xan !

One afternoon, it hit everyone a bit harder than it had the past few days. Will was the one to walkie the party, still staying with Mike’s family. “Is anyone free to talk?” After about a minute, Max responded. “Lucas and I are on our way.” Moments later, Dustin answered as well. “See you in a second.” You responded after that, already getting on your bike. “Be there soon.” It was not even five minutes before the party was piled into Mike’s basement. You sat on the couch next to Mike and Will, Dustin sat below you on the floor, and Max shared the loveseat with Lucas.

No one spoke for a while; everyone was just glad to not be alone. A movie was playing in the background to take everyone’s mind off why they were there, but no real attention was being paid to it. Your hands found their way into Dustin’s hair as a way to distract your fidgeting hands, and he gladly tilted his head back so you could reach better. He looked up and gave you a halfhearted smile, too tired and disconsolate to put any more effort into it. You smiled back before turning back to the movie, your hands absentmindedly beginning to braid his hair into three small braids. When the movie finished everyone sat for a moment before Will finally spoke up. “How long do you think she had it planned?” He didn’t need to elaborate any more than that, you all knew what he meant. “I think she was going to do it from the beginning when Kali came back,” Lucas answered and you nod in agreement. She seemed slightly off when she returned with Kali and Hopper had mentioned something about putting ideas in her head. “Do you all remember when she snuck out with us to go to the movies?” Max mentioned softly, Lucas’s hand squeezing hers as he smiled. “Yeah, I remember she practically had to beg Mike to get more M&Ms halfway through the movie.” He laughed a little, shaking his head. Mike sat up slightly, listening in on the memories they had begun to mention. You ran your fingers through Dustin’s hair, detangling the braids you had done during the movie. You smiled to yourself before speaking up. “One time she came over, and we had a movie marathon, Max and I had to catch her up on all the great movies she missed out on.” Max perked up and smiled. “We rewatched The Breakfast Club at least a hundred times after that.” Everyone was smiling softly, even Mike had a small smile on his lips. You all shared memories and reminisced on the past you shared with El, every moment spent talking with one another lifted the atmosphere of the room slightly. It was hard trying to come to terms with what happened, the childhood you all had stolen from you by a force no one could stop. Being with each other made it easier. For the next few hours, you all just took the time to relax, breathe, and be kids again. It was different, it always will be different. But being there for each other and taking the time to talk about everything that happened over the years. It made it all just a little bit easier.

The next day, he had met a few people in town, and they invited him to go out with them. He was going to refuse at first, but they insisted (and offered to pay for him) so he agreed. He hadn't brought clothes to go out in so he just put on the best outfit he could and walked out of his hotel. He met up with everyone in the lobby and the group went to a local bar. They walked in and this was definitely not his scene. It was packed, smelled like sweat, and the lights were too bright, but he smiled anyway, kind of excited to be out and meeting new people.

The night progressed and Mike had a few drinks, courtesy of Drew, one of his new friends that took him out that night. He was a bit tipsy but not so drunk he wasn't thinking straight. He was at the bar slowly nursing a drink as he observed the other patrons. His eyes moved to the dance floor, watching people grind and dance to the way too loud music. Then his eyes landed on someone he didn't expect.

Will.

He was dancing with someone. Dancing with someone who looked familiar in that weird déjà vu way. Similar to trying to remember a dream from the night before.

His heart seemed to drop as it registered.

Will was dancing with someone. Mike wanted to be this someone.

But that someone that wasn't him.

He looked down at his drink, trying to shake the weird feeling that washed over him, along with the thoughts that were racing through his head. Why would he think about Will in that way? He never thought of Will like that, never. Why now?

He couldn't help but look back at him dancing on the floor with a guy. It clicked for him once again. The guy Will was dancing with looked familiar because he looked kind of like him.

He looked like Mike in small ways.

The way his hair fell, his slimmer hands, even the way his eyes crinkled when he smiled. They were too similar.

Mike watched the two dance like they were the only people in the room and his heart ached. His tipsy mind not helping with his wandering thoughts.

The longer he watched, the more his thoughts drifted. They drifted to a scene similar to this one, but it was Mike who was dancing with Will, Mike's hands on his waist, Mike making him smile instead of that man. The man who looked too similar to him to be a coincidence.

His heart sank lower, if that was even possible. He wanted to be the man Will was with. He wanted to be his.

He thought back to their past, a past where there were signs that maybe, just maybe, Will loved him, loved him more than a friend. He reminisced and it all settled into place slowly. Every touch, every glance and awkward smile between the two.

Will had loved him. Once upon a time. Maybe if Mike had seen this back then, it would be him dancing here in New York with Will. Maybe if he had realized sooner, he wouldn't be hanging on to every small memory between them to feel close like they were. The way they used to be.

When the lights came on, he was brought back to reality. To the reality that it was too late for him to realize his own emotions. The glimpse of the future he could have had faded away.

He downed his drink before walking away from the bar and walking to the door to go back to his hotel, walking along with his new friends. He looked back one last time to see Will kissing the man that could have been him. He held back the rush of emotions that filled him and turned away, his brows furrowed for a moment before putting up a front as his new friends pulled him along. That night as he laid in bed, he contemplated what could have been once more. He allowed himself to get lost in a life that would have brought him more happiness than now.

If only his younger self was as good at observing things like he was now. Maybe then Mike would be where he wanted to be.