dietmike

[dietmike]

though he wasn't sure they had the same definition of what the best spots to show will would be, he figured he could still indulge her. "the hellfire club room, for starters. i mean, i know he'll be in there for club stuff anyway, but when we're not in there playing then it's a pretty nice spot to chill out. still at school but technically away from all of the hustle and bustle. it'll be cool to have him around, finally," he said. the club room wasn't all that interesting. it was just the a/v room that they decorated during campaigns, and when all the lights were on it actually looked sort of nerdy. but they were all a bunch of nerds, so. that was fitting. he didn't feel like delving into any other spots, too hung up on the way max lambasted him for daring to try and introduce el to anything he was interested in. he knew that he had been a little overbearing toward her in the past, but that's because he'd been trying to force a connection that wasn't there. when you're grasping at any little thread to try and put together a puzzle that isn't meant to be, eventually things are going to unravel and fall apart. hence why he and el had split up. "now that we're not dating anymore, i don't feel like we have to like the same things as much. she can't know that she doesn't like dungeons and dragons until she tries it, because it's not the kind of game that you can simply explain to someone and they'll immediately understand what it's like to play it. it's more complex than that, but if she ever does try it and decides that she has no interest, then i won't really care all that much. it isn't for everyone, obviously," he explained, knowing that max had never been into it either. it was hard for mike to understand her; to understand girls in general. they seemed so full of secrets that he would never quite be privy to. max's next words caught him by surprise. he was weird about will, and so much so that she had noticed it? he wondered what she could have meant by that, but he would be lying to himself if he pretended not to know. he didn't answer her on that front. he didn't want it brought up, at least not right now, and he didn't want to talk about it with her of all people. the universe only knew what she'd think. "it won't be weird for me," he admitted after a moment of silence. "i'm happy they'll be there. having all of my best friends in one place again makes me feel like the year is actually going to go right for once."

Mike? Excited? About both of them? Noted. Wheeler had preempted her protest which made Max frown. She seriously doubted whatever spots he had picked out constituted as cool. Curious now, she asked, "What spots?" And as she continued, she watched Mike's expression carefully, "I just gave Will a similar offer, don't want to accidentally take him to the same places, you know." 'Other than you.' Mike's words flung at her like a ball to the face. It wasn't all that unfair granted her extended absence, but it was another reminder that Mike still considered her as different, other, separate from them. His opinion rarely held so much weight, but it made Max wonder if he was right at all, if she didn't belong with the party. She retaliated loudly, "I think if El wanted to join Hellfire she would tell you. Let her make her own choices about things before you say anything, Mike. Like, have you ever even tried asking her if she likes Dungeons and Dragons?" Max's ranting didn't end there, and she continued, "I was planning on showing her around, actually. So you can just focus on Will." She wasn't having a discussion about it! "Seriously? Why would it be weird for you?" Leave it to Mike to be so obtuse she had to literally spell it out. "You're always weird about Will." Smiley around him, nicer to him than anyone else, and extremely protective. Yeah. Max had noticed. She didn't want Mike to feel too backed into a corner though, not about something like that. She amended her sentence, "And El." He was protective of her too. It seemed everyone, other than Max, had that luxury. It was only when he got righteous about El it pissed her off. "What? It's a fair question."

[dietmike]

her voice caught him off guard more than her surprise presence did. he looked up, eyes adjusting to the light as he glanced up at her face. "no, i guess you're not," he said, a soft laugh falling from his mouth as he straightened up his posture. he didn't want this to be awkward, but something about talking to her made him want to sit up straight and look mildly presentable. his old feelings for her had died down, but the desire to ensure she didn't think he was a loser had not. "i might pass out," he admitted, the day's heat getting to him more than he would like to say. what had happened to that younger version of himself that could run around in the sun all summer and never give a damn if he was sweaty and gross? dead and buried with the passage of time, if he had to guess. he looked at the chips in her extended hand, noting that it was halfway empty before reaching out to take it. a half-full bag of chips was better than no bag of chips at all, which is what he currently had. he stuck his hand in and plucked one out, popping it into his mouth as he gestured up at el. "you don't have to give 'good gesture' gifts when you beat people at board games, by the way. or any kind of games for that matter," he told her. it was only a game, and if he was that upset by it then he really would be a dweeb. "that doesn't mean you shouldn't randomly walk up to me and give me chips, though. i will always accept food if you're willing to share," he grinned.

