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After they first met
“And he said his name was Mike. Well, he said his name was Mike, short for Michael,” Will Byers babbled at his mother as they walked into their house. “I told him my name was Will, short for William. He asked if he could be my friend.”
“What did you say?” Joyce Byers asked, knowing full well the answer. Her son was far too sweet to turn an offer like that down.
“I said yes. He smiled. Mama, he had a nice smile.”
“Did he?” She bustled around, pausing to light a cigarette as she moved around the kitchen to make Will a snack. Jonathan, she knew, was already in his room, doing his homework. Lonnie—well, who knew where her husband was.
“Yes.” Will went on to tell her all about what he and Mike did for the rest of the day. “I can’t wait to go back to school tomorrow and see him again!”
“He sounds like he’s going to be a very good friend,” Joyce said, putting a plate of crackers smeared with peanut butter down in front of her son.
Stuffing several in his mouth at once, Will said—a bit garbled—“Mike already is my best friend!”
“Is he? That’s great, sweetie.” She ruffled his hair.
When Will’s mother and father got divorced
“Will?”
“Mike?” Will looking up from his book, surprised. “What are you doing here?”
“I just heard.” Mike had overheard his mother talking to a friend about ‘how awful it is that the Byers are getting divorced’ and ‘poor Joyce, raising those two boys on her own now’. He had instantly jumped on his bike and headed for the Byers house. “Jonathan let me in.”
Will scooted over on his bed, casually tossing the book aside. “You didn’t have to.”
“I know.” Mike flopped down on the bed beside him, stretching out. “How are you? Wait, sorry, stupid question.”
“No, actually,” Will looked around, as if expecting to find someone eavesdropping, “I’m all right. I think,” he hesitated again, “this might be a good thing?”
“Really?” Mike was surprised.
“Mom and Dad haven’t gotten along in a while. At least now, if they aren’t living together, they can’t fight. Right?”
“Right!” Mike said a little too enthusiastically.
Will looked like he was about to say more but then a door slammed very loudly and he jumped. Mike put his arm around Will and pulled him in. In a watery voice, Will said, “thanks, Mike.”
Mike didn’t pretend not to get it. “You’re welcome, Will. I’ll always be here if you need me. I promise.”
When Will first sees the Mind Flayer
Will called for Mike. “Mike!” But his friend was nowhere to be found. Lucas, Dustin, even Max, all gone. That thing was huge and it was scary and he ran. He ran and hid until Mike, his Mike, came and found him and took him back to the Wheeler basement. Which was practically Will’s second home by now.
They ate candy and talked and vowed ‘crazy together’. And Will felt better, less scared and not alone. When Jonathan came to pick him up he was subdued and didn’t talk much but he was able to sleep that night. Mostly by hanging on to thoughts of Mike.
After The Snow Ball
The dance had ended. Hopper had shown up and taken Eleven home. The boys were all waiting for Steve to come pick them up to give them rides home. Steve had volunteered to do that for them all, according to Dustin.
Lucas was dazed, having said good night to Max a few minutes ago.
Dustin kept grinning but wouldn’t tell anyone why.
Mike was also dazed.
Will, though. Will felt strange. He had danced with that girl but, in truth, his eyes had spent most of the night following Mike. He felt happy for his friend but also sad for some reason? Sad for himself, though he didn’t understand why.
“Mike?” He asked his friend.
Mike turned to Will. “Yeah?”
He paused, not sure how to say what he wanted to say. Finally he simply asked, “have a good time?”
Mike grinned widely. “Yeah. You?”
Will was about to answer, and he honestly couldn’t say what that answer was going to be, when Steve pulled up. They all clambered into the car, Steve telling them to not get anything on his seats, and peeled away.
After their fight in the rain
“It’s not my fault you don’t like girls!”
It echoed through Will’s head as he furiously pedaled away from the Wheeler house, the rain soaking him in mere seconds.
He struggled not to cry as he rode his way to Castle Byers. The only safe place he could think of.
“Mike, Mike, how could you?” He muttered to himself, as he bumped along the road. When he arrived at Castle Byers he sat huddled until he lost control and destroyed it. He kept going until he collapsed, not feeling the rain. Then the prickling at the back of his neck happened again and this time, he knew exactly what it was. The Mind Flayer. Back again. It was then that Mike and Lucas appeared. He ignored the rage and sadness that swamped him as he turned, overwhelmed with dread.
“He’s back,” he said.
After he and Mike kiss for the first time
“Mike?” It came out barely a whisper, a ghost of a word more than anything. He raised a hand and pressed fingers to his lips. Lips that Mike had just kissed.
“I’m not sorry. I’ve wanted to do that for a long time.”
“You have?” It was still barely a whisper.
“Yes. Will, I probably shouldn’t say this right now, I’m doing everything backwards, but I love you.”
Will fought down the thrill that went through him. “Like a friend?”
“Yes, but also, I’m in love with you.”
Will studied Mike’s eyes and saw only affection and warmth there. “How long?”
“Remember when I broke up with El?”
“Two years ago? You’ve been in love with me for two years?!” Will was incredulous.
“Longer, I think. That was when I admitted it, though. Actually,” Mike scuffed his shoe on the floor, “El was the one who pointed out that I had feelings for you. I can be kind of—“
“Obvlious?” Will smiled to soften the word.
“Yeah,” Mike said with a rueful smile.
“So I have El to thank for this?”
“For making me realize,” Mike nodded.
“Why didn’t you tell me then?” Will wanted to know.
“I was scared.”
“What were you scared of, Mike?” Will asked, wanting to pull him in and hold him but not quite daring.
“Of how my parents would react. The Party. Steve, Robin, your Mom. Jonathan and Nancy. Total strangers. But,” Mike took a deep breath and went on, “mostly you.”
“Me?” Will squeaked then coughed. He was 16 now and his voice hadn’t done that in years.
“I wasn’t sure you liked me like that. Even though El said you did. I wasn’t sure you even wanted to be with me.”
Will couldn’t take it anymore. He gathered Mike into his arms and pulled him in, hugging the stuffing out of him. “Mike,” he said the name in fond exasperation, “you’re an idiot.”
“I know,” Mike said and Will could almost hear the grin.
“I love you,” Will said, without thinking.
“Even though I’m an idiot?” Mike teased but his eyes were a little wet as they pulled back.
“Even though you’re an idiot,” Will said, eyes also growing damp.
“Can I kiss you?” Mike asked.
“Again, you mean? No.” He saw Mike jolt. “I’m going to kiss you,” he said fiercely and did just that.
End