What I Wouldn't Do For You

Part 1 - Picking The Game

8:30 PM - Ted Wheeler

It was a rainy day, June 19th 1984(you sports fans may know this date well) to be exact. Ted Wheeler is alone in his home, lounging around in his recliner chair banging at the side of his TV set, while holding a partially-empty can of Budweiser. He's mumbling something out loud, but it falls on deaf ears. His wife is at Joyce's house, Nancy is at Johnathan's, and Mike is at school doing some kind of late-night project, he spends a lot of time there as of late.

"I don't see what the big deal is, this Michael Jordan kid isn't that good, he'll wash out in like a month...maybe a year tops."He takes a rather long sip of his can. "Now...that Larry Bird, that's a star, good-mannered, corn-fed Indiana boy." Ted sluggishly goes to take another sip of his beer, but halfway through the sip he realizes that its empty, so he crushes it and attempts to shoot it like a basketball into the wastebasket in the kitchen,and it misses due to being filled to the brim with countless other Budweiser cans.

"That's why I work in sales," he jokes to himself as he lethargically carries himself to the wastebasket. He takes the bag out and walks outside to the trash when suddenly he hears a eerie static-covered voice, coming from what seems to be thin air.

"W-WH-WHERE?"the voice says quietly. Ted looks around trying to piece together where this voice is coming from."I told Nancy I shouldn't have stopped taking my meds, I'm starting to hear voices again...and I don't think these voices are telling me to bet the over." The voice becomes scarily silent, and suddenly screams "WH-WHERE WHEELER?!"Ted is scared to death now, and realizes this being is obviously not of this world, however he's not completely convinced this isn't all in his head. "You must be one of those uhh demigon...no not that, that's not it...digimons?!...no that's not right either, that sounds cool though, would look good on a lunchbox, anyway if that's what you are than you're probably looking for that El girl, well good luck we no one has seen her since."

"I-IS...WHERE I-IS...WHERE IS...WH-WHEELER?!" The voice is once again screaming. "I don't know what you're talking about." Ted sternly walks away when suddenly a shadow shoots up from the crack in the ground and jumps inside of Ted Wheeler's mouth, causing his hair to turn stark white, as he collapsed to the ground.

10:00 PM - Mike Wheeler

Mike is alone in the AV room with Mr. Clarke's new comm unit, feverishly hitting buttons and flipping switches on the device. Slowly the door creaks open and Dustin, favorite hat included, peeks his head in to see his close friend still slaving away to what everyone believes is a dead end.

"W-Wheeler...I'm here but..."Dustin says solemnly, trying his best not to make eye contact with his heartbroken friend. Mike never looks at him, he just keeps flipping switches. "It's just you...right?"

Dustin takes off his hat, and scratches the top of his head. "Yeah, Will's mom doesn't really like him being out this late anymore, and...Lucas..well Lucas-"Mike looks at Dustin, "doesn't think I can do it...well he's wrong, none of you had the same connection with her that I had."

Dustin puts his hat back on and shoots Mike a puzzled look."First off...that connection is called a crush, and second uhhh off, gross El's a girl. Mike grimaces at his friend and continues back to his work.

"El?...Hey El, it's Mike, can you hear me?"The only reply back is static, and Dustin frowns. Mike has a single-tear stream down his pale face."El...El say something, I know you're out there...El...please just-" He takes off the large headphones and stares at the machine for a second before looking at Dustin who sadly looks back at his crying friend, then back at the machine, "please just-" Dustin puts a hand on the crying boy's shoulder. "Let's just go home Mike, get some sleep and we can try again tomorrow...all of us...together."Mike slaps his hand away, leaving a look of momentary shock on Dustin's face." You...don't understand!" yells Mike. "I know buddy." Mike is getting choked up,"none of you understand!" Dustin nods his head as he sits next to Mike who is looking up towards the ceiling."We...we were gonna go to the Snowball together." Mike says sniffling, not able to look at his friend, Dustin gets up and opens the door, gesturing towards the other side of it.

"Let's get some sleep Mike, c'mon I'll ride with you to your house." Mike grabs his opened pack of Eggos, and follows outside to their bikes. Dustin follows behinds Mike, who can't help but think what would become of Mike if he never sees her again.

They slowly pedal to Mike's house until they are stopped by a police car, with one cop on the inside who come out to the talk to the boys. "What are you two boys doing out so late, it's past curfew."

Mike responds, but is swiftly cut off by Dustin, "we were looking for my- "Homework!...homework, yeah, our umm homework was a yeah a uhh scavenger hunt, and we wanted to get started...EARLY! Yeah super early, 'cuz we love to learn and stuff."

Mike nods. The policeman grabs his notepad, "i'm going to have to call this one, who are two?"

Before they could answer, an angry Sheriff Hopper comes into frame, grabbing the policeman's notepad and throwing it towards his car. Dustin nudges Mike, "Hopper's so cool."The tall, gruff man kneels down to meet Mike eye to eye.

"I need to show you something."

"W-what is it?" says Mike, who's reeling at the moment.

"Mike...It's your father."