El had been watching Mike from a few booths down for the last minute or two with squinted eyes. He looked like he was melting through the summer heat. He even had a dramatic slump to his shoulders that said this might be the worst thing that’s ever happened to me - which, for Mike Wheeler, meant apparently being in the sun for thirty minutes without a fan.

Eventually, she walked over. No rush. Just appeared in front of him like a very unimpressed summer ghost. Her arms were crossed, holding a half-empty iced tea she’d gotten from the vending machine near the gym, the condensation dripping onto her wrist. It was probably watered down by now, but it was cold and that counted for something.

When Mike did his little speech, she just stared at him for a beat longer than was socially normal. Then she raised one brow and said, "I’m not here for a donation." Although, when she did start to look around, she thought about taking the clipboard. As grateful as she often was for Joyce, there was always that nagging feeling in the back of her head that always said she was eating too much out of the fridge or getting too many clothes.

A pause. Then she added, "you look like you might pass out." With a hand, she dug into the bag that was slung over her shoulder and pulled out a half-eaten bag of chips she’d been saving for later. "It's like a good gesture. For beating you at Monopoly last week."

[dietmike]

mike knew he didn't have to do that. he didn't have to stick around and help will out with what was, ultimately, a one person job. a dog could handle this booth, truth be told, and will was super smart and capable so he knew he could leave and have his own fun for a little while. the only thing was, he didn't want to. he likely wouldn't have that much fun with anyone else, and he would almost certainly just annoy his other friends by moping and whining about how much he hated sunlight and the heat and not being at home like the vampire he was. so, he figured, why not spare everyone and stay right where he was? "i don't have to, but i want to. besides, someone has to be here to lay down the law. i know you, and you'll be far too nice when this is serious business!" he insisted, playfully jabbing right back at will for the teasing he'd given him. tit for tat, and all that jazz. "it's nice that you're thinking of it in that way, though. i'm not sure i would have considered it, but yeah, maybe they'll be able to pick out some things on their own," he said. only if they had enough supplies, and only if they didn't get too many more signups, he figured. it was moments like these that he remembered that will had been on the signup sheet in the past more often than not, and he was so happy for him that this year he wouldn't have to deal with that. he'd never seen will, jonathan, or even joyce as needy people. he didn't view the signups as needy people either. life just sucked like that sometimes, and there wasn't much that anybody could do about it. they had to get their supplies somehow, and he thought of it as the one fairly decent thing that the middle and high schools did for the students. he shook his head at the question, bringing his mind back to the present. "it isn't stupid. nothing you say is stupid," he said nonchalantly, but he meant it. will could say almost anything and mike probably still would've said that, able to make sense of whatever came out of his mouth. that was a special skill reserved for best friends only, if he had to guess. "i think it's weird, too. all of a sudden we're seniors, adults, finishing high school. it's so crazy to think of it as being all that important, but everyone seems to think it is. maybe we won't know why until after we've graduated, or something."

"It's okay," Will reassured him, gentle smile pulling at the corners of his mouth. When they were together, sometimes Will felt like there was a protective bubble around the two of them; like an invisible force field or something, a rippling undercurrent of safety. Mike had always been that for Will. Other than his family, he was Will's home away from home.

Will would be lying if he said he didn't notice how Mike talked to him versus... everyone else, really. The harsh edge of his voice was missing, the furrowing of his brow gone. It was a testament to their years of friendship, to the time and effort they'd each put into knowing each other better than their own selves, sometimes.

"No," he laughed, pulling out his own water bottle and taking a swig. "It's not like you leave much up to the imagination, Mike," Will teased, leaning back in the chair and pretending to snore with his head bobbing. Mike sufficiently mocked, Will took the clipboard and skimmed the list. He felt a little bad about his selfish relief for not being on the list this year.

