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NEVADA, DESERT - NIGHT
MIKE opens the van door and steps outside, closing it quietly behind him.
WILL
Mike?
MIKE startles and turns around. WILL is sitting on top of the van.
MIKE
Will? What are you doing?
WILL shrugs and motions to the sky.
WILL
Looking at the stars.
MIKE
(checking his watch)
At... 11:30 PM?
WILL shrugs again.
WILL
Yeah. I just... needed some air, I guess.
MIKE climbs up and joins him on the roof. He gazes up at the sky, dark and bright with stars.
MIKE
Are you doing ok?
WILL
As much as I can be.
MIKE nods in agreement and a silence falls between them.
WILL
Have you ever thought about the stars?
MIKE
The stars?
MIKE tilts his head as he looks at the sky.
I suppose so. Why?
WILL
What do you think of them?
MIKE
What?
WILL
I mean...
WILL sighs, shifting a little. We can see him getting restless.
What do you ever wonder what they are?
MIKE
Um, luminous balls of gas?
WILL
No, I mean... what they mean.
MIKE looks up the sky curiously. Trying to see what WILL does.
WILL fidgets with his fingers.
MIKE
Can you... elaborate?
WILL
Like... stars are part of our universe, right? But what are they? Why are they so significant? What do they mean?
MIKE stares at him.
MIKE
Are you having an existential crisis?
WILL snorts and shakes his head, holding up a joint. He hands it to MIKE. His eyes widen.
MIKE
(shocked)
Will, where did you...
WILL
Jonathan’s stash.
WILL steals the joint back.
MIKE stares at him incredulously.
WILL
Wanna try?
MIKE
Do I wanna-
He thinks about it. Well...
Give me that.
WILL watches as MIKE takes the joint and takes a hit. He begins coughing.
WILL
(snorts)
Careful. Don’t inhale it too fast.
MIKE
(huffy)
Yeah, well, that would’ve been nice to know.
WILL takes a long hit, letting it go slowly.
MIKE
I didn’t know you smoke.
WILL
I don’t. Well, not really.
MIKE
(incredulous)
Not really?
WILL
Only sometimes. Like when I can’t sleep.
MIKE
Ah. So you decided to smoke in the middle of nowhere Nevada because you can’t sleep?
WILL
Yup.
MIKE huffs, shaking his head.
MIKE
(sarcastic)
Makes total sense.
WILL
I think you need another hit.
MIKE stares at WILL. He stares back.
MIKE
(taking the joint)
Yeah, you’re probably right.
WILL and MIKE sit in silence for a few minutes, gazing up at the stars and breathing in the fresh air.
MIKE
So... does it help you calm down? The weed?
WILL
Yeah. You’ll see it take effect soon.
They keep sitting silently for a few more minutes before WILL breaks it.
WILL
Have you ever realized our signs are the same?
MIKE
What?
WILL
Our Zodiac signs. We’re both Aries.
MIKE pauses, clearly considering this. Then he smiles.
MIKE
Oh, yeah. Wow. I guess I didn’t think about that.
WILL
You know, I’m not really sure how that works.
WILL chews on his lip thoughtfully.
But I don’t think it’s a coincidence.
MIKE
What do you mean?
WILL
You and I. We’re both Aries. We share the same sign.
MIKE
(confused)
Your point is...?
WILL
It’s kind of... fun. Right? I mean...
MIKE hums thoughtfully, glancing up at the stars once again. He nods.
MIKE
I guess it’s a little fun.
MIKE looks at him and smiles.
We’re the ultimate sign.
WILL returns the smile, taking another hit.
MIKE
How many blows have you had to that thing?
WILL gives him a look.
WILL
Not many.
MIKE
How many is “not many”?
WILL
Jesus, Mike, I don’t know. Four, five.
MIKE
Four, five? Really? That’s a lot.
WILL
What do you care?
MIKE frowns at him. WILL sighs and takes another hit.
MIKE
At least give me another hit.
He steals the joint. WILL huffs petulantly but relents.
MIKE
Are you feeling any calmer?
WILL considers it for a moment.
WILL
Yeah, I guess I’d say I am.
MIKE
Any sleepier?
WILL
(hums thoughtfully)
Give me a minute.
WILL gets off the van. MIKE watches him.
MIKE
Where are you going?
WILL starts pacing back and forth, slowly.
