Will and Mike (Stranger Things) Byler Fanfic

Aftermath (15)

Back at the cabin, El stormed inside, a crying mess. Immediately, all attention turned to her, as the chatter died down into silence seeing El's tear filled cheeks. Will's heart shattered as he saw this, and he departed immediately, unnoticed by the rest, as he skillfully stepped out.

Hopper was the first to speak, his voice filled with concern, "El, what happened? Are you okay?"

It was hard for El to find the words to say, as this was all so overwhelming for her. The person she loved most had broken her heart. Her chest hurt as she sobbed.

"I... Mike..." She tried to speak through sobs. "It was Mike. H-He broke up with me."

Hopper's eyes widened as he leaned down to her height, slowly rubbing her back with his hand. "That's awful... I'm really sorry about all that happening kiddo." The rest of the kids crowded around her. Joyce joined in trying to console her, right beside Hopper.

"How dare he?" Max said, angrily.

"Yeah... how could he? I loved him." El muttered.

"Why did he break up with you though?" Lucas asked.

"He..." Eleven spoke, her voice shaking. "He's in love with Will. That's what he told me."

"WHAT?!" They collectively gasped, in utter shock of the situation.

"No way..." Dustin said.

They all took a moment to sit with the thought, as El continued to sob.

"I mean... wasn't it a little bit obvious?" Lucas said. Max immediately whacked his arm. "Shut the fuck up." She whispered harshly in his ear, loud enough that the others could hear.

"No, it's fine," El started. "I think I knew too." She said, raising the back of her hand to her eyes to wipe her tears, from her irritated eyes. Joyce brought some tissues for her.

"So..." Dustin started. "Where is he?"

"I don't know. I hope he doesn't come back for a long time. I don't want to see him anymore."

"What about Will?" Lucas asked.

"I... I don't know what to say." Eleven said. "Everything hurts."

"There, there, we got you." Joyce spoke softly. "You don't have to say anything anymore. Talk about it when you're ready, and in the meantime, we're here for you." Joyce looked El in the eyes, giving her a comforting smile.

"Thank you..."

"We're always here for you, kiddo. Whenever you need." Hopper said. "I'm gonna have a talk with that kid later."

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Later, El was taking a walk by herself outside, to think about her feelings, and to process. It was dusk, the glowing sunset fading into darker colors.

Images of Mike and her together kept flashing in her mind, like knives repeatedly jabbing at her heart. All the times they kissed, all the times she felt safe around him. He was the first ever boy to make her feel safe. Why was he doing this? She didn't understand.

But she also remembered all the times he messed up. Like when he used to always sign off "from, Mike" on the letters to her rather than "love, Mike." Throughout their relationship, she had questioned if he really did love her. He barely ever said, "I love you." Eleven witnessed Lucas say it to Max every single day. Why couldn't she have the same?

Why does he love Will? She thought. We've been with each other since we met in the woods. He...

Her thoughts ran off into a spiral, incomprehensible. Why does he love Will? How long has he loved Will? Isn't love supposed to be boyfriend - girlfriend and not boyfriend - boyfriend?

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"If I wasn't so stupid, we would've been together so much sooner." Mike said, as he walked together with Will, slowly heading back to the cabin.

.

"Mike is so stupid..." El grumbled angrily as she continued to walk around the silent streets. The streetlamps turned on, signifying nightfall was near.

He probably never cared about me this entire time. Why does he act like this? Stupid, stupid, stupid, stupid, STUPID BOY! She screamed out in her head.

"I love you on your good days, I love you on your bad days," Mike's sweet voice rang in her head, bashing the walls on every side inside of her mind. "I love you with your powers, I love you without your powers. I love you for exactly who you are!"

"NO!" She cried out, in her head.

"I can't lose you!"

She lost her balance and came crashing fiercely down on her knees on the street at once, her knees scraping on the pavement of it. She clutched at her chest, her heart thumping as her chest squeezed. "No..." Her voice shook, as tears violently struck her cheeks and soaked into her shirt, she sobbed out there alone, beneath the navy blue sky.

.

Once the tears finally died down, she found the strength in her legs to finally stand back up, and make the painful journey back to the cabin.

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"Well, this is it." Mike said, as he and Will were just a few meters away from the cabin. It was pitch black, the only light illuminating their path being the streetlamps from the street, but now since they were back in the middle of the forest, the moonlight was the only one to guide them.

"No matter what happens, good or bad, we'll always have each other." Mike said, his voice quivering slightly in uncertainty. The hearts in both of the boys dropped into their stomachs, their stomachs squeezing and fighting, telling them not to go.

"Before we go in, Mike..." Will spoke, softly.

"Mhm?"

"I promise, I'll never abandon you. Even if things go wrong. I won't leave you."

"And I promise the same," Mike said. "You matter too much for me to let go of you like that."

"Okay then, let's go in." Will said. "We can't delay this any longer."

They reluctantly forced themselves to step inside, preparing mentally for whatever could happen next.