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Having a class with the boys, Eddie really got to know them better. He knew that they had been friends for a long time and enjoyed being around each other, but he didn't realize until now just how close they were as a group. Eddie envied their friendship sometimes, he'd never had a close group like them, but he also knew that the boys were trauma-bonded and he wouldn't ever want anyone else to get involved with the Upside Down like they did. Eddie did realize that they had a lot of secrets they kept, even with him knowing about all the supernatural shit that had happened.
The secrets weren’t ever a problem, until today. Eddie walked into the classroom, noticing that all the lights were on. It was a telltale sign that they were going to have a sub today, the normal teacher only turned half the lights on. Looking at the teacher’s desk, he saw the worst sub. She was an older lady, notorious for sending kids down to the office for the slightest of offenses and completely disregarding classroom rules in favor of her own, stricter and old-fashioned, rules. He’d been on the receiving end of her tirades more than a few times and it never ended well. Eddie was surprised that no one had reported her before; he’d been around some kids who were overly passionate about fair treatment in the classroom and she was the opposite of that.
Lucas and Will walked into the classroom, sitting down at their table with Eddie. Will noticed the sub first, his face paling at the sight of her. He sighed, making Lucas give him a worried look. The boys always seemed to be able to communicate without words. With all the supernatural shit, he wouldn’t be surprised if they had telepathy.
“We’ve got a sub today,” Eddie said.
“Wonderful,” Lucas said sarcastically, “Mike’s not here today, he’s at home throwing up.”
“Well, he doesn’t have to deal with this then. Lucky for him,” Eddie said, chuckling at their misfortune. Suddenly, Dustin came running into the room, getting to his seat as the bell rang.
“That was a close one, Dust,” Lucas said, laughing at him.
“Dude, I was across the entire school today. Messner had me running errands all of last period,” Even though the boys had all their classes together, they had different homerooms before this and Dustin’s homeroom teacher treated him more like a teacher’s assistant than a student who needed to study.
“Well, good thing that you weren’t late, we have a sub today,” Eddie said, “And it’s the bitch.”
“Hello, class!” The teacher said, “My name is Ms. Anglin and I’ll be your sub today. I will review a few rules before I give you time to work on your assignments. First of all, the only electronic devices allowed are your school laptops. Second of all, there will be no unnecessary talking, if you are working on a group project please keep it quiet, I don't want any voices louder than a whisper. Third, stay on task. Your teacher has posted your assignment on your Canvas page. Do we understand?”
There were a few people who said yes and a few nods, most people getting their laptops out to work on what classwork their teacher had assigned. Eddie and the three boys began working on the digital worksheet they had been given, mostly in silence except for a few frustrated sighs from Eddie. The younger boys seemed to do well in this class, better than Eddie. It wasn’t hard, he hated school and didn’t try much but even when he did try, things were just harder. Eddie was just glad to only have a couple of months left before he graduated and got out of Hawkins High for good.
“Hey, Will?” Lucas asked, “I’m stuck on this question.”
Will looked over his shoulder at where Lucas was pointing. Will hummed, sliding his own computer over.
“Okay, so I have two sources telling me two different things. The one says that only four paintings survived but the other one says that twelve did,” Lucas explained. Will nodded before showing him what he had written.
“That makes sense. I totally did not read that correctly, thanks Will,” Lucas said. Will smiled back, Eddie at that moment realizing that he hadn’t heard Will talk at all today.
“Will? You’ve been really quiet today, you okay?” Eddie asked. Will nodded and gave him a thumbs up, though this didn’t really make Eddie any less worried about the kid.
“It’s been a long day, we’re all kinda tired,” Lucas said, trying to cover up for Will. Eddie didn’t know that Will went nonverbal sometimes and Will didn’t want them to tell him unless it was absolutely necessary. It had gotten harder with Eddie being in a class with them, but luckily Will hadn’t had a nonverbal episode at school in a while. The combination of having another sub during first period and Mike not being at school today was throwing off the schedule a little too much and sometimes Will felt like he could avoid the impending meltdown if he just stopped talking. He was out of words for the day anyway, he woke up with less than usual. Will had been using that analogy for years, it helped him describe his nonverbal episodes better.
