CHAPTER 2 - THE DRIVE

 

December 23rd, 1990, Mike’s Car, Hawkins

“This next song is a classic from 1965, written by Les Reed and Gordon Mills. Tom Jones’ pipes hit the charts on both sides of the Atlantic, hitting #1 in the UK and #3 here in the states. This song’s upsetting lyrics about the singer’s unrequited love contrast the upbeat mood of the music and mix to create an unforgettable tune. It certainly won’t be unusual if the song makes you dance!”

WELCOME TO HAWKINS

Mike zips past the familiar sign as a high-energy song blasts in on the radio. He turns it down a bit, only glancing at the dash for a moment. His eyes go back to the road as Tom Jones’ voice comes in.

It’s not unusual to be loved by anyone

It’s not unusual to have fun with anyone

He is thinking about Will. Again. Right now he’s thinking of the time when Will came out to the party. God, Mike wishes he would have gone about things differently with Will. Well, there wasn’t anything he could have said in that moment, there wasn’t any time, they had to get to the military base. It was selfish of Will to drop all that when nobody could have time to process. When Mike didn’t have time to process. Will really must have thought Mike was too stupid to realize Will was talking about him when he brought up his crush. But Mike realized. 

It made him feel special in a way, but then he felt guilty about all the times it must have felt like he was toying with Will’s emotions. Reflecting on it now, Mike knows that Will deserved to have a selfish moment like that in his life after how much he’s been through. But after that confession, when they stopped for water while climbing the radio tower, Mike can’t help but feel like he messed up in that conversation. There was so much more he should have said but he didn’t. Why is he focusing on that, anyway? Will understood him anyway. Will was always good at that, understanding. They’re still friends, best friends, so there’s no reason to be upset.

Mike drums the steering wheel.

But when I see you hanging about with anyone

It’s not unusual to see me cry, I wanna die

That time in the field. When he told Will he could be a sorcerer. It was the first time he saw Will look so unabashedly happy since he got stuck in the upside down. And it was Mike that made him smile like that. And Will looked so good like that. Just for a moment Mike felt like the two of them were back to how they were when they were kids. But Mike hasn’t had a moment like that with Will since that evening in the field. And he can’t help but feel like it was his fault that it hasn’t been like that. How it used to be. He should be calling Will more. Visiting him. But he just. Hasn’t. Maybe he hasn’t because of the boyfriend. Maybe Mike just feels like Will doesn’t need him anymore. 

It’s not unusual to go out at any time

But when I see you out and about it’s such a crime

He probably makes Will smile the way Mike used to. That just isn’t fair to Mike. It’s not like he understands Will like Mike does, it’s not like he’s been through monsters and the supernatural with Will like Mike has. He probably just gets Will to smile by kissing or holding him. God damn, why is he comparing himself to Will’s boyfriend? And he has to stop thinking about those things. Mike turns up the radio and rolls down the window.

If you should ever wanna be loved by anyone

It’s not unusual, it happens every day

No matter what you say

You’ll find it happens all the time

Love will never do what you want it to

Why can’t this crazy love be mine?

Jesus, what happened to Christmas music? It’s the 23rd of December, isn’t anyone getting in the holiday spirit anymore? Well, at least there’s one thing he has on this boyfriend of Will’s. Mike is the reason Will realized he had real life superpowers. And he’ll never get to see just how good Will looks using them. It’s fine, he can think that. There’s nothing wrong with admitting the objective fact that Will looked attractive using his powers. Mike is sure that if you asked anyone who saw Will use them they’d say the same. It’s not as if it made Mike feel any certain way. Shit. Mike is forced to adjust his pants as he drives down the road. Think about something else, think about something else.

It’s not unusual to be mad with anyone

It’s not unusual to be sad with anyone

Mike suddenly feels a pang of guilt as he realizes that he’s mourning the “loss” of his friend more than the actual loss of El. No, Mike asserts to himself. El separated herself from her loved ones and sacrificed her own happiness to protect him. To protect everyone. So he could move on and have a life. She wouldn’t want him mourning her. Besides, she’s probably doing her best to live a happy and peaceful life, wherever she is, far away. He shouldn’t be mourning Will either. He’s alive, living a perfectly happy life, they are still best friends, and here Mike is acting like a toddler who’s toy dinosaur got borrowed. Why can’t you just be happy, idiot? Mike slaps himself out of frustration.

