Chapter Text
Will pressed his finger against his mouth as he gazed at Mike.
Time to join your friends, Sorcerer.
God, Mike was such a nerd, but Will loved it. Loved it when Mike called him Sorcerer.
Mike caught his gaze and raised his eyebrow, the look in his eyes nothing short of flirty. Will wasn’t an expert in romance, but he wasn’t stupid either. When he had come back from Lenora, there were signs, signals, as Robin had called it.
He’d catch Mike looking at him, his eyes lingering. Mike would find ways to touch Will’s shoulder, his hand, one time even his face, when Will had some food on his chin. He always spoke softly to Will, a gentleness Will never saw with anyone else. So many things, now that he really thought about it. It made Will flush. Even now, staring at each other across the D&D table, Will could feel his face heating up.
After they defeated Vecna, after El, it took them all time to heal. Will and Mike never stayed away from each other for too long. They were always each other's anchors, and now…
Those signals returned with a vengeance.
And he loved it. Part of him enjoyed the flirting they did, especially when it was just them. It made Will’s face heat up, his stomach flutter. A bigger part of him was impatient. He was so ready to move on from just being flirty.
He’d never been so happy with himself before, but…
In the back of his head, there was still a voice. What if he doesn’t like you back? Will shuts it down, but the lingering fear of losing Mike keeps his flirting constant, but never quite ready to tell him the truth.
God, there were so many truths to tell. Looking at Mike now, the truth was on the tip of his tongue. He doesn’t even care that his friends were here.
I’m in love with you, he thought, and wished Mike could read his mind.
Mike was not his Tammy. He almost laughed, thinking about how he lied to himself about that. Why would he ever want to move on from Mike? The thought made his stomach turn sour. But he doesn’t tell the truth here in front of his friends. No, he’d want it to be a private moment. Just between the two of them. Something special.
You could lose him forever.
No. He mentally cursed.
Then he thought of Mike. Why hadn’t Mike said something if the signals he held were meant to be believed?
Maybe he’s as afraid of losing you as you are of him.
He would say something soon, no matter what. He knew in his heart that Mike felt something for him. To what degree, he wasn’t sure. But there was something there. He knew it. The thought made him smile.
Mike smiled back before his mother called them for dinner.
The lasagna was great, and the table was loud as everyone talked over each other.
“Now that we’re done with the campaign, let’s go to Stacy’s party!” Dustin begged.
“What about Suzie?” Will asked, realizing he hadn’t heard about her in a while.
Dustin sighed. “I don’t want to talk about it.”
“Is Stacy’s party your way of coping?” Max teased.
“No,” Dustin grumbled under his breath. “Come on! Let’s go!”
“It would be fun to try a party for once,” Lucas said between bites of lasagna.
Will felt Mike’s knee bump his under the table. He smiled down at his plate. They did not need to be sitting this close. Not even Max and Lucas were sitting this close together, but they always seemed to gravitate towards each other. Always close.
“Will?” Max asked, snapping him out of his thoughts.
“Hm?” He took a bite of food.
“You want to go to this party, right? Mike’s being a downer!”
Will eyed Mike out of the corner of his eye, who was staring at his food.
“Yeah, I say we go.” Will turned to Mike. “What do you say?”
Mike sighed dramatically and rolled his eyes. He looked between his friends before settling his eyes on Will. “Fine.”
They all cheered. Will bumped Mike’s knee back.
After dinner, Lucas, Max, and Dustin set out to leave. Mike lingered.
“You guys go, I’ll catch up.”
Lucas groaned. “Please don’t tell us you’re going to bail.”
“No! I just need to do something really quick. Won’t be long, I promise.”
Mike glanced at Will, and he knew that look. “You guys go ahead. I’ll stay with Mike, and we’ll ride together.”
“Fine,” Dustin said. “Make sure he gets his ass to the party!” He yelled as the door closed behind him and the others.
Will shook his head and chuckled. He turned to look at Mike, but Mike was already running up the stairs.
“I won’t be long!”
Will’s eyebrows furrowed in confusion. What, Mike wasn’t going to invite him up? What was Mike even doing upstairs?
Will sighed, tempted to say screw it and chase after him. The other part of him was curious. He went back to the kitchen to get a drink and waited for Mike.
It wasn’t too long before he heard footsteps on the stairs. Will set down his drink, walking back into the living room, a sarcastic quip on his tongue when he looked up at Mike.