“Okay,” Eddie said, not really taking this as an answer but not wanting to push it anymore. Will tapped Lucas on the shoulder, pointing to something that he had just typed on his computer.
“You sure?” Lucas asked Will. Will nodded before Lucas turned to Dustin and whispered something in his ear.
“I’m cool with it if it’s what he wants to do,” Dustin said, giving Will a look of support.
“Okay, are we talking in secrets again?” Eddie said jokingly.
“Well, there’s something that Will wants us to tell you. And this is something that we don’t just share with everyone,” Lucas started.
“A lot of people know but that’s just because of people in our grade and stuff. This came up in elementary and middle a lot,” Dustin added, “But Will hasn’t like actually told a lot of people himself. So it’s honestly a big deal that he’s telling you.”
“Okay, I promise to keep your secret a secret,” Eddie said, crossing his heart. Will had been typing the entire time that Lucas and Dustin were talking, writing something to explain what he wanted to tell Eddie. He turned his laptop around and let Eddie read the paragraph.
"So there's a reason I'm not talking right now and it might happen in the future again. I'm on the autism spectrum and sometimes nonverbal. We call it "running out of words" when I stop talking, it's the easiest analogy. It's like I have a set amount of words I can say for the day and then I can't talk anymore without stressing myself out. I have an iPad that has an AAC app on it that I can use to communicate when I can't talk, it's really helpful. I just get nervous because kids have teased me about all of this in the past, so I don't tell anyone until I have an episode or I feel comfortable enough to tell them. Just don't go and tell everyone, like they said, it's pretty much a secret," Will had typed out.
“Kid, I’m proud of you for telling me,” Eddie said, his heart melting when Will smiled at him.
Will turned to grab his iPad out of his bag, wanting to show it to Eddie and use it to talk rather than type on his computer. It was at this moment that the sub walked over to their table.
“No devices allowed out in class,” She said, looking at Will. Will’s face paled, knowing that there was no good way to explain this to her. He looked at Dustin, turning on the iPad at the same moment.
“What did I just say? No devices out. I’ll have to confiscate it,” The sub repeated, looking at Will and expecting an answer.
“Sorry. Allowed. iPad. In. Class.” Will said, tapping the icons. He hoped that the sub would drop it, it wasn’t going to end well for either of them unless she let Will have his iPad out.
“Kid, I don’t want to hear about any bullshit anxiety thing that says you have to use this unnecessary device. Just use your own voice,” She rolled her eyes and crossed her arms.
“There should be a note in the sub plans, he has a 504. By law you have to follow the accommodations,” Dustin said, getting a little mad. Both Will and Lucas were mad as well, misunderstandings like this had happened before, but they could tell that this sub was going to be a bitch about it.
“Technically we can report you to the school and they can fire you based on the fact that you ignored a student’s 504.” Lucas said, “But if you just follow what it says, then we won’t have to say anything.”
“Kids, I am a respected teacher here. I think that they would take my word over a couple of kids. I would guess that you think you’ll get what you want, but that’s not how the real world works,” Ms. Anglin said, “Now put it away before I send you down to the office.”
Will looked at her, crossing his arms. He was tired of this lady not believing him. His leg was bouncing under the table and he tapped his right hand on his arm, trying to avoid the now inevitable meltdown.
“Well then, if you’re not going to listen, then go down to the office. I’ll be calling down to make sure you got there,” She said, holding her hand out, “And I’ll take the iPad please.”
Will handed her his iPad, trying not to make a face as he gave it up. He turned and walked out of the room, going as fast as possible to get to the office. Will got there in record time, heading straight for the guidance offices rather than the assistant principal’s. He knocked on the door to his mom’s office, hearing her say to come in.
