Archive of Our Own

Chapter Text

Mike looks back at the Byers house.

It's actually empty.

They really moved.

He turns around and drives off with the rest of the party - he isn't particularly sad it's just this emptiness that fills him at the thought of them being gone. It's like a part of him just wanished and will never be restored.

He can't do anything about it , only stare in front of him as he cycles to his house - his mind is filled with so many thoughts - he can't possibly make them go away.

So many unanswered questions - and now - even his bestfriend gone. He can picture him with a new friend group, even a new bestfriend, maybe even a girlfriend.

Mike couldn't bare the insecurity he kept in him .

How could Will leave him? How could he do that to him and not even say anything - only reassure him he won't find another party. But that isn't enough for someone like Mike.

It could never be.

With wind blowing into his face, a slow, burning tear slid down Will's cheek, now getting swept aside - but Jonathan seems to catch it, now confirming his assumptions. He knows Will is crushed by the fact he is leaving his whole life behind - his friends , his favorite places , his dearest memories - and most importantly - Mike.

Jonathan always knew they had this unbreakable quiet bond between them, that nothing could ever break - this invisible thread that kept them together as long as he can remember.

He saw it in Mike's eyes everytime something happened to Will.

He knew they were more than friends but in a way that it only made sense for them.

They were not inlove - more like they needed each other to feel complete.

In Will's head it was the end of everything he ever knew - He was prepared for something even worse than his life in Hawkins. He was prepared to suffer even more than he already had.

But it didn't bother him that much. What botherd him the most is the fact that he left the most important, well as he thought, person in Hawkins.

Mike.

To him - Mike was everyting. Even now, when his relationship with El finally began to stabilize and Mike was over occupied with her, Will still needed Mike as his bestfriend.

He was still that small, terrified, skinny kid he was back when he was first taken and Mike was the only one who really helped him.

Will didn't like being babied - especially these couple months, because he felt he was finally free of the mindflayer, and there was no need to always be alert when it comes to him.

As they drove away, the sun slowly gliding down, the sky turning a pretty shade of orange, painted with carefully spaced pink smears. It looked like some kind of a watercolor painting - something Will would paint.

They made a few stops now and then, just to rest a bit, refuel and buy some food if they needed any.

After a long drive that felt like forever, they made their way to a small apartment in California.

It had 3 bedrooms, a small kitchen inside of a even smaller living room with one couch and a bathroom along with a narrow hallway right as you enter the small space.

If you think about it - it's a normal sized place for four people - but with what they had in Hawkins , this was too little space for them. But they were grateful.

How could they not be.

Even if it hurt so much to let go of everything, they knew it was for a good cause. Will didn't have to fear anymore, El was safe from the government and Joyce and Jonathan were open to a new beginning.

They settled in the apartment at late noon, finally done bringing stuff inside. They were all to tired to start unpacking, so they just ate d dinner and left of to their rooms with Jonathan sleeping on the couch.

Before entering his room, Will was stopped by El in the hallway.

"Do you think we will be happy here?" El's expression was a mixture of worry and doubt.

"Of course we will, and even if it doesn't work out it'll be okay after some time" Will reassured her with a warm smile before entering his room and closing the door behind him.

Even in his own sorrow he tried to make everyone feel noticed and comforted - he listened to others, really listened, quietly observing so that he knows how to calm them when they fall vulnerable.

But he never spoke. It's not that no one wanted to listen - they always wanted to know what bothered Will and what made him the way he was - It's just that, Will never wanted to be a burden.

He never wanted to seem as a problem to others , something tiring that they have to deal with.

He hated being babied because he felt weak - and because he didn't want anyone to fell obligated to solve his problems.

Will was lost in thought.

How will he adapt to this new environment?

Will he be bullied like in Hawkins?

Will he find friends, or will he mourn the party forever?

These thoughts kept appearing up in his head everytime he'd zone out.

The next day, when they all woke up, ate breakfast, got ready - it was time to unpack properly.

So as they did, finally unpacking all of their clothes, trinkets, books, and God knows how many other things.

Will took the last box from the hallway floor.

It was surprisingly easy to lift it up, Will thought while taking it to his room.

He plopped it on this bed, carefully taking the tape off so he doesn't damage the things inside.

It that box were just some Jonathan's old cassettes, Wills old drawings, magnets for their fridge and on the bottom was that cassette tape Jonathan gave Will.

The one that had the song "Should I Stay or Should I Go". Will held it like his most prized possession - because in reality, it really was something very important to him.

He stored all of those away, and went to the kitchen to see what Joyce was up to.

She recently got a new telemarketing job, so he was wondering when she will start.

Chapter Text

"So, when do you start work?" He said, his gaze not quite meeting hers.

"Oh, well just as you start school next week" she replied, her expression warm and comforting.

"I hope you'll meet some interesting people here, especially because it's a big school you know" Joyce said taking Will's hand into hers.

"I hope so" Will said, his smile barely noticeable, but he thought it was enough for Joyce to get the idea that he really is hopefull.

"It'll be okay" she says, now looking behind Will to see El enter the small kitchen.

"Hi sweetie, oh I was just wondering where you are. Do you like your new room?

Joyce was gentle, like she always was, with this sweet look in her eyes that always seemed to be inviting.

"It's nice. I like it." El was quiet for a while, then she started talking again.

"I hope I make new girl friends here! I already miss Max." Joyce smiled, gesturing for El to sit with them.

They talked about some things that happened over the summer, how they had fun before the whole mindflayer thing, but Will didn't seem to share a mutual feeling about it. He infact, did not have much fun because of how poorly Mike and the rest of the party treated him. Most of the time he spent alone while they were out with their girlfriends. But he didn't mind that much. Sure, it did always bother him how they stopped paying attention anytime they were together without the girls, but he wasn't that bothered. Or was he? He didn't want to think about it because it reminded him of that fight with Mike. The rain fight.

It was getting dark outside, Joyce was making dinner, Will was laying on the carpet next to El , teaching her how to draw flowers and Jonathan just got home from work.
It was peaceful. The quiet was filled with the sounds of stirring, paper rustling and some kind of clicking that Jonathan's Walkman made while he was fixing it.

When it was time for dinner, they all sat down next to each other and ate in comfortable silence.

After dinner, Jonathan helped Joyce with dishes and Will and El got ready for bed.

They were both in Will's room. Will was arranging some books on his shelf while El was looking at the wall above his bed. All kinds of posters and so many Will's paintings, all so colorful and bright. El liked Wills room back in Hawkins because, rather than Mike's bland and grey room, Will had his own little colorfull world where he stayed. She liked it that Will was creative.

"I like your room." she said, eyes still on the drawings infront of her.

"Can you teach me how to make my room be like yours?"

Will stopped fumbling his books, turned around and just smiled for a moment.

"Of course, whenever you'd like" His smile reached his eyes.

He always thought having a sister would be nice.

The next couple of days passed in getting settled, buying new kitchen utensils and basically just waiting for school and work to start.

Even though Will was really scared he'd get bullied right away, he hoped maybe, just maybe, he would find a friend there. After all, Joyce did say that it was a big school.

Monday rolled around and it was finally time to go to school. El put on a beautiful purple sweater that Max gifted her before she left for California, and she asked Joyce to put her hair into two low ponytails.
Will as always, just put on a light t-shirt and jeans. Joyce hugged them both goodbye and wished them a great day as always, and Jonathan drove them to school on his way to work.

Will and El had similar schedules but their first class was different. Will walked El to her first class and before entering the classroom El turned around and hugged him. It was a quick hug for emotional support because this was her first time going go school. She went inside and Will found his way to his first class too.

The hallways of the school were pretty wide, there were lockers on both sides of the walls and it was eerily quiet. The front entrance was the only source of light, but it was really wide, and a lot of light came through the glass. In the morning, gentle sunrays grazed the air, and as Will was walking to his class, he could only admire this serene view.

Somehow, he found his way to the classroom where his first period began.

When he entered, the teacher introduced him to the entire class.

"Everyone, this is our new student William Byers! He is a new in our school, he moved here from Indiana, so make sure you make him feel welcomed! Please William, take a seat wherever you'd like."

The classroom was half empty, Will sat somewhere in the middle.

His first class English, so it was interesting enough. He was surprised that no one gave him dirty looks when he first entered the classroom.

After the period ended, Will went to El and they both got to their next class. Science.
Again they were introduced to the whole class and welcomed by the students.
They sat next to each other so Will could help El because she had no idea what was going on in that class.

A couple more classes passed and it was finally time for lunchbreak. Again, Will and El sat together and talked the entire time.

El wondered why no one has came up to them jet. She thought she would make friends easily because in Hawkins it was easy.

She had Max, Lucas, Dustin, Mike, Nancy, Jonathan, Steve and even Erica. But now, she was alone with only Will. She did not mind at all though.

She thought Will was nice.

Their next period was different so again Will walked El to her classroom. This time, he was late to his own class.

He started running because what other thing could he do other than try to make it in time.

It was art class he was late to and he was not happy to make a bad first impression.

Right as he was about to enter the classroom he suddenly bumped into someone.

He wasn't hurt or anything he was just startled for some reason.

When he opened his eyes to see what happened, he was surprised to see a boy standing right infront of him.

He was quite literally just staring at Will.

"Uhm, sorry..." Will said looking wide-eyed at the boy infront of him. He didn't know what to do because this situation was very weird.

The boy was tall, taller than Will maybe two to three inches, he was skinny and his arms kind of just hung uselessly at his sides. His hair was messy, with dark, delicate curls caressing his face. He was pale, with faint freckles all around his nose and pinkish cheeks. He had deep brown eyes and the most noticeable thing were his absurdly large glasses with a thick dark frame.

If Will looked at him just for a moment longer he would've been bewildered how much this boy reminded him of someone.

Someone too familiar. Too close.

"Oh it's okay don't worry! It wouldn't be the first time someone tried to bodyslam me in these halls" The boy said with a small laugh.

"We have the same class together, correct?"He said pointing at the door of the classroom.

Will let out a gentle laugh too.

" Yeah I guess." there was visible shyness in Will's voice. He didn't think the boy would me so nice about Will literally crashing into him.

" Ladies first!" The boy said opening the door and waving his hand towards the classroom. His tone was not mocking, it was more playfull? Will was used to being made fun of for being the way he was. Awkward.

That didn't matter now because no one knew him here.

When he realized he was still standing there, he quickly went inside, the boy entering after him and closing the door behind them. The teacher was in the middle of the lecture when she saw them come in.

" Oh Richie, I see you helped our new student!"

She said looking at Will with a warm smile. She turned to face the rest of the kids in the classroom and introduced Will to them while Richie was still standing next to him.

" Now dear, just take a seat wherever you'd like."
Richie nugged him and Will quickly turned to face him.

"Wanna sit next to me?" His face was full of enthusiasm, but seeing Will's confusion, he just backed down so he doesn't seem weird.

"I mean it's okay if you don't want to."

"No no it's okay, where do you sit?" Will was genuinely surprised this kid wanted to be friends with him.

It was art class so Will did feel a little more comfortable there. The boy sitting next to him asked A LOT of questions.

"When did you move here?" "Why here?" "Did you come alone orrrr...?" "Do you have any siblings?" The questions just kept coming. Will for some reason wasn't uncomfortable with this boy asking every imaginable thing.

"Do you like art class or are you here just because it's easy?" This question finally shook Will out of his daze.

" Yes, uhm yea, I really like painting."

" Oh so you do talk! " the boy's smile instantly shot up.

" I'm Richie, Richie Tozier, I mean you probably heard that when we entered." He let out a small embarrassed laugh which made Will smile.

" I'm Will, well, you also already knew that too. " Will was quiet but he was happy to have company when El wasn't around.

" So, are you always this shy or is it just with people you crash into?" Richie wouldn't stop talking even if you glued his mouth shut.

" Oh I'm so sorry about that, I had to walk my sister to class. It's our first day as you can notice."

"Well you should be thankful you bumped into me and not someone else because people here are not nice." Richie said while looking at the board.

"Well I hope not all of them are like that."

"Well not all ot them, but majority are total assholes if you ask me." He was rocking back and fourth in his chair.

" You are nice " Will said quietly, but Richie heard him.

