????? (Completed)

Mike Wheeler's Vacillation pt.1

"What? why?" "Steve, come on. He needs you," Dustin said, already tired of Lucas's moods.
"Yeah? Well, I'm not some charity." Dustin quickly dropped his pleading tone.

"He's been moping for three days, and if you don't want me complaining to you for just as long, you'll help him." A silence passed, Dustin silently hoping Steve was giving up.

"Okay. Okay. I'll be there." he sighed.

Dustin hung up the phone and turned to face a bored Lucas sitting on his couch. He lazily turned towards him and asked, "So?"

He gave his friend a thumbs up. Lucas groaning in response.

Mike had a mission. Eat, leave, and go somewhere. possibly the arcade or the mall. Or literally, anywhere that wasn't this room.

Mike sat at the far side of the table, an empty chair ahead of him, then holly.

Apart from Jonathan and Nancy, Will sat directly across from him. Fidgeting with the tablecloth anxiously as Mike stared at him.

Mike knew this wasn't going to be a peaceful dinner the minute he heard Will's voice.

"Hey, Will."

According to Jonathan, who responded with an equally suspicious stare, he visibly froze.

"Hi, Nancy."

"I see you found mikes jacket," She smirked.
"Hey, why don't you come inside? We're having this dinner thing."

"No, I-" "Oh don't worry it'll be like a thank you for returning it," she said, clasping his hands and leading him in.

Will silently cursed himself, wishing he had the stability to turn around and insist he goes home.

"U-unless you have somewhere to go?" mike said.

Nancy paused, staring her brother down as Will blinked at his older brother.

"Well, do you?" Jonathan said after a beat of silence.

Will felt the weight of his brother's question. He knew the real meaning, "Or would you rather hang out with that stoner?"

He should stand his ground, it wasn't his business when he hung out with Mason.

Will repeated that in his head a few times as he opened his mouth to speak.

Then Mike looked at him. It wasn't like before when a friendly glance would make him flustered.

Mike wasn't staring at him with friendliness. It was a blank, disappointed stare. Devoid of any discernable energy, like he was expecting the answer before it was even let out.

Will.. didn't know how to feel at this. But he knew it made him want to run away, forget about this dinner before it developed.

But he didn't. Instead, he folded, plopping into the empty chair.

"No," he said, with a semi-confident smile.

"This- this is stupid."

"No, it's... you?" Dustin weakly combated.

From the mirror, Lucas turned to face Steve, waiting for a response.

"Do you..want me to lie to you?" he said weakly, trying not to show discomfort.

While already vanishing into the closet to find an alternative combination, Lucas threw off the hat.

Steve took this opportunity to start talking.

"I really don't think-" "Steve, shut up." Steve looked at him in confusion. "You said you'd help, and you're doing it."

"Right, but it doesn't look like he wants help," he added, aware of how overly frustrated Dustin was.