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“Everyone’s always said that it’s a disease, people die from it y'know?”
“Exactly, like, it’s always been a sickness since, like, forever.”
Now, this wasn’t a conversation Holly was particularly enjoying. Honestly, the past three months of Freshman year had been a blast. Nancy and Mike said that it was one of the worst years of their life, respectively, but Holly fit like a glove. The curriculum was much better and her new friends were awesome. Or, well. They were awesome up until this very moment.
“Literally. Defying God like that, and for what?”, Kath said, scrunching her nose like the thought of not obeying a historical fantasy book was unfathomable.
“It’s disgusting!”, Jen agreed, with a frantic nod, her auburn hair following the movement. “Dunno why they think marching around will do anything. Like yelling will save them from dying, or going to hell.”
“Like, honestly, their satanism is showing. Imagine being so, like, devoted to evil that you do such disgusting things like that”, Debbie said. She held a complex expression, as if the thought was incomprehensible.
“Literally. They’re so selfish. I don’t know what I would do if anyone I was close to was a fag”, Jen said — and there it was.
Jen, Kath and Debbie. Nice, funny girls. At least Holly had thought so. They met during third period their first week and had been attached at the hip since, but suddenly, Holly felt herself peel off of them. Usually, she and Jen would dominate the conversation with heated friendly arguments packed with quick quips and jokes, but now Holly sat silently, pushing around her overcooked peas.
“Right”, Jen continued. “Holly, what do you think?”
She knew that she would have to respond eventually. She didn’t want to seem ashamed, because she wasn’t. Sitting up more straight in her chair and lifting her chin, Holly steeled herself.
“I don’t think it’s wrong. My brother’s gay.”
Absolute shock from the other three girls. Kath actually had her mouth open, eyes bulging. Holly didn’t waver, her posture stiff, mouth in a thin line, looking at the girls.
“What do you mean…?”, Kath asked carefully, having successfully picked up her chin from the floor.
“What do you mean ‘what do you mean?’? Are you deaf or something?”, Holly said. She knew she was being mean, but a nerve had been hit. Mike was the best brother ever, he was one of the kindest and bravest people that she had ever met, and his traits were nothing in comparison to Will.
“Why are you so worked up, Holly?”, Jen asked reproachfully. “Seriously, how would we know that your brother is a fag?”
“Don’t call him that.”
“We’ll call him for what he is!”, Debbie defended. “Like, not my fault your brother’s dying of, like, AIDS or some shit!”
It was unlucky for Debbie that she was next to Holly that lunch, for as soon as her sentence was finished, Holly grabbed Debbie by the ear, making her face Holly fully, before slapping her as hard as she could. It was lucky for Holly most students had lunch next period, but the surrounding tables were stunned into silence before breaking out in whispers.
“He’s not dying of fucking AIDS, he’s perfectly healthy and happy with his boyfriend, who, by the way, is the sweetest person ever, not that a mouth breather like you would ever see that”, Holly spat, before shooting out of her seat and heatedly walking out of the cafeteria, before walking all the way home to Maple Street.
She was alone in school the day after that. And the day after. And the day after that too. And then it was winter break. There had never been a time when she was so happy to have break, happily leaving stupid, disgusting Freshman year on hold and letting her be free from those ugly abominations of human beings she previously called friends.
Of course, there was also the supreme highlight of breaks: her siblings and the extended family. When Holly called Mike and Will after the Hawkins High Homophobic Havoc of 1991, they both guffawed in the phone, before comforting her, later teasing her. Mike and Nancy had warned Holly about Freshman year, after all.
The family, the whole family, were taking a deserved rest after their anual Monopoly game. This year had highlights such as Nancy crying her eyes out from Will taking her Hotel, Mom speechless at sitting in jail the whole game and Jonathan calling Argyle for advice on how to pay back a debt of three million dollars.
Mike and Holly were chatting in the kitchen about whether hot honey mustard or Worcestershire sauce would be a better condiment for microwaveable carbonara, when knocks sounded from the door. After Holly lost rock, paper, scissors to her brother, she dragged her feet to the front door, being met by three highly unwelcome girls standing on her doorstep.
“Yeah, no”, Holly said, starting to shut the door, before Jen stopped her.
“We’re sorry Holly!”, she said (very pathetically).
“We want to be friends! We should just look past this hiccup and see past our differences!”, Kath said, Debbie nodding along frantically. Holly noted happily that her cheek had a light blue tint.
“Holly? What’s going on? Who is it?”, her brothers voice said with concern, before he came into the hallway. Now, Mike admittedly could be a bit intimidating. Tall, with dark, hooded eyes, a permanent scowl, all wrapped up in a rather good-looking package (not that Holly would ever admit that her brother looked better than a squished frog).
The three girls were stunned, staring silently at Mike in a combination of awe, wariness and discomfort. Unluckily for them, Mike seemed to understand precisely who was standing at the door, his face splitting in a mischievous grin.
“Holly, are these who I think they are?”, he said gleefully. Jen gulped.
“Yup.”
“This is amazing, do you want to conduct a science experiment on me?”, he said, then turning to Holly. “Or should we scare them off? I can get Will, make out with him a bit, that’ll send them flying.”
“Um… we just… We just—“
“Were you talking about me?”
Right on cue, Will Byers walked in. If the girls were intimidated by Mikes appearance, they were nothing but shocked of that of Will. Cute, average height, good build. One of those looks that would fit good in a cheesy rom-com. To the girls further humiliation, Will also seemed to recognise them instantly.
“Oh my God. It’s the Bigot Band.”
“I know!”, Mike exclaimed. “This is the best day of my life.”
“Didn’t you tell me the best day of your life was when we met?”
“Technicalities.”
“The disrespect. I dump your ass, Mike.”
“What about us?”, he responded with a grin.
“We’re friends. We’re friends!”
“Well, we used to be best friends!”, Mike replied, seemingly playing up some sort of inside joke. Will snorted and leaned up on his toes, giving Mike a peck.
“You’re disgusting”, Holly said.
“Wow Holly, maybe these friends were made for you after all!”, Will said cheekily, leaning his head on Mikes shoulder.
“You’re making it a whole Bigot Brigade”, Mike continued.
“I’m killing myself. Seriously”, Holly said exasperated.
“Don’t do that Holls, we need you for the choir”, Mike said. “Can’t do the Hawkins Holiday Homophobic Harmonisation with three people.”
Will giggled. “You’re a dork, Mike.”
“Um…”, Debbie said, catching everyone’s attention. “Why are you like. Like not in drag or something.”
Mike, Will and Holly burst into laughter, cackling like maniacs. Will actually had tears running down his face.
“Why aren’t you?”, Will sniggered, to which Mike gave him a mock-offended glare. “I bet you would look faboulous in drag, Mike.”
“I agree”, Holly giggled. “What’s your Drag Name?”
“Miserable Micheal.”
The trio continued to laugh, mock and joke, failing to notice the three high schoolers leave until they were long gone. Oh well.