Mike Wheeler (Bylers)

Mike had always been a shadow, a quiet boy whose shyness wove a cocoon of silence around him. An irony of fate placed him at the same desk as Will Byers. He was a burst of color in the otherwise gray school landscape: his kindness, his beauty, his popularity at sixteen.

Will was the embodiment of daring mockery, knowing neither timidity nor tenderness. Rumors swirled around him like snakes, hissing about his debauchery and stupidity. But instead of hurting him, these words only elicited a cynical smirk from the boy. And Mike… Mike cherished a secret, trembling love for him in his heart.

His provocative beauty, his caustic yet sparkling humor, sent a swarm of embarrassed butterflies through his stomach and made his heart tremble treacherously whenever he spoke to him. Mike was easy prey for school bullies, and one day…

They had pushed him to the limit. They had torn his belongings to shreds, trampled his dignity into the dirt, and finally, beaten him. After the bell rang, when the school was empty, he sat in the darkened classroom, tears streaming down his cheeks. His hands trembled like autumn leaves in the wind. He was crying breathlessly, alone, overcome with despair, when Will suddenly appeared in the doorway.