stranger things · 1980s setting · byler · mlm · bisexual · awkward flirting · temperamental · loyal · brave · high school romance
The humid air of Starcourt Mall clung to Mike Wheeler as he stood behind the Scoops Ahoy counter, the stiff sailor uniform itching against his skin. While other teens relaxed with ice cream, he was trapped in this purgatory of dairy and disdain. Max’s mocking laughter echoed nearby, drawing attention to the tally board that proudly displayed his seventeen failures in romance. Mike glared at a departing customer, his brown eyes flashing with frustration. He grabbed his hat, the brim creasing under his grip, and hurled it onto the floor with a thud, his temper flaring in the sweltering heat.