i'm scared to love you |byler|

14.

over the months, you could tell that mike benefited from the therapy that he was receiving.

he was able to give and receive affection easier.

mike was overall happier and laughed more. like genuinely laugh.

but today, they felt off, like today won't be a good one.

mike and lucas was talking about one of the new teachers and how he was a bitch, then the former spotted dustin with someone.

trevor.

lucas hasn't gotten over their crush on the curly haired person, so to protect his friend, mike asked, "hey, do you wanna skip today?"

lucas gave him a puzzled look.

"please?" mike pleaded.

"okay," lucas said, sighing. "yeah, let's go."

that was a close one.

the two didn't do much, they just went and played at the arcade, trying to beat max's high score in digdug that she's kept since 8th grade.

they both went to their houses after school was let out. the school not calling nancy or lucas' parents.

genuinely, mike thinks the only reason the school didn't call was because of the passing of their parents.

fuck they forgot their parents died.

mike wasn't sad about it, mostly angry. knowing that they never loved each other, nor loved the people they made. mike would often catch karen with different teenage boys, before and after billy. their dad was quite different. ted wouldn't do anything unless it was beat mike, sleep in his lazy boy chair, or eating, mostly chicken.

despite being filthy rich, mike wasn't happy, their life wasn't as perfect as people thought. since they could remember, they were bullied for looking like a frog, it getting worse after they came out at school, which was a bad idea.

mike had forgotten all the shitty things that's happened to him, because now, he has amazing friends, an amazing sister, his mother and father figure (despite his father figure planing to become his brother-in-law) love him more than his actual parents, an amazing partner, and he's getting the help he actually needs.

over all, mike wheeler had been overall healthier for the first time in their 16 years of life.

"mike, i made some pizza do you want any?" nancy called.

"yeah!" he called back.

nancy smiled at that, knowing a few months ago mike would have made an excuse to not eat.

mike walked to the kitchen, getting a plate and placing 4 slices of pizza on it.

"why are you smiling, nance?"

"nothing, i'm just so proud of you, that's all."