This Is Christmas

Understanding

Monday took forever to arrive for Mike. When walking down the hall Mike watched as El walked passed him not even waving or saying 'hello' like she'd usually do. Behind El Will came walking straight up to Mike.
"Hey, Will!" Mike waved with a smile. Will looked disoriented.
"Hey, uhm.. Mike, you broke up with El?" Will asked.
"Oh.. yeah, about that-"
"Was it because of me, was it something I said?" Will asked worried.
"No-"

"Are you sure because she told me you broke up with her as soon as I got home. When I left you broke up with her, Mike." Will interrogated.
"Will, I didn't love her. You made me realize that.. that I hadn't loved her. Actually, I knew it all along.. I was just... I didn't.. I don't know." Mike was still hiding something.

Will sighed and shook his head. "Will?"
"This is all my fault.." Will mumbled.
"What do you mean?" Mike asked confused.
"Mike, you broke up with El because of me. Just go tell her you were confused, that you do love her and-"
"Will, stop. I'm not going to because I don't love her." Mike explained. Will stayed quiet.

"Why do you even care so much?" Mike asked.
"Because, Mike, El's my sister. I just.. I want her to be happy. You too of course... I just think I confused you." Will mumbled the last part. Mike placed his hand on Will's shoulder.
"You didn't, Will. I know who I am and who I like." Mike explained. Will's attention resided on Mike as he nodded, understanding.
"Okay, now, we should really get to class." Mike pointed out.
"Crap, right. Bye, see you later!" Will said running off. Mike watched as he left.

The next few periods were boring but Mike later had a class with Will in which they spent the whole time working together on an assignment. Out of no where Will mentions something. "You're in a DnD club." Will says. "
Oh, right, crap.. I know you're probably really mad at me-"
"It's fine, Mike." Will said blatantly. Mike knew he was hurt.
"You know.. we could have even more fun in the club if you joined it!" Mike said elbowing Will.
"Ow, and no. I'm.. over DND." Will mumbled.
"What, no way." Mike shook his head.

"What'd you get for six?" Will asked.
"Huh?" Michael looked down at his more than half blank paper and then to Will's finished one.
"Well...."

"Mike, we're supposed to be checking each other." Will laughed looking at Mike's paper. Mike's face instantly flushed. He hadn't finished because he had been eyeing Will the whole time he was doing his work. Will noticed this and stopped laughing. "Are you okay?" Will asked. This question only made Mike turn redder.
"I'm fine, I'm good!" Mike said quickly getting to work. Will sighed looking at Mike's paper as he worked.

In the middle of writing Mike stopped and realized how close Will was to him.
"You forgot to square seven." Will pointed at the equation.

Mike didn't hear any of what Will had said as his eyes were glued to Will's lips.
"Mike?" Will called.
"Huh? What did you say?" Mike asked.
"Seven, you needed to square it." Will explained once again. Mike quickly erased the whole problem.
"Oh, yeah, I knew that!" Michael said as he erased. Will laughed while Mike came up with multiple excuses for the mistake.

During lunch the two sat together for the first time in the lunch room. They sat with Dustin and Lucas in which Lucas had been a new arrival to the table like Will.
"We've got the group back together!" Lucas noted. Suddenly, the atmosphere became gloomier.
"Well, aside from Eddie." Dustin mumbled.
"The original group is here is what I meant." Lucas tried to explain. Dustin ignored.

"Who's.. uhm, Eddie?" Will hesitantly asked.
"Eddie was in the Hellfire Club but.. He-"
"He was killed in the upside down. He sacrificed himself." Dustin explained. Will's eyes widened in horror and he went completely silent. "Everyone thinks he was a murder." Dustin mumbled. He then got up and left.

"Wait!" Lucas chased after him. Mike sighed.
"Lucas has been desperate to get the group back together. When you left we kinda drifted apart.. I mean other than me and Dustin for the most part." Mike explained. "Dustin's grieving has really affected him so Lucas has been trying to help him."

"That's nice." Will stated. Mike shrugged.
"Yeah, it's pretty nice. It's just so awkward when we're all together because those two always end up arguing for some reason." Mike sighed.
"Well, they're both grieving. Lucas lost Max and Dustin lost Eddie. They just need to get through it together. Dustin knows Lucas means no harm, I'm sure they'll eventually come together." Mike looked surprised by what Will had said.

"You're always so understanding." Mike pointed out. Will felt his face heat up.
"Nooo.. I mean it's the truth. They're both grieving and-"
"No, like all the time. You've given me so many chances even though I've been a complete asshole. How do you do that?" Mike asked.

"Mike, I know you don't mean to be a jerk most of the time. Sometimes people just come off in a way they don't intend to or they're going through something with themselves. I don't know.. I just try to give the benefit of the doubt I guess? Also, you've been my best friend since kindergarten, I'm never going to give you up. Will's expression was serious. Mike couldn't help but smile.

"Never?"
"Never." Will promised. "Even if you are the biggest jerk in Hawkins." He teased.
"Hey!"