Chapter Text
March 21st 1987
It has been around a year and 6 months since Will had left Hawkins and it has been that long since he had talked to The Party. It wasn’t even that they had left on bad terms, it's just that whenever Will had reached out to them he never got any response back so he decided to wait until they reached out. He hasn’t talked to any of them since and El had been receiving letters from Mike a ton meaning there weren't any mistakes in the mailing. Of course this hurt Will since they were his only friends since forever including Mike so Will had started to feel lonely and felt like he had no one to talk to anymore.
Enter Annabelle, Caleb, and Betty.
It was mid October of Will’s freshman year when he first met Annabelle and The Party hadn’t talked to Will for little over a month now since Will had given up on trying to reach out first.
He was in 4th period Art, which was his least favorite class due to the fact that his teacher believed in switching seats every day until everyone had sat with everyone to get them to know each other. He did like the teacher, Ms. Wilson, she was very kind and never judged the fact that Will always sat in her classroom alone during lunch. Her classroom was always open during breaks and she didn’t care who was in her classroom unless they were disruptive.
This day in particular, Will was working on a new project just for fun when he felt someone sit next to him which was not unusual because of some kids who thought he and Eleven were weird. However, instead of the normal bullying from one of the baseball guys it was just silence and he could feel eyes on him.
“Did we have homework?” The person asked him.
“Um hi. Nothing for today, it's just something I’m personally working on. Sorry, are you in my 4th period? I haven’t seen you in that class?”
“Yeah but I've been gone this whole week so I haven’t been switched into a new seat yet. Wow, why are you taking art? You have it perfected already.” She questions nodding towards his art.
Will instinctively covers it but then uncovers it because she doesn’t seem like the others who would have taken the paper and bullied him about it.
“It’s definitely not perfect but I like art and they didn’t have any higher level class for it other than beginner. Sorry also what’s your name? I don’t think I’ve ever met you before.”
“I’m Annabelle last name Martinez but everyone calls me Anna or Belle never my whole name for some reason not that I mind.” Annabelle does a little bow and gesture with her hands towards Will, “What’s your name? And do you have any nicknames?”
“I’m Will Byers and my name is already short so I’ve never gotten any nicknames.” He definitely wasn’t going to mention Will the Wise yet and risk gaining another bully. Not that Anna seemed like the type but he wasn’t going to risk it.
After that they began talking just about anything and everything leading them to realize they had a lot in common and apparently destiny was on their side because that very day Ms. Wilson paired them up to be partners. Anna continued to talk to Will about people that she didn’t like which was mainly everyone Will didn’t like who were bullies so he felt like he could trust she wasn’t going to turn out and be another person who made fun of him.
Ms. Wilson had finally gone through everyone pairing up so these were their new seats “until further notice” so she assigned them a project to work on outside of class. Anna gave Will her number so they could work on their project leading to Anna just calling for fun and asking Will if he wants to hang out which is how they ended up becoming best friends.
Will met Caleb through Anna a couple weeks later.
One day Anna called Will and asked if he wanted to join her and one of her friends to the movies and he said yes but when he got there he saw a guy from the football team with his arm around her. Will was gay so it wasn’t like he was jealous or anything he just was scared he was interrupting a date and was about to turn around when she spotted him and ran up to hug him. She introduced him to the guy who’s name was Caleb and he apparently was a hugger because he immediately pulled Will into a tight hug which Will was too shocked to give back.
After the movie, Will pulled Anna aside and asked if she was sure her boyfriend didn’t mind him intruding on their date even after that friendly greeting from him. She laughed so loud that Caleb had come over and wanted to hear the joke. Will seemed lost after he also started laughing when Anna told him what Will said.
“So you guys aren’t dating?”
“Oh my god will goodness no. No offense Caleb”
“None taken, that's hilarious genuinely.”
“Will, I’m sorry for laughing, I just thought you knew.”
“Knew what?”
“That I’m a lesbian.” She said without hesitation and without whispering which scared Will since they were out in public.
He knew he made a face because of the fact he was worried that they were in public but he knew they thought it was because of her coming out.
Caleb drew an almost angry face but he mainly looked worried, “Look man she said you were cool but if you got a problem with it…”
“No, I swear I definitely don’t have a problem with it. It’s just how can you say that in public without fear of other people?”
“I definitely worried about it at first but then I remembered that we live in a semi progressive area and a fraction of the people here don’t care and another fraction are somewhat queer so it doesn’t really matter to most. If it does and they have a problem with it, whenever I’m with Caleb they almost never give me shit.”
“Yeah and I’m bisexual but not a lot of people know about it except for the other queer people so I never get shit for it meaning I can defend my friends from fuckhead homophobes.”
“I’m um gay if we’re sharing. I’ve never told anyone that actually. Wow um sorry.” Will had started to tear up but he held them back. “It’s just I’ve never met anyone like me before and back where I used to live it definitely wasn’t like over here.”
“Well now you got 2 of us at least and we can introduce you to more don’t worry. Speaking of which, this girl Betty who we’re also close with is having a party tonight at 7 to celebrate Halloween early are you down?”
