REGRET, mike wheeler

CHAPTER 2 - STARCOURT MALL

STARCOURT MALL

SUMMER , 1985

"Christ, I'm having fucking back pain, can we stop for now?" I said. We were unpacking our boxes in the apartment we were moving in. Our house that we were living in before we moved was sold to some seniors so no going back there.

"Not until we finish with my room" Troy, my brother said. "What's so fucking special about your room that we have to finish it first?" apparently my dad heard me cursing again. He hates it when I curse.

"Young lady, enough." He ordered. I rolled my eyes and picked up boxes taking them to the tiny kitchen. "Do you think those assholes are still around?" Troy said teasing. I think that he meant the AV club party or some shit they're a part of. "Yeah, can we not talk about that?" I took out plates and spoons from the boxes and placed them in the drawers.

"I heard there's a new mall. You guys should go, I heard Steve works there." my mother said. Steve was one of the people that I didn't totally hate so I decided to go.

"No thanks," Troy said. "Whatever, I'm going." I grabbed my purse and some change and headed out the door. I picked up my rusty old bike and started going as fast as I could before Troy found out he was all alone in helping unpack.

This mall was huge, bigger than the main one I used to go to in California. I tried to figure out where Steve would work.

"Jazzercise?" I laughed at myself just thinking that

"Scoops Ahoy!" my eye caught a sailor themed ice cream shop. It was a long shot but I went anyway.

I walk into the ice cream parlor to be greeted by a girl scooping ice cream for a mouthy customer.

"Hi, does Steve Harrington work here?" I asked her when my turn came. I've never seen her before but she looked pretty, maybe Steve's type. She smiled at me and yelled his name.

Waiting for something to happen, the employees door burst open to Steve Harrington, about to fall on his knees from exhaustion.

"What the fuck, y/n?" He said, noticing me awkwardly standing there.

"When did you come?" He asked, coming closer and giving me a hug. "A few hours ago, I just came by to see how my favorite person in Hawkins was doing" I probably sounded so stupid in front of Robin.

A smile emerged on his face. "Favorite?" He asked confused. "What about the other knuckle heads?"

"Oh, right. I haven't even had the chance to talk to them yet, probably won't either." Steve walked over behind the counter and started scooping a ice cream into a cone.

"Here, on me, to make you feel better." He said, handing me the ice cream along with some napkins, knowing me.

"Really?! Thanks, Steve. I'll come back again, I'm gonna go see what there is to do around here." I picked up the melting ice cream from Steve's hand and waved bye.

I started licking the ice cream, going on the escalator to the second floor, when the ice cream started dripping onto my shirt.

-

She continued scrubbing her shirt with her full attention on herself. Next thing you know, she crashed with another body. "Watch where you're fucking going." She said, not realizing that she bumped into her childhood friend. "Y/n?" Mike Wheeler replied. He stared at the girl in shock.

She made eye contact with the boy before noticing her other friends Lucas and Will.

She loved Will and Will loved her too. They were practically brother and sister. But it looked like there was still angst between y/n and Mike.

She hugged Lucas and the same with Will but still no contact with Mike. "Y/n, you look so different yet the same all at the same time," Lucas said. "Thanks, Lucas. I missed you guys so much."

Mike was still being ignored, looking weirdly at y/n. He was angry that she was here yet a part of him wanted to talk to her about everything.

She moved to Will and hugged him like they used to. "Hey do you guys wanna go shopping, I need a new shirt and we can get you guys something too," she said to Will and Lucas only.

"Yeah! Of course." Will said.

"Sorry, I can't join you guys, we need to get a gift for-" Lucas stopped mid-sentence knowing that if he finished his sentence things would end badly. "That's fine! See you guys later!" She kind of mentioned Mike this time.

"Wait Will, we were supposed to find a gift for El!," Mike yelled back. "I was bored anyway," Will said as both of them start walking to their desired shop. "She always does this." Mike mumbled to Lucas.

"Just focus on what we're really here for. Apologizing to El."