WILL POV-

---- 12:54 PM ----

Outside on the playing pitch the students sat around. Will finished eating his lunch just scrolling through his phone trying to search up ways to get out of this comic but apparently this wasn't a situation most people found themselves in. He slammed his phone down closing his eyes turning his attention to the quiet girl sitting on another table. El silently eating her lunch with no friends. Will felt bad knowing exactly how it felt to be in her position as he normally found himself like that at lunch.

Suddenly his two 'friends' came up to him one on either side "Will please join our team?"

"No! I hate basketball!" Will whined

"C'mon we need another player" James complained

"Ugh" Will grumbled reluctantly being dragged to the basketball court; the teams consisted of: Mike, Lucas, Dustin and Max on one side with Will, Troy, James and Richie on the other. Will sighed not only did he hate playing sports but he was also on the villain team.

The game started normally and Will hated to admit it but it was fun; he liked playing when people actually passed him the ball. Normally in gym class he was the last to be chosen and treated like a nuisance the whole time. Although Richie did keep flirting with him the whole time.

The ball was thrown in his direction as his teammates urged him to throw the ball into the basket. Will knew his co-ordination was all over the place but reluctantly threw the ball; it hit the hoop ricocheting off it flying through the air. The brunette chased it with his eyes seeing it hit El on the head. He forgot this happened during the middle of chapter four; knowing it would've happened one way or another even if he had thrown the ball in any other direction.

"AH" She yelped, clutching her head.

Will ran over "A-are you okay?" He walked over to his bag grabbing his ice-cold water bottle placing it on her head "Does it hurt?"

Suddenly he was pushed out the way roughly thrown to the floor; his elbows covered with dirt a stinging sensation in his arm. Mike stood over him crossing his arms in front of him "What did I tell you?"

"Come on!" Will complained, stumbling up "How could I do that on purpose? You clearly saw it was a mistake"

"Bullshit!" The ravenette screamed "You do stuff like this all the time!"

"What?" Will muttered, knowing his character was jealous of his step sister and probably has done worst to her in the past and judging by the future chapters he showed no signs of stopping. "W-well maybe this time it really was an accident! Ever thought of that?"

"Go away Will before I punch you in the face" The ravenette threatened

"Note taken" Before the situation could be escalated, Will walked away.

The brunette frowned slugging over to the bathroom pacing around confused; hallway after hallway trying to find one. He exhaled walking in as the bathroom was clean, completely different to the ones at his high school that had graffiti on the stalls and broken toilets. His mind filled with thoughts... Did he technically change the story? In the original comic Will throws the ball head-on at El and then get into a physical fight with Mike. But the ball hit her head on accident and no such fight occurred. Scratching his brain he worried, hoping changing it just a little bit wouldn't affect anything major

Stepping over to the mirror seeing his reflection, he looked different unable to explain it; as though he was rejuvenated and full of life. It was almost unrecognisable as he barely even looked like himself. He checked his elbows seeing blood plastered over his shirt. He tried to rub the blood out but it didn't work, annoyed he dried his shirt under the hand dryer walking out bumping into someone.

"Umm... Hey!" The girl spoke in a soft tone

"Hi?" Will furrowed his brows seeing El in front of him

"Here! It looks like you'll need a band-aid" She whispered. Will scanned her softly smiling expression knowing she was just as kind as her role in the comic. Looking back at her hands she held a box of band-aids

"Oh, umm thank you" He uttered grabbing the box from her hand.

"Umm... about earlier" El began, twiddling her thumbs

"I know! I'm sorry... I swear I accidently hit you with the ball" Will explained throwing his hands into the air

"Oh... It's fine! Accidents happen" She showed a toothy grin "But what I was going to say is; I don't know why you helped me earlier. Both before lunch and right now with the bottle... but thanks"

"Aww El! You're so sweet!" Will gushed over the girl admittedly feeling bad, he always wanted to give her a hug. She was like a delicate flower pushed around by life in the harshes ways... especially by the hands of her step brother... Which was now him.

