Chapter Text
Will was standing with his back to his locker, scrolling through his phone, waiting for Lucas to come back from his basketball practice so that the both of them could hurry up and get the fuck out of here so that they could go home from their last day at school of their junior year. It was a very sunny day in the first week of June. Two more months and then in August, they’ll all be seniors.
Will was very excited. His older brother Jonathan was coming back to Hawkins after finishing his Bachelor’s, along with his girlfriend and long time friend Nancy Wheeler. They both got a job here in a reputed local newspaper and they couldn’t wait to start. Will was thinking about all the things he would do with Jonathan. Listening to their favourite songs and watching movies together. But he doesn't get his hopes up too high. Jonathan will also be busy with his new job, plus he’ll also want to spend time with Nancy.
Will was brought out of his thoughts by Lucas clapping him on his shoulder, “Watcha thinking Byers?” Lucas asked as he opened his locker.
“Nothing. I’m just very excited. You know, ‘cause Jonathan’s coming back.” Will exclaimed excitedly.
“Oh yeahhhh. Max told me. Must be nice. Haven’t seen him in a while, man. Is his girlfriend coming too?” Lucas wondered as they both started walking towards the exit in the almost empty corridor.
“Yeah Nancy’s coming too. They both got jobs at The Hawkins Post.” Will answered.
“That’s great man. I know Jonathan always wanted to be here in Hawkins for you and Mrs. Byers. Wait if Nancy’s coming does this mean his twin brother Mike’s coming too? He was so cool, man. Made us all nerds, truly.” Lucas laughed a little, but Will wasn’t paying attention anymore. His mind stopped at the mention of Mike.
Jonathan didn’t really mention Mike when he told them that he was coming back, so Mike mustn’t, right?
God, Will is so screwed. He had this huge crush on Mike when he was little, and used to follow him around whenever Mike was at their place, and Mike would always smile and ruffle his hair. Will turned pink at the memory. He used to be so embarrassing when he was little. He still hasn’t forgotten what he did when he last met Mike during their family Christmas dinner two years ago. He wants to hide himself inside Lucas’ locker so that no one could find him. Will hopes that Mike’s not coming back.
“- with me? Will to earth? Are you listening? Will, here, I’m talking” Lucas clapped his hands in front of Will.
Will blinked back to reality.
“Yeah sorry, I was just thinking about something.” Will replied shyly, his face turning red.
“Oh shit, I shouldn’t have mentioned Mike, I forgot that you have a crush on him.” Lucas apologised as they reached their bikes.
“No I don’t have a crush on him, I used to have a crush on him. Well really, it was just infatuation, Lucas. And I don’t think he’s coming back, he never really liked staying here in Hawkins.” Will said as he pulled his bike from the stand.
“Of course you know what he liked and what he didn’t like. Anyone, gotta go. See you tonight at Dustin’s. Bye Will.” Lucas said as he rode away.
Will looked at his direction for a few seconds and then rode towards his house.
☆
All five of them were laying on the floor of Dustin’s room, talking and laughing all loudly.
“I can’t wait to not share a class with Stacey Albright anymore. She was such a nosy bitch.” Max babbled.
“She’s not nosy Max, you just have a short fuse.” Dustin said, like it was a fact (which it was).
“Why do you say she’s not nosy?” Jane asked Dustin as she raised a little and squinted her eyes at him.
“Yeah Dustin, why do you say she’s not nosy?” Max jabbed at him, giggling.
“Guys, I was just saying, you all don’t have to team-up against me. If you actually talked to her, you would realize she’s actually really nice.” Dustin raised his hands as he sat up.
“When did you talk to her, Dusty?” Lucas asked as he wiggled his eyebrows at him.
“Ugh, Dustin! I’m going to the kitchen to get something to eat. Do not follow me.” Jane said as she stood up and stormed out of the room.
"Jane! Janey, wait. It was nothing!” Dustin rushed after her.
After a minute of silence, Lucas, Max and Will all burst into laughter. They laughed for long minutes, holding their stomachs and playfully hitting each other.
After a few minutes, Lucas said, “Hey Max, I’m gonna go pick a movie from his mom’s collection, wanna come with me?”
Max smirked, “Yeah, let’s go. I’ll help you. We’ll be back in a few minutes, Will.”
And then Will was alone in his room. He lay there for a few minutes, just staring at the ceiling. He sighed and sat up, looking around for his phone. He likes that his friends are happy, but sometimes they make him feel like a total fifth wheel. He loves his friends, he really does, but he is also a little jealous of them. They all have their people. But Will doesn’t. Will has a few “things” too, but they aren’t technically relationships, where they would spend time together and talk.
He picked up his phone. There were 4 messages. 3 from Jonathan:
Jonathan
I will be home around 11 am tomorrow.
Don’t spend all morning sleeping.
Can’t wait to see you buddy!
Will
I can’t either!
Will smiled. Then there was another message, from Chance:
Chance
You free tonight?
Will
Sorry, I can’t today. My brother’s coming home tomorrow.
Chance
That’s fine. We have all summer. 😉
Will locked his phone.
☆
Will woke up to noise coming from outside his room. He checked his phone. It was only 9:48. Jonathan wasn’t supposed to be home for another one hour, so what was this ruckus about? Will thought that maybe Hopper and Jane are here. His mom and Chief Hopper were dating each other, so Will and Jane were practically siblings. Maybe they came to see Jonathan too.
Will rubbed his eyes and got out of bed. He could hear laughter. Three….no, four people. Huh.
He opened his door, and walked towards the living room, still rubbing his eyes, his hair a bird’s nest, and still in his t-shirt and shorts. He opened his eyes, and his heart stopped. There in the living weren’t Hopper or Jane. He saw four people sitting on the table, their bags scattered across the whole area. His mom served scrambled eggs to all of them. He saw Jonathan and Nancy sitting next to each other, laughing and smiling, and-
“Will! Hey! It’s been so long.” He heard him say. He looked towards the fridge and saw him standing there, waving at Will.
He saw Mike waving at him from his kitchen. Mike was in his house.
Mike Wheeler was here.