One week later

"Exams are finally over!" El said happily as she joined Mike, Will, Lucas, and Dustin outside.

"I know! I'm so relieved." Dustin responded. Lucas put his hand on his hips as he looked at the sky.

"Summer is finally upon us, my friends." Lucas said.

"And thank God it is." Mike replied. They all laughed a bit as the door to the high school opened, Darren emerging from it.

"God, I hate math." He said as he walked up to the group.

"You and me both." El responded. Everyone laughed a bit as they all began walking.

"Pizza to celebrate?" Dustin asked as he moved to be in front of the group so he could face them. Everyone nodded.

"Sounds like a plan." Will replied. "I'm so glad school is technically over."

"Same, if we were at my old school, we wouldn't even be starting exams until three weeks from now." Darren responded.

"Three weeks?" Lucas asked as he put an arm around Darren.

"Jeez, your old school sounded awful." Mike added.

"It was." Darren responded. They suddenly saw Max skate by, headphones on her neck. They watched her for a few seconds before Dustin sighed.

"Max!" He yelled loud enough so she could hear. This startled her, sending her hurling backward toward the ground as her skateboard rolled out from under her. Everyone gasped before El quickly went up to her.

"Nice going, Dustin." Lucas responded. Dustin sighed before they all started walking over to her.

"Are you okay?" El asked as she kneeled beside Max, who was sitting up now and looking at El.

"Yeah... Jesus." She replied. El sighed.

"Sorry about that." El said.

"It's okay." Max responded with a light smile. El smiled back as the others came up behind them.

"Holy shit. I am so sorry Max." Dustin said suddenly.

"Trying to rack up a body count, Dustin?" Max asked as El helped her up.

"He was trying to invite you out to pizza with us." Lucas replied.

"Yeah, but only if you wanna come." Will added as Dustin nodded.

"It's on me." Dustin said. Max looked at El before sighing.

"Sure, why not?" She responded, picking up her skateboard and beginning to walk with the group. They walked to the pizza place, placing an order of two pepperoni pizzas (which was Dustin's favorite, but no one seemed to care) before sitting down.

"So, how did you do on your exams?" Mike asked Max. She shrugged.

"Okay probably.. geometry beat my ass." Max replied. Everyone laughed a bit.

"For me it was history." Mike responded. "I had trouble with the spelling when me and Will were studying."

"Same here." Dustin said. Suddenly someone familiar came up to the table.

"Okay.. two pepper- Shit." Steve responded as he walked up to the table.

"Steve?" Will asked.

"You work here?" Lucas added. Steve sighed.

"Yeah.." He mumbled, "Jesus.. you kids are everywhere."

"Does Robin also work here?" Dustin asked. Steve sighed.

"She's in the back." Steve mumbled again. Everyone looked at each other as Steve put the pizzas down.

"Do you guys.. just apply to every job together?" Max asked.

"..Maybe. Mind your business!" Steve said before hurriedly making his way back to the kitchen. Everyone laughed a bit. After finishing their pizza, they continued to talk outside for a bit.

"So what are your plans for the summer?" Dustin asked.

"I don't really have any." Will replied.

"Me neither." Lucas responded.

"Yeah." Max said.

"Same." Mike added.

"Same." El added as well. They all laughed a bit.

"Same here. What about you, Darren?" Dustin asked. Darren shrugged.

"Don't know yet." Darren replied. "Might just sleep a lot." Everyone laughed a bit.

"Well.. this is where I part." Dustin said suddenly, beginning to walk away. He took a bow. "Goodbye, for now, my friends."

"Bye, Dustin!" El responded as everyone waved. He waved back before turning and beginning to walk. Lucas turned to the group.

"Well, me and Darren are gonna split." Lucas said suddenly. Darren gave him a confused look while Max smirked at them.

"Me and you? As in.. together?" Darren asked. Lucas nodded as he put his arm around Darren. Mike and Will gave each other a look.

"Bye, guys!" Lucas said as he and Darren waved before walking away. Everyone waved back.

"Anyways.. we should probably go too." Mike said as they all looked away from Lucas and Darren.

"Wait! Um.." Max started, looking down a bit, "El.. can we talk?" El's eyes widened a bit. Will gave her an encouraging nod as she looked at him for guidance.

"Uh.. yeah! Sure!" She responded, walking toward Max.

"See you when you get home!" Will said as he grabbed Mike's arm and began to pull him away. El smiled nervously at Will before turning to Max.

