March 20, 1987
Since receiving his $1000 prize from the regional arcade tournament Will Byers has been happier. He's seen himself as able to do something. He's worth something. Not just a deaf kid who hangs on in a world that doesn't or can't listen. It's been a road through hell with his family. Jonathan and his Mom working to pay for the house. Will's prize money would cover those house payments for three to four months.
Joyce and Jonathan worked hard to reward Will with a great birthday. With Mike, Lucas and Max's help they had started to set everything in motion. Will had never had a big party so they wanted to make the party he did have feel so special. It meant the world to everyone that was helping. Will had no idea. As they set things up in Mike's basement, Joyce really wondered about Mike and Will's future together.
Joyce watched how much Mike tried to make things absolutely perfect for her son. Did Will know how much Mike cared for him? Joyce turned back to her collage of pictures of Will and his friends. The centerpiece being Will and Mike at six playing legos in Will's room.
Mike and Will were back at the Byers' house reading D&D books and Will was drawing art for the new campaign Mike was designing. They could work almost wordlessly together. Mike appreciated the added focus and the lack of distractions. Though he kept the details and quest design secret, Mike asked Will to draw key creatures he could pull out for certain story beats.
Will was all focus, occasionally stopping to ask for Mike's approval. Mike's concentration snapped when a car pulled up outside. He looked at his watch. No one should be back yet. There were two more hours for everyone to work. He got up to go check out the window and then turned back to find Will. He forced himself to be composed. Lonnie was waiting outside.
Will realized Mike's absence suddenly and got up to see his best friend looking tensely out the window.
"What is it?" Will asked
"Will, just sit back down, it's fine." Mike tried to sound even.
Mike knew he'd only made things worse when Will's expression hardened and he made his way to the window. It was only two beats of time before Will stepped back in fear and panic froze his body.
"Will, you're okay." Mike was trying to reassure them both.
Even though they expected it, the bang on the door caused both boys to jump. Mike watched as Will went to the kitchen. At first, Mike thought he might be getting a knife but the scrape of something heavier sounded. Will had an aluminum bat.
'Will what are you doing?' Mike signed.
He didn't want Lonnie to hear them inside. Mike saw Will's face turn into something that looked like fury. Mike never remembered that flashing across Will's face ever before. Mike realized Will was going to confront Lonnie. Before he could protest Will ripped open the door.
"Will, I didn't think anyone was home." Lonnie said seeming non-plussed.
"You need to go." Will said in a tone that sounded like a growl.
"Now don't be like that to your old man." Lonnie said.
The tinge to his words and a sudden waft of his breath, both boys knew Lonnie was just outside being drunk.
"You heard him Mr. Byers. It's time for you to go." Mike said sharply.
"The Wheeler Boy, stay out of this you little faggot." Lonnie shot and for a moment Mike froze in place.
Will was frozen too and then suddenly Lonnie reached for the bat in Will's hand. Knowing how much danger they'd be in if Lonnie got the bat, Mike went to grab Lonnie. When he did the man shoved him off with ease and the whip of Mike's head as he fell back caused him to see stars.
Mike heard what he assumed was Will scream and then there was struggling. Mike forced himself to get to his feet while clearing the cobwebs from his head. He saw Will pinned under his dad who looked to be trying to choke him.
"You shouldn't fight, you're not built for that you fairy boy." Lonnie spat. Will squirmed and growled angrily.
Mike grabbed the bat off the porch and swung at Lonnie's back as hard as he could. Lonnie threw himself off Will and rolled onto his back to protect it. Mike anticipated another attack so as soon as Lonnie landed and rolled over, Mike brought the bat down into the man's abdomen. He heard Lonnie cough and then Mike drew back the bat and hit Lonnie in his side just under the ribs. Lonnie was struggling to breathe.
Will had gotten himself up during Mike's retaliation and grabbed his best friend's wrist.
"Let's go inside." Will said.
Mike looked at Will, a deep scratch on the side the boy's neck. He looked back down at Lonnie writhing on the ground.
"If you come back here again, I'll kill you!" Mike shouted.
The two boys went inside and Mike went right to the phone to call Chief Hopper. Next he called over to his house. Now it was just a question of what help would arrive first. Thankfully it was Hopper. Mike didn't have time to worry about that though as he was helping clean and patch Will's neck wound.
