"MATERIAL GIRL" // Will Byers x Reader

Mall Rats // CHAPTER FIVE

CAUSE WE ARE LIVING IN A MATERIAL WORLD 

'Show me again,' I say, flipping Max's old skateboard up and catching it. 

Max demonstrates the skill, looking like a professional. 'See? It's easy.' 

'Easy?' I scoff. 'I'm never going to be able to do that.' 

I hop on the skateboard, tripping over my own feet. The skateboard goes rolling away from me, stopping at someone's feet. 

'Hi,' El says, using her foot to catch the board. 

'Hi?' I ask, taking in her expression. 'Is something wrong?' 

'Can we talk?' She looks between Max and I. 

'-And then he said he... he missed me.' El shakes her head, laying her head back on Max's pillow. 'And then he just hung up.'

I gulp, remembering the conversation between Mike and El on the phone earlier. Him and his lies about Nana. 

'He's a piece of shit.' Max says loudly. 

'What?' El frowns, her eyes widening. 

'Mike doesn't have jack shit to do today, and his Nana obviously isn't sick.' Max rolls her eyes. 'I guarantee you, him and Lucas are playing Atari right now.' 

'Maybe he's-' 

'But friends don't lie.' El points out. 

'Yeah, well, boyfriends lie.' Max flops down on her bed. 'All the time.'

'I don't know about that,' I say slowly. 

'That's cause Will's a fricking saint,' Max blows out a breath. 'Mike, however..' 

'Maybe he has a good reason?' I suggest. El and Max both stare at me like I'm an alien. 'Look, I know Mike pretty well. And I know he can be annoying, but he would never do anything to hurt you on purpose.' 

'Then, why does he lie?' El chews on her lip. 

'I said he means well, not that he makes good decisions,' I say, sighing. 'I think you should-' 

'You're going to stop calling him.' Max interrupts me, flipping her red hair behind her back. 'You're going to ignore his calls. As far as you're concerned, he doesn't exist.'

'Doesn't exist?' El repeats. 

'He treated you like garbage. You're gonna treat him like garbage.' Max pauses. 'Give him a taste of his own medicine.'

'Give him the medicine.'

'Mm-hmm.' Max smiles.  'And if he doesn't fix this, if he doesn't explain himself, dump his ass.' 

Oh boy, this is going to be bad. 

El scratched the back of her neck. 'I've never...liked anyone before. I don't think I can dump his ass.' 

'It's not something you just do in the moment,' I say, giving Max a look. 'It's better to think it through before you act irrationally.' 

'Irrationally?' 

'Quickly, or without further evidence.' I explain. 

'Or, you could just do it and wait for Mike to come crawling back,' Max sighs. 'Trust me, I know. I've been through this with Lucas like twenty times.' 

'Hey, uh, lets go do something fun,' I say, changing the subject. 'You guys wanna go to Starcourt?' 

Max nods. 'Let's do it.'