"Yeah?" Will asked, tone betraying his hope, "But you don't have to do that." He knew hanging out here all day wasn't exactly Mike's idea of fun. Was it anyone's? Nodding along, Will flipped the sheet on the clipboard over to see the end of the list, "That's really good. Maybe kids can even pick some of their own stuff this year, you know?" He always felt bad about the one-size-fits-all nature of charity like this-- half the fun of going back to school was getting to pick out your supplies and all, like when he was going into the sixth grade and all he wanted was a mustard yellow pencil pouch, but the only color they had at the supply drive was this greyish burgundy.

He glanced up at Mike with a wistful smile, "I still can't believe we're seniors. My mom keeps, like, saying it-- but it is weird. Is that stupid?"

[dietmike]

the night before school was typically a tough one for mike to get through. he usually didn't sleep, and since he knew his own pattern he wasn't even going to try this time. he had set out his clothes for the following morning - nerd behavior, he knew - and had his backpack already filled up with all of the first day necessities. he sincerely hoped he didn't get some weird stickler who assigned him homework on the first day. outside, the sun had already set and he assumed that most everyone was already in bed. then came nancy knocking on his door, padding her way inside before he could actually verbally grant her entrance. she must have known that he was going to say yes regardless, and he looked up at her from the page he had been dutifully reading. it was a book that was supposedly required reading before school started, but he wasn't all that worried about it. he was halfway through it, and that was going to have to do. he dog-eared the page he was on, then closed the book to give his sister his full attention. for once, he was going to have as nice a moment as he could with her. "i guess i would say...i'm feeling okay about it. i'm kind of excited for a change? after this year it's all over, and i like the fact that i won't have to deal with the other students of hawkins anymore," he admitted, and that last bit was probably his favorite part. he had never been popular nor had he ever wanted to be. he liked his friends, he liked not being considered the coolest person around, but he didn't like the bullying that they all had to endure. he knew hawkins was small and there wasn't much to do, but surely picking on people wasn't the best way to pass time. of course he knew that ever saying that in front of his peers would see him crucified, so he'd keep it to himself. "thanks for checking on me, though. i guess what i really need to be worried about is picking out colleges to apply to. i don't even want to deal with that."

who: nancy wheeler & @dietmike where: the wheeler household

'Twas the night before the first day of school, and all through the house ... Karen Wheeler had been running around like a headless chicken, making sure everything was in order. Nancy could remember the fuss she'd made for her first day of senior year, and their mother had been keen on making sure each of her children felt the same kind of love and importance on special days like these. What differed was the level of embarrassment her brother suffered upon being dolled up for first day of school photos that would inevitably occur after their traditional pancake breakfast in the morning.

With a gentle knock on his door, Nancy poked her head inside her brother's room past their bedtime, while the two eldest Wheeler siblings were inevitably still awake. Maybe it was silly, but she was trying to be nice, to perform her sisterly duty of checking in on him before one of the more important days in his teenage life.

"Can I come in?" she asked in a whisper, sliding inside the door before he could give her an answer. Nancy took a seat on the edge of his bed, leaning forward as she peered over the edge of the book he was reading. "I just wanted to see how you were feeling, y'know, about tomorrow."

[dietmike]

if mike couldn't be found upstairs (and he usually couldn't), then it was a pretty safe bet that he was down in the basement. he was in there more than his own bedroom, where he really only went to go to sleep. why wouldn't he spend all of his time there, considering his room didn't have television in it and the basement did? there was also a fridge, table, bathroom, sofa, literally everything a teenage boy could dream of that kept him from venturing away from it. that was why he didn't bother immediately answering when lucas called out for him. he figured that it was likely a given that he'd be in there, and he made a face at being pushed out of his rather comfortable position. his eyebrows quirked up at the request to help him tear old notes out of a notebook, and he waited (im)patiently for the explanation. "oh, i know the shoes, man. you haven't stopped bringing them up since you saw them," he said, although there was a hint of fondness in his voice. if he was irritated, lucas would have known it by now. he personally didn't care about his shoes that much, though he was partially loyal to converse, but he wasn't about to stomp on lucas' sneaker needs. maybe they were important for basketball, or something? speaking of which. he watched as the paper ball made it into the metaphorical basket, looking over at lucas and shaking his head. "you think you're sooo cool. well, i'll have you know, anyone can do that," he said, taking a notebook of his own and ripping out a used up piece of paper. he folded it into a little ball and then tossed it toward the trashcan. it bounced off of the edge and onto the floor, but he grinned when he looked back to lucas. "what's that called, like, a two-pointer? please, i should be on the team. that has to count for something!" he insisted, looking back down at the notebook before he remembered why lucas was really there. "also, why not use the rest of the notebooks up and then throw them away whole, instead of ripping out all the paper? isn't that way more time consuming?"