"I'm sorry" Will pulled her in for a hug; she remained stiff, confused by the sudden embrace by the boy who didn't even want to be seen in the same room with her. But she savoured the moment, not knowing if she will get another chance like this. Will let go holding her by the shoulders "If people ever do anything bad, and you want to get angry or scream... Do it!"

"What?" She furrowed her brows

"It's better than bottling up your emotions" Will explained placing a hand on his heart

"BYERS?" "WILL!" he heard shouting from the distance disrupting their heartfelt moment and upon seeing two figures out of the corner of his eyes, his eyes widened speaking "Hey El I need to go back into the bathroom to apply the band-aid, W-why don't you go back to lesson? so, you don't get late" He urged turning her around on her heel pushing her into a random direction "Go! I'll see you there" if they saw El, surely they would bully her so he needed to get her away from here.

El furrowed her brows but didn't question it, disappearing behind the corner. Will exhaled, allowing his 'friends' to find him "Hey Byers! Where the hell did you go? We looked for you everywhere" Troy grabbed his shoulders shaking him around.

"Oh really?" Will unenthusiastically responded

"We came to say nice hit" James smirked

"I-I didn't do it on purpose" The brunette admitted

"Sure, you didn't" Troy winked wrapping an arm over the brunette, he flinched walking away.

"Why did they have to come?" He muttered under his breath as the two boys chase after him. He deliberately duped them turning the corner to lose them. He needed to be alone for a few minutes; both Troy and James reminded him of his real-life bullies; Josh and Martin. He sighed strolling to a balcony overlooking the secret meeting spot

"I swear, they come out of nowhere like a ghost." Will frustratedly threw his hands in the air

"Wait... That's Mike and El" His expression changed watching the two; he knew exactly what they were going to be talking about. He smiled.

The ravenette stood leaning against the wall, a foot raised. He sat the girl down on the bench crouching down beside her looking into her eyes placing his hands on hers.

"D-does your head still hurt?" He whispered smiling tenderly.

"N-no... it's fine. I don't even feel it" El muttered looking down at her hands

"I told you to tell me if something bad happens" He replied, his voice steady

"How was I supposed to know the ball would hit me on the head?" She chuckled

"You know what I meant! Your brother can be... problematic" Mike explained

"I don't want to trouble you Mike" El answered staring him dead in the eyes, speaking firm

"But we're friends! Are we... not friends?" Mike questioned, almost as if he pleaded for a good answer

"You're treating me more like a liability then a friend" She frustratedly sighed, standing up from her seat to leave. She left the ravenette to stand in awe. His eyes softened seeing her walk away his brows slightly raising.

"This scene was so heart wrenching" Will sighed leaning both arms on the banister. He saw Mike defeatedly looking around accidentally making eye contact. The brunette ducked down "Did he see me?" Covering his mouth as though Mike could hear him from all the way up there.

He crawled out the door swiftly before he could embarrass himself any further. He ran his way to the classroom, he sat at his seat. No one was there except for Lucas and El, everyone else slowly piled in but he only kept his head down on the desk he was embarrassed but slightly relieved knowing not getting into a fist-fight with Mike didn't change the story.

Suddenly, someone slammed their hand down on the desk alerting the brunette to lift his head seeing the ravenette. Mike grabbed his arm roughly dragging him through the halls until they reached the bathroom secluded from the rest of the students

"Why are you following me?" The ravenette raised his eyebrows

"Excuse me?" Will scoffed "Me? Follow you?"

"Yeah, I see you everywhere" Mike spat

"Must be a coincidence... I mean we are at the same school" Will matched his tone applying sass as Mike had provoked him first "And if you'll excuse me, I have a lesson to get to"

He ran off back to class just hoping he wakes up from this dream eventually. 

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1611 Words

Stay Safe <3