"Can't believe the old man bagged ya, that's total shit."
Mike turned to T.J. shaking his head in agreement. "Yeah, but get this, he's forcing me to become a library aide and as if that isn't bad enough, he wants me to join that loser tree huggers club."
Stacks brought a case of beers over as he sat down in the chair on the back porch. "So he's making you read books and shit?" he asked as he opened up a can.
Amanda rolled her eyes, as she pushed the butt of her cigarette in the ash tray. "No idiot, a library aid helps stock shelves and organize or somethin like that, My cousin was one awhile back, so that's how I know."
"Damn, that sucks man." Stacks then handed Mike a can of beer. "Here, I think you need this more than any of us."
He popped the tab open and took a big gulp before placing it down. "You guys better not leave me hangin though, or I swear I won't last long."
"No worries Wheels, we'll come by and visit you at the little library." Stacks laughed "Say, you think they got some playboy we can check out?" He playfully slapped Mike on the back.
"Hell, if they carried playboy I'd be there all the time." T.J. joined in, laughing along.
Mike sighed to himself and took another sip of beer as he stared off into the cool night.
Amanda noticed his unusual demeanor and took the seat next to him, placing a comforting hand on his arm. "Hey, it'll be okay."
"Yeah, Wheeler, It'll be okay." T.J. interrupted, chugging down the rest of his can. "We're just messin with ya, we won't let you go through this hell alone, right Stacks?" He asked, looking at his stocky friend for confirmation.
"Right, we got your back man, don't stress so much."
A small smile of relief inched it's way on Mike's face. "Appreciate it." .
"I gotta get going though." TJ said, glancing down at his watch. "But this lame ass punishment better not prevent you from showing up to our party next weekend, It's gonna be wild."
"I'll make it." Mike reassured him. "Plus, someone's gotta be there to make sure you don't smoke all the weed up in one night." He chuckled.
"Shut up, that was one time."
"Man you were so damn high, you were hallucinating." Stacks added, unable to control his laughter.
"No, don't let them come for me! Don't let the aliens come for me!" Amanda mocked with exaggerated hand motions.
"You all are a bunch of assholes." T.J. mentioned, a slow smile appearing as he recalled the memory. "I'll see you around though" He waved. "oh and have fun at your first day of torture." he said, shooting Mike a teasing grin.
"Wait, hold on, let me catch a ride!" Stacks yelled out, almost forgetting how late it was. "Later Wheels, Later Mands." He rushed nodding at the two, before running off.
Amanda watched as the car drove away and turned back around, biting her lip. "So, looks like it's just us."
Mike crushed his empty beer can and got up to toss it. "Yeah, well.. I probably should get going too."
"Or... you could stay? You know, my parents aren't home." Amanda flirted, preventing him from leaving by standing in front of him.
"Amanda..."
"You know you want to." The blonde whispered in his ear, as she snaked her arms around him.
Mike uneasily shifted. "No, i don't think-."
She cut him off as she crashed her lips onto his.
He quickly jerked away. "Amanda, stop it!" He shouted. He then saw the frightened expression on her face and he immediately felt guilty for raising his voice. "Come on, just chill okay?"
"But-"
"No buts. We're not together anymore, we broke up alright? that's it, plain and simple."
Amanda huffed in annoyance, swiftly turning away, her blonde hair whipping behind her. She then marched inside her house and roughly slammed the back door.
Since today was a Friday afternoon, the school library was practically empty. Everyone had gone home to enjoy the weekend break aside from only a handful of students who were mainly there to finish last minute projects and assignments.
Mike placed book after book on the top shelf, blocking the world around him with his headphones on as he jammed along to his cassette player.
He couldn't help but notice the strange girl from the opening on the top of the books. She was sitting at one of the tables by herself with a book in her hand and he'd realized she had been there since he first arrived two hours ago. He scoffed to himself at the idea of someone spending their Friday reading.
He rolled the cart along to the other shelves.
"Excuse me."
Mike saw her approach him but he ignored her by turning up his music, hoping she'd eventually leave him alone.
He thought she was cute but definitely not his type. She had slightly wavy brunette hair that she kept in a ponytail and she had to be one of the few girls at his school not to care about makeup. He thought her prude for her sweater and long dress combination.
"Excuse me!" She voiced louder, tapping him on the shoulder.
He rolled his eyes, turning the volume down and taking the headphones off by placing them around his neck. "Ugh, what do you want?"
"I'm ready to check out these books." She answered with a smile, unphased by his obvious irritation with her.
"Okay? Go check em out then." He retorted, waving her off and putting his headphones back on.
"But the librarian's not there."
He looked over to the checkout desk and groaned when he saw she was right.
"Damn, what's with all the books?" Mike complained as he stamped them individually.
She had definitely seen this boy around before, he would often hang out with the other popular kids, making fun of geeks and unsuspecting teachers, or getting into some kind of trouble. This was the first time she was close enough to observe him though.
He was thin but toned and he towered over her, she estimated he was at least six feet. He sported short messy black hair and there was a smattering of freckles over his nose and cheeks. His vintage denim jacket and attitude were proof enough that they were from two very different worlds.
"Well, I love reading."
"I see that." He muttered, not bothering to even look at her as he hurried to finish up.
"So you must be Mike?" she asked, taking notice of his name tag.
She brushed off the fact that he ignored her and continued. "I'm Elle, I recently moved to Hawkins around two months ago, and so far I really like it here."
He remained quiet, uninterested in making conversation.
"I still don't know much about the area though, so what do you like to do for fun?"
