𝐎𝐑 𝐒𝐇𝐎𝐔𝐋𝐃 𝐈 𝐆𝐎 - 𝐵𝑌𝐿𝐸𝑅

Daring, You've Got To Let Me Know

Day Three After The Earthquake

Will

"I can't live without you. I feel like my life started the day we found you in the woods."

Will's hands curl further into the comforter currently shielding his body from the world. He knows the others are awake, some getting ready to head to the high school, others returning to the house with more supplies. Will can hear Joyce and Karen talking in the kitchen, discussing their next moves and possibly leaving Hawkins. He hopes his mom convinces her to stay.

Will wants to think about the parties next move, about how they'll reverse the damage and finds Vecna and finish this fight for real- but all he can think about is Mike's words from the pizza place, bouncing around his head and leaving his thoughts a confusing convolution of mess. Will wants to think about Max, about how to help her wake up- or how to get Dustin to stop staring at the hellfire tshirt he refuses to wear anymore.

He can't.

"I know your under there." A hand falls on his shoulder over the blanket. Jonathan. Because who else would it be? Who else would actually care enough to wonder why he's still tucked away in the corner of the living room on the half deflated air mattress. Two years ago, mike would have. His mind is beings its usual annoying self, apparently. "Do you want breakfast? Mrs. Wheeler made eggs and toast." Will shakes his head, not even bothering to lift it off the pillow that regretfully still smells faintly like Mike. Fuck.

"Okay, i'm gonna go meet Lucas and Nance at the hospital to check on Max. I think mom, hopper, and Ja- uhm El, are gonna go to the house to get some stuff. Do you wanna go?" Will shakes his head again, before lifting it suddenly and looking around with a frown. The room is empty, Dustin probably home with his distraught mom and Mike with El. "You sure you wanna stay here alone?" He asks, a worried note in his voice.

Will thinks about the storm, the dead plants, the ash in the air, and then about having to sit next to El in a car for ten hours without breaking down. "I'll be okay, i think i'll just sleep if Mrs. Wheelers okay with that." Jonathan looks concerned for a moment before letting out a deep breath.

"Okay. Just... radio if you need anything- okay?" Will nods, satisfied Jonathan stands from his crouch and grabs his bag off the coffee table. Will watches until the front door closes, flopping back down on the mattress to watch the wall for the next... however long. It doesn't take long before the memories start their assault again, Mike holding on so tight to El and professing his love. His birthday, when they fought because Will was just desperate for a sliver of attention. The car, when Mike only watched as Will practically professed his love for the other teen- only to turn those words around and use them for El.

"You're the heart you always have been."

Will should be happy for his friend- and he wants to be, he does. But he also can't help but feel this sharp sensation in his gut every time he imagines the two of them together- the way Mike seemed to forget about Will anytime she was in the room. He can't stand it.

"Will? You awake?" He pops up at the sound of Mike's mom's voice. She stands a few feet away, a gentle smile on her face as always. "I'm going to go help a friend for a little while, i'm taking Holly so don't worry about her. You'll be okay? It's just down the street." Will tries not to frown at her concern. Is she so worried he'll do something in few minutes that she's gone?

"Yeah that's okay- i'm just gonna sleep some more." His voice is a near whisper, that ever present anxiety once again returning anytime he talks to an adult. She leaves with a smile and a frown at Holly when she sees the young girl digging through the Byers' things. When the door shuts, Will finds himself unable to just lay back down when his stomach rumbles unhappily.