who: Lucas & @dietmike where: The Wheeler basement what: Serious Party Business

"Mike!" Lucas called as he descended the familiar steps to his favorite hangout. "You down here?" he craned his neck around the stack of notebooks in his arms, flashing a smile when he spotted his friend halfway draped over the couch. Using his leg, Lucas shoved Mike onto one half of the couch, sitting down and claiming the other for himself. "I need your help," he stated, watching Mike expectantly.

When his friend seemed less than interested, Lucas heaved a sigh and tossed a couple notebooks haphazardly at Mike's lap. "Help me rip out these old notes, man, come on." Though, Mike was never very good at blindly following orders. None of their friends were, save maybe Will, and that was more because he was probably weary of understanding their schemes by now.

"I'm saving my school supply money for Worthy 790s," explained, then tacked on, exasperated, "The shoes." He flipped open one of the spiral bound notebooks and started ripping out old chem notes. "You know Erica saves all her notes? Like she's ever gonna look at them again."

He wadded up the paper and paused to shoot it at the trashcan in the corner, holding his follow through like Coach taught. When he sunk it, he turned to Mike with a wide grin, expecting applause, or at minimum, a thumbs up.

[dietmike]

he wasn't sure if that was meant to be kind or not, but knowing max it probably was. he knew her well enough to know that her soft side could easily be mistaken for her gruff one, and it all depended on the context of the conversation. the fact that they were having a conversation at all without trying to bite each other's heads off was, in itself, rather incredible. as she continued, he felt his outward demeanor change. he didn't find himself all that interesting, considering himself so average that his personality bordered on dull, but he could always talk his friends up. he was consistently their biggest hype man, forever seeing the best in all of them (present company excluded), and he hoped they knew that. "oh, i'm so psyched," he answered, a genuine smile plastered onto his face as he thought of how their last schoolyear would go. "will has pretty much seen hawkins high already, but i plan to show him the best spots to hang out. spare me your disbelief, we definitely have different ideas on what the best spots are," he said before she could even scoff at him. "and as for el, i'm hoping i can get her in on hellfire too but i think that's a long shot. i'm still excited to show her all around the school. i hope she can find some friends besides the party that can protect her. other than you, of course." he knew they were close and that max would keep her safe, but they wouldn't be able to stick by each other all day, every day. there would be times when el was alone, and he hated to think of her getting picked on or pushed around. something max had said caught his ear, though, and he looked back over at her. "why would it be weird for me?" he asked, eyebrows furrowed as though he really didn't know what she was talking about. which he didn't, to be fair. "i think it's gonna be awesome."

"Jeez, Mike, ever hear of a joke?" Max scoffed. Mike Wheeler was far from cheerleader material and she even agreed that he was as uncoordinated as a giraffe. On principal alone though, Max couldn't simply take the easy route with him. It was the age old clicking in her bones telling her she had to argue with Mike, coming to her as naturally as floating on her back in a swimming pool, "You know if you and your school spirit really wanted to, you could get Lucas to pull some strings and get you on the team. Like, as a benchwarmer at least." She'd shell out $100 to see Michael Wheeler as a basketball player. Seriously? Even Mike was excited in some twisted sense. She was just waiting for someone to come along and agree that the last week or so had been chalk full of impending dread. Merely stepping into school made Max's stomach twist and turn. Then the thought of what followed when the year came to it's end sent her into a spiral, deep and dark like a well. Lose lose. She adjusted her skateboard beneath her arm and gripped it tighter as they walked, "Good for you." She forced a pleasantry, then balanced it out with another jab, "What classes are you taking? AP D&D? Whining 311?" It was uncalled for, but Mike's reluctant gratitude about the keychain shrouded her with a lingering sense of spite. Plus, it was difficult to make nice with Mike when Max had spent the last however many years hearing the good, the bad, and the ugly from Eleven. El, who Max cherished. El, who's bed Max spent night after night in. What kind of...friend would she be if she didn't hold a little bit of resentment for his best friend's ex? Mike didn't make it easier on himself by having Fort Knox built up around him and his friendship. Then again, Max wasn't all that different. Still, it made her feel thirteen again. Max cleared her throat, boldly continuing, "So are you excited about Will and El starting school with us?" If there was anything she was looking forward to, it was that. But more importantly, Max was dying to get something out of Mike in regards to their respective best friends. She had a hunch he wasn't going to be honest, so she tried to preempt it by intentionally riling him up, "Or is it gonna be weird for you?" Either way, Max was going to get a reaction! Or she was trying to.

