Chapter Text
Monday, August 1st, 1988
Will Byers has been back in Hawkins, Indiana, for over a year now. In that time, he’s barely managed to navigate his junior year of high school—a whirlwind of standardized tests, college discussions, reconnecting with friends, and struggling to keep a low profile while readjusting to life in his small hometown.
That, however, has been easier said than done. The initial attention was overwhelming, a constant reminder of the town's fascination with his past. People stared, whispered, and approached him hesitantly, as if unsure he was truly that Will Byers. The boy who had gone missing, been presumed dead, returned, and then mysteriously moved away two years ago. "Zombie Boy." The nickname clung to him like a shadow, and he'd long since lost track of how many times he'd overheard people gossiping about him.
Still, he couldn't bring himself to care too much. It was irritating, sure, but he figured it was only a matter of time before the whispers faded. Until then, he could deal with it. All he wanted was to move on and live his life.
But moving on was easier said than done. The past never truly left him alone. There were always reminders—old places, familiar faces, and fleeting moments that pulled him back to memories he wished he could forget. And then, of course, there was the looming uncertainty of the future. College applications were creeping closer, and he had no idea what he wanted or where he belonged.
One thing was certain, though: this was his last year in Hawkins. After graduation, he was leaving. For good this time. Though, that was a thought he had kept to himself.
Until then, he still had plenty to focus on—including the first day of his senior year, which had arrived faster than he would have liked.
Will pulled into the parking lot of Hawkins High School, sliding his old, used car into a spot and shutting off the engine. He had received it for his seventeenth birthday earlier that year, and while it wasn’t much, it got him where he needed to go. He quickly climbed out, stretching his arms as El hopped out from the passenger seat and Dustin emerged from the back.
Their house had ended up only a short distance from the Hendersons’, so Will had offered to drive Dustin, who was more than happy to accept—he wasn’t entirely keen on biking that far anymore and didn’t yet have his license. As they walked toward the entrance, the morning sun casting long shadows across the pavement, Will felt a familiar knot of apprehension settle in his stomach.
Senior year. One last stretch before he could finally leave Hawkins behind. He just had to make it through.
But that would mean possibly leaving—
“Hey, Will!”
Mike’s voice cut through Will’s spiraling thoughts, jolting him back to reality. He turned quickly to see a familiar mop of dark curls approaching, Mike’s usual easy grin settling on his face.
“Hey,” Will replied, gripping the straps of his backpack tightly, as if grounding himself. He had to be careful—not to let his hands linger, not to do anything that might give them away. Not here.
They had managed to keep their relationship a secret over the past year. Only El and Jonathan (and, of course, a few others back in California) knew. Jonathan was now in Boston with Nancy, and El had no interest in meddling, giving them space.
That left room for stolen moments—sneaking off to each other’s rooms, late-night car rides, fleeting touches when no one was looking. Of course, they made sure to be present with their friends too, careful not to pull a Mike-and-El-summer-of-’85 disappearing act.
Speaking of which, Lucas and Max trailed close behind Mike. From what Will had gathered since moving back, the two had spent most of the time he was gone broken up, but it seemed like they’d finally figured things out. Max nudged Lucas playfully as they walked, a smirk on her face, while Lucas rolled his eyes but smiled anyway.
Just as Will spoke, Dustin popped up beside him, throwing an arm around both his and Mike’s shoulders in a dramatic show of camaraderie. “Come on, guys, where’s the enthusiasm?” he exclaimed. “It’s our senior year! The beginning of the end! We should be celebrating.”
Will let out a startled laugh, adjusting his footing under Dustin’s weight. “Yeah, no, still not ready.”
Lucas scoffed, shaking his head as their little group fell into a loose circle just outside the school doors. “Seriously, who let us get this old?”
“I don’t know,” Mike chimed in, shoving Dustin’s arm off him, “but I think you’ve been an old man since, like, seventh grade.”
Lucas gasped in mock offense, placing a hand over his chest. “Wow. Okay. And here I was, about to be nice to you today.”
“Please,” Max said, crossing her arms, a smirk playing at her lips. “You were probably about to say the same thing.”
Dustin, still draped lazily over Will’s shoulders, waved a hand dismissively. “Yeah, yeah, whatever. The important thing is that we survive this year. Speaking of which—what do you guys have for first period?”
Mike groaned. “Physics with Callahan.”
Lucas snorted. “Yeah, good luck with that. I’ve got Econ.”
“History with Dawson,” Max added, rocking back on her heels.
El nodded and added a small, “Me too.”
