Max Mayfield
"This time you... meant it, right?" I mumble atop El - my head just under her chest - on her bed as she runs her fingers through my unruly red hair.
"Meant what?"
"The kiss..." I say quietly with a soft smile.
"Yes... to be honest, though, I meant it the other time too. I just wasn't sure yet. If that makes sense—"
"Yes. It does." I lean up to El's face, beaming before pecking her rosy pink lips.
After a few seconds of a comfortable silence, El speaks again.
"Is... is it okay if we keep this a secret?" She asks and my face falls. I completely understand how she feels - considering that I'm still in the closet too - but I also can't help feeling a little hurt hearing it aloud.
"Just until I figure things out." She adds, interlocking our fingers together against her pillow in assurance.
"Of course." I reply after a moment of hesitation, knowing it's the best thing to do for now. "But, what about Mike?"
"Don't worry about him. I will end things when it's right, okay?"
"Okay." I agree and we continue to lay silently.
Mike Wheeler
It'd been a week since we arrived in California, and today we're all at the beach, well- all except my dad, who's at this business meeting.
"Holly, don't run too far!" Mom scolds the blondie as she ecstatically runs towards the waves. I'm sat on the sand stuck in my thoughts, with Will beside me and I expect he's probably doing the same hence the silence.
"Mike! Go get Holly!" She shouts at me and I flinch before turning my gaze to her. I roll my eyes as she continues to converse with one of her friends under a preppy umbrella and get up, running towards the water to collect my little sister.
"Holly, come! You can't be here alone!" I explain with a loud tone so Holly can hear, a smile playing on my lips so she doesn't get the idea that I'm angry.
She frowns with puppy eyes, weakening me immediately.
"Okay, okay. Do you want me to swim with you?" I offer and she nods sweetly.
I jump into the water and wrap both my arms around my younger sister's waist, pulling her further into the ocean with me.
Will Byers
I watch as Mike and Holly play together in the water, smiling at how wholesome their relationship is. Jonathan and I used to be close, but I don't know... I guess he's just been much more distant lately. It's probably because he's busy with his work experience assignments but I don't see him much during break either.
I look down at the ground between my legs, poking the sand with my index fingers in boredom. This past week has been great but sometimes I can't help but feel like a burden, not being in this family and all.
I shift my gaze back up to the ravenette and his sister, mesmerised by the way his hair looks when wet as he happily splashes the salty water.
I'm caught off guard when Mike stops for a moment and meets my gaze from our long distance before beckoning me to join them. I get up without hesitation and run towards the two, jumping into the water.
"Woooooo!! Byers!!!" Mike cheers, clapping his hands twice and chuckling contagiously. As a wave washes over us, I witness Holly whimpering frantically before she runs off to Mrs Wheeler.
"Damn. I can't tell if she's scared of the waves or me." I remark sarcastically, causing Michael to laugh.
"Nah, she got bored of me."
"I don't blame her." I joke and Mike tackles me, causing the both of us to fall underwater. As we both swim back to the surface, we throw playful punches and kicks to each other, laughter flooding the area.
. . .
"Will and I are gonna get a drink." Mike tells his mother before walking off to the juice bar and I follow him, trying to speed up since he's already a few feet ahead of me.
When we reach the bar, both of us sit down on a stool in front of the counter, waiting for someone to take our order.
"What do you want?" Mike asks, turning to me.
"Oh, I'll probably get a strawberry slurpee or something- I dunno." I answer.
"Kay, cool." He simply replies as someone approaches us.
"What can I get for you?"
"Can I get one strawberry slurpee and... one apple slurpee." Mike requests and I arch my brows, my full attention to him.
"You're- You're not paying for me, are you?" I stammer stupidly.
"Yeah, why not?" He shrugs.
"No- no it's fine, I'll pay for my own. We can go Dutch I don't mind—"
"Okay, okay! If you're petty enough to insist that I spare myself from spending an extra 5$ that's fine." He teases me and I nod, searching my pockets for money before pulling a note out and placing it on the counter - Mike does the same and we both exchange smug looks.
"I'm very much capable of spending my own 5$." I smile.
Dustin Henderson
"Why isn't he picking up?!?!" I curse at my phone, slamming it back into the cradle.
"Maybe because he's in California?"
"What?" I part my lips in confusion.
"I said, maybe because h—"
"No I heard you! Wait- why didn't you tell me this? Wait- why on earth is he in California? How long has he been in California?? He's been ignoring all of my calls since like- last week and it's driving me mad!" I huff, letting myself fall to my sofa.
"That's because he left last Tuesday." Steve informs me, inevitably blowing my mind further.
"How long have you known this??" I ask.
"Since he left. I'm surprised you don't know- literally the whole school knows."
"Why is he there though?"
"Michael Wheeler invited h—"
"MICHAEL WHEELER?!" I jump back to my feet, my jaw dropping immediately. "Michael Wheeler, son of the mayor of Hawkins and likely soon-to-be politically associated with other big states even more than he already is, invited Will Byers to go to California with him??"
"I'm not really surprised. Don't you know they're dorm mates?" Steve asks, making my jaw ache by how spread apart it is by now.
"Okay- either I'm dumb or Will has a double life that I don't know of." I sigh, and he mumbles something incoherently.
"What?" I furrow my brows.
"Nothing." Steve smiles and I roll my eyes, knowing it's not nothing.
"Whatever. Anyway- how do I contact him??"
"You can't. Not unless you know the hotel's number- which I doubt."
"I'll be having a long chat with him when he's back." I cross my arms and pace around the living room in worry.
"I hope he's fine! I mean- I haven't really been much of a friend to him like I should've been. Not like we're that close anyway but I wanna be... he seems cool, y'know?"
"I mean I'm sure you can talk things out. He's flying back tomorrow I heard."
I look down and nod. "Right..."
"Well- anyway! I need a drink. See ya kid." Steve declares before starting to walk off, catching me off guard.
"Wh- you can't drink! You're 18!"
"I have my ways!" He yells back, trailing off as he leaves me alone in my dorm room. I sigh in defeat.
Son of a bitch.
To Be Continued...
a.n.
cringing at how overdue this is. anyway have a great day<3