The period passed with Richie asking some stupid questions and Will, of course, answering, Richie making some even more stupid jokes and Will for some reason laughing at every single one of them.

" Well it was nice meeting you Will! " Richie exclaimed when the bell rang. " I hope we have more classes together because you are just a perfect person to rant to." Richie was opet about what he said. He wasn't afraid to say it, it was like he didn't even thing about what he said before he said it.

" Uhm, yeah me too " Will said getting up from his seat.

" I hope I wasn't to breath taking because that is like one of my many powers." Richie said teasingly.

At that Will just laughed and left behind him.

When he met up with El, they when outside to wait for Joyce to pick them up.

While waiting for her to come, Richie came behind them and stood there for a solid five minutes.

" So did no one notice I came up to you or are you just naturally unresponsive to this much charisma? " Will instantly turned around to see Richie standing there with his arms crossed, looking annoyed in a attempt to make him laugh.

Of course it worked and Will started laughing.

" How long have you been standing here? "

"For about five minutes now, and belive me, if I had this much time last night with your mom- RICHIE! " Will screamed at him and started laughing hysterically. At that, El twitched.

" Will, who is this? " El turned around to see a boy, taller than Will maybe two inches, making some strange movements and Will uncontrollably laughing.

"Jane, this is Richie, we have art class together. " Will said now laughing a little less so it doesn't give El the idea that he is being mean.

"Hi, I'm Richie!" Richie shot his arm out to which El just looked at him with this worried expression, before looking at Will for any kind of explanation why he's this friendly.

Richie spilled out a couple of jokes before turning to El as quickly as he could.

" Your brother is very cute " He quietly said to El, trying to sound like he was joking, while Will was still laughing, trying to breath properly.

El just furrowed her eyebrows in confusion, because why would Richie be saying that to her and not to Will?

She just gave Richie a confused look but before she could say anything, he turned to Will to tell him some idiotic joke.

It wasn't long before Joyce came and picked them up.

Before entering Will looked at Richie and gave him a subtle smile.

" Bye Richie, see you tomorrow "

" Yeah, see you tomorrow Byers" He said, his smile not so subtle.

When both Will and El got in the car, Joyce started asking about their day.

" It was nice! Me and Will have a lot of classes together " El sounded really happy about her first day.

" It was good. I had fun in art class today. " Will said with enough enthusiasm in his voice for Joyce not to worry.

" That's awesome! I'm so glad you two are fitting in.

" Will has a new friend! He is kinda funny. " El said, not sure I she should mention his comment about Will.

" Oh is that so? " Joyce said with a little relief in her voice

" Yeah, his name is Richie " El continued " Him and Will have art class together. "

" He helped me get to the classroom because I got lost... It's really not a big deal. "

" Oh Will honey it is, you just made a friend!"

" Mom, I don't think he thinks we're friends, we just have a couple of classes together. "

" Okay, whatever you say sweetie." She left it at that but both Will and El could notice the smile she had on while she said it.

The drive home was silent. There was not much to say other that what was already said.

When they came home, Will immediately went to his room and closed the door behind him.

After maybe two minutes El knocked on the door softly.

" Come in " Will's voice was neutral, not exactly annoyed - rather exhausted.

" Thank you for walking me to my classes. "
Oh no problem, I wouldn't let you wander around and get lost " Will was sitting at his desk, flipping through some old notebook

" I like your new friend. " El's voice was barely above a whisper.

" I think he likes you too " Will was gentle with El even though he wasn't in the mood for any kind of conversation about his personal life.

" Will.. " El was getting even more quiet

" Yes El?"

" Are you mad at me? " El's voice had this tremor in in that made Will instantly turn around.

" Oh no El, of course not " He said, gently resting next to her on the floor.

" Why would you think that? " Will looked her, her eyes glassy and almost filled with tears.

" I don't know, maybe I made you mad somehow. " She was so quiet Will could barely hear her.

" Oh it's okay don't worry, you didn't do anything " Will said with this warmth in his voice that little by little calmed El down.

" So you're not mad at me? "

" No."

" Can we draw something? "

" Yes. "

As much as Will wanted to be alone, he also wanted to reassure his sister that everything's okay.

Dinner came, they ate together as always, and before leaving to their rooms, they all watched television for some time.

" It's getting late, you two should get to bed"

" Okay! " El said, probably happy to go to sleep so she could go to school tomorrow.

" Goodnight mom, goodnight Jonathan." Will said before heading into his room.

Chapter Text

The morning came faster than Will expected it to. He didn't get any sleep last night for some unnamed reason.

"Morning." Will said as he came into the kitchen, his head pounding from the lack of sleep.

"Good morning sweetheart!" Joyce was already busy with her job.

"Where is El?" He was ruffling his already very messy hair.

"Oh she's in her room getting ready."

"Okay."

Will went to the bathroom to take a shower, hoping his terrible headache goes away. Long story short - it didn't help at all.

He went to his room to get dressed and get his backpack ready for school.

His schedule for today had the least classes with El, which meant he would be late for every period. He just shrugged and hoped he would be fast enough.

This particular morning Jonathan had to be at work early so there was no other way he could drive Will and El other than to drive them right now.

El wouldn't mind being at school maybe half-hour early, but Will certainly would.

As they got into the car, El already asking Will how he'll manage to walk her to all her classes and not be late to his own, Will could only think about being alone in all his classes, not a single familiar face in sight, just empty company.

The car ride was quiet. The kind of quiet that is very much needed at 6 AM in the morning.

The silent hum of an unfamiliar song on the radio was the only thing keeping it comfortably quiet though. Without it, there was just something heavy between all of them.

A thought of being alone all day and someone else's thought of working until dawn filled the air.

When they finally stopped infront of the school, getting ready to leave, Will heard El let out a deep, heavy breath.

He instantly caught up and noticed her worried expression. Will didn't think much of it, other than it was weird for her to be so unenthusiastic after her first day story.

As they were walking to the front entrance, the soft sunlight brushing against Will's face, El spotted something.

Someone.

And that someone was now walking right to them. She turned around, and to her surprise, it was no other than Richie.

She instantly remembered what he quietly said to her yesterday. He was now right next to her smiling at her.

"Where's Will?" He said, his smile barely noticeable but still there.

"He's here." Her expression all of a sudden very serious.

Will was a couple of steps ahead of El, dragging his shoes across the concrete, when he turned around to see why El was not following.

He was flabbergasted to see Richie standing next to her, trying to make her laugh but failing miserably. It didn't take Richie a second to notice Will has turned around.

"Shit he's so pretty" Richie though to himself seeing Will's face lit up by the gentle sunlight.

For a brief moment he tried to delete this whole line from his mind, but he knew there was no way for that to happen.

"Why are you here so early?" Richie said teasingly.

"Same goes for you" Will couldn't be mean because he just met this boy and didn't know him well enough to show any kind of attitude.

But he was to bother with his headache to fully care.

"Well... I just like walking around in the morning, that's all.. ANYWAYS, what are you guys up to this early?" He seemed to avoid the real answer to Will's question.

"Our brother needed to be at work early so we had to come along." Will wasn't particularly annoyed but if you really wanted to, you could hear something in his voice that told you to stop asking.

Will's head hurt so much that he couldn't see straight. It got to the point where he just laid on the table and wished to fall asleep right then and there.

But even falling asleep was hard when your head is feeling like it might blow up.

"Are you okay Byers?" A familiar voice broke Will's agony

"What, when did you get here Richie!?" Will probably just didn't notice him when he entered.

"I think our schedule for today is basically the same" Richie was trying to start even a boring conversation just so he could maybe tell some stupid jokes to Will and see him laugh.

"Yeah that's nice." Will was so out of it.

"Yeah.." At this moment Richie felt like he was already overdoing whatever he tried.

"So uhm, do you have to walk Jane to class or" Richie tried again, this time trying to ask something Will would answer.

"Yeah, but I don't know how I'll manage to make it in time for my own classes." He said through a forced laugh that even he himself could hear was forced.

"Well I do not know how to help you there, but I know for sure I'll get your mom to be mine by tomor-" He couldn't finish his sentence seeing Will's face expression genuinely confused and because he himself heard how out of nowhere it sounded.

Richie usually made jokes on the spot, he was funny without trying and he always said whatever he could think of. But right now something stopped him form thinking. When it came to Will, his mind just lost track, like it froze at the thought of him. Richie couldn't figure what kept him from being like always. With everyone else he was unbothered, but when it was this new friend of his, he was different.

"Actually I'll keep that thought to myself"He said, scratching the side lf his head, his dark curls tangling even more.

Even if Will was so out of everything at that moment, he still found the energy to laugh at Richie's attempt to make a joke. He was usually very good at those.

"Look Richie, I really like your company and everything but my head is feeling like a ticking time bomb so I may not be as present as usual." Will tried to be discreet because he couldn't bare leaving someone feel left out.

He was still smiling and was actually happy to have company even in this situation.

"Oh well I have some painkillers on me, if you'd want one." Richie was more that happy to help Will, especially if it meant he could finally have his talking buddy again.

But suddenly, something popped up, whispering in the back of his mind:

"Get out of here f*****!"

That sentence never left his thoughts. Never.

In every situation, his mind replayed that moment. It was like it was reminding him that being vulnerable again like that will bring even worse consequences. He wasn't afraid. It was more concern, like everything will eventually lead back to that moment.

"Oh, well thanks.." Will took one and swallowed it down with some water. Of course it needed a bit to start working, so Will was practically still dying from his horrible headache.

Still, this crippling fear inside Richie ate him from the inside out. He tried to outgrow it, tried to make it clear to himself that he is not in Derry anymore, that there is no one here that knows who he was. How he was.

After some time the painkiller finally started to work and Will was a bit relieved.

"Feeling better Byers?"

"A lot" Will looked up to see Richie's gaze stuck on him. He had this look in his eyes that seemed so warm. So delicate. But it vanished as fast as Will noticed it.

Richie knew he couldn't let himself slip like this. He didn't know Will enough to assume anything about him. But there was just something about Will. Something so gentle and fragile that reminded Richie that there were better things to what he had known.

And he knew better than anything that he could not let himself hope. He hoped once, and it destroyed him. Now, his walls needed to stay high and strong. But for some reason, they were falling apart at the sight of Will Byers.

Class passed, Will got up, and as fast as he could ran to El's classroom. He knew at some point she would walk by herself, but it was to soon for that, so he just accepted the fact that this is what he had to do for now.

Of course he was late to his class. When he entered, his eyes searching for that one familiar face. There, at the back of the classroom, was just that.

Richie sat with his head down, sketching something. He didn't notice Will at first, but when he did his face instantly lit up.

Will sat next to him as always, his headache now barely noticeable.

"So I know you're late because you walk your sister to class, but you're making it real hard to belive if you come in here with your lips red and swollen like that." Will was still breathing heavy from running.

"WHAT?" Will was genuinely overwhelmed with this statement. But his lips were actually very red for unknown reasons.

"I'm serious, you're even breathing heavy and you look like you just fucked someone's mom in the janitors closet." Richie wasn't completely honest, but you could say that Will looked raveled.

"RICHIE STOP IT!" Will was embarrassed to hear such things about himself but he couldn't help but laugh. He was trying to mask his laugh with a serious face but it just kept reappearing.

"You are unbelievable impulsive and immature you know that?" Will said in a joking manner. But he would rather say Richie was so unintentionally cute and interesting.

But he couldn't.

It was forbidden form the start.

Will felt like he was betraying Mike. Like he was letting something new come into his life and change his perception of friendship. Of course Will couldn't know that.

But he hoped.

And he knew Mike would be jealous if he saw him with new friends that weren't him. It happened once, when Will was friends with this one boy that lived close to him.

Mike was so jealous that he purposely called Will to sleepover every day, just so Will wasn't accompanied by his new friend.

Mike wasn't mean to anyone because of that, it was just noticeable in his behavior towards Will. He wasn't possessive, he was just scared Will would replace him, or even worse, forget him.

But Will deserved someone that really let him be himself.

He just didn't know when that someone would come. Or if they would ever come.

Chapter Text

Friday finally came, and with the school day passing surprisingly fast, Will found himself and El infront of the school again, waiting for Joyce.

