Back to Hawkins || ➵ Byler

Chapter 12 ➵ What's bothering you?

Author's Pov:

The Wheeler's and Byers finished up their meal together and helped set up the bedrooms and basement so everyone will have a place to sleep. El was going to sleep in Mike's room and Will and Mike and Jonathan were sleeping in the basement, and Joyce was taking the guest bedroom.

Mike and Will were excited about staying in the basement.

They talked about how they were going to talk all night. About, whatever...

D&d, Newyork, Hawkins, school, whatever.

El, however, hated the arrangement.

She wanted to sleep next to her boyfriend.

But thankfully Joyce and Karen said no.

They didn't trust them.

I wouldn't either...

ANYWAYS.........

Mike and Will had their sleeping bags set up and everything. They were just talking about school.

"My Science teacher is insane. A few weeks ago he accidentally set his entire desk on fire. It was hilarious." Will laughs.

"I wish I was there to see that." Mile laughs along.

"Wish you were there too honestly.., but afterwards, everyone in the building had to stand outside for 2 and a half hours while the firemen took care of it."

"Oh that sucks." Mike says.

"It really did. It was raining outside too. El was freaking out, and all of the kids."

Mike frowns at her name.

"You hang out with her during school?"

"It's not like I have a choice." Will rolls his eyes.

Mike awkwardly laughs. He wanted to defend his girlfriend, but at the same time he didn't want to.

"Don't you have any friends there..?" Mike trails off.

"No." Will says blatantly.

"No? But you're so awesome." Mike smiles

"Everyone thinks Im weird. They think that El's my crazy girlfriend or something. I don't know." Will gags at the word girlfriend.

For one, shes his sister, that's disgusting. For two, hell no. Shes a female, Will dont like that.

Third, just no.

"She practically lives on top of me. She follows me everywhere and never leaves me alone." He sighs.

"Yeah... she's just, confused." Mike defends.

"I guess, but why would she hang around me? I've made it very clear I dont wanna be around her." Will groans.

"Because she trusts you." Mike shrugs.

"Ughhhh."

"Right.." Mike rolls his eyes.

"I feel bad for saying that.. but she's very clingy."

"Dude, I know. Try living with her." Will groans again.

"Try dating her." Mike's eyes widen.

"Oh god. No thank you." Will pretend barfs onto the floor.

Dating El was the VERY LAST thing he ever wanted going through his mind.

Who the hell dates their siblings?

"Do you not like her anymore?" Will asks suspiciously.

Mike sighs and crosses his legs on his sleeping bag.

"You can't tell anyone, alright?" Mile warns.

"I won't. Promise." Will scoots closer to him.

"Okay, um." Mike starts.

"I don't think I like her anymore. At all. She's actually killing me. I feel like all of that love I had for her faded away. Pretty quickly, I must add. It's like, when her and I first got together, I always felt this spark of bright happiness inside, but now I don't. She doesn't make me feel like that anymore. Not even close." He rants.

"I just don't understand why I don't like her anymore, ya know? Is it because I haven't see her, is it because I got bored, is it because I... like someone else..?" Mike trails off to look at Will.

Will gulps and his breathing starts getting uneven.

"I don't know Mike, Im sorry. I've never felt that way about a girl before.." Will admits.

"Which is so dumb... you'll find a girl eventually." Mike smiles.

"Hopefully not..." Will starts.

Mike narrows his eyes at his friend.

"What?"

"I mean- I don't want this same thing to happen to me." Will says.

What Will said was true, but it would happen with a guy, not a girl.

"Okie.." Mike says awkwardly.

"Can I ask you something Will?"

"Yeah?" Will lays down in his sleeping bag.

"Was El the reason you were upset earlier?"

Will freezes and looks at the ceiling.

"Um..." he hesitates.

"Kind of. She was just making it worse."

"How?"

"It's really hard to explain Mike.. I'm just trying to figure something out in my head, and she knows whats going in with me, and I cant let her tell you. It's not that I don't trust you, I just dont wanna lose my best friend." He sniffles.

"You can tell me anything. I will always be your best friend, Will."

"Not when you find out whats going on. You won't even be able to look at me." Will sighs

"That's not true, I like looking at you—" Mike's eyes widen.

"I mean— um... shit." Mike mumbles to himself.

"I mean-, that I will still look at you." Mike blushes.

"No you won't. You'll think I'm weird and disgusting."

"I would never! You could tell me like the craziest thing, like, like— if you told me you had a huge crush on me or something. I would still be your best friend." Mike laughs.

"Um... why would I do that?" Will says nervously.

"I don't know. It was the first idea that came to mind." Mike shrugs. "Why? do you like me?" He asks.

"No? I don't like anyone." Will lies.

"Okay... so can you tell me now?" Mike asks.

"Tell you what?"

"Will, dont be stupid. You know what Im talking about—. Why were you upset earlier?"

"Im still not telling you."

"Ugh. Come on. I really wanna know!" Mike whines.

"It's not exciting at all."

"I don't care. I wanna know, and you're gonna tell me."