Will?
WILL
Hm?
MIKE
What are you doing?
WILL stops and looks at him.
WILL
I always pace a little bit to wear the effects off a bit.
MIKE
Ah. So, does it work?
WILL
Most of the time. I feel a bit restless right now, though.
MIKE watches WILL walk back and forth on the side of the van. He seems to be calming down slowly.
MIKE
I thought you said weed calms you down, not makes you anxious.
WILL
It does calm me down. But I don’t use it every single night, and even if I did, I’m thinking about everything going on.
MIKE
That makes sense. I get that.
WILL stops pacing and gets back on top of the van.
WILL
I’m feeling a little better. I just need to sit here for a little longer.
MIKE
You do that. We’ve got all night.
WILL closes his eyes and takes a few deep breaths. MIKE watches him intently.
WILL
I can feel you staring at me.
MIKE blushes slightly, we can see he looks embarrassed.
MIKE
Just making sure you’re doing ok.
WILL smiles slightly, opens his eyes, a tiny tug on the corners of his mouth.
WILL
I’m fine. I will be.
They sit in silence for a moment before MIKE puts his hand out, wordlessly asking for the joint. WILL gives it to him.
MIKE
If you’re gonna get high out in the middle of buttfuck nowhere, then I might as well join you.
WILL snorts and shakes his head.
WILL
You’re crazy.
MIKE smiles slyly.
MIKE
Crazy together, right?
WILL’s smile softens, and it drops when he looks away. MIKE sighs.
MIKE
Listen, Will...
He hesitates, twisting the joint in his fingers.
I know we’re not on the best terms right now. I know you’re probably mad at me, and I don’t blame you.
WILL faces him, looking confused.
WILL
I’m not mad at you.
MIKE
Well, if you were—
WILL
Which I’m not.
MIKE
—Then I wouldn’t blame you. I know these last few days... it’s been a lot.
WILL
(chuckles bitterly)
You can say that again.
MIKE
But I think it’s important we remember what we’re doing here. We’re on the run, pretty much. Ok, sure, not exactly, but you get what I mean.
He shifts awkwardly.
Anyway, I think it’s important we recognize our plan here. Find El, save her, go back to Hawkins.
MIKE looks at the joint back in WILL’s hand.
What’s a little high along the way?
WILL chuckles quietly and manages a weak smile.
WILL
What’s a little high.
MIKE smiles and nudges him.
MIKE
Hey, does Jonathan even know you do that?
WILL suddenly looks sheepish. He fidgets with the joint.
WILL
Well... no. Not exactly.
MIKE
Not exactly?
(chuckles)
Oh, you naughty, naughty boy.
WILL turns a pretty shade of pink. MIKE watches in fascination as WILL turns away, hiding his burning face.
WILL
Shut up.
They sit there for a moment in silence.
WILL
Wait... did you say buttfuck nowhere?
MIKE
(snorts)
Oh my God, Will, don’t fucking curse!
WILL nudges him roughly, biting back a smile.
WILL
Asshole.
MIKE grins and they gaze at each other for a moment in comfortable silence.
MIKE
Have you had enough hits, Byers?
WILL
(scoffs)
Yeah, whatever.
WILL gets up and puts the joint out. MIKE gets up as well and stretches, popping his back.
WILL
Damn.
(chuckles)
That sounded painful.
MIKE
(shrugs nonchalantly)
Nope. My body just hasn’t adjusted to a standing position yet.
WILL watches in amusement as MIKE stretches.
WILL
Yeah, no wonder. You probably have permanent spinal stenosis
MIKE glares at him and WILL laughs.
WILL
Don’t give me that look. I’m just being honest.
MIKE raises a brow, giving him a once over.
MIKE
Like you can say anything, Mr. Spinal Twists.
WILL blushes when MIKE looks him up and down and looks away.
WILL
Yeah, yeah, whatever.
He puts his hand on the van door.
Now I’m gonna go sleep. I’m actually feeling a little tired.
MIKE grins, he can’t help himself from teasing.
MIKE
For once.
WILL shoves him, hiding a smile.
WILL
Shut up. I don’t like you.
MIKE
(giggles)
You wish that was true.
WILL
(huffs in mock annoyance)
They go inside the van. MIKE smiles.
MIKE
Goodnight, Will.
The van door closes. Camera zooms out and fades. End scene.