a/n: so, I'm going to be on the road for a while tomorrow so expect a bunch of imagines!!! on with the imagines!!!

A good book was implanted in your hands as the cool Fall breeze below your hair while you sat on the porch, just enjoying this nice day in Hawkins.

"___, I'm about to leave for my lady's lunch!" Your mom called from inside the house while she hurriedly ran around to find what she needed to complete her outfit.

Your eyes didn't leave the page but instead kept on pursing the nearing end of the current chapter you were on. "___, did you hear me?"

You nodded, eyes still focused on the words printed in front of you. You heard the door open, your mom peeking her head out. "___.".

You finally looked up, seeing her with an overly extravagant outfit on, a thin line across her lips. "Yes?" The question came out with slight annoyance but you didn't mean for it too.

"I'm leaving for my lunch. I'll see you later tonight." Your mom looked down at her watch, readjusting it and walking out to the car where she pulled out after waving a goodbye to you.

Once she was gone, you set you got up and went inside, throwing aside your book on the kitchen counter. The clock ticked quietly in the den as you turned on the TV, ready for an evening of being bored out of your brain.

Only a few minutes into an episode of Jeopardy, there was a loud knocking at your door. You had changed into sweats and a sweatshirt one of your closest friends had given you one day after school, so someone coming over wasn't really in the big picture.

However, you didn't pause the TV and shoved yourself off the couch to answer the uninvited visitor. You opened the door to see Mike standing with a large smile on his face.

You rubbed your eyes a little bit, asking, "Hey, is something wrong?" Afterwards, you looked to see him completely confused.

"Why would something be wrong?"

You shrugged. "I dunno. It's just that you don't show up to my house whenever unless you need help with something."

"Well," He began, messing a little with his fingers before speaking again. "I just wanted to hang out, go somewhere maybe and meet up with Will, Dustin, and Lucas."

You nodded, your messy bun bouncing lightly on the top of your head as he continued with a smile. "So, if you want me to, I can wait."

You looked down at the sweats and sweatshirt you had on, deciding it would be best to change into something more reasonable for going out. You didn't want to look like a homeless person.

You bounded quickly up the stairs to your bedroom, scanning through all your clothes rather quickly before pulling on a crisp, white sweater, jeans, and your converse.

You tucked in a few stray pieces of the bun, not caring too much about what your hair looked like, and headed downstairs to turn off the TV and go with Mike.

"Alright, lets go."

You shut the door, locking it with the key, and placing it underneath the small flower pot on your porch for protection.

Mike walked with you by his side as you both headed in the direction of his house. The other guys were probably already there but you didn't mind the walk. After all, you loved hanging out with Mike anyways.

"How's AV?" You asked softly, your voice being at a reasonable level while you kicked a rock down the sidewalk you two were traveling down. He didn't answer immediately and you were okay with that, seeing as you were almost completely focused on the rock.

"It's great. Dustin's been a little obsessed with trying to get you to come."

You laughed a little. "I'm not in AV though. And you know the reason." You kicked the rock off into the street as you got closer to Mike's house. You saw him nod from the corner of your eye.

"Yeah, and it's okay but I just want him to shut up about it. Sometimes I swear he likes you." You laughed louder this time, the thought being quite interesting in your head.

"Dustin liking me, huh? And you don't, Wheeler?"

There was silence immediately following your sentence as you stopped and put your arm out to stop him. Your eyes met his, yours scanning them for any emotion possible but all he did was try and look away but he couldn't.

God, why couldn't he?

"Wheeler?" You asked, waiting for him to say something. You were closer to his house but he just moved your arm and began walking again.

You ran a little to catch up as he turned into the driveway, walking up to the front door. He opened it and allowed you inside first as he followed, his face beet red.

"Hello, ___!" Mrs. wheeler announced upon your arrival in the household. Nancy sat at the table with a pile of school work but looked up when you entered the room.

"___!" She exclaimed, getting up to hug you before looking at her younger brother and pulling him aside while you made small conversation with their mother.

