Risk | Byler

12 - Love

Hours later, in the morning, the whole group gathered in Mike’s basement before going to Max’s funeral. They were all dressed in black.

They were unable to meet at the cabin because the adults were still at the hospital. Jonathan and Nancy were the only people at the cabin, but they were already going to pick up the kids from the Wheeler’s house.

It was a rainy day.

Steve, Robin and Dustin were quiet, having some tea as breakfast. El and Lucas were crying, silently, sitting on the couch.

Nobody could process or accept the fact that Max was dead.

Will was sitting in a chair, alone, in one of the basement’s corners.

In part, he felt guilty of everything that happened to Max. He wasn’t crying, but he felt like he was dying of pain inside.

Will decided to leave the room and wait for Jonathan outside.

Mike saw Will and then followed him.

When Will got out of the house, he noticed it was raining heavily, so he stayed in the garage to wait for Jonathan.
He just couldn’t handle being in the basement with all his friends suffering.

- Hi. - Mike said, behind him.

- Hi… - Will replied, without looking at Mike, just looking at the pouring rain.

It was a bit of an awkward moment, in fact, so Mike decided to break the silence.

- Aren’t we going to talk about it? - Mike asked.

- About what? - Will replied, still uninterested.

- About… everything. Maybe we could start with the painting, right? - Mike said.

Will sighed.

   

- I don’t know what you expect from me to say about it, Mike. - He said.

- Did you lie? - Mike asked.

- Is it the right moment to talk about this? - Will said, staring at him, serious. - Our friend is dead, Mike. - He added.

- I know, Will. But we'll go to that funeral and then probably we're gonna try to kill Vecna, we're still in danger, you are. I wouldn't even know that you fainted last night if El hadn't told me.

Why are you pulling yourself away from me? What if one of us dies too? - Mike exclaimed, a little angry.

Well, Mike was right in something. They were still in danger.

Will wasn't really in a mood to talk at the moment, but he accepted, he would give Mike the answers he needed.

- Okay, I lied. - Will said, still serious.

- Why? - Mike asked. - What was the reason?

- It doesn't matter anymore, Mike. Now you are dating Eleven again, so whatever the lie was for, it worked for you. And I'm truly happy about it, but-

- I'm not dating El, Will. - Mike interrupted.

Will was surprised about what Mike had just said.

- You're not…? - He asked, hesitant.

- No, no i'm not. Whatever you thought yesterday, it was just a misunderstanding and…

Mike's face expression suddenly changed. Why was Will talking about Eleven again?

- And? - Will said, waiting for Mike to finish the sentence.