Remember Us // Byler

Mike

"Okay, so does everyone have the Eggos, the new crayons, the comics, the-"
"Mike we have everything sorted! Stop worrying!" Max was right. I was panicking at the fact my favourite people were coming back and I wanted it to be perfect. Max flicked her long copper hair back, walking up to Lucas. She took his hand and dragged him into the next room. He seemed very confused as we exchanged glances at one another.
I walk over to the mirror to fix myself up. I had to look presentable for them. My hair seems to cover my face but that's how I like it, Will's does the same. I wonder how much his has grown? If he has had a haircut yet... oh an El too. I have a blue striped shirt with my deep navy shorts on. That'll do. I'm not the biggest fashion nerd. Wait I'm not one at all. I suddenly hear the static of my walkie, it's Dustin.
"Mike, Mike? Are you there it's Dustin, over"
I run to the edge of my basement coach to hear my walkie. "Yes, what's the status, over"
"They have arrived, over"
They are here. They are finally here. I can't remember the last time I was with either of them. Yes you do Mike, the Christmas party. El had walked in with the most beautiful dress, it was a deep red. Her hair was pinned back and her curls were placed down to her shoulders. She just walked in, looking around till our eyes met and I just smiled when they did. I walked over to her and gave her a tight embrace. It felt right in the moment.
"Mike" her soft speech echoed my ears and I began to blush.
"I missed you El, so much" I pull away and hold her hands. We look into each other's eyes and I feel my heart beating.
"Well, I shouldn't keep you from everyone, we will catch up later" I see her smile fade a little when I say this but it quickly returns and she nods. She starts to skip away and I quickly ask her "El"
"What is it Mike?" She turns to face me again, confused at what I just said. "Um, where is Will?" I see her smile and she giggles.
"He is outside Mike" I smile back at her "he will be waiting to see you" she prances off and meets with Max giving her the biggest hug. They start helping decorating the Christmas tree, Lucas and Dustin join the fun not before I turn away to leave my house.

I'm so excited to see them and so I answer Dustin back on the walkie saying
"Perfect, they should be arriving soon then so hurry back Dustin and we will have everything ready in time, over and out" I turn off my walkie and put it back into place. I call Max and Lucas back downstairs but they aren't responding, "Max! Lucas! Come on assholes! I need your help!" Still no answer and there is trash everywhere. Guess I'll have to do it myself. I grab garbage bags from the basement cupboard and start loading all our food waste into it. We had been crashing here for like two days already so the food mess was uncanny. I make room for the party food and take the garbage bag out. I walk outside my house and a cold breeze hits me, sending shivers down my spine and it reminds me of that night. The night I saw Will again.

I walk out the Christmas party hoping to meet Will right at the door but he isn't there. Walking further into the night, I feel the cold air hit my bones and then I see Will. He is sitting on the sidewalk, looking into the night. He seems sad. I see his chestnut cut and his rosy cheeks from the cold air. He is shivering but yet it doesn't look like it bothers him. A shiver runs down my spine while staring at him and just at that he turns around. Our eyes lock and he beams at me. Will gestures for me to come over and so I walk across to him, sitting by his side. I wonder why he is all alone and why he never came in to see us. So, I ask him "Will, what's wrong?" I see his head turn to the floor and silence. All I can hear is the distant music from the party and laughs from possible bystanders nearby. But not Will. He is silent. Lifting his head from the ground to the house ahead, I am certain I won't get an answer.

I walk back inside to see Max and Lucas bolt downstairs. "Sorry Mike we uh- we uh— Max?" I see Lucas encouraging Max to give an answer but she is speechless and for once can't.
"It's fine guys, I did it without you" Max rolls her eyes at my achievement.
"Right okay Mike, but I bought the cakes remember?" We all laugh and continue setting up the decorations, hanging a banner across the ceiling. We weren't quite tall enough yet so me and Lucas balanced Max on our shoulders, much to her anger at that. Lining up streamers and welcome home presents, we soon hear Dustin arrive. I offer to go get him, "Oh, it's Dustin... I'll be right back guys!" but Max interrupts me. "No!"
I turn to her confused and as she tries to avoid eye contact with me she says "me and Lucas should go get him, stay here!" Lucas just nods and follows Max upstairs. I sigh in disbelief, they are probably off making out somewhere... I shouldn't really complain though. I have no room too after me and El last summer. I laugh to myself and sit on my cold basement sofa. It takes me back to that shivering sidewalk that winters night.

