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1. A Bowls Cut Memorial.
This story does not start with the beginning of Senior Year. It doesn't even start with the beginning of high school. It starts when a boy, with the biggest out of fashion bowl cut for the 2000’s, and a kind gesture.
Will Byers always liked drawing. It didn't matter what his father said. He was good, like exceptionally good for a ten year old. Before his father made him feel afraid to show his drawings. Before everyone in school started calling him names. He was not scared to show his work.
So it didn't come as a surprise what he did. When he saw a boy, with a casket on his right hand, crying alone in the school's backyard, he decided he wanted to make him happier. Jonathan and Joyce have always brightened up when he drew something for them.
He takes his sister's hand. His Mother always tells him to not make her feel left out, especially since she's always so quiet.
“HI!!!!” he says with a smile. “Can I draw on your casket?” He asks. He doesn't know what possessed him. He's not usually this direct. But he remembers the way Mike made him feel better when he was playing alone, and sad because his father was being mean again and because his sister's appointments were making her lose school days and he didn't have any friends.
Chance is too stunned to speak. He's seeing a boy with a bowl cut bigger than his own head. And a girl with curly short hair that's looking at him really intently. The only thing he says is “Sure” while lifting his hand. The word doesn't come out quite right, it feels foreign to him, but right now he's not picky. He won't turn down someone who's actively talking to him.
“You know, it doesn't matter that you're crying. You probably have a good reason” states Will, while carefully grabbing the other boy's arms and starting to draw. “My brother says it's good for you. It lets all the bad things exit your heart.” He says concentrating on the drawing. “I bet it really hurt when you broke your arm, but my brother broke his arm a long time ago and now he has this awesome scar. He says it makes a good story. And I love stories”.
He keeps talking, while Jane's beside him looking at them, playing with her curls. And Chance? He keeps looking at him. When the boy raises his hand, he can see the face of a beautiful tiger. Big head and a small body with a tail that curls itself. He doesn't know when he stopped crying.
“Anyway, thank you for letting me draw on it. It's a tiger. I love tigers. And you seem like you might too”. He does in fact like tigers. They are so brave. So strong. He wants to be like them on my day. “Yeah, I like tigers”. He says, with a smile so big, it looks like sunshine. He doesn't care that he's showing his missing tooth.
Chance is about to say something. But then another boy with black hair starts screaming at them. “Come on Will, we're fighting against a dragon, I need my cleric.”
“Sorry.” He apologizes. “I have to go, it was nice meeting you. Thank you again for letting me draw your casket”.
As Chance watches Will and the girl go to play with their friends, both of the boys think about how good it would be to have a new friend. But life is tricky like that. It never works the way you expect. Every time he tries to be friends with the boy, his words don’t come out right. He doesn't speak fast enough, translating everything he knows to object against Mike Wheeler protests. The only thing he has left from Will, is the drawing of the tiger in his casket. He cries again so hard when the doctors cut it. Feeling a sadness he's never felt before, but he tries to remember Will's words.
As for Will, he doesn't understand why Mike doesn't let Chance play with them. He's sad when he sees the other boy without his casket. Part of him liked seeing Chance’s tiger. He also is a little bit surprised when he watches him play with the boys that make fun of him and his friends. But that's not something he really remembers. Two years from now he's going to have more things to worry about. Like his father leaving after him and Jane were too much to handle. Or the shadows that seem to be lurking in every corner.
When they start high school. They don't become friends either. They're aware of each other. They have a few classes together and he's now seeing Chance a little bit more when he goes to watch Lucas practice. They don't really talk. They banter sometimes, finding ways to say things that get under each other's skins. But it's not harmful.
Mike doesn't like it, but he doesn't get a say after what he did to Jane on Lenora. What he did to him. Max and Jane always watch it with full attention when it happens. Lucas gets really quiet and Dustin seems oblivious.
"Well, that was a little harsh. But his comment was uncalled for. If a little funny" he answers the first day of Senior Year.
“I don't know what the hell was he thinking”. Says Will, as he opens his Chem book. “I know my bowl cut had overstayed its welcome. But why would he bring it up like that?”
“Like what?” Asks Dustin.
