocks Lucas tries to look up to – the brunet one, Chance, stepping forward with a hesitant and yet soft expression.
But to Mike's eyes, it looked mocking.
"Hey Will, you got a second?" Chance starts, rubbing his hands together nervously.
"Here comes Chance.." Dustin sighed.
The three friends look at them incredulously, as if the man had a second head. The jock's gaze went from Will to each one of them, before stopping at one. "Hey Logan."
Logan? Who the fuck is Logan? Mike furrowed his brows, crossing his arms. That's Lucas.
"He knows my name." Lucas stated, as if he was in a trance, a bit amazed that they actually managed to recognize him.
Will gave an offended glance – as if he was the one misnamed. "That's not your name." He tells Lucas, before turning over to Chance slightly, a cold expression on his face that screamed: I don't want to see you and your bullshit. "That's not his name."
"Oh." Chance says dumbly. "Sorry."
Lucas just gave him a shrug, about to speak when Will shakes his head with disappointment and grabbed both his and Dustin's arms, tugging them away. "So. Will, Listen.. I was wondering if maybe you'd wanna.."
Will interrupted him shortly, looking over to the guitarist with a serious glare. "Let's go, Mike."
And surely, that made him melt and follow him with no hesitation. Pathetically downbad.
He could hear Chance muttering something close to, "— Embarrass me horribly infront of all these people." And it made him smirk, shaking his head with amusement.
But when he hears the desperation in the man's voice as he calls Will's name one more time, he turns around to check on them seeing Jason wrap an arm around his embarrassed friend's shoulder, some students snickering.
"Come on, let's not get late to any of our classes, yeah?" Will said, pulling them with determination earning unwilling groans of complaint from their two friends.
And that's where it hit him, and his smile slowly faded as he walks slowly behind them. He peered over to the artist, and then over to the jock. It was.. somewhat replicating those cheesy films. And it awfully looks familiar to those telenovelas mom, Holly and Nancy would watch every Friday night.
Grease? Perhaps. He halts, horror showing his face. The cool dude and the nerdy one — a cliché romance, stupid and romantic.
And that's where Mike recognizes the opening scene of a movie he's already afraid to watch.
Which begs the real question:
How long can Mike watch a story that was never meant for him?