Remember Us // Byler

Before Winter

My heart stops as he brushes past me away from the rest of the party and once I hear his footsteps distance I turn to look at him walking away from us, from me. I turn back to see Lucas running after us as he shouts after Mike. He is out of breath and has a concerned look on his face. Max goes up to Lucas very worried at what just occurred.

"What did you say to him?" he looks up confused at what she is claiming.

"Nothing Max he just-"

"He just what" El interrupts and when she does everyone turns to her except from Max who is looking at me and a wave of realization seems to flood her.

"Shit" the words escape her mouth and she seems the most shocked that she even said them, I blush and turn away from her looking back to where Mike left but he isn't there anymore.

"What?" Dustin says completely baffled as to what is going on much like everyone else.

"What did he say Lucas" Max goes right in Lucas' face and it looks as if she is about to slap him but El comes up behind her and pulls her back.

"Nothing!" he shrugs his shoulders

"Lucas"

"He just said something about me not accepting him and-"

"What" I blurt this out without even thinking, and the whole party turns to me. I can feel my cheeks rise in heat once again and I wonder why Mike would say that. Why would he of all people need to worry about acceptance when he is dating Eleven? Max looks to me once again after the whole party turns from me.

"We need to go after him come on" she starts to run in the same direction and grabs my arm pulling me with her. El is also following her but Lucas and Dustin still remain still. Max notices this and stops. "What the hell are you guys doing?" I look to them but back to Max and she has the most disgusted impression I cannot describe.

"No-othing we are coming" Lucas says quickly chasing after the rest of us, followed by Dustin. We run in Mike's tracks hoping to catch him before he disappears and once we are all almost out of breath we see him. He is just getting on his bike but not before looking back. To my surprise he stares at me and my jaw drops in awe. I can't help him, I just can't. So, before I can even react he turns to his bike and rides away. Disappearing. Once again. Why do I keep losing him? What is wrong with me?

Max throws her arms up in the air, Mike is already long gone in our view but the party has just been staring at his shadow until it left.

"Well shit you've done it now Lucas" Max says turning back to her boyfriend who is hanging on the end of the line we formed.

"What the hell did I do?"

"Wow you really don't know huh?" she walks out of the line and folds her arms looking at them while Dustin walks back slowly so he isn't caught in the middle.

"No I really don't"

"Do you want me to spell it out for you?"

"Spell what out?" El interrupts and Max turns towards the sweet girls confused expression.

"No El it's-"

"Yeah I'd like it spelled out too. I don't think Lucas has done anything wrong-" Dustin interrupts also and I can feel my blood boil but I cannot speak the words I must.

"Exactly what have I done wrong! Max he just overreacted!" Lucas explains

"Oh like I am overreacting right now then?" she reverts back to him.

"No! That's not what I am saying-"

"It sounds exactly what you are saying" and soon enough the party are all shouting over each other, Lucas defending himself and Max arguing her point. Dustin seems to be confused but still taking Lucas' side and El interrupts every time she does not understand a word. I feel my whole body heat rise and I just want to scream at them all. They don't know what is going through Mike's brain, how he is feeling and all I want to do is go after him. Hold him. Tell him everything is going to be okay. But I can't. It is wrong. It always will be. But I need him to know I am here, he needs to know I care and that I always have. My heart races and my head spins as the party gets louder and louder until the shouting becomes louder and I just-