“Like he was trying to say a pick up line, Dustin.” He answers exasperated. “You didn't see him. He's never tried to look that smooth before.”
“Maybe you're projecting” Dustin looks at him.
“I'm not projecting”
“Maybe he was actually flirting then. He being bi is a well known fact in this school”.
“Yes Dustin, because it is totally normal for a jock like him to flirt with someone that looks like me”.
“Careful, your inner Mike is showing.” That one makes Will actually hit him.
They put a pin on the situation when the teacher calls them out. When they're leaving Dustin reminds him, “Don't forget that this afternoon is the first meeting back for the SGA. Steve and Eddie are going to murder each other if we're not there to separate them.”
“Your divorced parents are not my problem, Dustin,” he jokes.
“They'd have to be together first to be divorced. They just skipped all the fun parts” says leaving him in the hallway.
2. Internet search: What does it mean when a guy draws you like a poorly made version of Lord Farquaad?
"Please, don't bother me again. I'm actually taking this class seriously. Don't take away from me one of the only spaces where I can relax"
Chance is about to say something, but taking a second look at the artist's demeanor does a double take. "Sure, Byers. I'm sorry for bothering you”
After watching Lucas practice that day. Trying to not pay attention to the pink elephant in the room. For your consideration, Chance Lawson in tiny, tiny shorts and with his hawking's tigers t-shirt plastered on his body ‘cause of the sweat. They are riding in Lucas' car.
“He showed you the drawing right?”
“Yep” Lucas answers, taking a breath, already planning ways to defend a little the other jock.
“I don't even have that haircut anymore. That isn't even the way I styled it. It never looked like I was trying to cosplay as Lord Farquaad”. He ends.
Lucas can't help the laughter that bursts out of him. “Please don't make me discuss that haircut. It's not going to end the way you think it's going to”.
Will looks offended, but backs down. “Anyway, why would he keep bringing it up. Why would he be so proud of showing it to me”.
“I don't know dude. Maybe he was trying to brighten you up a little. You seem a little blue today. A penny for your thoughts? Or should I guess?”. He asks, stopping at a red light, looking at Will.
“You've already guessed it's Mike,” he says, playing with his belt.
“Didn't you move on?” Lucas carefully asks.
“Of course I did. A long time ago. But he's been acting weird ever since Jane and Dusting started playing chicken with their characters on the D&D table.”
“What do you mean weird? About them?” He asks starting to drive again.
“Nope, about me. It's like She moving on with someone finally made him realize he can move on as well. He looks at me like I killed his dog and like I hung the moon at the same time.” He says tiredly.
Then he adds, “I hate it. I hate that he decides to catch up now. Like a second thought. Like I would take him after the way he behaved with my sister. The way he didn't speak to me a single time over the phone when we moved to Lenora.”
They've arrived at Will's house now. Lucas listens, really listens. That's what Will loves about him. “And above all, I hate that I'm the one who has to let him down easy. I hate that I have to be put in that situation.”
Lucas nods, understanding. “Then don't let him down easy. You're allowed to lose your shit. You already do it with Chance when he oversteps.”
“But it's different, I wasn't in love with Chance for most of my life. I feel like I owe him the kindness I didn't receive.” Says Will, resting his head on the back of the seat.
“Well, you don't” Lucas assures him, confidently. “Will, I love you man. I really do. You've come so far from that scared boy that came out to me.” He grabs his shoulder, Will is watching him with a sad smile. “You have to remember, you actively chose kindness. I don't think it's something that comes naturally to you. And that's something you have to understand. I know you wouldn't hurt a fly.” He adds, almost laughing.
“But that's a deliberate choice. To face the world with kindness. But that doesn't mean you should always be kind to people who hurt you. Who sidelined you. You are allowed to give them hell once in a while, especially Mike, he needs it.”
Will nods. He does understand it. He doesn't know what he did to deserve a friend like this. “When you let him down, he's going to apologize. He's going to make excuses. Or not, maybe he will not back down and throw a tantrum. It's important that no matter what, you stay your ground and don't let him run over you.” He ends.
“okay.”