"So.. what's up?" She asked as they began walking. Max looked down a bit.

"Um... I was thinking about what happened on prom night.. what you said.." Max replied. El looked down a bit.

"Max.. you don't have to worry about it... I was upset. I'm sorry." El responded. Max sighed.

"Well, I have been worrying about it.. a lot... and I um.. did you mean it?" Max asked. El looked at her.

"What?" El responded.

"Do you... really love me?" Max asked, looking at El nervously. El felt her heart start to beat faster.

"I wouldn't have said it if I didn't." El replied. Max smiled a bit before looking down.

"That's good to know." Max responded. El nodded a bit with a smile.

"Yeah... I guess it is." El said. Max nodded.

"I also noticed something.. before you...  hit Emily your nose was bleeding.." Max started. "And when you were in the bathroom that time before we talked." El smiled.

"Happens when I'm stressed.. no powers though." El responded. Max nodded.

"Good, because if it was Emily would be a lot more than suspended right now." Max said. They both laughed a bit as they got to Max's house. "Oh yeah... you know how Dustin sang at Darren's party?"

"Yeah?" El responded. Max sighed.

"That was the song that was playing when we.. kissed." Max said. El's eyes widened.

"Yeah, you're right. 'Brown Eyed Girl" by Van Morrison." El responded with a slight smile. Max nodded with a smile before frowning a bit.

"I need a lot of time to think about.. everything.. like a lot." Max said. El nodded.

"I understand." El started, "And I'll wait." Max smiled a bit before leaning forward and softly kissing El's cheek. El's eyes widened as her face turned a shade of pink.

"You're an amazing girl, El. Remember that." Max said. El nodded.

"I will." El responded. They both laughed a bit before Max looked down.

"Hey uh... I kinda rented a movie.. and I was wondering if you wanted to watch it with me?" Max asked.

"Which movie?" El responded as she and Max began to walk towards her door.

"Steel Magnolias." Max started, "It has Julia Roberts and Dolly Parton in it." El smiled.

"Sounds good." She responded as they began to go inside.

"Be warned though, it's sad." Max said.

"Oh no." El responded. They both laughed a bit as Max closed the door behind them.

•••

Darren and Lucas walked in silence for a bit before Darren sighed.

"Why did you want to walk with me?" Darren asked. Lucas shrugged.

"I enjoy your company." He responded. Darren smiled a bit.

"Why?" He asked.

"What do you mean? You're great." Lucas replied. Darren sighed.

"I know... but we barely know that much about each other.. like at all." Darren responded. Lucas nodded.

"Good point.. what's your favorite color?" Lucas asked. Darren laughed a bit.

"Seriously?" He responded.

"Just answer." Lucas replied. Darren sighed before thinking to himself.

"I don't know... green? Red?" Darren started, "I like a lot of colors." Lucas laughed a bit.

"Okay, well now I know you're indecisive." Lucas responded. Darren lightly hit him as they both laughed. "Mine is red."

"Red.. hm.." Darren started, "That suits you." Lucas smiled.

"Really?" He asked.

"Yeah." Darren responded. Lucas smiled.

"Okay.. biggest fear?" Lucas asked. Darren thought to himself.

"Probably.. being outed again... like to people I don't trust." Darren replied. Lucas furrowed his eyebrows a bit.

"Again?" Lucas asked. Darren frowned.

"Long story.. the point is it sucked. I hated it. Never want to experience it again." Darren replied. Lucas nodded.

"Sorry that happened to you.." Lucas started, "My biggest fear is probably gonna sound stupid now." Darren gave him a confused look.

"What is it?" He asked. Lucas sighed.

"Well... I'm afraid of another dimension called the Upside Down." Lucas replied. Darren stared at him for a second before bursting into laughter. Lucas cracked a smile. "I'm serious, man!"

"You're.. being serious?" Darren asked.

"This town is crazy." Lucas replied. They both stared at each other for a few seconds before bursting into laughter again.

"Then I guess my mom's friend was right about warning us when we decided to move here." Darren said.

"Who's the friend? I might know them." Lucas responded.

"Jesus.. what's his name.. he went to high school with my mom when she lived here.." Darren said.

"Your mom used to live here?" Lucas asked.

"Yeah, but she moved right after high school.. my other grandma still lives here though." Darren replied before his eyes widened. "Murray! That's his name!" Lucas's eyes widened.

"You know Murray? As in Murray Bauman?" Lucas asked.

