Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

“Will, come on we are gonna be late!” El called out, her voice loud but sweet as always. The cheap liquor sloshed around in Will's bottle as he stumbled out to where El was. A darkly coloured loose button up and random shorts off Wills floor made his outfit to premiere his first day back to school, water bottle clutched tightly in his left hand. The drive wasn’t long, the older occasionally taking gulps of the liquid in his bottle. When they finally arrived at the hellish school, they split paths. Will would go drink himself till ill in the autorium, while El would go back to the glory of Will's past life. “Hey, you okay?” a voice came from behind him, no one other than Chance. The only nice jock in his grade. “I’m… I’m fine. What do you want…?” He muttered, the smell of a mysterious alcohol on his breath. Chance rubbed the back of his neck, clearly in need of something. “Nevermind…” He stumbled off, still rubbing his neck.

What. The. Fuck.

Will sighed and began to walk to class, alcohol dribbling down his chin as he hurried down the hall. “Hey Will!” Mike greeted, voice calm and friendly. “Oh… hey dude.” He stuttered, the effects of drinking for the past few hours catching up to him. He leaned against the wall, his thin body rested slightly. “You.. Are you okay there?” He laughed. No, Will could never be okay. He was sick, and worse, he was addicted to being sick. And so, so badly he wanted someone to love him. To love his sick. But, alas, it would never come to happen. He would continue to numb his problems with cheap liquor and sex until he killed himself doing it. Will glanced at Mike, his hands fiddling with his bottle. “Sure… sure I am.” The bitter tone in his voice made it hard to believe. He walked into class, sitting at the usual seat. Every class he slept, they all blurred together. The only thing that awoke him from the slumber was the lunch bell.

The one class that he had to socialize with his former friends in. The usual table they had all sat out before Will's rampant depression that plagued his former personality had all of them sat giggly at it. “Hey!” Max greeted, her voice sharp. Will nodded, obviously faking a smile. “Hi Max, Imma go grab a lunch. Be right back.” He put down his bottle and bag.

First mistake.

After he walked away and was long into line Mike couldn’t remove his eyes off the bottle. “Guys, I’m like dying of thirst. You think Will would kill me if I took a sip?” Mike asked, a blank expression on his face. Lucas shook his head “Nah, we know Byers. He would probably be glad you were nourishing yourself!” He joked, hell, a bad one.

Mike nodded as he grabbed the bottle and took a swig. “Ew what the shit-” His face changed quickly to disgust, putting the bottle down quickly. “Whats wrong?” El asked, her voice laced with concern.

"That's alcohol.” Mike said.

Chapter Text

She gasped softly, her eyes widening. Max looked at Mike, then where Will was in line, then back again. “Your fucking kidding, right? I mean, it’s Byers. He probably grabbed Jonathans.” Lucas said, his voice uneasy. El sighed, putting her head in her hands. “That's his bottle… It is always in his room. He was drinking it while driving earlier.” She started “So he’s basically killing himself with that? Or trying to?” Max snapped. Will began to walk back to the table, food in hand. There wasn’t much, a bit of fries and that’s it. Mike quickly placed the bottle back towards his bag. He sat quietly, moving the food around rather than eating. 

“Hey, Will. Can I have a sip?” Max asked, the same tinge of anger in her voice as earlier. Will looked up, his shirt slightly dripping off his small frame and showing his collarbones. He sighed softly, rubbing his temples. “No, sorry. I don’t want Lucas's cooties.” He groaned. Max rolled her eyes “Is that even water?” She said snarky, a small bit of concern in her voice. Will shot up, “Shut up.” He snapped. She laughed, El glared at her from across the table. “You're such a fuckass.” Will barked “Did you just call me a fuckass?” She said, holding back her laughter. He rolled his eyes, Max laughed. “Dude, you’re acting like I didn’t see Chance wanting to bone you so bad.” She taunted. “He does not wanna bone me!” He replied. Will downed the rest of his bottle. “God, you give me a head ache max. A fucking head ache every time you speak.” He croaked, running a hand through his knotted brown hair.

“I think that’s you trying to drink away your problems.” The party looked at Will, his jaw clenched.

“Fuck you Max, actually fuck you. Low blow.” He stood up, grabbing his bag and bottle. “I'm going home.” Will said softly, pushing himself out of the crowded lunch room and out of the exit. “Max, that wasn’t even funny.” El defended, looking at the fiery red haired girl's face change. She looked down.

“Shit.”

Once Will had finally made it home, tears had threatened to leak from his eyes. Will could drink until numb, but then he would have to get money. And even though he had changed, he would rather not steal from his family. Or, he could go have sex with someone in his school in exchange for money. Crazy, I know. Less than a year ago he was playing DnD in Mike’s basement, now he’s selling himself for a sip of alcohol. Fucking mental, I will admit.

He grabbed the phone.

RING..

RING..

BRRRRINNNNG!

“Hello?” The other side called out.

                                                                           “Hey, It’s Will.” He said into the phone.

The man laughed, “Oh, I'm glad.”

                                                                                   “I bet you are, Troy, bet you are.”

“Well, i'm assuming your calling for the usual

thing, meet me at the football field in 10.”

                                                                                                              “Got it, thanks.”