"Lonnie, what the hell do you think you're doing out here?" Hopper asked firmly pulling the obviously injured man to his feet.
Lonnie could only reply with labored breaths and groans. Hopper loaded Lonnie into his truck and went to go check on the boys.
"Are you both o-" Hopper started and then saw Mike dressing the wound on Will's neck. "Here kid, I got that." Mike pulled back to give him enough room to look over Will. "Actually, you didn't do a bad job here. Just need a bit more security."
Mike watched as Hopper made the bandage stronger and felt bad he hadn't done better himself. Will looked distant and shocked. He hadn't said or signed a word since Mike had sat him down. His eyes were nearly vacant and wet.
"Does that feel okay kid? Will?" Hopper coaxed.
He placed a hand on Will's shoulder but the boy didn't seem to come out of it.
"I'll stay with him. Please get his dad away from here." Mike said flatly.
He was kneeling in front of Will, trying to catch his eyes. Mike knew how bad Will's father had treated him but seeing Will shell shocked like this, it had reminded him of why he didn't shout or make sudden loud noises. Despite Will's deafness, he always reacted to those things. Mike wondered what horrors would cause someone to be on edge that badly. Then he remembered finding Will in the woods. He didn't want to know.
Instead of talking, Mike hugged Will firmly. It took several seconds but Mike finally felt Will slowly start to return it. After a short time, Mike sat beside Will on the couch in silence. They both became wrapped up in the silence and had missed the sounds of shoes on the porch before the door burst open.
Joyce and Jonathan came through the door first followed closely by Max and Lucas. Jonathan was the one who immediately came over to check on Will and Mike.
"Are you two alright?" Jonathan asked looking clearly panicked.
"Yeah. My head hurts a little, Will got scratched bad, but I cleaned bandaged it." Mike answered.
"Will?" Jonathan called softly while also signing.
"Why was he here in the first place?" Joyce asked from behind the couch.
"He didn't even say. Will went out and told him to leave and then things just kinda happened." Mike stated
'Didn't want him to break in.' Will signed suddenly. 'Made a mistake. Mike hurt.'
"No, Will, I'm okay really." Mike tried to counter.
'He hurt. Dad hurt Mike.' Will's body language showed he was stuck in a mental loop.
"Will." Mike drew Will into a side hug. Lucas came and sat on the couch with his friends, offering silent support.
Max was behind them and couldn't really think of much to offer. She got lost in watching Mike slowly stroke the side of Will's face absently.
"I didn't realize you two were that close." Max said out loud without realizing it.
Lucas shot up defensively and without a word grabbed Max by the arm and took her outside. It was so sudden that it took both of them a second to realize he'd even done it.
"What the hell, Lucas?!" Max whispered sharply
"Max, you can't say things like that. Not to them and especially not now." Lucas' voice sounded more pained than mad.
"What?" Max's face showed her confusion and Lucas blew out a breath.
"Those two have been bullied since I've known them for how close they are. It doesn't help that Will is deaf and already gets picked on. You have no idea how bad it's been for either of them. You can't just say that even if you're curious. Okay? Please, this is just them and you need to let it be."
"I didn't know any of that Lucas. I wasn't trying to-I didn't even realize I said that out loud." Max said defensively.
"That's why I brought you out here to talk okay? I know you didn't know, but I thought you already knew about how close they were." Lucas' face dropped. "Of all the times for Will's dad to do this shit."
"What? Why?" Max tried to search Lucas' expression for answers.
"Will's dad, he used to beat him. I don't know how bad, but it was bad enough that three years ago Will ran away and hid in the woods for two days alone. We found him huddled in the rain, he was shivering and scared but he wouldn't go home."
Max stopped Lucas with a hug when she saw tears forming in his eyes.
"Hey, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. It's okay. Really." Max whispered.
She felt awful, but she also felt as if she'd been fully let into the group now.
"I always tried to protect them, I did my best." Lucas let out a sob.
"I know. I know you Lucas. Of course you did. Shhhhh."
"But I wasn't here. I wasn't here."
"You can't be everywhere."
"The last time something like this happened, I missed it then too."
Max stayed quiet suspecting Lucas needed to talk through something.
"Mike was sick one day a couple years ago and so I was supposed to make sure Will was okay. I wasn't-I didn't-between classes he went to his locker alone. I didn't-I didn't see them coming until it was too late. A kid came up behind Will and clapped his hands hard over Will's ears. Will dropped. I don't even know if Will registered what happened to him. When I ran to help he had blood running down one of his ears. He had to go to the hospital. He needed me and I let him down. Nobody said anything, but I know Mike hasn't forgiven me."