The slow warm wind brushed through Will's wavy hair. It was 3 PM in the afternoon and he was so ready to just go home and sleep the whole day.

It was cloudy and the whole sky was a mix of some gray tones and yellow strokes, the yellow seeping through the places where the clouds where thinner. It was peaceful.

Well, not so peaceful anymore.

Will noticed a tender presence. It was Richie. He stopped next to him, arms close enough to touch.

But they didn't.

As if both of them barely kept them from brushing against each other.

"So you're waiting for your mom?" Richie wanted to start some kind of conversation seeing that Will was not moving at all.

"Yeah." He said, now turning around to see Richie better.

"I can't wait to get home." Richie glanced down, and seeing Will's tired expression, stopped himself from asking what he primarily came to ask.

"Hope you rest well when you get home."

He just lend Will a soft smile before turning away and standing there, waiting for them to leave. But there was something in him yelling at him not to stay quiet.

As much as he was afraid of rejection from the new formed friend, he desperately wanted to ask him to hang out.

Joyce came, Wil and El started getting inside the car, when Richie gently tugged on Will's wrist.

"Uhm, would you maybe want to hang out this weekend?" His hand trembling on Will's wrist, the other one tugging his backpack.

He wasn't blushing, but his nose was this sheer light red.

Will turned around, and seeing Richie like that made him instantly melt.

He stopped for a moment to process what he just said, trying to find just a pinch of doubt in his words. But he couldn't. It was honest. Like, he REALLY wanted this.

"Yeah, I- I'd love to!" He said through a stutter, his voice quiet and careful.

Richie's eyes widened. For a moment there was this wave of genuine excitement flashing across his face.

The longer Will looked at him for any kind of answer, he noticed how beautifully Richie's curls fell over his forehead. How his freckles gleamed across his face and how soft his eyes got when he was looking at him.

Still, Will knew he let himself go to deep into his thoughts. His old wounds still stung, and he couldn't let new ones form.

Not yet.

"Okay so tomorrow?" Richie broke the silence between them. Joyce and El were still waiting in the car. Richie was still holding onto Will's wrist.

Neither of them noticed it.

"That sounds good." Will said, hiding the mutual excitement.

"Cool , so 6 PM tomorrow, is that okay?" Richie was still careful with his words and picks.

"Okay!"

"Cool."

"Cool."

Will looked up at Richie one last time before going into the car.

"Bye Richie." His voice was steady but mellow.

"Bye Byers!" Richie waved as the car drove away.

To many this interaction may seeminnocent, but to the two of them it meant something more.

As much as both of them wanted to deny it and push it down, pray that it didn't change anything, they knew it meant something new was blooming between them.

Something nice.

Richie, as always, walked home.

His heart was still racing from Will's touch. How he didn't mind Richie's cold fingers around his wrist, how he didn't instantly pull his hand away.

Richie thought he blew his cover. Like completely. But he was sure that Will didn't mind.

For some reason he felt like that only with Will. Like he didn't always need to make jokes to be seen.

Like he didn't have to pretend to be enthusiastic all the time, like he could just be himself with him and he wouldn't mind.

That reminded him of someone.

But that someone didn't seem to like the real Riche Tozier. That someone didn't like the fake Richie either. They didn't even seem to like Richie at all.

All this thinking finally led him to a conclusion.

He couldn't show any kind of vulnerability. He knows he'll need to let his guard down at some point. But it was not now.

Not right now.

When he got home, his mom was already back from work. She greeted him and, of course, hugged her son.

She could feel that Richie was deep in thought by how stiff he was. Hugging him felt like hugging someone who's trying to get away from you as soon as possible. Maybe he was.

"How was school sweetie?" She asked distancing herself enough to see his face, still holding him in a tight hug.

"It was boring I guess." Richie tried to sound nonchalan, but just the thought of seeing Will made his voice sound not so nonchalant. His voice sounded rather playfull than anything.

"Is that so?" Maggie said, now full on smiling at her son.

"What's funny mom?" He couldn't figure out this all-of-a-sudden grin she had on her face.

"Oh nothing, you just sound like you are really happy, that's so sweet." She said looking him in the eyes, still grinning.

"Well, maybe I am. But who knows!!!" Richie said, lifting his eyebrows and escaping his mother's tight hug.

"You've got lasagna in the oven sweetie!" She shouted after Richie while he was waking up the stairs. He just waved his arm as an reply.

When he was finally in his room, he threw himself on the bed, sliding his palms across his pale face. He let out a quiet groan.

"Why can't I stop thinking about him? Yea he's pretty, but why is he always on my mind. That's totally not normal."

He could only whine so much, when his mom called him down to eat.

He sat at the kitchen table, picking at the food on his plate.

"So, do you have any plans for tomorrow?" Marge asked casually, not looking at him, not thinking much of it.

What came next left her confused for the rest of the day.

"Oh, uhm, I guess, but I uhm I don't really know yet, but I guess I do, but uhm it's nothing special and uhm-" He couldn't even finish this ridiculous stutter session, when Maggie's gaze slowly came up to his.

"It's okay sweetie, I was just asking." She said calmly, her voice soft with surprise to hear her own son this flustered. She only asked a simple question, didn't she?

"Yeah, uhm I'm sorry." Richie said, trying to laugh it off. In reality, he was mortified by his action. Why did he react that way? Did the thought of Will have that much of an effect on him?

For Will, it wasn't any easier.

On the way home, as Joyce and El saw what happened, they quite literally crushed Will with questions.

"What did he say?"

"Did he invite you to hang out?"

"Are you guys becoming friends?"

Will was overcome with anxiety. His first instinct was to play it off and say he just asked to borrow homework on Monday, which both Joyce and El knew was complete bullshit, because they saw how red Will's whole face was when he got in the car. They didn't push it through, they knew he would eventually come to them.

And exactly that happened.

While Joyce was washing dishes, Will quietly came to her.

"So uhm, mom?" He said, his voice barely above a whisper.

"Yeah honey?"Still washing the dishes, she had a smig smile on her face, already knowing why he came.

"About earlier, Richie kinda asked me to hang out tomorrow. Is it okay if I go?" Will was looking at the ground, wondering if Joyce would even let him out of the apartment since they just moved.

But she was so prepared for this question. She was happy that Will was makingfriends. As much she was scared that something will happen to him, she knew he wasn't a twelve-year-old anymore.

"Oh of course, what time?" she said turning around to see her son visibly embarrassed to even ask.

"Uhm, 6 PM if that's okay." He said quietly, still not sure if she'll let him go out.

"Yeah, that's fine. Be home by eleven." She said calmly, turning of the water andwalking away, leaving Will to wonder what just happened.

She just let him? Like that? What was for sure very very weird for Joyce.

"I did it! I did it!" She whispered to herself, her face showing signs of genuine relief. She overcame her fear of something bad happening to her son. Don't get her wrong, it was still there, only now it was somehow weaker than ever.

Will just stood in the middle of the small kitchen, still replaying the moment.

"It was that easy?" He thought to himself. Will was so deep in his mind he didn't even realize he was standing there for a good ten minutes just analyzing Joyce's words.

Will got his stuff and went to the bathroom to shower. He was, for the first time in a long time, happy to go to sleep and wake up the next morning. He couldn't wait to hang out with Richie, even though he kept trying to deny his pure excitement, he couldn't stop thinking about him.

He tried to convince himself that he didn't see Richie as anything more than a friend, that they're just getting to know each other better.

That's what friends do, right?

Will lay in his bed, looking up at the ceiling. He was a the verge of falling asleep but an image of Richie Tozier just kept reappearing everytime he even slightly closed his eyes.

Why was he feeling like this?

If Richie found out anything about this he would surely be weirded out by Will. How could that be normal?

As much as Will wanted for it to be just a temporary thing, he knew that it's something he could put a time limit on. He could only wish these feelings were validated somehow.

Like maybe he was just too happy he found a friend or he was excited to hang out.

But it wasn't that.

Of course it wasn't.

It was something deeper, more fragile and heavy.

Will was quick to fall asleep after finally getting Richie out of his mind (for now).

His window casting a midnight blue shadow across the cold bedroom floor.

It was quiet, all the lights out, everything just kinda stopped.

Quiet.

Chapter Text

Will woke up about 10:30 AM. He woke up suddenly, jerking up from his pillow, the soft light from his window painting his face.

He stood up stumbling across his room like he was drunk.

In reality, Will didn't get this much sleep in months. He always woke up in the middle of the night and stayed awake until his eyes started stinging.

He didn't remember it but he dreamed of Richie and him. Even if he did remember it, he wouldn't admit it to himself. He cannot let himself think of Richie any other way than just a friend. He can't let himself belive and hope that someday maybe they can be more than that.

The day went on slower than Will hoped. It was sunny outside, which was a comfortable surprise since is the middle of September and it was always raining.

Richie, on the other hand, woke up at 8 AM. He couldn't sleep that night.

He was so excited to finally hang out with Will. When he first saw him that day, when Will bumped into him, he knew he wanted to be friends with him.

He looked so interesting. From that day, Richie couldn't stop thinking about him. At first it was just normal stuff like what classes they have together or Will's interests or just personal things about him.

Though as the time passed, Richie found himself daydreaming of him and Will as bestfriends, sometimes even more.

But everytime he did, the faint pain in his chest reappeared.

The memory of his once favorite person, leaving him when he was most honest. When he was vulnerable.

Richie was scared it would happen again.

Even though they didn't agree on a place to stay, Richie still cleaned up his room. Maybe Will would be comfortable with hanging around there?

Richie couldn't know that, but he still made sure everything looked nice.

When he came down for breakfast, already all dressed up, Maggie was making pancakes.

She looked up to see her son, that usually wakes up at twelve in the morning and has an terrible attitude if woken up any earlier, sit down at the table.

In her head, he pulled an all-nighter and that's why he was awake at this time.

"Good morning mom!" He said looking up at Maggie's confused look. She was still processing why he was this overjoyed to be up at nine in the morning.

"Good morning sweetheart! Did you sleep well?" She answered, her voice full of skepticism. She looked at him trying to find an explanation for this kind of behavior. It wasn't bad of course, but for someone like Richie, it sure was weird.

"Yeah, I did actually." He said calmly, taking a bite of the pancake Maggie plated for him. He was now looking out the window, his head turned left, as he was zoning out and talking about something that happened in school yesterday.

"So where do you plan taking your friend today?" Maggie finally figured that Richie's questionable behavior came from the fact that he was supposed to hang out with a new friend this afternoon.

She had a slightly smug look on her face seeing Richie slowly turn to her, his face slowly going pale.

"Oh well, uhm, I guess we could, uhm stay here, if that's okay.", he started stuttering again. His cheeks were starting to burn, he could feel his whole face burning up and he could sense Maggie was finally piecing the puzzle together.

"Oh of course sweetie, whatever you'd like!" She turned around to flip the pancake leaving Richie frozen in place.

She was now smiling to herself, feeling as she just discovered a new planet. Richie was still not moving, rethinking everything he has just done.

Why was he this nervous when it came to Will?

Sure he was excited and everything, but this was not coming from excitement. He couldn't really figure it out, but he had a slight suspicion what could be causing all this weird behavior coming from him.

They sat there for some time, Richie talking about some nonsense and Maggie washing the dishes. It was nice.

Will, El, Joyce and Jonathan were all sitting at the kitchen table, quietly eating lunch. Joyce made spaghetti, so everyone was enjoying it.

After lunch, Will and El went to Will's room. As always, El sat on the edge of Will's bed, looking up at the wall.

Will was sitting at his desk, sketching something over and over again. He kept messing up, ripping the page, and starting over.

He did that four times already and El was curious what could be that infuriating to Will that he had to discard it from his sketchbook. She got up and walked to Will, carefully looking over his shoulder.

He was still so focused on the drawing that he didn't even notice how close she was.

El didn't see anything wrong with the drawing. It was a nice sketch of... Mike with obnoxiously big glasses?

El's eyebrows shot up with confusion. When did Mike get glasses?

She still thought that the drawing was amazing.

It was like Will remember every little detail of Mike's face. How his freckles were scattered across his nose bridge and cheeks, how his cheekbones and jaw were sharp but still somehow soft, how his dark curly hair- wait curly? Mike didn't have curly hair?

