Chapter Text
‘’Will just this once!’’ Will had just managed to put down his cup of coffee on the table before Max started pestering him again. He loved this, living with his bestfriend. They got their apartment last year in synch with them starting college. Will met Max when they were 15, they never really had anything in common except both being gay. He remember that his mother called them an unlikely pair the first time Will had invited Max home. The first time they met was during art class, Will had just finished the assignment and was sat reading the perks of being a wallflower and Max had been sat on his left and asked about the book. And they had been inseperable since. Will was really happy for that, Will had never really had any friends before Max well.. that will say if you didnt count his brother Jonathan and his step sister El.
‘’Im really happy for you Max! you’ll do great but I promised El that we would have a movie night’’ Will said as he sat down on the brown courdoroy sofa he and Max had bought at a secondhand last fall.
‘’Invite El then!’’
‘’It’s not really her scene’’ He continued.
‘’Its not my scene either, I’m dying over here and i need my friends support’’
‘’Hey Max, you’re amazing at the bass. It will go splendidly.’’
‘’William Noel Byers-’
‘’Not the middle name card, i regret telling you that Maxine’’ he bit back
‘’I need you there, and i want El there to watch me be cool and then maybe i can stop talking to you about my unrequieted love for your sister’’ Right, Max had this huge crush on Will’s sister, and he understood why. El was this happy go lucky girl who was never rude. Will loves her a lot, he just feels jealous Not that he wanted to be liked by Max but he wanted to be liked. He wanted it so badly but maybe he just wasnt a person who was meant to be loved, not like El is. If he would have to be honest to himself he wishes more than anything that he was like El, pretty and happy. He remembers their teenage years when El would run around with a guy that swore he loved her, he doesn’t remeber his name but it started on a M. He remembers how easy El got friends in school, and how he sat alone at the cafeteria everyday.
‘’Fine! Ill call her, but only if she agrees’’
‘’This is why i Love you’’
‘’Yeah yeah shut up.’’
Will grabbed his phone from the coffee table infront of him. He glanced lovingly at his lock screen, It was a picture of him and El when they were younger. He hadnt seen his sister in a while since he moved in with Max and started college, El never liked school she went straight into working as a kindergarten teacher to save up to eventually move out of their parents house. ‘4457’ he muttered to himself as he pressed the password to unlock his phone. He opened his contacts and pressed the contact called ‘ Smelly elly’ and proceeded to press call. A few rings before she picked up.
‘’Hey El!!’’
‘’Hi Will, excited for tonight?’’ El’s sweet voice rang through his ears, a voice he misses everyday.
‘’Yeah… Thats actually the reason i called. You remember Max right’’
‘’Yeah of course i do!’’
‘’She joined a band!’’
‘’Oh my god that’s so cool! what does she play’’
‘’She plays the bass’’ He spotted a smile growing on Max’s face when she heard that El asked about her. ‘’ anyways she is playing her first gig tonight at our college bar and she really wants us to come. So whad’ya say?’’
‘’Heck yeah! It would be really cool to meet your friends and non the less watch Max preform’’
Friends, plural. Thats what she said. Of course Will had friends, he wasn’t lonely or bullied like he was during his and El’s childhood. Will talked to everyone in his class of course but he only hangs with Max. And its not like he’s Max’s only friend, since Max joined the band she won’t stop talking about her new bandmates. Will hadn’t payed attention to their names but he did meet one guy from the band last week when he and Max accidentally ran into him at the mall. If Will remembered correctly his name was Dustin.
‘’Yeah, but it would be just you and me and then later we will hang with Max and her band’’
‘’That’s amazing- YEAH MUM? oh im just talking to will. Hey mum says hi!’’
‘’Say hi to her from me will you? i have to head now but ill see you tonight, just come to my dorm and we will go there together’’
‘’okay’’
‘’Bye Elly’’
‘’Bye Willy’’
He sighed and put down his phone, he looked over at the red haired girl infront of him. She beamed at her own sucess of getting both will and his sister to their gig. He chuckled slightly at his bestfriend.
‘’Don’t let this go to your head’’
‘’Too late! You will love my band mates they’re as nerdy as you are’’
‘’Shut up Max’’ He responded before being met by Max’s loud laugh.
