Risk | Byler

8 - Wonder

It was almost midnight.

Mike had been trying to sleep for over an hour, but he couldn’t even close his eyes.

What did that letter mean? What did the painting mean?

What did Will really mean when he gave it to him in the van?

And, weirdest of all.. Why was Mike so affected by it?

Mike got up from his bed and turned the lights on. Then, grabbed the painting he left in his bag. In fact, he never unpacked since they arrived at Hawkins again.

He opened the painting and admired it.

Was he really the heart? Was it really about the group?

Oh, the details in his shield and armor were so well painted. Will was a great artist.

Mike tried to decipher the true meaning of that painting, but how could he? It was such a beautiful work of art because Will painted it for him, and he was really talented. He couldn’t even remember what he was looking for.

So, maybe, he should better remain silent and say nothing. Maybe Will himself would show him the answer, even if Mike didn't really know what his question was.

By the other side, at the cabin (now the Hopper/Byers house) El and Will were in El's room.

El was sitting on her bed, while Will was lying on a mattress that was placed for him on the floor of the room.

El was kinda disappointed, but she promised Will she would let him sleep in her room due to his nightmares. Besides, Will didn't have to know she was upset with him, at least, not yet.

They were both lost in their inner bubble, thinking about the weird day they had had.

Will was wondering why Mike didn’t tell him about Eddie, about his new club. Then, he remembered how he acted when he got to California. Maybe Mike was just trying to stay away from him.

- How could I be so stupid? - Will whispered to himself.

- Why do you say that? - El asked.

“Shit” Will thought.

- Oh, - He said, looking at Eleven. - It’s nothing, I was just thinking.

- Are you.. still mad at Mike? - Eleven inquired.

- What? I’m not mad at him, not at all. - Will replied, with some sadness on his face.

- Then why didn’t you talk to him at the store? - El asked

- Because I don’t want to bother him anymore, El. It’s been enough with my nightmares while I stayed at his house. It must have been too exhausting for him to spend so much time with me when he clearly wants to stay away from me.

- What? - Eleven asked, confused. - Why do you say that? He doesn’t want to stay away from you, you’re his friend!

Oh, Will didn’t know which hurted the most: bothering Mike or being just his friend.

- Then why does he lie to me? He says I’m his friend but then he hides things from me, he doesn’t even want to make physical contact with me, El. And I thought it was just in California, but he did it before too, keeping that stupid club in secret and who knows what else.

- Maybe the distance makes it too hard to maintain such a friendship, Will.

- But it wasn’t that hard for him to deal with a relationship. - Will said, not thinking about it before.