stars will fall - byler

.4

~ June 7th | 12:19 pm ~
Hawkins Community Pool
- 1 week later -

- will byers pov -

i sat in the concession stand at the far back counter, my headphones blocking out my surroundings as i scanned through the magazine in my hands. as i flipped through the pages, i could hear a faint noise over my music. i looked up and realized there was a customer ringing the bell and lucas was no where around to accompany them. i took my headphones off and stood up from my seat, walking towards the front desk.
-"sorry about that, what can i get you?" i asked the young woman in front of me.
-"can i get two vanilla cones?"
-"sure thing. that'll be $2 please."
she gave me the money before i reached for the ice cream scooper and opened the freezer, putting ice cream in two cones and handing it to her.
-"enjoy." i smiled politely before i watched her walk back to the pool. i looked around to see if any other people were nearby or coming up to concessions before i decided to look around for lucas. i opened up the back door, calling out his name. i walked towards the bathrooms and opened all of the stalls, still not seeing him.
as i was heading back to the concession building, i could hear giggling coming from behind the corner. i slowly walked up to the wall and peaked my head around, seeing max and lucas making out against the wall. i quietly gagged before making my way inside the doors.
that was gross, i wish i didn't have to see that.
just as i had shut the door behind me, i was spooked by someone on the other side of the front desk, waiting. when i focused my eyes i realized it was mike.
-"oh, hey." i weakly smiled as i approached him from behind the counter.
-"you work here?" he asked, looking shocked to see me.
-"yeah, i just got the job recently." i nodded.
-"cool. i knew lucas worked here, where's he at?" he looked around the room from behind me.
-"he's uh.. occupied. he'll be back soon. hopefully." i mumbled under my breath.
-"okay, cool.." he nodded, awkwardly standing there as we gazed into each others eyes. i chuckled when i realized how long we've been standing there in silence.
-"can i get you anything?" i broke the silence, grinning up at him.
-"right, uh.."
-"hey, whats taking so long?" el came out of nowhere, hugging his chest from behind. i watched a bright smile appearing on his face as she came up to him.
-"sorry, what would you like?" he wrapped her arms around her shoulders as she rested her head on his chest. she saw me and smiled brightly, seemingly just as shocked as mike.
-"will! i didn't know you work here." she giggled.
-"yep, i do." i dryly chuckled.
-"can i get a.. strawberry cone?" she looked up at mike, asking for approval.
-"yeah, one strawberry and one mint chocolate chip please." mike asked before i walked across the room to grab the scooper. when i was faced away, i anxiously closed my eyes and cursed under my breath.
seeing them together made me so insanely angry. mike has been ditching us all week to hang out with el. all they do is gross shit and they are never away from each other it seems like. i just hate the way they're so affectionate and loving to each other.
which is just another way of saying i'm extremely jealous of them.
mostly of her. i'm extremely jealous of her.

i handed them their ice cream, lightly touching mikes fingers as they were passed to him. feeling his touch made me panic and i almost forgot to make them pay.
-"that'll be $2." i chuckled before he dug in his pocket, pulling out 2 bills and handing them to me.
-"i'll see you later." he waved before him and el walked away together.
i watched them fully walk out, sighing and letting my head fall. i closed my eyes in embarrassment, cursing under my breath.
they've been together nonstop for a full week. every time we try to invite him places hes always saying he's busy or cancels last minute for some bullshit excuse. but we all know it's for el. i miss the old mike sometimes, he always wanted to hang out.
the back door opened and lucas walked in as i was turned around.
-"oh, look who it is!" i threw my hands up.
-"sorry, i was just.. cleaning out my car." he lied.
-"uh huh. well, my shift is over. you can take over." i walked towards the door, beginning to leave.
-"youre still picking me up at 10 tomorrow, right?" lucas called out before i could shut the door.
-"for sure." i nodded before walking away, heading towards the parking lot. i pulled my keys from my pocket, unlocking my car door when i approached. it made a loud creaking noise as i opened it.
i turned the car on, putting the car in reverse and pulling out of the parking lot, heading the opposite way of home.

i turned down the radio as i approached max's house down cherry road. i parked behind max's car and pulled my keys from the ignition.
i walked up the steps and knocked on the front door, hearing loud music coming from inside. after a few moments of waiting, max finally opened the door.

she let me in and we walked past her brother who was working out in the living room on our way to her room. i sat down at the edge of her bed as she closed the door behind us.
-"how was work?" she grabbed a bag and walked over to her closet, still looking at me.
-"it was fine. it would've been better if lucas was actually doing what he gets payed to do instead of sucking face with you." i called her out, seeing her face turn red.
-"you saw that.." she giggled embarrassingly before turning away and pulling clothes out, folding them and placing them in the bag.
-"are you packed for the trip?" she asked as i stretched out on her bed, messing with her stuffed animals.
-"mostly. can someone else please drive tomorrow?" i begged.
-"no! you have the bigger car. we have to bring lucas, dustin, mike, and then both of us. none of our cars can fit all of us.
-"mike literally has a huge van." i rolled my eyes.
-"that's for our band! he doesn't want to drive it so far out of town." she defended.
-"is mike even going to be able to go? he can't seem to go a few hours without el in his presence anymore." i jealously rolled my eyes.
-"he said he was, he better not cancel last minute again or i'll actually strangle him." she gritted her teeth.
-"wouldn't be surprised if he did. he has been all week." i rolled my eyes, watching her nod in agreement.
as i messed with her stuffed animals, i couldn't stop
thinking about mike. i cant really remember the last time i got to hang out with him for more than a few hours.
-"don't you think it's gross?" i blurted out.
-"what?"
-"mike and el. they're always doing gross shit when they're together. like, constantly." i groaned.
-"it's normal, i think it's romantic." she disagreed with me, kind of ticking me off.
so i'm the only one that doesn't like them together?
great.

i shouldn't be so hateful and jealous. i just want mike to be happy, and he seems happy with el. i need to get over my jealousy and suck it up.

i need to move on.