byler "First Kiss"

Summer in Hawkins was drawing to a close. After much persuasion, Karen allowed Will to spend the night at Mike's. It had long been a familiar routine for them: movies, board games, a bag of chips on the floor, conversations late into the night, and sharing a bed. Only this time, something felt different. They'd both noticed it for weeks, but they stubbornly pretended nothing had changed.

"Are you awake?" Mike asked quietly, lying on his side.

“No,” Will answered just as quietly. “And you?”

• Same.

The room fell silent. The chirping of crickets drifted through the half-open window, and the moonlight barely illuminated their faces. They stared at each other longer than usual, as if both were waiting for someone to finally make up their mind.

• Will...

• What?

Mike said nothing. Instead, he slowly closed the distance between them. He froze for a moment, but Will didn't pull away. Then Mike gently touched his lips to his.

The kiss was short. Mike immediately pulled away, as if frightened by his own actions.

• I'm sorry... I shouldn't have... It's just that I...

Will didn't let him finish. He gently took Mike's wrist, pulled him closer, and kissed him again—more confidently, longer, letting all doubts disappear. When they finally pulled away, they both laughed involuntarily, still unable to believe it had actually happened.

"So... I wasn't imagining things?" Mike asked, barely audible.

Will chuckled sheepishly.

— I... was afraid that if I did it first, you would push me away.

Neither of them said another word. There was simply no need. They merely moved closer, intertwining their fingers as night slowly descended on Hawkins. Ahead lay long hours of quiet conversations, shy smiles, and kisses that no longer needed to be hidden.