Mike had straight hair, with an unconventional wave now and then, but oher than that, his hair was just straight.

Was Will actually drawing Mike or was El just seeing things.

Will slipped out focus, and upon hearing El's breathing against his neck, froze. He slowly turned around to see El's confused expression.

"Why does your drawing of Mike look different from real Mike? He doesn't have curly hair, and I know for sure he doesn't need those big glasses."

She said closing her eyes and talking with her hands. Will didn't know what to say, what to answer, because the person he was drawing wasn't Mike. But he could see the resemblance.

"El, it's not what you think okay? It's not Mike. " Will said, looking at his lap, now fully pink in the face. He was expecting El to finally piece the puzzle and find out Will was drawing someone else.

"The who is that boy that looks just like him?", she said quietly, like she knew Will was about to tell her a secret she must keep protected. She came closer to him, Will still looking like a sad puppy, and sat down on the desk.

"It's Richie." Will said, barely above a whisper, but enough for El to shoot an excited look at Will.

"You like Richie?" She said, now full on grinning at Will. He looked up to see El giggling to herself, confused why she didn't say anything else.

"No, what?!" Will argued, his eyebrows furrowing. He was indeed, starting to like Richie Tozier.

But it had to stay a secret.

Not even El could know.

(For now.)

"Aww, why not?" El stared at Will, tilting her head slowly, trying to figure out why Will was denying his feelings when even she could see that he did like Richie.

"Because, why would I like him?" Will turned back to his sketchbook, drawing a couple of lines then stopping and closing it. He was visibly confused with El's realization, like how did she see right through him?

He got up and sat on his bed.

"I don't like like him, it's more of and subtle crush." He spilled out under no pressure.

"I mean I know it's weird and it's not right but-"

"Why would it be weird?" El's expression changed from calm to irritated in a split second. She furrowed her eyebrows, her eyes squinting, trying to find and explanation for Will's sudden statement.

"Because I'm a boy and he is also one." Will said quietly, as if he might break El's expectations.

"So? Mike is also a boy and I like him.", she said not understanding why Will was so insecure about this specific subject.

"But you're a girl El."

"And? That doesn't mean you can't like a boy Will. Who cares?"

El was, infact, not understanding what they lived in the nineteen-eighties, where being gay was called disgusting and weird.

"It's not that easy El." Will was still sitting on his bed, arms folded in his lap, his head down. He could feel his eyes filling up with tears as he talked about his forbidden crush.

He knew it was impossible for him to be normal. He tried once, he really did. But it wasn't destined for him to be normal.

From the first moment he remembers, he was always the odd one out.

El noticed and quickly passed to Will.

"Oh Will don't be sad, I'm sure Richie likes you back!" She sat next to him hugging him from the side, trying to comfort him.

Will couldn't be mad at her for something she couldn't understand. He just let his head fall on her shoulder and started sobbing quietly.

He was so scared that if Richie found out, their quiet new found friendship would crack before even reaching the comfortable phase.

He could risk it that much this early.

Richie on the other hand, still scared from his past mistakes, was not so scared now. Even if the guilt was crawling all over him, he needed to let himself be happy.

Even if it's temporary.

Even if it means he'll get hurt all over again.

Even if it isn't real.

Richie was laying on his back, looking at the ceiling, when he found himself smiling at the thought of this cute boy. Of course, it was Will Byers.

The chokehold that Will had Richie on was unnameable.

He didn't try to deny it to himself. He knew what he was feeling was true, that he had a crush on Will and he also knew that it surely wasn't mutual.

A loud scream broke through his fantasies.

"Richie, start getting ready, it's 5:30!" Maggie shouted before leaving to her friend's birthday party.

There was slight possibility Richie chose Saturday because Maggie wasn't going to be home.

"Shit, how the fuck do I get ready in half and hour!?" For he first time, Richie was worried how he will look.

Most of the times he just put on his normal plain white t-shirt and threw some kind of flannel over it.

But today, for reasons he won't name, it was different. It was really important to him that he looks nice.

He thought, more of hoped, that if Will saw him looking presentable he would miraculously catch feelings for him.

Will was also getting ready. But he couldn't do it himself because, as he thought, he would look a mess. So instead, El guided him through his getting ready journey.

She helped him pick which colors suited his eyes best and how he should style his ridiculous bowl cut.

In the end, they landed on this deep red band t-shirt (The Cure ofc) which he paired with basic blue baggy jeans.

El looked at her work and was so proud of herself for making Will happy with how she styled him.

Will was still a little unsure if it all looked decent on him.

It was just a normal t-shirt and jeans right?

It was 5:30 when Will left. Richie gave him his address the day before over the phone when they discussed the hang out a little more.

He was so nervous to be alone with him.

What if Richie thinks it's weird and sends him back home?

What if they sit awkward silence for 5 hours and do nothing?

What if Will says something embarrassing and makes Richie cringe so bad he doesn't want to be friends anymore?

He was so lost.

Richie was pacing up and down the stairs.
He had 15 minutes to get ready or else Will would see him all disheveled and red.

For his outfit, for the first time, he picked an nice blue sweater. It was navy blue with a hood.

He thought it looked nice.

But his opinion didn't really matter. To him, only the way Will looks at him when he opens the door matters.

How his eyes will show what he truly thinks of Richie.

He put on some perfume Maggie bought for him two years ago that he never ever wears. Like never.

Will kept his hands in his pockets, looking infront of himself, trying not to get lost.

The walk to his destination surprisingly wasn't long.

He could get used to this.

Looking around, he found himself infront of Richie's door.

Realization hit him like a brick falling from the sky.

He was too nervous.

Like too nervous to meet Richie now.

He couldn't bring himself to knock. He just stood there hoping something will interfere with him meeting Richie.

He didn't even notice it was now 6 PM and Richie is probably waiting for him inside.

Then, Richie opened the door.

Chapter Text

"Oh, hi" Richie said surprised, embarrassment slowly painting his face.

He looked down at Will, who was blushing like crazy. His cheeks were so pink someone could mistake it for makeup.

"Hi" Will said quietly, slightly looking up to see Richie's expression.

It felt like an eternity before Richie slid aside to let Will in. They were silent the whole way to Richie's room.

"So, what do you want to do Byers?" They were sitting on Richie's bed, facing each other.

Will was still embarrassed from what he did earlier.

"Uhm, I don't really know, whatever you'd like" He said, looking up at Richie.

He hoped Richie already had something in mind, so he doesn't have make a stupid suggestion.

"Well we could go out for a little and after that we could watch a movie here?" His gaze was at his hands, not even slightly lifting to see Will's face.

He could feel his face start to red up. A slight red appeared across the bridge of his nose, his freckles almost disappearing.

Richie started mumbling something about how it was only an idea and they don't have to do any of that.

"Richie it's okay, I like the idea" Will said through a small laugh. Richie was still looking at his hands, but he could clearly hear a smile in Will's voice.

"So uhm, should we go out?" He finally looked up to see Will staring at him.

His expression showed only a slight smile, something that made Richie's whole day.

"He's so pretty ohmygod" Richie's mind was screaming at him to get up and guide Will outside and not stay staring at him.

But how could he? This unbelievably gorgeous boy was sitting right in front of him, looking at him with the softest smile ever.

"Oh uhm, yeah we should go"

Richie was the first go get up, taking the doorknob of the already open door and pulling it a little bit more open.

He stood aside and gestured to Will he could go out first.

"As ways, ladies first!" He said, hoping to see Will smile again.

Will got up after him, and upon hearing Richie teasing words, of course smiled.

"Richie!"

"What? I didn't say anything rude!"

The two boy huried down the stairs and out the door, giggling about some stupid jokes Richie speed-ran, again, trying to make the green eyed boy laugh.

He succeeded ever single time.

In the end, they agreed for Richie to take Will for a tour of the city.

Not the whole city of course, just some closer parks and stores Richie knows are in reach.

How were your friends back in Hawkins?"

"Uhm, they are nice I guess" Will was trying to avoid these types of questions at all costs.

His gaze was fixated on something beside the sidewalk, trying not to face Richie, because he knew if he did, he'd lose his mind.

"How many of you were in your friendgroup?" for some reason Richie was truly interested in what Will had to say.

"Well there's Mike-"

"Mike? As in Mike Wheeler?"

Will's face went completely white.

Fuck.

"Uhm yeah, do you know him?" Will desperately tried to mask how off-put he was.

"Unfortunately, yes. He's my cousin actually." He answered, looking at the ground, kicking some pebbles around as he went.

He said it so carelessly Will couldn't process it right away.

"What." He fully turned around to look at Richie.

They both now stopped in the middle of the road, looking at each other with confusion.

"I know, I know, he's really boring and stuck-up, but as you know, I totally different!"

"I'm charming, I'm good with girls (unlike Mike) and best of all I'm right in front of you!"

Will was still frozen in place, still trying to process that Mike Wheeler, the boy that he'd been in love with for as long as he knows, that he lost feelings for, was related to Richie Tozier, the boy he is currently developing the biggest crush ever on.

"So your mom and his mom are sisters?"

"That's right."

"And you never came to his house?"

"That's also right, but I think I was there when I was still an infant. I guess being alergic to fun and jokes runs in the family."

"Mike isn't that boring!" Will said, laughing at how perfectly Richie described Mike.

"I mean I've been there when I was 7, and if he still acts the same as then I guess he's a lost cause." Richie joked as they entered his living room.

"Don't be so mean Richie." Will was now scoffing in disagreement.

"Whatever you say Byers."

"What are we going to watch?"

"I don't really know, you can pick if you want."

They spent a good twenty minutes trying to find an appropriate movie for this "movie night hang out".

In the end, they settled for some basic rom-com that Will picked because they were running out of options and TV channels.

They sat on the couch, an comfortable distance between them.

They both knew if they were even a little closer it would be weird.

But neither of them noticed slowly coming closer.

They were sitting under a blanket, and without any warning, they were now skin to skin.

They could feel each other warmth against their forearms, but neither could bring their self to care.

After all, it didn't bother them they were basically both glued to their crush.

The movie was moving slow, nothing grand happening.

Both Will and Richie, of course noticed they were too close.

Richie could feel his chest tighten every time Will breathed.

He wanted to shift even closer to Will, to hold him close and never let him leave.

But he knew even this closeness was enough. Maybe even too much.

Suddenly, Will lowered his head on Richie's shoulder.

Richie felt like he had fireworks in his stomach.

This perfect friend of his just leand in and layed his head on him.

He felt so warm for the first time after a long time.

He felt complete.

Will was not brave. He was just doing what was true to him.

Even though he knew Richie is not like him and only sees as a friend, he couldn't resist.

They lay like that for half an hour more, comfortable silence filling the room.

Then, a kiss scene appeared on the screen.

"Ohmygod ew" Will pulled out this hands from under the blanket and covered his whole face.

Richie was in disbelief. As much as he talked about sexual things and mentioned making out with someone, he was actually really grossed out by kissing.

Just the ide of someone's lips against his own was making him uncomfortable.

Bu somehow, the thing he wanted the most, was to kiss the boy next to him.

"I hate kissing so much." Richie blurted out, and for the first time ever he regretted saying the first thing that came to his mind.

"I mean I don't hate kissing! I just hate how cheesy it is and how-"

"Richie it's okay, I hate it too" Will said, covering his mouth while giggling at how flustered Richie got.

"Oh uhm, sorry."

"You don't have to pretend when you're with me, you know that?"

Richie stared at him.

"Pretend how?"

"I don't know, you are always so hyperactive and joking, but I can see you are not always like that"

"I guess I just think people won't like my real personality." Richie said still staring at Will, his eyes not quite meeting Will's.

"I like it." Will gave him a soft smile before turning away to look at the TV.

The movie ended at 10:30, so when they turned the TV off, they just got up and left for Will's house.

Richie of course agreed to walk him hope without Will even asking.

It was dark out, but the sky was clear. All the clouds wanished and they were left with an beautiful starry night.

Will kept himself from constantly looking up at the sky, hoping for a shooting star so he could make a wish.

One wish.

Richie was on the right, next to the road, also letting his eyes wander around. He kept his hands in his pockets, trying not to accidentally brush against Will.

But that was all Will wanted.

He wished Richie would just hold his hand. He wished he could feel Richie's warm touch again, his soft grip on his wrist.

