Byler's Clarity

Clarity

High dive into frozen waves

Where the past comes back to life

The tears ran down the youngest Byers's face as he ran his thumb over the old photograph, his salty sadness falling down onto his friend's faces, and his own, smiling proudly, holding the science fair trophy.

How happy they were back then... before the Demogorgon stole him from this dimension and chased him around in his, and killed Nancy's friend Barb

Fight fear for the selfish pain

It was worth it every time

"Stupid, stupid, stupid..." he muttered, shivering, not from the cold rain pattering down on the small wooden fort, but from the cold, harsh words that his best friend said only ten minutes ago, shivering because of the mean rejection of everyone in the party...

And the image of Eleven's lips on Mike's crossed his mind, the sickening burn in his chest as his eyes looked into Mike's...

"It's not my fault you don't like girls!"

Hold still right before we crash

'Cause we both know how this ends

He knew it was wrong, but he couldn't fight the passion he felt for the curly haired teen. I mean, his girlfriend played a huge part in saving his life, but...

Nothing hurt more than seeing the boy you love kiss a girl... in front of you...

And he knew. He knew that Mike didn't care, and would never reciprocate his feelings...

A clock ticks till it breaks your glass

And I drown in you again

"STUPID!" Will shrieks, tearing the photo in half, dropping it onto the ground, and, in a rage, started to destroy Castle Byers, along with the memories that came with it, and soon all that was left of his childhood sanctuary was some broken logs and ruined drawings and photographs

'Cause you are the piece of me

I wish I didn't need

The tears mingled with the rain as he walked away. He was done. He just wanted to forget these past few years, he wanted to forget Mike and his tear filled eyes as he tried to convince the Mind Flayer out of him, he wanted to forget how concerned Mike was when he first started having episodes

Chasing relentlessly

Still fight and I don't know why

He kicked aside a wet branch as he walked home, cutting through the trees, wanting the soft comfort of a blanket and a pencil and sketchbook, a cold numbness settling over his mind and heart, reminding him faintly of the Mind Flayer

If our love is tragedy, why are you my remedy?

If our love's insanity, why are you my clarity?

Water dripped off of his jaw as he stepped into the house, kicking his shoes off and slamming the door behind him. He marched into his room, closing his blinds and threw himself onto his bed.

"Crazy together."

Bullshit.

If our love is tragedy, why are you my remedy?

If our love's insanity, why are you my clarity?

Mike watched his best friend ride away into the rain, a stubborn angry guilt awakening inside of him

Why did he say that?

That was such a contradictory thing to say!

He marched back inside and got ready to go after him

Walk on through a red parade

And refuse to make amends

He dropped his bike onto the ground in front of the Byers's home

And, like he did a year or so ago,

He screamed his best friend's name and pounded on the door, hoping for an answer that he would never get

It cuts deep through our ground

And makes us forget all common sense

Mike turned and left Lucas to follow him to Castle Byers, running, his sneakers soaked down to his socks when he finally arrived at Castle Byers, the fort ruined. Concern started to rise in his chest... last time Will had mysteriously vanished was when he was captured and dragged into the Upside Down... and the reasoning that the gate was closed, closed by his girlfriend fled his mind

Don't speak as I try to leave

'Cause we both know what we'll choose

He looked down at Lucas, his breathing quickening

And they both turned tail and ran back to the Byers house

And saw his brother's car in the driveway

If you pull, then I'll push too deep

And I'll fall right back to you

Will heard Mike and Lucas pounding on the door

But he was so tired

Emotionally drained

He wanted nothing else than solitude

And wanted to never see Mike's face ever again

'Cause you are the piece of me

I wish I didn't need

He heard them run off

Then come back

And Jonathan turned them away, knowing his brother's wishes

Chasing relentlessly

Still fight and I don't know why

He felt eternally grateful to his older brother in that moment, laying face down, music playing softly in the background

If our love is tragedy, why are you my remedy?

If our love's insanity, why are you my clarity?

He started to aimlessly sketch as he heard his brother rummage around in the kitchen

His mind sliding in between focus, the emotions and memories becoming fuzzy and numb

Why are you my clarity?

Why are you my remedy?

He found himself sketching the familiar groves and outlines of his face

And as he realized what he was doing, his eyes started to water

In anger, he ripped out the page and flung it across the room

Why are you my clarity?

Why are you my remedy?

Then, a knock sounded at his door

Soft and gentle

"Will?"

If our love is tragedy, why are you my remedy?

If our love's insanity, why are you my clarity?

"I don't want to talk, Mom." Will murmured, his eyes trained on the door.

He heard his mother sigh, and footsteps receded down the hallway.

His eyes fell to the paper with the half finished sketch of Mike's face, crumpled up on the floor, and the knot in his chest grew. It rose up in his throat, he started to shake. Tears fell onto the beige bed sheets as he fell back onto his bed, soft sobs racking his body.

That night, he cried himself to sleep, and never saw Mike again.