✓ Wake Up, Mike ⇔ Mileven {1st - "Wake Up, Mike" Trilogy}

Three

Mike.

"You're not feeling well? I'm sorry, Mike," Was all my mom said when I got into the car. She got out and helped the principal put my bike in the trunk. I just sat and stared forward, wishing I was home. I know where I'm going the second I get home. It may not be good for me, but I don't care at this point.

The drive was mostly silent and I tried to look sick rather than just emotionless. It worked a bit, but I don't think my mom was fully buying it, anyway. She knows I have nightmares and she knows it has something to do with Eleven. The only problem is that she thinks it's the number eleven, since I wouldn't dare tell her about El. El may be gone but that doesn't mean I'm gonna tell an adult about her. I promised I wouldn't all those months ago and I'm keeping that promise.

We arrived home and I told my mom that I wanted to sleep downstairs for a while. She decided not to question me, which I was thankful for.

I went down the stairs slowly, going through the memories in my mind. All those times I'd come downstairs and look over at her. She'd usually be on my radio. If not, just messing around with random stuff. She'd visibly calm down when I came into view, and it was the best feeling.

I started to get that dry feeling in my throat as I slowly bent down and climbed into her fort. I cuddled up in her place, finally letting myself cry. Then, I fell asleep.

-

Lucas.

"You know he's not ok, right?" Dustin asked Will and I as we rode our bikes home.

"Of course, but what are we supposed to do? He'll just get mad if we bring it up," I reasoned, and he agreed silently.

"I'm still not exactly sure why he's so sad," Will spoke up, and I looked over at Dustin with hesitant eyes.

"We should explain it to him, Mike isn't here." He shrugged, and I nodded.

"Well, we found her in the forest, as you know. He immediately wanted to protect her, it was obvious. We brought her back and he let her stay in his basement," I explained, but he cut in.

"Still can't believe he let a girl sleep in his house." He shook his head.

"Anyway, yeah, we went through a lot. She messed up a few times and he'd yell at her. Oh gosh, when she first put on the dress," I joked, laughing a bit. Dustin laughed, too, then explained.

"She walked out of the room and I swear time stopped for him. He looked at her like she was his world." He shook his head, then dropped his smile. "I guess she was."

It was silent for a few seconds before Will spoke again.

"So, basically, he just really cared about her?" He asked, and I chuckled sadly.

"No, Will, he loved her. He won't talk about it but I'm pretty sure they kissed. He basically asked her to the Snowball, as well. He was more than ready to have her in his life for forever," I explained softly as we approached my house. We decided to go to mine since Mike isn't feeling well. We usually hang out at his house, considering he has an isolated basement.

"Oh, I didn't realize it was that serious. So, he has nightmares about her coming back?"

"Yeah, it hurts him more than he lets on. And it's just getting worse, I thought it would get better," Dustin sighed, hopping off his bike, and they followed me to the door. I unlocked it and led the way in.

"I think he's breaking," Was all I said back, and it was once again silent for a minute or two.

"We have to get her back," Will spoke up, and I shook my head.

"Will, she's dead," I reminded, and he just looked at his feet.

"You believe she's dead? I know maybe two, three things about her and I'm already doubting it. If she was dead, why would she be transported somewhere else? Wouldn't she just drop dead on the ground? I don't know, maybe I'm thinking too literally." He sighed, continuing to stare at the ground.

"You have a small point but I'm starting to believe nothing makes sense. I mean, there was a monster. I'm sure the world didn't stop and think to add logic onto El's death," I spoke maybe a bit too harshly, but that kind of optimism annoys me. She's obviously dead, why would we go looking for her?

"I kinda agree with Lucas on this one. She's dead, we just need to accept it. Mike will get over it, it just might take a few years. Or maybe his new therapist will help, I don't know." Dustin sighed loudly, and no one had a reply.

We went through another awkward silence before something actually interesting happened.

"Did Mike just ride his bike past the house?" Dustin spoke up, jumping up and running to the window. He peered out, and Will and I jumped up to join him. Sure enough, he was going down the road and pedaling faster than he normally would.

"Let's go see what's up."