Chapter 3

Since his little incident in the bathroom, Mike was a hot mess, physically and emotionally. When Mike and Will sat down for their dinner, Mike was sweating profusely through his shirt. Will pretended not to notice, although he had a feeling of what Mike was up to. When they got back to Mike's house and settled in the basement, Mike took his shirt off, blaming the summer heat. Again, Will gave Mike the one-word response, "Ok" and went back to watching the movie. Mike didn't need to know that Will's excitement was about to get the best of him. That's what pillows are for, Will smirked to himself. When the movie ended, and it was time for bed, Will took his place on the couch. He usually slept next to Mike, on the floor. However, since they were interrupted by El a few weeks ago, Will began sleeping on Mike's couch. It was also part 14 of "Operation Steal Mike from El" and it was working. Mike was indirect, but firm, on why Will should sleep on the floor with him. Will would always give him short excuses, such as "My back hurts" or "You kick in your sleep", which Mike argues he doesn't (spoiler alert: he does).

One Friday night, Jonathan picked him up, after his date with Nancy. When Will went home with Jonathan (part 6 of his plan), Mike would drop hints on why Will should stay over. Will refused, stating he was tired, and went home with Jonathan. When Will got home and entered his bedroom, Mike was calling him on the Supercom….as soon as he walked in the door. Will wondered how long Mike was calling him, before he got home. Part 6: success.

Will was leaving for college in a few days, before Mike. He was packing up his belongings, when he found pictures of him and Mike from the summer before they entered 3rd grade. They were at a day camp and had paint all over their clothes and faces. And Mike's the one that doesn't want to roll around in paint, Will chuckled. He couldn't get Mike out of his head. Will knew Mike would want to keep these photos with him, when he went to Clemson. Besides, he had been playing hard to get for weeks and one night with his guard down would be ok. Will placed the photos in his back pocket, got on his bike and pedaled to Mike's house.

When he got to Mike's house, he saw the amber glow of the basement lights. When he pulled his bike up the basement door, he heard a strange noise. He looked over and saw El's old pickup truck, the one Hopper bought for El, when she got her driver's license. Then he put two and two together…and his heart dropped.

Will didn't want to be a Peeping Tom, but he peered through the basement window. What he saw made his throat dry. El and Mike were on the couch, the same couch that Will slept on, tangled together in passion. Half of their clothes on the floor, limbs flying all over each other, gasps of pleasure coming from the couple. Will's worst fear came true: El had caved to Mike's sexual pleas. Of course she would, Will seethed in anger, he's moving away and she thinks now is the right time. Will couldn't take it anymore. He dropped the photos on the step and pedaled away, at lightning speed. Thank God he was leaving in a few days. Will's heart couldn't stand being in Hawkins any longer.

Meanwhile, back in Mike's basement, things were getting heated…extremely heated. El had come over, stating she was ready to commit to Mike's sexual needs, and practically threw herself upon Mike. Pretty soon, Mike was on top of El, hands roaming and hips bucking against each other. Mike literally ripped her shirt open, while El removed his with ease. Mike began to devour her neck, leaving small red marks in his path.

"Please Mike," El moaned, "I'm ready. I'm finally ready. Have your way with me!"

Mike continued to grind all over El, as if his life depended on it. This is it, Mike thought. At long last, they were finally going to have sex.

Suddenly, out of nowhere, a feeling of guilt overcame him. He wasn't quite sure where it came from, but he had a general idea and it didn't feel good. As she reached for his belt, Mike quickly sat up and stared at El. El looked confused. Why did Mike abruptly stop?

"Mike?" El's face expressed concern, "what's wrong?"

Mike stared at her, then around the room. He was panting so hard, he felt like he could have a heart attack at any moment. He looked back down at her, as the guilt in his chest continued to grow.

"El," he panted, "I think you should leave."

"Wait…WHAT?" she shouted.

"You need to leave. I-I can't do this. Not right now. You…you were right, we're not ready."

"Are you serious, Mike?! You have been begging to fuck me for months. So why, all of sudden, a week before you leave and I literally throw myself at you….you say we're not ready?"

"Me being serious? Really El? All this time, you have denied me entry to happy town, and now you feel this is the perfect opportunity to say you are ready. What is this about Jane?"

"What do mean? What's up with you, Michael?

"I asked you first", Mike crossed his arms over his bare chest. His heart still beating like crazy.

El sighed and wrapped a blanket around her chest. A few tears came streaming down her face. Those few tears then led to a waterfall and emotion and melted mascara. "I-I," she croaked, "I d-don't want to lose you."

Mike stood there frozen, continuing to stare at El. He didn't really think about the aftermath of what would happen while Mike was out of state. Would they break up? Would she find someone else? Would they stay together, get married, buy a two-story home with rose bushes, and live happily ever after?

El's plans were different from the party members. She enrolled part time at a community college, to focus solely on general education classes. Once she completed her Gen Ed requirements, she would decide if she would transfer to a university or work for Hopper. Hopper was cool with whatever decision she made. He wanted her to live a full and happy life.

