' crazy together '

"Mike, what is wrong with you?" Eleven asked, I snapped out of the trance I was in, looking at Eleven, she locked eyes with me. I sighed, what Eleven had written in her letter, she had mentioned that Will started painting, not only that, she thought he was painting was for a girl. Someone she thought Will had liked, and yet, he brought the painting when they picked me up.

"Oh, uh, sorry, El, you were saying?" I asked, she shook her head, tying her skates, "I was saying," she paused, pulling her laces to tighten them. "That skating is pretty easy, you just need to know how to stand, and how to move." I looked at Will from my peripheral vision, Will rolled his eyes. 

I cleared my throat, realizing I didn't have socks, "Uh, do they sell socks?" I asked, El looked at Will, Will looked at me, he sighed, nodding, "Yeah, over there, Mike." Will lifted his hand, hitting my knee. I gulped, turning my head to face Will fully. His hand flung near my face, nearly creasing my chin. I bit my lip, nodding and getting up and walking toward the counter.

Why did Will roll his eyes when Eleven was explaining how to skate? It was subtle, sure, but I saw it. I saw him roll his eyes… Right? I sighed, looking up at the lady who had just handed us our skates, "Can I help you?" She asked, smiling, I forgot why I came up here, I looked past her, realizing I needed socks, "Uh, do you sell socks here?" I asked, she giggled airily, nodding, "What color, hun?" She asked.

I thought for a second. I was wearing a ridiculous outfit, why not make it worse? I laughed slightly, "You got vomit green?" I asked, she let out a 'pffft' before pulling out bright green socks and setting them on the counter. "How much?" I asked, pulling out a ten from my pocket as well as a five, "Just five." She responded. I handed her my five, she slid the socks toward me and opened the drawer and put the money in there.

I took the socks and turned toward Eleven and Will, they looked like they were arguing. I pushed it aside, this was about me and Eleven, that's what she said. I plastered a smile on my face and sat between the two, they both shut up, "Why don't you look at that? I asked for vomit green, and I got vomit green!" I exclaimed, quickly putting on my socks as the other two finished putting their skates on.

Eleven smiled slightly at my comment. Will stayed blankfaced. He looked pissed slightly. Why was he acting like this? God, this is supposed to be fun, not just Will being pissed the whole time just ruining the day. I shoved it off again, helping Eleven up and waiting for Will for a second and then getting on the rink. Eleven grabbed onto my hand, holding it as we started going, I was slipping slightly. Fuck, this was hard.

"You got it?" Eleven asked, I laughed, "Yeah!" I laughed again, giggling airly, "I'm like Bambi on ice!" I joked, Eleven laughed, "No, you got it!" She exclaimed. I plastered another smile on my face, I felt my stomach drop. It didn't feel right with Eleven, but I couldn't back down now, she's been my girlfriend for years. We were meant to be together… Right? 

After a bit of skating we all got shakes, me and Will got vanilla, and Eleven got chocolate. Me and Eleven were trying one anothers, and, "Yup, mines better." I laughed, giving her shake back. I fluffed my bangs, and looked up making eye contact with Will. He didn't look away, he held that eye contact, capturing my eyes. Why couldn't I fucking look away from him? Why do I feel like my hearts gonna explode, but not in a bad way? 

"No it's not! Mine is way better!" Eleven defended, I snapped out of it, looking at Eleven, I was in a conversation with her, I glanced at Will, he was looking past me. I went to say something but I was stopped by a girl, who slammed her hands on the table. "Milkshakes!" She yelled, Will jumped looking up at the girl.

"Who's this handsome thing?" She asked, looking at me, ugh. Gross. The boy next to her was looking me up and down, I choked lightly, looking away. Why was I flustered, what the hell, what is happening to me? Fuck. This is not what I wanted. "Mike, this is Angela," Eleven explained. I looked back at the girl.

"Uh, yeah, nice to meet you." I replied blakely, shaking her hand before she retracted it. She said something about taking Eleven, I thought she would have taken Will too, then I could think, but she just took Eleven. I looked at the table, tapping my fingers on it. Will watched me closely, watching me tapping my fingers, moving my head from side-to-side, and putting my lips to the milkshake straw.

