Remember Us // Byler

Talk to me

Eleven leads me from the comfort of Will's room into the kitchen, no one else is around which makes me believe Eleven kicked both Joyce and Jonathan out to talk to me. She wouldn't be rude about it obviously, but now I would have to talk to Eleven after everything that had happened between us yesterday. I had to apologize no matter how I felt because it was her first day back and I ignored her. She walks to the table and proceeds to sit on it, whilst swinging her legs and pulling the lose hairs behind her ears. Her eyes wander to her odd socks and she twists her feet in odd directions with no expression placed on her face. I can't help but smile at how adorable she can be, I feel so guilty for treating her that way and not giving her the attention she needed after all the months we were pulled apart. I was only thinking about myself when I should've thought of her.

"Can I sit?" I point to the obvious space next to Eleven on the kitchen table, she nods nervously and shifts to one side and I sit by her side clasping my hands.

"I'm sorry, okay?" I blurt this out before there is any awkward silence between us, I couldn't let her think I wasn't sorry, not Eleven.

"Oh" though her response is short, I can see by the expression on her face, she was shocked I even admitted I was wrong. It's true to say I am a bit stubborn but in this case I had to push my pride away.

"It's just different with Will and- never mind... you probably don't want to hear this." Just as I say this Eleven turns to me with her bold brown eyes and squints to one side.

"How different?"

"Um... well. Different as in we are clos- good friends... that's all"

"so does that make us different?" I scratch the back of my head when trying to answer Eleven's innocent question.

"I mean- not so anymore" I turn to her look back at the pink and blue socks she wears. "It's just... I guess I didn't realize how much I missed him- so I was shocked to see him again."

"I guess that makes sense" she smirks a little and looks back up at me. "Did you miss Will as much as me though?" Eleven then pulls my hand into hers and I can't help but smile, though I pull away. I don't want to lead her on or drag her into this mess I've made. I need to talk to Will before I can decide how we should be. After I pull her hand from my grasp Eleven seems confused by this action.

"I-I-I'm sorry Eleven... it-it's just. I don't want to rush anything again"

"Okay" she takes her hand from the table to fiddle with her blue wristband. "but Mike?"

"Yes" she snaps the wristband onto her hand before speaking.

"Why are you calling me Eleven... and not El?" I feel my cheeks start to raise in heat as I realize that since Eleven- EL and I had our fight I had been calling her by her full name, the one she doesn't like.

"What? Oh El I-I'm sorry I haven't been meaning it I swear-"

"It's fine Mikey" she giggles a little. "I missed calling you that" well I didn't miss that, that's for sure.

"Oh haha" I awkwardly laugh at this confession as I hated when she called me that.

"You didn't miss it?"

"No-not really" we both start to laugh and El's head falls onto my shoulder, normally I would rest my head on hers but instead I just look off in another direction. I think she saw this as I feel her slowly rise from this position back to what we were before.

"How was running off with Will yesterday then?"

"WHAT-!" I twist my whole body to look at her, how could she know? About me and Will in the woods? Was she there? Did she make the bang? Did she see us? What if she did I-