"El," Mike sat down next to El on the couch, and placed his arm around her shoulders, "stop worrying about the future. Just because I don't want to have sex right now, doesn't mean you are going to lose me."

"Really?" she cried.

"Really. I love you, El. I'm sorry I pressured you this whole time. I don't want you to think you have to have sex with me, only because I'm leaving. I want you to be ready when the moment is right. When we're both ready."

El nodded and hugged Mike tightly. The guilt still lingered in his chest. Although what he told El was true, it wasn't the whole truth.

Mike walked El to her truck and kissed her goodnight. As El drove away, Mike looked down and noticed the discarded photos. He picked them up and smiled into a small laugh. The photos of him and Will, looking happy and goofy with their paint-covered clothes and toothy grins, made Mike's heart swell. The memories of spending his summers with Will flooded his head and soon enough, he was staring into space, grinning like the younger Mike in the photo.

Then, Mike snapped back into reality. Wait a minute, Mike thought, how did these photos get here? These belong to Will. He then noticed the blinds to the basement window were slightly open.

"Oh, shit!" Mike ran back inside, grabbed his car keys, literally leaped into the driver's seat, and sped off to Will's house.

Many questions raced through Mike's head. When did Will stop by? Did he see anything? If so, how much did he see? Why did he bring the camp photos? Realization hit Mike, like a boulder from the quarry. Will was leaving for Indiana this week, and it may be a while before they see each other in person. Of course, they would keep in touch by phone, but it wasn't like they could drive or bike over to one's house in ten minutes, as they soon would be states apart. Mike came to realize that he was not ready to leave Will behind. What if Will's transfer request doesn't happen right away…or worse, what if it doesn't happen at all? Would Mike be ready to carry on their friendship by phone conversations and occasional snail mail, then only to see each other on holidays and summer break? What if Will meets someone and chooses to move on? Would Mike be prepared to accept and welcome Will's new boyfriend?

As he was approaching Will's driveway, another thought popped into his mess of a head. Another question that scared the hell out of him:

Why didn't he have these concerns about leaving El behind?

Not once did he worry about leaving El. Not once did he grow jealous of the thought of El with someone else. Maybe it was because he knew she wouldn't leave him, that she would always wait for him. It was like his relationship with El was more convenient and flexible. They were each other's first love and Mike never once thought about their relationship coming to an end. Until now.

Did he truly still love El, or are they still together for convenience? He wouldn't have to worry about being alone later in life. Their friends and families all knew Mike and El would eventually get married and grow old together. But was that what Mike wanted? Does he still want to be with El? As he pulled into the driveway, he came to his truth…his bottled-up truth.

Mike was still in love with El, but he also had romantic feelings for his longtime best friend: Will Byers.

Mike raced to the front door, leaving his car door wide open, with the keys still in the ignition. He knocked frantically, calling out for Will. He looked in the window and saw all the lights were off. Mike then noticed a soft light, coming from Will's window. He ran off the porch to Will's window and banged on it with flat hands.

The loud bangs startled Will out of bed. He looked over and noticed a panic-stricken Mike. What the heck? Will looked shocked. Is this really happening? Will walked to his window and slid it open.

"Mike!", Will whispered loudly, "what are you doing here?"

Mike swallowed hard and handed Will the photos. "Were you at my house about an hour ago?"

Will turned pale, as he noticed the photos. Uh-oh….

"I-I…," Will stammered.

"WILL!" Mike yelled, "WERE YOU AT MY HOUSE?"

"Go ahead, Mike! Yell and scream! Mom and Jonathan are not home tonight!"

"What did you see?" Mike tried to control his breathing.

"Mike-"

"What…. did…. you…see?" Mike said slowly.

Will took a deep breath…this was it.

"I saw you and El," Will answered, "having sex."

Mike froze in place. He thinks we hooked up, Mike thought. Mike suddenly felt guilty again. It was the same feeling of guilt he had, when he was with El in the basement. Will deserved to know the truth.

"We didn't make it that far. We didn't have sex. I asked her to leave."

Will looked shocked. Did Mike say what he think he just said? El wanted to have sex and Mike refused. Will's heart swelled and filled his chest. For once, Will felt he may have a chance with Mike. It has to be now, Will decided. If I don't do this, it will never happen.

"Say that again, Mike." Will gave a sly smile. Mike looked at Will confused.

"I-I said," Mike continued, "we didn't hook-" Before Mike could finish his sentence, Will leaned out his window, grabbed Mike by the neck, and pulled him in for a kiss. Mike was still at first, but then kissed Will back. It lasted for a few seconds, when Will pulled away, leaving Mike stunned and speechless.

"Will….I…", Mike stuttered.

Will gave a soft stare but didn't flirt back. "Goodnight Mike". Will then closed his window, and pulled the curtains together, leaving Mike outside, frozen in place.

Mike stood outside Will's window and did not move for an hour.