When blue meets yellow in the west

004: "Care."

El Pov

It has been two days since I have seen Mike. The last time I saw him, we had a fight. and I practically dumped his ass. Well, we are still dating, although it does not feel like it. I know he did not care for me, well, he said he cared. But he does not love me? 

"Care." I repeat the words I whispered to him with tears in my eyes. It hurts so much. I do love Mike. But he has been acting strange, he seems like he isn't in love with me. He never has been, really. So I guess I do not love him? 

It has been a few hours since Dr. Owens saved me from the lab and led me to safety. Now I am waiting for Mike. Well, Mike, Will, Jonathan, and his funny friend Argyle. He is a little weird.

Care. Care. Care. I repeat the words in my head over and over again. He does not love me. I get the feeling he is in love with someone else. Perhaps from Hawkins? I think to myself. 

I do not know. But I will try to fix it. Because I still love him, I guess a little bit. 

Will Pov

We've been walking for 15 minutes. 15 minutes. It's been 15 minutes since I kissed Mike. Mike Wheeler. I still can't really believe it, but I did. And he loves me. But then it dawns on me. El. What about El? I mean, I know they practically broke up, but she'll be heartbroken, right?

I'm just with my own thoughts when Mike comes up behind me, scaring me.

"Oh. You scared me." I laugh.

"Sorry. Just wanted to walk with you." "But we need to talk about El."

"Yeah. So what's the plan?" I ask.

"I think we should find her, bring her home, and tell her then." Says Mike. 

"But Mike, are you sure you can do this? I mean, you're going to have to fake it. Unless you still love her." I say with a bit of jealousy in my voice.

"No Will, I love you. I mean, when we were younger, I did love El. But I couldn't even say it. It was so hard to. But it came so easy to me when I said it to you." He says.

"I'm scared, Will." Says Mike.

"Why?" I ask, confused.

"Because, I don't want her to hate me, ok? I still want to be friends with her, you know? Because I still like her. She's a good person. She doesn't deserve to just be dropped like that." Mike says, and I know he means it.

I know exactly what he means, I really do. I notice his eyes are full of tears. I stop walking and he does shortly after. I reach out and grab his hand, I hold it tightly, never wanting to let go. 

"I know exactly what you mean, Mike. Ok? El is a great person, and I know she'll understand, and she"ll still want to be friends, trust me." I say. "You're one of the best people I know, ok?" I say, squeezing with every word, meaning it.

"And you're such a great person as well, and I don't know who wouldn't want to be friends with Mike Wheeler." 

"You really think so?" He asks.

"Yeah, I do." I reply.

"Cool." 

"Cool." I answer back. 

I have a thought, something I've wanted to tell him for so long.

"Mike?" I ask, afraid of what I'm about to say. 

"Yes?" He responds.

"It's no wonder El fell for you." I say, breath shaky.

"I love you, William Byers." Says Mike.

I only like it when Mike says my full name. It's always given me butterflies, my stomach gets all twisted up. 

"I love you too, Michael Wheeler." I say, chuckling softly.

Then we walk the rest of the way there hand in hand, not a word spoken.