“Okay, now get out of my car. I have a date with Max so we can discuss your love life” both of them are laughing now. “And to criticize Chance's art. I'm pretty sure she would have a lovely perspective”.
“Oh fuck off”.
3. The Greek and Freaks Debacle
He panics and starts blurting. "Not that you have a small dick or that I think about it. But only because I'm really respectful" (He's not) "Not because I feel like it wouldn't be worth the thought. I'm sure it's a regular size dick. A big dick even. I feel like I'm saying dick way too much now, way too much. I'm shutting up."
There are really not that many things that can make Will overthink a situation. Apparently, Chance Lawson is on a crusade to prove him wrong.
It's been two weeks since what Max is calling the Greeks and Freaks Debacle. She's not as funny as she thinks she is. Will is in Jane's room, laying on her bed while she is crocheting a violet top on the floor.
“I truly don't know what to think. Why would he say something like that?” He asks her. “Well, don't look at me. I don't really think I have an answer for you.” She says. It is the third time this week they'd had this conversation. She's losing it a little bit but doesn't want to scare him.
“At first I was like, wow, here's this hunk of a man comparing me to a piece of art that is actually pretty. A sort of muse for artists to sculpt about.” He reflects. Playing with the hem of his shirt. “But then he started talking about my dick… and I don't know if he was making fun of me or if he's just that bad flirting. What does he mean by saying he doesn't think about my dick cause he's really respectful? Uh?” He adds. He wants to scream.
“You were so, so red. I think it was the first time I've ever seen you not talk back to him.” Jane says, looking at him. “I know sometimes you're quiet, but you're never speechless”.
“But what do you answer? Thanks, I don't think about your dick out of respect either?” (well now Will, between ghosts, we don't step on each other's sheets). “Besides, he couldn't possibly be flirting with me. I mean, he probably could have the whole cheer squad and then some of the basketball players.”
“Will…” Jane starts.
“No really, I mean. It's not like I don't think I'm a catch. I know I'm pretty, guess. I like the way I present myself to the world. I love a lot of things about myself.”
“But?” Jane asks. Looking at him, taking a breath and already knowing where this is going.
“But that's just me. I don't hold anyone else to my standards. Not everyone will find me attractive and that's okay.”
“And what he did, you know, find you attractive.” Jane asks.
“Don't be ridiculous. He's probably making a bet with his friends or got tired of using traditional tactics.” He tells her, like it means nothing.
“Careful, your inner Mike Wheeler is showing up”.
“You sound like Dustin”.
“Well maybe he's onto something”.
“Oh really? You wanna go there, Mage Elsbeth? Cause we can talk about whatever is going on with you and Dusty The Bard.” He talks back, almost regretting it.
She looks at him. She's not impressed. She turns her back to him a little bit closer to the bed. “Braid my hair.” She says patiently. “It's been a while”.
He just complies. He really doesn't want upset hair. “I know what's happening with Dustin. I'm not blind. It's just, you know it takes me a little while to unpack every interaction.” She says, a powerful and defined strength in her voice. He starts feeling like shit for making her doubt.
“I know I've taken my time figuring out what's actually happening with Dustin. I know friends don't act the way we act around each other. But I am going to do something about it. Are you?” She asks.
“What am I supposed to do?” He counters.
“Start talking with him, actually talk. Not everyone behaves like Mike, you know. Maybe you will get an honest answer.” She states as he ends the braid.
“But what if he's waiting for that just so he can make fun of me”. He asks genuinely.
“Again with the Mike talk. This is not a teen drama movie Will. Jocks are not innately bad and nerds are not innately good. Otherwise Lucas would be an asshole and Mike would be the hero of the story ‘cause he can't commit any wrong. And we both know, from experience, why that is not true”. She says looking back at him with such a certainty that makes room for no disagreement.
“He's getting worse,” he says.
“I know. You need to talk with him too.”
“Any tips you can share? You're the first one that broke up with him and managed to remain friends”. He is tired. She can see that.
“Not anything that Lucas hasn't already told you or Max hasn't already made fun of. Just don't let him be the one with the last word”.
“Yeah, I don't think that's going to go particularly well.”
