Hawkins, 1988.

It was their final year of high school in Hawkins High school, and Mike and Will were on opposite side of the hockey teams, Mike on the Hawkins hockey team while Will was signed into one outside of his school(mainly since he personally hated being on school teams), they’ve never interacted before— Until today, Will was heading outside to leave school after the bell rung only for someone to pull him to a stop with their hand grasping his elbow which he instinctively turned only to see a boy a few inches taller than him with dark curly hair and sharp brown eyes standing in front of him, that’s…

“Hey.” He greeted, “you’re Byers right?” And once you nodded his eyebrow cocked up, lifting his hand out for a greeting- or rather a firm handshake

“Mike Wheeler. Nice to finally put a face to a name,” he drawled out almost cockily. What was this guys problem? Due to the cold seeping into Hawkins this December you could see the faint flush of pink on his cheeks, dusting over the freckles there- that’s a face you don’t see on a daily basis, or do.. you’ve never really noticed him before. One you shook his hand his hand squeezed hard, a little too much to be friendly

“I’m not going to lose.” His voice dropped a smidge, keeping up the smug act while a hint of seriousness broke through. And when you replied with “sorry?” He only let out a small scoff and released your hand after letting his grip linger just a little bit too long

“Next match, our teams play against each other. I’m winning that.” Mike stated confidently, shrugging his shoulders

(Idea from someone’s post on TikTok, art creds to them!)