WILL POV -

Heartbeats exploded in his chest as he stumbled onto the rooftop. He heard a voice, it was like someone calling his name; beckoning him to come close like a willow yearning him to be lead astray.

The doors opened easily, there was nothing here... it was empty, the rain from earlier cleared up and the sky was back to its natural blue hue, soft clouds littering in the shapes of dogs, cats and mice.

"What am I doing here?"

His mind was foggy, like there was something important he should remember but it slipped his fingers every time he tried to grasp it. He looked around, his wrist in deep pain because he fell on the way up... what was so important that he risked a broken wrist but still managed to get up here in haste?

There was no reason to come to the roof at all, to be standing, over watching the school grounds; it was his last day... he should be in class with his... friends? He had friends, yes...

Did he come up here to meet them? It wasn't clear; surly he couldn't have forgotten.

Grabbing his aching wrist, he turned on his heel, looking over his shoulder once more... he couldn't shake the gnawing feeling that he had a reason to be up here, searching for something, or someone, but now that he was on the roof, it all felt hollow.

No one was here... no one ever came up here...

What was he searching for?

---- 1:12 PM ----

On his lunch break, the brunette made a bee-line to the nurse's office, his wrist hurting more than ever; it was slightly swollen and hurt to even move. Knocking on the door rhythmically, he heard no response in return, nor any shuffling or murmurs. He hesitated momenterily, glancing around as though he expected someone waiting for him; a nurse, a teacher, or even another student.

When he peeked his head through, he saw no one, no nurse or kids; on the last day of school, who really needed a nurse?

Quiet shrouded the room, oddly comforting, though it was something he couldn't explain why. Entering with a soft sigh, he crossed the line; the pain in his wrist expanded from a mild ache to something louder than ever... serving as a constant reminder of... something.

It couldn't be explained; he fell on the stairs rushing to the roof, that was easy to understand... but the reason why was unanswerable. He must have had a clear goal in mind if he pushed himself through to the top, climbing the floors with little breathing time, skipping entire steps just to propel himself further.

He couldn't quite place it, shaking his head; the window propped open, allowing a fresh bout of air in; they only had a few hours left till the end of the year, but Will felt as if there was something else that had come to an end today.

His eyes scanned the room, casting to the lone bed sitting in the corner... something about it familiar to him, hearing the faintest of voices – a soft echo of laughter as if traveling through time and space. As quiet as a murmur, blurred by time as a conversation he had here with someone.

"Jeez! I'm really fine, you know?" The voice was amused, "I've been bruised before."

Tilting his head, he pondered the words tracing back to his past, did he ever come here with someone? Or perhaps he had overheard a conversation outside, yet it was too distinct to be correct.

So what was it?

Paying no more mind to the bed, he wandered over to the small refrigerator, pulling the door open with a slight huff, difficult with only one hand... his eyes scanned the contents, the cold mist hitting his face as he felt around, picking the freshest pack... he wanted to ensure it would work.

But the voice caught him off-guard again, this time giggling soft, almost teasingly, "Good boy Will. Good boy Will." Like an owner training their overexcited puppy not to bite... it sounded like someone he helped, or maybe they helped him, he wasn't too sure.

That one couldn't have been a coincidence, right? It said his name... but then again his name was extremely common. He looked back at the bed, remaining untouched since he'd entered; no one in sight, still, the voice persisted, unable to string together. It was just an empty bed... but why did it feel like someone was supposed to be sitting there waiting for him?

Quickly, he closed the fridge door, shutting his eyes, "I'm losing my mind," he grumbled, clutching the icepack tight, placing it over his hand to feel something, shaking off the weird Deja Vu. It wasn't the first time he'd been here alone, for this was the place to skip classes from the worst of his bullies, but he hadn't needed to recently... they all left him alone, it was strange but welcome.

His tired mind was on autopilot today. All his thinking, emotional capability and reasoning left his body, as though it had already been soaked dry this morning to its fullest potential; something was wrong with him today.

With a sigh, he pressed the ice-pack against his slightly swollen wrist, the cold sending a sharp jolt through his skin, grinding him back to reality; it looked bad, but he needed it to heal quickly...

