Chapter Text
The party (Mike, will, lucas, Dustin, Max and el) sat in mikes dusty smelling basement that has lived through many memories of each of their first play dates with mike, first time hanging out out of school together, their first DnD campaign. And now they all sat on the couch, arm chair and table chairs in somewhat of a scattered circle. Mike sat by will on the couch, obviously. They was sharing a pizza amongst themselves.
“Will, we have a question for you.” Lucas says out of the blue, already having a smug look on his lips, sat on the arm chair with max sitting beside him, squished together like they automatically came in a pair. A set.
Will looked like a deer in headlights, he was caught off guard at Lucas question. They was only just speaking about how they should’ve got a pizza with sausage instead of pepperoni as the pepperoni kept sliding off the greasy slices...how did the attention turn to will?
Will looked at each of the party members faces. “Me? Oh uh okay. What’s the question?” He asked in a surprised, slightly higher pitch tone than his normal voice, taking a bite of his pizza slice as he chewed nervously. Maybe it’ll be like which pizza he prefers or something but his friends should know that already.
Max was already leaning against Lucas shoulder, holding her slice of pizza, cutting in before Lucas could ask the big question. “You have to answer honestly though okay? No beating around the bush.” She looked at him, watching him like some judge that was going to point at every mistake or difference in behaviour will makes.
Mike looked between them as wills name got mentioned, he was curious what this question could be. He bit into his pizza oh so casually.
Dustin and was already giggling like some school girl who already knew the question..because well he did already know the question.
“Are you dating anyone?” Lucas says, watching wills face closely like he might miss the answer if he blinks. Max leant in more close to Lucas, and will swore they was about to have their bodies fuse together like some two headed creature that was watching will under a microscope.
Will did not expect that question..no one could have prepared him for that. They really think wills dating someone? Sweet innocent bunny will? No way. But will did glance at Mike who also seemed to be shocked at the question but watched will now too. Will began to fidget a bit. “U-Uh why?..I mean n-no. I’m not seeing anyone. Why would I?” He chuckled, his cheeks already getting flustered.
Max chuckled. “Look at you, you’re lying! Your cheeks are redder than a tomato!” She laughed like it was some sort of inside joke..which that’s what this felt like, some weird inside joke everyone knew except will, Mike and maybe el.
El and Mike seemed to be the only one that wasn’t watching him closely, will already felt thankful that at least two people here that doesn’t feel the need to embarrass will, purposefully or not.
Lucas chuckled. “Well then why do we have eye witnesses that saw you kissing someone?” He laughed with max. “Come on dude, you haven’t gotta be shy about it. We’re all dating here. Me with Max and Mike with el and Dustin with Suzie.”
El glanced at Mike with a raised eyebrow like she was confused which Mike responded with a quick shaken head to say don’t talk about it. I’ll speak to you about it later. El just looked away, slurping on a juice box that mikes mom, Karen, gave to them all because in Karen eyes they were still the eleven year old kids in the basement playing DnD, which they still do..before they needed to separate off to college or wherever else life will take them.
Lucas then added with a smile. “I’m happy you found someone, will.” That sentence seemed like it needed a ‘finally’ added onto the end of it because will knew that the party assumed he wasn’t dating anyone..
Will blinked, hoping maybe if he blinked enough times he’d vanish into the darkness which his blinks gave him. But when he opened his eyes back up he saw the two headed creature over him, watching him, the dumb bunny. “W-Who? What eye witnesses? W-Where?”
Max then chimed in with a chuckle and a smug look. “Dustin saw you at school …”
Dustin then intervened “and a couple of people in class saw you too.” He said, not wanting to take all the blame for being the snitch.
“Everyone in class was talking about how Byers lost his lips virginity.” Max teased, chuckling. “I’m suprised you didn’t hear them talking about it today.” She bit into her pizza.
The thing is will did notice..he always notices the wandering eyes on him, the whispers.. “that’s zombie boy..he died and came back to life..he’s a freak..he’s a weirdo..he’s gay”. Yeah will has definitely noticed them for years. Even before his suspicions ‘death’ he noticed. But he’s started to not care..well course he still carers but he figures one more year left of high school then he’s out of here, away from all the noise, to start fresh where no one knows he’s the zombie boy, where he can have a rebrand.
“So..who is it?” Lucas quickly asked then Dustin swooped in excitedly. “You can’t deny it, will. It was definitely you in the outfit you was wearing at school. I saw the girls hair, dude.”
Will glanced at Mike to see his reaction. Mike looked confused? Maybe angry? Embarrassed? Will couldn’t even tell what Mike was thinking which happened to him a lot. It seemed Mike always knew what will was thinking but Mike was harder to read, maybe because he doesn’t really open up like will. Mike looked down, avoiding eye contact with anyone, especially will.
“I don’t know what you guys are talking about..now can we just talk about something else.” Will said in a more serious tone than anything, just wanting the group to drop it now. “Please.” He was literally begging. Surely they can give him a break for tonight, besides they had school tommorow..shit. Will they ask him these questions again tomorrow?.
The others did try and get something, anything out of will by little jokes but it was no use, both will and Mike just kept quiet and will just kept changing the subject so they dropped it, for now..