Just Friends - Byler

I

' It's not my fault you don't like girls ! ' Those words had been running through Mikes head for the past week. Almost sort of mocking him in some type of evil way. He didn't mean for those words to slip out, they just did.

Why was he such a jerk to Will?
All he wanted was to play D & D.
It haunted him, Mike wished he could go back in time so badly. Tell Will he's sorry and give him a hug.

' I'm not tryna be a jerk, ok? '
Mike knew exactly what he was implying when he said Will didn't like girls because he thought it first. The look on Wills face made it even worse, he was angry. Will never gets angry.
Mike wanted to erase the whole argument out of Wills memory like a chalkboard, but he couldn't and that made him feel even more guilty.

That same summer Will moved to California, after everything they've been through. Mike knew he had to say sorry, he wanted to apologize so badly but it was too late. Will was gone.
Mike sat at lunch thinking of that horrible memory over and over. He wanted to cry then and there, but what would he say if the party saw?

He then daydreamed of giving Will a big hug, resting his chin on his head.
Saying ' sorry ' over again and again.

' I'm sorry '
' I'm sorry '
' I'm sorry '

"Mike..." the voice sounded like it was coming from under water.
"Mike!" It got louder but still sounded like it was in a pool of water.
"MIKE" Max shouted, almost shoving Mike off of the bench where the party was sitting for lunch.
Max is a freckled ' annoying '
red head who skateboards, I bet you can smell her personality from the way she just almost shoved Mike off the bench, she hates Mike. Kinda.

"Are you listening in dipshit?" Max asks in a sarcastic tone, as always.
"Whatever," she continues on without letting Mike give an answer. "Are you coming to the arcade with us after school?"

"Yeah I guess." Whatever gets my stupid mind off of Will Byers.

Dustin nudged Mike in the shoulder playfully and begins saying, "Hey dude cheer up! You love the arcade."
Mike fakes a smile.

• • • TIME SKIP • • •

The last bell of the day rang and everyone was in a rush to head home for spring break. The party met up at the bike rack and made plans on what time they should head to the arcade.

" How about 4 pm?"Lucas suggests.
"Too early, I need to finish a missing essay for English." Dustin stated.
"Ok... 4:30 then?" Lucas requests.
"4:30's good for me." Max answers.
"Yup me too." Mike mumbles.

With that, they all head home and get busy with whatever they need to do.
Mike being Mike immediately thought to call Will the second he got home, not even giving himself the time to take off his jacket and shoes.

"Mike! You're tracking mud in the house." Karen shouts as she pulls ingredients out of the cabinets to make dinner for the family.

Mike rolls his eyes and quickly kicks his shoes off while dialing the Byers residence. He stands there like and idiot waiting for the phone to finish ringing, he soon has a lump in his throat after hearing it ring for a while and goes against calling the Byers residence.

• • • AT THE BYERS RESIDENCE • • •

Will sat at his desk fidgeting with his favorite blue pen, he was writing a letter to Mike. Well at least trying to.
He couldn't seem to think of what to write, his mind was blank.
Maybe tell him about school? No. El does enough of that already.

Mike.
Mike.
Mike.
Should I call him? No, he's probably busy with his own problems.

Dear Mike,
It's Will.
I forgot to tell you something very exciting last time we wrote with each other - that was a week ago. Anyways, here is the news... I AM VISITING HAWKINS FOR SPRING BREAK!
I hope you and the party are as excited as me and Eleven are, we really miss you guys so much. Eleven misses you Mike, I mean I bet you know that. I hear you guys on the phone for hours every other day. When she's not calling you she's calling Max and they're on there for even longer! Anyways, I fear I'm coming off as a bit jealous so I'm gonna end this letter off on a good note. Over and out!

Sincerely, Will Byers

Time rewritten: March 8, 2022 6:18 am
Word count: 771 words