Mistake | byler

MISTAKE

The group had set out to find Eleven. Everything before the trip on the van, well, it felt like a dream. Or more like a nightmare. Will hadn't even gotten time to process what had happened. First, the roller skate incident with Angela, then El getting ARRESTED for it (but in Will's head, it kind of adds up, but STILL). Then being watched under some of Owen's agents, then a massive shootout, this was way too much at one time, Will thinks.

And now the group are practically on the run and the hunt. Looking for Eleven while stowing away one of the dead agents in the trunk. The whole van reeks of weed, Will thinks. Argyle or Johnathan probably had a few puffs, no doubt.

Not long after the long drive out into pretty much the middle of nowhere, everyone got out of the car and started digging a hole for the agent to be buried. Having a dead body in your trunk isn't the best scenario, so they wanted to dispose of it in an ethical manner.

Will and Mike were on digging duty, so that's what they got onto. It was hot in the California heat, the pair sweating from the labor. Mike paused and turned to Will.

"Hey, uh, do you perhaps have a rubber band I could use?" Mike asks, wiping the sweater from his forehead as the hot sun shined down on the two.

"Oh, yeah. I do, here.", Will said, handing over a rubber band he had on his wrist. Luckily he normally has some rubber bands on his wrist, it was always useful when he needed to roll up his paintings to keep them stationary.

Mike nodded in thanks and tied up his hair, pulling through the raven locks into a small ponytail, exposing his neck to the sun. Mike looked back at Will and smiled, nodding in appreciation, only to get back to work moments later.

Oh god.

Will was mesmerized. He hadn't exactly come to realize that his best friend's hair had gotten much longer, it was already past his shoulders. Will only remembers his friend having short hair, it never passed his ears. But, wow, was this something different.

Will stole a few glances over to the taller boy, admiring his features that had previously been covered by his long hair. Mike's sharp jawline, his delicate yet strong cheekbones, everything that Will had remembered from his childhood friend, was still there, but just, accentuated better. Will couldn't help but get infatuated by the small things about the other that he couldn't help but notice more now.

The two kept digging and naturally Will kept stealing glances at Mike. It was another incident where Will was admiring his best friend in a 'not-so-best-friend-way', and Mike had coincidentally glanced right back. For a few seconds, it was as if time itself had stopped. The two boys seemed to gaze into each other's eyes. Will didn't want it to end. It was a first time in a long time he had felt that kind of peace.

Mike was the one who broke the moment, smiling slightly then getting back to the digging. Will was disappointed, but ultimately got back to work. The two dug for a few more minutes before the hole was big enough the lay the agent in. The group quickly paid their quick respects and got back onto the road.

They had gotten the coordinates of Project NINA, where they believed El was taken to. It was a slight detour to get to Suzie, but it didn't take long. Soon enough, they were back on the road, headed to Nevada. The whole ride was mostly silent, just the sound of the wheels on the road were perceptible. The radio wasn't operating either, since they were out in the middle of nowhere with no signal.

For Will, the whole ride until then was pretty awkward. He was clutching onto his cardboard tube, which had the painting in it. He hadn't shown it to Mike, even though it was actually for  Mike. Will hadn't seen his friend for a year, and once he had gotten to, his friend just wanted to spend every single minute with his girlfriend, practically forgetting about him. Not to mention that having a crush on your best friend for the past 7 years, doesn't help either.