Chapter Text
March 8, 1987
Chance Lawson never thought he would ever, ever talk to Will Byers.
I mean sure they had the same Art class, but never once had they crossed paths, let alone talk. Chance knew Will was friends with Lucas, who was on the basketball team with him.
Point is, never in a million years did Chance think something like this would happen.
It all started on Sunday. Chance was driving to the high school for basketball practice after having gone to church, blasting Africa by Toto. Championships were soon, so the team has been practicing a lot lately.
As he entered the gym, making his way to the locker room to change, he noticed some people in the bleachers. He found it odd, usually nobody was here to watch them (besides cheerleaders, obviously, but they had no choice.)
It was just a small group of kids. Chance ignored it, not like they mattered anyways.
When he walked in, he noticed Andy putting his items in his locker. “Hey man” Chance said, giving a grin to him. “Hey, Chance. Are you ready to play? Championships are real soon, gotta prepare.” Andy said back. “Hell yeah” Chance chuckled, “Let me just change quickly.” Chance said, unlocking his lock.
“Alright, I’ll leave you be. Meet you out there.” Andy said before leaving, not waiting for a response. Chance was quick to change, feeling more energetic than usual, especially for it being 11 a.m. on a Sunday morning.
He made his way out the locker room, grabbing a basketball from the bin before making his way to everyone else who was already starting on practicing layups.
“Hey” Chance said to another one of his teammates, Patrick. “Hey man, how have you been?” Patrick asked him.
“Good, nothing new. How about you?” Chance asked back, Before Patrick could respond, one of the kids from the bleachers, a redheaded girl, stood up and yelled out a loud ‘Go Lucas!’ before being pulled back down by another girl, both of them going into a fit of laughter after. Chance looked ahead of him, seeing Lucas Sinclair all red, being teased by another teammate of theirs. Chance didn't know Lucas had a girlfriend. He looked back to the bleachers and noticed a familiar face. A boy who he shared a class with. An unforgettable bowl cut and artistic skills.Will Byers. Chance knew of the other kids there, kind of. But he recognized Will the most.
Was Lucas friends with these people? The people everyone considered freaks?
Some of the kids on the team liked to pick on these kids. Hurt them, physically. Chance wasn’t one of them, he wasn’t that mean. But he could admit he talked from time to time.
“Who are they?” Chance asked Patrick and Andy, who just joined them. “The kids watching from the bleachers, i mean.” he added, while shooting a ball in the basket, making it.
“Those freaks? Their nobodies.” Andy laughed. “Not sure why they're here. I think Sinclair is dating one of those girls.”
“Oh” Chance murmured. Chance didn’t know too much about these people, or why everyone hated them, picked on them. He had only moved to Hawkins his eighth grade year. He was a junior now, so really everyone now had their own cliques, not as worried about each other anymore.
“I think I have a class with one of those kids.” Chance said to the two boys in front of him. “The one with the bowl cut. We have art together. I think his name is Will.”
“You have a class with Will Byers?” Patrick exclaimed.
“Wait, you take an Art class?” Andy laughed, looking at Patrick who was also laughing a bit.
“Shut the hell up, it was the easiest elective to take. I didn’t want to spend this year doing something boring and hard.” Chance said with an eye roll, annoyed. Well, jokes on Chance, because art class was both of those things. But he was passing, and that's all that mattered to him.
“Yeah, sure. So.. Do you talk to him in class or what?” Patrick asked. They were now preparing to play a scrimmage game for the last hour of practice.
“No, never. I heard some things about him. I don’t want to be near that.” Chance said in a disgusted low tone. He didn’t want anyone to overhear him.
“What things?” Andy asked with a smirk on his face. “I don’t know, that he’s queer and you know.. Carries diseases." Chance said. Something in him felt guilty for talking like that. Probably because it was gossip, and that's kind of a sin. Whatever, he could repent later.
“Oh yeah, I’ve heard that. It’s mainly just rumors, but he’s one of the freaks, wouldn't be too shocked if it was true.” Patrick said.
“Lawson, Harper, McKinney!” Their coach yelled out across the gym. “Focus up boys, we have a championship soon. Its shirts versus skins. Lawson and Harper, you’re both skins.” The coach yelled before blowing the whistle.
Chance and Andy made their way to their side of the court, throwing their shirts off, preparing for the fake practice game.
“Hey, I got an idea.” Andy whispered to him. “Tell you after this” He added before the whistle blew and their match started.
—--
“Hey, want a coke?” Dustin said, pulling Will out of his drawing trance. Will nodded before taking it and cracking it open.
As he was taking a sip, he looked down at the boys on the court, playing a game against each other now. Max, Dustin, and El are still cheering Lucas on.
Mike, on the other hand, looked bored. He didn't blame him, they’ve been here since 10:30 this morning, and it was almost 1 now. Thankfully, there was only 30 minutes left of practice.
