WILL POV-

---- 10:21 AM ----

Break time hit the students of the school. Will didn't know what to do as he didn't want to spend time with his 'friends'. Their mere presence annoyed him but with the way his character was written both Troy and James wouldn't easily let him go.

"Hey Byers do you wanna-" Troy questioned placing his book in his bag but noticing the brunette was no longer in his seat rather he ran to his step-sister, standing at her desk.

"Hey El!" Will smiled excitedly jumping up and down "Let's go to the snack bar together!"

"Oh, umm okay" She looked both ways confused that her brother wanted to spend the short break time with her instead of his own friends

"Yay let's go!" The brunette chirped leading his sister out the room strutting to the shop. Mike watched them; he remained suspicious deciding to follow them wherever the pair went. Lucas furrowed his brows seeing Mike but shrugged allowing him to leave without saying anything.

The siblings walked down the hallway giggling as their voices were audible and clear; both seeming to have a lot of fun getting along arriving at the snack bar choosing what they wanted. Will chose a chocolate bar while El picked up an ice-cream cone as the weather was perfect, not too cold nor to warm; although that was expected from a comic book to have unrealistic good weather and then terrible rainstorms when the plot calls for it.

"I'll buy yours!" Will grinned skipping up to the counter feeling as though it was the least he could do after his character was tormenting her for many years aiming to treat her like a real sibling.

"What?" She raised her brows

"It's fine! I have the money" Will explained slipping the money for both items. Sitting on the edge of the water fountain, the pair chat. The ravenette watched them; did Will change? Something about him is... different, but could he really change that much so suddenly? Mike didn't believe it no matter how much Will might dress it up that he's changed. Mike was sure he had some ulterior motive up his sleeve- This was Will he was talking about, the boy who once cooked his sister's goldfish. He shrugged listening closer.

"But honestly! If you want something go for it!" Will encouraged hoping that by ending the story quickly he would be able to get home.

"What?" El questioned confused

"Like it's better to say how you think then regret it later! Even if you think you might hate it" The brunette urged

"Thanks for the advice Will... I'll keep it in mind" El pondered, it confused her why Will so randomly brought it up but it encouraged her giving her a plan to which she smiled bright nodding.

RINGGG

"Let's go before the second bell!" El grinned extending a hand to her brother; the brunette nodded accepting the hand to be taken back to the lesson.

---- 12:15 PM ----

Before the bell even rung Will had all his books neatly away, not even bothering to wait for the teacher to dismiss them. And so as soon as the bell rung the brunette popped up to his locker placing his books inside as he walked out the room on a mission. Mike noticed this behaviour as suspicious deciding to follow him.

The brunette walked to the bridge connecting the two buildings, contemplating what to do, he needed to find a way to get home, but how could he do that?

"Will what are you doing?" A voice called cutting him out of his thoughts, turning around he saw the ravenette. Will rolled his eyes not wanting to be incriminated again he shooed him away "Don't bother me and go on your way! I'm thinking!"

"Well! That's new" Mike scoffed

Will furrowed his brows, he was getting fed up of this. Why does the ravenette keep belittling him every chance he can get? Following him as if he was a toddler needing constant supervision "Why do you keep doing that?"

"Doing what?" Mike innocently asked

"Following me everywhere!" The brunette explained

"It's because I'm getting sick of this" The ravenette spat taking a step closer towering over the brunette

"What?" Will hesitantly stuttered taking a step back

"You! I don't like you" Mike crossed his arms

Will furrowed his brows, what exactly was that supposed to mean? Mike kept grinding his gears, even if he was his favourite character he had no right to speak to him like that "I never said you d-"

"Oh really! Then what's all of this getting close to El business?" The ravenette cut off

"Mike" Will sighed "I'm just trying to be close to my sister! Like I've said before" He whined throwing his hands in the air

Mike screamed "You're such a ass! No one fucking likes you!" Will's eyes widened his eyebrows slightly raised. He took a slight step back. Mike's words cut deep to his core. He wanted to say something back to defend himself but part of him believed it. He didn't care what had been said as he was used to much worse. It was rather who said it to him; Mike Wheeler. His favourite character; His idol of sorts.

Will trudged away pass the library to the balcony "I'm so stupid!" Will exclaimed hitting his head "Why can't I say anything back to him like an idiot"

"And why does he have to be so mean to me? It's not like I'm doing anything wrong!!" He jumped up and down frustratedly "When will I wake up from this dream?" He shouted waving his arms around

"There are people trying to study in the library, you know?" Lucas crossed his arms

The brunette turned around, his attention focusing to the tall boy behind him then facing forward again leaning on the balcony banister "Okay! Well tell them to deal with it" Will mocked "Because I'm having a crisis"

"Will you're always having a crisis" Lucas rolled his eyes

"Well this time it's important!" Will explained pouting

"Okay... What is it?" Lucas furrowed his brows standing next to the smaller boy copying his posture.

Will sighed, he didn't want to tell Lucas anything as he didn't know what exactly was happening around him. A thought clicked in his head thinking Mike was right; the reason no one liked him was his own fault. He frowned facing into the distance seeing something bright in the sky; he stood still, it seemed as though it was a portal almost as if the sky was ripping open, it pulsated as coloured particles emitted from it. Scanning around as no one seemed to pay attention to it.

"D-Do you see that?" Will didn't answer the question pointing at the portal.

"See what?" The athletic leaned forward looking in the direction Will was pointing in

"That!" Will pointed again as it slowly closed before his own eyes "Where did it go?" The brunette furrowed his brows.

"What am I looking at exactly?" Lucas questioned placing a hand on his chin

"Never Mind!" Will quickly spoke

"But I thought something was wrong?" The athletic boy asked

"Forget it! It's better this way" The brunette rushed his words jumping away,

"Will?" Lucas stood confused; he didn't know what was going on with Will recently. He was different than usual seeming happier, especially around his sister. He was more approachable, almost as if a whole new person; it intrigued him wanting to learn more about him. He smiled, walking back out the door to the library

Will scurried around the school trying to reach the courtyard where he saw the portal emerge in the air directly above the water fountain. It was no longer there, stopping dead in his tracks "Wait I don't get it" He panicked as a million thoughts passed his brain. He hit his face with both hands in an attempt to calm down spotting two familiar figures on the other side of the fountain.

"El and Max? But they don't talk until chapter 26" Will mumbled under his breath, furrowing his brows. "Did I miss a scene?" He muttered

"Do you wanna hangout?" He heard El speak

"Oh... Umm yeah! Yeah!" Max grinned, clutching her skateboard in her left hand "We should ask Mike if he wan-"

"I was hoping it would be just the two of us... Alone" El emphasised the last word

"Oh okay!" The redhead stretched her words

But there is another thing..." El bashfully looked in the other direction

"Another thing?" Max furrowed her brows honestly just excited to spend time with El

"Someone told me that I should go for what I want so I don't regret it later" El began speaking plumping her hair "I heard you were Bi, and that's why I mustered up my courage! Max Mayfield do you want to go on a date... with me?"

Max's face lifted, almost as if this was something she had been wanting to hear for a long time, something she was waiting for "YES! I mean Yeah cool! What did you think we could do?" She grinned pulling two thumbs up.

"That's a surprise" El winked

Will face dropped "So the mystery person Max liked... Is El? And El likes Max?" He watched on, "What. The. Fuck." 

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1550 Words

Stay Safe <3