Better Never Last

Chapter Four:

Getting caught in the rain wasn't a big problem for Will. It was getting caught in the rain with Mike that was the problem. Walking by Mike wasn't a problem, it was holding Mike's hand that was the problem.

But of course, despite Will's inner screaming, he didn't let go of Mike's hand. Besides, the screaming was always there, ignoring it had become easier over the years.

They had left the tracks after it had begun to pour and they found their walking more in the woods. Trying to get shelter from the rain by walking under the trees. 

Of course, trees make shitty umbrellas. Will's shirt was soaked all the way through and he was starting to get cold.

Will hated getting cold. It was always there, always watching him. Made him remember when he was a spy.

"Will! I think I found something!" Mike's voice knocked Will out his thoughts.

"You don't have to yell," Will said making a face, "I'm right here."

"Shut up and just move your feet!" Mike said as he began to pull Will deeper into the woods.
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Mike found a van. And not a nice one either. 

It was missing two doors, three wheels, both headlights, and one of the seats was nearly ripped in half. 

And Mike loved it. 

He sat in the front seat, with Will next to him in the passenger's. Mike looked at Will with a huge smile on his face, "Can you believe how awesome this is?!"

"Yeah, I just love broken down pieces of junk." Will learned back in his seat, watching Mike carefully.

"Will," Mike turned to face Will, "I mean, just think! We could leave Hawkins!"

Will rolled his eyes, "You're right! Why don't we just pack up and live in here?"

"Will come on!" Mike looked at his friend with crossed arms, "If we fixed this thing up, we could travel almost anywhere!"

Will raised an eyebrow at that, "You really think that Wheeler?"

"You know I do! I mean, we could go to New York, Washington, Florida-"

"California?" Will blurted out before he could even think twice, "Could we take the group to California...?"

Mike smiled, "I don't see why we couldn't! We could just travel from one state to the next," Mike turned away from Will and looked out the window, "Maybe everyone in the group could pick one place to go.... I wonder where everyone will want to go..."

Will held his breath as he looked at Mike, a feeling of sadness washing over him. He knew exactly what Mike was thinking, and he hated that he knew.

Because Mike was thinking about El.

So as Mike looked out his window, Will sighed and opened his door

Outside only reminded Will that it was still raining, but at this point, what was alittle water going to do?

 He leaned against the side of the Van, looking up to the sky as he started to think about what Mike had said.

Leaving Hawkins.  The thought kept coming back to Will. Because it was something Will had never thought about. To him, leaving Hawkins was fiction. They couldn't just in the middle of the school year. And even if they could, Will knew his mom wouldn't go for it. 

And then, there was the issue of the nightmares. 

As Will thought of them, pain hit him again. He sucked in a breath as he held his chest, the buring pain that he had been trying to ignore the entire day. His knees began to become weaker and collapsed under him. Will himself so his back was leaning against the Van.