Byler - You're the Heart

Chapter Three

TW : HOMOPHOBIC SLURS

October 15, 1986
Hawkins High School

Mike's POV

Shit. Shit. Shit. Why the fuck would Will lie to me? Is he fucking trying to hurt my feelings on purpose or something? All that stuff he said about El needing me was all bullshit. But why. Why? I don't get it. Ugh. I can't deal with him right now.

"Hi, Mike" I look down and see Will smiling at me. I don't know what to do. I can't ask him about it right now. I'm so angry at him but for some reason I just wanna stay next to him.

"Oh, hey" I mumble while looking down. I can't look him in the eyes or he'll notice that something's wrong. "I'm going to get to class now. Bye." I run off and don't look back.

Will's POV

That was weird. Mike was ignoring me? Why? Did I do something? What if... What if he found out that I'm gay? Oh no. Shit. That's probably why he's ignoring me. He found out I'm a fairy. A fucking fairy. He probably thinks I'm a faggot. I am. I'm a fucking fag. How am I going to sit next to him in 1st period? We literally have almost every class together. I can't. I have to skip my classes with him.

3rd Person

Will runs to the boy's bathroom with tears in his eyes. He goes into one of the stalls and cries. He never wanted Mike to know. He sits there worrying about where their friendship is going to end up.

"Will?"

Will hears a voice. "Oh shit" he whispers under his breath. He thinks there is someone in the bathroom looking for him. He looks underneath the stall and sees Mike's shoes.

"Will? I know you're in there."

Will stays silent.

"Will, come on. I just want to talk."

Will sighs and opens the stall. He sees Mike staring right into his eyes. He had a weird look in his eyes. Something about that made Will feel uneasy. Mike walks toward Will and places a hand on Will's cheek. Will blushes a bit.

"Mike what are y-"

Mike covers Will's mouth with his hand. "Will, I've been waiting to tell you this for a while. The truth is...I'm in love with you. I have been for a while."

Will is in shock, but extremely happy at the same time. He moves Mike's hand off his mouth."Really?"

Mike looks at Will and bursts out laughing. "Oh my God, you really thought I was in love with you? What the fuck is wrong with you. I'm not gay and I never will be. You are disgusting for crushing on your best friend even while he was dating your sister."

Tears start pouring down Will's face. He can't believe Mike is saying such shitty things. "Mike pleas-" he gets cut off by Mike.

"I can't believe I'm best friends with a fucking fairy."

Will's tears drip down from his face rapidly. He feels like his heart shattered into a million pieces.

"Get the fuck outta
here f@ggot!"

Will runs out of the stall crying. He turns back and expects to see Mike smirking, but instead he sees Vecna. He sees vines all over the walls. He was in the upside down. He runs out of the bathroom crying with his eyes closed. He doesn't look back. He keeps running until he bumps into something.

"Will?"

Will looks up and sees Mike. He isn't one-hundred percent sure that it is the real Mike but he doesn't care. He stuffs his face into Mike's chest and cries harder. Mike wraps his arms around Will and rubs his hand on Will's back.

Mike's POV

I sit down and look at the empty seat next to me. Where's Will? What the fuck? I literally just saw him. What if.. what if it's my fault? He probably thinks I hate him because I was ignoring him. God I feel so bad about ignoring Will now. I just don't know what to say to him. I just- you know what. I don't care if he lied. He's my best friend. I will always lov- care about him no matter what. I have to find him. I raise my hand.

"Yes, Michael?"

"May I go to the restroom?"

"You may." I get up and walk out of the classroom.

I've gotta find Will. I know he didn't leave the school. He wouldn't. Where would he b- I feel someone bump into me. I turn around. "Will?" He clings onto my chest and cries. Oh no. Shit. He's crying. What have I done? I pull him into a tight hug and rub my hand across his back. I open my mouth to ask him what happened but I closed it before I could say anything. He probably doesn't want to talk right now, so I just keep holding him. I feel my heart beating fast. I don't know why. I hope he can't hear it.

☆

3rd Person

Mike went back to class and so did Will. They barely talked for the rest of the day. After school, Mike told his mom he was going to Will's house so she wouldn't need to pick him up. Mike looked around the parking lot and spotted Will. He walked over to him. "Hey, Will. Is it okay if I come over?"

"Uhm. I don't know. My mo-"

"Sure! Come in Mike!" Mike hears a voice from the car. He hops in the car and sees Joyce. Mike smiles and thanks her.

☆

Hopper's Cabin

Joyce opens the door and lets the two boys into the cabin. Mike and Will walk in and Will tilts his head towards his room signaling to the Mike that they should go to his room. "Hi Will! When are you going to teach me some things from school? Hopper doesn't do a great job of teaching." El laughs. She spots Mike. "Oh hi Mike."

"Hi El" Mike says. El looks back and forth between Will and Mike. She realizes that Mike hasn't talked to Will about the painting yet. She says bye and leaves them to talk.

They walk into Will's room and sit on his bed. For a few seconds it was pure silence. Neither of them knew what to say. Mike finally speaks out "So, are you going to tell me what happened?"

"I- it's complicated." Mike gives Will a confused look.

"Well, I've got plenty of time so you can explain it to me."

"I can't" Will looks down. "It was nothing anyway. You should just forget about it."

"What? Are you serious, Will? Forget about it? I just found my best friend crying a whole fucking river after skipping class! It definitely wasn't nothing." Will doesn't respond. "Will, please. I'm really sorry. I know it's my fault. I shouldn't have ignored you." Mike says in the 'Will Voice'. (Hehe)

"Mike..No its not you-"

"No I know it is. I need to explain why. I was angry with you because you lied to me."

"What..? I never lied to you."

"You did, Will. I know about the painting. I know it wasn't commissioned by El. I know you lied."

☆☆☆

Author's Note :
I tried. I'm pretty sure this whole story is gonna be grammatically incorrect. I'm also not good at writing emotional parts so the next chapter might be a disappointment sorry 😭 K byee