But if I ever find that you’ve changed at any time

It’s not unusual to find that I’m in love with you

Mike turns the radio dial to change the station. It’s probably the music that’s making him think about all this right now. The station it picks up next is broadcasting the depressing lyrics of Wham.

Last Christmas, I gave you my heart

But the very next-

Mike switches off the radio. The wonderful sounds of nature will have to do for the rest of the drive through Hawkins.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Ironically, in 1991, just a year after this fanfic takes place, the song “It’s Not Unusual” blew up again because the character Carlton in The Fresh Prince of Bel-Aire did his, “Carlton Dance,” for the first time in a Christmas episode (Christmas Show), which was a dance he did while mouthing the lyrics to this song. What makes this so ironic is that the character that shows up next to Will in the epilogue of the Stranger Things finale, commonly referred to as his, “epilogue boyfriend,” is named Carlton, as an intentional reference to The Fresh Prince, as two of the main characters are named Will and Carlton. These two characters are cousins in the show, which is why I don’t believe Carlton in the epilogue is Will’s boyfriend. That is also why I left Will’s boyfriend unnamed, to leave it up to interpretation and avoid any future problems. All that to say, I did not plan for this connection to happen, I wanted to use the song and stumbled upon this coincidence as I was researching the song’s background for the radio host’s dialogue at the beginning of chapter 2.

CHAPTER 1 - THE CALL

 December 4th, 1990, Mike’s Dorm Room.

Mike curses under his breath as he stares at the single sentence he has printed on the page sticking out of the typewriter on his desk. He looks out the window and sighs. Spouting out endless strains of words has never been difficult for Mike, and crafting stories was always second nature, but recently he’s just been, well, stuck. Writer’s block. Mike takes off his glasses and rubs his eyes. It isn’t just his writing that’s stagnant, he hasn’t felt right for a while. It’s not because of El; no, she disappeared more than 3 years ago, and he came to peace with that ages ago. Actually, life has been pretty kind to him since he left Hawkins for college. He looks around his dorm room before glancing back at the paper. He groans and flings himself back in his chair, only to tip it over. He hits the ground with a thunk and his glasses go flying out of his hand.

“Careful, Wheeler,” a voice calls through the wall. “You good, man?”

Mike rubs his head and groans again. That was one of his roommates, Clark. He isn’t terrible company, but his ability to run his mouth far outpaces Mike’s, and it usually leaves Mike with a mild headache.

“Yep.” He rolls over and pulls himself up. “Just peachy.” He scans the floor for his lost lenses when a grating noise rattles from the common room– the phone. Mike swings the door to his room open and starts scrambling to the counter where the phone is ringing, but his path is cut off by Clark, who quickly swipes up the landline.

“Oy! Chunk, is this you finally calling to admit I was right?” Clark is looking at Mike with a stupid smug expression on his face, which quickly drops to an aggressive frown when he holds the phone out to Mike. “It’s one of your stupid friends.” He drops the phone into Mike’s now outstretched hand and retreats to his room.

Mike leans on the counter and holds the phone up to his ear. “Hey, this is Mike, who’s calling?”

“Mike! I’m glad I caught you! It’s Will.” The speaker buzzes.

Will! Mike’s face lights up instantly. “Will! Hey! What’s up? Anything new in the city?”

“Oh, I’ve been doing great here! Nothing too exciting since we last talked, but it’s been good. How’s it going with you?” It’s nice to hear the voice of his best friend again.

“Same as you, just great!” Mike lies.

“Cool. Good to hear. Um, oh, yeah, actually there was something I wanted to ask you.”

“Ask away.”

“Are you going back to your parents’ for Christmas?”

Christmas! Shit, Mike had forgotten the holidays were coming up with all the stress of college. He hadn’t called his mom in weeks! “Oh, yeah, totally– I mean– of course. Why do you ask?”

