The Bad Touch - Byler

16. "ken&barbie - Kate Gill"

TW⚠️⚠️: HOMOPHOBIC LANGUAGE AND SLURS USED

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Mike just realised what he said. He said 'Love you'. He didn't want to take it back in the slightest but wondered if Will felt the same. He had never actually said it. Mike just thought it was implied.

He decided to turn the radio back on at the last second. He heard the end of Will's sentence.
"Love you too..."
Mike was filled with adoration for Will and completely spaced on the fact he turned the radio off because his Dad came into the basement.

"Michael Wheeler! Who in the Hell just told you they loved you?!"
"DAD! It was...it was El." Mike was so flustered he was surprised he managed to think that fast.
"Don't mess with me boy! Eleven doesn't use a radio and her voice is not that deep! Only your friends use those things! So help me God, tell me you found a mistress and are talking to her, not one of your friends. I am NOT having a faggot as a son!"
"ARE YOU FUCKING JOKING ME RIGHT NOW? YOU WOULD RATHER ME HAVE A SIDE CHICK THAN BE IN A GOOD RELATIONSHIP WITH A DUDE?!" WHAT THE FUCK IS WRONG WITH YOU? YOU HOMOPHOBIC PRICK!"
"Who?"
"'WHO' WHAT, DAD?!" Even though his father had stopped yelling Mike continued too which infuriated his dad.
"WHO IS THE QUEER THAT RUINED YOU?!"
"ITS NOT HIS FAULT DAD! HE DIDNT CHOSE TO MAKE ME THIS WAY! I WAS BORN LIKE IT SO IF IT'S ANYONES FAULT, IT'S YOUR OWN!"
"DON'T BLAME ME FOR THIS FUCKING DISGUSTING BEHAVIOUR! I WOULD NEVER RAISE YOU THIS WAY! THIS IS YOU'RE OWN DOING!"

Mike's mom heard all the shouting and was getting worried. "Ted? What's going on?"
"WHAT'S GOING ON IS WE RAISED A FUCKING FAG, KAREN!!"
"TED! YOU CAN'T SAY THAT. Who do you mean anyway?"
"I MEAN MICHAEL!"
"Mike's not gay." Karen had come to the basement at this point. This didn't stop either of the boys from yelling though.
"WELL THEN WHO THE FUCK WAS ON THAT GODDAMN RADIO, HUH?!"
"Ted I don't know. I don't know what you're talking about!" Mike's mom was staying calm. Not helping Mike really but not standing by Ted either.
"MICHAEL WHO WAS IT?!"
"DAD I-"
"DO NOT CALL ME DAD! I HAVE NO SON!"
"WELL THEN IT DOESNT FUCKING MATTER, DOES IT?!"
"MICHAEL I SWEAR TO GOD IF YOU DON'T TELL ME RIGHT THIS SECOND!" Ted then punched the wall beside Mike's head.

Mike started to cry.
"OH THERE HE GOES AGAIN. YOU REALLY ARE ONE OF THOSE QUEERS AREN'T YOU?!"
"DON'T FUCKING CALL ME THAT!"
"OR WHAT? YOU GONNA RUN OFF TO YOUR NEW BOYFRIENDS HOUSE?! HUH?! NO ONE WILL WANT A FAGGOT IN THEIR AREA!"
"YOU KNOW WHAT? I WILL! I AM GONNA GO TO JOYC-"
" JOYCE BYERS?! SO IT'S THAT WILL KID?! I AM GONNA KILL HIM!"

Shit. Mike didn't realise what he was saying. He didn't mean to tell his dad. That was the one thing he kept telling himself. 'Don't drag Will into this, leave his name out of it.' Yet that's the one thing he fucking did.

"Ted where are you going?!"
Mike was too much in his own head to realise his Dad had left.
"I'M GONNA GO TO THE BYERS' AND FIND OUT WHAT THEY DID TO MY SON!"
"DON'T YOU FUCKING DARE!" All Mike wanted to do now was protect Will.
"OR WHAT?! WHAT ARE YOU GONNA DO?!"
"I'LL KILL YOU!"
"I'D LIKE TO SEE YOU TRY!"

Ted stormed out the house and Mike heard the car start.
"WOW GREAT HELP MOM! YOU COULDN'T HAVE STOPPED HIM?! WHAT IS WRONG WITH THIS FAMILY?!"
"Is it true? Are you...dating Will?"
Mike was sobbing now.
"YES IT'S FUCKING TRUE! YOU THINK I WOULD BE THIS FUCKING UPSET IF IT WASN'T?!"
"Michael, don't yell at me!"
"Have you got nothing to say? You're not going to tell me it will be okay and call off dad? YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO BE MY MOM! YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO LOVE ME!"
"I do love you Mike! I just think it might be a pha-"
"I SWEAR TO FUCKING GOD IF YOU TELL ME THIS IS A PHASE I'M GONNA LOSE IT! EVEN IF IT WAS- WHICH IT ISN'T- THAT SHOULDN'T CHANGE YOU DEFENDING ME!"

Mike didn't let his mom answer before running to Nancy's room. She was listening to music so had no idea what was going on.
"Mike, what the hell? Get ou- wait what happened? Why are you crying?"
"Can you drive me to Will's?"
"Mike tell me what's wrong."
"Can you drive me to Will's yes or no?!"
"Calm down! Yes, I can drive you. When?"
"Now."
"Like right now?"
"Right fucking now."