Archive of Our Own

His shoulders hunched and his head hung low in complete and utter defeat. He felt the starting of a sweat between his brows and sighed to try to ease the anxiety creeping up on him. Honestly, Mike was about to shoot himself or let a goddamn Demogorgon chew his head off. At least then, his brain will be put to some sort’ve use; Even if it’s as fuel for an interdimensional creature. 

Yeah, so right now his brain was doing absolutely nothing for him. He could not figure out how to write this letter. Well, it’s more like a love note, if he’s being completely honest. . He didn’t know he’d ever be this cliche, because he always found the notion of making some sappy letter to someone he liked absolutely revolting since he was a kid. Despite having a girlfriend for the better part of a year, he’d never officially done it. Those three words didn’t come easy to him with El and it took him a long time to figure out just why that was. 

Things are a lot better between them, ever since their breakup. Mike thinks he prefers their friendship the way it is now. He really likes being able to tell El that he loves her, just without the romantic relationship attached to it. Turns out, they work way better as friends, even when El dumping him felt devastating when it happened. 

Point is, Mike Wheeler has never had to actually woo someone. He’s never even really had to open up about feelings or be generally lovey-dovey. For a while, Mike simply thought that he just wasn’t like that. He thought he didn’t feel the swooping feeling you get when you have butterflies or the blush you get on your cheeks when you’re around someone you like. It was easier to think something was wrong with him than get to the bottom of it. 

But then Mike was sixteen and on a random day, in the middle of Spring the feelings he had towards Will Byers just hit him at once. ‘Hit’ is a bit of a strong word, since it wasn’t abrupt whatsoever. It was a feeling he quite honestly thinks he was eased into over time until it was simply too obvious to ignore.

And, okay- Maybe he always looked at boys for longer than necessary since entering high school and something about the muscles of the boys on the wrestling team was appealing to him. All that is Mike’s business and Mike’s business alone. Either way, he probably should’ve been clued in on his feelings towards men just a little bit quicker. His mother always says that he has school smarts, but his emotional intelligence on the other hand… Well that was a different story. 

He reluctantly agrees with her about the emotional intelligence thing, but he’ll never say it to her face. He could already see the proud smirk on her face. Moms always like saying “I told you so.” He won’t give her that bit of satisfaction. Plus, he kinda can’t since he really doesn’t know how to do this whole coming out thing. There aren't exactly handbooks laying around for this kind of stuff in Hawkins, Indiana. He had no clue if any gay people were even here. Statistically he doesn’t think he’s the only one, but finding them wouldn’t be easy. 

Now, he’s been trying for months to figure out a way to tell Will about all of this, but anything he thinks of seems a bit too scary. Mike has been friends with Will for a long time, and they know everything there is to know about each other. He knows the shallow things about him, like his favorite color or favorite food, and the deeper stuff too like his worst fears, about all he went through with Lonnie and the Upside-Down. Except, Mike doesn’t know if Will likes boys.

The last thing he wants to do is make things awkward or ruin his friendship with Will, because he’s already done that enough to last a lifetime, thanks to his 13 and 14 year old selves being complete idiots. When Mike reconciled with Will after Vecna’s first attack, Mike vowed not to fuck it up again. 

Mike’s a liar. Because this type of thing? It generally has the ability to fuck up a friendship. If he knew about his feelings back then, maybe he could’ve been braver and said something, since there was nothing to lose. His friendship with Will had been extremely strained at that point, weathered away by the distance and lack of communication on both ends. Now that they’re closer than ever, Mike doesn’t want to lose him again. He has Will, and maybe it’s not how he wants, but can’t he make it be enough? Just get through this somehow, even though it hurts to ignore it? 

He’s decided to take the cowardly route and give Will an anonymous love letter. It’s super fucking overdone, but he has to try and do something . He’ll even say in the note that he’s a boy and get Will’s reaction to it. Maybe Will would be okay with that, and he might be freaking out for no reason. That certainly isn’t outside of the norm for Mike, he freaks out a lot over things he probably shouldn’t. 

He’s been trying to perfect this note for the better part of a week now. It seems like he’s already gone through a whole notebook full of paper, many of the drafts simply too cheesy to make the cut, or too personal. Since they have so many memories together, many of them were too revealing of who he is to be able to use. Also, trying to disguise your handwriting by making a new one hurts your hand, having to painstakingly write it stroke by stroke instead of quick bursts of words. 

