𝘾𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙧𝙮 𝘽𝙤𝙢𝙗―𝐌𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐫 𝐱 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫

9

When [Y/N] was ready for the carnival, she went over to the Wheeler house and knocked on the door. Karen answered with a raised eyebrow. Why was this fourteen year old at her door at 4 o'clock?

"Hi, [Y/N]. What are you doing here? Are you here to see-."

"Mom! Just let [Y/N] in. She's here for Mike. She's his date to the Back to School carnival."

"Thanks, Nancy. For that little bit of information that didn't need to be shared." [Y/N] muttered.

Karen Wheeler turned towards the [H/C] haired female. "Since when?"

"Uh, Thursday. Can I come in? It's kinda getting snippy out here." [Y/N] asked.

"Yes, absolutely. I guess that explains why you're dressed like that." Karen nodded to her as [Y/N] walked into the Wheeler house.

[Y/N] looked down at her attire and looked back up at the woman and tilted her head slightly to the side. "What do you mean?"

"Nothing. Mike's upstairs in his room. Probably playing with legos." Karen told her.

[Y/N] nodded and walked up the stairs to Mike's room where she heard him hum along to the Peter Pan soundtrack as a word or two slipped out of his mouth. She opened the door to see him, indeed, playing with Legos. Specifically building a house.

"I didn't know you liked the Peter Pan soundtrack." [Y/N] commented, startling him in the process.

"Well, I guess your insistent love of all things Disney may or may not have rubbed off onto me at somepoint." he told her.

"You ready to go?" she adked him.

"Yes, we're just waiting on Jonathon to get here." Mike told her.

"Jonathon? He's coming with us? And Will?" she asked a string of uncertainty laced in her voice as she sat down.

"Just to get there. He'll leave us when we do and he'll go and find the others. Who are probably being sat on by Steve and Robin." Mike commented placing a lego door in an opening.

"Robin?"

"Oh, right. I forgot. You haven't met her yet. She's Steve lesbian friend. And yes, I'm talking about Steve Harrington. He's not so much an ass now." Mike explained. "Oh, right. Sorry. You miss a lot when we don't include you in on anything, huh? Sorry. That's my fault entirely."

"I know. I know. Since I've gotten back, everyone has been saying sorry. And how they all agree it was your... fault." Drat. She couldn't stop it from coming out.

Mike turned towards her. "It is my fault. I don't blame them for telling you. Although I'm a tad-."

"Salty?" [Y/N] saw the look on her face. "Slang in future meaning upset or not okay with this. I think. Not entirely sure myself."

"Anyways, I'm a tad irritated they all agree, but it's true. I begged sll of them not to tell you. You were the first person Will wanted to know. Honest. But I didn't want you caught up in all of it. Caught up in the danger that we all faced. I couldn't bear to see you hurt." Mike told her.

"I understand. No matter how much I wanted you there with me. In Weirdmeggaden, I was relieved that you weren't. So you wouldn't see what I did. Experience what I had to do to survive. Known of the things I had to do. To get out. And as I was being... altered, I was relieved that you weren't there. To experience the same pain and hardship I did. And it was the thought that my friends who cared about me were on the other side of the wall. Waiting for me. It didn't matter to me then that you lied to me. And it doesn't matter to me now, Mike." she took his hand in hers and smiled at him.

"Oh fuck it!" And he grabbed her face and kissed her.