Wait, he was staring at my lips? I looked up, he jerked his head away, I cleared my throat, biting my lips. What is happening to me? I felt overwhelmed, flustered, like I needed to say something to him, like I needed to grab his hand and tell him I… Stop. Why am I thinking that? He cleared the awkward silence. He didn't say anything, but he sighed, and that was enough. His voice was clear, and pretty… Shit. I'm doing it again.

Will looked behind him, something was happening on the rink. "Oh no." Will exclaimed, I looked up, standing up and wanting to see what was happening, Eleven was there, she was being circled by everyone on the fucking rink. "El's been lying to you." Will confessed, turning toward me. I nodded, "Clearly, what's happening, what can I do?" I asked, Will scoffed.

He didn't answer me, I let out a 'tsk' sound, seeing Eleven get thrown to the ground, as her milkshake was thrown on her. She hit her head on the ground, Will hit my side, that was my cue, "Fuck" I whispered, skating out to Eleven and calling her name, nobody would let me through. 

Eleven skated off somewhere, I couldn't see where, but she left. I skated back to Will, "Where's El?" Will asked, that's the first thing he's says to me? "She skated off somewhere, I didn't see where she went," I explained. Will bit his lip, turning around to see his surroundings. His hair looked super soft, what the hell? How does one's hair even get that soft? 

"Mike, why are you staring at my hair? We need to find Eleven." Will scoffed, I snapped out of it again, looking Will straight in the eyes, I didn't even see him turn. "Yeah, yeah, you're right, sorry." I explained. I went back to our table and took off my skates, throwing those dumb green socks away and put my flip flops back on. Will followed me around as we looked for Eleven. Will get annoyed slightly, "Nothing?" He asked as I turned from the girls restroom, "No. Will, clearly not." I explained, "Jeez, sorry." Will scoffed. Fucking hell, this is starting to get stupid, why did Eleven have to ruin everything? Always getting caught in drama.

I turned toward Will, "Okay, Will. What is wrong with you? You've been mad since I got here!" I blew up, fuck. Not on Will. "What the hell are you talking about?" Will asked, I scoffed. I can't control what I'm doing, what am I doing? Stop, I'm gonna fucking hurt Will!

"You keep rolling your eyes, you barely have talked to me, and you were arguing with Eleven earlier!" I exclaimed, fuck. Fuck, fuck, fuck, Stop! "Well maybe if you had cared more I wouldn't be 'acting' like this!" Will argued. I rolled my eyes, turning around and starting to walk away, "I can't deal with this."

Will scoffed, "Mike, she's been lying to you since you got here! Straight to your face! I-I just don't understand why you don't see it." Will grabbed at my wrist, I turned, my heart popped, oh god he touched me. Fuck, fuck, fuck. I retracted my arm, jerking away from his grasp. "What're you talking about?" I asked. 

Will bit his lip, "Mike, seriously, she's lying to you! Angela's been bullying her since we came here!" He responded, "Why wouldn't she tell me that?" I asked, Will shrugged, "All I know is that your letters made her happy, a-and I, I never got any letters, maybe you called a couple times, but that was all, nothing else, and El has like a book of letters from you!" Will exclaimed. I can't stop myself, it's like word vomit, I can't help it. "That's because she's my girlfriend, Will." I responded, Will came back quickly.

"And us?" He asked, I was doing it again, fucking word vomit, "We're friends! We're friends." I responded. I choked, shit. Will paused, "Well, we used to be best friends!" He responded. I paused, taking a long breath. It was shaky, and I needed to get out of there. "Let's just find Eleven." I replied. I turned away from Will, he didn't say anything. It hurt, it hurt talking to Will like that. He didn't deserve that, he really didn't.

I started moving, looking for Eleven, Will caught up to me and walked on my side. I was looking everywhere, that's when I heard a girl yelp. I turned, Will turned as well. I saw Eleven, finally caught her, but what was she doing? I hit my hand to Will's chest, almost pushing him back to get to Eleven. We both started running, pushing through the crowd to get to her. 