Mike casually walked down the stairs in new black jeans, when did he get those? A Metallica t-shirt featuring the Master of Puppets logo. Except this shirt seemed a little tighter than what he normally wore, slightly tugging at his stomach. He wore the guitar-pick necklace Will got him for his birthday this year.
And his hair—well, it was completely different from his hair fifteen minutes ago. It was back to his messy curls, hanging over his forehead and his ears.
Jesus.
Mike stopped in front of Will and smirked. “What, the Sorcerer is speechless?”
Will realized his mouth was hanging open and quickly shut it. His heart pounded in his chest. Mike wanted to stay to change. He always looked good, but Mike purposely wanted to go looking like this. Will’s patience with the snowball forming into an avalanche was wearing thin.
Will rolled his eyes. “You didn’t want to leave because you wanted to get ready? Why didn’t you just say so?”
Mike smiled and shrugged. “Since we’re going to this party, I figured I'd better look good.”
Will chuckled. “Oh yeah, for who?”
Mike’s face heated. “You always look good, so I wanted to look good too.”
“I always?” Will stopped. Look good. He swallowed hard.
“Yeah.” Mike let out a breath. “So do I, um, look good?”
Will lifted his hand, tapping his finger against his mouth, thinking. “Hmm.” He looked at Mike up and down, and loved the way Mike fidgeted underneath his gaze. “You look good.”
Mike visibly relaxed. “Cool.”
A quiet moment passed between them. Will wondered if Mike could hear his heart beating as they stared and smiled at each other.
“Okay, well,” Will snapped out of it. “Let’s go.”
Mike took a step forward before he stopped. “Oh, shit! Wait, one more thing.”
He turned to go back upstairs when Will grabbed his hand. “No, that can wait. Come on!” Then he pulled Mike through the front door, laughing. He let go of Mike and ran to the car. “Let’s go!” Will pouted.
Mike laughed, shaking his head. “Okay, it can wait.”
Will tabbed his fingers nervously on his knees as Mike drove to the party. He wasn’t sure why he was so nervous all of a sudden, but he was hyperaware of the fact that Mike wanted to change. He wanted to look good. And he did. Much better than before, even though Will always thought Mike was attractive. He spared a glance at Mike. Mike had his window down, his hair blowing wildly in the wind. He had one arm hanging out the window while the other rested lazily on the steering wheel. Mike noticed then, turning his gaze to Will. Mike stared, studying Will’s face before he smiled.
You always look good.
Will swallowed hard and quickly looked out his window. He had always wondered about how they were with each other. The looks, the touches, the signals, but now…
Now it suddenly felt more real. Like it could turn into something.
Will was lost in thought about what to do when his car door suddenly opened. He startled and looked up to see Mike. The car was parked, and Mike was opening the door for him. He had been so absorbed in his thoughts that he didn’t notice the car had stopped.
“You coming?” Mike held out his hand.
Will grabbed Mike’s hand and stepped out of the car. Mike released his hold but rested his hand on Will’s back, steering him away from the vehicle so he could close the door.
“You okay?” Mike slightly frowned.
“Yes!” Will said, flustered. “Yes.”
Will walked toward the house so Mike wouldn’t question him further. The car was parked down the street when Will realized the street was already lined with cars.
Mike was next to Will, talking about something. Will should have been paying attention to him, but he couldn’t. He was too focused on all their interactions, especially lately. Then he thought of eighteen months ago, when Mike said Will was like a sorcerer.
His stomach flipped at the thought. Mike had been so encouraging, and it helped Will believe in himself. He remembered he playfully pushed Mike, and Mike smiled, but he hadn’t caught on and walked off.
Will had felt stupid, and the thought of going through that again made him frown. But what if he did the same thing now? Would it be different?
“Will.”
Will’s train of thought snapped back to the present. “Hm?”
“You sure you’re okay?” Mike’s eyes were full of concern.
Only one way to find out, Will thought. “Mike, I’m fine,” he said, teasing and playfully pushed Mike’s shoulder.
Mike’s frown quickly turned into a smile. He laughed, a twinkle in his eye as he lightly pushed Will back. “What was that for?”
Will’s heart rate rose as he stared at Mike, who stood close and beamed down at Will. The signals were different from last time. It was so much more now.
He wanted nothing more than to pull Mike down for a kiss, but he knew he couldn’t. Not here.
