WILL POV-

Will sat idle in his seat; he didn't know what to think right now "I'm just so confused! Max and El? El and Max?" Muttering as he pulled his hair at the roots "But t-that's not part of the story! D-did the story change?" turning his attention to the two girls sitting near El's seat. They seemed happy cackling loudly while they share a slice of cake.

"Aww El! You're only getting prettier every day" Max bashfully stared at her, resting both arms on the table

"Eh! What are you talking about" El nonchalantly giggled, checking her reflection in her phone to plump her hair

"Well, it's true" The redhead stared longingly, taking a sip of water.

Will sat comfy in his seat staring at the two girls smiling under his hand. At first, he was sad that his favourite ship wouldn't happen but the more time he took to encompass this idea the more he liked it as long as the doe-eyed girl was happy.

"Here!" He forgot about that small problem- Mike Wheeler. Seeing the ravenette slump to the girls slamming a chocolate milk drink on the table

"And what is this?" Max scoffed inspecting the drink.

"It's not for you! It's for El!" Mike spat

"Oh, umm thanks but I don't really wan-" El quietly whispered

"I got it for you, so do what you want with it" The ravenette shrugged

"Oh okay..."El stuttered. She was grateful for the gesture but didn't know what to say as the ravenette trudged back to his desk leaving both girls confused

"Hey asshat! She likes strawberry milk" Max turned her head, slamming the drink down on the table. Mike rolled his eyes slumping into his seat annoyed that the redhead was getting in his way.

"Max do you want it?" El questioned

"Ew no! I don't like sweet drinks! Give it to someone else" Max scrunched her face waving her hands around

"HEY WILL!" El shouted as the brunette pretended as though he wasn't listening to the whole conversation "Do you want this?" she screeched

"B-but Mike gave that to you" Will mumbled

"It's fine I want you to have it! I know you like chocolate" The doe-eyed girl grinned throwing the drink in his direction flying through the air. it narrowly missed Will's head "Hehe sorry" El apologised

"It's fine" Will chuckled "Thanks" he smiled scanning the drink. Who knew he would be so close to the doe-eyed girl only mere days after being brought here. Maybe he could make friends as even Lucas seemed to be warming up to him recently compared to the book in which he could not stand the brunette. But Will somewhat felt bad looking back at the desk in the corner he saw Mike.

"Poor Mike!" He muttered under his breath "Doomed to love El, but she likes someone else". A feeling he knew all too well being a closeted unpopular boy. Ripping open the carton of milk he chugged every last drop. He knew he needed to keep the pair apart so that the ravenette will not end up heartbroken or take away El's joy in the process. Even if he couldn't watch his favourite characters fall in love, he wished to keep both happy even if Mike was being a pain in his backside.

"Woah! You should slow down or you might choke!" A tall figure sat in the seat ahead of him facing him. It was Richie a bright smile plastered on his face. Mike sat in the corner of the room able to hear everything; he knew that Will was obsessed with popularity leading Richie on for clout. He wanted to hear Will's attempts of acting cute for Richie, it made him laugh as if it was a show.

"On a liquid?" Will sarcastically questioned

"I could make you choke on my liquid" The glasses boy said winking. Will gagged, absolutely gross.

"Richie" Will sighed "Have you ever considered getting a personality transplant?" He spoke calm allowing the words to clearly flow out his mouth leaning on the table

"Are you playing hard to get?" Richie grinned enjoying the feisty side of Will compared to the overly attached Will he normally deals with.

Will blankly blinked, he hated all this incoherent flirting. "You talk to me one more time and I'm gonna shove this pencil-case right up you're a-" cut off by the bell ringing

RING

"Till we meet again Willy" The glasses boy dramatically tucked his chair strutting away

"Bite me!" Will exclaimed shaking his head taking his books out, Mike furrowed his brows not expecting that reaction from the brunette.

"Mike!" Dustin whispered throwing paper in a random direction hitting his head "What?"