He didn't even know if he could afford the doctors right now,

---- 3:34 PM ----

As the final bell of their senior year echoed through the halls, Will made his way toward the exit, Max and Lucas catching him on the way down, their voices bright with the pure euphoria of summer delight; they were officially done! No more high school! No more uniform! No more homework!

Max cheered, jumping for joy, swinging her ID badge around around like a crazy person; too excited to even care when it launched into a tree.

Will chuckled at her antics, he wouldn't miss this place either, it had been nothing but painful - one trial after the other. The principal was corrupt and the teachers didn't care unless it made them money; the students weren't any better, and now that he was slightly famous, the gossiping about him got more intense, no one dared say anything to his face, but behind his back, he was apparently a whole different person.

People either loved him, making him a saint, or hated him, throwing dirt on his name.

So yeah, there is nothing he would miss...

The pair walked beside Will, their conversation filtering into a distant hum, animatedly chatting about plans for later, talking over each other as usual. The whole scene was natural, yet something was... strange.

Maybe his short attention span was the reason he couldn't focus on anything today. His mind kept fading in and out, feeling misplaced, like he'd stumbled into someone else's routine. When had he started walking home with Max and Lucas? And more importantly, when had he become friends with them? He had memories of them hanging out together at lunch, Max's studio, or internet cafes, but he couldn't place when it all started.

"What do you think Will?" Lucas included him in the conversation,

"Huh?" the brunette was brought out his own mind,

"What movie do you wanna watch?"

Will blinked, shaking is head with the fuzziness that clouded his thoughts, "Oh, um whatever, I'm not too fussed," he mumbled,

Whipping out his phone, Lucas leaned over, shoving the screen in Will's face, and showing him all the options to ensure a correct decision was made while he also listed them verbally, giving a short description of the films being shown. They all seemed pretty standard: action movies, romances, superheroes, horrors; nothing caught his eyes.

But then, something out of the list was strange, "'Zombie Gorilla in Space 2'?" he muttered under his breath; why did that sound familiar?

"Huh? You want to watch that one?" Lucas furrowed his brows, reading the description,

"Oh, um no, just thinking... it sounds familiar," Will shook his head,

"Didn't you go to the premiere of the first movie Will?" Max butt into the conversation, for it was something she remembered clearly.

"Yeah... the Zombie Gorilla falls in love with a Space Crocodile..." he muttered, repeating the plot; why did he go watch that movie? It sounded horrible, definitely not his first pick; he couldn't even remember the story as he was more distracted with something else... why did he remember sobbing?

Upon finishing reading the plot, Lucas scoffed, scrunching his face, "Sounds shit,"

Deep in thought, the brunette mumbled, "Yeah..." not even realising when his hand slipped, accidently putting too much pressure on his wrist. Wincing from the pain, he snapped out his thoughts, "Ouch!"

Only now noticing the now-melted icepack, Lucas blurted, concern lacing his features, "What happened to you?"

"I fell on the stairs,"

"You should be more careful," Lucas shook his head, "Where were you going anyway?"

Hesitation filled Will, glancing down at his wrist, the skin pulsing dull beneath it, like a faint reminder of something he couldn't quite put his finger on, "The roof,"

"Did someone do this to you?" Max scrunched her face as if that was the most random answer; Will wasn't a smoker so he wouldn't go up there for a cigarette, nor was he rebellious enough to skip lessons; he was fine in the morning – she worried he might have been bullied,

"What? No! No! of course not!"

"They better not bully you, or I will-"

"Beat their ass?" Will deadpanned, glad for her protectiveness, but he heard this speech many times.

"Beat their ass!" She repeated determined, slapping his back cheerfully,

Lucas wasn't even listening as he stared, softly cradling Will's wrist, inspecting it in his hands - after multiple injuries during basket ball and the first aid training he had taken, he knew a few things about bones. He sighed, being the bearer of bad news, "I think it might be fractured," making an observation,

"Fractured?!" Will repeated in shock! It couldn't be! How could this happen? What the hell was on that roof that was so crucial?!

Concern laced his words, "Yeah, man, you don't want to make it worse. You probably need an x-ray and a cast." The athletic boy advised,

"Forget the movie, let's make sure that wrist isn't broken first," Max ordered,

"Yeah..." Will offered a soft smile, nodding; this is what he was trying to avoid; doctors. It was a relief to have friends who looked out for him, even if he couldn't shake the strange feeling that lingered at the back of his mind...

