Chapter Text
Jason didn’t know what was happening, he had been assured that monster who killed his friends was dead, and now it’s been almost a year, and it still doesn’t feel right. He was handling the loss of Chrissy well, and at least the government was in Hawkins to make sure everyone was safe, but that’s not what was getting to him, it was the new boy, well old and new. Will Byers was back in Hawkins, and Jason didn’t like it, Will was the epitome of a queer freak, he had been his whole life, and now he was back? Hanging out with the the other freaks? It worried Jason, this town had been through enough.
—
At school one morning, Jason and what was left of the basketball team were hanging out by their lockers. Andy was insisting they go teach Dustin a lesson for wearing that hellfire shirt to school, but Jason shut it down, they didn’t need more drama with the freaks as long as they stayed in their place.
Jason was observing them, making sure they didn’t have any devil worshipping plans, he definitely wasn’t watching Will, and totally didn’t notice how he looked like he felt out of place. He wanted to go say something to Will, he didn’t really know why he just wanted to, maybe it was curiosity, or something else, but Will just seemed so lonely.
Will was talking with his friends, but he felt awkward like he didn’t really belong like he used to, so much has changed, and Will knows he loves his friends and they love him, but he can’t help but feel like they’re treating him as if one wrong move and he’ll break so he just has to stand to the side until his neck tickles, so Will really had nothing better to do than look around the hallway, feeling as though everyone was staring at him. His eyes eventually meet the eyes of who he could only assume was Jason, as he was just as they descended him, tall, blonde hair, golden boy look, and always wearing a baseball jacket. Will felt a little scared, he didn’t really wanna get beaten up, or called a slur right now, or both, so he quickly looked away.
“You ok Will?” Mike said, noticing that he’d kinda left him out. “Yeah, Mike, I’m fine just… just tired.” Will responded, and Mike pulled him back into the conversation, but he couldn’t help but look back at Jason, seeing him walk away. That was weird.
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Later that afternoon Will had volunteered to help Robin bring some food and supplies to the squawk radio station. Steve and Eddie had been living in it for months now, Steve’s house got destroyed in the ‘earthquake’ and his parents were still off in Paris, meanwhile Eddie was legally considered dead and now in hiding, so they just set up shop there. Will loved spending time with the older teens, specifically these three, they understood him in a way no one else did, and Eddie absolutely adored him.
“Ah! Stevie boy! Our saviors have aro with sustenance!” Eddie shouted, standing in the doorway calling to Steve who was inside, before running out to great them. “Birdy and bowlcut, my favorite duo!” Eddie flashed them a smile, going to helping Will carry a box filled with various food and toiletry items, it was pretty heavy.
“Thanks Eddie, but you’re still healing, I got this.” Will assured and Eddie backed off, falling in step beside them as they walked from the van to the squawk. “Thank you sooooo much for helping us carry all these things you need to live Steve.” Steve rolls his eyes at Robins comment, holding the door open for them. “You are quite welcome.” Still they smile at each other and all go in to unpack.
They set everything down in the small employee kitchen and started to unpack. Will felt nice being around them, even Steve, like they saw him more than the actual party, which he thought was silly, but it was true. Will had become good at watching, seeing how people movie, how they interact, like he was watching the world through third person sometimes, so he noticed when Steve and Eddie smiled at each other a little too long and their hands touched and stayed together.
While Will was putting milk in the fridge, Eddie came up next to him to put the eggs and cheese in the fridge as well. “Hey little man, what’s up? You’re quiet today.” Eddie said, and Will glanced over at him, continuing his job. “Yeah, it’s nothing..” Eddie tilted his head. “Come on man, tell me, it’s clearly not nothing.” Will took a deep breath, unsure how to explain. “I think I saw Jason today, it was weird, it felt like he was staring at me, we made eye contact for like a second, i don’t know..”
Eddie tensed up a little. “O-oh, uhm, ok, I mean, he didn’t, like, mess with you, did he?” Will shakes his head. “No, no, it was just weird, I’m not sure if he knows who I am, but everyone dose so.. don’t worry, if something is wrong I’ll tell you guys!” Will tried to reassure, but he didn’t sound confident. Eddie put a hand on Will’s shoulder, and offered a smile. “It’s alright, let’s get back to work, yeah?” Will nodded.
Everything is probably fine.