we fell in love in december~byler

one more day

Mike's P.O.V

Just one more day, Mike. Just one more day until Christmas and New Years break. I had to keep telling myself that if I was going to keep up this act any longer. I was so tired of school and homework so getting 2 weeks off was thrilling for me. Today I am biking to school with Will. We always bike to school together, since the 3rd grade. It was just our thing. I finally brought myself to get out of bed and start my morning routine. I walked across the hall to the bathroom and caught a glimpse into Nancy's room. She was ready to go and on the phone with someone. How was she always up and ready so early? I continued to the bathroom and swung open the door. It smelled of women's shampoo. I looked in the mirror and stared at my hair. Eh. It looked fine, no need to fix something that isn't broken am I right? I grabbed my toothbrush and began to scrub until I heard a loud bang on the door. "Mike! Will is outside waiting for you! Hurry up!" his mother screamed. He looked at his watch. 7:15. Woah. I did not realize how much I slept in. I was going to be late. Very late.

I sprinted out of my room almost knocking into Nancy while I was at it. "Mike! Watch what you're doing!" She shrieked. "Sorry!" I said, still running to my room. I grabbed a pair of jeans and a knitted sweater. I threw on my shoes and ran downstairs. "Don't forget a hat and gloves!" my mother reminded me. "Ughh." I groaned while slipping on a hat. I grabbed my bag and swung open the front door, revealing a shivering cold Will. His bike was old and could probably break any second but he still rode it around like it was nothing. He wore a big brown coat, a collar from the plaid shirt he was wearing under popped out. His red hat was way to big for him but I'm assuming he didn't have many other choices. He always got Jonathan's hand me downs. "Hurry up! We're going to be late!" Will yelled. I snapped out of my gaze and ran towards my bike. I hoisted myself on and we both began pedaling.

"You slept in again didn't you?" Will spoke. I looked down so he couldn't see my face which was beginning to turn bright red. "Yeah." I spoke slowly. "This is the third time this week, Mike! Do I need to come over to your house every morning just to be your personal alarm clock?" He laughed and I smiled. "I mean if you wanted." I said. "Hey just think. This is the last day and then you can sleep in as late as you want for the next two weeks." Will said with a tone of excitement in his voice. There was a long pause before he spoke up again. "So, you and El kissed last week." I looked up at him confused, "At the snowball, silly." Then I remembered. We did kiss. It was awkward and weird. I didn't even like it. Maybe I'm just too young for that kind of stuff. I must've looked upset or something because Will seemed curious. "Is everything okay between you two?" He asked. Yeah everything was going great between me and El. For now. I mean she likes me and I like her. Maybe. I don't know. I feel like we just aren't ready for dating yet. I mean if you asked El what a relationship was she probably wouldn't even know. And plus I stopped getting those butterflies I always get whenever I'm with her. I stopped smiling super bright whenever I see her. It just didn't feel right anymore. It felt forced.

"You know you can tell me anything right?" Will spoke again. He sounded worried. "Yeah, yeah I know. Do you think we could talk about this after school though?" I asked. "Of course we can." Will said and smiled at me. Will's smile was adorable. He was so pure and innocent. Like a baby sea turtle or something. Sometimes I feel like it's my job to protect this small boy. I'm like his built in body guard, according to Lucas. I was okay with that. Body guards spent a lot of time with the person they were protecting. I didn't mind spending a lot of time with Will. Especially when I get to see that adorable smile of his.

Will's P.O.V.

We arrived at Hawkins Middle School and placed our bikes in the bike rack. I looked over to see Lucas and Dustin's bikes already parked. They were probably inside since Mike took forever. "Sorry I made us late." Mike said. I looked down at my watch. "We still have 2 minutes to get to class. You're fine." I started walking and smiled. Mike smiled as well and I felt the butterflies again. Mike's smile was amazing. Scratch that. Everything about Mike was amazing. His perfect curly hair and his perfect eyes and his perfect smile. I admired it all. I know you're not supposed to think of your best friend like that but I always have. Before I went missing I admitted two things to myself. Number one: I was gay. Number two: I was in fact very much in love with Mike Wheeler. However, he was painfully straight.

We pushed open the doors and a rush of warm air hit us immediately. We both had Mr. Clarke for our first class so we walked together. "Did you eat anything?" I asked Mike. "Huh? Oh, y-yeah. I ate." He said. I could tell he was lying. I always knew when he was lying. "Don't lie, Mike. I have an orange in my backpack for you. I'll give it to you after first period." I told him. "Why do you-" He attempted to ask before I sped off into Mr. Clarke's room. He followed me in and we took our seats. Dustin in front of me, Lucas by him and Mike next to me. Then the bell rang. Just in time. Science wasn't that bad. I enjoyed Clarke's class but I found myself staring at Mike quite often. Before he could realize I would jerk my head back to the board in the front of the classroom. Until he caught me once. Just once. "What ya lookin at, Byers?" I've never looked away so fast. My face got very red. "I-I uhm, n-nothing." A smirk spread across his face. Way to make yourself look like an idiot, Will. "It's okay. I would be staring at me too if I were you." He said. Was he was trying to embarrass me? "Boys! Would you like to share with the class?" Mr. Clarke spoke loudly. As if things couldn't get any worse. "No, sorry. It won't happen again." Mike said. I hope not. That was so embarrassing.

We finished science and the four of us walked out together. "Why were you guys so late?" Dustin asked. "Mike slept in again." I said. "Mike seriously man. That's like the third time this week!" Lucas said. "That's what I said!" I laughed. "Oh whatever you guys. You know you love me." And he gave me a slight punch on the arm. "Stop flirting, Mike. You're supposed to be in love with El. Not Will." Dustin said sarcastically, a smirk on his face. My eyes went wide. Mikes cheeks went red. "Omg! He does like Will! Look at his red face! He's not even denying it! Awwww." Lucas said. "I ship it!" Dustin said with excitement. "Oh shut up." Mike said, a little bit of embarrassment in his voice. "Okay well me and Dustin have to go to algebra. You two keep it p.g in history, alright?" Mike ignored Lucas and walked away. "By the way, you still never denied it!" Lucas said. Now he was just trying to make Mike angry. I ran up next to Mike and pulled out the orange. "Here ya go." I said and he stopped and looked down at me. How was he so much taller? I looked up into his eyes. He grabbed the orange out of my hand, not breaking eye contact and smiled. "Thank you." He said.

The rest of the day was pretty boring. Same old, same old. Then I met Mike, Lucas and Dustin outside when I was getting my bike. "You know I was just joking about you and Will right?" Lucas asked. "Yeah we know you don't like Will. We were just messing around." Dustin joined in. "It's fine." Mike paused, "Do you guys want to come over to my place? Maybe we could have a sleepover! You know, to celebrate getting off school. If you guys want to." Mike seemed pretty excited. I nodded. "Can't. I'm going to my aunts house and staying for a couple days." Dustin said. "I can't either. My mom and dad are on a business trip for the weekend and I have to watch Erica. Sorry man." Mike looked disappointed. "I'll come over. My mom is at work and Jonathan is, well, probably with your sister. I don't think they will mind." I said hoping it would make Mike feel better. We said goodbye to Lucas and Dustin and rode off to his house.