Will was bored of being here. Sports weren't his thing, whether it was watching it or playing it. It didn't matter, he hated it. He was only here for Lucas.
He’s seen some faces on the team before. Some of the older kids pick on the party a bit. Mostly Dustin. Will felt bad for Dustin, because the others just got talked about, it was only Dustin who really took the beatings. Probably because he wasn’t afraid to stand his ground.
He knew one specific boy in there though, Chance Lawson. He has a fifth period with him, art. Will always wondered why a basketball kid was taking an art class. But he didn’t really care, not like he paid attention or talked to him. But something Will could admit was he did look good, all sweaty and shirtless.
‘Ew, why am I thinking that’. Will thought to himself, shaking his head before going back to drawing whatever.
“Whatcha drawing?” Mike asked, looking over Will's shoulder to peak. “I don’t know. I need to think of something to draw and paint for art finals. I have like, twelve days.”
“Jesus, twelve days? That’s how long you get?” Mike said in a shocked tone. “Well actually I’ve had the last month. But I can’t think of anything and my other classes have been getting in the way.” Will responded, not looking up.
Mike giggled before saying, “Why am I not shocked?” Making Will laugh a bit too in response. “Hey so, after Lucas finishes his practice or whatever, I was thinking we could all go back to my place and play games and watch a movie or something. Or we can go out. I’m just bored today.” Mike said to Will.
“D&D sounds fun right now.” Will smiled at him. “Cool, I’ll let the others know.” Mike smiled before turning towards the others to tell them.
The basketball coach blew the whistle, letting everyone know practice is over.
—--
Making his way back to the bench to get water, Chance is stopped by Andy and Patrick.
“Chance, wanna earn some money?” Andy asked, smirking at him. “What the hell do you guys want?” Chance said with a bored look on his face while grabbing his water, deciding to leave his shirt off since it was hot.
“Befriend Will Byers, you’ll get money.” Patrick said.
Chance choked on his water, giving a shocked, wide eyed expression towards them. “What the fuck? Where is this coming from?” He asked the two.
“C’mon, just for the hell of it. Use him, do whatever.” Andy exclaimed. “So what, just be friends with the dude and get some money out of it? That's all?” Chance asked.
“Well, we were thinking a little more.” Patrick said. “You have art with him right? Electives like that don’t last the full year. Do you guys take finals or anything?” He added.
“Yeah, next two weeks till we have a final project due, then the rest of the year is a free period. But what does that have to do with anything?” Chance questioned.
“Have you done it yet?” Andy asked.
“Obviously not, I’ve been busy. Probably just gonna take an F.” Chance said.
“So, use him to pass the final. Make him think you’re a good guy or something. But.. there’s something else.” Andy smirked at him.
“What?”
“If you can get him to fall in love with you on top of that. We’ll get you anything you want. Beer? Girls? You got it.” Patrick responded.
“I'm sorry, fall in love? That’s… disgusting. We're both boys.” Chance whispered.
“Yeah, exactly. Let’s prove your theory. See if he really is a queer.” Andy said, elbowing Patrick while laughing.
“So that's it? Befriend him, use him, play with his feelings. For money? Why.” Chance asked. “Why not?” Andy said.
“I mean I don’t know, it feels wrong. And I don’t want to flirt with him or whatever.” Chance said. “C’mon, it’ll be funny, for the hell of it. Plus, this is your chance to pass the class.” Patrick said.
“Don’t you want the other men on the team to treat you like a king? Like you're one of them? This is the way man.” Andy said.
Chance thought about it. He did want the others to treat him like a man. And why did he care so much about Will Byers’ feelings? He didn't know him. Fuck it, he thought.
“Fine. But only for $20 each day.” Chance said, glaring at them.
“Deal. Now better go talk to him before he leaves with the other freaks.” Andy said with a chuckle. Both him and Patrick leave Chance with his thoughts.
Chance looks around and notices the group getting ready to leave the gym. He quickly runs up to them, already regretting this stupid, useless, confusing bet.
“Hey” He says to them with a smile. They all look at him like he's a zombie or something freakish.
“Chance? What’s up?” Lucas says confused with his bag over his shoulder, holding that same redheaded girls’ hand.
“Oh sorry um..” Chance speaks with a nervous tone in his voice. What the hell was he supposed to say now? “Actually, can I talk to Will for a sec?” He asked.
Now the group really looks like they’ve seen a zombie. Actually, maybe a ghost. Or whatever creature that would make them look confused and shocked. They were all looking back and forth between Chance and Will, so confused.
“Look man, I don’t know what the hell-” One of the other boys of the group started grumbling at Chance. He was lanky, the same height as chance. Mike, Chance thinks his name is.
