wasn't it obvious? [byler]

part 12. Mike

"Thank you!" I say, walking away from the last house I got candy from

I walk back down the driveway and notice that Will isn't there. That girl probably roped him into their new group too.

I start walking to find them but in the corner of my eye, I see someone running. It's Will. I run after him. Shit, he's been weird recently and I think this might be what it is. I'm not even sure what it is though.

I run after him as he walks down a flight of stairs, catching the attention of Lucas and Dustin on the way over. When I find Will, he's bunched up, hands over his ears, eyes closed. He's shaking as if in some sort of dream. I place my hand on his shoulder, moving him as to wake him up from whatever dream-vison thing he's having.

"What's wrong, Will??" I scream

His eyes open and as he looks around, I know something is wrong.

"WILL?? Are you hurt?" I ask again

He's confused but I can see that he's trying to respond. Just as he stares at me, Dustin comes down the stairs, Max and Lucas trailing behind him.

"Oh my god, what's wrong?" Dustin asks, panic in his voice

"I don't know... Will I'm going to get you home, okay? It's gonna be fine." I say trying to relax him

"Here let me help." Lucas says, putting out his hand to steady Will

"No, you guys keep trick-or-treating. I'm bored anyway." I respond, if they weren't helping him before, they can't do any good now. Plus, they don't understand Will as I do.

I can hear Max asking questions as I walk Will to the main road. If Lucas or Dustin tell her anything, I swear to god.

[at Mike's house]

"I get these...these visions. And it's not anything cool, you know? I can't see the future or anything, I can only see the upside down." Will says while sitting on the couch of our basement

"So you're there? In the upside-down again?" I ask trying to understand the situation

"No, it's more like.. like I'm stuck. Between two worlds. Ours and that one...and I can't get out." Will looks at me as he says this

His eyes twinkle with fear. Even here, where virtually nothing could get him, he's scared.

"You're safe here, Will. I am here." I respond

"You don't understand Mike. I'm not safe anywhere. At any time it could just...get me." Will says while looking around the room

"And there was also this...this thing." Will starts

"Like the Demogorgon?" I ask

"No, it's more like a huge shadow, at least 45 feet tall. And it has these huge legs or arms or something. It's alive. And was running towards me." Will responds

"Is it real? Or is it what the doctors say... all in your head?" I ask

"I'm not sure but...please don't tell anyone okay? They won't understand." Will says

He trusts me, and I love that, I really do. But I can't help but wonder why. I mean... I honestly don't understand what he's going through either but I'm trying. And he will get better, I'm sure of it. Well actually, I think I know someone that would understand.

"Eleven would understand. I know it" I say

I look over to Will, his expression is unreadable.

"Sometimes I feel like I still see her... even though she isn't there. I feel like I'm going crazy." I say

"Me too." Will states, looking over at me

I look at his face. His eyes still full of fear, cheeks flushed from the cold. The tips of his ears are red, while his forehead is pale. His lips...move as he breathes. In and out.

I look back up at his eyes.

"Hey, if well, if we're both going crazy, then we'll go crazy together right?" I say

His face seems to light up.

"Yeah, crazy together." He says while laughing

We sit in silence for a moment, still on the couch next to each other. I can feel the warmth of his body next to mine, it's comforting. Through everything that's happened, it's nice to know there's still someone to count on.

"You want a twizzler?" Will asks grabbing one from the pile on the table

"Ew no, who even likes those??" I ask laughing

"What?? I love Twizzlers!" Will says while unwrapping one

We laugh and go through all the candy we got tonight. Even though we left early, there's still a good haul.

[20 minutes later]

"Boys? Jonathan is here to pick Will up." My mom calls down as Will and I are attempting to stack our candy

The stack falls as I answer,

"Okay, we'll be up in a second."

Will's packing up as I clean up the trash.

"Thanks for tonight, sorry I kinda ruined it." Will says

"You didn't ruin it at all, but at least we can't have a worst year next year." I answer laughing

"Yeah, for sure." Will responds

We stand up and walk over to each other. I'm not sure why, it just kinda...feels right? I look at Will and he looks up at me. He's only about 2 inches shorter than me but it feels like a lot more.

"Well, I should get going." Will says

"Yeah...wait," I say, "I know all of this is difficult to get through, with all the upside-down and everything. But, I'm always here for you, okay?"

I touch his arm as I say this

"You can tell me anything." I continue

He looks down at his arm, then back up to me. He pulls me into a hug, I didn't expect that... We pull apart and Will's eyes are filled with tears.

"Oh, I didn't mean to upset you.." I say

"NO! No, you didn't. I just- Thank you, Mike." He responds

We're interrupted by my mom yelling to us.

"Mike?? You guys done?" she says

Will walks up the stairs, I stay down here. I hear the door close behind him and Jonathan, I walk up the stairs. And then to my bedroom.

I don't understand how I feel, yet I know, I've never felt this way.