Manipulation |byler|

Chapter 3

I'm sorry if there will be mistakes in this story or if I made mistakes in 2 chapters. I'm not a native speaker. I hope you'll understand and enjoy this story :). And please leave votes<3.

_________________
California
2023.09.17
4:50 PM.

"Hey, Will" The guy walked up to Will. "It's nice to see you again" he smiled looking at him.
"H-hey Mike," Will said back trying to focus.
Mike looked at Will's house " I'm guessing you live here" he said. His voice was calm and low.
"Y-yes, I live h-here," Will said still shattering in his words.
"I just moved on here. Guess we're neighbors now" Mike said with a grin.
" yeah, I guess so" Will replied.

The three stood there in silence for a sec, then Mike looked at El.
"oh, umm, this is my sister- "
"El?" Mike finished his sentence.
"umm yeah. You know her? Will asked confused.
"Of course, I know her. She's that one police who investigated a murderer in Hawkins a year ago. am I right?" Mike said smiling at Will and looking at El.
"Yeah. You're right" El said.

El looked at him, Mike looked back. They kept eye contact.
"I'm Mike. Will's new neighbor" Mike held his hand for a shake still keeping eye contact.
El hesitated a bit but held Mike's hand and shook "El".

Mike smiled at her and took his hand back. "I have to go," he said and looked at Will "See you later" Mike smiled at him, and with that, he walked away.

"Is this the guy who you were talking about two days ago?" El asked quietly still looking at Mike who was walking to his new house.
"Yes. It's him" Will replied holding El's suitcase.
They gave the money to a taxi and walked towards Will's front door.
Will opened the door for El and they entered the house.
Will put the suitcase in El's room and walked to the kitchen. He saw El standing leaning at the counter. Will sat down across the table and sighed.

It was strange for him to meet a person who you rejected a year ago. And the worst part is he's his neighbor now. Mike hasn't changed. He's still calm and gentle like he used to be. And Will was surprised that Mike was treating him well. He felt bad, to be honest. The way Mike smiled at him. Nothing has changed. Mike's smile was even wider. But on the other hand, Will didn't greet him well. He didn't even smile back. Will felt like he was being rude to him.

"Will" El called capping his hands in front of his face.
"huh? What?" Will snapped out of his thoughts.
" You just zoned out. You okay?" El asked furrowing his eyebrows.
"Oh, sorry," Will said looking down.
" Thinking about what just happened?" El asked.
"yeah, I just didn't expect him," Will said rubbing his face.
"Hey, you don't have a problem with him being your neighbor, right? Or did you guys argue-" "No, no. Of course not. He respected my choice" Will cut her off.
"Oh. Okay. That's good" El smiled.
"you wanna eat something?" Will asked.
"Nah. I'm good. I just wanna take a nap" El replied.
"Okay. Your room is right there" Will said pointing at her room.
"what are you gonna do right now?" El asked yawning.
"I haven't finished my drawing yet. I'm gonna work on that." Will said standing up.
"Okay. Good luck" El smiled.
"Thanks" Will smiled back.

Will walked into the room where he works and shut the door behind him.
El entered her room. She put her handbag on the desk and opened her suitcase. She was so tired. So she decided to unpack later. El grabbed a little bag from her suitcase. Then she looked around the room to find a safe place to hide it. She walked up to the desk next to the bed holding her little bag and put it under that desk. Then she lay on the bed closing her eyes.

8:30 PM

Will is in the room working on his art. He checked the time, it was almost 9. He decided to continue his work tomorrow. Will walked out of the room and saw El from the kitchen cooking.
"hey," Will said walking into the kitchen and sitting across the table.
"hey," El said back. "are you hungry?" El asked.
"Yeah," Will replied.
"I made some chicken, will be ready in ten minutes," She said.
They set up the table together and ate their dinner.

5:00 AM

Will is standing in the middle of the dark road. He saw that guy again. He looked up and saw the moon. This time moon wasn't red. He looked back at the guy and he was standing one step closer to Will. Will started sweating again.
He woke up panting, sweating. He felt like he wanted the guy to just walk up to him and meet him already. But at the same time, he didn't want it. He just wanted this to be over.

He sat on his bed for a bit to calm down. After like 10 minutes he lay back looking up at the ceiling and closed his eyes.

________________
California
2023.09.18.
7:50 AM

Will didn't sleep. He couldn't. He got up from the bed and took a shower.
The weather was cold today, so he wore some warm clothes.
After getting ready for the day Will walked into the kitchen and saw El having her breakfast.
"Good morning," El said smiling
"morning," Will said sitting down.
"I'm going to a therapist today," Will said drinking his water.
El nodded.

After having his breakfast Will grabbed his handbag, said bye to El, and walked out of his house. He got in his car. He put the key in the hole, and when he was about to drive the car didn't start.
'what the hell' he thought.
He tried the key again. Car didn't start.
"come on, not right now" he whispered to himself.

"Need help?" The voice called from his window.
"oh hey Mike," Will said smiling this time.
"hey. Is something wrong?" Mike asked leaning to the window of the car.
"umm, yeah. My car. It's not starting. I don't know why." will replied chuckling awkwardly.
Mike nodded.
"Want me to drive you?" Mike said with a smile.
"umm, no, I'm good, thank you," Will said back, trying to smile.
"Okay," Mike said and started walking away from the car.

"Will checked the time. It was 9:00 AM already, he didn't have time to wait for a taxi. Will thought for a sec and got out of the car.
"Mike!"
Mike turns around.
"Can you drive me somewhere? I'll give you the address." Will asked.
Mike grinned "Of course.
"Okay. Let me get my bag" Will said. He grabbed his bag and walked toward Mike. They got in Mike's car, Will sat in the passenger seat.
" Oh shoot. I forgot my phone. Can you wait for a little?" Will said awkwardly.
"yeah, sure" Mike smiled.
He left his handbag in the car and got out of the car.

Will grabbed his phone from the kitchen, walked it off his house, and got into Mike's car.
Will smiled at him, and Mike started the car.
After 20 minutes they arrived at the place.
"Want me to wait here?" Mike asked.
"umm, if you have your work you can-"
"I'll wait" Mike interrupted him. He smiled at him
" Oh, okay. I'll be back soon" Will smiled back before getting out of the car.
"Will, you're forgetting your bag" Mike handed his back before Will walked away.
"Oh, it's okay. It can stay here" Will said.
"But you put your phone in it, maybe someone might call you," Mike said still holding the bag.
"I don't think s-" Before Will could finish his sentence his phone started ringing inside his bag.
"See," Mike said smiling.
"Oh, okay I'll just take it with me."
Will took the bag and pulled out his phone. It was her mom

~on the phone~

Will: Hey Mom.
Joyce: Hi. How are you doing?
Will: I'm doing well. How are you?
Joyce:better after hearing your voice.
Will smiled.
Will: How are Jonathan, and Hopper doing?
Joyce: they're good. What are you doing?
Will: I'm going to a therapist.
Joyce: oh okay. Bye than. I'll talk to you later
Will: bye Mom.
Joyce: I love you
Will: love you too

Will hung up and continued walking. He entered a hall and looked for the therapist's office. He stopped at the door with a 'Counselor" on it. He opened the door and saw a woman sitting on her chair.
"Hey" She greeted him "Take a seat"
"Hey," Will smiled sitting facing her.
"You're Will Byers?" She asked with a smile.
"yeah," Will answered.
"Well. My name is Kelley and I'm your counselor from this day" She said keeping her smile on her face.

1469 words.