(BEING EDITED) When Night Falls - Will Byers

CHAPTER FOUR - Conflict

August, 1983

FELIX'S POV

STARCOURT MALL, HAWKINS INDIANA

Mike's bike fell to the ground with a loud clatter. "What are you doing here?"

"Shopping." Eleven glared at her boyfriend. I stared, knowing how this would probably end up going.

"This is her new style," I pointed to her new colourful outfit. "What do you think?"

Mike glared at Max. "What's wrong with you! You know she's not allowed to be here."

"What is she, your little pet?" Max tilted her head to the side, staring at Mike.

Eleven nodded. "Yeah. Am I your pet?"

"What? No!" Mike attempted to defend himself.

"Then why do you treat me like garbage?" 

"What?"

"You said Nana was sick."

Mike's eyes widened. "She is! She is sick, she's super sick," Lucas helped with the lie. "That's why we're here actually, to buy a gift, for Nana, but we're also here to get a gift... for you. But, I only have, like, $3.50, so it's hard..."

"Super hard." Lucas added.

"You lie. Why do you lie?" Eleven stepped closer to Mike. She paused, taking a breath. "I dump your ass." Max and I stared at El, shocked by what just happened. I patted her back. 

~~~

WHEELER HOUSEHOLD, HAWKINS INDIANA

I ended up going back to Mike's place with them. The girls were fine with it. Currently, Mike was going on and on about how he didn't deserve any of this.

"I just don't understand what I did to deserve this." Mike shoved doritos into his mouth.

I pinched the bridge of my nose. "You were a complete ass, you don't lie to your partner like that. Just apologize, and be done with it. Save us all from your complaining." 

"Easy for you to say, you've never dated a girl in your life!" Mike said, his mouth stuffed with doritos. I sighed.

"I don't understand girls. They're a totally different species. They use emotion, not logic." Lucas sighed. I could tell someone was there. I closed my eyes, and went into the void.

I laughed. "You can spy, but I will always know."

Eleven jumped. "I always forget. Thank you for standing up for me. I... appreciate it."

I smiled. "No problem. Now, these guys know nothing. I'll try and get him to apologize to you, but no promises. I have to go. See you tomorrow, El." I opened my eyes. I wiped the blood from my nose. 

I went to sit with Will at the table where we usually would play D&D. I leaned my forehead on the table. "These guys know nothing." I whispered in Russian. During my time at the lab, I had made sure that I never lost the ability to speak Russian.

Will leaned over to me and started whispering. "I just wish they wanted to play D&D. It's so boring, only hearing about the girls."

I nodded. "I love those girls, but can't we talk about something else for two seconds?" Mike and Lucas were still going on about it.

"Okay, shut up, just breathe. They will talk to you again, but they're upset right now. Give them time, and space. They will talk to you when they're ready." I stood in front of them.

"You'll understand, when your girlfriend dumps you one day." Mike sighed.

I groaned. "Stop it with my hypothetical girlfriend! I don't have a girlfriend, and if I did, she wouldn't dump me, cause I wouldn't lie to her, and I'd treat her right. I'm going home. Bye, Will." I smiled briefly at him, and went out the basement door.

As I walked home, I thought about everything that happened. I couldn't tell anyone else about my secret. I sighed, angrily kicking a stone on the road. 

"No one understands me. I don't want a girlfriend." I whispered under my breath in Russian. When I got home, my mom wasn't there. I thought she was probably at bingo, or out to dinner with a friend. But, I also noticed that Dustin wasn't here, which was odd. I sighed, grabbing a snack from the kitchen, and heading into my room. 

I grabbed my bass guitar, and plugged it into the amp. I put on my mixtape, and began playing along with the first song; 'For Whom the Bell Tolls', by Metallica. One of my very favourites. As I played, all of the conflict from the day disappeared. This was my happy place. My escape. The song finished, and I unplugged my guitar. I put it back on the wall, and laid down on my bed, sighing. And, eventually I drifted to sleep.

WORD COUNT: 740