You take the man out of the city, not the city out the man

chapter four

As we continue to walk through the woods, we hear sirens.

"Hurry up, let's follow them!" Mike says as we all agree.

We follow the trail as we see the police cars going to the lake.

"What's happening?" I ask as we go behind an ambulance.

  I see two men in the water pulling something- wait someone out of the water?

I cover my mouth. This isn't Will Byers.

"That's not Will. It can't be." Mike says.

"Mike-" El starts.
"Mike? Mike what? You were supposed to help us find him alive. You said he was alive. Why did you lie to us? What's wrong with you? What is wrong with you?" Mike snaps at El.
"Mike-" El says softly.
"What?" Mike says as he leaves the scene.

"Mike, come on, don't do this man." Lucas says.
"Mike, where are you going? Mike?" Dustin says as Mike picks up his bike and leaves.

"I'm finding Mike. I'll see you guys tomorrow." I say as I grab my skateboard and follow Mike.

"Wheeler! Come on man, where are you?" I say as I see someone on the side of the road.

"Wheeler?" I ask as I get closer to the person, seeing the dark brown hair in their eyes.

I sit down next to Mike as he cries softly.

"Are you okay?" I ask as I put my arms around him. Mike starts sobbing as he leans towards me.

"He can't be dead, Barber. He can't be." Mike says through ragged breaths.

"It's okay, I know, he's gone. There's nothing we can do." I say as I rub his back.

"No, you don't understand. I need him in my life, Barber. I've known him for as long as I remember. He can't be dead."

"It's okay, please Wheeler, don't just disappear after this. Let's take you home, okay?" I ask Mike as he nods and stands up.

We walk to Mike's house and I knock on the door. Mrs. Wheeler answers and she gasps.

"Mike? Addy?" Mrs. Wheeler asks as Mike hugs her tightly.

"I just wanted to make sure he got home safely, have a good night Mrs. Wheeler. Cya Wheeler." I say as I start to leave.

"Addy? Thank you for not letting Mike go home alone."

"Yeah, of course." I say as I put my skateboard on the ground and go home.

"Addy?" My mom asks as I walk through the door.

"Addison, it's 10pm, we wanted you home before it got dark." My dad says as I start crying.

"Oh baby, what happened?" My mom asks as she comes up to me.

"Mom, Will's dead. They found him at the lake." I say as my mom and dad hug me.

"Oh honey, did you see it?"
"Yeah, mom. He looked so cold mom. I couldn't see him like that."
"I know baby, it's okay, he's in a better place." My mom says as she rubs my back.

— the next day

"Addison! Are you home?" Dustin yells as he bangs on my door. It's like 6:45 in the morning.

"Addy, your friends!" My dad yells as I go downstairs.
"Coming!" I open the door to see Lucas and Dustin.

"What's up?" I ask.
"We're going to Mike's. He said it's urgent." Lucas says as I grab my jacket.

"Dad, tell mom I'm gonna go to Mike's, okay? I don't need a ride to school today." I tell my dad as I get my jacket, backpack and skateboard.

"Okay, be safe."
"I will, see you at dinner." I say as I close the front door and we make our way to Mike's.