Dustin perked up. “Ooh, same! That means we get to suffer together.”
Will finally pried Dustin’s arm off him, rolling out his shoulders. “I’ve got Statistics.”
Mike shot him a look, something teasing in his expression. “Oh yeah, with Nolan right? Still regretting that?”
Will groaned, already regretting all his life choices. “Absolutely.”
Mike laughed, bumping their shoulders together just lightly before looking toward the school doors. “Well, I guess we should get this over with.”
There was a collective sigh from the group, but they all knew there was no delaying it.
Senior year had officially begun.
____________________
The day passed in a blur.
The first day was never anything truly chaotic—mostly teachers handing out syllabi, outlining class expectations, and the dreaded awkward icebreakers that made Will want to sink into the floor.
By the time his last class rolled around, he was more than ready to escape the suffocating brick walls of Hawkins High. Just one more period, and he’d be free.
Maybe. If he could get through theater.
When he moved back to Hawkins, his friends had encouraged him to stick with theater. And while Will had agreed, he did his best to keep it low-profile, avoiding anything that might give people ammunition to tease him.
That meant sticking to the technical side—mostly set design. Costumes weren’t an option (he had no sense of fashion), and while lights and sound were interesting, he couldn’t see himself sitting cooped up in the booth all the time. Still, that wasn’t to say he didn’t miss the stage itself.
Shaking off the thought, Will stepped into the familiar black-box-style classroom. Instead of desks, the chairs were arranged in a large circle, the space open and intimate in a way that felt both inviting and exposing. He made his way to the far edge of the room, settling into a seat near the corner.
As the room filled up, the noise level rose—casual chatter, laughter, the scraping of chairs against the floor. Will kept mostly to himself, offering a few polite nods to classmates he recognized. He wasn’t exactly close with anyone here, but after a year back, it was hard not to be at least somewhat familiar with most of them.
Still, he wasn’t eager to draw attention to himself. He just had to get through this period, and then he could finally go home.
The chatter quieted as the classroom door swung shut, and their teacher, Mr. Cooper, strode to the center of the room. He was in his late forties, his dark hair peppered with hints of gray, neatly combed back, and his glasses perched carefully on his nose. He gave a warm smile to the class, a practiced expression that never quite reached his eyes. It was the kind of smile that felt like it had been worn so long it had become a part of him.
“Alright, settle down, everyone,” Mr. Cooper said, his voice smooth, almost fatherly. “I know you're all excited to get started with the new semester, but let’s take a moment to focus.”
Will rolled his eyes subtly as Mr. Cooper began speaking, his voice syrupy sweet as he praised the class for their potential. It was hard to ignore the way Mr. Cooper always seemed to linger just a little too long on the quieter students, those who seemed out of place, like Will himself.
"He's like... actually evil, I think," Will had once told Mike and Dustin in a rare moment of frustration. "Like, he's pretending to be the teacher who cares, but there's always something off about him. He's always watching, like he's just waiting for us to mess up."
And it was true. Mr. Cooper had a way of making you feel both seen and completely invisible at the same time. He'd crack a joke, make everyone laugh, and then, in the next moment, his gaze would linger a second too long on Will or someone else who seemed to slip under the radar. Like he knew their secrets—or worse, like he was just waiting for them to spill.
“Now, let’s start off with what I know you guys are really wanting to know—what our big shows are going to be this year,” Mr. Cooper continued, his eyes scanning the room. Will couldn’t help but feel a slight tension in his chest. His role in the drama club was always the same—behind the scenes, just where he liked it. But hearing Mr. Cooper’s voice, full of excitement and promise, made Will perk up a bit, even though he was mostly content with being the background player.
After a few dramatic moments of silence, Mr. Cooper held his hands up, signaling for them to give a drumroll. The class complied, stomping their feet or patting their laps, and it almost sounded like a storm rolling in, thunderous and building. Will rolled his eyes but couldn’t help but smile faintly at the enthusiasm.
“And our first production this year…” Mr. Cooper let the moment stretch before he finally revealed it, “Our Town!”
The reaction was... mixed. A few excited murmurs, some polite applause, and a couple of yawns. Will, not exactly moved by the news, shifted in his seat. Sure, it was a classic, but it wasn’t the show that was going to make anyone’s heart race. Still, it wasn’t the worst thing. He could live with it.
But then Mr. Cooper’s grin grew wider, and his eyes sparkled with that dangerous kind of excitement. Will could already feel the tension in the air—like he was about to announce something big. Unless he was just full of shit.
