byler oneshots

77 - graduation

*mike pov*
*high school graduation*
*Will didn't move

I get dressed in the white button down shirt and blue jeans that I have had hanging on my closet door for months, just waiting for this day.

It feels like just yesterday, we were all starting high school at Hawkins High, and now it's graduation day. I stare at myself in the mirror and notice how much I've grown up, but my mothers voice snaps me out of my thoughts.

"Mike! Honey! The letter is here!" she screams, and I can hear the nervousness in her tone.

My dream school is the University of North Carolina, and ever since Will got his acceptance letter a few weeks ago, I've been unable to sleep from nerves. Ive worked so hard in school to make this dream come true, and I honestly can't imagine being away from him.

I run downstairs and my mom looks me up and down, admiring my outfit.

"You look so handsome!" she says, holding a large packet in her hands.

"Yeah, yeah! Let me open the letter!" I say, snatching it from her hands and ripping the envelope open. I pull out the letter and unfold it, reading the first few works.

Dear Michael Wheeler,
after receiving and looking over your impressive application, we are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted into the University of North Carolina!

Tears fill my eyes as I recall at the stress I've been through the past four years, and I realize that all of it lead up to this.

"I got in! I got into UNC!" I scream, my mom squealing and wrapping her arms around me. Nancy comes running down in her nice dress and hugs me too, and my dad even gives me a hug which is how I know I really did good this time.

"I can't believe this!" I say, releasing from all of our hug.

"I'm so proud! Butttt, graduation is in an hour, so you better get your cap and gown on!" my mom says. I happily run upstairs and pull my royal blue gown over my body, taking my cap and running downstairs.

My mom takes about a thousand pictures of me before we leave, and the first person I see when we pull up to the school is Will. He looks so cute in his cap and gown that's definitely too long on him.

"Will!" I say, jumping out of the car before my mom even fully stops.

"Mike!" he says, wrapping his arms around me. I squeeze him tightly in my arms and kiss his neck and cheek when we finally release.

"I can't believe we're graduating. This is so surreal." Will says, and just when I'm about to tell him about UNC, Lucas, Dustin, Max, and El come running over.

We all exchange our excitement and take our seats with the rest of our class as the principal steps up onto the stage with the rest of the administrators sitting behind him.

"Good afternoon parents, friends, and most of all, graduating class of '89!" he says, earning cheers from the whole crowd.

"I would now like to welcome our valedictorian, William Byers to give his speech." he says. We all look at Will who's cheeks are flushed and his hands are shaky.

"You're the valedictorian?! You didn't tell us that!!" I say, hugging him hard.

"I wanted it to be a surprise!" he says, putting on his cap and walking up the stage. I feel so proud when I see him up at the podium, note cards in hand.

"I can't believe this!" Lucas says, smiling widely.

"Hi guys! A lot of you might not know me, or if you do, you might know me as zombie boy, or freak, but my names Will. I don't have time to share my crazy story, but I do wanna share what saved me from that insane point in my life, and that's my best friends. Max Mayfield, El Hopper, Lucas Sinclair, Dustin Henderson, and of course, Mike Wheeler are what got me through these past four years. We're not kids anymore, and college is gonna be hard on all of us, because we've never had to be apart, but I know that as long as all of us keep our friends close, we're gonna get through college just like we did high school. Congrats to everyone." he says, smiling and walking back down to us.

The five of us are all crying, me most of all, and a few tears fill his eyes when he sees how emotional we all are.

"Now you all may stand, and throw your caps! Congrats to the class of '89!" he says, all of standing. We give each other one last look before taking off our caps and throwing them into the air.

Luckily there's enough room in our row so that we can all gather for a group hug.

"I love you guys so much." Will says, hugging all of us closer. We're all crying again at this point and laugh when we see how ridiculous we look.

"We should probably go see our parents really quick, then we can go out to lunch?" Lucas says, the rest of the group agreeing and then disappearing into the crowd.

"Will! Wait!" I say, pulling his arm into the parking lot where there are less people. Only the rich kids who got cars are here now.

"I can't believe you were valedictorian! How long have you known?!" I ask, facing him, our bodies inches apart.

"A few weeks. I really wanted to tell you, but I wanted to keep it a surprise!" he says happily.

"Well I'm so proud of you. But I have a surprise of my own." I say, his face becoming nervous.

"What is it?!" he asks shakily.

"I got into UNC!!!!" I say loudly, his eyes going wide and a huge grin spreading across his face.

"Oh my god!! I knew you would!" he yells, leaning in and kissing me hard. I wrap my arms around his waist and his are around my neck as our lips move in sync.