“Watch out!” someone yelled. In Will’s peripheral vision, he saw something coming toward him, but before he could react, Mike’s hand flew in front of him, catching a plastic cup headed straight for his head.
“Nice catch, man!” A random guy yelled from the front porch.
Will stared at Mike’s hand in front of him. Mike crushed the cup and dropped his hand. Will dared to look at Mike, who was watching him curiously, before he smirked.
“Since when did you get such quick reflexes?”
Mike shrugged. “I couldn’t let it hit you.”
Will loved it when Mike was protective of him. Even if it was over something as silly as a cup. “It must be the new outfit. You’re trying to act cool all of a sudden.”
Mike’s smirk turned into a shy smile. “You think I’m cool?”
Will laughed and rolled his eyes. “Yes! Now, come on. Let’s go inside!” He ignored the way Mike’s returning smile made his stomach flip.
The house was crowded, and Will and Mike had to push through the crowd toward the kitchen. Mike led the way, keeping his hand behind his back. Will instantly grabbed it.
“Don’t let go,” Mike said over his shoulder.
“Never,” Will whispered.
“What?” Mike turned, his eyes confused.
“Nothing!” Will yelled. “Go, go!”
Mike shook his head and laughed. When they got to the kitchen, Mike’s hand slipped through Will’s hand, but they stayed so close that their shoulders brushed.
“There you are!” Dustin walked through the crowd. He smiled until his eyes landed on Mike. He quirked an eyebrow. “You stayed behind to do that?” He gestured at Mike.
“Oh please.” Mike rolled his eyes. “You got ready too.”
Will and Mike eyed Dustin’s new attire, his hair fixed back. Dustin scoffed. “Whatever. Take a drink.”
They took drinks from Dustin. “Where are Lucas and Max?” Mike asked, then took a drink of beer. He grimaced.
“They’re dancing!” Dustin yelled as he left the kitchen.
Will chuckled, then took a drink of his own. His nose scrunched up. Mike laughed at him. Will opened his mouth to say something, a sassy quip, but stopped. Mike gazed at him, his eyes searching and happy. Then Mike leaned in, his mouth brushing Will’s ear, and said, “I’ll follow your lead.”
Mike pulled away but stayed close, only a few inches from Will’s face. Will stared in shock that Mike didn’t seem to care about the party around him, that he seemed content staying so close to Will. Will’s heartbeat picked up; his face heated. What had gotten into Mike? With his stupid hair, his beautiful eyes, and that necklace Will had gotten him.
Not that Will cared. He loved it.
Then he chugged the rest of his beer, slamming the cup on the counter. When he looked back at Mike, Mike hung his mouth open in surprise. “Another?” Mike asked, handing Will his drink.
Will smiled and took it, brushing his fingers against Mike's. “Thank you. What about you?”
“I’m the driver, remember?”
Will pouted. “Oh right.”
“Don’t worry. I’ll have fun no matter what. You’re here.” Mike casually leaned against the counter, crossing his arms over his chest.
Before Mike could say another word, Will grabbed Mike’s hand. “Come on, let’s go dance!” he laughed as he dragged Mike with him. When Lucas and Max saw them, they cheered, raising their drinks as they danced. Will smiled, taking a drink with them. He turned to make sure Mike was close.
They all danced for a while. Having fun and not caring about anything. Not the upside down. Not the past or the future. Just enjoyed the now.
“I can’t believe you got Wheeler to dance!” Max yelled over the music.
Will’s answer was just to laugh because he couldn’t believe he had done it either. Mike did say he would follow his lead, though.
Eventually, Will was feeling buzzy. He was being pulled by someone before he even knew it. Mike had his hand as he pushed through the crowd. Will squeezed his hand, just because he wanted to. Mike squeezed back.
Mike led him to the backyard, where it was quieter. They sat down on the porch. Will realized the party seemed to have calmed down. How long were they dancing?
“Mike,” Will whined.
Mike chuckled. “What?”
“I think I drank too much.”
“That’s why I brought you out here. To get some air. Max kept handing you drinks.”
“Hmm, thank you.” Will was glad for the fresh air. It was too hot in there, he realized. Everything seemed to be moving even though he wasn’t. He laid his head on Mike’s shoulder and sighed. “That’s better.”
Mike jumped at the contact, as if he hadn’t expected it, then relaxed. “Are you drunk?”
“What?” Will feigned innocence. “Of course not.”
“Have you had a good time?”
“Yes!”
“Good,” Mike said quietly.