He looked down at his wrist, wondering if that ache had anything to do with his nagging feelings...

---- 6:42 PM ----

"Well Mr Byers, I have good news and bad news," a nurse approached, a navy-blue brace in the palm of her hand,

What he feared came true; something was wrong. The brunette sat in the hospital after hours of waiting to be seen and grainy x-rays just to be given a verdict he already knew, "So I'm guessing it's sprained?"

"Worse..." She but her lip, holding a comforting expression, "It's fractured,"

"And the good news?"

"You'll have a cool splint?" she forced a smile, trying to sound light hearted as she sat before him, cleaning his wrist softly, securing it in a splint. The room was warm despite the sterile smells of antiseptic hanging in the air.

Will merely stared at the process, honestly fascinated by the splint; he remembered when he was little and broke his finger, he had to wear a cast and wanted the other kids to sign it... but none of them did.

Frowning as the memory bubbled to the surface, he sighed soft; he wasn't well liked – ever. No matter how much he tried, people left him – he cursed his bad luck. Maybe he was a black cat, someone who's unluckiness preceded him, rubbing off onto the fabric of others.

Something bad always happened to the people he loved...

He wondered if it happened once more and he just hadn't known it yet.

Sensing the pensive brow in his expression, the nurse cleared her throat, keeping him in conversation, ensuring the lightered feeling of the room as she saw his blazer, "Oh, you go to 'Maple Leaf Private'? My daughter goes there,"

"Oh, um, really?" Will replied awkwardly - not a fan of small talk,

"Second year... she loves it,"

"Oh, nice," Will smiled politely, not the most social; he was trying his best to respond and give answers, but it was as though his mind froze, anxiety taking over,

"What year are you in?"

"Senior... I just finished today,"

"Aww! You poor thing," she cooed, "You had to spend your final school day in the hospital... do you have any plans for the summer?" continuing as she saw the brunette shake his head quietly, "Well, you and your friends should go to the beach; I hear they have student discounts,"

"...beach?" Will mumbled under his breath, remembering making these same plans with someone - someone very close to him... it wasn't Max, Lucas or Dustin, nor was it El or Troy... so who was he making these out-of-his-comfort-zone plans with? He remembered it was someone he was able to let his guard down with, but he couldn't remember when or why.

"Yeah, beach," the nurse repeated, "Ask you friends when they get back," slightly looking around, "Wherever they are,"

"Oh..." Will blinked, almost forgetting Max and Lucas had joined him to the hospital, insisting on watching over him. Despite the passing time, they'd been true to their words, only disappearing to grab a few things, "They went to get some snacks from the vending machine," he explained soft, promising they would get something for him too; 'Reece's Pieces'... his favourite!

"Well that's sweet. It's good to have buddies in these situations," the nurse nodded, smiling, working diligently on the splint, pulling the final strap, "There we go!"

"I'd advise staying still for a few minutes, then you're free to go," the nurse advised, her pager beeped, alerting her of another patient, "I need to go... just go to the reception to be discharged,"

As she stepped out the room, Will was left in silence. His eyes examined the splint, twisting his arm around to see every angle; it was oddly comforting, like his wrist was being hugged at all times, pressed down by a soft weight. Then his eyes wandered the room, lingering on the small metal pole with an IV drop hanging from it.

Déjà vu washed over, strange and intact, one he had been feeling all day since the roof incident. He'd obviously been in a hospital before, but something about the IV drip was speaking to him... he had one when he passed out for being malnourished many months ago...

But who brought him here?

And who did he leave with?

There was more to the memory, remembering a figure offering him support, a calming hand on his shoulder, words of affirmation... it was all so clear yet distant, as if his brain were filling in the blanks on something that never happened; all he could remember was the atmosphere - the warm serenity from the comfort.

And like before, the voice came back, this time slow, almost as a whisper, "It's not the ice-cream I like... it's you."

He blinked, looking around but he was alone in the room. It was the same voice as the one he heard at school – was there a connection? Or was it simply an overactive imagination? He pondered if he had ever had that conversation, but the memory was just out of his grasp, drawing a complete blank.

