Byler AI Oneshots ᡣ𐭩ྀིྀི

(Byler) Fightng it Out

The park was quiet that evening. A soft breeze moved the leaves on the trees as Mike Wheeler and Will Byers sat on an old wooden bench. They had finally managed to break away from the chaos, after days of being stuck with Jonathan and Argyle while they searched for El. Now, it was just the two of them, alone under the fading sunlight. No one was watching, no one to interrupt. It was finally time.

Mike had been waiting for this moment for what felt like forever, but as he looked at Will, his heart pounded harder in his chest. The question he'd been holding onto all this time felt heavier now that he could finally ask it.

"Will," Mike began, his voice softer than he intended. Will turned to face him, and their eyes met. Mike hesitated for a moment, then continued. "Why didn't you ever answer the phone when I called? When you were in Lenora?"

Will blinked, caught off guard by the question. He opened his mouth to respond, but Mike's hurt expression made his words falter.

"I called you every day, Will," Mike added, his voice filled with frustration. "Every single day, but you never picked up. You never even called me back."

Will's face tightened defensively. "I never got your calls, Mike! I'm telling you the truth. You never called..."

"Oh, so now you're calling me a liar? Great," Mike snapped. His frustration was building. "You know I wouldn't make this up. I wanted to talk to you so bad, Will. I missed you."

Will's voice was firm, but there was a trace of pain in his eyes. "Mike, if I'd known you were calling, I would've picked up in an instant. You know that."

"Then why didn't you?!" Mike's voice rose as the hurt he had been bottling up for so long spilled out. "You never called me either. Not once!"

Will went silent. He knew exactly why he hadn't called. But he couldn't say it, not out loud. He hadn't wanted to come off as needy, or worse, for Mike to think it was weird that he'd call him all the time. And besides, Mike had been busy with El, sending her letters and keeping in touch with her. What would he have even said if he did call?

"Just forget it," Will muttered, his tone a mix of annoyance and hurt. He started to stand up, but Mike grabbed his arm, refusing to let him leave.

"No," Mike said firmly. "I want an answer. Why didn't you call me?"

"Mike, just let me go home," Will said, trying to pull his arm free, but Mike wouldn't let go. He was being pushy, and Will could feel the anger rising in his chest.

"Why didn't you call?" Mike repeated, his voice harsher now, demanding answers.

Will snapped. "Because you wouldn't have picked up anyway! You were too busy with El, sending her letters and keeping in touch with her while I was just... nothing to you!" His voice shook with a mix of jealousy and hurt.

Mike froze. The accusation hit him harder than he expected. "What?" he asked, the anger slipping from his voice, replaced by confusion.

"You never sent me letters," Will continued, his voice quieter now, but still charged with emotion. "Not one. But you had time for El."

Mike's eyes darkened. "Do you think I didn't want to? Do you think I didn't try? I thought about writing to you every single day, Will. I wanted more than anything to talk to you, but I couldn't... I didn't know how. I thought you'd think it was weird."

Will stared at him, stunned into silence. This wasn't the answer he was expecting.

Mike scoffed, shaking his head in disbelief. "I just wanted to talk to my best friend, Will. I thought I could just... I don't know, tell you everything like we used to."