“Will, sweetheart. What’s wrong?” She asked. Tears started pouring out of Will’s eyes, and Joyce stood up to comfort him. She led him over behind the desk, where he sat down on the floor and immediately started to rock, trying to soothe himself. Joyce walked over and shut her door, not wanting anyone else to come in. She grabbed a set of noise-canceling headphones she kept in her office and gently placed them over Will’s ears. She didn't want any sudden sounds to set him off, it was cautionary more than anything. The pair sat in silence until Will felt comfortable enough to explain. He stood up from behind the desk and walked around to sit in the seat in front of it. Will grabbed a tangle from the basket on the corner of the desk, twisting it around in his hands.
“What happened kiddo?” Joyce asked, while Will searched around for a piece of paper to write it down. He grabbed a blank sheet of copy paper and a pen to start writing, “Will, where’s your iPad?”
“She took it,” Will wrote, showing his mom the paper. Joyce immediately got insanely mad, though she tried not to show it, not wanting to stress Will out. She hadn't had trouble with teachers taking Will's iPad in years, but it still made her furious that they were ignoring his accommodations.
“Who took it?” She asked, sighing.
“The sub in art,” He wrote.
“Did you tell her that you are allowed to have it?” Joyce asked.
“Yes. Lucas and Dustin did too,” He wrote, leaning back in the chair when he was done.
“Okay, well…” Joyce was cut off by a knock from the door, “Lemme get that real quick.”
She opened the door and saw the assistant principal standing on the other side of the door, his face showing that he was clearly frustrated. Will turned his head to look at who was at the door and immediately knew why. The sub must've held on her promise and called down to make sure he got there.
“Hey, so I got a call from the substitute for Mr. Johannes. She was calling to tell me about a situation with Will and said that he was supposed to come down to see me,” Mr. Schroder, the assistant principal said.
“He’s in here. We were just discussing what happened, and it’s clearly not his fault,” Joyce said, Will turning around to watch them talk.
“I know, I heard her side of the story and realized that she was the problem in this situation. You know I'll always back up your boys, I can't stand it either when problems arise with accommodations. I’m gonna go down to talk to her and bring Will’s stuff when I come back ,” He explained. Because Joyce had been working at the school for most of her career, the people in the administrative offices knew Will, and Jonathan, well. Mr. Schroder was one of Will’s personal favorites, he always understood that Will didn’t do things in the normal way and tried to accommodate that. He knew that if Will was sent down to the office for anything, he would be going straight to Joyce’s office.
“Okay. I think Will and I are going to talk about how to prevent this in the future,” Joyce said.
“I was going to suggest that same thing,” Mr. Schroder said before saying goodbye and leaving.
Will immediately went behind the desk again, his hands shaking. His stomach turned in knots and Will started to get extremely overwhelmed. His neck jerked, a subconscious action. Joyce just sat there, knowing there wasn’t much she could do until he calmed down. Will always had a bad reaction if he was touched while overstimulated and Joyce wanted to avoid a major meltdown at school.
Mr Schroeder reentered Joyce’s office thirty minutes later, Will’s bag over his shoulder. By this time, Will had calmed down, though he was still behind the desk, softly rocking back and forth. He set the bag down and left the room, Will immediately opened it and got his iPad out.
“No. Class. Now. Please.” Will said.
“You can sit in here for the rest of the day, I don’t care,” Joyce said, “We have to talk about how to prevent this.”
“Most. Teachers. Listen. She. Did. Not.” Will said, sighing.
“How about next time, you email me and I’ll call you out?” Joyce said, “Only if your substitute isn’t following the accommodations in your 504.”
“Okay.” Will clicked the button before pulling his laptop out of his bag. He turned it on and pulled up the worksheet he was working on before he had to leave class. He and Joyce worked in silence until the bell rang, but it was only a minute before Joyce heard another knock at the door.
“Come in?” She called out, not having to worry about her volume.
“Hey Mrs. Byers,” Dustin said, him and Lucas walking into the room. Will turned around, noticing his friends. He gave them both a hug before turning to grab his iPad.
“How. Was. Class.” Will asked.
“Dude, it sucked. The sub was giving us dirty looks for the entire rest of class and we could barely get any work done because she was breathing down our necks,” Dustin complained.