There was Angela, on the floor, screaming, crying, and… bleeding out through her nose. Eleven held the skate, Will gasped, "Holy shit, El" Will exclaimed, surprised. I was in shock, I wasn't thinking when I heard myself talking, "What did you do?" I kept asking.

I stopped from asking and stayed by Will's side, I felt… safe, with Will, I guess? Eleven was a seat over, sitting down and staring at the floor, she had tears streaming down her face. I bit my lip, was I supposed to be with her? I didn't know what I was supposed to do, but I wanted to stay with… Will. His hand brushed against mine as he tried to set down his hands to prop himself up against the table. My hand flinched, he whispered a quick, "Sorry," and moved over so he could lean against the table.

I followed Will to the van, sitting next to Eleven, and Will next to me. I couldn't get my eyes off of Will, his hair has been the same for years, but that didn't bother me, I still loved his hair. I could hear sniffling to my right, and I could tell it was Eleven but I didn't want to say anything. I didn't want to piss her off or something.

Will left the door open for me and Eleven, we all piled out and went inside, there was loud opera music playing. I cringed, looking around for the source of the sound, "Mom?!" Will yelled, no response. But as we got closer to their kitchen, it got even louder. Turning the corner revealed, Murray? I believe his name was, I barely knew the guy, only saw him last year in the summer with the Mind Flayer. "Well, well! Aren't you a lot for sore eyes, huh?" He asked, moving quickly around the kitchen. "Hi, Murray," Jonathan replied.

Murray had a spoon in his hands, the spoon had food on it, clearly, "You kids like Risotto?" He asked, Jonathan giggled, what was wrong with him? "Yeah," Jonathan replied. I could tell him and his friend were smiling, whatever the hell his name was. We all sat down at the table. I was irritated at the fact that I couldn't sit next to Will. Eleven was sitting between me and Will, so that means that Will was farther away than I wanted him to be. Murray and Joyce were talking about how the Byer's just moved here. I picked at my food, uninterested.

I looked up at Murray, cringing at what he was saying. Joyce mentioned something about a business trip in Alaska tomorrow, it seemed everyone was worried about it being Alaska, "Tomorrow?" I asked. Everyone kept talking about it before Jonathan and Argyle brought up what happened at the roller rink. I let out a quiet 'tsk' that Eleven picked up. Argyle mentioned that she was gonna be okay, and I felt my stomach drop as I mumbled out, "She didn't look fine." Eleven snapped her head at me, Will turned as well. Eleven threw her napkin, pushing herself out of her chair and going back to her room, slamming her door. I grabbed my cup and started drinking my water.

It was quiet and dark in the house. Everyone was sleeping and I was basically banished to the couch since Will went to bed earlier than me. I sat up, hearing the quiet wind and the trees rustling. I moved the blanket Joyce had lended me to the end of the couch, walking to Will's door. I stood there for a second, leaning my head against the door. What am I doing? Before I could answer that, I knocked on the door, "Will, it's me Mike, can you open the door?" I asked, whispering very low. I heard quiet movement from the other side of the door, the lock clicked and the door opened. A groggily Will looked at me, "What're you doing, Mike?" He asked, I thought for a second before I sighed. 

"I wanted to talk to you," I confessed. He cringed lightly, looking around the dark house, "Did everyone go to sleep or something?" Will asked, I nodded, Will sighed, moving out of the way to invite me in. I walked in, tapping my thighs and sitting on Will's bed. He shut the door, locking it again, and following me, sitting next to me on the bed. The bed bounced as he did, he sighed, "So, uh, what did you want to talk about?" He asked, I bit my lip, thinking back to the roller rink. "I was thinking, about the roller rink." I explained, Will cringed lightly, clearing his throat, "I don't want to talk about what happened with El if that's what you're leading on." Will explained, I shook my head, "I-It's about El, but not what she did." I explained.