But it wasn't going to happen. Ever.

They were walking, now in not so comforting silence.

There was a big gap between them.

Like they were scared to come closer.

Then, there was Will's apartment complex.
He looked up and guided Richie to the front entrance.

"I had a good time." Will finally broke the silence, still looking down at the ground.

"Of course you did, I'm a master at dates!"

Fuck. (again)

"Why did I say that? He's going to think I'm so weird he'll just run inside and never look at me again! How can I be so stupid ohmygod ohmygod-" Richie realized what he said was to forward

"It's to soon for this God I'm so stupid!" His mind raced, he was so sure Will was grossed out by him.

Will was flustered. Richie called their hang out a date?

"I'm so sorry Will, I didn't mean it like that! I'm sorry I'm so stupid for even saying anything!" Richie was now fidgeting with his palms, not sure how to get both of them out of this situation.

"Richie! Stop mumbling, it's okay." Richie's head shot up.

Will tilted his head gently, keeping himself from laughing.

"You're not mad?" Richie was so clueless.

"Why would I be mad?"

"I don't know I just thought you'd think I'm weird and run away." Richie was eerily quiet.

Will burst out laughing. Full on screaming at this point.

"Why would you even think that?" He said, almost wiping tears from laughter.

"Are you seriously laughing right now?" Richie was genuinely confused.

"I don't get why'd you think I'll get weirded out by you!" He was trying not to laugh, but Richie could still hear it in his tone.

"It's nothing okay!" Richie said, now even he was smiling.

"See you at school then Richie!" He waited for Richie to say something.

"See you at school Will."

Then, he leand in for a hug.

Will literally froze in place. Richie's long, skinny arms wrapped around his shoulders, his head leaning on Will's shoulder.

Will couldn't bring himself to hug Richie back for some reason, it was only then when he felt Richie pulling away, that he quickly wrapped his own hands around Richie's waist.

His head slowly leaning into Richie's chest.

He could feel his cheekbones sinking into the soft fabric of Richie's sweater every time the taller boy breathed in.

Will wanted to stay like that forever, fall asleep to the sound of Richie's breathing.

They both quickly pulled away, still feeling each other's warmth all over.

Will just smiled before turning around to enter.

Richie stood there by himself, rethinking how he pulled this off.

He hugged Will Byers.

HE HUGGED WILL BYERS!

Chapter Text

Will walked up the stairs, still unsure which apartment he lived in.

He knew it was somewhere on the third floor, but the apartment number was just a shadow in his mind.

What do to in this situation? He couldn't just knock on random people's doors untill his mom pops up.

Well.

There were only 4 apartments on the third floor.

So he knocked on the first door.

Nothing.

Okay, let's try the next one.

Will knocked hoping to hear Joyce unlock the door for him, let him in so he could finally stop embarrassing himself at 11 PM.

He did, to his surprise, hear someone unlock the door.

But it wasn't Joyce as he hoped.

Infront of him stood a tall, red-haired girl, dressed in her pajamas, visibly confused why this skinny boy was knocking on her door at the time.

"Can I help you?" She slowly said, still looking at Will as if he came from another planet.

"Uhm do you know where the Byerses' live?"

"Apartment number 14." She said now little less confused, piecing together that this kid was lost.

"Wait, is your name Will?" She blurted out as he was about to thank her.

"Yes? How do you know that?"

"Cause you live in the apartment next to mine. I've seen you move in a couple of weeks ago."

She leand again the door frame.

"So, you still don't know your apartment number?"

"That's not true! It just late and there is no light in these hallways, okay!?" Will squeaked trying to make an reasonable excuse why he, infact, didn't know his own apartment number.

"Okay, okay, jeez! I was just asking."

"What's your name anyways?" Will asked the ginger girl who was now already closing the door.

"It's Beverly, and by the way, you should really learn your apartment number cause it isn't always going to be who opens the door to let you know where you live." She said through a smug smile, now closing the door.

Will was left in complete silence.

He still could barely see where he's standing, the only source of light coming from inside Beverly's apartment.

Luckily, Joyce came out just in time.

She was probably waiting for Will to get home, and seeing he still wasn't there, came out to check if he's somewhere near.

"Oh sweetie you're here! Come on, get inside!"

After he showered, Will got ready to sit in his room and have a deep talk with El about everything that happened at his "hangout" with Richie.

He wasn't really sure where to start.

There were so many moments that Will couldn't understand, so many small gestures he needed help to decode.

And the person that he knew would help him the most was his sister.

"So what did you do?"

"We first went for a walk and he showed me places nearby."

Will couldn't believe he was finally having stories to tell about someone he liked.

He always listened to El and Max rant about how their boyfriends took them places or how they made them mad. He was also there when Mike had trouble with El, so him and Lucas had to accompany Mike in an attempt to make up for it. He was there to listen about Dustin and Suzie, how their long distance relationship was still going on strong.

He always wondered when will it be his time.

And now, it is his time.

"Okay what happened on your walk?"

"OH, he told me him and Mike are cousins! Firstly I was so flabbergasted because what, how didn't we know Mike had a cousin, you're literally his girlfriend and I'm his bestfriend!"

"Oh I knew he had a cousin! He told me once, when he was walking me home!"

Will stared at her.

What.

Why didn't he know about this?

Him and Mike used to tell each other EVERYTHING.

Will was, once again crushed by the fact he, as Mike's "bestfriend", didn't know such things about him.

Why didn't he tell him? Was Will not worthy of telling anything or did Mike just not feel like sharing things with him.

Was he not his bestfriend anymore?

El snapped him out of it.

"Will, are you okay?" She swayed her hand infront of his face.

"Oh yeah, yeah totally, I was just confused how I never knew about it, I probably just forgot." Will said softly smiling before continuing his rant.

"Okay so then we went back to his house, and we were about to watch a movie but we couldn't really figure out which one to watch."

El was looking at Will, focused on every word that left his mouth.

"So he let me pick what we were going to watch!"

"What did you pick?" El was still looking at Will, her eyebrows a little furrowed, hoping Will picked a good movie.

She leand in in excitement.

"Well I don't know, I just picked some romantic comedy we stumbled across while changing the channels."

"Oh okay, that's a good choice. Me and Mike always watched movies like that when we had sleepovers!"

Wait so, Will and Richie are like Mike and El?

No that's not correct.

Will was so clueless. HE made it weird for Richie.

"Oh no El I think it made Richie uncomfortable!"

"Why do you think that all of a sudden?"

"Well you said you and Mike watched those kind of movies, but you guys are together!"

"So?"

"Well Richie's going to think I want us to be together too!"

"Is that a bad thing? Will you like him, why wouldn't you want to be with him?"

"El what if he isn't like me? What if he finds out I like him and then he starts hating me for it?"

"It won't happen Will"

"Maybe it will. What if he isn't like me?"

"You would've noticed already. "

"No, I wouldn't have."

"Will calm down, we are talking about how your hangout went!"

"Okayyyy, sorry El."

They were sitting across each other, snuggled in blankets. Their faces illuminated only by the faint light of Will's bedside lamp.

Their quiet conversation flowing, Will opening about all the things him and Richie talked about, all the accidental touches that didn't feel accidental, all the times he felt Richie's soft gaze linger a moment too long.

He felt warm knowing he could tell his sister everything. He knew she, out of all people could tell him everything with full honesty.

It was nice talking about your crush.

The last time he felt something like that, he had to keep it to himself. Even if it meant caving into his own mind, staying quiet for as long as he could so no one could hear his dirty, disgusting thoughts.

But Will's love for everyone was pure. It was real, honest, childlike love he never truly grew out of. When he loved, he loved quietly, carefully so no one could hurt him as much as he hurt himself. He made himself physically invisible but he made sure his loved ones knew he cared for them so deeply.

He loved Mike since he knew how to love.

But he knew he could never let himself love Mike loudly.

Will and El finished their two hour talk.

Will was so happy to get all of that off his chest.

"So he said your hangout was a date?" El was amazed by this discovery.

"Uhm, yeah I guess." Wil answered, getting up to avoid El seeing how red he got instantly.

"And you think he doesn'tlike you!? Will how oblivious can you be?!"

"Well I'm not sure."

"Yeah yeah whatever you say."

"It's getting late El, we should really go to sleep now."

"Okay!! Goodnight Will, hope you dream about me!" She said closing the door behind her.

God Will was so happy to have her as a sister.

Even though Will and El told everything to each other, there was still things they skipped.

Will was still too embarrassed to mention not knowing his apartment number and having to knock on random people's doors until he found the right one.

And El, well, she had a lot more to keep quiet about since they moved to California.

Chapter Text

Laying on his side turned to face the wall, Will was slowly falling asleep.

His mind was finally quieting down when he remembered something.

That day when they had to come to school with Jonathan, he heard El's uneasy sigh.

It felt wrong to him then, and it felt even worse now.

Was there something bothering El?

Was she scared of being alone by herself?

Will let himself wonder for a bit but settled on asking El about in the morning.

Surely it was nothing that bad.

Right?

--

Sunday was boring as always.

Getting ready for school, cleaning, doing homework, nothing you could really get excited about. Will woke up first, even Joyce was still sleeping.

Weird.

It was 8 AM, not a weird time to be awake at.

Will didn't know what better to do than, of course, draw.

For a while now, the only thing he drew was that one sketch of Richie. He wanted to go back to drawing, after all it was like his signature hobby.

He just liked how he didn't need to express his feelings with words.

Sure he was good at that, like he was good with hard conversations, good at motivational speeches, but he just felt like he could never find the right words for himself.

So anything art related was his escape.

Painting meant he could finally spill away his heart and no one would pity him.

He was always selfless.

Too selfless most of the time.

It was were peaceful for him. Sketching something in complete silence, he was alone with his thoughts. His emotions were roaming around, nothing to distract him.

It went on for 2 hours belive it or not.

10 AM. Someone finally got up.

Joyce was still half-asleep, rubbing her eyes, walking around the narrow hallway.

She noticed Will's door was slightly agape.

Why was he up?

She knocked, and hearing Will's tiny voice, came in to check up on him.

"It's so early sweetie, why are you up?"

"Mom it's 10:11 in the morning." Will said turning around, a playfull smile appearing on his face.

"What? No it's not!"

"Yes it is ohmygod!" Wil was laughing. Was she really this lost or is she messing with him?

Joyce tried looking at ther wrist to see what time it is, but of course, she took off her watch before going to sleep.

"Well I guess Johnathan and El won't mind sleeping in." , she said with a smile before turning around and leaving the room.

Will was just so confused. Why did they wake up this late?

He didn't find any rational explanation other than they just like sleeping in on Sundays.

(In reality he just woke up to early because who wakes up at 8 AM bffr)

Joyce will probably make pancakes and eggos for breakfast, so Will hurried to tidy all his working supplies and go make her some company.

El was still in her room but Will could hear commotion in there so he was sure she would come soon after him.

--

After Richie came back hime last night, he had A LOT of rethinking to do.

Firstly, did he make Will uncomfortable?

Well, giving Will's reaction to all of the thing he did, he was sure he didn't cross any boundaries.

Next, WHY THE FUCK DIDN'T HE COMPLIMENT WILL'S SHIRT?

"How the fuck did I forget ohmygod" he thought, and even in his mind he sounded annoyed

For some context, Richie is a crazy big fan of "The Cure".

When he saw Will in that band t-shirt, he knew he definitely liked him.

Like, how could this boy get more perfect.

The more Richie got to know him, the more he realized Will wasn't just a crush.

Richie really wanted him to be the one.

It was dark out and Maggie already back home from her friend's party.

She was watching TV, the white light coming from the screen illuminating her face.

Richie tried to sneak around the living room and up the stairs, but of course, Maggie isn't that clueless.

"Richieeee, how did your hangout go?" she said through a smug smile.

"Shit." Richie just closed his eyes hoping she doesn't ask too many questions.

"Oh it was nice you know, just hanging out!"

"Come here, let's watch something!"

"Oh no mom, I'm VERY tired I should really get some sleep." , he said, fake yawning and everything. Richie tried to get himself out of this situation as quickly as possible.

"No no no, come here. Now." She was more serious now, but it was all just an act to get Richie infront of her.

