Why was he holding his hand (when he's supposed to be mine?)

Chapter 24 - We Were In Screaming Colour -

They walked through the door of the house and the first thing Will noticed was how loud it was. Very, very loud. Like couldn't hear yourself think loud. He knew he wasn't a party person. Max however was delighted, which was worth the noise for Will. His friend deserved to live her life to the fullest after what she had been through. They all did. So he plastered a smile on his face and let her grab his hand, pulling him along.
Mike had worried when they came in that the party might be too loud for Will. Parties didn't really seem like his type of thing. However, when they walked into the house Will had a big smile on his face and Max was pulling him somewhere. Mike followed them, they were probably headed towards the drinks.

Max giggled while pouring herself, Will, and El cups of punch that Mike assumed had vodka in it. He took a sip, and his theory was confirmed. He didn't necessarily like the taste of alcohol, but he does like being drunk, so he sucks it up. He downs the cup of punch and then pours himself another one. He jumps as he feels a hand on his shoulder. "Hey Mike!" Someone yells in his ear. It takes him a second to recognize who it is but he realizes it's Jennifer, he smiles then remembers that Jennifer wanted to go to this party with Will. He scowls. "Hi."

Jennifer looks at him quizzically but laughs, she has clearly already been here for awhile Mike suspects from the smell of liquor on her breath. "Do you know where Will is?" She questions eagerly. "Fuck if I know." Mike mutters pushing past her and walking around the house sullenly. He snatches a bottle of whiskey from some kid who looks like a freshman. Wow way to young to be here he thinks to himself as he takes a swig. Gross. Where was Will anyways. He knew he was gay, but he still didn't want Jennifer all over his best friend. He reasoned that that's why he was so upset at the idea. He was protecting his friend; he was worried about him. That's what friends do.

Will could kiss whoever he wanted if he wanted to Mike rationalized. Boys his mind helpfully supplied, Will liked to kiss boys. Boys who look like you Mike's brain supplied again. Wow he was full of helpful observations today. Though as he mused over it some more, he realized David did look a lot like Mike. Mike found this hilarious. Laughing as he followed the sound of music in what he assumed was the living room he began to dance. Or rather dance as well as Mike Wheeler could.

He heard laughing behind him, Will's laughter. He turned to grin assuming that Will was laughing at him but he wasn't. He was laughing with David. What the fuck was David doing here? Mike took another swig of the Whiskey; he could swear it was tasting better the more he drank. Fine he thought to himself. Will wants to talk to David (Who dumped him?!?!?!?!) That was fine, Mike could find someone to flirt with too. See how Will liked being ignored. He spotted Jennifer also staring and Will and David, a disappointed look on her face.

Mike determinedly walked over to her. "Hey Mike." She said eyes fixed on Will still. "I don't think I'm Will's type." She muttered. Mike guffawed. "Genius observation." Her eyes were on him now. Pretty eyes, brown eyes, her bangs almost looked like a bowl cut. Mike grinned at her, and she smiled back. "Yr my type." He slurred. She grinned slyly at him, her eyes flicking too Will just quickly enough that Mike noticed. Another helpful observation popped into his mind as they leaned closer together, they both wanted to make Will jealous. That was enough for Mike.

Her lips were soft, and her breath tasted like alcohol and the hand she put in his hand as they kissed was sort of nice, he mused. She was a nice girl; he could kiss her for a few minutes he supposed. He wrapped his arms around her tiny waist, and he could feel her grin into the kiss, moving her own body in closer to his. Her body was small and delicate and as he slipped his tongue into her mouth the feminine sigh, she released made him realize this was all wrong. She wasn't who he wanted. He pulled away and in response to her confused glance muttered, "Drank a whole bottle of whiskey, think'm gonna throw up." She nodded sympathetically and looked over to the target of their attempted jealousy. Will was staring at Mike, David nowhere in sight. The look on Will's face made Mike want to hurl for real this time.

Will walked towards Mike seemingly irritated and just as Mike was getting ready to explain snatched the quarter full bottle of whiskey from him. Will unscrewed the lid and began drinking it, brushing past Mike as he did so. Mike stood there dumbfounded for a minute before drunkenly deciding to follow a clearly angry Will was the best idea. He bumped into Max before he could get to him. Max was also wasted. "Mike!" she exclaimed throwing her hand around his shoulders in a side hug. "why are you so sad?" She frowned at him as if to mock his own expression. "I just pissed Will off." He muttered. "Don't even know what I did." You know his brain supplied. Max raised an eyebrow at him. "Probably has something to do with you kissing Jennifer dumbass. He wants you to kiss him." She pressed her finger to his nose quickly then with a surprised look on her face as if she had just remembered something: "Oh! Speaking of kissing people, I must find Lucas!" and with that she left Mike alone to process the information she had just dumped on him.

Will wanted to kiss him? It's not like he hadn't suspected it but hearing someone else say it made it so real. Did he want to kiss Will? He wasn't gay or queer or whatever he reasoned but if Will wanted to kiss him maybe they could kiss once. Maybe that wouldn't be so bad. Mike stood there for a few more minutes imagining what it might be like to kiss Will Byers when he realized that he was at a party. If he drank enough, he could kiss Will and not even remember it. He was so smart.

While Will had stolen Mike's first bottle of liquor he quickly got his hands on another one and wandered around determined to find Will. He wandered upstairs to where it was quieter to find Will sitting in front of an open window. "Hey..." Will slurred. Mike laughed in a high-pitched tone. "William Byers, are you drunk?" Will grasped at his heart dramatically. "You wound me Michael." Then more seriously " You do wound me, that's why I'm drunk." Mike walked over to him. The cool breeze came in through the window reminding them that Autumn would be here soon. Will shivered.

Mike walked over to him and wrapped his arms around Wills ribcage. Once Will had been the smaller one but now when Mike hugged him, he felt almost like a small child. "I don't mean to." He whispered. Will looked at him confused. He was shitfaced Mike though absentmindedly. Maybe neither of them would remember this, but he had to know. "To wound you, Will." Will nodded clueing in. Mike tilted his head up making direct eye contact with the other boy. He grinned at Will and Will just stared at him like a deer in headlights.

This was it Mike thought to himself. Max had said Will wanted to kiss him and this was his chance. Though the signs didn't look very promising what with Will completely frozen in time he had to know what would happen. He reached his hands up and pulled Will's face towards him. Their lips collided and again there was the bitter taste of alcohol on both of their breaths. However, this time Mike's world lit up.

Will

Will

Will

He was kissing Will. The whole world stopped and the only thing that mattered was that he had pulled Will Byers lips into his and Will Byers was kissing him back. Will pulled away a confused look on his face which faded into a soft smile, then just as Mike went to kiss him again, he threw up. Not on Will thank God but the mood was ruined.

Will just acted as if nothing happened, bringing Mike into the bathroom, and staying with him while he vomited his guts out. He stared at Mike as the dark-haired boy sighed and leaned his back against the while. They were both sitting by the toilet, and it was definitely not romantic, but just minutes before he had been kissing Mike Wheeler. It was strange he mused, the world had seemed normal before, but now it was like seeing in color. Everything was a little bit better and a little bit brighter because even though the freckled boy would probably forget everything tomorrow, Will would cherish the fact that just once he had kissed Mike wheeler, forever.