Lost boys • Will Byers

6

Charlie's POV

"Jesus Harrington, who in the right mind would drink all of this?"

Charlie was sitting on Steve Harrington's couch watching as his best friend struggled to carry six cases of beer to the back door.

"How 'bout you think for once in your life? there's six of us and six cases of beer with six in ea— never mind!"

Charlie smirked and stood up, grabbing two cases and bringing them outside.

"Come on Harrington!" He called. Steve seemed to snap out of whatever trance he was in and followed Charlie out to the pool.

"Hey so... you have Nancy and Tommy and Carol are together, so what the hell am I supposed to do tonight?" He asked Steve, who had collapsed into a lawn chair.

"Well, I think Nancy's bringing Barb." He raised his eyebrows suggestively. "Ughh." Charlie gagged. "What? She's not that bad."

"Well, that implies that she's at least somewhat bad!"

"Don't be an ass."

"You would know all about that." He argued. Steve rolled his eyes. "Listen, I'm not forcing you to stay all night—"

"Can I though?" He asked.

"Wha— Why?"

"Because my mom is going crazy over what's happening with Danny. I just don't wanna be home." He explained.

"Yeah sure. You can sleep in my parents' bed."

Charlie made a face. "You know they have sex in there, right?" He asked. "My parents? Probably not. If it really bothers you, then sleep in my bed."

He hadn't slept in Steve's bed in a long time, probably not since third grade. After that, Steve considered it to be too gay to handle. Charlie didn't mind so much though. After all, the floor wasn't that bad.

"What're you thinking about?" Steve asked him, cracking open a can of beer. Charlie considered telling him.

"Nothing."

But he knew better than to do that.

Danny's POV

"I think I'm losing my mind," Danny told Will. "Me too," Will replied, staring straight ahead.

"I— I contacted my mom."

Danny's head turned. "What? How?"

"I don't really... know. It's just— I heard her voice calling to me. I was looking for you and I don't know if she heard, but I said your name." Will told him. "I hope she tells my mom." Danny felt tears well up in his eyes. "Last time I saw her—"

The last time he'd seen his mom, they'd fought. It seemed stupid now, all things considered, but they were arguing about the sleepover rule.

When he shared this, Will hugged Danny, pulling him in tightly. "It's okay... I'm sure she'll forgive you when she sees you."

Danny felt his tears soak into Will's clothes.

"What if I never see her again?" He whispered.

"They're going to find us. We're going to get home." He assured. And Danny believed him.

Charlie's POV

When Steve heard the car door slam, he ran to the front of the house. Charlie watched him fix his hair.

"Does my breath smell okay?" He huffed in Charlie's face, making him back up. "What the hell? You're fine! Nancy already thinks you're like, the coolest guy in school—"