Useless || Mike Wheeler Fanfic ||

Part 2 - Lunch Room

Third Person POV:

The first four classes went well. Mike didn't seem to think he fucked up immediately.

Then, it was time for lunch. The party sat at their usual table, which wasn't different. Like always, Will, Jane, and Max got school lunch while Lucas, Mike, and Dustin had home lunch. And, like always, Mike gave half his lunch to Will.

"So, how was everyone's classes," Dustin says.

Will shrugs. "Fine, although I have a feeling that Science is gonna suck already," He says, moping. Mike hands him an orange and he starts peeling it. "I'm excited for Art."

"Of course you are," Mike says with a laugh. "You're so good at it."

Will blushes in embarrassment. "I don't think I'm that good at it," He says, looking at the orange in his hands as he finishes peeling the skin off.

"Well you're better at me," Mike says as he takes a sip of Gatorade.

Max scoffs a laugh. "Dude, everyone's better than you in Art," She teases. Mike's eyes darken for a moment before brightening again.

"Sure, like you can't do more than stick figures," He retorts.

"Why you little-" Max starts, but she's interrupted when Jane gasps. "Wait? What's wrong?"

Jane was staring at her phone like someone would a hissing raccoon. "Someone just commented on my Tiktok video." She says. "They said I suck at dancing!" She groans, placing her face in her arms.

"Well that's not true," Max says. "You're great at dancing."

Jane looked up, staring at Mike, who wasn't paying attention to her speaking. Instead, he was staring at his phone.

"I'm sorry, Jane, that really sucks," Will says sincerely. "Just delete their comment."

"Already done, but still," Jane says. She glares at Mike, who was still staring at his phone. He began typing for a moment before pressing send. Max follows her gaze and begins glaring at Mike as well. "This is so embarrassing." Jane mumbles.

"Mike, don't you care about what your girlfriend is saying?" Max says, glaring.

The ravenette looked up, as if just now hearing the conversation. "What?" He says, pressing the power button on his phone.

"Your girlfriend, don't you care she's upset?" Max questions again.

Mike frowns. "Sorry, I wasn't paying attention," He says. Jane looks at Max with sadness in her eyes.

"You never pay attention to her," Max says, starting to actually get angry. Will looks between the two skateboard-loving teenagers with worry. "The last time I saw you even speak to her without someone else making you was last year!"

"I pay attention to her," Mike retorted, looking offended. "Sorry some of us actually have bigger things to deal with other than a Tiktok video."

Jane starts crying, covering her face in her hands. "Wow, so nice of you, Mike," Max says.

"Hey, maybe calm down a little," Lucas says, putting a hand on his girlfriend's back to reassure her. "I think first day of school anxiety is getting to us, so let's just calm down."

"It's not just today," Max says, crossing her arms. "Mike has been acting like shit all summer."

"Excuse me?" Mike exclaims. At this point, other tables are looking, over, confused by the argument of the group. "I haven't been acting like shit-"

"Yes you have!" Max yells.

Mike abruptly stands up, making everyone in the cafeteria go quiet. He checks his phone again before grabbing his bag. He walks out of the room without giving the group a second glance.

Will grabs his bag as well. "I'll go talk to him," He says to the group.

He runs out of the cafeteria after his friend. Since Mike had a head start, he was already out of the school building. When Will started walking towards him, he heard Mike was on the phone.

"Yeah, whatever," Mike says into the phone. "No, I didn't fail the first day, that's not even possible."

Will waited, knowing he shouldn't, but he wanted to know who Mike was calling.

"I'll get home after.. my job," Mike says. There was a pause. Will frowned in confusion. He knew for sure Mike didn't have a job. "Yeah, it's all week.. No. I said I don't want to go to the stupid dinner," Mike kicks a rock near his foot, stuffing his hand not holding the phone in his pocket. "Those randos are your friends, not mine. I barely even know them."

There was another longer pause. "I don't care!" Mike yells into the phone. He pulls it away from his ear and presses the end button, letting out a long sigh.

He digs into his pocket. "Mike, what are you doing out here?" Will says.

Mike spins around, eyes wide. "Will! What are you doing out here?" He exclaims, taking his hand out of his pocket.

"I came to check on you," Will says. "Who were you calling?"

Mike scratched the back of his neck. "No one." He says. At Will's raised eyebrows, he sighs. "Just my mom, she wants me to go to this stupid dinner in Minnesota tomorrow," Mike rolls his eyes.

"Minnesota?" Will questions. "That's so far."

The ravenette nods. "Yeah, it's annoying," He says. "She's not even gonna be there, so it would just be me and Nancy."

"We should get to class," Will says. "I think the bell just rang."

"Yeah.." Mike says hesitantly. "Yeah, do you have History with Mrs. Albert next? Because I do and I don't want to be alone in the class."

Will pulls up his schedule. "Well, would you look at that, I do," he says.

Mike beams. "Great, then let's go," He says. "I can't wait to go straight home after this and take a nap."

Will stares at him. You just said you were 'going to your job' on the phone. Will thinks, but doesn't bring it up. The two walk back into the school and to their classroom, going to the seats in the very back.

Soon, the classroom started filling up with students, and Jane and Max entered, followed by Dustin and Lucas. Will saw them, but Mike was back on his phone.

Max's face immediately shifted into a scowl when she saw Mike. But she followed Jane to some seats. Lucas sat on Will's other side and Dustin sat next to him.

"Alright class, good afternoon, my name is Mrs. Albert." The teacher says.

She began walking around the classroom as she gave them the introduction of her class. Will could immediately tell he wasn't going to like her in the slightest.

<^> To Be Continued

(1k words)

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