Max had to head out earlier, due to soundcheck and other band buisness that will didn’t completely understand, he didn’t bother to ask for her to explain. During his wait he grabbed one of the multiple books from his nightstand. The colours on the covers had started fanting from all the coffee will had spilled on it and every corner was chewed on, he’d blame his old family dog Chester on that. Will knew this book inside out, if there was a limit on how many times you could read one book for it to be acceptable, will had passed that limit a long time ago. He ran his thumb over the cover before opening the first page. The pages were filled by wills green highlighting pen and scribels all over in ink. He smiled´ as he whispered to himself
‘’August 25, 1991.. Dear friend,’’
The perks of being a wallflower felt like home to Will. The first time he rented it, he was thirteen and had seen a quote from the book on tumblr and he completely fell in love with it. So the next day he decided to go rent the perks of being a wallflower from by school library and the librarian ha looked at him and asked him if he was sure he wanted to read that book, Will was so exicted so he just nodded. The book completely wrecked him, he related to much to charlie to even coprehend how broken the book made him. He returned it a week later and librarian asked how he liked the book and Will broke down crying. One thing he hated himself for when he was younger was how he couldn’t hold his tears in, ever.
So, this is my life. And I want you to know that I am both happy and sad and I’m still trying to figure out how that could be. This was the only scentence that was highlighted on this page, beside it was a scribble, wasn’t it pathethic how will could barely read his own writing. He wished he could be an author, to make someone feel so safe and understood as this book made him feel would be wonderful. WIll had never been good with writing, It all got fumbled up in his brain. He glanced at his phone where several messages from ‘smelly elly’
Smelly elly 6:05
What are you going to wear?
Smelly elly 6:07
Im panicking
Smelly elly 6:10
WILL
Smelly elly 6:12
WILLIAM NOEL BYERS ANSWER ME
Will sighed as he reached for his phone he wrote that he didn’t know yet, and as soon as it sent El answered.
Smelly elly 6:15
buuh, anyways I’m heading to yours in a minute.
Thats when Will actually registered that it was quarter past 6 and the gig started at seven and he hadn’t fixed himself yet. He dropped down the book on his bed before running to his closet, he grabbed a black turtle neck that was hidden in the back of his closet, he didnt bother to swap jeans. He sprinted in to the bathroom, he looked himself in the mirror. His hair was messy but he didnt have time to fix it for as soon as he touched his hair he heard a knock on the door. He ran out to the door quickly put on an old denim jacket that he got from Jonathan before he moved in with his bestfriend Argyle, he believed the jacket was actually his fathers from the 80’s but he didn’t really wanna think about it. Lonnie wasn’t the best man out there. He’d rather say its Jonathans. He slid his feet in his black doc martens before opening the door. His sister was wearing a black button up shirt tucked into a pair of washed out blue mum jeans.
‘’You ready to go?’’ Will said as he slid out of the apartment.
El simply smiled at him. ‘’Lead the way’’
Lucikly for them the bar wasn’t that far away, a mere five minute walk before they arrived.
Once they were closing up to the bar El could sense Will tensing up, she nudged him on his shoulder.
‘’Will, calm down. We can leave if it gets too much’’ God Will loved his sister.
‘’No, We need to support Max okay?’’ He said as he dragged El towards the entrance, he walked up to the bouncer and smiled.
‘’Hi, Uh- We are supposed to be on a list.?’’
‘’Names?’’ The bouncer was tall and broad, If El wasnt next to him Will would probably turn his heel and walk right back to the apartment.
‘’Will Byers and El Hopper’’
‘’mhm, Get inside kids’’ As they headed in El grabbed Will’s hand and laughed at him
‘’Look at you go!!’’ She yelled, the bar was almost entierly crumpled with college kids, Will could reconginse maybe ten of them from his class but the rest of them were complete strangers. Luckily they found two seats by the bar counter and sat themselves down. El leaned over the counter to ask the Bartender for two beers. Will was just looking around at the sea of people, he could spot his red headed friend plugging her bass into the amp on the unlit stage. Will quickly waved at her as soon as she looked back up from the amp. A smile grew on her face as she spotted him, she pulled her hair behind her ears and waved back.
