Hawkins, Indiana

Summer, 1984

Dustin lay sprawled out on the grass in the summer heat. It was far too hot to do anything at all. A shadow fell over him, and he blocked the sun from his eyes with a hand to see who it was.

Will Byers stood over him, panting. "Jesus, Dustin. What are you doing?"

The curly-haired boy groaned. "It's so hot... I can't move. Will... I can't move..."

Will chuckled, and abruptly collapsed beside Dustin. "Dustin, why is it so hot...?"

"Beats me," muttered Dustin, placing his hat over his face. His thoughts began to drift to an odd feeling.

"Hey, Will? Have you ever been in love?"

Dustin turned to face his friend, seeing Will's face slowly going red.

"Pfft... n-no...." Will blushed, glaring at Dustin.

"Is there someone, Will?" Dustin looked almost hurt at the thought.

Will tilted his head back and forth. "Dustin, there's something I need to tell you."

"Yeah? What's up?"

A pause. "Dustin, I'm gay."

"Whoa..." 'Was not expecting that,' he thought.

"A-and... I liked Mike," Will confessed.

The world seemed to spin, warping and twisting. A bubbling feeling began inside him. Dustin had only one word for this, and he knew it well:

Jealousy.

Dustin quickly turned away, angry tears blurring his vision. Will noticed, but he kept going.

"But I know it couldn't ever happen. Mike hasn't moved on from that girl."

The tears fell, hot and fast. He stood, sobs shaking his shoulders.

"Dustin? Are you-"

"I'm fine," he snapped, walking to his bike.

"Where are you going?" Will asked, worried.

"Why don't you ask Mike to hang out with you, if you love him so much," Dustin growled, beginning to pedal away.

"Dustin! DUSTIN!"

Will's cries were ignored, because the lump in Dustin's throat wouldn't let him say anything.

A/N:

Again, apologies for the feels. And, I want to know:

Would you guys like it if I made a Gaten Matarazzo X Reader story? I have some ideas, but I won't write them if no one will read them.

Keep calm and find the chocolate pudding,

-Runaway