“But at least you know we are on your side. No matter what”. He can't believe there was a time where he was jealous of her. He can't imagine life without his sister. He loves her.
“And about the Chance of it all?” She adds. “Remember to stay open minded, people have a tendency to surprise you when you least expect it.”
He hopes she's right (she probably is).
4. Max, seriously, stop calling him Greek God in the hallway.
“I've seen your work. It's not good but It's not unsalvable. We just have to change tactics and see what medium would work the best for you. Maybe we can make an artist out of you".
Will and Max are on the tables near the field. They slipped lunch at the cafeteria because Will is still mad at Mike. Lucas is currently sick. Jane and Dustin are doing a little bit of damage control at the cafeteria with a really pissed off Mike.
“Wanna talk about it?” Max asks, playing with her food while she looks at him.
“I feel like all I've been doing this week is talk about Mike. He told me he was going to back off after I rejected him, that he still wanted to be my friend. And then he acts all fucking possessive about me tutoring Chance? I'm tired of having to explain every decision I take.”
“Yeah, no, fuck Wheeler, he has to put his big boy pants. It's not like he's the perfect example of good choices. He’s still growing his hair out after the orange mohawk fiasco”. She adds, throwing the piece of food she was playing with at Will. “I’m talking about the fact that you haven’t said a word about what happened two days ago while you were tutoring Chance”. She smiles cheekily.
“There’s nothing to tell”. Says Will, eating a piece of his food and then playing with his crucifix. “I was there. He was there. I helped him. He received the help. End of story”:
“You are such a shitty liar Byers, you know that? Spill or I’m going to go ask it to the Greek God Myself”. She points at the cafeteria with her fork.
“Can you please stop calling him that?”
“Not a chance”. She thinks she’s clever.
“He was going to start joking around again but I stopped him. It was the day after I fought with Mike about taking the tutoring position for Chance”. She remembers the way Will looked. Devoid of energy. She also remembers how they both look through the windows of the art room.
“So he was flirting with you, again”.
“He does not flirt with me”.
“If it walks like a duck, and speaks like a duck, it’s clearly a hawkin’s tiger trying to sweep you off your feet.” She states, locking her hands and putting them under her chin, so she can rest her head while she looks at him.
“Nope, I’m not doing this again,” Will states. He is crossing his arms now. Fighting her with his stare. “I’m not overanalyzing everything that a guy says to me. I don’t want another Mike situation and I’m not gonna fall in love.”
It may look like an exaggeration. She didn’t ask him if he was falling in love. But it was a tell, she realized. A tell that uncovers a deep trauma that started the summer that everyone had a significant other except for him. When the guys stopped caring for D&D and left him out. The one before they briefly moved to Lenora. She still remembers the way he looked when the Byers-Hopper returned to town and he found out that the party had joined Hellfire.
The same year she broke up with Lucas for the longest time in their relationship. She was already dealing with her stepbrother's death. And when she found out what they did to Will, she was livid. She had never screamed at Lucas like that again. Only when she felt he had apologized enough to Will, she started considering taking him back.
“I wasn’t talking about love. I was talking about having a hot guy, clearly smitten with you and what exactly are you going to do about it, Byers.” She says. Daring him.
“I’m not going to do anything, Chance is not flirting”. he bites, the little crack on his voice tells a different story.
“Then why did you take the tutoring position, uh? And don’t say it’s ‘cause of the points for your applications. I love you Will, and I know for a fact that you already had that sorted out before the beginning of the school year.”
He has the decency to not look at her and lie to her face. Honestly he doesn’t have an answer. Maybe he’s a little bit curious. Maybe what Jane told him is finally making sense. Maybe he wants to be surprised. Maybe he wants to not overthink every god damn interaction. Maybe, he just wants to enjoy the eye candy. What he is certain of, though, is that for the first time in a long, long time, he feels excited for whatever the future may bring for with this. He explains so to the redhead. He doesn’t leave room for discussion.
“That's what I like,” she says. “For you to be honest with me. And yourself” the conversation drifts after that.
5. A big brother’s advice and a decision that may rewrite history.
"For the record, I've never hated you."