"What oh my God!", he threw himself next to her, his legs spread out on the floor, his whole back barely laying on the sofa next to his mom.

"What did you guys ever do? You were together for 5 hours." She was smiling, still looking at the TV, but she could see Richie in the corner of her eye. He was visibly stiffening up right as she asked about it.

"Well, we just took a walk and watched a movie after. That's all." He sounded defeated, but all Maggie could notice is that he wasn't nervous anymore.

She remembered that morning when she asked about it he was literally frozen in place.

"Well that's nice! Did you have fun" She asked now turning her head to see her son better.

"Yeah, I did actually. It was pretty fun." He was still a little unenthusiastic about answering all oh these questions, but she could see he was slowly getting comfortable with talking about it.

Why would it be hard talking about a basic hangout with your friend? Unless, it wasn't JUST a friend...

"I'm just so glad you started making friends again! I mean you were so lonely for the longest time, and I was starting to worry you know."

"Well don't get used to it, Will's the only exception."

Fuck. Fuck Fuck Fuck.

What is wrong with him. He wasn't sure if it was from pure exhaustion or was he just a pro at outing himself at most unappropriate moments.

"Oh is that so?" Maggie said, genuinely surprised Richie said something like that.

He was usually not the one to talk about his feelings. Like ever.

She was still smiling cause she felt this extreme happiness build up in her.

Richie wasn't all alone to himself.

"Uhm I mean, it won't be as easy to make new friends as it was easy to become friends with Will!" Richie was desperately trying to make his last sentence more reasonable.

"No I understand you fully sweetie."

"He's just soo nice like who wouldn't want to be friends with him." Richie himself couldn't belive he was saying this outloud.

"Well I'm glad Richie, I really am." She was now slowly hugging Richie, pulling him closer to herself on the couch.

"I'm scared I'll mess something up mom." Richie blurted out.

"I'm scared Will will think I'm weird for some reason, like those kids in Derry." his voice was slightly trembling now, and Maggie could hear how truly worried he was.

"Don't worry sweetie, you won't. You are nice, kind and painfully funny, what more could he want in a friend!"

Friend.

But Richie wanted Will to be more than just a friend.

He wanted Will to be his person forever.

"Yeah I guess." He replied sleeply, getting lost in the movie Maggie had put on earlier.

She was now slowly stroking his delicate curls, his fingers grazing his head.

It was calm. Just what Richie needed dealing with his inner chaos.

They feel asleep soon after, Richie curled up in his mother's arms like he was eight years old again.

Chapter Text

It was Monday, again, and Will honestly felt like staying inbraded in his bed forever, not moving until someone forcefully dragged him put of his bed.

School was very boring and the only thing keeping his sane was this hyperactive, nonstop talking, tall, lanky boy he sat next to in almost every class.

Will was so relieved knowing he would see Richie again. Even if he had seen him only two day ago, he couldn't wait to be near him.

For him, Richie felt like the only safe place in that whole school.

He could go on an on if you'd let him talk about it. He really started to like him.

Not like him like a friend, like like him. He really developed a massive crush on Richie.

And the worst thing was that he wouldn't even try to deny it anymore.

Firstly he was so scared to even think about it, he was scared someone might find out and bash him for it.

But now, when he really thought about it, it wasn't that scary.

It was just honest love.

He was just inlove with him.

There was nothing to be afraid of.

God it was so nice finally not feeling like you're stuck in a quiet, black space, where every thought is too loud. He could let himself daydream about Richie as much as he wanted.

This actually came out of nowhere, it just clicked in his head. That he shouldn't isolate himself from finding comfort in being inlove.

As every morning, El and Will got ready for school, and Jonathan drove them on his way to work.

Will totally forgot to ask El anything about her thoughts on school so far, ask how she's dealing with this new inviroment.

And this morning wasn't any different.

Right as she is about to leave, she hesitates, like she's about to ask Johnathan to just stay behind with him and maybe even go home.

It's barely noticeable but Will can see it in her eyes. The air shifts.

It's uneasy, thick with guilt, and honestly, it feels like it radiating out of El.

Her shoulders slumped, head down, like accepting defeat for who knows what time again.

When they both got out of the car, El just fastened her pace, trying to avoid Will.

Will was trying to catch up, slowly running behind her. He was sure something was definitely wrong.

When they entered, of course, Will needed to walk El to class, but for some reason, El just kept disappearing in the busy hallways.

Will was helplessly trying to get a grip on her arm, to guide her because she still didn't know her own schedule, but there was something genuinely wrong with her.

"Jane stop!" He yelled, but she didn't turn around, didn't even flinch. She just kept going, hoping to lose Will somewhere in the crowd.

"Seriously, what is happening to you Jane!" He finally got to her, and it was right infront of her classroom.

He stood next to her, looking for any kind of explanation to why she's basically running away from him all of a sudden.

"There's nothing wrong Will, you can go." She said, her eyebrows furrowed, not catching Will's gaze.

"What happened?" He asked her once again, hoping for an answer, even though he knew she would just sweep it away like it's nothing.

"I already told you, Will leave me alone, just go away!"

Will just looked a her, really looked at her, desperately trying to help her.

"Well, isn't it the quiet freaky girl again!" a smug voice could be heard coming form inside the classroom, echoing right behind both of them.

"I see you didn't bother to introduce me to this brother of yours!" the girl's voice was getting closer, faint laugher trailing behind her.

She came up to them, looking Will up and down with this disgustingly fake look in her eyes.

"Happy to see me again Jane?" Her gaze shifted to El.

She was blonde, blue-eyed, and most of all - a complete bitch.

"Uhm, hi-i Angela." El replied, her head now disappointingly low.

"Why so gloomy all of a sudden? Did I do something Jane?", her teasing tone was now stabbing into poor El.

"N-no, it's okay really."

"Well I'm sure it is! Do you want to come inside so I can show you something?" She stood by the door frame, two girls on both of her sides.

"Uhm, okay..."

Will was horrified. It was worse than he thought. He was just too stupid not to notice it sooner.

El was soo sweet, to sweet for this cruel world they lived in.

She was gentle, kind, open to anything, basically happiness in a person.

But now, she just seemed hollow.

--

"Oh Angelaaa!" Will twitched at this familiar voice.

"What is it Beaverly? You too want to protect your little "friend" Jane over here?"

"Well if it means I'll get to beat the shit out of you again, then yes, why not?" She came from behind Will, shooting Angela a teasing look.

"Oh please, don't be that pathetic, we both know you did nothing to me."

Angela was now getting red in the face, not really caring about what others see, but what they hear come from that stupid mouth of hers.

"I don't get your little kink for new people." Beverly replied with a smug smile.

"I mean you always pick on them like your life depends on how many people you make miserable in a day."

"You remember that 6'3 guy that you bullied, that poor girl that transferred a YEAR ago, or fuck, even your little friend Gretchen here!", she said pointing to Angela's left, to the girl almost fully behind Angela.

"Oh don't be ridiculous, I'm not crazy weird like some of you here!"

"Sure sure, and how many times did your parents come to this very school and basically beg the principal not to expel you?"

Everyone knew Angela's parents paid crazy amounts of money for Angela to stay in that school.

Everyone also knew that she was the biggest pussy out there.

So when she got into that fight with Beverly, and lost miserably, she almost got Beverly put in Juvie.

"Oh fuck off Beverly." She just turned around and entered the classroom again.

Will and El didn't even notice it, but a whole crowd formed while Bev and Angela were arguing.

Everyone was wide-eyed, their eyes tracing Angela's steps.

She was silenced.

"So sorry if she ever bothers you, she has always been such a bitch trust me."Beverly turned to them, and upon seeing Will again, smiled.

"You learned your address?"

"Oh shut up."

"Why are you mean to her Will?" El snapped at him.

"I'm not mean, she just made fun of me!"

El looked at the firey-haired girl. She was softly smiling at them, waiting for El to speak.

"Thank you." was all that El managed to blurt out before the teacher came.

--

Will was pissed.

El was getting bullied. Again.

Why her.

He just couldn't wrap his head around that.

Why El?

What did she ever do wrong.

If she could help every person alive, she would.

And still, she was the victim of some kind of abuse.

All over again.

--

Will got to his class late again, but if he was honest, he couldn't give a single fuck about anything else other than how to help his sister.

Richie was waiting for him in the last row.

Even if he saw Will's expression was neutral, he knew something wasn't right.

Will just threw his backpack on the floor, and also basically threw himself on the chair.

"So, how are we feeling today?" Richie was testing the waters.

Will looked at him with these puppy-dog green eyes almost full of tears, and barely cried out.

"I don't know, I feel like I'm an awful brother."

It took everything in him not to cry.

His soul hurt at the thought of it.

And Richie, seeing Will almost break down infront of him, quickly pulled them out of class.

He took Will to the bathroom, carefully sitting him down on one of the sink counters because Will was not only too short to jump up himself, but was also now fully crying.

Richie grabbed some paper towels give to Will who was sobbing.

He didn't know why, well he knew why he cried. He was soo sorry for El. He couldn't bare seeing her get made fun of like that infront of everyone.

Richie was standing infront of Will, trying to figure out how to comfort him.

Will's hands were ih his lap, and he was visibly shaking.

Tears streamed down his face and he was sobbing uncontrollably.

These couple of months he kept everything in himself.

Now this small problem pushed everything off the edge.

He just couldn't calm down.

And Richie wasn't panicking.

He was next to Will the whole time, quietly calming him down, whispering how it'll be okay.

The boys stayed in the school bathroom until Will fully calmed down. His eyes ever bloodshot red and he was fully pink in the face.

He was so embarrassed for Richie to see him like this.

"Listen Richie, I'm so sorry you had to deal with me like this, I'm sorry I put you through all of this and-"

"Will, it's okay. You did nothing wrong, you know that right?"

"Yeah but you-"

"No buts. You do not have to apologize for your feelings."

Will was starting at Richie.

He was still sitting on the counter, and Richie was finally the same hight as him.

His mind was a mess, and Richie was still with him.

He shot forward and kissed Richie on the left cheek.

When he quickly pulled back, after realizing what he just did, and seeing Richie startled face expression, Will jumped off the counter and ran out the bathroom.

Even after he just cried, the tears just kept appearing.

He was now running out of the school, scared that anyone would see him.

Richie was still in the bathroom.

Now he was looking at his own reflection in the mirror.

What just happened.

Will kissed him on the cheek.

The bell rang and it finally shook Richie out of his daze.

He needed to find Will immediately.

But Will was nowhere to be seen. Richie checked every classroom, every janitors closet, all the bathrooms. Nothing.

It was only the third period and everything just kept getting worse for them.

Beverly found El in the hallway, looking around for Will who was now who know where.
She helped El to her class, and El as always sweetly thanked her.

Richie just couldn't give up. He needed to find Will.

Will was hiding behind the gym. How original, he thought, but that was the closest place he could find shelter at without getting lost.

He was sitting with his knees to his chest, tightly hugging them, as if he let go his breathing would stop and his heart would fall out.

He was breathing heavy, still replaying that stupid moment.

Why did he do that?

Richie Tozier will now officially hate him.

But if you were to ask that same Richie Tozier what he was feeling towards Will...

Pure love.

Richie was fully inlove with Will Byers.

Chapter Text

The bell rang and everyone was in their classrooms again.

The lecture began and Will was not in his usual spot next to El.

She waited for him for a little bit, maybe he was in the bathroom or something.

As the time passed, and she was getting more confused with everything the teacher was saying, she couldn't wait any longer.

--

"Can I go to the bathroom please?" She raised her hand shyly, her voice quiet but stern.

"It's MAY I use the bathroom, Jane." Angela just wouldn't drop it.

El didn't turn around. Didn't even blink at that.

--

"May I go to the bathroom please?" She repeated, her voice a little louder and more steady than before.

"Of course Jane!"

El rushed out the classroom.

And if we're honest, she had no idea what to do. The school was big and she was there only for a little while.

Then Beverly came up behind her.

This girl was everywhere I swear to God.

-

"You need help?"

"I need to find Will." El softly turned around, the same pretty red-haired girl for the morning.

"When did you lose him?"

"After you and Angela argued."

"Did you see him run away anywhere orrr"

"No, i didn't see anything."

