Remember Us // Byler

Going Home

I hurry to grab some last minute stuff for my case and I can't believe that by tomorrow we will be back in Hawkins. It hasn't really sunk in yet until I reached for the drawing I gave El the week before. The effort I have put in to try and add him to the picture has been substantial, I've tried everything, even drawing his figure on a separate page hoping to transfer it. But I just can't. Knowing that El would see it... I can't do it. She has been so excited about returning to Hawkins, I mean excluding me and Jonathan, El hasn't made any friends here for obvious reasons. It's still too dangerous for her especially with what happened last summer, she has a target on her back. Me and El both went shopping for new clothes to fit the Hawkins weather. Yeah you heard right. Me and El went shopping. Never thought we'd actually enjoy it, we ended up bailing half way through and got some ice cream instead. She got two scoops of strawberry and chocolate as she's determined to experience every flavour. I just got a plain vanilla with one scoop since we only had enough for one us to have two scoops. All the laughter we have shared over the last week has been great. We both are excited to revisit and even though it brought us trauma years, our friends are there.
Screw it. I pick up the still unfinished drawing and put it in my binder.
"Will! Are you coming or what?" I here Jonathan's voice from outside, he returned from college just a few days ago. I'm sure he is really excited to see Nancy.
"Coming!" I take my binder and as I walk out my bedroom door I stop and look back.
"Wait Jonathan I need to get something I'll be right out!" I dart across my bed almost tripping over to grab the walkie in my bedside table. We haven't been able to use it since we all live so far away but I'm going to need it for going back. I pick it up while stumbling back onto my feet and lead myself out the room.

I walk outside to see Jonathan at the wheel of the car, my mom is still inside locking things up and I see El leaning against the side door of the car. Her hair is tied back in a peach scrunchie and she is dressed in what looks to be a very comfy pink jumper with grey shorts on. She is wearing striped red and orange socks paired with white trainers. Her face trips her and she stares off into the distance. Once she turns to see me, her face lights up.
"Will come on!" El gestures for me to come over and I do, not without a little giggle. I walk up next to her and lean on the car too, be both sigh in time with another and because of this be both start to laugh. I try to ease the inevitable silence and ask her,
"So are you excited about seeing everyone?"
"Yeah of course!" Her face lights up and she turns to me, "I'm so excited to go shopping with Max again! And to joke around with Lucas and oh... Dustin too! He is always really funny!" I then see her begin to blush and she has a sweet smile on her face, "and Mike". I then begin to smile and I feel my face go red, so I turn from her to compose myself but she continues, "I really miss him... I hope he has missed me too"
"Same" I blurt out not even thinking and now my face is really vibrant now. "Wait- u-um no I-I me-ean" I put my hand on the side of my face so she can't see me blush. "I'm hoping that everyone missed us too I mean"
"Oh- okay then. I understand that"
I reveal myself back to her and I'm not even sure I've stopped blushing yet. That was super embarrassing... I don't even know why I was so nervous. Mike will be missing El so much and once they reunite I'm sure they'll get back together no problem. They really are perfect for each other and so they'll spend every second together once we get back. Mike won't be missing me. I know. It hurts but El is the one he loves, there will be no time for us to catch up in D&D and the new friends we have made. I'm sure we will talk but not as much as he will talk to El. Don't get me wrong I am so happy to see Max, Dustin and Lucas but I know they'll make an effort, not Mike. At least not anymore after Christmas. After my breakdown in front of him.
I see my mom exit the house and she cheers "We are all set kids! Let's get moving!" And so we all get in our allocated seats, me and El are next to each other and my mom is in the passenger seat. At some point during the journey about an hour in El fell asleep on my shoulder. I couldn't sleep cause of all of the things running through my mind. My mom and Jonathan are talking about Jonathan's school. I only know this not because I'm listening in but because every few minutes my mom will ask my opinion on the topics they discuss. Every time I'm confused to what they are talking about and it's obvious to them that I am very distracted. Jonathan raises the question to me "Will wanna play a game?"
I am apprehensive at first because though I have very little knowledge as to their previous topic to me this seemed out of nowhere. I turn to look at him in the drivers seat. "Um... why?"
"Well you look a bit out of it so I thought a fun game might snap you out of your world for a second" he says back to me.
Jonathan knows that when I don't talk to anyone, it is for a reason. I wanted to feel alone in my head for these next few hours, thinking about what to say to everyone especially Mike. My mom chimes in to ease me "Will, you don't have to sweetie but if it's any consolation you get to ask Jonathan first" me and my mom laugh as Jonathan is in a state of discomfort. So, I say " yes let's do it then"
"So, Jonathan" I ask in a slow pace as to make his skin crawl with what I'm going to ask. "Are you and Nancy a couple? As in is she your girlfriend" I see Jonathan begin to blush at what I just said and at this point neither me nor my mom need an answer, because we know.
"Fine then yes we are!" Me and my mom begin teasing him at his confession and now it's my moms turn to ask me a question.
"Will Byers... what are you most excited to do when we get to Hawkins"
I don't hesitate to answer and say "definitely to play D&D with the party again" my mom and Jonathan look at each other and laugh. I know it's stupid but I've been waiting a long time to play with them all again.
We got through many questions and revelations for nearly an hour. I haven't had this much close time with my family in a really long time. It feels great. Until Jonathan has to ask me a question.
"Well, well, well..." I suddenly feel the hair on the back of neck rise. What will he say?
"I have been wanting to ask you this question for a while..." oh no what is he going to ask?
"Just say it Jonathan!" I say a bit too loudly and I realise that I could've woken El up. I look down to my shoulder and she seems to be still asleep. Thank god I never woke her up.
"Okay okay Will" Jonathan says and he takes a deep breath. "Who are you most excited to see once we get back?" Oh no. What can I say without telling the truth. I feel my cheeks light up and I turn away and look at the window again. "Well- um I'm not sure" but I am, I know that I am most excited to see...
"Mike" Jonathan says with absolute confidence.
"No-um it's it-it's" my mom turns towards me and just laughs. Jonathan is just smiling whilst his eyes are on the road.
"It's okay Will, he's your best friend of course you miss him the most" my mom says trying to comfort me in my embarrassment.
"Well Will? Am I wrong?" Jonathan says while letting out a little grin.
"No you are right" I say in a really low volume to the point I'm not sure they heard. El then is awake and listening to the whole conversation. My worst nightmare but she eases my mind and says "don't worry Will, I miss him too" I turn to her resting on my shoulder and smile. I then close my eyes and drift off until the journey is over. I can't wait to see everyone, I can't wait.