discontinued. The Way We Live Now ⇔ Mileven {3rd - "Wake Up, Mike" Trilogy}

Seven

Mike.
May 29, 1990

"Mike, you idiot, this is your fault." Dustin mumbled as we walked across the parking lot, causing me to roll my eyes.

"Yeah, everything is my fault lately." I replied simply, my voice stiff. El just held my hand tighter, keeping close to me. Erin, Lauren, Lucas, and Will walked in a group behind us, saying nothing. I was about to get into my car when Dustin glared at me.

"I think not, Wheeler. You're helping me look for her."

"What do you think I'm doing? Getting in my car to go look for her." I answered back with an annoyed tone of voice, making him scoff and walk away. I just furrowed my eyebrows and threw my hands up in a surrendering way, letting go of El's hand in the process. I climbed into my car without saying anything else and started it quickly. I waited for El to get in and glanced back, making short eye contact with Will before he walked past my car and got into Dustin's backseat.

"Mike, let's just go look for her. We can find her." El spoke quietly from beside me, causing me to huff and pull out of the parking lot in a hurry.

"So, what? Everyone is blaming me for this?" I asked aloud, glancing briefly over at El, almost expecting an answer. She just shrugged. "Ok, no talking, got it." I shrugged back in an angry manner, making her look over at me.

"Mike, you're being a dick." She stated simply, making me furrow my eyebrows again and look at her, completely forgetting about the fact that I'm driving.

"A dick? El, I'm getting blamed for everything! Do you think I asked for her to storm out of the house like a toddler throwing a tantrum? No, and I certainly didn't ask her to not come home!"

"Mike, would you please watch the road?" Was her reply, making me even more mad. I didn't listen, I just yelled more.

"I went out that night and looked everywhere for her! I couldn't sleep, I was thinking everything bad! I'm why she left, don't you think the guilt of that is punishment enough?"

That's when she glared at me, then turned to the steering wheel and looked at it, steering the car on her own from the passengers side of the car. But she still didn't say anything, so I huffed, once again taking control of the car and pulling over suddenly.

"What are you doing?" She asked, but it was my turn to ignore. I got out of the car, taking my keys with me, and waited for her to get out. She did, and she looked mad. "Mike, what are you doing? Get back in the car!"

"No, I don't think so." I shrugged, then tossed my keys at her. She caught them, looking at me with squinted eyes. "Drive home, I'm walking."

So I walked away from her-and my car-not bothering to look back. If she's going to ignore me, what's the point in staying with her?

-

Dustin.

"Really, guys, I need to do this alone. I'll see you tomorrow." I smiled half-heartedly at Will and Lauren. They looked at each other before saying goodbye and good luck, then got out of the car and went into Will's house. I let out a deep sigh before pulling away from Will's house and driving towards my own.

I think I know where she is. It bothers me to think I may be right, but I could be. And if I am, I need to hurry.

Max has been withdrawn lately, and it's worrying me. She won't talk to me anymore, which is what really worries me. She's never been open, necessarily, but she's never been this closed in. She hasn't been talking to anyone. I want to help her, but how can I? She doesn't let me in.