“Um I have to ask permission first but I’ll definitely let you know before 5. If my mom says yes can you pick me up, sorry my brother messed up his car and I don’t think his friend would be willing to give me a ride that late or my mom.“
“No yeah for sure let me know! Oh! I think your ride is here Will so see you later hopefully!” Anna drags him into a hug and when she lets go Caleb also drags him into a hug but this time he actually reciprocates it.
When Will meets Betty she is already 4 shots in and is playing guess the musical theater character.
Will had asked Joyce but she had hesitated to let him go to a party after hearing about what some of the kids did to his stuff from school. He reassured her that they weren’t like that but to ease her nerves he asked Anna and Caleb to come over before the party and introduce themselves to her which did help because Anna was her normal weird self so seeing that helped Joyce realize that he was going to be fine. He also asked if he could sleepover at Caleb’s house since it was a late party and he didn’t have his own keys. This was a lot harder to convince Joyce to let him but he just promised he would leave a voicemail from Caleb’s house.
What she didn’t know was that nerds and weird kids actually had more fun than the “popular kids” did and when Will arrived at the front door of Betty’s house there was a table of alcohol just there. Anna and Caleb made sure to not pressure Will into drinking and even offered him water which he took. Will didn’t really want to drink but then as he was watching the party from a couch he happened to see a couple and the guy reminded him of Mike.
He needed to stop thinking about it so he asked Caleb and Anna to make him a drink.
“Um, I want to try something to drink. Where are they at?”
“Are you sure?” Caleb questions him, “We don’t want to pressure you or anything it’s up to you.”
“No yeah I’m sure. I promise you guys didn’t pressure me, I just want to try it.” Will promises and with that they led the way to the kitchen where Will chooses something random and ends up enjoying it.
Maybe a little too much because next thing he knows he’s dancing with everyone he doesn’t know and he finally introduces himself to Betty who gives him a hug like they’ve known each other since the dawn of time. They continue talking throughout the night and when the party has finally died down she gives him her number and tells him to call her.
“I’m gay just so you know.” Will blurts out thinking she’s hitting on him.
“Oh god no. Sorry I’m gay too or well lesbian I promise I’m not hitting on you. You seem really cool and I want to get to know you better. Anyways see you around I see my friend is about to puke herself.” She laughs as she runs to her friend on the other side of the room.
And like Anna, he and Betty continue to have conversations to talk about whatever they want and it leads to them also becoming best friends.
Will’s life after that moment now consisted of hanging out everyday with Anna, Caleb, and Betty at either Anna’s house or Betty’s house after school or hanging out at Anna’s job at their local bookstore. He also began sitting at a table in the lunch room instead of sitting by himself in Ms. Wilson’s room. He does sometimes come to visit her but it wasn't like before where it was his only option. He had also started actually talking to her to get advice on his art since during class it was just repeats of what he already knew, he needed help with stuff that wasn’t taught in class.
Now Will was in his second semester of Sophomore Year and he had finally been able to have a good life and not worry about what others thought of him. He was popular and for some reason a lot of girls liked him (the ones who didn’t know he was gay). He had the most amazing friends and he had a good relationship with El and Jonathan finally. He had almost completely forgotten about his past life in Hawkins until El reminded him on a phone call that Mike was visiting them in 2 days.
He was at Anna’s house with Betty and Caleb and he told his mom they were having a “Study Session” (which is them just smoking Jonathan’s stash and Anna’s alcohol) (It was also a Friday and they wouldn’t have school next week so they didn’t need to study for anything but his mom didn’t need to know that) and since he told his mom, El called knowing he would be at Anna’s house.
Caleb, who was closer to the phone, got up when it started ringing, “Hello, Martinez Residents.” He answered, “Oh Hey Jane! How are you? Yeah let me get him. Mr. Wise, It’s Jane.”
“Don’t call me that.” Will laughed at him while getting up from his spot on the floor. “Hey Jane. What’s up?”
“Will! I need help picking out my outfit. Mike is coming in tomorrow and I don’t know what to wear. Help me please or can I talk to Betty to ask her opinion?” El continued, questioning him about her clothing options.
Fuck. Will completely forget Mike was coming to visit for spring break. How could he forget, Will like last year would have been jumping for joy if Mike was coming to visit but now? Now he wants to throw up and then once he sees Mike throw up again and again and agai-
“Hello? Will please let me just talk to Betty.” El said, interrupting his thoughts.
“Shit yeah one second. Bee? My sister needs help with something and apparently only you can help with it.”
“Comingggg.” She told him “Hi Jane what’s up? Oh yeah I can help. What are the options? Yeah thats sounds good but-“
Will walked away while they continued talking to go lay face down on the rug in Annabell’s room.
“Fuck my lifeeee.” He groaned into the fuzzy rug.
“Amen.” They all responded automatically even Betty who was on the phone replying with.
So what if Will was being a little dramatic. He felt like the world was ending and he should know because he lived in Hawkins. He hadn’t spoken to his so-called “best friend” since he moved and El had been receiving a lot of letters from him meaning he did have the time to communicate with the Byers just not Will. It’s not like Will didn’t know Mike was coming. Hell Will even painted him something because yeah he missed his old best friend so what. It’s just that he didn’t realize the day was so close and it caught him off guard.
