Nothing More- Mike Wheeler

The Other Mother

I woke up in an empty house. I guess Mike and Eleven made up so he took her back to his house. I wish I could be there when Mike announces to the party that Will is actually alive.

"Penny? Do you copy? Penelope? Hello? Answer? Penelope?"

Speak of the devil.

I run to my room and grab my walkie to answer Mike. I don't know how people lived without walkies. Yeah, telephones are great but walkies are way better. No ringing, just waiting for an answer when you know your friend is on the other side.

"I copy, what happened? You're calling me like a madman."

"Can you come over, Dustin and Lucas are on their way and I need backup from what happened They won't believe me."

"Mike you're fine with skipping school again? What will your mom think?"

"Screw school, we need to find Will."

"On my way."

I run to brush my teeth and put on some decent clothes. I grab my blue hoodie, black jeans, and an oversized jean jacket. This outfit is kind of my go-to when it comes to last-minute outfits. I quickly brush my brown hair, I never try with my hair because it's so thick and unmanageable.

My watch, I need to have my watch. Where is it? When did I take it off?

I search my room before I remember that I slept in my parent's room and rushed off to find my watch. I can't live without it. Really. What if I get stuck in an alternate universe and I need to start a timer to see how long I was stuck there? What if I'm in the woods and the sun never comes up or goes down? I think time is a very important factor in my life.

I grab my bike and head over to the Wheelers. I park my bike in the driveway and I catch Mrs. Wheeler on her way out.

Great.

"Hi sweetie, I was so glad your parents came back into town! It was great news. Oh, Mike won't be going to school today. You caught me a great time, leave your bike here and I'll give you a ride."

"NO! I mean, that won't be necessary. I was just coming to check on Mike, you know cause of what happened with Will." I look down to try to sell her that I'm sad. I'm not sure if it's working.

I know what will work.

I start sobbing. Tears burn out of my eyes. Mrs. Wheeler bends down to hug me. The stream wetting the side of her shirt.

This feels like the first time I cried to Mrs. Wheeler, it was when my dog died a few years ago. My parents were out of town and my sweet boy Milo passed away in his sleep. He was the only one I had when I came home everyday. He was my best friend and I still miss him. I came to the Wheelers house sobbing uncontrollably. I have no idea how I was able to ride my bike while crying but it happened. Mrs. Wheeler comforted me more than my mother has. She spent the whole day with me, trying to make me feel better. We went to the movies with Mike, had dinner, and had ice cream. The day was perfect and she made me feel so much better.

"Oh sweetie, come on. Stay here with Mike, you guys will make each other feel better. I'm so sorry, I hope you feel better. Stay as long as you like." She guides me into the house and onto the couch. "I have to go, but make yourself at home, please. I'll see you soon." She kisses the top of my head after she puts a blanket on me. She's the best, she's what I wanted my mom to be like. Instead, she's worried about seeing the world on her own, without my dad and without me.

Mike comes down the stairs as soon as he heard his mom leaving. "Good cover, the others should be here soon. Come on let's wait for them downstairs"

+++++++++++++++++++++

"We keep losing the signal, but you heard it, right?" Mike was trying to convince the others that we heard Will by having Eleven contact him again.

"Yeah, I heard a baby." Lucas was definitely not convinced. He didn't believe Mike or me. Dustin had hope and was optimistic.

"What?"

"Mike you obviously tapped into a baby monitor. It's probably the Blackburns' next door."

"Lucas, I heard Will too. Mike isn't the only witness. Will is out there and it's our job to find him, someone is covering up his death and is responsible for his disappearance. Maybe it's just the walkie, maybe we need something stronger." I was always the best at trying to convince the boys to do something. A few years ago I was able to convince the party to eat a bowl of mayonnaise and olives because it tasted like ice cream once they were almost done with the bowl. Of course they were angry at me because it wasn't true but it was funny to watch them gag with every bite they took.

But this time I know Lucas isn't buying my words.

"Did you guys not see what I saw? They pulled Will's body out of the water. He's dead!"

"Well, maybe it's his ghost. Maybe he's haunting us." I love how Dustin is not completely with us on this because he doesn't want to leave Lucas out but he is still trying to be on both sides.

"It's not his ghost." Mike is getting irritated.

"How do you know that?"

"I just do!" Mike is very angry now, angry that Eleven can't contact Will again and angry for the boys being stubborn.

"Then what was in that water?"

"I don't know! All I know is Will is alive. Will is alive! He's out there somewhere. All we have to do is find him. . . Pen is right, we need to get El to a stronger radio." Some encouragement from Mike is always the best.

I practically saw the light bulb light up in Dustin's head, " Mr. Clarke's Heathkit ham shack."

"Yeah! Great idea dusty." Encouraging my boys is a great feeling to have.

"The Heathkit's at school. There is no way we're going to get the weirdo in there without anyone noticing. I mean look at her." Lucas says with a annoyed tone in his voice.

"I'll give her a makeover, I mean I have some experience with make-up." The only experience I have is covering up my bruises but it's more experience then anyone else in the room.

"You are going to give her a makeover? You're gonna make her look like you, which will make her look more like a boy." Sometimes Lucas can be really annoying but I still love him.

"Screw off Lucas, come on Eleven, let's go to Nancy's room." I grab her hand and lead her to Nancy's bed.

When I would stay late on week days sometimes Mike still had to finish his homework and Nancy would invite me to her room, we would read magazines or, she would dress me up and put make up on me and we'd have fashion shows. It was so fun and I always considered Nancy to be my girl best friend. When she got into highschool she slowly started to distance herself from me. I get it, you don't want to tell your friends that you hang out with an 11 year old when you're 14. She still talks to me but we barley have any conversations now, I just know she likes me more than her brother.

I start to apply makeup on her face, she is very gorgeous. I'm not surprised Mike took a liking to her right away.

"So, you and Mike made up?" I'm trying to make conversations because the silence is very awkward, and I'm nosy.

"Yes."

"Are you happy now?"

"Yes."

"Do you like him?" Why would I ask that. She probably doesn't even know what she likes. She barley knows anything about human interaction. She hasn't met others. I just can't help but be jealous. I hate the way Mike looks at her. I want him to look at me like that.

"Nevermind, don't answer that. Here, put on this dress and wig. I'll wait for you with the boys."

Eleven finally came out.

"Wow.. She looks..."

"Pretty."

Oh no.

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Sorry for the late chapter! I went home labor day weekend and I was super busy. Hope everyone enjoyed!

-B