"How do you know that? It'd be strange for you to still be their friend if he didn't, wouldn't it?" Max searched Lucas who refused to make eye contact.
"I don't know Max. I'm sorry." Lucas clutched her in a hug.
She shushed him and returned the hug. Lucas. Loyal to a fault and cute as a fluffy puppy. Max was glad she never listened to Billy about anything, but especially this one thing. Lucas and Max headed home as it got close to evening.
Mike stayed over because of the party stuff at his place. Will was still mostly unfocused. He had taken a chair over to the window. He sat with his bat resting in-between his legs. Will refused to move. He acted like he couldn't hear anyone. Mike was the only one who didn't try to get Will to leave the window. He knew exactly why Will needed to do this. Mike also knew why Will had preempted Lonnie's aggression. Will was not going to be terrorized again.
As Jonathan cleared the table he saw a poster board with Newspaper articles pasted onto it. There was one headline that read;
'DEAF ARCADE WHIZ DOMINATES AT REGIONAL TOURNAMENT'
Another read;
'DEAF ARCADE PLAYER FACED PROTEST FROM FINALS OPPONENT SAYS "I'LL BEAT THEM EASY"'
The last read;
'WILL BYERS READY TO TAKE ON NATIONAL ARCADE SCENE DESPITE HEARING IMPAIRMENT'
Jonathan cursed and lifted the board to show his mother.
"I know why Lonnie was here." He said.
He pointed at the third article. Prominent in the subheading was the now $15,000 first prize.
"Of course he would. Of course. OF COURSE! OF COURSE!" Joyce couldn't contain her anger even though she knew it might frighten Will.
Both Mike and Will jumped but Mike recovered quickly and covered Will's hand in reassurance.
Will refused to leave the window even to eat. Joyce brought over a TV tray and put his food on it. Will ignored it. Mike ate to be polite but never left Will's side. It wasn't until Hopper came back from booking Lonnie that Will relented.
'Will, he won't get out for at least three days. A judge has to arraign him. At the earliest that's the 23rd. Get some sleep. I'll be here and I have a gun. Okay?' Hopper signed okay but Mike translated to correct any errors.
After both boys went to Will's room, Hopper went to comfort Joyce. She was trying to hold everything in and Hopper barely put his arms out before she fell against him.
"Of all the times. Right before his birthday. I-Jim-will he really be locked up for a while?" Joyce breathed in a whisper.
"Until the judge can see him and set a bail amount, he's in there. You don't need to worry. Did you file a restraining order?" Hopper asked in an official tone.
"I didn't think-he hasn't bothered us since the divorce." Joyce defended.
"Then it's time to take care of that. I'll take you down to the station in the morning and you can fill out the request. It will need to be granted. You'll need some evidence that he's a possible danger to you or your family." Hopper advised.
"Are you kidding? Did I tell you Lonnie is the reason Will is deaf? He-he was trying to make Will be quiet during a tv show and he hit him in the head and it somehow damaged Will's hearing. He was just three at the time. I wasn't even home and Jonathan couldn't explain because he was scared. I didn't even realize something was wrong until I couldn't wake Will in the mornings for almost a week."
Joyce tightened her grip on Hopper.
"I couldn't even leave him at that point. I'm surprised Will doesn't hate me. I'm such a bad mother."
"Joyce, you're human with your own flaws, fears and faults, but you are not a bad mother."
Mike was glad he insisted Will go to sleep and helped take out his hearing-aids. He didn't need to hear his mom talk about Lonnie. Least of all Lonnie making him deaf. Did Will even know that? Should he know that? Mike was so angry he wished he'd killed that man now.
Mike looked down at Will who had a scrunched up expression. Mike sat on the side of Will's bed and didn't really know what to do really. He knew he couldn't sleep right now. He was just too angry about what he just heard. Normally, he'd have gotten his sleeping bag from Will's closet, but something pushed him to get into bed with Will. To protect him. Will was so muscular now that it was hard to wrap him up like Mike used to.
"Goodnight Will." Mike said. Will's hand grabbed at the arm now around his chest. He moved to allow more room for Mike.