Tonight he decided to hunker down and make the final draft of his letter, and still he was struggling. Will deserved no less than perfect, and that was what Mike wanted to give him.

“ Dear Will,

Hi. I know it’s a bit odd coming up to you like this, as in- I’m not really going up to you at all. Truth is, I’m too cowardly to do that. I hope that doesn’t take any points off, in your book. 

Anyways, I just wanted to tell you that you’re always on my mind. Has anyone ever told you how beautiful you are? If I could, I’d yell it out on the rooftops.

Will Byers, you are beautiful. Sorry if that’s cheesy as all hell, my friends always mention how I have a tendency to be a bit embarrassing.

Seriously though, I don’t think I’ve ever seen another person who’s as genuinely kind as you, especially after all you’ve gone through. The people in Hawkins suck, but know I’ll always be in your corner. ALWAYS.

You came back from the fucking dead, you’re a certified badass! Anyone who says otherwise is stupid and doesn’t know what they’re talking about. Those bullies will never amount to anything, but you’re going to go on and do great things. They’ll wish they were kinder to you when they’re older. Haha. I can already see the dumb looks on their faces when they see how far you’ll go while they’re just sitting around here in Hawkins wasting away with their shitty jobs and shitty lives. 

I don’t know if you’ll ever return my feelings, and I’m starting to feel okay with that, maybe? Probably. Sometimes, that’s just the way it goes- right? It’s hard being a boy in Hawkins who likes another boy. I don’t want to presume that you’re the same as me, either. I know you were bullied for it, but that doesn’t mean you actually were gay. Bullies don’t exactly have amazing perception, do they?

I mean, I was never bullied for it. I don’t even think anyone would guess that I feel this way. Moral of the story is that it’s not obvious at all. I hope you’re like me, but then sometimes I hope you aren’t. Because if you are, that just means you were bullied relentlessly for a part of yourself you can’t change. Either way I’m sorry, you never deserved that. No one does.  

If you aren’t gay, I understand too. We can’t really control who we like. For a long time I really thought I could. I tried, and it really didn’t work out. Now here I am, writing an !!!embarrassingly!!! long love letter to a boy. I can’t say that was something I ever saw myself doing, but here we are. 

But you’re not just anybody, you’re Will . The same Will with the fluffy looking hair and the bunny-toothed smile that keeps me awake at night smiling. Will with the flannel shirts and the kind hazel eyes. The Will that’s never mean and incredibly brave. If I was going to write a cheesy love letter to anybody, I’m  really glad that it’s you . 

Love,

Anonymous 

(P.S. I did NOT almost write my name here, that’d be so dumb of me)”

Mike sighed in relief as he got the last letters down and when he inspected it one last time, he decided it was perfect. He placed it in an envelope and threw it in his book bag. Whatever happened next was a tomorrow issue, so he went to bed peacefully. He can think about how to drop it off in Will’s locker and Will’s reaction tomorrow. 

—

Unfortunately it was now tomorrow and Mike’s stress sweat was back with a vengeance. There was only a brief window of time he could drop it off before Will or any of his nosey friends could see what he was doing and question him. He forgot to set an alarm to wake up slightly early so he had to rush through his daily routine and skip out on a well-balanced breakfast, something his mom was not happy about.

Who could even eat breakfast at a time like this, anyways? He was so nervous that his heart was beating out of his chest as he approached Will’s locker. When he double- triple checked to make sure no one was around, he carefully slid it between the gaps and power walked away. He didn’t want anyone to tie him to the crime scene. With no witnesses, he luckily thinks himself in the clear.

It does help him breathe slightly better because that is something he checked off the list. The biggest part is seeing Will’s reaction to it. 

Everyday Mike and Will get to school first and have their own time together. For a while that’s been intentional, because Mike knows Will has anxiety over being late to something and so he gets to school earlier than most people. Mike decided to do the same and wait with him so Will didn’t have to be alone for a long time. Plus he just likes talking alone with the boy he likes. Sue him. 

Mike checked his clock and it should be any minute now. He waited patiently at the bike rack, which was their unofficial official meet up point. 

“Hey,” Will’s deep voice popped up beside him, making Mike jump in surprise. Jesus, he was already being embarrassing today.

