Chapter Text
The asphalt gives a nice rustic sound while the car is going down a suburban neighborhood. Will is looking out the window watching the hollow American dream houses fly by. He looks around and sees his mothers caring eyes and careful smile in the rearview mirror. He tries to smile back but it comes back looking almost painful. Jonathan glances between Will and their mom. It seems he wants to say something but can't utter it out loud.
The car is parked against the pavement, the right wheels being squished on top of it making the car a little lopsided. Will exits the car looking at his new home. It's big, a lot bigger than the shithole his dads place was. He knew his mom could never afford this on her own. The front door opens to a girl, it must be Jane. Will's mom had told him about her new family for a majority of the ride. Will didn't have much to respond with as they seemed great, really great. He was happy his mom had gotten a better life, even if he didn't belong in it.
After Jane came the famous Hopper, the police chief of the town and Jane's dad. Will is pretty sure they had only been together for a year, that's what she told them.
Jane rushed to hug Joyce after not seeing her for almost 2 days. Joyce hugs back and when she pulls away she gestures at Jonathan and WIll saying ‘’This is them! Here is Jonathan and Will!’’ Jane and Jonathan waves to each other while Hopper shakes Jonathan's hand saying ‘’It’s good to have some more boys around here,’’ smirking with raised eyebrows while looking at the boys. Joyce lightly slaps him on the arm with that delightful look. He goes to the same with Will, pulling out his hand for Will to grab. Will is left standing frozen, he gulps but takes Hopper's hand and shakes while not looking up to meet Hopper's eyes. Joyce casts a sad look. El is left wondering what is wrong with her new brother.
From aside the road in the two story house Mike is sitting at his desk, he’s trying to come up with a new campaign. He scratches his head and looks out the window for some kind of inspiration. Only to see the parked car and two foreign figures in the mix of people he knew. Jane hopper was a great friend of his, they used to be a couple but Jane broke up with him in freshman year, saying she needed a new start. He wasn't convinced but what could he do.
He knew Joyce and Hopper as well since they were his neighbors and of course his friends' parents. Then there were the two mysterious people. Well, they weren't really THAT mysterious since Jane had told him Joyce's two kids from a previous marriage were going to live with them from now on. She didn't explain much more, only stating that something happened with the brothers dad.
He continued to stare at them, one of them, seemingly older and more ruff looking, had an easy going flannel and some classic jeans, he seemed relieved to be here. The same could not be said about the other brother, he seemed more closed off. He wore a big sweater and was holding a walkman tightly, from the bottom of the sleeve Mike could see a white cast peeking out.
Mike felt done with observing Jane’s new family so he made his way to the kitchen. Karen was packing something up while talking on the phone, it looked kind of clunky. When she saw Mike she pulled the phone a bit and said, “Ah, Mike! Did you see that Ms Byers' sons arrived?”
“Oh yeah I did.” He responded by taking a closer look at the container, 4 boxes of cookies, yum.
“Well could you kindly take these cookies for them, to welcome them!” She pushes the boxes forward towards Mike and continues with, “I would do it myself but I have to get dinner ready and would hate for it to be too dark, wouldn't want to interrupt their family dinner, yes?”
“Do I have to?” Mike replied with a frown.
“This isn’t debatable Mike.” She says placing a note on the cookie container and then nudges it even closer to him. He signs and picks them up. El didn’t even really like cookies. He goes up to his room putting on a blue sweater. He takes a peek out the window seeing no one on the front of the house. He makes his way across the road and knocks on the door. A few seconds of silence and then he can hear Ms Byers' shouting, “Will, could you get the door honey?” This Will then responds with “Do I have to?.” only with nothing. A few more seconds of silence before someone makes their way to the door.
The door finally opens but only about a foot or two. Inside he sees the boy he saw a few hours ago on the porch. He has messy chestnut hair and the same dark brown-grey-ish sweater that looks too big that he had earlier. Looking at his face he was pretty pale and had a lot of moles, the most notable ones being over his lips and on his cheek. Realizing he hasn't said anything for a few minutes and that the boy has been staring him down with a questioning frown this whole time Mike tries to explain the cookies. But all that comes out is, ‘’Hi.’’
Not getting a response, only a raised eyebrow Mike tries again. “Umm. My mom made these cookies to welcome you and your brother.. we live across the street and-” Mike starts handing the cookies to the boy when a tired looking Joyce comes to the door. She widens the door opening and smiles at Mike. “Hello Mike! How are you.”
“I’m pretty good,” He looks at the cookies and says, “My mom, she made these cookies to welcome- um.” he looks at the boy and nudges his head towards him. “Oh yes, right! This is Will, and then we have Jonathan somewhere to- JONATHAN COME HERE.” She screams into the house. The boy, Will, raises his shoulder a bit at the screaming. Hearing someone walks down the stairs and to the door. The other boy, Jonathan comes into view. He says, “Hello!” smiling politely.
Joyce continues with “This is Mike, Jane's friend. He lives across the street and got us cookies to welcome us, isn’t that just so nice!” She explains like its the most important thing ever to Jonathan, he only nods his head a couple times. “Well Mike this is really pleasant, tell you mom we are really happy, right boys?” She looks expectantly at her sons. Jonathan agrees while nodding. Will also nods but its slower seems more sarcastic. Mike can already tell he doesn't really like him, sorry Jane.
Mike makes his way back home and through the whole night the young Byers wouldn’t escape his head. It must be since he was so irritating. He would have to talk with Jane about him, maybe she would know why he was acting so.. weird.