Lost boys • Will Byers

7

Charlie's POV

"Charlie..." a voice woke him up, startling him. He seemed to have forgotten where he was. "Hmm?" He opened his eyes, discovering that he'd fallen asleep on the floor in the hallway right in front of Steve's bedroom door. Nancy was on the other side of the door, trying to get through.

He rolled over on his side so she could open the door and step out. He narrowed his eyes when he saw she was wearing Steve's sweatshirt. What else would she wear dumbass?

"Hey—" she started, kneeling so she was closer to him. "What, you want me to drive you home?" He asked her accusingly. "I'm a little drunk if you haven't noticed." He informed her. "No... I just figured we could walk together." She suggested. His eyes rolled back in his head. He stared at the closed door.

Steve hadn't came and gotten him.

There probably wasn't even a makeshift bed set up on the floor.

His heart ached as bad as his head for doing it, but he stood up and followed Nancy Wheeler out of the house.

"Listen— I'm sorry about your brother." Nancy said, directing a small smile at him. He said nothing, instead looking away from her gaze, hoping he wouldn't explode under it. "It's just... if Mike went missing—"

"What would you do?" He asked suddenly. "What?" She questioned, obviously startled. "If Mike was missing... what would you do?"

"Well... I think maybe all I can do is sit and wait. Offer comfort to anyone who needs it, accept it when someone else tries to give it to you."

He frowned. "I think I feel so useless in this."

"You aren't useless." She reassured. "Of course not... I just feel like I am. It's just when someone like Jonathan Byers is running through the fucking woods trying to find Will and I can't even—" he cut off abruptly. "Did you hear that?" He asked her. "Wha—"

He swore he'd heard something, but when he turned, there was nothing there.

Danny's POV
"Haven't we been here already?" He asked quietly. It always had to be quiet in case he was around. "No this is... this is the pool, right? We're looping back around towards your house."

They'd been chased. Unable to see what it was, they just ran, not asking any kind of questions.

Danny thought they were lost, but Will always knew where he was going.

"Are you okay?" Will asked him. Danny nodded weakly. "I just can't wait to take a freaking shower." He joked. Will smiled and put a hand on Danny's back. His hand seemed to linger but Danny didn't think much of it.

Will exhaled, watching a white cloud in the air. "Remind me to tell my mom she was right about wearing a coat." He said. Danny, who'd been wearing a sweater under his jacket and was quite comfortable, took off the windbreaker and wrapped it around Will's small frame.

He frowned, looking up at Danny. "Won't you be cold too?" Will asked. "No, I'll be fine." He answered.

"So when we get back, I was thinking you guys could teach me how to play D&D." Danny suggested. "I thought you knew how to."

To be perfectly honest, he knew exactly how to play.

But every time he joined in a group session, he'd act completely oblivious, knowing full well that Will would jump in, helping him right away. They were teammates, he'd say. And Lucas would always complain to Mike that it was against the rules, yet Mike always allowed it.