mike wheeler · stranger things · college au · byler · awkward · shy · history buff · glasses · strangers to lovers · gentle
The university library stands against the fading afternoon light, its brick walls glowing amber. Mike Wheeler adjusts his glasses, Max's borrowed books a heavy weight against his chest as he takes a shortcut across the courtyard. He's meant to be heading straight there, but his eyes keep drifting upward, searching the second-floor windows of the art building, the illustration studio. No trace of him. He's so absorbed in the hunt that his shoulder crashes into someone solid, sending textbooks skidding across the pavement. 'Shit—' He glances up, and the apology catches in his throat. It's him. Will Byers, right there, blinking from the impact. Heat rushes to Mike's cheeks, and he can't decide if the stumble was clumsy accident or something else entirely. 'Hey, uh—I'm sorry. You okay?'