Another round of drum rolls. This time, the sound was more enthusiastic, but also dragged out just a little too long. Finally, Mr. Cooper clapped his hands loudly together for effect, and with a flourish, announced:
“Little Shop of Horrors!”
The class erupted. A wave of excited chatter filled the room, voices growing louder by the second. “Did you hear that?! Are we actually going to do Little Shop?!” One girl practically screamed, her voice echoing off the walls.
“I wonder who Seymour is going to be!” someone else chimed in, practically vibrating with excitement. Their friend scoffed, rolling their eyes. “It’s gotta be Travis.”
“Ugh, does that mean we have to build that giant plant?” Another voice groaned, half-exasperated, half-enthusiastic.
But Will’s heart was racing, his eyes wide with joy mixed with shock. Little Shop of Horrors was his absolute favorite musical. He couldn’t believe it. There was no way in hell Hawkins High School was actually doing a good musical for once.
Fuck, he needed to tell someone. He needed to tell Mike, or Tyler, or—
“Yes, yes, I know,” Mr. Cooper interrupted his spiraling thoughts, his voice cutting through the increasing chaos of the classroom. “Very exciting, I’m sure. But before we get too carried away with excitement, let’s talk about the real work ahead. Auditions for Our Town are next week, and Little Shop won't be till January.” He gave a sly smile, the kind that sent a chill down Will’s spine, before continuing, “So get ready, everyone. It’s going to be a challenge, but I know you can all rise to it.”
Class dragged on after that, but Will could barely concentrate. His mind was still buzzing, racing with thoughts of Little Shop. His hands practically vibrated with excitement and disbelief. Should he—should he actually audition for it? The thought made him slightly nauseous, but he wasn’t totally against the idea either…
At the end of class, as Will made his way to the door, eager to find his friends and spill the news, a voice caught him off guard. Someone slipped up beside him, shy but friendly. Will turned to find Jennifer Hayes—a girl he’d seen around but never really talked to—smiling at him. He remembered her from middle school, though now her blonde hair was styled into voluminous curls. Her gray-blue eyes were bright and friendly, and there was something about her that made her seem almost too put-together for his usual circle.
“Hey, Will,” she said, hugging a binder to her chest.
“Hey, Jennifer,” Will replied, offering a polite smile as they fell into step together down the hallway.
“Are you thinking about auditioning for anything this year?” she asked, tilting her head slightly, her voice soft but hopeful.
“Hm, maybe,” Will said, though in his head, he was screaming Yes, yes, yes, yes. “What about you?”
“Oh, definitely for Little Shop,” she replied cheerfully. “I’d love to be Audrey, though…” She trailed off, her voice tinged with self-doubt. “I’m not really sure I could pull it off.”
“I’m sure you’d be great as Audrey!” Will said, trying to sound reassuring, though part of him was quietly wondering why Jennifer Hayes—who’d always seemed so confident and popular—was even talking to him.
“Well, I think you could make a great Seymour, if you really wanted to. I’ve heard you humming in class before, and I think you’d have a great singing voice if you went for it.”
Will’s eyes widened. “You really think so?”
“Definitely!” she said with a small, genuine giggle, her tone warm and sincere with no hint of malice. “Well, I’ve got to go, but I’ll see you around?”
“Yeah, definitely,” Will replied, a little stunned. As she walked away, he couldn't help but feel a mix of excitement and confusion. Was she really talking about him for Seymour? Will barely even considered himself a good singer, let alone someone who could pull off a lead. Still, the thought lingered. Maybe…
“Byers! You’ve got to be kidding me!” a voice called from behind him, snapping him out of his thoughts. Will flinched, barely having time to turn before Dustin was already beside him, wearing a huge, shit-eating grin.
“What was that? Getting all cozy with Jennifer, eh?”
Dustin wiggled his eyebrows, and Will felt his face instantly heat up.
“What? No, it– it wasn’t like that at all,” he stammered, suddenly feeling flustered.
“Mhm, sure,” Dustin teased, walking beside him toward the school exit. “Like I don’t remember how into you she was back in middle school.”
“I hardly think crying at my ‘funeral’ counts as being into me, Dustin,” Will retorted with a roll of his eyes.
“Yeah, but—”
“Who’s into you?” A third voice joined in, causing Will to startle once more. He looked to his right to see the rest of the party walking towards them from another hallway.
“Nobody!” Will said quickly, nearly in unison with Dustin’s dramatic response of, “Jennifer Hayes!”
Max raised an eyebrow, “Jennifer Hayes? Really?”
Lucas snorted. “Didn’t she used to have a massive crush on you?”