Will lifted his head to look at Mike. “You okay?”
“What? Of course.”
“Mike,” Will whispered.
Mike turned his head down, and his eyes widened. They were really close. Will saw Mike swallow before his eyes flickered down to Will’s lips. They didn’t move. Frozen, as they stared at each other. Will reached up without thinking and threaded his fingers through Mike’s hair.
“Your hair looks so much better like this.”
Mike grabbed Will’s hand and frowned. “What?”
“Before, when it was parted to the side.” Will waved his hand, gesturing at Mike’s hair. “It was too much like your dad.”
Mike’s face scrunched up. “Ew.”
Will laughed. “Exactly.”
Mike shook his head. “Never again then.”
Will giggled, which got Mike to smile and laugh with him. Will sighed, content.
“Will?” Mike spoke softly.
“Hm?”
“I, um. I have something I want to talk to you about.”
“What is it?” Will watched Mike curiously. Mike was looking ahead, not at Will. His hands fidgeting. “Mike, what?”
That snapped Mike out of it, and he looked at Will, his eyes softening. “Um, nevermind. Not like this. Not here.”
Will frowned. “It’s okay. I’ll listen.”
“I know.” Mike smiled. “I’ll tell you tomorrow. I promise.”
Will nodded, and suddenly his stomach was not happy. “Can you grab me some water?” He grimaced.
“Yeah.” Mike was already helping Will up. “Let’s get you home.”
Will vaguely remembered Mike getting him water. He drank it before he was being escorted out of the house. “We’re leaving?”
Mike guided him gently through the front yard, his hand on Will’s lower back. “We can go back, but I think the alcohol is really getting to you now.”
Will was about to argue when he walked into Mike, almost falling over and taking Mike with him. Mike’s grip was firm around his shoulders, keeping him upright. “Maybe you’re right.”
“I’ve got you.”
Mike helped Will get into the car before getting into the driver's seat. “Want to get some food on the way home? You might want to eat.”
“Really?” Will leaned back in his chair, closing his eyes. “How do you know so much about drinking?”
Mike turned on the car. “Nancy. She told me once she regretted not eating, and it made her more hungover the next day.”
“What place is open this late?”
“I can just take you home, if you’d rather.”
“No.” Will’s eyes shot open. “I’m not ready for the day to be over.”
Mike’s answering smile was enough. He drove to the only place open at a late hour. An old diner that had breakfast 24 hours a day.
Will could feel himself falling asleep as Mike turned off the car.
“Should I just take you home?” Mike asked gently.
“No.” Will sat up, a little dizzy. “I definitely want to eat.”
Mike helped Will into the diner. Once they sat down, Mike ordered them both water. Will looked at the menu, but looked up when he heard Mike laughing.
“What?” Will said a little too loudly, which made Mike laugh harder.
“You’re cute when you’re drunk.”
Will’s mouth hung open. “What?” He said again because he wasn’t sure what else to say.
Mike shook his head as he smiled, turning his attention to his menu. Well, Will was definitely more awake now, but he was smiling too. He was so glad he didn’t have Mike take him home right away.
They both ordered eggs, bacon, and pancakes. Will was slowly sobering up, and he made a mental note not to drink too much too fast next time.
After Mike poured some syrup on his eggs and pancakes, he handed it to Will so he could do the same.
“Did you have fun at the party? Even though you couldn’t drink,” Will commented, noticing Mike’s sudden quietness.
“Of course. It’s not my scene, I guess you could say. But I always have fun with you.” Mike took a bite of food, saying it so casually. Like it was a given.
“Yeah, I get that, but next time I’m the driver, and you’re the drinker.”
Mike raised an eyebrow.
Will smiled. “I really wanna see drunk Mike.”
Mike chuckled. “You may regret that later.”
“I doubt it.”
Once they finished their food, Will felt better. Still tipsy, but not nearly as bad. He was grateful Mike was taking care of him.
Then Mike cleared his throat, his hands restless on top of the table. “Um, so, what are you doing tomorrow?”
Will noticed his nervousness. “Just doing some morning shopping with mom. I think Hopper is coming too. Why?”
“Do you want to hang out? Just us?” He sounded hopeful, like Will might say no.
“Hmm, maybe.” Will couldn’t hold back his grin.
“Maybe?” Mike scoffed, tapping his finger on the table.