That same afternoon he arrives home. Joyce and Hopper are still at work. Jane is on her official first date with Dustin. The only ones home are him and Jonathan.
“Hey, Jon, how was Indy?” He asks.
“The rally was good.” He says rubbing his face trying to wake up from a nap. “There were lots of people there. The pigs tried to repress the rally, the drag queens were ready. I took a lot of pics for Nancy’s story. Steve and Eddie were taken in custody but they were out by nightfall.” He ends.
“They put them in jail?” he asks.
“They certainly tried, one of the drag queens was a lawyer. She was in full drag fighting for their rights. Everyone from the rally was at the precinct making noise and waiting for their release. It was great”. He speaks with passion in his voice. Will has never been prouder. They couldn’t go to the rally this time. Him and Dustin, with the help of Steve and Eddie had fought the administration so they could let them go with the GSA as an excuse.
“I wish I could’ve been there”. He says. “Yeah, me too. But mom would’ve probably had a heart attack. There’s going to be another one next month. Maybe I can take you there”.
“Yeah.” He misses going to rallies with Jonathan.
“But anyway. What’s going on with you these days? Enano.” He asks, making himself a coffee cup.
“Are you going to make one for me too?” Will asks sweetly.
“That voice and puppy eyes does not work without the bowlcut. You’re a grown man, fix one for yourself”. He banters.
“Nah, you make it way better”.
“No I don’t. Quit stalling and tell me what it's actually going on with you.” He smiles while saying it, changing the coffee filter so Will can have a cup as well.
“I’m going to the game this friday”.
“You always go to Lucas’s games.”
“But this time I’m going to be there for Chance as well. He asked me to.” He states, grabbing his own forearm.
“Doesn’t he know you go to every single game? Even when you hate basketball and it’s not even fun with the men in short shorts”. Jonathan jokes, he can already tell where this is going.
“Hey, where did you hear that? I never told you that”. He stalls.
“I was there that time when you and Eddie were making fun of the jocks. I was literally driving the car, enano.”
“Oh, well. I think he wants me there ‘cause he might like me”.
“He might, uh?”
“Yeah, but I’m not a hundred percent sure. What if he’s just being nice.” He holds himself a little tighter now.
“He was being nice by telling you ‘I wish I could take all that pain and guard you from it’, sure”.
“Now, how the fuck would you know that Jonathan?”. Will screams from the top of his lungs. He almost spills his coffee.
“Who do you think was driving Robin back to Hawkins yesterday?” he says, covering his smile and taking a sip from his coffee.
“Oh you know about that?”
“I know a lot of things”, Jonathan says smiling. “Like the way these past months you seem brighter. Carefree even. You just submitted your college application early, like you hadn’t spent months perfecting an already perfect portfolio.” He 's really proud.
Then he keeps going. “Or the way you are hiding whatever it is you're sketching when you’re drawing in front of us, again, like you did when you were fourteen”.
Will doesn’t know what to say. Jonathan is looking at him with a big smile. Against the small kitchen his fingers are still up after counting one by one. “Then what do you suggest? Oh, wise one.” he half jokes. A little bit scared of what might come up from his brother’s mouth.
“Whatever you’re overthinking. Stop thinking about it” he says, confidently. “Just go ahead and do it. Afterall, you are actually the wise one.”
Then, he adds, “I could tell you a million things you can do or say. But you’re old enough, enano. Trust your gut. What’s life for, if not for making mistakes and learning from them.
Next year you’re going to be in New York. Everything is going to change. Maybe a little, maybe drastically. This is the perfect moment to live in the moment, when you get older, you start to overthink even more the things you do. You can know everything at eighteen and nothing at twenty-two. My advice? live a little, keep making mistakes, go big, the worst that could happen is you having an embarrassing story to tell.”
As Jonathan talks, he gets this look on his face. The look of someone who knows better. Who wishes somebody old enough would’ve helped him figure out these things when he was maturing, somebody other than his mother who could help him so much. He starts getting closer to Will, grabbing his shoulders.
“‘Cause that's what life is. That’s what humans are made of. Stories. Passed down generation to generation. With all they carry. Happiness, sadness, prejudice, rage and above all, the will to learn from every single mistake that leads you to leave this world better than you found it.