 Will chuckled at Mike’s reaction, “Sorry, didn’t mean to scare you.”

Mike laughed sheepishly, “It’s okay, I just wasn’t paying attention.”

Will nods and Mike has to control himself from not blurting out the stupid things that pop up in his brain. Usually, it’s stuff that ranges from light flirting, such as: ‘I like your hair’ or ‘You look good today.’ All the way to obvious yearning, like: ‘I want to kiss you right on the mouth.’ or ‘ I am stupidly in love with you’

“How’d you do on the pop quiz in history yesterday?” Will asked, a bit of humor lilting in his voice. Will Byers, the little shit.

Mike groans in response, “Don’t make me answer that. I swear, he hates me! As soon as he announced it, I could feel his beady little eyes on me. It’s like he’s reveling in my complete and utter failure.” 

Will shook his head knowingly, with a devious smile on his face, “ See , I told you the other day that you should’ve studied with me for it.” 

“In my defense, I did not see that quiz coming.” Mike pouts. 

“Whatever helps you sleep better.” Will shrugged, “Anyways, let’s go now. I need to grab my chem book.”

Mike nods and suddenly feels nervous again, the ease from their light banter dissipating all at once. It was time to go to Will’s locker. He starts to wish he had a time machine so he could stop himself from ever putting that note there. What was he even thinking? This was so stupid.

Will doesn’t have a clue. Mike feels like throwing up and Will is walking towards it without a care in the world, he doesn't know but he’ll know soon and it’s all out of Mike’s control now what happens. When they get there, he quickly turns the lock to put his code in and it opens with a creak.

The letter immediately falls out and sways in the air a bit before finally making its way to the floor. Will doesn’t miss it out of the corner of his eye and looks down at it confused. He bends down to pick it up and Mike is picking at the skin of his fingernails. 

“What the-” Will said quietly, his eyes widening as he sees the small ‘Will’ written on the back of the envelope, unmistakably meant for him. 

He looks to Mike in confusion and Mike only nods him on, trying his best to act like a curious friend and a curious friend only.

“What is it?” Mike found himself asking. Liar liar pants on fire. You know exactly what that is.

“I-” Will paused, “I don’t know.” He opened it and pulled out the letter, his eyes tracking each and every word. 

Mike watched as Will smiled at the paper, and eventually frowned- Only to smile again in the end. However, he looked a bit conflicted, and that worried Mike. When Will looked up at him, he looked to be at a loss for words.

“Well?” Mike asked. 

“Uh-” Will choked out, “It’s nothing .” 

And if Mike hadn’t been the one to write him that letter, he could tell just from Will’s tone that it absolutely wasn’t just nothing. So he called him out on it.

“It’s obviously not ‘nothing’ You can tell me.” Mike urged on, trying his best to give an easy smile. He thinks he must look constipated with how nervous he feels.

Will was starting to look increasingly panicked, and Mike was just about to speak up again to tell him to not worry about it when Max and El came storming in.

“Byers!” Max said with a smile. Everyone knew she had both a soft spot for El and for Will. Mike can relate to her in that. 

“Hey!” He said, immediately hiding the letter behind him. Fuck, he hates it, doesn’t he?

“What’s that?” El asked with curious eyes.

“It’s nothing. ” Will said again, and God, he has to work on his lying voice. You can’t say ‘nothing’ like that and expect people to believe you.

El didn’t fall for it either and lunged at him, quickly grabbing it from behind him. Will shrieked out an “El!” and she only giggled as she made him stop in place. Mike feels a bit sorry for Will. Fighting with your sister is already a challenging battle in and of itself, but fighting with a superpowered sister? That’s game over for Will. Mike thinks if Nancy had superpowers, she would’ve killed him ages ago. 

She reads it quickly through Will’s protests and gasps, “Will! This person wrote you a love letter! Why would you hide it?” 

Will’s finally released from El’s powers and he grabs at it again before Max can have a turn reading it. “Because I know you, El! You’re a romantic and you’d start getting these ideas in your head about me finding them or something.”

“Is that so wrong? This person sounds very genuine, Will. You should give them a chance.” 

“I don’t know… I mean, how would I find them anyways? It’s not like-” Will stops and looks at Max and Mike still standing there listening, “Um, it’s not like that person is okay with dating me publicly or whatever.”