I could see the tears fill Will's cinnamon eyes and he darts his head in the opposite direction. I feel the urge to take his hand to comfort him but instead I ask again, "Will, what is going on?" I hear his sniffles and then his hand directs itself to his face. I can only stare at the back of his head in hopes he will turn around to meet me again.
"Nothi- no- nothing i-is w-wro-ong" he stutters between his words, breaking them up and they are barley understandable. I can hear the crack in his voice and the sniffles between the words. He sounds broken.
"Will" there is silence all around, I don't even hear the obnoxious Christmas music anymore only the sound of Will's cries. I want to help him so bad but I don't know what's wrong with him. I need him to tell me so I can make it better for him, or at least try to. "There is obviously something wrong... and you don't have to tell me now but Will I am your best friend, you can trust me with anything"
"Not this" he answers. This time he doesn't stutter nor sniffle. He turns back towards me meeting my eyes once more. His face is engulfed in tears, his eyes red and puffy. No sooner than we lock eyes again he turns back to the house. "There is something very wrong with me and- I - can't tell you what it is" he wipes the tears from under his eyes and holds his mouth as to not cry.
"Will, there is nothing wrong with you-"
"You don't know that!" He snaps back now looking angrily at me. But then he just turns back to the house and I see streams of tears running down his face but this time he isn't sobbing, he is silent.
"Will, you may not believe me but... I missed you the most" I see his eyes wonder back to me and he slowly turns back as I say,
"I miss playing D&D with you and all the drawings you give me. I missed the fun nights binging different movies and stuffing our faces, the days we would ride bikes in the rain, play on the swings, hang at the star court mall, even solving mysteries." He smiles and it quickly fades, he turns back to the house ahead.
"Will, you are my best friend. And I know whatever you think you've done is wrong, it isn't. You could never do anything wrong, you are too sweet for that" he begins to blush and giggles, in return I do so too and look away for a moment. I turn back to Will looking at me again, his tears seemed to have dried up and he just smiles at me. I instinctively wrap him in a hug, holding his head in my hands.
"Thank you, Mike" I hear his soft spoken words and they run through my body like electric. We hold the hug in silence for what seems like forever. I can hear the sounds of the rustling leaves across the dry grass. The wind echos the sounds of squirrels and the air tastes of pine cones. I shut my eyes to embrace my surroundings and Will. His gentle hands are holding my back now as I hold his fragile body. I won't let him break. We pull away avoiding all eye contact and just lightly giggle at what just happened. Will pushes up and raises his hand to mine.
"Come on Wheeler! Let's crash this party" I take his hand and he helps me up. I watch him run back into the house and I just think about what just happened. Could this be my fault? For what I said to him last year? It's always stuck with me as my worst mistake that I've ever made. I shake out of it when Will calls my name again and I run back to my house to follow him in.

I feel a delicate tear fall down my face, I quickly catch it and wipe it away. Silly Byers, I thought.
"Mike! Mike!" I hear Dustin's voice getting closer, he must be coming down to the basement. He is with Lucas and Max. "Mike they are literally here, they're coming Mike hurry let's hide!" Dustin's words are rushed but we understand the need to take cover. Lucas runs to switch the lights off and I hide behind the sofa. I wonder if Will still feels the same way as he did that night or if he's changed completely, if he has hopefully not too much. I love the way he is and I can't wait to see his face again. I hear the foot steps of the two teens and I feel my heart race, I can't wait. I can't wait.