"We'll just have to look around and pray he's just skipping class"

"But I need to get back to class!"

"Oh don't worry about that, I'll just tell the teacher you had a bad nosebleed."

"Okay"

El was skeptical. But Bev seemed nice.

--

Richie was still running around the school, desperately trying to find Will.

All he needed right now was him.

--

Will was still sitting on the ground. The sky was getting grayer and he could feel the cold breeze swift past him.

The cold always reminded him of the past.

He hated it so much.

He hated that feeling of being powerless. Having no control over yourself.

When he was stuck in the upside-down, Will was constantly frozen. When he came back up, the mindflayer kept him from getting warm.

Now when he had the chance to finally feel warm again, he was running away from it.

It looked like rain was coming and that scared Will the most.

He'd have to face Richie - and after his past decisions - he was sure he was done for.

With the cold getting deeper, biting into Will's uncovered arms, there was nothing else to do. He was freezing and that was his priority.

Picking himself up from the damp ground, he was now shivering. The rain started.

Will felt his heart sink just from this simple weather change.

Why was he so sensitive?

It's just rain, it's just cold and he just needs to go inside.

But Will kept so much in him, even the last time he cried to El it wasn't enough for him to feel lighter.

He started running to find shelter, and of course, it was the school.

It wasn't far away, but it seemed to Will he'll never get to it.

--

At that same time, Richie was still running around, finding Will was still his number one concern.

He checked every possible place he could've gone to.

Nothing.

Then he remembered.

He probably ran outside and hid somewhere not far away.

He bolted out the front entrance.

Sure enough, there was Will, and there was so much rain. It was pouring out the sky, and you could barely hear Richie scream Will's name.

--

"Will!! Come here, it's raining - like a lot!"

Will was soaked, his hair was fully wet and he was visibly shaking.

But he was still quick to run to the school entrance.

He didn't quite notice Richie at first.

At the first sight at his lanky, tall figure, Will was hammered in place.

His mind was screaming for him to just give in, run up to Richie and let him do whatever he intended.

To hold him forever, his long arms burning into his cold skin, but never hurting.

To let him yell at him, scream at him like his father did, to mock him for the stupid kiss he left on his cheek just half and hour ago.

Will's mind was screaming at this to let himself feel loved.

And that's not what happened.

He started sprinting back to where came from, grasping the air as if it would give him a push and help him get away.

--

Richie ran after him.

He would do anything just to be close to Will right now.

Richie was, of course, faster. A lot faster than Will.

Will's arms were flying around, he did everything just to get away.

Then - Richie finally got a grip on him.

He pulled Will slightly, making him stop and turn around.

With the rain falling on their gentle teenage faces, covering the shorter boy's tears, it clicked for Richie.

He can't be scared forever.

His guard could finally be let down a little, and with Will, maybe even all the way.

There, looking at Will's green eyes full of sorrow and genuine fear, he knew there was no way Will was happy to be in his presence.

But the only thing Richie was happy about was being there, holding Will.

It was all very quick, barely 30 seconds of them just staring at each other.

Richie finally leaned down, now cupping Will's face with both of his cold hands, and closing the distance between their shivering faces.

Will closed his eyes, and feeling Richie's chapped lips on his, melted instantly.

His body warmed up and his mind finally stopped racing.

Richie was now the only thing anchoring him.

Their delicate kiss lasted from only a moment, before Richie moved away.

He looked like he regretted everything, regretted even meeting Will.

But Will didn't care now.

He pulled Richie down again, holding him by the collar of this shirt, kissing his again, this time more passionate that the first kiss they ever shared.

Richie's arms snaked around his waist, pulling him closer.

When they finally both pulled away, faces red, both out of breath, they bursted into laughter.

It was still raining, they were still fully shaking, but neither of them cared about that.

The most important thing stood there, infront of both.

Chapter Text

Standing there, the hysteric laughing quieted down.

Will was looking up at Richie, who was still cupping his cheeks firmly.

Oh how painfully inlove Will was.

His eyes were glassy, but the perfect shade of green that warmed Richie up with every glance.

Richie was, quite literally, towering over poor short Will.

Will's arms fell down, tightening Richie in a hug. He griping him as if he was slowly disappearing.

Richie fell into the hug, fell onto Will.

"I'm here don't worry, I'm not planning on leaving anytime soon" Richie said through a obvious smile.

--

El and Beverly bolted out of the front entrance.

"Look Bev, they're here!"

"What the fuck guys, where were you?!" Beverly was yelling, soo clearly annoyed.

"Don't worry about us redhead, Will is right where he wantes to be!"

"Right Will?" Richie looked down to face Will, a smug grin scaring his face.

"Richieee!" Will was now fighting the hug, trying to escape Richie's bony embrace.

"Wha- how am I wrong?"

"Well you are! Now let me gooo!" Will was trying to contain his "annoyed" expression, barely getting free from this Richie shaped prison.

He ran towards El and Bev, still feeling the warmth Richie's body radiated just seconds ago.

"Will!" El smiled, pulling Will into a hug.

"Jane! I'm soooo sorry I left you alone, it won't ever happen again, I promise!"

"We'll see about that!" A muffled, teen boy voice could be heard from somewhere behind Will.

"Shut up Trashmouth." Beverly looked Richie up&down as he was getting closer.

She just rolled her eyes and turned to face Will and El.

"It's okay, Bev helped me find you!"

"Oh, our neighbor Beverly?"

"Yes! She's so nice, I'm planning on asking her to hang out soon."

"She reminds me of Max!" El exclaimed, smiling throughout the whole conversation.

--

They quietly entered the school again.

Beverly and Richie stayed outside, arguing about something Will didn't quite catch.

"Oh! Speaking of Max, mom said she's coming to Lenora for Thanksgiving break!" Will said, knowing El is going to explode from happiness.

"Really!?"

"Yesss, she'll stay here for about 4 days."

"How come she didn't mention it to me?"

"Oh shi- sorry El, she wanted for it to be a surprise..."

"Will! Well, it's okay I guess. I'm just happy she's coming to see us!"

"Yeah, that's great!"

But why couldn't Mike come?

Why was he not bothered enough to come see his girlfriend and bestfriend?

Or was he just busy?

Yeah right, when was Mike Wheeler busy with anything that important?

Well, maybe he was.Will couldn't know, nor could he imagine what Mike was doing, why he wasn't going to be there with them.

After the constant rain, the sun finally peaked through the thick clouds.

It was fresh outside, the air smelling vaguely of wet pavement and wind.

It was finally time for all of them to go home, and now, along this new realization that their fiery-haired neighbor knew Richie very well, the same silent idea popped into both El's and Beverly's mind.

"So, when are you free to hang out?" Beverly turned to face El, quietly inviting her into a new friendship.

"Uhm, everyday I guess?"

"That's perfect! Can you come to my apartment after school?"

"Uhm, sure, I just have to ask my mom first!"

"Okay, see you then!"

"Bye Bev!" El waved excitedly as she was getting into the car.

"Byeee Jane!" Beverly waved back, smiling softly as their car went away.

The ride home was quicker than ever.

Will and El couldn't stop talking about their day at school, planning all the things they would do when Max came.

"Oh Will, Beverly invited me to hangout at her place!"

"That mean red-head girl?"

"Hey! She isn't mean!"

"Okay okay, whatever you say El"

The week just started, but Will was so ready for it to end.

--

The realization of his doings only hit him when he was alone in his room.

He kissed Richie.

He actually did.

Shit.

Shit shit shit.

How does he tell anyone about that?

Thank God that El and Beverly didn't see them.

How is he supposed to tell Mike?

Oh hi Mike, I kissed your cousin and he pretty much liked it.

He was, by all means, screwed.

But no one has to know right?

Only if they find out will Will tell them.

But knowing himself, he couldn't lie for shit.

If Mike only mentioned anything involving "new friends", Will would basically recite every single moment him and Richie shared.

In all of these thoughts, only one thing was slowly crawling it's way to Will's mind.

How wrong all of this was.

How flawed his actions were.

He couldn't do something like that with Richie again.

He risking everything for this tiny bit of happiness.

Denial was burning every part of Will.

--

Richie was the happiest man alive.

He waited for that moment since the day he saw Will in art class.

Every word Will said, how his lips moved, how his cupids bow looked when he laughed, how he was always understanding - Richie was sure he found his person.

And today confirmed it.

He was ready to risk it all if it means Will and him got their deserved happy ending.

There was nothing that could stop him now and if they were all honest, there was nothing that was going to stop him.

Except, Will Byers himself.

Richie already knew where Will lived, so it was a no-brainer what he was about to do.

It was about 5pm, and both boys were already home, doing nothing.

Will wasn't actually doing nothing.

He was trying to make himself normal.

He was torturing himself with these situations that were never to happen.

But he was still determined.

Richie ran to Will's house, basically sprinting so he could see the love of his life this bland afternoon.

He knocked on the door of their apartment, hoping to see Will open it and jump into a hug.

Joyce opened the door because Will wasn't responding.

"Hi sweetie, are you looking for Will?"

"Yeah, is he home?"

"Oh he is, he's in his room."

Richie walked down the narrow hallway, carefully taking each step so he didn't spoil the surprise.

But Will was ready for anything other than this Richie-surprise.

He slowly pushed the already half-open bedroom door, careful not to scare Will in anyway imaginable.

But this complete shock, Will was ugly crying, but there was no sound to be heard.

"Will, what happened?!"

"Richie, what are you doing here?" Will's voice was quiet, filled with periodic sobs and quick breathing.

"I'm here, it's okay, please don't cry." Richie scrambled over to Will, making his way next to him.

"No, stop!", was all Will was capable of saying.

"What?!"

Will didn't reply.

He was, as of right now, crying his eyes out.

"I don't understand Will, what happened?"

"You happened."

Will lifted his wet expression to face Richie.

He was red, his eyes full of glassy tears, and all he was able to say was "Go."

"What?"

"Just go away!" He cried out.

"Will- I-I don't understand, did I do something?"

"Just go away Richie." This time it was more of a plea than anything

Richie grimaced.

He was on the verge of tears from the moment he entered.

Was he just going to leave?

If that was what Will wanted, that's how it should be.

He slowly picked himself up from the bed where they were plastered just moments earlier.

It took everything in him not to just break down there infront of Will, to tell him everything, to beg for his forgiveness even if there was nothing he could forgive.

He walked to the door and with in single motion turned around.

"I hope you know I'll always be here for you."

"Go away." Will begged, his words muffled from all the tears and saliva.

He sounded defeated, broken once again, and this time it was Richie's fault his precious boy was hurt.

He walked down the hallway once again, only this time it welcomed him to the outside of this sacred place.

Everything hurt.

He had this sensation in his stomach, making him want to throw up from sadness.

He couldn't do anything to change this and that was killing him.

Chapter Text

As he was walking through the hallway, which was now a million miles long, the familiar red-haired girl appeared at the top the stairs.

"Where you headed Trashmouth?" Beverly joked out.

Richie didn't even flinch. He just kept walking, his shoulder slumped, and all he wanted was to be out of there as soon as possible. It wasn't helping that it was raining again.

"Beep beep Richie!" Beverly yelled out once more, hoping that Richie would show even a milligram of annoyance.

He just kept walking.

In Richie's mind, it was all over. Every aspect of his happiness was stripped away in that awful moment. Everything he ever hoped for was finally painting it's way to him, and now, it was all erased. In what universe does one expect him to be okay with this kind of loss?

The apartment building was dark as always, the dim yellowy lights barely shining. Everything seemed gray and dull, which wasn’t helping Richie's current state. The stairs were terrifyingly narrow.

Between floors were little platforms where the stairs connected, and every one of those had a wall made of windows. They weren't those cute cozy windows that cabins had. They looked more like those post-WW2-Eastern-european windows you would see on destroyed buildings. It sent shivers down Richie's full body.

Thunder started the second he was out of that building. Rain hit the ground with a scary force. The whole sky was now the darkest shade of grey it could possibly be at 5:30 in the afternoon.

Everything that could ruin his whole day was currently ruining his whole day and there was absolutely nothing he could to make it stop. The rain was the smallest part of the problem. All he could wrap his head around was Will.