Max looked confused, “Why wouldn’t they be okay with dating you in public?”

“Uhh, because I’m bullied, I guess. The whole zombie-boy thing and all doesn’t make me too dateable.” Will said, and it almost sounds believable. But Mike knows what’s in that letter. He knows he reassured Will that the bullies didn’t matter. 

Holy shit. Holy actual shit.

Mike thinks he understands what’s happening. Obviously the bullying excuse is only a front. It’s a half-truth. Will knows they can’t date publicly at all, but that’s because the person in the letter is a boy. Will and El don’t seem to think that the fact that the anonymous person is a boy rules him out. El thinks Will should give him a chance. She seems excited, like she knows something about Will. 

Like something about him liking boys.

He could honest-to-god have a chance. Well, maybe. That’s if Mike was at all appealing to Will, which could be a resounding ‘No’ . Being aware of the possibility that he could like boys was only half the battle here.

Mike thinks himself to be pretty awkward in both looks and personality. He’s not the person anyone thinks of when they think of someone dateable. If Will likes boys would he be able to find Mike dateable? He knows they’re friends, but friendship and romance aren't the same.

“That’s bullshit, Will. You’re the coolest guy I know. Anyone would be lucky to have you.” Max said with a strong passion. Mike hated her because she took the words right out of his mouth.

“So I’m not the coolest guy you know anymore?” Said Lucas, coming up beside Max and snaking his arm around her waist, she rested her head on his shoulder. He hated them for their PDA and how much he wanted that simple affection too. Dustin also came up, beside El and Mike.  

“Will has a secret admirer, one apparently who wouldn’t date him publicly.” Max informed the boys who just arrived, “Tell him he’s being stupid.”

“I have to agree, Will. You’ve always been good with the ladies.” Dustin nods and sends Will a suggestive glance. 

Mike wants to bash his head against the locker doors. That absolutely does not help at all, Dustin. It’s not like he could tell him that, though. So he only shoots a subtle glare when no one’s looking, not even Dustin. He just needed that for his peace of mind.

“I think-” Lucas said pausing for effect, “We should all read it and try to figure out who wrote it. Then boom, Will and the mystery girl get together. If that’s what he wants.”

“How would we figure out who wrote it?” El asked, her eyebrows furrowed in confusion.

“People in love are super obvious about it. They can try their hardest to stay anonymous but there’s always clues to give it away. It won’t be too hard.” Lucas said confidently.

“How do you even know all that, anyways?” Dustin asked.

Lucas shrugged, “My little sister is a gossip. Her and her friends are always talking about this kind of stuff. How hard can it be?”

“Um, I don’t know if I can share the letter yet. Maybe later?” Will said, nervously, looking down at his feet with an expression Mike thinks he knows all too well. 

“Don’t worry about it. You don’t have to if you don’t want to, Will. But we’re here to help.” Mike said and gave Will his most honest smile. 

Will looked up and returned it gratefully, “I’ll think about it.”

—

After a few weeks, Mike lost hope about the letter situation popping up again. He was okay with that, he thinks. It basically almost confirmed Will liked men, and Mike didn’t want to force Will to come out or anything. 

So he was surprised when Will brought it up, on a weekend when they were all hanging out together in Mike’s basement.

“You guys remember the letter I got?” He asked, immediately snapping Mike out of drifting into a light nap on his couch. 

“How could we forget?” Dustin said. Mike knows that’s no exaggeration, since Dustin had casually brought it up a dozen times with Mike when Will wasn’t around. The boy was curious, to say the least.

“Um, anyways.” Will said, his voice becoming nervous, “The reason I couldn’t share the letter that day was because it was from a boy.” 

When everyone stayed silent, he continued, “I didn’t know how to say anything without also saying that I was gay. I’ve been wanting to come out to you guys for a while, but it’s been scary. Not because I’m scared of you, but because I don’t ever say it enough. I barely came out to El and the rest of my family a few months ago. I just didn’t know how to bring it up.”

There were tears in Will’s eyes and everyone instantly moved to get into a group hug with him. He started to laugh through the tears. 

“Will, we love you buddy! You liking guys doesn’t change anything.” Lucas said first.

“He’s right! If anything, knowing that it’s a boy only helps narrow it down. We’re going to get you a boyfriend.” Dustin smiled and pumped his fist enthusiastically. Will only laughed.

