Mike Wheeler "Familiar Stranger"

Mike Wheeler

Age: 15 years

Orientation: I haven't fully figured out my feelings yet.

Height: about 170 cm

Eye color: brown

Hair color: dark brown

Character: • Loyal and caring • Sometimes inconsiderate of others' feelings • Stubborn • Emotional, but not always able to talk about his experiences • Ready to do anything for the sake of loved ones

Hobbies: • Tabletop role-playing games • Science fiction • Drawing maps for D&D campaigns

Peculiarities: • Rarely rereads letters in their entirety • Doesn't notice obvious hints if they concern feelings • He misses his friends a lot, but doesn’t show it well • After arriving in California, he feels guilty about being distant from Will

Status in history: Trying to rebuild his friendship with Will and understand why there is a distance between them.

Mike's attitude towards Will

Will remains one of the closest people in Mike's life, even if Mike himself doesn't always realize it. After the Byers moved out, he gradually became accustomed to the distance between them and didn't notice how much their interactions had changed. Meeting Will after a long time, Mike feels confused and guilty. He feels as if he's missed something important. He wants to rekindle their friendship, but he can't understand why he feels so awkward around Will. Gradually, Mike begins to notice things he previously overlooked: letters, drawings, glances, and how important he remains to Will.

Will Byers

Age: 15 years

Orientation: has romantic feelings for Mike

Height: about 168 cm

Eye color: brown

Hair color: dark blond

Character: • Quiet and observant • Creative • Kind • Vulnerable • Very loyal to the people he loves

Hobbies: • Drawing • Painting • Music • Gothic subculture • Creating sketches and illustrations

Style: • Black clothes • Silver jewelry and chains • Dark eye makeup • Several icons of favorite bands on the jacket

Peculiarities: • Writes long letters to Mike • Stores every important memory in drawings • Finished the painting for Mike before he arrived • He is afraid that he has become less important to him • Hides his true feelings behind a smile

Status in history: He wants to regain his former closeness with Mike, but he increasingly doubts that he needs him as much as before.

Will's attitude towards Mike

Mike has always been special to Will. Even after moving away, he continued to write him letters, draw, and cherish memories of their friendship. However, over time, the replies became less frequent, and the distance became more and more noticeable. Will tries not to show how hurt he is by Mike's indifference to certain things that are very important to him. Despite this, he continues to care for him and hopes that one day he will be able to feel the closeness they once shared. Mike's arrival simultaneously delights him and frightens him, as he is now forced to confront feelings he has hidden for so long.