CW: breakup, minor internalized homophobia
TRANSCRIPTION OF AN AUDIO RECORDED CONVERSATION BETWEEN MIKE WHEELER AND ELEVEN HOPPER-BYERS.
CONVERSATION BEGINS.
WHEELER: Hey, It's… been a while, huh?
H-B: Yeah. 1 week and a day. Since the day we moved back into the cabin.
WHEELER: Oh, you've been counting.
WHEELER: Sorry about not visiting more. With the end of the school year and everything…
H-B: It's okay. Jonathan and Will are busy too.
WHEELER: I need to talk to you about something. It's, uh… it's been on my mind a lot lately.
H-B: What? Something is… wrong?
WHEELER: Kind… Kinda, yeah.
H-B: Tell me.
WHEELER: I don't think this is going to work out, El. Us.
H-B: …You're…
WHEELER: Yeah, I'm breaking up with you. I'm… I'm sorry. I shouldn't've dragged it on like this. I'm a total jerk for it.
H-B: [stiffly] How long?
WHEELER: What?
H-B: How long has it been since you realized?
WHEELER: Ah…
WHEELER: Um…
H-B: Tell me, Mike.
WHEELER: [hesitantly] …El, I… I'm… I don't know if I… ever loved you like that, to be honest.
H-B: …What?
WHEELER: I didn't know for a long time. I really, really thought it was love. But, but then we started getting older, and after… all the Vecna shit… I couldn't ignore it.
WHEELER: I love you, El. I love you so much. But I don't love you like Hopper loves Joyce, or- or how Lucas loves Max. I tried so hard to, but it just got worse and worse. That's why I could never say I love you.
H-B: [slowly] …You love me like how you love Nancy. A sister.
WHEELER: I think so, yeah.
H-B: I think I knew that.
WHEELER: You did? Why didn't you say anything?
H-B: …I was scared. Because… even though you say it, you don't treat Will like a brother. You don't love him like how you love me.
WHEELER: I…
H-B: Do you… Do you love Will like how Lucas loves Max?
WHEELER: [voice cracking] El, I… I think I love him like Hopper loves Joyce.
WHEELER: I think I always have.
H-B: Mike…
WHEELER: [softly sobbing]
H-B: It's okay, Mike. Don't cry. [fabric rustles]
WHEELER: [muffled, watery] God, I'm so sorry. I'm a piece of shit. I'm sorry, I…
H-B: [muffled, sniffling] You aren't. You aren't.
CONVERSATION ENDS.
AUTHOR'S NOTE:
aaaand it's out! shorter chapter today, i thought that it worked well on its own.
i really hope you enjoyed this chapter :))
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