He tilted his head, "I'm, confused?" Will asked, I sighed, biting my lip and looking down, my knee started bumping up and down. Will took note of it, moving his hand on top of his thighs. "Uhm.. It felt like, I didn't, belong with El. And, I felt more safe with you?" I wondered, I didn't understand my own feelings. I didn't understand what I was feeling, and I could tell Will was slowly starting to understand. "You, love El… Right?" He asked, I bit my lip, looking away, "I don't know, I feel horrible when I say anything to her, but, with you I feel different. I feel safe, and I-I know what I said, and I didn't mean it, and I'm sorry, Will. I'm sorry." I whispered, looking back at Will.

He looked up at me, glancing down at my lips before keeping eye contact again. Wait, my lips? I glanced down at his, "I know you didn't mean it, Mike. I'm confused about what you mean, about me?" He asked me, I bit my lip, I don't know what I'm supposed to do. I have the urge to kiss him, but why? Why do I want to kiss him? To hold him? What's happening with me? Will, I think I love you. Wait, do I…?

"Mike…" Will paused, looking at my lips again, I did the same, "Mike, do you…" He choked, pausing. His hand fell on top of my knee, holding it from bouncing. I looked down at his hand, feeling like there was an eruption of butterflies in my stomach. I had felt like this before, when I first kissed Eleven, but I don't feel that with her anymore. I only have felt it with Will recently. What's happening? The gap between us was getting smaller, and I wasn't sure if I was wrong or not to be okay with that.

"Mike," Will paused, whispering very quietly as we could feel one another's breath on each other's lips, "Mike, do you have… feelings for me?" He asked, before I could think of an answer, Will inched closer, I nodded slowly, "I think I do" I whispered against his lips. Our lips finally connected, it was only for a second, but I could feel the wetness on my lips, taste Will on my lips. It made me shiver, I licked my lips slightly. He glanced back down, "How did that feel? Do you feel anything else?" He asked me, I couldn't help but bite my lip, was this okay for us to be doing?

His hand was still on my knee, I nodded to his question, "Butterflies, so many butterflies." I whispered, he bit his lip, wanting to move forward again, as he scooted slightly forward. "If it would make you feel any better," He paused, moving forward again, I could feel his lips only a centimeter away from mine, "I'm feeling those butterflies as well," Will mentions. He pecked my lips once again before fully retracting, seeming slightly embarrassed. I could feel the blush creep across my face, what just happened.

"I should probably head back to bed," I whispered, looking at the floor. Will nodded, I could feel it. I turned toward him, getting up. Will was looking down, flustered, playing with his sweatshirt sleeves. I looked at his door, then back at him, I moved forward. I put my hand under his chin, lifting his face up, he was panicking. What was I doing? Why couldn't I control what I was doing? I knew this was right, that was for sure, but what was I doing? I slowly moved in one last time, attaching our lips once again and pulling away slowly. Fucking hell. What was I doing? This was exactly what I wanted, and maybe more, but I couldn't say anything like that, could I? 

I lifted myself up, unlocking Will's door and opening it, standing in the doorway. I wanted to go back, I wanted to feel his lips against mine again. I bit my lip, lost in thought, how could I have known that this boy could've been mine years ago? But I ran after Eleven. Eleven? My heart was thumping in my ears, I could feel my heart was hurting from all the pain? No, not pain. It was definitely some sort of… Love? I wasn't sure of it, but maybe. "Mike? Are you okay?" I heard from behind me, I turned to Will. I nodded, he was tucked comfortably into bed, I bit my lip, "Yeah, sorry, uh, goodnight." I replied, moving my wrist to the lock, locking his door, "Goodnight, Mike," Will replied, turning to fall back asleep. I closed his door, returning to my "comfortable" spot on the couch. 

I looked up at the ceiling, I guess it's possible I liked Will, but I loved Eleven at one point, I knew that for sure. But, I don't have those feelings for Eleven anymore, I know that. So, does that mean I like Will? I scoffed to myself, me, liking Will? Come on, I'm not gay… Right? Fuck. I'm not! Not! I'm not! Shit… I might be.