“That boy has good taste, because you’re the best guy I know, Will. You know it’s true when I’m saying this sappy shit.” Max laughed.

“Again, I am right here.” Lucas said and pouted at Max’s words.

Max shook her head at her boyfriend, “Will’s number one, you should know that Lucas.”

Will smiled and when he hesitantly glanced at Mike, Mike smiled back wider.

“Will, you’re incredibly brave. I’ll support you no matter what. You’re my best friend, and I’m glad you could tell us.” Mike said.

Apparently it was the right words, because Will looked a lot more relaxed. “Thanks guys, I don’t know what I’d do without all of you.”

After a while of talking about unrelated things , Lucas was the one to circle back to it again. “So, did you bring the letter?”

Will nods and Mike feels that nervousness again that he hasn’t felt in weeks . Again, his friends are nosey. They are bound to ask Will a million questions, so Mike knows he’ll know exactly what Will thinks by the end of it. He doesn’t know if that’s good or bad.

He pulls it out of his bag and sets it in the middle of the table. Everyone gathers around it and Dustin is the first to snatch it towards him, with Lucas reading over his shoulder. When they were done Max grabbed it and let Mike peek at it.

“Wow.” Was all Lucas could say.

“Shit, Byers. You didn’t mention how this guy is clearly in love with you.” Max said after she finished. 

The blush on Will’s face was obvious, “Shut up, he’s not in love. That’s crazy!”

“You deny it, but it’s kind of obvious.” Dustin said. 

“I agree with them all. The boy is in love.” El said and giggled, “So how do we find out who it is?” 

“Well, it’s apparent that whoever it is, he’s already in Will’s life somehow.” Lucas said. 

Mike choked on his potato chip suddenly and tried to hack it out quickly, “Sorry. Wrong pipe.” 

Max rolled her eyes and shoved him, “Jesus Wheeler, can you settle down? We’re trying to figure this out, why do you always have to be so-” 

She stops and just blinks at him. Mike looks at her confused but she just shakes her head and looks back at the letter before settling her eyes on a single line. 

“my friends always mention how I have a tendency to be a bit embarrassing”

It’s like a lightbulb went off in her head and when she looks back at Mike, he just knows that she knows. And she knows that he knows that she knows by the devilish grin on her face, like she’s ready to yell out Mike did it! Mike did it! And point fingers like a child at any moment.

“So, you’re sure that it’s someone Will knows?” Max asked, acting like it’s unbelievable. She’s a dirty liar and Mike knows it. But he can’t call that out without severely implicating himself in his own crime. Shit. 

“Am I sure? Max, I’m positive. This guy has known Will for a while. He knows about the bullies, and all the stuff surrounding Will going missing. It’s obvious he’s at least felt this way for a bit. You don’t feel like that for so long without interacting with them at all.” Lucas said, and shit the evidence was a bit damning.

“You’re right! Dustin exclaimed, “He even mentions how the bullies Will wish they’d been nicer to him. That implies this guy is nice to Will. So more proof saying he’s talked to Will at least a little.” 

Will sighed, “That doesn’t narrow it down at all. That could just mean he smiled at me in the hallway or something. Or we had to sit together for one quarter of the school year. I don’t even know if I want to find out.” 

“Why wouldn’t you? Did you not like the letter?” Max asked.

“I do… I really do. I think it’s the nicest letter I could ever possibly get. I’m just scared of what happens after. What if I meet him and I don’t feel the same? What if he didn’t even want me to find him and I end up humiliating myself?”

“You won’t.” Mike said immediately.

“You don’t know that, Mike.” Will sighed. 

“Wait. I know what this is.” Lucas said, “Erica was ranting about one of her friends going through it.”

“Well? What is it?” Max asked, urging him on.

“Erica’s friend hoped it was the boy she liked when she got her secret admirer. They were all sure of it, but when they confronted him he just laughed and said no. Will likes someone. Or he has someone he hopes it is.”

Mike immediately felt his throat go dry at the idea of Will liking someone else. Will liked a boy that wasn’t him. He wants to die on the spot. 

“What! No. I don’t.” Will said, a bit too defensive.

Max laughed immediately, “Oh, he so does.”

“Tell us about your crush! Who is he?” El asked.

