i'm scared to love you |byler|

5.

after the whole dustin and trevor flirt thing, trevor decided to join the party during lunch.

"so, trevor," mike starts, "dustin is one of my best friends. you hurt them, i hurt you. got it?" it wasn't threatening like it sounds, mike was just looking out for his friend.

"understood, i won't do anything to hurt dustin i swear."

"so how was the math help?" lucas asked.

"w-what?" dustin questioned.

"yesterday, trevor asked you to help him with math homework." lucas recalled, "how- how was it?"

"fine, we did a lot of um, studying." trevor said and winked at dustin.

mike gave lucas an apologetic look.

lucas: that's disgusting

mike: tell me about it

"we know you're texting each other, why can't you just talk? you're right by each other." max tells the two.

"because it's a private conversation." lucas says.

mike: i'm sorry lucas, are you okay?

lucas: no not really but it's fine.

"will, wanna walk me to class?" mike asks.

"hm? oh, yeah, sure." will replied.

the two walk in silence until will speaks up.

"mike, are you sure you're ready for this?"

"yeah, i am, but right now," mike stopped to turn around and look directly at will, "i don't want any labels, if that's fine with you?"

"yeah, yeah, i respect your boundaries and don't want to do anything you're not comfortable with." will says, giving them a smile.

mike put his arm around the green-eyed one and kept walking to class.

(at the wheeler siblings place)

mike decided to not hang with the party, saying he doesn't feel well.

"mike, what's wrong? you're not with your friends." nancy says, concerned prominent in her voice.

"i don't feel well," mike lies. "i might, just sleep early."

"mike, you know you can always talk to me, right?"

"yeah, yeah, i do. thanks nance."

"did you and will-"

"yeah, i decided to give it a try." mike says with a smile.

nancy returns the smile and gives mike a hug.

"steve is coming over to drop off holly tomorrow morning while you're asleep, maybe. do you want me to wake you up do you can see him?"

"yeah, i miss steve." mike says. "better mom than fucking karen." they say under their breath, but nancy still hears, earning a chuckle from both of the siblings.

"yeah, you're right." nancy replies. "are you hungry? i can make some spaghetti if you want."

"no, i'm not hungry. thanks though." mike said going into their room and laying down.

will: are you doing okay?

mike: yeah, yeah. i think so. i just don't feel well. how are you?

will: i would be better if you were here, but it's whatever.

mike: do you want me to come over?

will: yeah, i would love that.

mike then tells nancy bye and they get on their bike and head to wills house.

after he knocks on the door, eleven and max are at the front door.

"hey mi-" max says but gets cut off.

"hey el, hey max, i'm here to see will. where is he?"

"in his room." eleven says.

"thank you." mike says and runs to wills room, ignoring hopper saying no to run in the house.

"hey," will says, looking up from their phone.

"hey love," mike replies with a smile on his face.

do the thing you fear to do and keep on doing it … that is the quickest and surest way ever yet discovered to conquer a fear. — dale carnegie.

that was a quote mike saw the day he decided to give love a chance, because what if it all goes right, what if it all goes right and they had nothing to worry about.

but what if they were wrong and it all comes crashing down like an avalanche? if everything comes crashing down and mike has no one to talk to about it?

they won't let that stop them, though. but it's still burnt into the back of their mind.

what if something bad happens? what if i end up alone.