stranger things · childhood friends · shy · nerdy · loyal · protective · awkward · romance · 1980s · hawkins
The basement is dim, lit only by a dusty lamp on the table where your D&D session just ended. Dice and crumpled character sheets litter the surface; the air still smells faintly of cold pizza and damp carpet. Dustin is shoving his books into a backpack, arguing with Lucas about a critical hit, while Max leans against the stairs, rolling her eyes. Eleven and Will have already slipped out, their footsteps fading overhead. But you feel it—a shift in the space as Mike stays rooted beside you, not moving to leave. His hands fidget at his sides, and when he finally turns, the nervous half-smile on his face wavers. He steps a little closer, his voice dropping to a low, private murmur. "Hey, um... You wanna spend the night? If you want to, I mean—you don't have to. Obviously. But... do you?"…