Remember Us // Byler

Welcome Home

The foot steps are in time with my heart beat and I can't wait to see them again. I look down at my hands and see them shake in excitement. Thinking that I will see Will and El again is terrifying because I don't know what to say to them once I do. I guess I've been naive in thinking this would be easy. That just having them show up would make me know in that moment how I feel. But now all I can think about is the constant, underlying menace that I will have to choose between them. I can't hang out with both of them this summer and sure we will all hang out as a group but I mean alone one and one time. On one hand I think I love El and so I want a chance to reconnect with her, maybe even get back what we once had. But then there is Will, and I know he has been having such a hard time with whatever has been going on. I want to know if he is doing ok considering the last time I had a private chat with him he broke down. What did he mean when he said "There is something wrong with me" ? I guess that's the biggest question I have for him. You know what, I will wait until I see them both and then decide what to do because there is no point in worrying about something that hasn't even happened yet. Or maybe I'm still trying to put things off. I peak up to see white shoes walking down my stairs, me and the others peak over to each other and nod. We jump up, Lucas turns back on the lights and we scream "WELCOME HOME!" I see both Will and El's face light up in excitement. I walk over to El to welcome her back. She has changed so much; her hair is longer, she has a new rockin' sense of style and she has this glow about her I can't seem to make out. I squeeze her in a hug and just say "it's great to see you back home". She pulls away and smiles at me, not saying anything back. Eleven then walks to Max and spins her in a hug. I just watch in confusion, what did I do wrong? She didn't say 'thank you 'or 'it's good to be home' or anything. I scratch my head and look on my right to see Will getting group hugged by both Dustin and Lucas. So, I walk over to them and see Will.
"Hi, Byers... welcome home" I say trying to distract myself with other objects in the room. I see Dustin and Lucas slowly move away to leave us alone. There is pause and for that eternity I kept thinking about every little change I could've made to make them feel welcome but instead I did the opposite.
"Is that all you have to say?" Will said in a straight tone. I can tell he is hurt that I never came to him first but I had to see Eleven! If I didn't I would've made her mad, but instead I have made them both annoyed or sad or I don't know...
"Yes no-o I just um-" I stutter over all my words and so I turn to lock eyes at Will. He still has his chestnut hair and he looks so grown up. I see him staring back at me and we just smile at one another. "Missed you too Wheeler" and he comes towards me, embracing me in a hug. Once he tries to pull away, I don't let go and so he doesn't either. I whisper to him "we will talk later okay? Just you and me" we both then pull away and he gives a smirk asking
"why?"before I can answer Max interrupts me by running and giving Will a hug.
"Welcome home Will!" Her long amber hair is waving as she runs. She grabs Will almost pushing him over and we all laugh.
"Right everyone!" Lucas says standing on my basement sofa. He clasps his hands together and then directs gestures to everyone. We are listening in and I feel Eleven coming up beside me. I turn to her and she looks back with a small smile that quickly fades.
"So everyone! As you can see we have this whole party set up for yous but frankly it is pretty shit... no offence Mike"
"Hey!" I shout and Max, Dustin and Will turn and laugh at me.
"Well I was thinking we could all go on a bike ride like old times, maybe even go to the arcade?"
"Yeah and all you losers will be at the mercy of my countless high scores" Max adds in
"Don't know about that Max, I have been practicing" Will comments
"Oh really well-"
"Anyways!" Lucas interrupts them. "It is really up to El and Will what they want to do"
"But I don't have a bike" Eleven says, she has an upset crack in her voice.
"You can ride with me El" Will turns to Eleven smiling at her. I finally see Eleven begin to beam and I wonder why couldn't of I made that impact on her. But of course Will could, he is just like that. He has a sincerity, kindness and innocence about him that we love. Though a part of me hoped I could steal Will for some alone time, I know that Eleven may feel lost or uncomfortable and Will is probably the only one to help her out her comfort zone.
"Sure Will" she answers grabbing his arm, I look over and glare at them. Jealousy hits me like a ton of bricks and I'm standing there in silence, waiting for Lucas to continue his words of wisdom.

We head over to the arcade and after lagging behind everyone on the pathway I realise I need to talk to Eleven I'm private. Something is wrong. We all get off and as everyone runs in I whisper to Eleven and ask her for a chat. She turns to me and her big brown eyes stare into my soul, she just nods, no smile,nothing and she walks with we to sit on the sidewalk.