Damn. Even El doesn’t know? That’s kind of crazy. The two honestly seemed really close, so if there was a crush he assumed El would be the first to know. 

“Nope. Not doing this.” Will said and raised up his hands, “I refuse.”

“Awww c’mon Will. We always tell you about the girls we like!” Dustin whined.

“And you can’t claim it’s because it won’t work out, because it almost never worked out with Dustin and he would still insist on telling us.” Lucas said with a raised brow.

“It worked out with Suzie.” Will mentioned.

“Suzie is the outlier. You get my point! We won’t make fun of you for it, you know that- right?” Lucas asked, suddenly serious.

“Lucas, he knows that.” Max said, “He just came out today, let’s give him time to tell us about his crushes.”

Lucas’s mouth forms an ‘o’ shape in surprise, “Shit, you’re right. My bad Will. I didn’t mean to push.”

Will smiled, “It’s okay Lucas, it was honestly kind of nice. It makes me feel a bit more normal.”

“You are normal.” Mike shoots out quickly.

“Uhh,” Will said nervously, “You don’t have to do that. I’ve never gotten to talk about this stuff openly like you have, so it hasn’t really been normal for me.”

Mike wants to shake Will around and tell him that he understands, more than Will could know. But he didn’t know how to get the words out, so he just shut his mouth and nodded. 

—

A couple days later they were all picking at their gross-looking school lunches when Dustin brought up the whole secret admirer thing again. 

“So, I was thinking. Your admirer is definitely a nerd.” He said, matter-of-fact.

Jesus Christ, when Mike wrote this whole love letter, he really didn’t expect his friends to be able to read into it this much. How have they been correct this entire time? It makes no sense. Not only were they all onto him, but Max just straight up knows that it’s him. She hasn’t said anything to anyone, or to Mike himself, but whenever he’s around Will she just stares at him and tries to hide her smirk. He didn’t like it at all.

“How’d you guess that?” Will asked, confused. He hasn’t brought up the letter at all since a couple days ago, and Mike assumed he didn’t care about looking into it further. He thinks that’s for the better.

“He’s passionately against the bullies. He said he was never bullied for being gay, but he just came across as being one of us. He even said the bullies have low perception .” Dustin explained.

Mike wanted to laugh when Dustin said “one of us” because that’s true, truer than he even thinks. Would they be surprised if they found out it was him? Would they think Mike and Will even work romantically? 

Anyways, he’s getting ahead of himself.

“Hm,” Will said, because he hadn’t considered it, “I think you’re right, actually.” 

“Of course I am!” Dustin said with a wide smile, “So that narrows down our suspects exponentially .” 

“Will, do you have the letter with you?” Max asked curiously

“Yeah?” He said, and went to pull it out. Once he did, she grabbed at it and scanned the page. Mike knew nothing good was about to come out of what she was going to say.

“So, your secret admirer. Let’s state all the facts about him that we have so far.” Max said, looking at the rest of the group. 

“He’s known about Will for a while.” Lucas said.

“And he’s nice to Will!” El adds in enthusiastically. 

“Now we know he’s a nerd.” Dustin said, “Where are you going with this?”

“You guys forgot a big part of the secret admirer’s letter.” Max said, like everyone was stupid.

Even Will looked at her with curiosity, “What is it we missed? He honestly didn’t say too much about himself.”

“He’s definitely had a girlfriend in the past.” Max said. 

“What?” The rest of them asked in shock.

“Where’d you get that from?” Lucas asked.

Max rolled her eyes, “Do I have to spell out everything to you losers? Look, right here!” She said and pointed at the paper. If you aren’t gay, I understand too. We can’t really control who we like. For a long time I really thought I could. I tried, and it really didn’t work out.

“He basically said he tried to not like men, which means he did try liking girls. He wasn’t ever assumed to be gay or bullied for it. He must’ve had a girlfriend before he realized he liked Will, and it didn’t work out.” Max said. 

She gave a quick glance at Mike and he quickly looked away from her. 

“Max, you’re a genius!” Dustin said, “How did you realize that?”

Max only shrugged, “It’s because I’m a girl. I can read in between the lines better than you losers.”

“I did not notice it,” El said.

She shrugged again and Mike knew she was full of shit. She only was able to say it because she outright knew who the letter was from. Now everyone thinks she’s smart, or some sort’ve detective… Well to be honest she kind of was for figuring it out right off the bat from a single word she was about to say to him, but he’s going to ignore that for now. 

