Byler - You're the Heart

Chapter Two

October 14, 1986
[4:50 p.m.]
Hopper's Cabin

Will's POV

Mom, El, and I have been living with Hopper for the past few months because of the "incident". Jonathan used to live with us too, but he went to college. At first, I thought he was going to go to college with Nancy at Emerson College, but he ended up going to Lenora Hills Community College. Nancy and Jonathan broke up after a fight because Nancy wouldn't give up her dream to go to Lenora Hills Community College to stay with Jonathan and it was the same for Jonathan. At the end, they decided that it would be better if they attended the college they felt comfortable in and they got back together. I knew it wouldn't be long till they started dating because Jonathan is always blabbering about how the other one is so amazing and Mike told me that Nancy does the same. Mike and I would get really annoyed sometimes.

Since Jonathan left, it gets kinda boring sometimes. Especially when Mike is not around. I know that Mom and Hopper are getting closer and that's good, but they are always together. It's a good thing El is with me though. We love playing games together and she loves watching me paint. We love singing songs together and watching random TV shows and movies. We always go together to visit Max at the hospital. I love her so much. She's the best sister ever.

"Will!" I hear my mom shout.

"Yeah?"

"Someone's at the door! Can you get it?"

"Okay!" I get up from my bed and walk to the door. I open it and I see my best friend with his black hair, mesmerizing eyes, and adorable face.

"Hey, Will." he smiles at me.

"Hi, Mike. What are you doing here?" I smile back and move out of the way to let him get through.

"Am I not allowed to stop by and hangout with my best friend?"

"I just saw you at school like a few hours ago." I laugh a little. He doesn't respond and walks to my room. I close the door and walk over to him.

"Who was at the door?" I hear my mom shout from afar.

"It was Mike!" I shout back.

"Oh, ok." she says.

"Oh, hi Mike." I turn and see El.

"Hi, El." he looks at her awkwardly. It's obvious that he still loves her even though they broke up. He always acts weird around her. Mike and I walk to my room. I sit on my bed and Mike does the same. Our shoulders are practically touching and I feel the butterflies in my stomach forming. I hope I'm not visibly blushing.

We talk for a while about the drama happening at school and he asked me to show him my recent drawings so I let him look through my sketchbook. Before he leaves he tells me he's going to talk to El real quick. He said there was something he should've said a long time ago. He's probably going tell her he loves her or something. I walk to my room and grab my sketchbook.

Mike's POV

I walk to El's room and knock on the door. All the paintings and drawings that Will showed me reminded me that I never thanked El for commissioning that D&D painting Will made for me. I know it's been months since I got it but I still feel the urge to thank her. After all, she is still one of my best friends.

"Yes? Come in," El says. I open the door and walk in. She's sitting on her bed reading something. It looks like a magazine, but I'm not sure. I walk closer. Yeah, it's a magazine.

"What is it?" she asks.

"I wanted to thank you for something from a few months ago." I walk over and sit down next to her on the bed.

"Hm?"

"The painting that Will said you commissioned." She gave me a confused look but I ignored it. She probably forgot. "It was a great idea and it turned out amazing. I really loved. I have it up in my room and I stare at it before going to bed every night. Thank you so m-"

"Mike. What? What are you talking about?" Oh my God, how could she forget? It wasn't even that long ago.

"How could you already forget? Do you have memory loss or something?" I joke and laugh a little.

"I'm serious, Mike. I'm confused. I never 'commissioned' any painting for Will. Wait-" She looked like she realized something. "Are you talking about the painting that Will spent so much time working on before we came here to Hawkins? I thought it was for a girl."

"I- I don't know?"

"I still do not know what you are talking about, Mike. Will said I commissioned it? What other things did he tell you?" I remember the whole speech he gave me in Argyle's van. About El needing me. About me being the heart. I don't know what to tell El. Maybe that was all a lie too.

"Well, he just said you told him to make the painting he gave me." I partially lied.

"Oh, you should talk to him." she looks at me.

"Yeah. I will." I'm so confused. I don't understand why he would lie about something like that. I try to ignore these thoughts and get up from El's bed. I look back at El and wave before walking out of her room. I close the door.

"Mike! Leave the door open 3 inches!" I hear El yell.

"Okay okay!" I stop and walk back over to her door. I open the door by 3 inches. I can't believe she still does that. She's not dating me anymore and Hopper is always at work. I walk to the front door and open it. I know I should talk to Will, but I don't know what I'd say. 'Hey, why did you lie about my ex commissioning a painting you made for me almost 7 months ago that you probably forgot about?' No. He would think I'm weird that I still have it. I grab my bike and head home. My head is filled with so many different thoughts.

Will's POV

I'm sitting on my bed waiting for Mike to say bye to me. He's still talking to El. I know I shouldn't be jealous, but I am. It hurt when they were together. My crush and my sister dating. It really hurt, but I could never tell anyone that. I should be happy for them. They are probably telling each other that they still love each other and they are probably getting back together.

"Mike! Leave the door open 3 inches!" I hear El yell faintly. Mike is probably leaving now. I get up waiting for Mike to come in. I hear the front door open and close. He didn't say bye? He always does. I feel my heart sink a little. Maybe he just forgot. It still hurt a little.

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