The Next-Door Down

Unpopular

After school you end up loitering around the bike sheds whilst Lucas radioed Mike and Dustin ate what you assumed was the remainder of his seemingly never ending lunch.

You'd hung out with them for the whole day and honestly it felt good to have friends. It was a nice distraction from the current events.

So much shit was going on in your life that you found it hard to comprehend it all.

Lucas kept running his hand through his hair, his eye-line not moving from his walkie talkie.

You found yourself leaning against your bike as you tried not to think about the lab and whatever that girl had against you.

"Mike..Come in...Do you copy.. over.." Lucas frantically hisses into the radio.

"Maybe the girl has hurt him!" Dustin says, spraying bits of his nougat everywhere.

"That's disgusting" Lucas says, glancing at the muck on his top.

"Yeah, I can't imagine hurting someone like Mike.. he's just too.. mikey" Dustin sighs, clearly not getting the gist of the conversation.

Lucas just stares and rolls his eyes at his friend, making you smirk slightly.

Although the mention of hurt had brought back memories of the can that had been chucked at your face, you didn't dwell on it.

As thoughts race through your head, you notice a faint crackly sound lingering in the air

The three of you turn your attention to the noise as it escaped from the contraption.

"This is Mike.. I copy." The voice says, solemnly.

"Oh Mike thank god.. we thought the weirdo had... well... nevermind. Are you okay?" Lucas speaks into the radio.

"Yes.. and so is El." Mike says, "I just stayed off today to help her, don't worry guys I'm fine... over."

"What.. you're giving her nicknames now?" Lucas says, a little frustrated, "I thought you didn't like girls... and remember... we're taking her back to the asylum first chance we get. Over."

"No that's her name. El. Short for-" Mike stops speaking and for a moment you thought that he'd just gone but then he spoke again.

"You know what. Just come to mine. I have to show you something that you won't believe. It's- It's to do with Will." Mike pauses again. "And the girl."

"Roger that, we'll be on our way in a minute over and out."

Lucas replies but just as he starts to lower his walkies antenna and pull his bike from the shed, Mike speaks again.

"Lucas."

"Yeah." He says, looking a little frustrated to be honest.

"Don't bring y/n."

Lucas didn't reply.

He simply just shut off the walkie before staring at you as if judging you.

Even Dustin seemed to be weighing up what to do.

The two of them shared a look, probably remembering how 'El' said that you were bad and from the lab.

You wondered who they'd trust.

Her or you.

You find yourself clenching your fists as the sweat beads on your forehead.

"Screw that." Lucas says, giving you a smile, "You're one of us now, no matter what Mike says."

You grin and climb onto your bike, the smile not fading.

"But.. if Mike yells it's not my fault." Lucas says to Dustin before pedalling really fast away from him.

"Hey!" He shouts back, quickening his pace.

You roll your eyes at their naivety as you follow them towards the wheeler house.