“You’ve been quiet, Mike.” Lucas said and Mike immediately pales.

“What?” He asked.

“Usually you love figuring out things like this. I’m surprised Max beat you to it.” 

“Oh, I don’t know. I’m not good at this kind of stuff.” He said nervously, scratching the back of his neck.

El giggled, “Love? I know that.” 

The rest of the group laughed. He felt a bit embarrassed. After everything was over between them, they had to explain to the rest of the group why it was completely over. How Mike wasn’t really in love with her and that it’d never work out between them. There was no chance of them getting back together. They weren’t like Lucas and Max.

“Um anyways, I think Max is right.” Will interrupts, “He sounds different from me. I never tried to change who I liked or anything. I kind of always accepted it, in a way? My problems were with the people here that hated me for it. It sounds like he tried to pretend.” 

“Wow, that’s really sad,” El said.

“It is. They mentioned not being bullied, but not accepting your own feelings has to be pretty hard too.” Will said, his face full of concern. Mike felt like he couldn’t breathe, because he was right. It was so fucking hard and he just knew that Will would understand. 

Maybe he should just do it, come out. It would probably let him breathe a bit easier. It was hard though. Some part of him would always be that scared 14 year old who didn’t know why he couldn’t love the most perfect girl in the world, and why he’d always think about his best friend more than he should.

It was always ingrained in him that it was wrong. He knew that idea itself was what was wrong, but he didn’t know how to act like it was alright. He’d been trained for so long to keep it hidden. Bringing into the light had been inconceivable for him. 

But maybe for Will, he could. If he gets rejected, then maybe that’s okay. Maybe it’s good enough to have a friend like Will, going through the same thing. He knows he has to tell him everything. 

When everyone began to leave for their classes, Max opted to stay back to talk to Mike, surprising the rest of the party. Max and Mike’s friendship has grown to be a lot better than how it started at first, but they weren’t ever very close. It was out of character for her and of course Mike knows exactly why she’s doing it.

“So, you gonna tell him?” She asks, as they make their way over to his lockers from the cafeteria. 

“What?” Mike asked, pretending to be confused. It didn’t work, she just continued peering into him until he got annoyed with it and decided to drop the act.

“Okay! Jeez. I get it.” He said, hoping she’d stop, her gaze was honestly super unnerving. He thinks he should ask her for tips on that sometime, “I just- It’s hard, okay? I don’t want to ruin everything like always.” He admits.

“I’m usually glad to see you being an idiot and ruining things, but I don’t think confessing to Will is a bad thing. He’s your best friend, and I don’t know why but he loves you. Whether that's platonic or not, it’s not gonna change. You’ll always have Will in your life.” It’s beyond bizarre, but Max’s words actually help. It didn’t have the usual teasing and disdain, and seemed to come from a genuine place of care. Huh. Who would’ve thought.

“Wow.” He breathed out, “Thanks Max.” 

The grateful smile he gave her was met with an eye roll that held no malice, “You do not tell anyone about this.”

Mike rolled his eyes back, “Well, we don’t want to ruin your reputation.”

She laughed.

—

Mike was going to give himself the rest of this week and the weekend to come up with ideas of how to tell his best friend that he was completely gone for him, but of course life has other plans for him. 

It’s 9pm on that same day Max helped him and he’s currently staring at his blank notebook, waiting for inspiration to strike. He was going to make this the best god damn confession ever, that Will has to say yes.

There’s a sudden knock at his window, surprising him since his window is on the second floor. When he peeks out of the curtains he’s stunned to see Will Byers waiting there patiently. His heart thumps out of his chest at the sight of him under the moonlight.

He needs to get a grip.

With a shake of his head, he erases his thoughts and opens up the window. Will gives him that bunny-tooth smile and hops in confidently, and Mike likes to imagine themselves being boyfriends and doing this all the time. 

“You know I have a door, right?” Mike asked, his smile evident in his voice.

“I know, but I didn’t want your mom to start hating me or something.” Will laughed.

Mike shook his head, “You’re such a suck up.”

Will just shrugged, plopping down on Mike’s bed like it’s his. It honestly is, anything that’s Mike’s is automatically also Will’s. He wants to share everything with him. 