“Well, Hopper and my mom are going out on a ski trip, and I was thinking that Christmas would be as good a time as any to introduce everyone back at home to my boyfriend.”

Mike’s smile faltered. Right. Will’s boyfriend. He had almost forgotten about that. Mike isn’t really sure why he doesn’t like Will’s new significant other, but he’s always been disinterested hearing about him over the phone. It’s not like Mike is bothered that Will is gay or anything, they’re best friends, and besides, he doesn’t think there’s anything wrong with it. No, it’s not that. If Will loves someone else more than Mike, then they can’t truly be best friends anymore, can they? Yeah that’s it. Mike is just afraid of losing his best friend. He’s jealous, in the truest definition of the word. He shifts his weight and grabs his arm.

“--stay at the motel. I still need to call Lucas and Dustin, but if we can all make it back then this Christmas can be a really sweet reunion for all of us. Mike? Hello? You there?”

Mike snaps back to the conversation at hand. “Oh, yeah, sorry. Got lost in thought for a second there. Yeah. I mean, yeah, that sounds great. We haven’t seen each other since we went away for graduation have we? Shit, it’s been almost 2 years since I’ve seen you! Uh, you, meaning you and Dustin, of course. Yeah.” Jesus, why is he being so awkward? “Because, uh, I saw Lucas and Max this past summer. Yeah. Well, I’ve missed you. I miss my best friend. It’ll be so exciting to see you again!”

“Yeah! I’ve missed you too, Mike. Awesome, well, I’ll see you then,”

“See you then.”

“I’ve gotta call Lucas now.”

“Cool.” Mike takes his weight off the counter.

“Yeah, cool.”

Another voice comes in over the phone. “Babe, are you almost done? I’m getting cold here.” Mike can hear that the voice is right up next to the receiver now. Right up next to Will. Ugh, why is he thinking about that?

“Sorry, Mike, I gotta go, someone here is feeling very clingy.”

“Goodbye, Will-” 

Dial tone. Will hung up.

“Cool.”

Mike exhales and puts the phone back on the switch hook. He rubs his face with his hands. He looks up to find Clark leaning on the doorframe to his room. He’s got a sympathetic smirk.

“Rough talk? What, did your girlfriend break up with you or something?”

“Shut up, Mouth.” Mike walks to his room.

“Shit, dude, I didn’t mean to- I’m sorry, I was just trying to-”

“No, it’s okay, Clark. I’m sorry for snapping. Nothing bad happened. Honestly I’m not sure what I’m upset about.” He goes to close the door.

“Do you… want to talk about it?”

He pauses. “Maybe another time.” He closes the door a little more.

“Is there anything I can do to help you out? I know you’ve been feeling down for a while now, I- I’m not stupid. Would a hug help?”

Mike stops. “Yeah, actually, it would.” He opens the door and steps out. Clark walks over and gives him a tight hug.

“You’re a great guy, you know that? You’ve helped me out a lot, and anytime you need a favor I’m here for you.” Clark pushes away and holds Mike’s shoulders. “Got that?”

“Got it. Thanks, Clark. You’re a great friend.” Mike wipes a tear he hadn’t realized came out.

“Anytime. Well, I’m going to call Chunk now that the phone’s free and ask him why he’s being such a stubborn ass.”

“You do that.” Mike retreats to his room and picks up his glasses off the floor. It’s gonna be okay. He is going to have a great Christmas with his childhood friends. With his best friend. They’ve been through so much together, monsters and the government. Will having a love life shouldn’t change what he and Mike have. Mike groans and picks up the fallen chair. He plops into the seat and closes his eyes. What is wrong with him?

Description

  POST SEASON 5 FINALE - CANON COMPLIANT - MIKE’S POV

It’s been more than 3 years since the Mind Flayer was fileted, and Mike is experiencing writer’s block. He’s in an emotional rut, but he doesn’t know why. Life has been going his way this past year, why isn’t he happy? Can a Hallmark reunion with his childhood best friend save his future career as a writer from becoming a hopeless fantasy?

OR

Mike Wheeler has a gay awakening during the holidays.

Explanation

 I'm putting this here for now because I never made an Ao3 account before and it's taking forever to approve.