[dietmike]

at first, he didn't know how he hadn't realized it was will to begin with. it must have been the sun in his eyes, blinding him momentarily before he could actually see who stood before him. the gentle touch to his arm snapped him back to reality, and his smile morphed from one that was forced into one that was more than genuine. "oh," he said a bit dumbly, though he was happy that he wasn't having to deal with a stranger. "my bad." his tone had shifted from one of annoyance into a more happy one, always pleased to see his best friend. he loved all of his friends (most of them, anyway), but will would always have that special spot right at the top. he was his oldest and closest, so it was no trouble at all for him to scoot his chair over to the side a little bit so that will could sit down next to him. "i am bored. what are you, some sort of mind reader?" he asked with a grin, reaching out to take the water bottle. he probably did need to stay hydrated beyond soda, so he finished off what was left in the can and vowed to stick to water for the rest of the day. he picked the clipboard back up and handed it over to will. "we can tag team the rest of my shift. and maybe i'll stick around to help out with yours, too," he said. it's not as though he hadn't planned on spending the rest of the day with him anyway. if he could get out of exploring the rest of the party while also getting to hang out with will? that was a win-win in his books. "it's going alright so far. we've got less signups this year than usual, i think, which is good. that means the donations can be spread more thickly, and nobody will feel left out. that's a plus."

The '88-'89 school year was monumental for several reasons. One, Will and El were actually going to be enrolled, not just sort-of-students who got to do an extracurricular or two. Two, because according to the rumor Mom heard, the cafeteria had switched distribution companies to get fresher food-- something about a federal focus on healthy students. And three, because Will was at the back-to-school drive to volunteer, not to pick up supplies for himself. Part of the reason he'd signed up was in celebration for his newfound status as a 'normal kid.'

The other part was obviously because Mrs. Wheeler always made Mike sign up, too. It was fate that Mike's shift overlapped with Will's, and it was all the motivation Will needed to to get to the booth early. As he approached the bright white canopy, Will hit pause on his Genesis tape and slid his headphones down around his neck. There Mike was, lounging in his chair like he was suntanning or something. He didn't usually look comfortable like this, and Will smiled at him for a second before he got close enough to cast a shadow over the table, effectively announcing his presence.

Mike, though, seemed to be on autopilot. He launched into the spiel while he attempted to blink the sunlight out of his eyes. Will snickered, reaching over and touching his arm, "Mike. It's me." He returned Mike's smile, sliding the backpack off his shoulder and depositing it behind the booth. Will took a seat in the folding chair next to his best friend, unzipping his bag and handing over a water bottle that was already slick with condensation. "I thought you'd be bored, and my shift is next, so," Will shrugged, shifting his chair closer to Mike's to get out of the sun. "How's it going so far?"

