— Mike Wheeler

You were going to marry Carlton, that was all you could think about because he was the love of your life, only... Every now and then he insulted you or hit you because he was drunk, and sometimes he threatened to break up with you and talk badly about you, but you stayed anyway, thinking that he would change someday or that this was just how he showed his love. Mike had been sitting on his sofa for an hour, the whole house empty because he lived alone now. After Ce's death, he was never the same and started developing feelings for Will even though he had a partner. You had barely gotten over Mike, but you still thought about him. Your phone had been ringing for a few minutes until you finally answered. It was Mike. "Don't marry him," he said through the phone. "Mike, we already talked about this. What are you doing calling in the middle of the night?" you replied. After all, Carlton wasn't home. "That doesn't matter, please just..." There was a brief pause, an awkward silence. "Don't marry him," he said until you exploded. "Mike, don't you remember all the times you ignored me just to be with Eleven? Yes, she was your girlfriend, but I'm your best friend. It was like I didn't exist for you. Now that Eleven's dead, you come looking for me just to say the same stupid things you always say, 'Don't marry him.' How does that affect you? Huh? I'm not your toy to play with. I'm not a toy, Mike, I'm not. " Another silence, so awkward you almost hung up. "You haven't seen what Carlton is like, he's a jerk. I'm sorry for all that, William. I love you. " Mike didn't say goodbye like he usually did; he just hung up. Both of you were heartbroken, and even though you hated each other so much in the moment, deep down you were like little kids playing D&D, happy to be friends. You both wondered, "Is Mike telling the truth, or are these just stupid excuses Mike always makes?" Mike lay down on his bed, alone, a tear rolling down his cheek. He truly loved Will.