“And us?” Will challenges. He looks Mike directly in the eye, nearly taking Mike’s breath away once again. Mike’s heart races inside his chest.
“We’re friends,” Mike says defensively. The implications of Will’s words aren’t lost on him, so for good measure, Mike emphasizes, “We’re friends, Will.”
“Yeah well, we used to be best friends, Mike!” Will shouts, and his voice cracks again.
Or:
In the aftermath of the Battle of Starcourt, Owens immediately sends the Byers and El away from Hawkins with specific instructions to not contact anyone until things have cooled down. Now, nearly two years later, Mike finds himself in California for what will either be the best—or the worst—spring break of his life.