Will groaned, rubbing his temples as Dustin nodded enthusiastically. “That’s what I’m saying!”
“It wasn’t a crush,” Will insisted, feeling his face heat up again. “She just—she was nice, that’s all!”
Mike, who had been unusually quiet, finally chimed in. “So, what did she want?”
Will hesitated for a second, glancing at Mike, but quickly shook it off. “She just asked if I was auditioning for anything this year.”
That got their attention.
“You’re auditioning?” Max asked, sounding genuinely interested.
“I haven’t decided yet!” Will said defensively.
“But you’re thinking about it?” El questioned him further.
“I dunno, maybe!” Will said with a shrug, and when his silence didn’t seem to put an end to the conversation, he continued with a sigh. “Mr. Cooper announced the shows today and it’s just… We’re doing Little Shop of Horrors in the spring, so, like, maybe…”
Max and Lucas glanced at each other, obviously not knowing the show, which made sense for them. Dustin, however, perked up in recognition. “Oh! That’s cool, man! Why not?”
Will shrugged. “Still just—haven’t decided. I’ve got until January, anyway, so I don’t need to think too hard about it just yet.”
The rest of the group seemed to take that answer at face value, except for Mike, who only narrowed his eyes slightly as he studied Will. Will had confessed to Mike (on… several occasions at this point) just how much he loved that show. Though, instead of calling him out on that fact, Mike only huffed a quiet, “Yeah, sure,” and let the conversation move on.
As they reached the front of the school, the group naturally began to split off—Max leaving with Lucas, Mike heading for his own car. Will lingered for a second, pulling his keys from his pocket as he glanced at Mike.
“Do you want to come over later?” Will asked, shifting on his feet. It wasn’t really a question he needed to ask—Mike came over all the time—but for some reason, he felt the need to anyway.
Mike nodded, something unreadable in his expression. “Yeah, sure. I’ll be over in a bit.”
With that, Will turned, making his way to his car where El and Dustin were already waiting.
The drive home started in comfortable silence, the hum of the engine filling the space between them. El stared out the window, lost in thought, while Dustin scrolled through Will’s glove compartment like it was his own personal treasure chest.
“So,” Dustin finally said, tossing aside an old cassette tape, “you are gonna audition, right?”
Will let out a breathy laugh. “Jesus, dude, let it go.”
Dustin smirked. “Never.”
El finally turned from the window, offering Will a small smile. “I think you should. You’d be good.”
Will’s hands tightened slightly on the wheel. He wasn’t sure what scared him more—the idea of actually auditioning, or the fact that, deep down, he really, really wanted to.
____________________
After dropping Dustin off and pulling into the driveway, Will barely had time to toss his keys on the counter before El was already heading upstairs.
He followed suit, shutting his bedroom door behind him before throwing his backpack onto his desk chair and flopping down onto his bed. His mind was still buzzing from everything—Cooper’s announcement, Jennifer asking him about auditions, the way Mike had looked at him like he could see right through him.
With a groan, Will rolled onto his back, staring at the ceiling. He had time to decide. He didn’t have to think about it now.
His Little Shop of Horrors poster mocked him from where it hung on his wall.
Will sighed, rolling onto his side so he didn’t have to look at it.
Maybe he should call Tyler. He’d understand. Or not. And then he’d also probably scream some sense into him.
He didn’t have much time to decide before a sharp knock echoed from the front door.
Will hesitated, glancing at the clock. Mike. Had to be.
With a huff, he pushed himself up, stretching before making his way downstairs. Sure enough, when he swung the door open, Mike stood there, hands shoved into his pockets, an unreadable expression on his face.
“You could’ve just let yourself in, you know,” Will said, stepping aside.
Mike hummed in response as he walked in, toeing off his sneakers before following Will up the stairs.
Once inside his room, Will shut the door and turned to him, arms crossed. “So, want to tell me why you’re being so weird right now?”
Mike shifted from foot to foot, his brows furrowing like he was debating saying something. Then, suddenly, he blurted out, “Was Jennifer actually hitting on you?”
Well—that caught Will off guard.
He blinked at Mike, processing the question. Mike, on the other hand, looked completely serious, his expression unreadable.
And then Will started laughing.
“What? Is that seriously what this was about?” he asked, shaking his head as he went to sit on his bed.
Mike’s face scrunched up, a mix of confusion and something else Will couldn’t quite place. “...Yes?”
“Mike,” Will said softly, nodding for him to sit down too. “She wasn’t hitting on me. Promise.”
Mike hesitated but eventually sat beside him, looking unconvinced.