The waitress dropped off the tab. Will reached for it, but Mike snatched it first. He pulled out his wallet and set the money on the table. Will tried to calm his nerves as he looked at Mike. It was just diner food, for God’s sake, but Mike had a mischievous glint in his eye that Will knew. Mike, the leader, was planning something. What, though, Will wasn’t sure.
Mike stood and held out his hand. Will quickly took it, swayed a little bit before a strong hand rested on his back.
The drive home was in a comfortable silence. Will rested his head against the window, watching the trees fly by. Mike parked the car in front of Will’s house, and this time Will was well enough to get out of the car himself.
Mike got out of the car with him, though, walking Will to his door. Will took advantage of his slightly tipsy state and leaned against Mike as they walked. Mike didn’t hesitate to wrap his arm around Will’s shoulders.
It took Will a minute to unlock the door. The living room was dark and quiet, his mom already in bed, which Will was grateful for. Will could tell Mike to go home, that he didn’t need any help, but Will enjoyed it when Mike touched him.
They made it to his room. Mike flipped on the light, then helped him to his bed. Will fell onto the bed willingly, already feeling like he could fall asleep any moment. But then Mike’s hovering, so Will sat up.
“Need help with anything else?” Mike asked, shifting nervously from foot to foot.
“Um.” Will wondered why he would need help with anything else.
“Like, getting changed or?” The moment the words left Mike’s mouth, his face flushed a deep red.
“Oh.” Will’s eyes widened, and then he could also feel his face flush at the thought. “I-I think I got that.”
“Okay.” Mike was looking anywhere but at Will.
Will laughed. “I’m not that drunk anymore.”
“Well, then. I’ll just go.” Mike pointed to the door, clearly so embarrassed that he wanted to leave.
“Mike wait,” Will said as Mike turned to go. “What about tomorrow?”
Mike hesitated. “What about it?”
“Are we hanging out or not?”
And there it was again. That mischievous glint in Mike’s eye. “I thought you didn’t want to hang out with me.”
Will rolled his eyes. “I didn’t say that. I said maybe.”
“Maybe,” Mike mocked as he tried to hide back a smile. “That just means you don’t like me enough to spend time with me.” Mike pouted, his eyes looking sad.
Oh no, not the puppy dog look. Will could never resist that look.
“Yes, I want to hang with you tomorrow, you dork. Happy now?”
Mike’s sad face instantly turned bright. He smiled. “Very happy. Wanna start with the arcade?”
“Yeah, that works perfectly. I’ll be shopping with my mom around there. We should be done at noon. I can meet you there?”
Mike nodded. “Yeah, sounds good.”
Mike lingered a little longer before he left. Will laid in bed sometime later, unable to sleep. He was excited because he had a feeling tomorrow would be a great day.
Mike woke up that morning with butterflies in his stomach. His first thought was Will. How he looked last night. How Mike would see him later today. How he was going to tell Will how he felt today.
He could do it. He could. He was Mike the Brave, after all.
That didn’t mean he wasn’t nervous as hell, but he wouldn’t back out this time. Not again.
He always knew Will was special to him. There was always something there that was obvious, but it also wasn’t. Something hiding that he couldn’t quite name. Then when Will said he didn’t like girls, it all sort of clicked for him. Everything made more sense. How he acted out sometimes because he couldn’t understand his own emotions, how he was always different when it came to Will, how he couldn’t be a good boyfriend to El.
He hated thinking about how he acted back then because he was too stupid to understand his feelings. And through all the pain and grief they all went through, he was tired of having regrets. He was tired of hiding. He only wished he realized his feelings for Will years ago.
Because he loved Will. He was in love with him, and the moment he figured it out, he realized everything felt right in the world.
Will had said he had a crush on someone, but he was over that person. Mike’s stomach churned just thinking about it. Was he Will’s crush, and Will was over him? Did Will have a crush on someone else? He hated both options but didn’t know which was worse.
But once Mike figured out his own feelings, he started noticing how Will acted with him compared to everyone else, and that’s when the hope was planted in his heart. Maybe there was something there.
Which was why he planned on telling Will how he felt today. He felt the excitement when they flirted, but he wanted more. He wanted so much more.
So here he was, after breakfast and a shower, trying to figure out what to wear. He already put on his black jeans from yesterday, because, yes, he knew he could wear them a few times before washing. But what shirt should he wear?
He was already wearing the necklace Will had gotten him for his birthday. He wanted to learn guitar, but his dad refused to buy him one, saying it was a bad influence. So Mike had been saving up for one himself, and when he was feeling down about it, Will had bought him the necklace.