We are both staring at the arcade door, peaking at our friends who are having fun inside. I see Max on Dig Dug. Obviously. Lucas is beside her rooting her on and I see Dustin getting distressed. I can tell Max has probably beaten his score again. Damn. Well it was a good day while it lasted. But who I don't see is Will, he could be playing something else but I don't see why he wouldn't stay with the group.
"Mike" Eleven finally says and so I turn towards her. She still hasn't looked back at me but I can tell she is in anguish.
"Just say what it is" I mumble, not even meaning to say it but I want her honesty.
"Well... it's just" I see her begin to giggle. I've missed it honestly. But there is something underneath her giggle that brings me to another awkward moment.
"It's just. When you surprised us at the party" she stops abruptly and so I lead her on with
"Yes..."
"It's just, I thought you'd look at me but you weren't" I am confused at this point. What is she talking about? I can't remember what I was doing in that moment as I was just blinded my Lucas turning on the basement lights too fast.
"What do you mean Eleven?" I quickly ask her.
"See there you are! Why are you calling me Eleven all of a sudden, when you always call me El?" She is right, and I hear her upset tone and it hurts me to admit that she is right. I've been different with her and I honestly don't know why.
"I was upset because you were looking at Will and not me okay?" She turns to me and her eyes growl at my face. I look to the arcade to see Will looking at us from the window, he quickly turns away after I saw him and I'm sure Eleven saw him too. I feel my face burning up, Eleven was right. I wasn't looking at her, I was looking at Will but why was I looking at him?
"I- um- don't know... I"
"It doesn't matter Mike, I dumped your ass anyway" Eleven struts up and heads back towards the arcade. She flings the door open with her powers and I see Max run after her.
I chuck the stone next to me to my right. Lucas comes out of the arcade and heads to towards me, I immediately start to walk off as he comes after me.
"Mike! Mike wait!"
"No, leave me Lucas!" I hear his footsteps increase and he grabs my arm to pull me from walking away.
"Mike... just wait" his voice drops once he sees my face. I look up to him with tears streaming down my face and I can't breathe.
"What the hell is going on?"
"Eleven- Will- Me- I don't even know Lucas I-" I turn my head from him.
"Look Mike, I don't judge whatever you are going through... I may not understand how you feel but I'm always here... look we both have girl troubles, we aren't so different you know" he begins to laugh but I am silent.

We aren't the same. He doesn't know what I'm going through, hell I don't even know what I'm going through. Both of us took a walk down the Main Street to get away from the blinding arcade. Passing all the shops the air is filled with a fresh bake-like smell. Like a cake just exiting the oven. I see kids just like us riding there bikes a long the lane, two boys up front... what good times.
"Have you calmed down a bit now?" Lucas stops me in my thoughts.
"I mean... I guess I've just been a little out of it"
"No shit- I mean... you haven't been the same since El moved away" I stop my pace and look back over to where the boys were riding their bikes. They are gone.
"Mike?"
"You still there?"
"Mike?" I'm registering every word he says but I can't answer or listen or anything. My heart sinks.
"It's not El" I whisper
"Really? I could've sworn that's who you got annoyed at"
"Well yeah but- it's not her... I-it's w-what she... said t-that um..." scratching my head I'm trying to find the words to comprehend what I'm feeling inside.
"It's Will isn't it?" And I just turn to him and nod. Looking down at the ground as we continue to walk, he hums a tune I'm not remembering at all. It settles with me okay though. I start smiling at the memories rushing through my brain. Of all of us. Before Eleven even came into the picture. Me, Dustin, Lucas and... Will. I miss those times, it was simpler then. Before emotions or relationships got in the way.
"You're right"
"Huh?" Lucas turns towards me "oh we still talking about THAT"
"Yeah!" We both laugh at his stupidity and start to head back to the others.

I see the arcade and we aren't far from it now. "Hey Lucas" he turns to me before I can continue. "Thank you... for just letting me walk without talking about ... well .... anything" we nervously giggle.
"It's fine Mike, and when you're ready to talk about your feelings. I'll be here, just know that." He walks back off to the arcade and swings the door open.
"Come on Mike! We are waiting to kick your ass!"
"Oh it's on Sinclair!" I run up to the open door, slamming it shut behind me.