Useless || Mike Wheeler Fanfic ||

Part 5 - I'm Not Stupid

Third Person POV:

The next day at school, Mike skateboarded into the entree area. His thoughts were all over the place, and the music he was listening to was the only thing keeping him from getting too stuck.

"Hey dude!" Lucas says, walking over.

But Mike didn't hear him, looking at his phone and chewing his gum. He was about to start walking when Lucas put a hand on his shoulder, making him jump.

"Oh, hey Lucas," Mike says, giving his friend a soft smile.

Lucas stared at him. That's the fakest smile I've ever seen. He thinks, but walks with the boy into the building. He wasn't used to Mike being so silent.

"Mikey!" Jane exclaims, running to her boyfriend.

Again, Mike didn't hear her until her gripped his arm. "Oh- hey Jane," He says quietly, immediately making Jane's smile disappear completely and look at Lucas.

"Uh- dude, what do you think is for lunch today?" Lucas says, trying to get the boy to talk.

Mike just shrugs, going back to his phone.

"I think we're going to have a pop quiz today," Jane says, staring at Mike to see a reaction. "I can just feel it in my bones."

"That's great.." Mike mutters, not listening. He picks another song to listen to, Fall in Love with You by Montell Fish. "Uh, I need to go, I think there's a pop quiz in my class and I didn't study!" He gives them a horrible fake smile again before running off.

Jane and Lucas stop walking. "What's up with him today?" Lucas questions.

Mike was walking through the school, eyes wide. He was on the verge of a panic attack. He needed to smoke. He needed to.

He burst out of the school's back door, gasping like a fish out of water.

Quickly, he pulled out his lighter and a cigarette, lighting it and inhaling the smoke. He sighs, smoke coming out of his nose.

"Fucking coward," Mike whispers to himself.

He sits down on the steps as he puts his lighter away, staring at the sky as he smokes. His brain calms down, and he sighs again.

"Can't even talk right," Mike mumbles as he pulls out his phone, scrolling through the internet with the cigarette in between his fingers. "Fucking idiot." The song was relaxing though, and very beautiful.

He starts humming to the tune, tapping his foot against the pavement. The strumming guitar in the background was so nice. A soft, real, smile appeared on Mike's face.

Then the back door slams open, revealing Will, breathing heavily like he just ran a mile.

Mike looks up, his smile gone, and his eyes prick with tears.

"Mike.." Will whispers, dropping down to sit next to him. Mike begins sobbing again, putting his face in his knees. "Hey.. Look at me.."

The ravenette shakes his head. "I'm such an idiot," He mumbles.

"You're not an idiot," Will says.

Mike's breathing picks up again, and he feels himself starting going into a panic attack. He pulls the cigarette to his mouth again, breathing it in and sighing when it gives him relief.

"Why are you smoking?" Will asks, not sounding accusing.

"It makes me feel better," Mike mumbles.

Will gives his friend(crush) a sad look. "Why aren't you feeling good in the first place?" He says. "What's making you sad?"

Mike looks up, making eye contact with Will. After a moment, he breaks it. "Nothing.."

"It must be something," Will says. "Mike, I want you to talk to me, I'm your best friend, remember?" He gives the boy a smile.

There was a moment of silence. Mike was staring ahead of them as he thinks.

Then he groans, shutting his eyes. "It's everything and nothing at the same time," He says. "It's like- am I even supposed to try another year of high school if I know I'll fail? How am I supposed to be in a relationship with someone I don't even love?" Will's eyebrows shot up. "Why am I such a fucking bitch? I can't- I can't answer any of these questions and it aggravates me so much!"

"You.. You don't love Jane?" Will asks.

Mike groans again. "I don't even know!" He says. "My head is killing me every day with its questions and I don't know anything! I can't even get an A in one fucking class and my parents are going to kill me for it."

"Well, I know I can answer one of your questions," Will asks, making Mike whip his head towards him, eyes wide. "You're not a bitch, you're a teenager, like me, and you're allowed to make mistakes."

Mike starts crying again, and it turns into sobs. His chest is racked with tears and Will moves forward, enveloping to boy in a hug.

The ravenette turns and buries his head into Will's chest, wrapping his arms around the brunette's side. Will whispers soothing words to him as he rubs Mike's back reassuringly.

"Please.." Mike whispers through his sobs. "Make it stop.."

Will frowns. "Make what stop?" He questions, but the boy was already unconscious. Will gently took the cigarette out of Mike's fingers and pressed the burning end to the ground, putting it out. He sighed and ran a finger through Mike's hair.

The door behind him opened again, and a teacher saw them.

"Excuse me, what is going on here?" They say, glaring. But their eyes soften when they see Mike's tear stained face and Will's sad expression. "What's wrong?"

Will bites his lip. He had a few theories. "My friend here has been struggling," He says.

"I can see that," The teacher says. "Do you know why?" Will shakes his head. "Well, what we can do right now is bring him to the nurse. We can call his parents, or when he wakes up he can continue to go to class."

Will stares at the teacher. "Alright.." He says.

"Mind if I ask for your names?" The teacher questions, taking out their radio.

"Will Byers, and Mike Wheeler," Will says, pointing to himself and then at Mike. The teacher nods, repeating their names on the radio as they explain the situation. Soon, a few more teachers come out and help bring Mike inside.

<^> To Be Continued

(1k words)

hmm