"Well, my mom does... you know him?" Darren responded.

"Well, basically. He helped Will's mom and Hopper find this Russian base under this mall that used to be here." Lucas said, before realizing he said too much.

"What?!" Darren asked with a confused look. They both burst into laughter again.

"Again, this town is crazy." Lucas replied with a slight smile. Darren smiled back as they just stared at each other for a few seconds. They then both quickly looked away from each other with awkward laughs.

•••

"Are you trying to be El's wingman?" Mike asked. Will laughed a bit.

"Nope, just fulfilling my duty as her brother." Will replied. Mike smiled.

"Then I failed with Nancy." Mike responded. Will laughed. "So uh.. excited for summer?"

"Definitely." Will replied with a smile. Mike nodded. "Are you?"

"If I get to spend most of it with you, then yes." Mike responded.

"I'm sure you will." Will said. They both smiled at each other.

"I know I will." Mike responded. They both laughed a bit. "Do you think Lucas knows he's been super flirty with Darren lately?"

"Most likely not.. he probably thinks they're being like super good friends." Will replied. Mike laughed a bit.

"Yeah probably.. but that's how it always starts." Mike responded.

"Ouch." Will said jokingly. They both laughed a bit as Mike put his arm around Will.

"God, I'm so glad exams are over... it's like all the stress left my body all at once when I answered my last question." Mike responded. Will nodded.

"Same... I think I did pretty good though." Will said. Mike nodded.

"Well of course you did, you knew every single answer to our history questions when we reviewed them." Mike responded.

"Yeah, true." Will said. Mike smiled.

"Here's to a hopefully stress-free summer." Mike responded. Will nodded.

"Yes, hopefully." Will said. They both laughed a bit before Mike stared at Will.

"I really love you." Mike said suddenly. Will looked at him.

"I love you too, a lot." Will responded with a soft smile. Mike smiled back as they began to walk toward their houses.

"You know... we still need to go on that date sometime this summer." Mike said. Will nodded.

"Yeah.. yeah that'd be nice." Will responded. Mike smiled as they walked up Will's driveway. "I really need sleep, those exams wore me out."

"Then I hope you have the best sleep of your life, Byers." Mike said as he turned towards Will. Will sighed.

"Well, now you jinxed it." Will responded. They both laughed a bit before Mike grabbed Will's hand and softly kissed it.

"Night, Byers." Mike said. Will smiled before pulling Mike in for a hug.

"Night, Michael." Will responded. Mike smiled, hugging Will tightly before they both let go, staring at each other. Will opened his door and turned to Mike again.

"See ya." Mike said. Will smiled before quickly kissing Mike on the cheek.

"Bye." He responded as he pulled away. Mike smiled before waving as Will went inside, closing the door behind him. He turned towards his house, walking down Will's driveway and making his way towards his front door. He walked into his house, a giddy smile on his face.

"Mike?" His mom suddenly said from the living room. Mike turned to her, his smile fading. His mom sat there with a sad look on her face, his dad next to her with a blank stare.

"What's.. up?" Mike asked nervously, walking into the living room.

"Your uncle.. he passed." Karen replied.

"Wh-what?" Mike started, "When?"

"We just got the call a couple of minutes ago." Karen responded, sighing shakily. "The funeral's in a week, where he lived in California."

"Are we going?" Mike asked. Karen sighed, shaking her head. Mike felt his heart drop. "Why the hell not?"

"Why do you think?" Ted responded suddenly. Mike just stood there, staring at his dad with tears filling his eyes.

"That is such bullshit." Mike said.

"No, it's not, son. He deserved it. And I'm tired of you defending people like him." Ted responded.

"You don't get it, he's my uncle." Mike said.

"And he was my brother, but he made the wrong choice." Ted responded.

"He didn't make the wrong choice, he was just being himself!" Mike yelled.

"Why are you defending him? Are you one of them too?" Ted asked in a mocking tone. Mike stood there for a second, frozen. He clenched his fists a bit.

Fuck it.

"I am." Mike said, his voice full of pain and anger. His mom looked up, her eyes filled with fear.

"..What did you just say?" Ted asked.

"I am. I'm gay. I love a boy, and he loves me." Mike started, yelling a bit as tears stung his eyes, "You raised a queer son! Congratulations!" It was silent for a few seconds, Mike just breathing hard. His dad's face held no expression, unlike his mom, who looked terrified. Mike had no regrets though, and he didn't care what happened. He was so angry and tired, and he had enough.

