Chapter Text
▰▰▰▰▰▰▰▰▰Hawkins, 1989▰▰▰▰▰▰▰▰▰
Holly and her friends shoved past Mike to get down the stairs, already yelling over one another about how he and his friends should’ve wrapped up their campaign at least an hour ago. Mike sighed and stepped aside. He didn’t have much of a choice, but honestly, he wasn’t even mad. Watching Holly crouch over the board, arguing rules she barely understood, something warm settled in his chest. He saw himself there - himself and Lucas and Dustin and Will - huddled together, convinced their imaginary worlds mattered more than anything else. The excitement, the arguments, the way they always worked it out in the end… These were all really fond memories of his that he would never let go of.
“Are you just gonna stand there, or are you coming?”
Mike looked up sharply.
Will stood at the top of the stairs, smiling at him, like he always did. The kind of smile that made it impossible not to return it.
“There’s not gonna be any lasagna left if you don’t hurry” Will added. “I came to warn you, but I don’t think Max, Lucas and Dustin will be as forgiving as me.”
“I’m coming,” Mike said, laughing despite himself.
Will turned toward the kitchen, but Mike spoke before he could disappear.
“Hey…Will.”
“Hm?”
Will turned back. Mike opened his mouth, then stalled.
“I just… wanted to say thanks.”
Will blinked. “For the lasagna?”
“For - yeah. I mean. Yeah.”
“It’s not a big deal, Mike.”
“Right. Yeah. Not a big deal.”
Will frowned, clearly confused, then shrugged and walked away. Mike exhaled and rubbed his face. Smooth. Why did he say it like that? Why did everything sound wrong when it came to Will?
“Awkward,” Holly said knowingly as she passed him on the stairs.
“Don’t you have a campaign to run?” Mike shot back, nudging her. She laughed and bolted before he could grab her.
He followed her into the kitchen where his friends had already finished the lasagna his mom prepared.
“Sorry, man,” Lucas said, patting his stomach. “You snooze, you lose.”
“That’s tragic,” Mike said solemnly, pulling out a stack of pizza boxes. “Because at least I still have room for all this.”
Holly gasped as he handed over two boxes. Her friends cheered like he’d just saved the world.
This felt right. Things were exactly the way they needed to be: simple and easy. It was just Mike and his best friends having the time of their lives together, just playing and eating whatever they wanted. If only it could stay like this forever.
“So,” Max said, leaning forward, “what’s everyone doing now that we’re officially adults?”
Well, as *cough cough* valedictorian, I will obviously be attending the finest college in Pennsylvania where I’ll be studying - drumroll please - electrical engineering!” exclaimed Dustin proudly
Cheers erupted.
“That’s actually perfect,” Lucas said. “Me and Max are heading to West Virginia, so we’ll live close by. I’m doing political science.”
All eyes turned to Max.
“…Psychology,” she said, laughing under her breath.
More applause.
“What about you, Will?” Dustin asked. “Top that.”
“I actually can’t believe how close we’ll all be! I’m going to New York to a really cool art college.” he paused a moment to wait for everyone to finish screaming and celebrating. “What about you, Mike? Will the whole party be close together or are you going to ditch us?” laughed Will. Mike looked up at him and his smile faded away. He was kind of scared to tell the truth - a truth he’s been hiding from them for a while.
He stared at his hands. “I’m… staying. Here, in Hawkins.”
Silence.
Lucas frowned. “Seriously? Why? You got a job or something?”
“No.” Mike shook his head. “I just - after everything with El. And the Upside Down. I don’t know… I think it messed me up more than I thought.” He swallowed. “I’ve made my choice. For now, at least. I’m gonna try writing. See if it goes anywhere.” He forced a smile. “I’m really glad you all found your thing.”
No one spoke.
Then Will cleared his throat. “Actually,” he said carefully, “I might have an idea for you.”