wheeler house
will byers
i don't think mike was really able to sleep that night. i would wake up a few times and he'd be crying, and when i woke up he was sitting in his floor with his face covered. he looked like a total wreck. i got off the bed and sat beside him. i pulled him close to me, he was asleep. i extended my legs and laid him down completely so he was laying on my lap. karen walked in.
"oh, hi will! is mike alright?" she looked down at him. i nodded.
"he just didn't get much sleep, that's all." i said quietly.
"oh well, if you wanna wake him up you guys can come down for breakfast. have you seen nancy?" i got quiet.
"KAREN! COME LOOK AT THE NEWS!" ted yelled from downstairs. she gave me a confused look, and walked out closing the door. mike opened his eyes.
"will?" i smiled at him.
"your mom made breakfast, are you in the mood to eat?" i asked him, he sat up and rubbed his eyes.
"yeah." i stood up and extended my hand for him to grab. he laid his head on my shoulder.
"do me a favor and take a shower after we eat, not that you smell bad but it'll make you feel better." he hugged me.
"okay." he's being more clingy than usual. we walked downstairs and mrs wheeler was on the couch crying. mike let go of me and walked over to her.
"mom? what's wrong?" he sat down beside her and she hugged him. i sat down beside mike.
"it's nancy, s-she died in the mall fire!" mike went silent. i grabbed his hand and squeezed it.
"mike? it's gonna be okay-" he got up and went outside. mrs wheeler looked at me and i ran after him. "mike!" i grabbed his hand. "look at me." he looked at me and tears were streaming down his face. i hugged him. i didn't know how to help him. i started to cry too. i squeezed him tighter.
"i love you so much will." he shakily said. i buried my face in his chest.
"i love you too. come on mike, let's go inside." he pulled away from me and stared at the ground. i gently grabbed his hand and took him inside, we walked up to his room. i sat down on his bed and he left the room to take a shower. i looked around his room, he had some binder and i looked in it, it was filled with my drawings. i smiled. i set the binder back down, and i walked over to a table he had. with all of our trophies, and there was a picture of me, him, lucas and dustin. i smiled again, he also had a picture of us four at halloween. i laid back down on his bed, and stared at the ceiling. mike walked into his bedroom, wet curly hair covering his face and the only thing covering his lower body was a towel. his chest was still dripping with water. i blushed and and looked up at his face. he was blushing as well and then he walked over to his closet.
"do you feel better, mike?" i asked him.
"yeah. i guess." he said softly. i looked at him and he was putting on a shirt. he looked at me and tears were starting to fill his eyes. i gave him a sad look and then i walked over to him. he hugged me. he didn't deserve this.
"it's gonna be okay mike, i'm right here. i'm always right here okay?" he fell quiet. i don't know if he was silently crying now or if he just stopped. i sat down on the floor, bringing him with me. he laid down in my lap and i stroked his hair.