"So, did you tell her?" She asked him, a little excited. He looked down at his feet, bouncing on the balls of them while she let out a heaving sigh.

"Mike! This is something you have to do now if you ever want her! She's a one of a kind girl that may actually like you, and plus, she's stunning."

Mike looked through the doorway at you smiling with their mother while you talked animatedly. He looked back at his older sister.

"You're right. I'll do it in a little bit."

He left his sister to bring you down to the basement, a smile on his face while he tried not to stare too much. God, why couldn't he just look away?

You followed him down the stairs, entering the basement while Dustin and Lucas stood arguing over one of the Star Wars movies.

"No, that's incorrect." Dustin said, waving a finger at Lucas while he scoffed. "No, you're-"

Lucas smiled, pointing over at you. "Guess who finally decided to join us. The lovebirds." You felt your face go as red as a tomato, Dustin looking over at Mike who was still staring quite obviously at you.

The way you bit your lip when you were shy or nervous was adorable and just seeing you so much smaller was the absolute cutest.

"Come on, let's just watch the movie." Dustin interrupted, pushing the VHS tape into the player and gathering us all on the couch.

You took a spot between Mike and Dustin, finding simplicity and warmth between the two guys that you were lucky to call your best friends.

"Where's Will?" You suddenly asked, a sudden awareness of the quieter kid of the group. Dustin explained quite quickly that he was sick and couldn't make it so you just turned back to the movie, bringing your legs up to your chest.

...
It was near the end of the movie when your eyelids weighed down heavy with sleep. The movie was still a good hour till finished but you were just so exhausted. Dustin and Lucas were chatting away about the storyline while Mike sat silently watching the movie, the light illuminating his face.

You took this opportunity to lay your head down on his shoulder, making him turn to look at you while you kept your eyes on the movie. You finally decided to close them, pushing yourself a little against him while Dustin and Lucas kept chatting away.

Mike looked down at you and noticed you were sleeping, so just decided to leave you but really took this opportunity to look at you.

He loved every feature about you. From the smallest imperfection on your nose to the little quirks you had as characteristics and made you such a more interesting person.

You moved your head a little, still leaning onto him as you got comfortable and settled back down.

"Dustin, Lucas, your parents are both here."

Mike quickly looked down to see if that stirred you but soft snores were escaping from your parted lips as both the other guys stood up.

"See you later, lovebirds." Lucas said going up the stairs as Dustin followed him, almost stepping on his shoes.

...
It was nearly nine o' clock before Mike nudged you awake. Your eyes fluttered open to be greeted with cooling darkness as you looked at the now black TV screen.

"What happened?"

Mike smiled a little in the darkness as his mother came downstairs. "You fell asleep."

"Michael, you know my rules about girls." His mom said sternly, turning on the lights much to your disapproval. You both closed them almost immediately, slowly adjusting them to the brightness.

"I'm about to leave, Mrs. Wheeler."

You smiled at Mike before getting up and walking up the stairs, Mike suddenly following you as you made it out the doorway.

"___, wait!" He softly yelled, catching your attention again. You turned around to face him, a soft glow of light on his face that highlighted his features.

He motioned for you to come towards him, remembering what Nancy had told him about you. She was correct. She was absolutely correct.

Once you got close enough, he leaned down slowly, hesitating a little before, but leaned down and softly put his lips on yours.

You were taken aback at first but kissed back softly before letting go. A soft blush was powdering your cheeks as he looked at you, a slight embarrassment on his face.

"I don't think I deserve a goodnight kiss, Wheeler." You joked, making him look down awkwardly towards the floorboards of his house.

You laughed softly, smiling up at him. "I'll see you tomorrow, Wheeler." Before leaving, you stood on your tiptoes and planted another kiss on his cheek this time, leaving soon after.

He always wanted you to be his goodnight kiss.

———
this is the sweetest little thing I've ever written.

I hope you all enjoyed & requests will be open until December 1.

stay strange(r) (things) my friends.

-katherine

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time: 10:45 pm
words: 1719