“Hey babe what’s wrong?” Annabelle asked him while handing him the joint that Will brought.
“I’ll tell you once she’s off the phone.” Will whispered while taking the joint. He started getting into some of this stuff because of Caleb but mainly from his brother. Jonathan was always too high to even care or notice when Will would snab his supply so it made it easier to get high whenever they wanted.
“Is it about M-“
“When Jane’s off the phone remember.” He said cutting her off before El heard her in the background.
“No worries! Let Will know if you need any more help and he can call me! Bye Jane!” Betty said getting off the phone with El.
“Ok so are you moping because of what Jane just told me. She said a guy named Mike is coming here for spring break. Is this the same Mike you told us you used to be in love with? The same one you’re sister is dating?” Betty asked
“Yeah so kill me now while I can still be happy.” He said definitely not moping.
“Quit hogging that shit give me.” Caleb said snatching the joint, “It can’t be that bad can it? I mean you haven’t seen the dude in what 3 and a half years? I think? Shut up, you know Math isn’t my strong suit.” He says when they all start laughing at how wrong his timeline is. “Point is maybe your heart forgot about him so you guys can just be around each other without it breaking your sad little gay heart.”
“You’re the same age as me but I guess you’re right maybe it won’t be weird to see him. It’ll just be like I’m seeing an old friend. I’m still killing myself since I have to see Jane and him making out every second again. Which is so disgusting that it was probably the thing that turned me gay.” Will says getting up to grab his drink from the cooler.
“Oh also Jane said your mom was home and wanted you back to eat dinner Will.”
“Fuck. My. Life.” He groans while collapsing into the closest person’s body which was Annabelle’s body on the couch.
“Amen.”
“I smell like weed and cheap beer. I’m so dead.”
“To be fair Jonathan literally smells worse than you all the time and looks like he’s in a whole different world while we got the cheap shit and are just the tiniest bit high. Also your mom never says shit to him. I think you’re good, like Joyce Byers is the best mom I've ever seen.” Annabelle tells him while stroking his hair.
“Fine I guess just say you want me out of here. Sorry to end this extremely productive study session but can you take me home Caleb.” Will asks him.
“Yeah sure bye Belle bye Bee see you guys tomorrow!” Caleb says planting a wet kiss on their cheeks
“Bye guys see you tomorrow.” Betty tells him and gives him a hug.
“Bye mi amors see you.” Annabelle tells them. Betty is staying with her tonight because she hates sleeping in an empty big house and Annabelle’s mom is gone because of a night shift at the hospital.
On the drive to Will’s house they play a mixtape that they all made together of the friend groups favorite songs since Caleb is the car they all are always in. Heroes by David Bowie starts to play which is Will’s favorite song after Caleb and Annabell showed him a bunch of songs from him.
“So I never asked you about this Mike guy. All I know is that he was the first guy you liked but you knew he was one hundred percent straight.” Caleb sorta yells over the song.
“Well that’s mainly it.” Will responded yelling back, “ He was my first best friend and we grew up together but then I went missing as you know and he became closer friends with my sister and ended up dating her. After that we stopped really hanging out one on one because he became obsessed with her. It hurt because at the same time I started having feelings towards him he was making out with my sister. Then once I moved over here I kept sending letters to him but he never once replied. I eventually stopped and we haven’t talked since. I definitely don’t feel like he’s my best friend anymore, that's you guys so I’m kind of scared of how he’s going to react towards me.” Caleb didn’t respond and just let Will talk about his feelings towards Mike the whole car ride.
The drive is only around 10 minutes so they got to Will’s house somewhat fast since it’s late and there aren’t any cars around.
“Will just to remind you, you have 3 beautiful amazing awesome best friends so if this Mike guy gives you any problems about anything just remember I’m also a football player and can scare him away.” Caleb laughs but Will knows if he does need him to, he will, “I mean it, don't be afraid to call me and I’ll bring my scary straight boy character into play. Love you mucho man adios.” He grabs Will’s hand and plants a kiss on his palm then drives away.
As Will walks inside he yells so Joyce knows he’s home and she calls him into the kitchen where El and Jonathan are already in.
“Ok so we need to plan for tomorrow. Yes I know it’s late but we got to make sure we do this right since I won’t be picking Mike up myself. You guys will go to the airport and pick Mike up, remember not to be late. That means you need to wake up early, ok? I won’t be able to help you guys so you need to be responsible.” Joyce reminds them as she serves them their dinner.
Will is already hating tomorrow but he is also semi excited to see Mike again. It sucks because there’s a part of him that knows he is still in love with him but there’s another part that hates him for not writing to him in the 2 years they’ve been gone. Of course he can’t hate him too much since he has painted him something as a gift but it’s difficult to just forgive and forget when he hasn’t talked to his so-called best friend in years.
Well he has to chalk up his feelings because he has to see Mike tomorrow so he’s doomed.
Fuck His Life