He was going to save money for a guitar and learn to play it so he could serenade Will with songs, even if it killed him.
He had a plain black shirt, but he debated whether to wear something else. What did someone wear when they were confessing their love to their best friend?
But then he looked at the time, and he didn’t want to be late. Black shirt it was. Before heading out, he grabbed the mixed tape he made for Will. He was planning on giving it to him last night, but had forgotten until Will pulled him out of the house to go to the party.
His nerves were on fire as he headed to the front door. He could do this. He could.
He had his hand on the front door when his dad spoke, “Where are you going?”
Mike sighed, not wanting to deal with his dad. “Out.”
“Where?”
Mike looked at his dad, who was looking at his newspaper. He hadn’t even bothered to look at Mike when he spoke. “To the arcade with Will.”
“With Will?” That got him to look up from his newspaper.
“You sure spend a lot of time with him. Why not try to ask a girl out?” His tone was emotionless, but there was intent there.
Mike clenched his jaw. “I’m going.”
“Mike!” His dad raised his voice enough to make Mike hesitate. He dropped the newspaper on the coffee and stood up. “Why not come out with me today?”
Mike’s face scrunched up in annoyance. “Where is this coming from? You don’t care to spend time with me.”
“Now, Mike. That’s not true.”
Mike rolled his eyes because he didn’t know why his dad needed to lie about that. “Like I said. I’m going.”
“How could you pick your friend over spending time with your father?” Ted’s voice still held almost no emotion, but the accusation rang in Mike’s ears.
He stared at the door handle, not believing for a moment that his dad had gone there.
But he did.
He laughed, strained, and pissed off. He walked up to his dad, then stood eye to eye with him. He was finally as tall as his old man. He couldn’t tower over the cowering boy he used to be anymore.
Ted was surprised, and that fact made Mike laugh again. “I will always pick Will over you. I will always pick Will over everybody.” His words sound even foreign to himself, laced with poison. “You keep his name out of your fucking mouth.”
He was heading toward the door as he heard his dad yelling at him. Telling him to never come back. Mike didn’t care.
But what he did care about was Will.
Will was tired of shopping. He loved his mom, he really did, but he was already a bundle of anxiety all morning thinking about seeing Mike. He didn’t want to look at any more clothes or shoes.
They left one of many stores they visited in the morning. Will knew he needed to head to the arcade even if it was just a block away. He was ready to see Mike.
“Honey, are you listening?” his mom asked.
“Um, yes?” Will tried.
“I told you he hasn’t been listening to you all morning, Joyce.” Hop walked up in his police uniform. “Ready for lunch?”
“I am.” Joyce smiled up at him. “What are you boys doing today?”
“I’m going to meet Mike at the arcade. Not sure after that.”
Joyce’s eyes looked behind Will, and she smiled. “Well, speak of the devil.”
Will turned to see Mike’s car coming to a stop at the stoplight across the street. Now he really needed to go. He could wave Mike down at the corner, and Mike could pick him up.
Mike’s light turned green, and his car began moving forward. Will needed to run if he wanted to flag him down.
Then Will’s eyes flickered to a car coming straight toward Mike’s car, and it was not stopping like it should. Stop.
It didn’t stop.
The noise was deafening as the car crashed into Mike’s. The tires screeched as the car spun and then stopped. Will’s ears were ringing. Shouts filled the air as he saw Mike slumped against the driver’s seat. Someone’s hand touched his shoulder, setting him in motion. He shrugged the hand off and ran toward Mike.
“Mike!” he screamed, his heart pounding in his chest. The driver’s seat window was shattered, the glass all over the ground and in Mike’s lap.
“Mike?” His hands trembled as he reached through the window to touch Mike’s cheek. He felt tears welling in his eyes.
There was a gash on his forehead, and blood trickled down his cheek. The shards of glass sliced parts of his face and neck. His head leaned away from Will, and Will was afraid to move him, not fully knowing what could be wrong.
Then Mike coughed, blood spilling from his lips.
“Mike!” Will screamed.
His mom grabbed his shoulders, trying to talk to him as Hopper called for an ambulance. Will tried to open the door, but it had been caved in by the impact. Then Hopper grabbed Will’s shoulders, trying to get him away from Mike, and he lost it. He fought against Hopper’s grip, trying to get away as he screamed Mike’s name.