“Maybe. You don’t suck up enough,” Will said, “My step-dad still talks about how terrible of a kid you were.”

He didn’t know what to say to that, because it was true. Mike was kind of an evil middle-schooler, especially to Hopper. If he hypothetically started dating Will he thinks he’d apologize, learn how to be a kiss-ass, whatever he wants.

“Why are you here?” Mike asked, and then immediately realized how that might not sound the nicest, “Not that I don’t want you here, it’s just out of the norm for you to show up out of the blue.”

Will nods, obviously not taking offense to anything he said, “I know, I just couldn’t stop thinking about the whole letter thing.” 

Mike gulped, okay. Shit. Shit shit shit. Maybe now’s the time. Maybe he could find a way to weave it in naturally. He’s kind of freaking out right now. He says nothing and sits beside Will, looking at him to go on. 

“I just, somehow that person knew everything I needed to hear. Being like this… you don’t ever feel like you’ll find love. Not like everyone else does. We don’t get to have high school sweethearts or a bunch of friends. We don’t get to feel accepted. On top of all of that I had everything going on with those bullies, and then surviving all the shit we went through.” Will started.

Mike could hear the emotion in his voice, and wanted to reach out to him. He felt like his whole entire body was frozen, just waiting for Will’s every word and hanging on to it.

“I didn’t think I’d get to be happy. It just wasn’t in the cards for me.” He sighed, “But then I read that note and I was hit with the care that this person felt for me. He didn’t even care that I couldn’t acknowledge him for it, he just wanted to tell me that. Reading him talk about his experience being gay and him writing that letter to me gave me the courage to go and tell you all about myself. I had been trying for months, but that letter was the final thing I needed. It made me-” Will paused.

Mike nods, urging him to continue. 

“It made me feel like less of a mistake.”

You make her feel like less of a mistake.  

Mike’s eyes widened and it looked like Will found confirmation in that, “You make me feel like less of a mistake, Mike.”

Mike gulped, nervous, because his plans for confessing didn’t include Will figuring out the letter was from him first, “How did you know?”

“I didn’t, not really. It was only a hunch. I was so confused at first because the letter meant so much to me and I couldn’t understand why. I only connected the dots after all of Lucas and Dustin’s theories were being thrown out. All I could think about is when I first read that letter all I could wish was that it was from you. Everything just kind of fit, especially Max saying the secret admirer had a girlfriend.”

“Ugh,” Mike groans embarrassed, “I knew she’d give it away.”

“Mike, you’re focusing on the wrong thing.” Will laughed.

“What?” 

“I said that when I first got the letter I wished it was from you.” Will said, looking at him pointedly, like he’s waiting for something. 

“Oh.” Mike said, and then another second, “Oh! You did?” 

“You are unbelievable Mike. But I think that’s why I love you.” 

“You love me?” Mike thought this had to be some kind of bizarre fever dream.

“Yes, I do.” Will said, with no hint of a joke anywhere. Mike knew Will would never do something like that, but it was nice having the confirmation anyways. 

“I’m in love with you.” Mike breathed out and grabbed Will’s face, pulling him into an impromptu kiss. He’s already wasted enough time, he wasn’t going to let go of this opportunity.

Will wraps his arms around Mike’s waist and somehow pulls him in closer, kissing him back. It’s soft and sweet and everything that makes Will Byers, Will Byers. He didn’t know kissing could be this relaxing and gentle. Just another thing to tack onto the list of things he adores about his best friend.

He’s a really good kisser.

When they pull apart, Mike thinks he’s probably red in the face, and from the looks of it Will is matching him. It makes him a little smug and proud because Will Byers looks disoriented and it’s because of him. Not anyone else, just silly Mike Wheeler.

“You’re a good kisser.” Mike said immediately, deciding to say fuck it with his internal thoughts and just let them be known. It’s okay now. 

Will turned even more red and Mike wanted to kiss him again so he did, and when he pulled apart he took the time to kiss a mole on the side of Will’s face. He was only being a little self-indulgent.

“Do you want to be my boyfriend?” Will asked, breathlessly. 

“Yes.” Mike answered immediately, “Boyfriends sound nice.”

Mike thinks he cannot wait. He wants to do anything and everything he can with Will. Picnics, amusement parks, movie nights, whatever Will wants. He’ll just enjoy the ride, however it may look like.