"Pack your stuff, and get the hell out of my house." Ted yelled. Mike stood there for a second, frozen again.

"Ted.." Karen started before Mike interrupted her.

"No, It's fine. I hate it here anyways." He responded before going upstairs. He grabbed a bag and filled it with clothes, his notebook, and all the money he had, which was quite a bit. He turned around after zipping up his bag to see Holly standing in his doorway, half asleep with a confused look on her face.

"Mike?" She asked. Mike smiled a bit at her before walking up to her and hugging her.

"I'll be back, I promise." He whispered in her ear. He pulled away and walked past her, heading downstairs and out of the door. He slammed it behind him as Holly stood there and watched, still confused. Ted sighed angrily before going to his and Karen's room, slamming the door as well. Karen rushed after him before stopping to look at Holly.

"Come on, Holly, go to bed." Karen said with tear-filled eyes as she walked up the stairs and led Holly back to her room. Karen looked at the door before smiling a bit and closing the door to Holly's room with a shaky sigh. She truthfully was proud of him and knew exactly where he was going. She just wished she was brave enough to encourage him or even join him.

Mike stood outside for a few seconds. Tears filled his eyes again, the gravity of the situation hitting him. He walked to his car, placing his bag in the backseat. He then sat in the front seat, staring at his steering wheel for a few seconds before just yelling out in anger. Hoarse sobs emerged from his throat as he put his head in his hands. A thought popped into his mind suddenly.

Will.

He looked at the Hopper-Byers house, his sobs getting quieter. He quickly got out of his car and walked across the street and back to Will's front door. Mike knocked on the door, his arms shaking a bit as he quickly wiped away his tears before holding himself. "Shit.. please answer." He whispered to himself before he knocked again.

"I'm coming, I'm coming!" He heard Will yell as he heard footsteps running downstairs. Will opened the door, seeing Mike standing there with his arms crossed. He noticed the tear stains on Mike's face. "Mike? We.. just saw each other.. are you okay?"

"I... I'm leaving." Mike responded, trying his best not to break down. Will gave him a confused look.

"What... do you mean?" Will asked. Mike frowned a bit.

"My uncle.. he died... I'm.. going to his funeral in California." Mike replied.

"You're.. running away?" Will asked nervously. Mike reached for Will's hands, holding them.

"Not exactly.. I- I'm coming back." Mike replied, knowing that wasn't true. He couldn't come back. Will nodded. "I just.. I wanted to say goodbye."

"When.. do you think you're coming back?" Will asked. Mike shrugged as he got closer to Will.

"I don't know.. a week.. maybe two?" Mike lied again. Will sighed. He turned around and looked inside his house before turning towards Mike.

"I'm coming with you." Will said. Mike's eyes widened.

"Wait, what?" Mike responded. Will turned around, letting go of Mike's hands, and walked through his living room, before beginning to go upstairs. "Will!" Mike followed him.

"I said I'm coming with you." Will said. Mike stared at Will as he began to pack a bag full of clothes.

"Will.." Mike started. He could easily stop this. He could just tell him he got kicked out. He could say goodbye forever. "Are.. you sure?" Will sighed as he turned to Mike.

"I can't let you go through this alone, and I won't." Will replied. Mike smiled a bit. How did he get so lucky? He watched as Will zipped up his bag and turned to Mike.

"You know the address right? And you have money?" Will asked. Mike nodded before taking a step toward Will.

"Thank you.. so much." Mike replied. Will nodded.

"Of course." He responded. Mike smiled before pulling Will in for a quick kiss. Will smiled back as they both pulled away. "I need to write a note to my mom, she'll understand." Mike nodded as they headed downstairs. Will got a sheet of paper and a pen and wrote a long note explaining where he was going before using a magnet to put it on the fridge.

"All set?" Mike asked. Will nodded before they both walked out to the car, Will putting his stuff in the back before getting in the front with Mike.

"What's the plan?" Will asked. Mike thought to himself.

"We're gonna have to get there by train.. luckily I have enough money saved." Mike replied. Will nodded as Mike looked down a bit. Will frowned.

"You okay?" He asked. Mike sighed as he started the car, putting his hands on the steering wheel.

"We'll talk about it later, okay?" Mike responded. Will nodded as Mike began to drive, heading towards the nearest train station.

To be continued..

an: hope you enjoyed!

also angst 😟