Will's birthday arrived without any more hitches thank god. Jonathan had elected to be the decoy taking Will out to have breakfast at his favorite restaurant. Despite Lonnie's actions, noted by the patch of gauze on Will's neck, the boy was smiling. Jonathan couldn't wait to see it get even bigger.
'Did you want a shake to go?' Jonathan signed without speaking.
'No. That's okay.' Will said continuing to grin.
'Okay, we should go okay. I got one quick errand while we're out, is that okay?' Jonathan lied.
'Yeah that's fine.' Jonathan put money down on the table and He and Will got up to pay out their bill.
Jonathan looked at his watch and realized they had two hours to burn. He had the perfect distraction. He drove Will out to castle Byers and picked up his package he'd meant to give Will at the arcade tournament.
'Hey Buddy, I wanted to give you something special. Do you mind if we go in here?'
'Do you remember your password?' Will grinned evilly.
'Is it The Clash?' Jonathan looked hopeful
'No' Will shook his head playfully.
'I swear it was the clash.' Jonathan protested.
'No' Will signed an absolutely explosive grin on his face now.
'Oh my god, is it 'Jonathan Stinky Bathroom?' Jonathan asked in mock disgust.
'No it's Nancy's boyfriend.' Will laughed making mock kissing faces. 'but now I'm gonna change it to Jonathan stinky bathroom though, just so you have to sign it.'
'Come on Will, that's not cool, man.' Jonathan threw his hands up exasperated.
'It's really not cool." Will grinned. 'But it is very funny.'
'Only to you.'
'Hey Jonathan?' Will stopped and went to his brother catching him in a hug. He spoke into his big brother's ear. "I love you."
"Yeah buddy. I know." Jonathan returned the hug.
They both barely fit into Castle Byers. In fact, they didn't as their legs had to extend out the entrance. Jonathan handed Will his first birthday gift of the day. In Will like fashion, he politely pulled the paper off and set it aside. Jonathan smiled when he saw Will's reaction. Will excitedly looked over the stack of brand new D&D books. The set was very expensive but Jonathan was so proud he couldn't help buying it for Will. He'd meant to give it to him in Whitestown but he just kept forgetting to bring it up.
To say the wait was worth it would be underselling it greatly. Jonathan received the biggest, crushing hug he ever remembered.
'Happy Birthday Will. You are the best little brother ever.'
'Thanks Jonathan. I am lucky that you are my big brother.'
'You're right.' Jonathan teased pulling him into a side hug and kissing his temple.
Will and Jonathan blew some time by going through the D&D books. Will would explain stuff and Jonathan did his best to appear interested. He was never into this stuff, so it may as well have been sign language before he learned to use it.
After enough time had passed and they ran Jonathan's errand (an oil change for his car) they headed over to Mike's house. When they pulled up, Will looked excited but confused.
'Why here?' Will asked.
'Mike wanted to give you a gift, but he got in trouble so he couldn't stop by today.'
'Oh.' Will replied, still confused.
Jonathan did his best not to give anything away but Will was always so good at reading expressions, Jonathan was definitely tense as they both got out of the car. Mrs. Wheeler opened the door on a special knock from Jonathan. She greeted them with a worn and tired expression.
"Mike is in the basement Will, happy birthday."
"Thank you Mrs. Wheeler." Will said giving her a short hug.
Jonathan sent Will down the stairs first and followed behind with his camera out. By luck, he left it on the Wheeler's kitchen counter when they all had to rush home because of Lonnie. Will hit the last couple of stairs and everyone shouted and then signed
"SURPRISE!"
Will nearly fell over in shock but Jonathan steadied him. Then Will watched as all his friends, Mike, Lucas, Dustin, and Max signed Happy birthday while they sang it to him. Joyce who had struggled so much, she was doing it too and that is what caused Will to cry. Jonathan got all the magic on camera and soon Will was surrounded by everyone. They all wanted to hug the birthday boy.
Will thanked each of them as they hugged him. Especially Max, who seemed strangely clingy about it. Mike did a quick hug and then signed to Will.
'Want to give you my present later, it's up in my room. Okay?' Mike smiled.
'Yeah' Will beamed. Signing instead of speaking in case it was a secret.
Will opened his present from Dustin first. It was a small TV for Will's room and an Atari 2600. These were old things from Dustin. He needed the room and Will would get more use out of them. Will gave out an incredible hug. Dustin pulled back and blushed a bit.
