I Hope We're Still Friends.

Chapter 1

Summer rain. It was always my favorite thing about the warmer months. That color the sky turned as the rain poured down onto this little town called Hawkins was somehow enchanting. The strange feeling of being hit by the cool droplets, but being surrounded by the hot and sticky air, it always seemed to take my mind away from this place. Away from all of its misery, or even its mysteries. 

I get up off of my bed, and walk out into the living area. Jonathan is out with Nancy and mom is at work. Home alone. I unlatch the lock on the front door and step out into the yard. Its just me, the rain and the humid air around me. I walk out off of the porch onto the patchy grass that is more like a mountain of weeds at this point, and lie down on my back. 

I stare up at the sky, and let the rain fall onto me. In this moment, I feel unstoppable. As if I just ran across a train track and missed a train only inches away from me. But at the same time, I feel as if I'm being hugged. Like being wrapped up in a huge blanket by a nice fire. I've missed this. Feeling safe. Feeling as if I matter in this world. I stay there for a while, just watching the world around me move and change slowly. The clouds above me, the birds in the trees. Its all there, but it changes.

 A tall figure with curly black hair moves towards me. Suddenly I sit up, and acknowledge the person standing in front of me. Michael Wheeler. 

Mike has been my friend since forever. As far as I am concerned, he is probably my best friend. He was there for me when no one else was. He never gave up on me when things became... weird. Of course, I had so many people with me. For God's sake, I had the whole town by my side, but none of it felt right. A thousand people all watching your next move, waiting for you to snap. They all just wanted to be the hero of the story. But Mike... He was just there. He made me feel as if I wasn't a freak, as if I was deserving enough to have someone special for me.

"Hey Will." I stand up to face him. He was taller than me, but I could still look into his chocolate brown eyes without having to look up. "Hey." I nod at him. We stand there in silence. Me and Mike in the warm summer rain. I suddenly realized how drenched he was, and how odd I must've looked, lying in the pouring rain.

"Oh, would you like to come in?" He smiles at me as I lead him into the house, through the living area and into my bedroom. I sit down onto the bed as he sits across from me on the chair at my desk. I look at him, waiting for him to explain why he's here. Nothing. I clear my throat, hoping that it would help him to snap out of this weird state he was in, and realize that it was me right in front of him. Will Byers, his best friend since kindergarten. He blinks a bit, then stands up off of the chair.

"Right, sorry. I was just... I wanted to see how you were going. I haven't heard from you in a few days. You haven't answered whenever I call." I look up at him, and smile a reassuring smile at him. "Yeah, sorry Mike. Everything has been kind of crazy these past few days, you know. With my mom working extra shifts, she's been giving me all these errands to run. But I promise you, I'll be able to hangout again soon." This is a lie. Well, half of it. Mom is working double shifts, but she hasn't given me any chores that must be done. Instead she's been telling me to go out and see my friends. All I've been doing is lying in bed all day, not leaving unless I really need to.

"Well, are you busy now?" Mike asks as he takes a seat next to me on the bed. I think about what to say. I really do want to hang out with Mike. "No, I'm free." He smiles at me. That beautiful Mike Wheeler smile. I could look at that smile for days and never get tired of it. "Good." He stands up and offers me a hand. I take it, and stand up beside him. "We're going to Starcourt."