The door swinging open broke his trance, looking over his shoulder to see his friends, smiles on their faces with chocolate, chips, cookies and drinks in their arms as though they went crazy with the vending machine... he just hoped they didn't steal.

"Ayo! We're back with snacks!" Max announced,

"So what did they say?" Lucas questioned, curious to see if his diagnoses was correct.

Without giving a response, Will merely raised his arm, the splint keeping his wrist in place, and showing it to them without needing to explain anything.

"Hell yeah!" Lucas cheered, proud of himself.

A side eye befell him as Max judged him hard, shaking her head slightly, "So when did they say you can be discharged?"

"Yeah... they said I'm ready to leave when I want," the brunette nodded,

Allowing himself to be pulled to his feet, he shuffled out the room and to the counter at the reception desk, placing his arm on the table weakly, a nervous sweat droplet running down his forehead, "I'm here to pay..." he whispered, seeing the receptionists lost in idle chit-chat,

"Hey, um, excuse me?" he tried again, getting no response,

After a few minutes of being invisible, he attempted once more, "Um..."

Beside him, Max rolled her eyes, annoyed by how he was being ignored; she slammed her hand down on the table, causing the receptionists to jump, "Excuse me!" Wearing a cocky grin as she caught their attention, lowering her voice, "We need to pay!"

Obviously annoyed, one of the receptionists flipped her chair around, sliding a piece of paper toward him... It was the bill,

The brunette looked down at the bill, crumpling the edges slightly in shock, dollar signs running past his mind, not even able to imagine what they billed him for – despite his financial situation being much better than it was from last year, he was sure this bill would set him back ten-fold,

"Yikes!" not even realising he spoke aloud! He couldn't pay all this!

With an eyeroll, the receptionist adjusted her glasses as she reread the name, typing on the computer, checking her file once more with a surprised expression, "Oh?"

"'Oh'?" Will repeated her; that was never a good sign! Leaning on the counter, attempting to see the screen hidden from view, he exclaimed worried, "What do you mean 'oh'?" did he have to pay more? Did something bad happen? Part of him wanted to grab the screen and force it to face him.

"Looks like its already been paid for..." The receptionist nodded as she read the screen once more, facing, "Yeah... paid for,"

Raising his brows, Will proclaimed, honestly confused – never once had a hospital he'd ever been to have no charge. He looked at both Max and Lucas, as if wanting them to answer this conundrum, "But I... haven't... what?"

"I'm very sure... it says 'Brimhorn' paid for it,"

Contemplation filled his cranium, "Like the company?" - the one he just joined? Why did they pay for his medical bill? He'd assumed he'd need to pay out-of-pocket since it was due to personal reasons... and how did they even know he broke his arm? He didn't believe it, "Are you sure?"

The receptionist faked a smile, quadruple-checking, "Yes, everything's in order. Looks like 'Brimhorn' made the payment just a few minutes ago,"

Chuckling at the brunette's dumbfounded expression, Lucas kept his voice light, "Lucky break man – wish I got my bills paid!"

Max nudged Will's lightly, "I told you they'd take care of everything for you. Guess you believe me saying it's a good company now, huh?"

Like a recorder on pause, his mind was static. He hadn't thought about it much before but it was odd; he just so happened to accept the company's offer recently, yet it never dawned on him why. He accepted this time no questions asked despite his reservations for the past years, he struggled with fame, with people, with authority but wanted the job this time.

Why had he joined this time? What had changed?

He could barely recall signing up, only that it was the next sensible step in his life's progression – everything was going well... too well. All he remembered was being encouraged, someone supporting him so passionately, so purely it could make a heart burst...

Was that the same person who came to the hospital with him last time?

"Mr Byers, your discharge papers," the receptionist handed him his papers, sliding it toward him, cutting him out his own mind... Max grabbed the paper slipping it into Will's backpack that Lucas had taken the burden of carrying.

Following the exit signs out of the hospital, as he left the front door though the parking lot, he felt the crowd forming, ready to cross the road, waiting for the signal to change.

Why hadn't his friend come to the hospital with him today? Where was he? And how did he look like?

The light illuminated from red to green. Forgetting his earlier thoughts, Will moved forward,

If Will forgot his mystery friend, then maybe they weren't important to him to begin with.

------

3333 Words

Stay Safe <3