Will is speechless. He sees his brother and sees the father he never had. Fuck Lonnie Byers. Will does not get his last name from that piece of shit. He gets him from his brother who got up every day when their mom had to go to work and didn’t have time to make lunch. He gets it from the man that built him a fort to protect him from the world until he was old enough to scare the world back. He is ten times the man Lonnie will ever be.
“Thank you”. He says. “I needed that” he adds. Then he hugs his brother. He doesn’t know what he did to deserve him.
“Anytime, enano.”
It's a sweet moment. Until Will decides to break his silence. “Are we going to act like you didn’t quote a Taylor Swift song?” He asks innocently.
“I was going to blame the drag queens, but I feel like they would be offended by that association. How do you know its form a Taylor Swift song, uh?”
“I was going to blame it on Max, but I feel like she would be offended by that association”. They start laughing.
Right now, nothing else matters. And hey, if later he paints with green and yellow a pancart, a big number #22 on the center of it. It’s because maybe, just maybe, it would become a story he can laugh about in the future.
6. Rockin’ Robin and the benefits of being the cool aunty.
And I love the way you flirt with me even when it’s so dumb I want to laugh. Please keep doing it”.
“Sure, I will have that in mind”. He answers, caressing Will’s body.
“Great, cause in order for me to keep you, you have to keep doing that”.
Robin doesn’t really know when she became an aunty, she's an only child. Scratch that, she knows it all too well. It started around the same time she started being friends with Steve Harrington in college.
When they found themselves working their ass off part time at Scoops Ahoy, hats and all. When she started babysitting those rascals with dingus. And, after seeing Will being a little left out, all shy and pretending to be having fun, she made an executive decision.
“Will The Wise, rise up.” Will was a little bit surprised to say the least. But he would lie if he said he wasn’t intrigued.
Robin started exaggerating her movements. And talking about her, that meant a lot. “Don’t worry Baby Byers, they may have been having fun with Steve over there. But you know what?” She asks, smiling at him. Lowering her stance a little to be at his level.
A thirteen years old Will looks at her, smiling shyly. “Why?”. He asks.
“Cause you, big bowlcut with legs, you are going to have a much better deal. You shall have me”. She grabs his shoulder smiling. “We are going to be having so much fun.”
That was the star of a partnership for the ages. Right now, Robin is waiting for him in their favourite spot at Benny’s. Milkshake already half-drinked. When he arrives they start their monthly catch up reunion. They started doing it when she had to stop babysitting ‘cause she accepted the teaching position in Hawkins High.
“So a little bird told me you have a boyfriend, Baby Byers” She starts. “Do you know how humiliating it is to find that out from a bird with ridiculously big hair? I’m deeply hurt.”
“Oh, come one Robin. I forgot to call you. I was busy. I’ve never had a boyfriend before” He says, drinking his milkshake happily.
“Typical, I should’ve known better.” She starts, looking up and moving her head. “All of you gays are the same. The second you start dating monogamously is like a leash is put on your necks. I failed as a lesbian godfairy.”
“You didn’t fail Rob, it’s just, I was actually really busy.” if he’s a little red now, Robin doesn't mention.
“I know Byers, I’m joking. I’m glad everything turned out great in the end.” She has a crooked smile. Taking a bite out of her cake.
“And from what I hear, I’m not the only one with news. A little bird told me, one with long hair and bangs, that you got yourself a girlfriend. Do you know how humiliating it is to find that out from Eddie of all people?” He counter acts with her own words, she thought him well.
“And after all the times I told you Nancy was not being just friendly. All you lesbians are the same, you probably have already moved in with her”.
“Actually, you may have a point”. She says making a face. “What!” His eyes are really big now.
But that’s a story for another time. Because as Jonathan told Will. We are made of stories.
And this one started with two boys. One with a broken arm, and a missing tooth. One with a heart so big, it made him try to leave this world better that when he found it.
And sometimes, that means drawing a little tiger on a casket, to make a boy stop crying. Changing the trajectory of a story wrongly told by people, who don’t understand the impact that a story can have.
Fin.