Lab experiment||Byler

Memories|| 019

May 4, 1986
Hawkins, Indiana
The Wheelers household
(Time skip)

Mike sat in the basement setting everything up. It had been awhile for Joyce to finally let Will go out more often. The party was hanging out today and was gonna watch Star Wars. Dustin had forced everyone to watch it a million times at all their hangouts. The reason for today was because "it's May the 4th and Will probably hasn't seen it!" Dustin was right. Will hadn't seen it.

Will also has to be homeschooled now because of the whole lab thing. Joyce also keeps an eye on Will at most times. She's extremely nervous for tonight in particular since he's going out. She dropped him off. "Be careful, honey. If you need me just call me." She said with a nervous smile and Will smiled back with a more confident smile. Will knocked on the door and Mike answered happily. "Hey, Will!" Mike said. "Hi, Mike!" Will replied as he hugged him tightly. "I'll take you to the basement. I just finished setting everything up." He said while dragging the brunette downstairs. Will saw all his favourite snacks on the table. Will looked at Mike and Mike smiled. Mike mainly got the snacks for Will but is gonna say he got it for everyone.

"Hey, I'm just gonna make a bag of popcorn. Stay here!" He said while running up the stairs. He put the popcorn bag in the microwave and waited. Mike is planning a date with Will and called Joyce to ask if he was allowed to come over. It will have to be at the start of next month unfortunately. Will arrived pretty early so they'd have time togther, alone. Once the bag was done popping he carefully grabbed the bag and grabbed a bowl. He opened the bag, the smell of butter filled the air. He took a piece and chucked it in his mouth before pouring it into a bowl. He threw the rubbish in the bin and walked downstairs to see Will interested in a shelf. Mike put the bowl down and walked over to him. "Whatcha looking at?" Mike asked, Will flinched not knowing he was there. Will turned to Mike. "I was just looking at these photos."

The photos displayed his family, friends, and Nancy receiving awards. Mike was never the kid to receive awards for school. Mike was good, sure, but he didn't really do anything. He didn't study much for any of his classes unlike his sister. Mike noticed Will staring at a picture of Mike and Will when they were younger. Will hugged a big fluffy dog while Mike pet it. That was the Byers dog, it was the first time Mike saw Wills dog and he loved it. Unfortunately, when Will went missing and Lonnie left Joyce was forced to give the dog to another family member because she couldn't afford it. "Pup." Will whispered. A faint memory came back, the same one in the picture.

"You're gonna love my dog!" Will said with a wide smile. "I can't wait to meet him!" Mike spoke loudly. As they walked into the backyard they saw
'Castle Byers' which was where Chester, their dog sat. They ran in together and saw the dog curled up on a blanket. The dog jumped up when he saw the unfamiliar face. Mike reached his hand out to let the dog sniff him. Eventually, the dog trusted Mike. Will hugged the dog while Mike pet it with a smile. "He's so fluffy!" Mike giggled. "Yea, he is! Jonathan and I wanted a fluffy dog!" Will said. Jonathan was only 8 at the time. "Who's a good boy!" Mike said in a voice that made the dog excited. This was the first time Mike had ever seen the dog.

Will teared up a little. "You okay?" Mike asked while side hugging Mike. "Y-yea." Will replied with a stutter. Will leaned his head on Mikes shoulder and they continued to look. They saw a photo of Will before going to school. It was around Halloween and he was wearing a zombie costume. That was the photo where it happened. Where Will got kidnapped and didn't escape until years later. His whole life ruined..

"How do you have this?" Will asked softly. He didn't understand how Mike had the photo when Joyce took it. "Joyce gave me a copy after you went missing." Mike said quietly.

"You look so cute, sweetheart!" Joyce said while taking another photo, the camera flashing in Wills eyes. Will changed poses every couple of seconds. "You and Mike are gonna look so cute together." She said with excitement. Will smiled wider at the thought of matching with Mike. Mike was also gonna be a zombie with Will. That's when Lonnie walked in. Joyce's mood immediately changed. She was more quiet. Will didn't really understand much but followed after his mother by staying quiet too. Lonnie grabbed Wills wrist and pretty much threw him in the car. Will put his seatbelt on. "You look stupid." He said while getting into the drivers seat and refusing to buckle up. Will wanted to tell him that it was not safe to drive without a seat belt but stayed quiet not wanting to be yelled at. Lonnie dropped him off a couple blocks away from the school. "I have to get to work, kid." He said. "But I don't know where to go from here." Will said, slightly scared. "You'll figure it out." Will jumped out and watched as he drove off. Now, here Will was, alone, scared, and lost. Will tried walking around but found himself in a side of town he's never seen before. Then he saw it. Those vans. Those vans that took him away from his family. Ruined his life. If it weren't for Lonnie, he'd have a normal life.

Will was full of rage and longing. Longing for a normal life. Wills eyes teared up and Mike hugged Will tightly. "It's okay. I'm here for you, Will. Always have, always will." He whispered in Will ear. It was comforting. Mike pulled away and looked over at the basement door which opened to reveal Dustin and Lucas who were hanging out beforehand. "Yo, what's up with Will." Lucas said. "Stop talking like he isn't in the room." Dustin said. Mike turned to Will with a soft expression. "Do you want to talk about it?" He said in a soft and quiet voice. Will shook his head, "no" he spoke quietly. Mike turned back to the two boys who were walking down the stairs. "He doesn't wanna talk about it." Mike answered for Will. A couple minutes past which was when Max and El showed up. They all sat down on the couch or on the floor which had pillows and blankets. Dustin made a bunch of 'May the fourth be with you' jokes considering the date. They watched the movie and Will was intrigued. Will felt like he belonged in this group.

They truly accepted him.