A few minutes passed and Will and El had just been sat chatting when the loud cheer from the other students interuppted them, when Will turned around he swore he could here El muttering something along the lines of ‘’Are you kidding me’’
‘’Uh Hi! We are Kaleidoscope and God there’s a lot of yous out here tonight!’’ A guy with Black wavy hair said into the microphone.
‘’And tonights kinda special, Our old bassist Greta moved so tonight we are introducing you to the almighty Mad Max’’ He continued.
‘’Im Mike and this is Dustin, and this is Lucas’’ He says pointing to the other bandmembers.
‘’We are mostly gonna play covers tonight, and the first one up is by The backseat lovers!’’
Will was surprised he had never seen this Mike before. His face was incredibly sculptured, he had high cheekbones and freckles splashed all over his face. He was dressed in all black, black tshirt tucked into a pair of black ripped jeans .He also had a Light blue Stratocastor wrapped around his body
‘’I am sunburnt in the dark’’ He started singing, his voice was raspy. As soon as that line was finished the Guy on the drums, dustin started playing along. As well as Max. Max was glowing on the stage, She looked like she belonged there. Her hair shining red under the stage lights and her smile glowing. El would be stupid not to like her back, Max is incredible.
‘’There's a woman to my left
She's been crying in her bed
For nights since you broke her heart’’ Will’s eyes fluttered back to the singer, He also looked like he belonged on that stage, like all of the eyes on him and all the attention was something he was thriving on. He was also glowing just like Max. And Will would lie to himself if he said that the boy on that stage wasnt mesmerising, he was everything Will wasn’t. He was Tall and scrawny, his black hair perfectly framed his angular face. He was beautiful, despite his tall body he didn’t look awkward or weird like Will does. He looked so cool, he looked so untouchable, he was everything Will wasn’t.
‘’I am sunburnt in the dark
There's a river to my right
There's a pretty starry night
And a couple of stacks of dry wood’’ The songs tempo quickned and the guy at the mic started to play on his guitarr as well. He watched as that guy, Mike as he said his name was throw around his hair under the stage light. His jet black hair was shining purple and blue under the light.
‘’A couple people round the fire
All the things that I desire
When I want to make things good
But I don't feel like I should’’ Will could swear he caught a glimpse of El muttering something behind him, he quickly looked back at her and she just smiled and mouthed ‘ nothing’. When he threw his head back at the stage he swore that the guy singing was looking at him aswell, or more through him. He must’ve been looking at El he told himself.
‘’She only needed three days 'til she could add to the list
Well I sure hope that it was one hell of a kiss, my friend
Still a friend, just a friend’’ The song grew dynamically, Mikes voice rasped its way through the speakers as he sang louder.
‘’ Yeah
And there are stars that we know nothing about
There are boats of men that sink in the sand
And the miles of pressure in doubt
But I know one thing for sure
That I won't dance anymore’’ As they finished the song a hoarde of applouses ringed through Will’s ears, to be honest Will has never been fond of loud areas but he tried to remind himself that he was doing this for Max. He turned around to El and smiled ‘’ They’re really good!’’ He said, for the first time in a really long while El looked sour, almost straight out mad. Will nuged her shoulder ‘’ Hey, whats up?’’
‘’He’s my ex.’’ She said sourly. The only Ex Will could think of was that D-bag El had told him about that were daiting her back when they were sixteen. That guy who swore he loved El but apparently cheated on her. ‘’The singer?’’ He asked. ‘’Yeah.. Mike Wheeler’’ So that confirmed his belief, The singer wasn’t looking at him, he was looking at Will’s sister, His ex.
‘’Hey we don’t need to hang out with them afterwards, we can just head home and watch How I met your mother’’
‘’No, I wanna see Max afterwards’’ Will smiled at her, if Max had heard her saying that she would go in to a cardiac arrest.
They played around 9 more songs before the gig was over, Will stopped watching Mike after El had reminded him of what he has done to her. He was now only watching Max, Max was also dressed in all black, Her Purple Adam Clayton bass hanged on her shoulders with a black normal band. Max had started playing the bass a year before they met, this one if Will remembers correctly was named Kida after the character from Atlantis that made young Max subconsciously realise that she was gay. He loved that his bestfriend was that talented.