"Thank you Dustin." Will smiled wide. "You can come over anytime okay?" Will laughed knowing that wasn't too likely.
"Hey, I will do that okay?" Dustin grinned sheepishly.
Joyce and Max's presents were next and Will's face got even brighter when he pulled out some new clothes. Even Will, who hated clothes as presents, was glad to have these. Some new jeans and a few nice shirts not from the goodwill. He was excited to go to school at the end of spring break.
Will hugged his mom and thanked her and Max for the gifts. Max smiled and blushed.
Last was Lucas. Will was confused by the way it felt. He thought at first that it might be a pillow.
"Is this a pillow Lucas?" Will asked joking. "I do love sleeping."
He tore the paper off and pulled out a puffy light red ski-jacket to keep him warm in winter time.
"Sorry it's too later for this year." Lucas apologized.
Will shook his head and walked over to Lucas and hugged him.
"I love it. I love it." Will said happily.
"They didn't have yellow so I-" Lucas suddenly couldn't talk anymore.
For some reason his mind flashed back to Will getting hit in that hallway. Will's ear bleeding, him failing to stop it. It didn't make any sense that he would think about it now. He started to cry and it wasn't an easy one either. Everyone was confused. Max guessed nearly immediately what was happening and went to get him.
"It's been a hard few days. I think he's just tired." Max offered as she guided Lucas up the stairs. "We're gonna get some air. We'll be back in a minute."
The vanilla sheet cake that Karen brought down was huge. Will never remembered seeing a cake that big before. Joyce and Karen lit the candles and Will made a wish and blew them out. Will was sixteen now. He couldn't have imagined a better day.
Mike sat next to Will and they ate cake and signed silly things to each other while Jonathan took pictures. Then Jonathan had the oddest that this felt almost as if these could double as wedding photos. He shook his head to push the thought away, but as if to reinforce the idea, Mike smashed a piece of cake into Will's face. No one seemed to react to it, so Jonathan attempted to push it aside again.
'Let's go up to my room now before we get distracted. My present, remember?' Mike signed.
'Oh yeah!' Will signed excitedly.
"We'll be right back, I need to give Will his present." Mike announced to the room.
Everyone seemed to be distracted so the two boys quietly went up the stairs. Along the way they saw Max and Lucas coming back inside.
"Are you okay, Lucas?" Will asked.
"Yeah, I'm okay now. Sorry." Lucas apologized, unable to meet Will's eyes.
"Okay. Sorry if you feel sad." Will said.
Mike intervened quickly when Max made a pleading face at him.
The boys ran up stairs to Mike's room and pushed the partially open door all the way open and then shut it firmly behind them.
Mike was practically vibrating with excitement. He handed Will four boxes.
'All for me?' Will signed in disbelief.
'Yes' Mike signed looking like he would explode any second.
Mike watched as Will tore open the first gift. A box of paint brushes. Another package. A paint pallet. Another package. Paints. The last one in the order was a stack of canvases. Will looked at Mike.
'You remembered?'
'Of course I did Will You've only talked forever about-' Mike was cut up when Will hugged him.
"I love you so much Mike. Thank you, thank you, thank you. I love it. I am gonna paint something as soon as I get home." Will's voice was excited and a little hard to follow.
"I am so glad you like it Will. I didn't remember at first which ones you had wanted."
"How did you even get these? They're expensive."
"I sold myself as a slave for the summer for my dad. Don't worry about it. Your reaction was awe-"
Mike was cut off again when Will spontaneously kissed him on the cheek. It was a light peck. It was definitely impulsive and not thought through. Both boys froze in place. It was Will who broke the silence with his voice.
"I'm sorry Mike, I just-I got excited-please don't be mad-I was-I'm really sorry."
Mike came to his senses when he saw Will step back.
"No, it's okay Will. It's okay. I didn't mind. It was fine. It was-more than fine."
Mike stepped forward until they were nearly nose to nose. Mike Wheeler took a big breath and leaned in to kiss Will Byers. A boy he has said 'I love you' to dozens if not a hundred times. It doesn't feel strange or bad and the butterflies he gets, he bets than Will has them too. Neither of them knows how kissing works, so these are just short pecks. To Will and Mike, these are a promise that they love each other more than just best friends. Everyone else be damned.
They pull away as the door swings open. It's Karen Wheeler and neither boy knows if she saw them just now.