negativeoptimist



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  1. Public Bookmark *

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    Dustin hums in agreement while he swallows his bite. “It’s like, against his factory settings to say no to you. What do you need him to do, model for you or something?”

    Will shoves his face back into his hands. “I’m going to fail.”

    Max rolls her eyes. “You’re not going to fail, you’re going to paint Mike.”

    Will lifts his head up from his hands, eyes wide, and shakes his head. “You don’t understand.” He pleads with his awful, awful friends, voice low. “He’s been, he’s using my—he came out of my bathroom in just a towel last night.”

    Studio art major Will Byers has a study of the human body due before the semester ends, is in desperate need for a model, and has a huge, life-altering, heart wrenching crush on his best friend.

    Enter: Mike Wheeler, his broken shower, and his collection of plaid-print boxers.

    Series
    Language:
    English
    Words:
    18,482
    Chapters:
    6/6
    Comments:
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    7,772
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    14 Jan 2026

  2. Public Bookmark *

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    It’s been seven years since Will Byers vanished from Hawkins for the second time; seven years since he picked up his life, moved across the globe, and finally settled. He had found himself in a small town outside of Dublin with no desire to be anyplace else. He was happy. Ireland was great — beautiful sights, decent weather, and it was far. So, so far.

    But when past feelings bubble from under the surface and start to poison his creative endeavors, he doesn’t think things could get any worse.

    Seeing Mike Wheeler at his local grocery store quickly proves him wrong.

    OR: Running away and the reunion of a lifetime.

    Language:
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    32,333
    Chapters:
    2/2
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    13 Jan 2026

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    1989. Senior year.  

    It took nearly three years of growing apart, but Will Byers has finally gotten used to life without Mike Wheeler. He has El, he has Max, he has his art, and, as of two days ago, he has a full ride to art school in Chicago, so things are good. Right? So when Mike climbs through his window one night and stumbles back into his life, Will’s not prepared for the resurgence of old feelings—and even less prepared for the possibility that they might not be as hopeless as he always thought. With the expiration date of graduation looming, Will has to figure out not only his future, but what exactly he and Mike are to each other.

    Language:
    English
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    Chapters:
    7/7
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    11 Jan 2026

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    “I can see just fine,” Will snaps. He doesn’t even want to have this conversation with Mike in the first place. If he did, it would’ve been a long time ago. “Why do you even care?”

    “Why do I—” Mike splutters. “Because I care, Will! I care about you.”

    Honestly — what was Mike expecting? That the past month didn’t happen? That they aren’t being weird again? The end of a literal apocalypse did more harm to their friendship than good, apparently, and it’s not something either of them can ignore.

    Or,

    The world is no longer ending. Half of them have moved into the WSQK. Max is learning how to walk again, Mike is hanging out with Robin Buckley, of all people, and Will—

    —still hasn’t told anyone that he can’t see out of his eye.

    Language:
    English
    Words:
    27,213
    Chapters:
    1/1
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    10 Jan 2026

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    “... Will.”

    “Okay, sure, yeah. What about him?”

    “I’m a bad friend.” Mike admitted, breathing it out like a vomited confession, like something he was desperate to be rid of.

    “Did something happen?” Steve asked.

    “Yes.” He paused. “Well, no. It’s— it’s more like… more like… he got a boyfriend.” Mike huffed out a breath.

    “I know.” Steve agreed slowly, brows raised. “Carlton. Will, Robin and I met up a while back and he introduced us. Seems like a good kid. What about him?”

    Mike felt like a fucking idiot.

    Of course Steve didn’t get it. Why would Steve get it?

    “I… I just…” How was Mike even meant to begin to talk about this? “It’s driving me crazy, man. I hate the guy.”

    OR -

    Mike spirals about his feelings, gets in his car, and somehow ends up going to Steve Harrington for help. He gets a much-needed pep talk and finally goes after what he wants.

    Language:
    English
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    18,494
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    1/1
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    08 Jan 2026