When the gig was over Will grabbed El’s hand and dragged her to the backstage area, as soon as he spotted Max he quickly let go of El and ran up to her. He embraced Max in th largest hug he ever could do ans laughed. ‘’OH MY GOD!! Max you were amazing!!!’’. El was right behind them waiting for her turn to shower Max in praises, maybe that cardiac arrest will happen anyways. As soon as he let go of Max he saw the drummer walk up to them.
‘’Max! why didn’t you tell me you had a boyfriend? here I thought you were a loser’’
‘’Shut up Dustin! You know very well that I am a Lesbian!’’ She scorned her bandmate.
‘’This is Will and El’’ She said to the others, Will spotted the singer, Mike sitting on a sofa behind them, he was shuffling around and he looked almost anxious.
‘’Hi El..’’ He said quietly, El shot him a look that could murder before she replied. ‘’Hi Mike’’
Will quickly leaned into Max’s ear.
‘’Right so Mike is apparently El’s ex’’ He whispered before going back to be beside El.
Max looked dumbfounded, she was almost straight out gaping at her best friend. She mouthed ‘what’ to him but Will only shrugged his shoulders before sitting down next to Dustin, El mirroring his move.
‘’So if you’re not dating mad Max then who are you’’
‘’I- uh I’m her roommate’’
‘’And Bestfriend’’ Max added before sitting down next to El. Mike was still looking anxious as hell, he didn’t look like a person that absolutely just shredded on stage. Will wondered if that was all fake.
‘’So, This is Dustin, Lucas, and Mike. They’re absolute fucking nerds, just like you Will. Won’t shut up about fucking x-men, doctor who, and oh my god that fucking game you always talk about dungeons-’’
‘’Wait Will you play Dungeons and Dragons!!!’’ Dustin interrupted. How do you tell a bunch of cool kids that you’ve never actually played it because you’ve never had friends before Max?
‘’I haven’t actually played it but I love it, I make campaigns all the time’’ He prayed to god that they wouldn’t actually think he was a loser.
‘’OH my GOD!’’ Dustin continued.
‘’What’s your character?’’ Lucas asked as he leaned back on the couch.
‘’A cleric’’
‘’OH MY GOD!!’’ Dustin continued. Looks like Mike wasn’t as excited, he still looked like a mess, he was staring at will and el and looked like he was about to puke his guts out.
Dustin turned to the two boys on the couch.
‘’Why did we bring Max into this group when Will is right here’’
Max just scoffed. ‘’No way, You can’t steal him from me’’
Will felt laughter bubbling up from his throat.
‘’It would be a bad idea, I have no musical talent at all’’. Why was mike glaring at him, did Will do something wrong?
El was sitting there quietly, just as Mike was. Will looked over at her and grabbed her hand reassuringly and she just smiled back, and for some reason, Mike's glare became even harder, even colder, and even meaner. Will could feel his chest filling with worry, could someone hate this much by just hearing him talk? Was it his appearance, was it the way his voice sounded?
‘’So what are you guys majoring in?’’ Lucas said, pulling Will out of his head.
‘’I'm an Art major, I am also taking an elective course in literature’’
‘’Yo that’s super cool’’ Dustin uttered.
‘’El?’’ Lucas said passing the question to the quiet girl.
‘’I'm not in college’’ She answered shortly.
‘’So what do you do?’’ Lucas continued, trying to get El into the conversation.
‘’I work with kids’’ Not much luck to Lucas.
‘’So what about you guys?’’
‘’Business’’ Lucas said.
‘’Economics’’ Dustin continued. And Mike straightened his back before clearing his throat.
‘’Music’’ His voice was just like how he sang, raspy but at the same time sweet. Will felt kinda proud that he actually opened his mouth for once.
‘’Oh, then you’re Max’s classmate right?’’ Will continued, maybe if he got Mike talking to him then maybe that means that Mike doesn't hate him.
‘’That's right’’ he answered short and sharp.
‘’Okay so Will, don’t shoot me but I kind of promised that we’re continuing this party at our place’’ Will's head snapped towards Max’s.
‘’I don’t have a say in the matter?’’
Max's grin grew, ‘’ nope’’ she replied popping the p.
‘’Alright then’’ Will wishes he could sink into the ground, not only did he have the issue of Mike glaring at him with pure hatred but also he hated having people over. His and Max’s apartment was scrumpy and small, and Will’s stuff was everywhere. But he knew that when it came to Max, Will's pleading of not doing it would result in them doing it anyways.