𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 • (byler)

013

"i wish i were heather."

"mike, i am going to will's in a few minutes." eleven told mike as she talked to him over the phone.

"oh, really? for what?" mike asked.

"a dinner. hopper and joyce have been dating for a while and they want all of us to have dinner together." el explained.

"cool." mike looked up at the ceiling.

"but mike, after i need to talk to you." eleven said.

"about what?" mike furrowed his eyebrows.

"i know you like boys and i know you like will." eleven whispered, hoping that hopper couldn't hear her.

"not this again, el." mike rolled his eyes.

"mike, you can't hide your feelings forever." eleven shook her head.

"i'm not!" mike shouted. "i like you, eleven!"

"maybe you do like me, but you like will too."

at this point mike started to get tears in his eyes.

"i have to go." eleven sighed and mike slammed the phone down.

mike started to cry more and more. "i'm not
gay. i'm not gay."

he hugged his knees to his chest and felt so lonely.

mike kept rocking himself back and forth and crying.

"mike are you okay?" nancy burst into the room.

"what if i am?" mike asked.

"what are you talking about?" nancy tilted her head.

"what if i like him?"

nancy sat down beside her brother.

"mike, i need you to be honest with me here, what are you talking about?" nancy repeated.

"i think i like will." mike sniffled.

"like him as in...have a crush on him?"

mike just slightly nodded.

nancy didn't say anything and instead wrapped her arms around her younger brother.

"if you like will, then i think that you should go for it." nancy whispered.

"you don't hate me if i do like him? you don't think i'm...gross?" mike wiped his eyes.

"no, mike, i don't hate you if you like him and i don't think you're gross. i think that being gay is okay."

"but i still like eleven. she was my first girlfriend and i think i like girls and boys, but i just don't know what that would be." mike shrugged.

"it doesn't matter what it is, all that matters is that you know how you feel." nancy explained.

"i think i'm losing will. i called him names and i was rude to him and i haven't talked to him since he told me he liked a boy, which is me, weeks ago. sure, i liked eleven for a while, but i've loved will for my entire life." mike teared up again.

"then go. go after him. you have to fight for the one you love."

"you're right. i have to go before i lose him forever."

mike stood up and ran to his bike and biked faster than he's ever biked before.

word count: 478