One Summer//Byler

Chapter 4; Rude Awakening

*10:21AM June 21st 1986*

Mike's POV;

I jump up to the sound of someone slamming my door open. I look at who it is, and it's Nancy? "Mike! Wake you ass up!!" Nancy yelled. What is she doing here, and why am I in my room? Where is Will? I realize that all of what just happened was just all a dream. I can't believe I had a dream like that about him...

Mike's POV;

OH, GOD WILL IS SLEEPING OVER TONIGHT!! I have to hurry and get dressed NOW! "Hurry up, Michael!!" My mom yells from downstairs. Oh God, I am dead. I hurry up as fast as I can to get my shoes on and fix my hair. "MICHAEL!" She said, clearly getting agitated. I ran down the stairs looking like a wreck, but the sooner I got out of the house and forgot about everything that just happened.

"I'm sorry! Okay, I get it, mom!" I yell. "Mike, don't speak to your mom that way." My dad says barely, even caring. "Mike, just stop being a dick and let's go!" Nancy yells. "Language!" Mom yells. "Fine, let's just go." I say agitated. "No! You aren't getting off that easy, Michael!" My mom yells at me. As usual, a small argument turns into a huge yelling fight for not a single reason! Nancy storms off out of the house first to the car. "Maybe if you set your alarm, we wouldn't have this problem, son!" My dad yells at me. I can't stand- "If you did, maybe you'd see your little kindergarten boyfriend sooner!!" My dad yells again. My weak point...

I ran out of the house to the car. I couldn't keep it in. Boys don't cry, Mike. Boys don't cry, boys don't cry, boys don't... I start crying uncontrollably, unable to stop myself. Nancy noticed my stupid crying and tried to comfort me, but I pushed her away, hopped on my bike, and rode my bike, trying to make it to Hopper's cabin. This happened a lot but I never had cried I just stormed off outside and I biked over to Will's house but since he moved away, I just had to go to my room or deal with it. I didn't want to be around them at all.

Why did I even cry over my dad's stupid comment about me and Will. We aren't stupid fucking boyfriends. It's wrong for us to like each other that way.

I finally reach Hopper's cabin after endless peddling and Nancy was close up until I made a sharp turn into someone's yard. The house was weirdly familiar but I didn't pay much attention to it. As soon as I got to the cabin I knocked on the cabin door and Hopper opened the door but when he was about to speak I started sniffling and crying again. Hopper hugged me and I hugged him back. I am pretty positive I've hugged him more than my own dad. After we hugged for a minute or two, Joyce ran up to me and asked me "What's wrong, Mike?" I couldn't answer all I could do was cry. No matter how hard I tried I couldn't say anything through my heavy tears.

Will ran through the two adults and hugged me tightly. He was the only one who knew and understood. By my heavy crying it's just like he just knew something was wrong and he did. I started to sob while Will rubbed my back. I started to calm down and of course Nancy pulls into the driveway and I start crying again. "Mike, it's okay. Nancy cares about you. She'd never hurt you and you know that." Will says pulling me into another hug. In the back of my mind I remember my dream from last night but just ignore it. I don't want to think about this as I'm hugging my bestfriend. Then the thoughts came back...

I tried blocking them out but Nancy ran up onto the porch asking me if I was alright and then my parents pulled in. The thoughts started flooding my head. Why are you hugging him? Why are you crying? Why did you have that dream? Troy and James were right. You are a fag. I couldn't take it anymore and pulled away from Will.

Will's POV;

I feel so bad for Mike but why is he acting like this again? He acted like this last year too but now its like we're barely even bestfriends anymore. I miss the old Mike...and I really, really hate myself for thinking that way. I wish we could hang out the same way we used to, before the Demogorgon and...before Eleven. I love, El since she is my sister, but we didn't have any huge fights like we do now. We never drifted away from each other.