hero's (byler fanfiction)

part 1 - we can be hero's, just for one day

mike's pov

well, here i am, back at it. hawkins high. it's the same year after year, i mean a little has changed. the byers moved back from california after hopper came back from his "vacation" in russia. him and joyce seem a little closer than usual.. but i won't mention it. hawkins is still split in 4, and the military is everywhere. max is out of her coma, and getting used to her crutches. dustin went to utah this summer to visit susie, and well, me and el broke up. it was for the best though, she finally gained her independence,  and i kinda realized that me and el never had a deep connection, we were just there for eachother and made out when didn't know how to communicate.

however, what stayed the same was my friendship with will, we have really bonded since he's come back, i feel like i can talk to him about anything and everything and he's always there. something has been off though, and i just can't for the life of me figure out what it is, the long glances, the triple takes, the hand placements, everything has just been weird for the past couple of months, and it all started in the van in california when he showed me the best painting i had ever seen. it depicted me and the party defeating a dragon, with a heart on my sheild, i never actually thanked el for commissioning it.

"mike c'mon you have to take holly to school" my mom yelled from downstairs. shit, i finally snapped back to reality, it was my first day of sophomore year. my new start. my year without vecna or the upside down or demo-whatever's. i was going to be normal.
"coming mom, just gimme a sec!" i yell back, my voice cracking harshly. i slip on my favorite blue flannel and sprint down the stairs.

" holly c'mon, it's my first day of school too!!" i say waiting for her to stop messing with her hair in the mirror.
"okay all done!!" she chimes back cheerfully.

out the door we go, and into the car. i can't legally drive it yet, but it's better than nothing. i pull up to hawkins elementary and drop off holly. "bye!!" i wave and she parrots, sending one back to me. i pull out of the drop off lane and turn on the radio. "hero's" by david bowie starts playing. it gives me the shivers, and i blink hard to rid my thoughts.

i'm pulling up to the high school and see lucas, dustin, max and el waiting for me. i can't spot will, but the all the sudden i see him walking into the huddle, smiling and waving and saying hello, and his raven hair sits perfectly on his forehead and his green eyes pop with the contrast from his yellow shirt, and um wills my friend.
yeah.
friend..

i pull into the parking lot, and walk up to the party.
"hey guys!" i smile and wave and realized i may have been too cheery for 7:45 am.
"well, you guys look excited for sophomore year."
"yep thrilled. i'm basically jumping with joy." max mutters with a obvious sarcastic tone.
"how was your time in utah dustin?" i asked, hoping to distract myself from will staring deep into my soul.
"let's just say i put these pearly whites to use."
'purrrrr'
"yuck." i mutter, but loud enough so he can hear me.
BRRIIINNNNGGGGG
"i guess i'll catch you guys later!" i say, almost tripping on my own two feet.

my first hour is science, and the only friend i have in that class is will. i walk in, expecting him to have an open chair next to him, waiting for me. instead, he's sitting with someone else i don't recognize. i look over and wave, a huge smile plastered on my face, however will just looks the other way and continues talking to the boy next to him. strange. i sit down at the only other empty seat and wait for mr. brown to start his lesson.
"attention class, we have a new student joining us this year. everyone, please welcome, liam." the teacher announces.
"would you like to introduce yourself?" he asks.
"um sure. hi, i'm liam, and i moved here from california. i'm 15 and i like to paint." he sits back down quietly looking quite proud of himself. him and will are almost identical, maybe that's why will's so interested in him. whatever, will's allowed to have other friends.. yeah.