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

Thirty Six

Mike.

I so badly wanted to go into the woods. I want to get to the bottom of this, I can't deal with knowing it's there. If it means something bad, I'm obviously going to assume the worst. Something could happen to one of us, or El could be hurt in some way.

On the way back, we obviously passed Mirkwood. I stopped and everyone looked at me with confused eyes. El's arms around me tightened, and she scooted a bit closer.

"Mike, what are we doing?" Will spoke with worry evident in his voice, and I shrugged, staring into the trees.

"Mike, please just keep going," El whispered to me, and it kind of snapped me out of it. I nodded and we rode off past the trees.

If there's something bad in those woods, I don't want to stick around to find out. But what if there really is and someone gets hurt? I'd feel responsible, honestly. We know there's something going on and if someone gets hurt, we could've stopped it. Or at least tried.

Without truly discussing anything, we all rode to my house. It's just our go-to when there's something we need to talk about.

We put our bikes in the garage and walked inside the house, ready to go downstairs and brainstorm. But my mom stopped me, a big smile visible on her face.

"Mike! Good! Guess what?" She cheered, leading us into the living room.

"What?" I didn't sound too excited, just confused. What could she possibly be so happy to tell me about?

"I talked to your school and they're going to let El come in this week! She'll go with you from class to class and see how things work and what's going on. She needs an education, and I talked them into it!" My mom sounded so excited, and honestly, so was I. El won't have to stay home with my mom and Holly while I go to school anymore, she can come with me.

"That's great! El, did you hear that? You'll come to school with us!" I cheered, and she actually looked kinda happy. I'm sure she's just worried about the gate, so I don't blame her for being unenthusiastic. I would be, too, if I went through what she did.

"So have fun tonight but tomorrow, we're gonna go buy her a backpack and some notebooks. It'll be fun, I promise." I wasn't about to argue with my mom, but something didn't make sense to me.

"Mom, why are you still taking care of El so much? Isn't that technically Miss Byers's job now?" I asked in a very confused voice, and she nodded.

"Technically, yes, but she can't afford it yet. Once she gets regular paid checks at her new job, she'll start paying." I nodded, nearly forgetting about her new job. She let us go and we went downstairs, where El and Will already looked freaked out all over again.

"Hey, guys, it'll be ok," I spoke in an uneasy voice, not even convinced myself. El just got more scared and didn't seem to care as she walked up to me and hugged me tight. I held her tight as she started crying.

I glanced at the guys and we all shared a worried glance, then they all looked at El with even more worry. I didn't know what to do in this instant, no one can make her feel better. She could be in danger, we don't know.

She could be in danger and I'm not sure I can protect her.
In fact, I'm sure I can't.