"Give me your book I wanna copy the homework" The curly haired boy suggested

"No" Mike shook his head

"Why not?" Dustin whined

"You're supposed to do it by yourself" Mike emphasised his words

"But I was busy! Please Mike! Please!" Dustin begged, pouting as his voice increased causing the brunette to turn his attention to the commotion, Mike looked down "Fine! Fine!" His attention turned to the brunette unsure of his intentions with being nice to El needing to get down to the real reason but decided to be sneakier about it. If Will noticed him following him again he would call him out thinking of a better plan resting his head in his hands.

---- 3:10 PM ----

As the bell for the lesson rung the multitude of students jumped up from their seats running over to their lockers. Troy and James had other plans standing on both sides of the brunette's desk preventing him from getting up from his seat. "We need to talk to you!"

Will shivered feeling a hand grab his arm dragging him out the class down the hall not even allowing him to put his bags away. Mike furrowed his brows, could this be the revelation he wanted to find out Will's plan? It seemed as such. He dropped his stuff on the table "Dustin! Take care of my stuff!"

"But-But home time?" The curly haired boy pouted

"Just take care of it" He yelled rushing out the door searching for the smaller boy and his heinous friends, eventually seeing them rush through a door

The smaller boy ended up in the bathroom with his 'best friends' who cornered him against the wall "So why are you being so nice to El?" Troy scoffed

"I just wanted to spend time with my sister" Will whispered, somewhat intimidated by the two boys

"So, you're leaving us for that brat?" James squinted his eyes

"She's not a brat! If you'd get to know her, she's quite cool" Will admitted feeling as though he was rambling his words

"Hah! It's funny!" Troy chuckled

"What?" The brunette furrowed his brows stuttering

"That you were the one who complained about her the most but now you want to be her best friend" Troy continued

"...People change?" Will stretched his words unsure of what to respond with, he couldn't exactly say he was like a completely new person.

"So, you take that bitches side... Huh? Prepare yourself Will!" Troy uttered harshly pushing the brunette against the wall; it was something he was used to in his real-life school. He hoped that being in this comic he could avoid being bullied for at least a short while. He stood quietly leaning against the wall thinking about what to do. He wasn't as affected knowing that at least El wouldn't be the main target anymore walking out into the hallway and back to the empty classroom.

The lights were off so Will calmy made his way to the class grabbing his things from his locker at the back. He stood absorbing the peace that enveloped him. He found tranquillity in it just as he did at home, his real home. It was only day two but he missed his mum and brother feeling as though he was here against his will. It felt nice for an hour or two bur after an entire day it dawned on him.

He felt like shedding tears but refrained himself from doing so knowing that he would probably bawl uncontrollably as everything felt new and confusing, as he stifled a sniffle walking out to the courtyard. Pass the fountain he saw El waiting for someone; presumably him. His face changed seeing her knowing that they were friends, he walked over looking up by chance to see Troy and James on the fifth floor edging a flower pot closer to the edge. Will averted his gaze once again at El then the pot again, if it fell it would be directly on her and wouldn't be pretty.

"EL! STEP ASIDE!" Will screamed far away from El "She can't hear me!" He ran over grabbing the hand of the doe-eyed girl instantly moving her away as the flower pot fell in front of their feet's, a mere inch away.

"Pay attention where you're going! You could have gotten hurt" He reprimanded yet a hint of care was laced in his voice.

"S-sorry! I didn't see it" El panicked looking verbally shaken-up

"It's okay! As long as you're not hurt" Wil sighed

"I-I'm fine! But oh my God, Will! Under your eye" She pointed at his face.

"What?" Will questioned pulling out his phone checking his face seeing the tiniest scratch, probably from the broken debris of the flower pot. "Oh, it's okay! I didn't even know I got hurt" He cheerfully grinned a bright smiled plastered on his face. "Let's go home!" Quickly he interlocked arms with El dragging her to the car allowing them both to go home before anything worse happens.

Unbeknownst to them, Mike had been watching the whole time, seeing the interaction of Will losing his friends and now him saving El. He thought he was wrong... maybe Will did change. But now he had another question on his mind... Why? 

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1669 Words

I think I've lost my mind, respectfully

Stay Safe <3