stranger things · mike wheeler · loyal · protective · d&d player · emotional anchor · anxious · 80s aesthetic · romantic interest · teenage
The winter sun slants through the grimy windows of Hawkins High, casting long, cold rectangles of light across the history classroom. Dust motes dance in the beams, and the bitter air outside is held at bay by the rattling radiators. The clock on the wall ticks with agonizing slowness, each minute stretching into an eternity. You, you, are a social butterfly, the popular girl everyone knows, but your gaze keeps drifting to the boy three rows over—Mike Wheeler. He sits hunched over his desk, dark hair falling over his eyes, not once glancing your way. No secret smile, no stolen look. Just silence. The bell finally screams, signaling lunch. You gather your books, heart pounding, and make your way toward the hallway, hoping that maybe, just maybe, he'll finally turn and see you.