[dietmike]

if their entire interaction had ended right there, mike wouldn't have been too broken up about it. he had acquired the keychain he wanted, she had proven once again that she was definitely cooler than he was, and finally they could go their separate ways and continue pretending like the other didn't exist. he was fairly certain that he was the only one pretending in that scenario, however, and he realized that the second that she went on to walk and talk. she must have known that she could get a rise out of him easily, her teasing tone seeping into his bones like the heat of the late summer sun. was it her fault for being purposely annoying, or was it his own fault for allowing her to get under his skin like it was nothing? probably a healthy mix of the two, if he had to guess. all he had to do was turn around and walk the other way; let her talk to herself until she noticed he wasn't even with her. he wasn't that big of an asshole, though. usually. "is that your way of saying you think i could make it onto the cheerleading squad?" he asked, falling into step beside her as he gave her a grin that was far too cocky to be taken seriously. "i think i have the height to play basketball, but that's about all i have. i'm as graceful as a baby giraffe so i don't think they'd want me to even try out," he admitted. among other reasons, he was sure. the nerdy kid didn't typically do a heel turn and become a star jock overnight. he would leave stunts like that to lucas. his grin faded and silence followed. sometimes, rarely, he wondered what his gripe with max really was. being the new kid all those years ago wasn't a crime, but he'd acted like it was. perhaps it was how quickly his friends had taken to her, even will. she had quite literally zoomed her way into their hearts, but apparently his had an impenetrable wall surrounding it for reasons he didn't want to think too hard about. "and for the record, yeah, kinda. i do have school spirit in the sense that this is my last year and i can't wait to get it over with," he said, answering seriously for a moment. "any keychain would have worked, but i guess i felt drawn to the lion this time. let's not look into it too closely."

Max would've assumed Mrs.Wheeler gave Mike some spending money, but the way he was attempting to barter said otherwise. But divorce was bitch, she knew firsthand and twice over, she wasn't going to pry about his inability to purchase. And even if most days Mike Wheeler quite literally boiled her brain down into goo with his...everything, this particular situation was one she could lend a hand with. Plus, maybe, just for a day, it would motivate Mike to treat her like an actual person. A friend. She debated withholding the tiger keychain for leverage, but ultimately coughed it up. "Sure you would have, Mike. You totally had him on the ropes." Max jeered. "Oh wow, not entirely terrible, I'm flattered." She made no effort to mask her rolling eyes and continued walking in the opposite direction of the booth. They were supposed to be friends, but even before that haunting Summer, hell, during it, the two of them struggled to categorize each other as such. Max didn't joke around with him like Lucas and Dustin. And she didn't confide in him like Eleven or Will. Now, she was trying to pick back up a relationship with Mike she'd never had in the first place. One he seemed completely uninterested in maintaining. Mike Wheeler was the most difficult person in the world. But still, she tried. "So you have like, school spirit now?" Max referenced the tiger she'd stolen, but that was about as far as her small talk skills extended. She was much more comfortable poking and jabbing. And Mike? He made it so easy to do. With mock excitement, she gasped, asking, "No way. You joined the cheerleading squad? No, let me try again, the basketball team?"

[dietmike]

there was nothing, absolutely nothing, that mike hated more than price gouging in the name of an event. well, alright, that wasn't entirely true. he could think of about a hundred other things that were probably worse, but in the context of the situation, this was the worst. as if the heat of the day and the looming reality that school was starting all too soon wasn't bad enough, there he was attempting to spend the last of his hard-earned allowance on nonsense at the block party. it really was nonsense, too. he wanted an interesting little keychain to hang on the zipper of his backpack this year. nothing crazy, but something to emit that he was cool and of-age for the first time in his life. he'd spotted the wood-carved lion at the vendor's booth and had made a beeline for it. it was exactly what he had been looking for, and it was even in the image of their beloved mascot. what could be more fitting? twenty dollars, apparently. that was insane. he knew it was carved by hand rather than being something mass-produced, but that was a ridiculous request in his eyes. plus, he only had fifteen. he didn't think that dropping the price down by five dollars was too much, but they were making a real big stink about how it was one of a kind (despite the fact that it clearly wasn't) and how not many other people in town would have one. yeah, no shit, 'cause no one else in their right mind would pay twenty bucks for it either, he thought. that was when max came up and instantly made him feel like an idiot for even bothering. she was good at doing that. he watched as she took charge of the situation, the vendor heading off to look for someone that definitely hadn't stolen from them...only for her to steal from them. he held in the eyeroll he felt coming on as she returned with the keychain, additionally holding back the smile he wanted to portray at getting his trinket. that did not scream cool. "i would've talked him down eventually," he muttered, pocketing the lion and looking up at her with obvious annoyance in his eyes. something like gratefulness managed to mix itself into the look as well, though he'd tried (and failed) to fight it. "but thanks. that was not entirely terrible of you."

