wasn't it obvious? [byler]

part 9. Dustin

Lucas and I are biking home, silently.

"Is something going on between Mike and Will..?" Lucas asks, breaking the silence

I know he doesn't mean in a 'crush' sort of way but I honestly question that sometimes.

Not that they're gay. I think.

But if they were, could you imagine the bullying?? Jeez.

"I don't know, they've been fighting a lot recently. They're just close though, you know? I doubt anything's wrong." I say, but that's a lie. I know something's off.

"Hm... okay, see you tomorrow Dustin." Lucas says as he turns onto his street

The sunlight is almost all gone as I ride home. The leaves kick up as I ride home, along with the trash that some teenagers probably threw out of their car windows.

Thinking about it a little more, I really do think something is wrong. I always played it up to the fact that Will and Mike are so close, I mean they've been friends longer than any four of us. I know they aren't fighting over Eleven, Will has never been interested in girls or anything, and Mike wouldn't get so mad over Will just mentioning her name.

Maybe there's something I don't know about.

Like, what if something happened before Lucas and I got there... or possibly a while ago. The fights have been going on for a while.

For example, it was about 6 days ago when I saw Mike and Will in the AV club room. Without Lucas and I. It's not abnormal for them to do stuff without us but the AV club, really?? I walked by on my way to break and I heard them laughing. But later, I heard them fighting, quietly.

I don't know, maybe I just haven't noticed them when they're like this...

[6 days ago]

I'm walking by Mr. Clarke's room when I hear laughing. I peek in, and to my surprise, it's Mike and Will.

They're holding up a piece of paper, a drawing maybe, and laughing at it.

I start opening the door to walk in, but I feel Lucas grabbing my shoulder.

"Hey man, why are you going into class? AV club meets tomorrow." Lucas questions

I turn to him, frowning.

I slightly push him away from me and we start walking outside.

"I saw Mike and Will in there... Do you ever think- No. No, never mind." I say, cutting myself off

"What?" Lucas says, obviously not catching my drift

"Well, they're always hanging out. I don't wanna make this about me but do you ever think they don't want to be friends with us...?" I ask

"Hell no man," Lucas says, his eyebrow in the air, "They wouldn't last a day without us. Don't worry about it. I'm sure they just had some homework or something."

We start walking away but are abruptly greeted by Mike and Will.

"Hey, guys, ready for the greatest campaign tonight??" Mike asks with the biggest smile on his face

Mike looks at Will and they give each other a slight smile.

[later that day]

It's the middle of the day now, I have history class with Lucas, Mike and Will have science with Mr. Clarke.

I'm walking by the AV club room once again to use the restroom and I hear some people fighting.

It's coming from the AV room. And of course, it's Mike and Will. I only hear snippets of the conversation but it kinda sounded like:

"Jeez, not this again... Why are you so defensive over that?... Whatever, that's not what I was even saying."

I can't tell who's talking but just as I get closer and can hear a little more, our principal, Mr. Davis, asks what I'm doing and if I have a hall pass.

Thanks for interrupting.

[present]

I'm almost home now but I feel like the pieces are coming together.

Will has always been a little...off..? Not in a bad way but he's never had a crush on a girl. Ever. But if he had a crush on a guy... I doubt he'd tell anyone. No, what am I even thinking... there's no way he's gay.

And Mike... He's always had a soft spot for Will, even before he went missing. I thought he liked El but the way he treated her was nothing compared to Will. Maybe I don't understand because I'm not as good friends with them.

Author's note: This is the first chapter with Dustin as the narrator! I'm thinking about doing more outside narrators because I've always wondered what they thought in the show. Let me know what other characters I should add as narrators!! And again, thank you for reading!