Will puts his arm out in front of maybe-mike to stop him from coming closer to Chance.
“Mike, it’s ok.” Will says to the boy. So his name is Mike.
Will looks back at Chance before asking, “What’s up? Did you.. Need something?”
“Oh um..” Chance starts before grabbing Will's arm to drag him a few feet from the others.
“Sorry uh- Im Chance.” Chance says nervously before sticking his hand out for Will to shake it. Will gives him a confused look before shaking it back. “I know, we have art together.”
“We do, which is kind of what this is about. So for the final I’m kind of lost and well, I know you're good at art. So I was wondering if maybe you could help me with something. I mean since I know Lucas, and so do you and it's a mutual friend type of situation- and um yeah.” Chance ran on. What was happening to him? Was Will making him nervous, or did he just feel guilty for the situation he’s about to put himself in. It should be neither, really. Chance is way above Will on the pyramid hierarchy, and Will was closed off, no way is going to befriend him in ten goddamn days.
Will looked back at his friends, then the ground, then finally up at Chance again.
“Okay, sure. We can start tomorrow in class.” Will gave him a half smile. “Okay yeah, thanks.” Chance said, giving a half smile back. Only then did he realise he was still shirtless and sweaty, deciding to use this as an opportunity.
He combed his hair back with his fingers, then leaned close to Will's ear, whispering, “Can’t wait. See you tomorrow.” throwing in a wink at the end, before walking off the locker room to get ready to leave, not waiting to see Will's reaction. And for some odd reason, the flirting didn't seem weird or disgusting, it felt…natural?
—---
As soon as Chance walked away from the party, they all ran up to him
Well, everyone but Mike. He was glaring towards the boys locker room entrance like he could set it on fire with his mind if he focused hard enough.
“Holy shit, what was that? What did he say?” Max immediately started with a smile on her face.
“Will, he was totally flirting!” El added on.
Now, here's what Will hates the most. Ever since he came out to his friends and family a few months ago, they have been non-stop trying to set him up with any and every guy who gives Will attention.
And he loves that they care, but they’ve all almost outed him more times then he can count.
“Guys stop. He wasn't doing all of that.” Will sighs. “He just needed help with art, that's it.”
“Yeah, sure.” Dustin says with a smirk.
“Seriously! Do you think Chance Lawson, a popular kid and basketball player, was flirting with me?” Will asks.
He shouldn't have asked because he just heard a cluster of ‘yeah’ and “absolutely’ from them.
“How about this?” Max started, “If he comes up to you again for whatever reason, and flirts again. Flirt back, play with his feelings!”
“Max no, that's mean. And also I think we’ll be seeing each other more. He asked for help with the art final.” Will responded back.
“Nerd, he’s taking art.” Lucas chuckled to himself.
“I'm serious Will! Play the player! I know you don't actually like him like that. But it’ll be fun!” Max says, continuing to push Will.
“Max, I don’t kn-” Will starts, but is immediately cut off by a loud gasp from Max.
“I know what you should do!” She starts. She looks around, giving everyone a smirk before continuing.
“Ok well, it’s more for me than anything. But for my psychology class, I have to do an experiment. It's about feelings and love and all that crap.” Max starts. “And I was going to talk about me and Lucas of course, but I already did for my last project. And this time I could do it on Will and Chance. Basically I have to study how fast someone can gain feelings for another person, and this is perfect!”
Everyone looks at Max like she’s insane. Maybe she is.
“Ok, so Will helps you with your research project. What does he get out of it? A ruined frenemy?” Dustin says.
“I’ll give you money?” Max says, looking at Will. “Five dollars for each day. How many days until your art final is due?”
“Like- ten days starting tomorrow.” Will says.
“Okay then, five dollars for the next ten days. If you can use your magical love powers.” Max says with a smirk.
“I don’t know. Why me? Nobody could like me that quick.” Will says.
“Oh bullshit! Will, coming from another guy, you are quite pretty. And very likeable.” Lucas says putting a hand on Wills shoulder.
Wills lost. He doesn't want to hurt the guy, even if he doesn't have a good history with people like him. But Max is right, he would get over it. It's not like Will is special. Plus, this could build some self confidence or something along that line.
“Fine, Deal.” Will says earning a squeal from both Max and El. “This better be worth it, Mayfield”
“It will be, I swear. Tomorrow, our plan begins. I’m gonna give you a notebook so you can write notes down for me when you guys hang out and stuff. Write about your feelings and his reactions and things like that.”
Will gives her a nod in response.
“Now can we go to Mikes?” Dustin asks then.
“Yeah, let's go please.” Mike says in a grumpy tone. All of them finally made their way out of the gym at nearly 2, even though the practice ended an hour ago. While walking towards the parking lot, Will couldn't help but think about what he just agreed to.
God, what did he just get himself into?