“We got out of there as soon as the bell rang because we couldn’t stand to be in there a second longer,” Lucas said. Dustin had wandered further into the office, looking for snacks on Joyce’s desk.
“Dustin, there’s fruit snacks in the bottom drawer on the right,” Joyce said, noticing what he was doing. Dustin pulled the drawer open, grabbing a couple of packs.
“Dude, you’re gonna eat all her food,” Lucas sighed.
“Am not,” Dustin countered.
“You. Raid. Pantry. At. Home. Last. Time.” Will said, giving him a pointed look.
“Guys! Stop calling me out. I’m a growing boy,” Dustin said, bouncing on his toes.
“Sure you are,” Lucas joked, “Hey Will? Are you coming to class with us or are you staying here?”
“Hmmm,” Will hummed, “Have. Test. Right. Don’t. Want. To. Go.”
“Shit, we seriously have the test today?” Dustin said, groaning.
“Yeah, and we better get going if we’re gonna make it on time, do you want us to tell her you’re down here?” Lucas asked, stepping closer to the door. Will nodded, about to say something when the group heard a loud shout from the admin offices. It was loud enough that Will could vaguely hear it through his headphones.
“What’s going on?” Dustin asked, poking his head out of the office.
“Boys, stay in here until I come back. I’m gonna go see what that was. If you’re late to class because I’m not back, I’ll write you a pass,” Joyce said, walking through them and out of her office.
“I wonder what’s going on?” Lucas said.
“We should go investigate,” Dustin suggested.
“Mom. Said. Stay.” Will furrowed his brows.
"He's right," Lucas agreed, nodding at Will.
"I'm. Sitting. Down." Will said, moving back behind the desk and sitting down on the floor. He grabbed his laptop and tried to keep working on the assignment, watching Lucas and Dustin bicker out of the corner of his eye. Dustin was probably trying to convince Lucas to go check out what was going on, even though they were told to stay. Will tried to focus on his work but Lucas and Dustin were moving around too much for him to get anything done, it was almost overstimulating. Will watched Joyce walk back into the room, sitting down in her chair with a sigh. Will grabbed the iPad from where it was sitting next to him and turned it back on.
“What. Happened.” The prerecorded voice said, coming quietly out of the iPad’s speakers.
“James called the sub down to talk and she got heated. Nobody’s hurt but she’s not allowed to sub here anymore,” Joyce explained, letting Will grab one of her hands and intertwine his fingers with hers.
“Good, she’s a bitch,” Dustin said without thinking.
“And that’s my cue to make you two passes and send you to class,” Joyce sighed again, more lovingly than anything this time.
“Sorry,” Dustin said, sheepish.
“Thanks, Joyce, have a nice day,” Lucas smiled at her before leaving, Dustin in tow behind him. Once they left the room, Joyce turned back to Will, getting his attention before she spoke.
“Do you want to go home?” Joyce asked, “I can leave early.”
Will pondered for a minute before nodding. He started packing his stuff off the floor, zipping everything up into his bag, including his iPad. Normally he’d keep it out, access to communication was essential and all. That had been drilled into his brain forever and it was part of the reason that his iPad was so important to him, it was his voice. Now though, Will wouldn’t need to answer more than a quick yes or no question and a nod of shake would suffice for that. Will set his headphones on the desk, wincing at the noise in the room. It was virtually silent, but after having his headphones on for so long, everything without them was loud. He rummaged through a bag pocket before pulling out a pair of noise-canceling earbuds and putting them in his ears. It didn't fix everything, but Will felt a little more comfortable with them than without them. He stood up, swinging his backpack on his back before walking towards the door. He turned back to his mom, an expectant look on his face.
“I’m coming, don’t worry,” Joyce said, grabbing her own bags, “Hey, do you wanna get ice cream on our way home?”
Will snorted, knowing that Joyce knew exactly what he meant. She laughed at his “no duh” expression, but the positivity on his face was so nice to see after the day he had. Even with the whole situation and with Will being unfortunately used to it, smiles after a long and overwhelming day were always a good sign.