𝐖𝐇𝐎: max mayfield & YOU 🫵 𝐖𝐇𝐄𝐑𝐄: back to school block party on mainstreet 𝐖𝐇𝐀𝐓: max is bored, shenanigans ensue

Time was a funny thing. One day, four years ago, The Hargrove-Mayfield caravan rolled into town, and Max hated it. Hawkins showed it's true colors fairly quickly, in spite of it, she felt a sense of belonging for a brief period of time, then went back to hating it. Now, on the precipice of her senior year, Max still wasn't fond of Hawkins. Whoever said time heals all wounds, or she'd come around, or whatever bullshit, was a big fat liar. In theory, she was supposed to meet the rest of "The Party" (she didn't even play Dungeons and Dragons) behind the barricades that corralled in vendors on main. But she hadn't had a social life this robust in years, so she was comfortable taking her time before surrounding herself with Dustin, Lucas, and Mike and their nonsense for hours on end. Max set her skateboard down in the streets, weaving between booths and bodies freely, reveling in the glare or two she got. She'd miss Summer. Booth after booth flew past in bright blurs of green and gold until one thing, or rather person, stuck out. Max skidded to a stop at the familiar face doing their best, but failing miserably to haggle. Just her area of expertise! Like she'd done a million times before, she tucked her board beneath her arm and approached. "This is kind of pathetic." She informed the other person, then raised her brows to say now watch how it's really done. With the sweetest, most fabricated concern, Max chimed in to the vendor, "Excuse me, I think that kid just ran off with one of your products." She pointed in the opposite direction, and when the vendor naturally looked and began to yell, she snagged something off the table. She'd had worse days, worse deeds. Grinning, she slowly walked away from the booth, holding the item in her hand for the other to take, "See? Now it's free."

[dietmike]

every year, for whatever reason, mike seemed to go through something like selective amnesia. the winter months would roll through hawkins at a snail's pace, keeping him bundled up in striped sweaters and thick leather boots. there was always hot chocolate on hand in the wheeler household, so he typically had that instead of coffee every morning before school. what he failed to remember on those short, dreary days where the temperature dipped far below fifty degrees fahrenheit, was that the winter months didn't last. they eventually ended, as all things did, and summer would blast its way into indiana like a goddamn freight train when he least expected it. cue him at the build-a-backpack booth at noon with a black cardigan tied around his waist. the sun was up high in the sky and there didn't appear to be a single cloud in sight. the best thing he had for shade was the simple canopy up above the booth, though it didn't do much for the sweat heating up the back of his neck. he held a clipboard in one hand and an ice-cold can of coke in the other. the good stuff, not that new drivel the execs tried to push on everyone a while back (talk about a bad idea). it hadn't been his idea to sign up for the booth. matter of fact, he could have gone the whole drive not helping in the slightest. there was an air-conditioned bedroom at home with his name on it, a fresh vhs rented out from family video, and a back to school campaign that he desperately needed to finish putting together for hellfire before school opened back up. however, the maternal unit had absolutely insisted that he not only show his face at the drive, but that he also had to help in some form or fashion. his decision to sign up for the noon to two p.m. slot wasn't even his own; it just so happened to be the only one left. exhilarating. not ten seconds after he leaned back to close his eyes in a poor attempt to catch a nap - the booth wasn't very busy with all of the other things going on - he felt a shadow land in front of him. he sighed and sat back up, blinking his eyes open to the unyielding brightness of the day. "if you're here to donate, leave your items in the box to my left. don't just throw them in there, it could damage the cans and boxes and i'll be extra annoyed. if you're in need of a donation, i humbly offer you this clipboard and my pen with which you can fill out your information," he announced, setting the clipboard down onto the table in front of him and offering the best smile he could muster up on such short notice.

for: whoever from: mike where: back to hell school block party !

[dietmike]

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