Chapter 9

Will and Mike both lay in the bed, their bodies tangled up together as their breathing patterns were synchronised. Not one of them dared to wake up, they were both exhausted from the night before. A night Will had dreamed about for years.

And he finally got it, Mike Wheeler actually had sex with him. It didn't feel fake or rehearsed, it felt raw and real.

Everything was peaceful before;

"You are so dead William Byers!" Max screamed as she walked into the bedroom where Mike and Will were asleep in each other's arms.

Mike was woken up by Max's fist colliding with his face "What the fuck?!" He yelled, holding his now throbbing nose. Will opened his eyes and sat up.

"Will you promised!" Max sighed pulling him out of the bed then covering her eyes "Oh my god put some clothes on!"

"Max! You're over reacting!" Will sighed as he pulled on his underwear.

"No I'm not! He's a porn star Will, he has sex for a living! That was probably all an act!" Max sighed, looking at Will then over to Mike who was trying to contain pain from his throbbing nose.

"You didn't have to punch him!" Will's said as he grabbed some tissues and helped Mike with the blood that began to trickle down his face.

"I'm okay, I'll survive." He muffled through the tissue as he looked at Will.

"I'm sorry.." Will whispered looking back at him before Richie came in and pulled Will away.

"Holy shit Mike! You look hot when you're injured." He smiled as he wiped the blood off Mike's nose.

"Richie piss off." Mike sighed getting out of the bed, Will covered his eyes and Max grabbed him.

"Why are you covering your eyes? His dick was up your ass a few hours ago!" Max sighed as she pulled Will out of the room.

"Where's my fifty dollars Mayfield." Dustin smiled as he patted Will's shoulder "Proud of you dude, now you can say you fucked a porn star."

"Dustin this isn't funny! You remember the last time Will had a one night stand, he wouldn't stop texting the guy." Max sighed as El approached them.

"Mike wouldn't have had sex with Will if he didn't care, you just have to calm down." El smiled as she squeezed Max's shoulders, Will and Dustin exchanged a confused look as they watched Max relax immediately.

"Are you seeing what I'm seeing?" Dustin whispered.

"You hypocrite!" Will shouted walking over to Max.

"No I am not!" She sighed, looking at Will who was growing more furious.

El spoke up, "You are a little Max.."

Max looked at El then looked at Will before taking El's hand into hers, "Okay! Fine, me and El just really got along since the day we got here."

"She does porn! You don't see me ridiculing you for getting it on with her!" Will argued.

"El's quitting porn Will! Why do you think she stopped recording with Mike?" Max said crossing her arms.

"You're quitting porn El?" Mike asked walking out of the room.

El looked over at Mike and nodded slowly, "Im sorry Mike, I just want to start a relationship with someone and have a normal life." She said softly as she took Mike's hands into hers.

"Cool...that's cool El I'm happy for you." Mike smiled sadly as he hugged her.

"What? So you two are dating?" Dustin asked, "I am so lost here."

"Well me and El are trying to date, long distance sucks but we don't want to forget each other." Max smiled as El walked back over to her.

"You're still a hypocrite!" Will sighed looking at Max, "You can date a porn star and I can't?"

"Who said anything about dating? Pretty sure Mike was just horny for some tight ass." Richie said looking at Will and Mike shoved him.

"Richie be quiet, Will I wasn't using you." He sighed looking at Max.

El whispered in Max's ear, "Fine... I'm sorry for punching your nose Mike, but I did warn you."

"It's fine I deserve it, but I do enjoy spending time with Will, I wouldn't fuck him for fun." He smiled.

"Told you!" El smiled.

"I think I might be sick." Richie groaned.

"Will you should put some clothes on you." Dustin said looking at him.

Will looked at himself and sighed, "Yeah, be right back." He said walking away into the room.

———

"This is goodbye, isn't it?" Will asked as he looked up at Mike, Dustin and Max were already in the car and dreading the thirty three hour drive home.

"Do you think you're able to win another giveaway?" Mike joked as he tried to lighten up the mood.

Will laughed softly and took Mike's hand into his, "You said you weren't using me, I don't want to lose you Mike if you feel the same way towards me."

"I know, I'd like to get to know you more though Will." Mike said as he handed him a piece of paper, "It's got my personal number on it, we can talk over the phone." He smiled.

Will smiled as his vision started to go blurry, meeting his celebrity crush was one thing but leaving him after they had sex was making him emotional. "Hey....no tears alright? This isn't goodbye, I promise." Mike smiled as he stroked Will's cheek gently.

Will wrapped his arms around Mike and embraced him in a hug, burying his face in the taller boys chest as Mike ran his hand through Will's hair and also returned the hug, "Make sure to text me when you get home okay? Don't want you dying on me or getting lost in the woods." He laughed sadly as he kissed the top of Will's head making Will blush furiously.

"Y-yeah! Of course I'll text you! You can count on me." He rambled as he pulled away from the hug.

"Don't act so innocent now, we both know where your mouth was last night." Mike smirked.

"Sorry to ruin this moment but we gotta go Will before your mom wonders why we're gonna be a day late!" Dustin called out the window.

"Stop eye fucking and get in here Byers!" Max sighed.

"See you soon Mike." Will smiled opening the car door and getting in.

"See you later, Will." Mike whispered as he watched the car drive away into the distance.

The miles blurred together after that.

At first, Will watched the scenery change out the window, cities giving way to long stretches of highway, fields, forests, and gas stations that all looked the same after a while. Max fell asleep with her mouth open an hour in as Dustin drove for long stretches with the radio low, and Will rotated between staring out the window and clutching the folded piece of paper in his pocket like it was something fragile.

Thirty-three hours was a long time to think.

By the time they crossed into Indiana, exhaustion settled deep in his bones. He then leaned his head against the glass and let himself sleep.

When they finally pulled into Hawkins, the sun was just beginning to dip low, painting everything in soft gold. Will barely recognised the feeling of being home again until he saw the Byers' house at the end of the street.

The car stopped.

Before anyone could say anything, the front door flew open.

"Will!"

Joyce was already halfway down the porch steps, her arms open wide, tears streaming down her face. Will barely had time to open the car door before she wrapped him up in a tight, desperate hug, like she was afraid he might disappear if she let go.

"Oh my god, you're home," she cried, pressing kisses into his hair, his temples, his cheeks. "I missed you so much, sweetheart. A week and a half!—who lets their kid be gone that long?"

Will laughed softly, his own eyes burning as he hugged her back just as tightly, breathing in the familiar scent of laundry detergent and coffee. "I missed you too, Mom."

She pulled back just enough to look at him properly, hands cupping his face, scanning him like she was checking for injuries. "You look tired. Have you been eating? Sleeping? You look thinner—are you thinner?"

"Mom," Will said gently, smiling through the tears. "I'm okay. I promise."

Joyce nodded, even though she clearly didn't believe him yet, and hugged him again anyway. "Come inside. I made your favourite. And you're not going anywhere for at least a week. I don't care what anyone says."

Will glanced back at the car as Dustin and Max waved their goodbyes, then turned back to his mom, letting her guide him toward the house.

As the door closed behind them, the long drive finally felt worth it.

He was home.

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