After a beat, Will added, “Though, I’m not sure why that even matters. Even if she were. It’s not like I like her back. You know that, right?”
“Well, yeah! Of course I know that!” Mike said, way too quick and defensive, his ears tinged pink.
Will fought back a grin. “Good. ‘Cause I’ve already got someone else I really like, so…”
Mike sucked in a breath, his eyes flickering to Will’s lips.
For a moment, neither of them moved. The space between them felt charged, anticipation hanging in the air.
Then, almost at the same time, they leaned in. The kiss was soft, tentative, but warm.
When they pulled away, Mike’s face was still pink, but he was grinning now, a little breathless.
“Is there… anything else bothering you?” Will asked, tilting his head as he studied Mike’s expression.
Mike hesitated, then frowned. “Yeah, actually.” He exhaled sharply, his fingers twitching where they rested on his knee. “Why did you say you might not audition? I mean, it’s your favorite, Will. You—you have to.”
Now it was Will’s turn to flush. He looked down at his hands, fingers picking idly at a loose thread on his jeans as he mulled over his thoughts. It wasn’t that he didn’t want to audition—if anything, he wanted it too much. And that was scary.
“I’m just… not sure,” he admitted, choosing his words carefully. “Like, let’s say I audition, and somehow I actually get a role—it would just be a lot. On top of school, and my job, and figuring out college, and—”
“It’s nothing you can’t handle,” Mike interrupted, his voice steady, grounding. “I just think… if it’s something you really want, you should go for it. No second-guessing.”
Will let out a breath, still feeling a bit overwhelmed but appreciating the reassurance. “Yeah… Yeah, okay,” he said after a beat. “But I’m not promising anything yet.”
Mike gave him a look, one eyebrow raised. “How about just promise to think about it?”
Will huffed a quiet laugh, shaking his head. “Okay, yeah. I can do that.”
Mike grinned, nudging Will’s knee with his own. “Good. ‘Cause my boyfriend is so talented, and it’s about time other people got to see that, too.”
Will’s face burned instantly, his breath catching in his throat. He opened his mouth, but no words came out—just a helpless little noise of surprise. Mike was still grinning, but there was something softer in his eyes now, something fond.
“Oh,” Will finally managed, blinking at him. “That’s—um. That’s new.”
Mike’s grin faltered slightly, like he was just now registering what he said. His ears went pink, but instead of backpedaling, he squared his shoulders and said, “Yeah. Well. It’s true.”
Will swallowed, his heart doing something weird and fluttery in his chest. He reached out hesitantly, fingers brushing over Mike’s hand before curling around it properly. “Say it again.”
Mike let out a breathy chuckle, shaking his head. “My boyfriend is talented.” He squeezed Will’s hand. “And he’s going to get a part in Little Shop of Horrors , whether he likes it or not.”
Will laughed, leaning into him just a little. “Yeah. We’ll see about that.”
Mike smirked but didn’t argue back. Instead, he gave Will’s hand one last squeeze before finally letting go, leaning back against the headboard. A comfortable silence settled between them, the kind that felt warm and easy, like they had all the time in the world.
Will shifted, resting his head lightly against Mike’s shoulder. They fell into a quiet conversation about their day—Mike already complaining about his Spanish class, Will excited about 2-D Art, their shared AP Literature class, and somehow, they ended up debating whether The Great Gatsby would even be any good.
Eventually, Will let out a slow breath, glancing toward his Little Shop of Horrors poster again. The self-doubt was still there, lurking in the back of his mind, but Mike’s words lingered too, softer and more persistent. You have to. My boyfriend is so talented.
Maybe, just maybe, Mike was right.
For now, though, he let himself sink into the moment—Mike beside him, close and solid and sure. He could figure everything else out later.
"Do you wanna stay for dinner?" Will asked after a while, tilting his head to look at him.
Mike grinned, bumping his knee against Will’s again. “Only if it’s okay with your mom.”
Will smiled, leaning in to press a soft kiss to his cheek. “Of course it is.”
Mike hummed, pleased, before a pause stretched between them. Then, hesitantly, he spoke.
“...Is Hopper going to be there?”
Will bit back a laugh. “Think so.”
Mike groaned and flopped his head back against the wall, and Will couldn’t help but laugh at that, the sound of it echoing in the quiet room.
Fuck—senior year. He wasn’t sure exactly what it would bring, but as he sat here, with Mike by his side, he felt content with the idea.
Still, he couldn’t shake the uneasy feeling that lingered in the back of his mind—that he could never be truly prepared for what was coming.