The Faces You Wear | Stranger Things

002

Mike had rolled out of bed late and only managed to change his Hellfire shirt and rake a comb through his hair before he was being pushed out of the door. He managed to sort his face out and pop a mint in the car all while his mother complained about not being able to straighten his hair. She never did like his curls. Still in his jeans from yesterday, he had come home and hyperventilated until he fell asleep, Mike trembled with nerves as his plane touched down.

Not only did it feel like his eyes were being sucked out of his eye sockets, but Chrissy's words were playing in his head on a loop the whole plane ride and now that he was going to see Eleven and Will...

At least he had managed to remember the bouquet he made for Eleven, though, the stems were now slightly squished in his clenched fists.

God, he was such a bad person. Eleven and Will seemed so excited to see him and he just... wasn't good enough for them.

They've both been through so much, and he can barely think about them for so many reasons, and this past year, his letters have just not been good enough. He could tell he was hurting them both with his words, or lack thereof.

If he just didn't exist...

Mike flinched as everybody stood up to leave the plane, hastily following in their footsteps he brushed a hand through his hair trying to tame it and dragged his suitcase behind him, taking deep breaths.

It's fine, he'd be reunited with his friends, Will, Eleven, and Jonathan, and it'd be ok.

The second he saw Will, he knew it'd be ok. Eleven smiled, jumping up she ran to him and almost tackled Mike in a hug, her arms closed around him and she smiled when he felt him reciprocate, even if he felt smaller than usual in her embrace. It'd almost been a year, she must've just forgotten what it felt like to hug him.

Mike grinned. He loved Eleven, he did. But... he just wasn't sure if he loved her the way she wanted.

Since Eleven dumped him in front of Starcourt mall, something changed. He thought he was devastated but then she kissed him before she left and Mike realised he'd actually been relieved. Unfortunately, he had noticed too late and once again he was in a relationship with her.

He felt like shit. Jane Hopper was a wonderful young woman. She deserved a boyfriend who wanted nothing more than to be with her, who would do anything and everything to see her smile but Mike can barely do anything for himself at the moment.

"I missed you." He spoke honestly and she kissed him, he almost didn't kiss back, "You're squishing your present." He chuckled and gave her the flowers with a trembling hand.

While she read the card, Mike turned to Will and leapt into his arms. He'd grown taller, almost matching Mike in height now and it felt like he'd gained some muscle. His hug felt so right Mike's throat ached with tears, "Will..." He whispered, feeling the arms around him grow tighter.

"Mike!"

He was still terrified, his mind was a weight tied to his ankles in tight chains but he couldn't stop smiling for the first time in months.