The heavy rain was basically ruining every piece of clothing Richie had on. He was running as fast as his legs let him still thinking about his one and only. It didn’t bother him that the rain stabbed every single particle of his pale skin, leaving careful red dots that disappeared the moment they were visible.

It was muddy and the rain was getting louder. How could Will let him go in the rain alone?

The rain brought Richie a faint memory of someone else’s warm body next to his. Someone else’s radiating skin on his.

Richie was cold. He shivered, his glasses freezing on his face. He was still running, his breathing shallow and fast, heartbeat faster than ever. Even in the moments him and Will shared, their delicate, soft kiss, Richie’s heart was at ease. It knew it belonged there, right there, in that perfect moment.

The gaps in the road quickly filled up from the attacking rain and Richie wasn’t sure he could avoid all of them.

Cars were driving by, and not one of them stopped to make sure this skinny, pale, heartbroken kid was okay. Of course, how could they know he was brutally denied the only thing he ever yearned for.

Even if he tried to cry, the sideways rain wouldn’t let his warm tears be seen. The old ones were already all dried up and washed off.

The wind also wouldn’t give poor Richie a break. Everything was falling apart, now faster than it was all built up. Those walls that were guarding him were currently being built up again, and now, not even Will’s pretty green eyes and his stupid bowlcut, or even his gorgeous lips could nudge them.

In that moment Richie was sure he would never let down again. His vunerable self will get locked away forever. Until, maybe, the real real one came. He was stupid to think they would magically appear when he most needed them. So stupid.

The rain was still pretty much raiding everything around Richie including him.

--

He was finally home, bursting through the door. He collapsed to his knees, scraping both of them as the fell. He genuinely couldn’t bring himself to care about anything else than being so stupid and lovesick that he didn’t notice the slow fading between him and Will even before their shared feelings reached climax.

How stupid he was to kiss him. Even if Will melted into it, it was the worst thing could’ve done at this time. What made him do it? He was so scared of his feelings the last time he was in love, so why not this time?

Why didn’t anything protect him this time? How was there nothing that screamed to him like last time? Maybe there was no need. Maybe this time he needed to get wrecked to finally see how wrong his actions are. How wrong everything he was feeling was.

In reality, none of it was wrong. None of it was poisonous and none of it was a threat. It was all just very complicated and hard to comprehend. And for two boys at the ripe age of fourteen, it was terrifying.

Maggie was at work, so there was absolutely no one to comfort him. Richie was a mess, his hair wet and sticking to his forehead and neck, his pretty curls now gone and soaked. His humorously large glasses were cold against his skin. How could rain bring so much love and sorrow in one singular day?

He wasn’t sure what to do. These couple of weeks, Richie’s main and only concern was Will. His objective was to make sure Will was okay, that he was safe and protected in Richie’s presence. But that seemed not to be enough for Will to notice him as someone worthy of his love. Maybe he was just being nice all this time, or he was just confused.

All of these thoughts were smudging Richie’s mind. Sitting there on his doorstep, the house empty and cold, he was left alone to carry all of that to his room upstairs. He barely picked himself up from the rough, worn-out carpet he fell on and finally looked around.

It was very dark. All of the blinds were closed, tho he doesn’t remember closing them before he went out. The hallway upstairs smelled of laundry detergent and old paper, something that Richie wouldn’t dare to notice before. Only now, when he was in deep confusion and sorrow did he realize how sad the hallway looked and smelled.

He pushed the door open just enough to get in, leaving it open. The grey-blue color seeped through the window, and it only made Richie more aware of his suroundings. He was in his room, soaked, cold, and he just stood there, unable to do anything that could make it better. He felt like he deserved it. He deserved to be alone, to think about everything again. There was something that needed to change and that was scaring him more than anything.

It was 9 pm when he decided it was time to sleep. It was early, but he had nothing to daydream about. Nothing to obsess over, no one to constantly think about. Now it was just him again. That night was one of many nights Richie Tozier cried himself to sleep.

He fell asleep almost instantly.

--

The next morning it was raining again. The clouds didn’t get any better, and it was 10 degrees colder than yesterday. It was starting get colder and colder with every day that passed, the day getting shorter and the nights seemed never ending.

Richie didn’t bother to get ready. There was nothing keeping him motivated and to be honest, he was ready to even stay home.

He sat at his desk as always, the cold wind from a random open window barely getting to him. Everything seemed so dull and lifeless, or maybe he was just projecting. Either way, the bitter feeling followed him from the day before to today, and will probably follow him into the grave.

It wasn’t long before the bell rang, and a familiar face appeared just on time.

Will walked in last second. His hair was sticking in all the wrong directions and his green eyes were now colored with and uneasy amount of red. He was all puffy and slow, but didn’t bother to show any emotion as he sat the farthest away from Richie as he could.

Richie though he would burst into tears right then and there.

The teacher didn’t come yet, and he was sure he was about to break down infront of the whole class. Richie slowly got out of that classroom and as soon as he was out he sprinted to the bathroom on the second floor.

The first stall he saw he got into. He made sure there was no one around and just started weezing uncontrollably. He didn’t even care for his glasses, just sat down in the stall and hugged his knees. He was crying, real ugly crying, his arms barely wiping away the tears under his glasses. They slipped from his face just seconds after, falling to the cold, glassy bathroom floor. He wanted to scream so bad, to let his feelings out verbally and maybe make out what they meant from that.

It was the boys bathroom, and even if there was someone, they wouldn't really care.

Except, it wasn’t a boy who entered. Through the small gap under the door, Richie could only make out a little red line from how blured his vision was.

“Richie? Are you okay, I’ve just seen you run in here covering your mouth. Is everything okay?” This was the first time Richie heard Beverly this caring. It seemed as if she was actually concerned for him.

She truly was.

He sat there in silence, only small cries escaping. Beverly knew she just had to be patient with him at this time. She stood there for what felt like decades. Richie finally spoke. She could barely hear him, let alone make out what he was trying to say.

“Beverly please go away”, he was still crying and Beverly could hear the tremor and hurt in his voice. He was quiet for a long time when he finally spoke again.

“I thought I did everything right.”

“You did what right?”

A long silence stretched between them. Richie couldn’t bring himself to speak. Beverly didn’t know and he just outed himself to her. She’ll probably just walk away soon.

“Richie you can talk to me.”

“I thought I did everything right with Will.”

Richie could hear Beverly kneel right next to the stall door.

“Maybe you did.”

“Then why did he deny everything?”

“Sometimes people are just to scared to face their true feelings.”

“How was I not scared huh?! How is it that it’s my fault?” Richie was still crying, his breathing to fast for him to be yelling.

“Why did I have to figure it all out and-“

“Richie stop, okay? You’re hysteric”

Another long silence. The hallways outside were empty and quiet, not one person to be seen. The bathroom light luminated the stalls, the tiles radiating that sick sage green color.

“Can you… come in here”

“Well if you’d like unlocking the door I’d me happy to accompany you” Richie sniffed, and Beverly could hear him wiping his face.

“Okay.”

“Okay.” Beverly made sure her voice was comforting enough to calm Richie, even if she had little to no clue of what he was talking about.

She got up, entered, then quickly plopped down facing Richie. His eyes were all puffy and red, glasses nowhere to be seen. He was looking at her with his dark glassy eyes and all she could think about was how lost he looked. It was like she could almost piece out what this was all about from just looking at him fully.

“So, when Will first moved here I really wanted to be friends with him.” Richie began, not looking at Beverly. His gaze was fixated on his lap.

“He just seemed so interesting and so inviting and I really needed someone to talk to. So on his first day I introduced myself and he surprisingly liked me right away. I was so happy to finally find someone after the longest time and he just seemed to be perfect.” He stopped for a moment, slowly lifting his face to look at Beverly.

“Almost perfect.”

“Okay, no need to make ourselves even more miserable. What happened next?”

Richie genuinely looked at her like she said she found Pennywise attractive.

“Did you just deadass tell me to be less miserable as I’m telling you about how my bestfriend brutally denied me all forms of love?”

“Okay let’s not flip my words.”

“Beverly you can’t be serious right now.”

“What?”

“How are you expecting me to tell you anything if you’re just going to slander me like this??”

“Well I’m trying to be positive, okay? You don’t have to be completely wrecked to tell me about your lovelife!”

“Don’t ever say that again please.”

“What, lovelife?”

“Stop!”

“Richie’s got a lovelife, Richie’s got a lovelife!”

“Stoppp, do you want me to tell you about my inner demons or no?”

“Okay I’m sorry, continue please.”

“Your word is my command my majesty.”

“Now, now court jester!”

Richie didn’t notice it, but he was no longer crying. Sure his face was salty and stiff, but there was no new tears to wipe away. He was giggling with Beverly, his mind still on his precious green-eyed boy,
only this time he was no longer that sad.

“We were really getting closer, and I thought he liked me.”

“Do you like him?”

What kind of idiotic question was that? Richie didn’t only like Will, he was so inlove he would relive everything that included the Losers club and that bitchass clown just to have him all to himself.

“Well is it weird if I say yes?” He answered, now strangely quiet.

“Of course not Richie! Love is love, and you shouldn’t be afraid of who you truly love.”

“But-“

“No buts. If you like him, you like him. It’s okay if he doesn’t like you back Richie, it’s not the end of the world.”

“Well how would you know? You were never rejected! Everyone’s simping over you Bev!”

“Oh shut up please, that’s not the point. The point it, even if Will doesn’t like you, you need to move on. You can’t mourn your little failed crush forever!”

“Careful with your words there redhead, I’m the one spilling my heart, not the other way around.”

“Can you just tell me what happened in the end? You’re starting to make my brain hurt, or maybe even lose gyrus.”

“What the fuck did you just say with that straight face.”

“Have you ever read a book in your life dumbass?”

“Well if you gave a fuck to look at me, yes I’ve tried, but my shitty vision is making it hard for me to read even the fucking board I look at everyday!”

“You’re painfully insufferable, you know that right?”

“Will you let me finish my story or no?”

“Sorry.”

They sat there alone, and the time didn’t seem to pass. Richie gradually became more comfortable with talking to Beverly, even if all this was new to him. He always kinda hid behind his silliness and perfectly timed jokes, so there was no need to explain his feeling to others. It was like no one informed him he has the right to reach out to someone.

He was careful with his words, since there was no way to go around the main topic of this whole conversation. He needed to be fully honest and vunerable again, which was something he promised himself not to do again.

Beverly listened to every word that came out of his mouth. She was silent the whole time, only nodding if he needed reassurance. She knew it was all he needed in that moment.

“Does that make any sense?”

“Yes, keep talking.”

So he did, and he told her about everything. Every memory they shared, tho there weren’t many, but they were still bringing him happiness. Every look they held, every touch they felt. Everything.

He told her about the kiss, about how Will pulled him back in. How it all started to make sense, and then it all disappeared quicker than it lasted.

In the end, there was noting more to add. He told her everything and she had to give him an answer.

At first she just stared at him, her expression unreadable. It was like she was trying to figure out what could’ve happened in that small slit of time between their two meetings.

“Please say something Bev.” Richie said softly, it sounding like a plea more than anything.

“I’m just confused.”

“About what?”

“You did everything right Richie. You made sure he was comfortable with you, that he liked you, that he was happy near you. I don’t know what made him do what he did.”

“Well,” Richie started picking himself up, “Maybe we’re not made to figure it out. I just hope he has a good reason.”

“Richie don’t say that!”

“What, it’s you who said I shouldn’t be miserable!”

“I was joking, you can be miserable all you want, just don’t hurt yourself too much, okay?

“I’ll try, no promises!”

Now that both of them were up and ready to leave, Beverly snatched Richie’s arm right as he was walking out.

“You will get the love that you deserve and don’t let anything make you think outherwise.”

She looked at him, face serious.

Richie hugged her, his skinny figure landing on her. He exhaled, his weight finally noticeable on Beverly’s shoulders. He stood like that, knowing he should probably go back to class.

“Thank you, for listening to me.”

“Always Trashmouth.”

“Oh fuck you!”

Beverly left laughing, her giggles echoing down the hallway as she disappeared into some classroom.

Richie was left alone, only now, he wasn’t pulling all that with him. He knew it wasn’t over, that it will never be, that he will never forgive himself for being so blind.

But now, he knew not everything was his fault.