Mike looked up at her unsure of why she was still talking to him. "Is this your idea of small talk or something?"
Elle's smile faded. "Just trying to be friendly is all."
"I already have friends, I really don't need anymore but thanks." He sarcastically replied, stamping her last book.
She placed down her half eaten sandwich and wiped off her mouth with a napkin. "So, what do you know about Mike?"
"Mike, who?"
She glanced towards the other side of the cafeteria where Mike was sitting at what was considered "the cool table" laughing at something his friends were saying.
Will choked on his juice. "Mike Wheeler?"
He was small for his age and he had shaggy light brown hair that sometimes got in his eyes. He was Elle's first friend at Hawkins High and they had gotten along instantly which had surprised everyone because Will had always been the quiet type. However, Elle quickly bonded with Will's other friends too and now all four of them shared the same lunch table.
"What do you wanna know about him for?" Lucas asked, overhearing their conversation.
Lucas was tall and fit. He had been asked a couple times to join the basketball team but it was too bad that he hated sports. He was the most level headed of their little group, not easily trusting of anyone until he got to know them. He had become kind of like a leader and was definitely a big brother type towards Elle.
"Because he's the new library aide, I saw him last Friday when I was checking out my books."
Dustin startled her by busting out into laughter "You've gotta be kidding me right? Mike a library aide, now that I gotta see!"
He was a husky teen with a curly mop of unruly hair, by the way he acted you would never guess he was eighteen, the only thing that gave away his age was his patchy facial hair. He was definitely the goofball of the group yet the most understanding, becoming the glue that held his friends together when Mike had left them back in middle school.
"I heard he started the fire in the biology lab so the principal's making him do charity work." Will whispered, as though was revealing some sort of secret.
Lucas exhaled sharply. "I'm not even surprised, the kid's a complete douchebag."
Even though he wouldn't admit it, Lucas was the most affected when Mike left them behind to explore new found popularity. They had been best friends since the fourth grade and every time he thought of what happened between them, it stung all over again.
1985-
"So, you comin over for D&D tonight?"
Mike shoved his textbooks into his locker. "I don't know, I'm kinda busy today."
"Busy with what?" Lucas asked, furrowing his eyebrows.
He shrugged. "With stuff."
Ever since Mike's dad had left he had become more distant, he didn't really confide in Lucas or the other boys as much as he used to and he started keeping a lot of secrets.
The boys had found out some of his secrets though like the time they had found a cigarette in his basement or the time Dustin had caught Mike sneaking out late at night.
But every time they'd confront him about it he would make up excuses or avoid it all together, but they decided to disregard it, because they knew he was having a hard time coping.
"What kinda stuff?"
"Nothing important." Mike brushed off, closing his locker.
"Jennifer Hayes type stuff?" Lucas inquired, not letting this topic rest.
As Mike grew older, he was also growing more into his looks and many girls soon began to take notice, especially Jennifer Hayes. Jennifer was a preppy popular who all the girls wanted to be and all the boys wanted to date. Rumor had it though, that her and Mike were a ticket item, even though he neither confirmed nor denied it.
"Dude, it's not a big deal, so just drop it."
Lucas frowned. "You haven't hung out in the last two weeks because of "stuff." What's your deal?"
"You know what my deal is, Lucas? Maybe I just don't want to play that dumb ass nerd game any more okay?" Mike snapped. "Maybe I wanna do other things for once and hang out with other people, is that so bad?"
The ebony boy shook his head in disbelief. "Do you even hear yourself right now? You're the one who introduced us to that "dumb ass nerd game." He air quoted. "Wake up and quit trying to be someone you're not."
A small crowd of students began huddling around the two as the drama began to intensify.
"Shut up, You don't know anything about me!"
"You're right, I don't know anything about you any more, actually.. I don't even know who you are any more!"
"Whatever man, just leave me the hell alone."
"Look, I know your dad was an asshole but it doesn't mean you have to be just like him!" Lucas's tongue slipped in blind anger.
The onlookers mouths dropped in shock and soon a string of "ooohs" followed.
Mike's blood began to boil. "FUCK YOU LUCAS" He raged, clenching a closed fist.
Lucas matched Mike's glare. "What are you gonna do? Hit me? I dare you!"
The crowd grew hype and began chanting "Fight" over and over.
Mike wound his fist back tightly but instead, punched the locker hard before he shoved Lucas out of the way and walked off.
"It sucks how quick people can change, he actually used to be a good friend of ours." Dustin admitted, as he finished unwrapping a twinkie that he'd been saving.
Dustin wasn't bitter with Mike like Lucas was but there was no question that it still bothered him. Honestly, if it wasn't for Dustin they would've all gone their separate ways in highschool but he had urged them to stay together and despite what Mike had done, to keep their promise they had made to one another.
Elle's eyebrows raised in surprise as she tried to piece that story together.
Dustin faintly smiled at the expression on her face. "I know, crazy right? But believe it or not.. once upon a time Mike wasn't all that. He was as nerdy as the rest of us."
Elle pursed her lips together, still very much confused. "So what happened?"
"He had some family issues and he didn't handle it too well." Will answered, a hint of sadness in his voice. He had been really hurt by Mike's decision but tried his best to empathize with his friend. It took awhile for him to adjust without him though. Mike had always been the one to look after him and always the one to make sure that he felt included.
Elle hesitated for a moment. "Oh I see." she said before slowly nodded in understanding. "Well there's still hope for him."
Dustin shook his head in amusement. "I swear you think there's hope for everyone."
"There is!"
Lucas turned to her with a hardened expression. "Yeah, everyone but Michael Wheeler."