Chapter Text
The sun was setting as they began to drive away, the people Will knew for almost his entire life and cherished with his whole heart fading into the horizon. This was it; he was moving away from Hawkins. Away from the terror that kept him up at night, the horrors he saw when he closed his eyes... he should have felt relief, right? But that wasn’t what the tingly feeling in his stomach was telling him. Dread, misery and loss, losing all those close to him and moving away to the bright, unknown world that was California. It made him sick.
-
The house the government provided them was fine - it was bigger, brighter and a lot less ragged than their old house, but it felt so cold and empty. His mom claimed, “It’ll just take some time and Byers charm,” when he’d mentioned it, her words serving nothing but to only deepen the pit of unfamiliarity.
El was living with them now. After Hopper’s death, his mom had taken her in. She may have been clumsy, unaware, and struggling with social cues, but she made it charming. Even in the car ride, Will found her presence calming, a head on his shoulder or a hand in his, it was nice. Her lack of filter, despite being awkward in a group setting, was comforting to him.
El had swiftly claimed the room on the top floor, with a big window and plenty of space. Meanwhile, Will chose the one downstairs - it also had a window, but his view was just the neighbour’s fence. He missed the woods already.
Will hadn’t packed much, only his clothes and the few collectables he had, as well as his art supplies - of course. He’d slowly started to unpack once all the boxes made it to his room, but gave up halfway, the call of sleep winning as Will rested his head on his bare mattress, letting his eyes flutter shut. His dreams were of a hauntingly red dark world and horrific, unforgettable creatures. His past followed him, it always did.
-
By the time they were moving to California, it was nearing the end of summer break. The air getting sharper with a tinge of cooler winds, though not as cold, never as cold, as Hawkins. Will tried to get out, really, look around the neighbourhood, but he just couldn’t bring himself to. The reclusive allure of his room too strong as he locked himself away for the remainder of the holidays. Will spent those days sketching, writing, whatever he could do to try and feel normal again, as if he was back in Hawkins whiling away the morning before his friends came by. He dreamt of D&D campaigns and the smell of the Wheelers’ basement. They hadn’t played that summer.
-
“Will, Hunny!” A shout rang through the halls and reached Will’s ears, he hadn’t slept, but also didn’t have his clock set up yet, so he’d lost track of time, sketching down the dark-haired boy that plagued his mind.
“You’re going to be late, c’mon!” His mom called out again, now closer, probably waiting just outside his door. She hadn’t disturbed him for the past week for anything other than food. She had tried, in the beginning, to bring him out and see the town with her, El and Jon, but when he said he just needed some time alone, she didn’t push.
“Coming mum!!” Will called back, now slipping out of his desk chair and flicking the light on. He was still in the same outfit from a few days prior and probably reeked of a gym locker room. He quickly decided he should probably try to look at least half-decent for the first day of school, so he opted to for a bright orange coloured polo shirt, some high waisted jeans that sat a little baggy on him, and his dark red converse.
Leaving his room, Will was met with the smell of Eggos and coffee, the familiar scent calmed his nerves somewhat as he meandered to the kitchen.
“You’re finally up, bud!” Johnathan said, a little too enthusiastically, before scanning his face. Will watched in real time as his smile faltered, concern seeping through. He knew he looked like shit - the bags under his eyes had bags, he probably looked a little thinner, and his skin hadn’t seen sun in a week – and yeah, he’d seen better days. Jane, the name by which she insisted on going by now, contrasted that with the toothiest smile. She was dressed in a ragged t-shirt, straight cut jeans and a flannel jacket wrapped around her waist. She looked like a true Byers, and that made him smile back.
“Yeah, was just a little tired,” was his best explanation, now turning the plate in front of him. He poured some syrup over the waffles and watched as it cascaded down them, filling the grooves.
“Aren’t you excited Will?!” Jane exclaimed, grabbing his arm with excitement, “I’ve never been to school before, but I think I will make many friends, Joyce said so!”
Will smiled back, silently praying that his precious sister would be spared by bullies, she truly didn’t need more hardship in her life.
“Yeah, Jane, of course I am…!” He tried to sound enthusiastic, but it came out strained. Honestly, the best he could hope for was people ignoring him, he’d be lucky not to get picked on again. Maybe he’d get lucky, and there would be a good art club - he did hear that California was more enthusiastic when it came to art - but really, anything was better than Hawkins on that front.
-
Jonathan had agreed to drive them, considering they’d all be in the same school now. High school! Hooray! The whole ordeal made Will so sick with nerves he almost hurled right there in the back of Jonathan’s beat up car. But he made it and here he was, being stared down by the school. Nothing like Hawkins High, almost thrice the size, looming. Looking at the people around him, they all seemed to blur together with their tanned skin, bright outfits and confidence, although the third might have been more of a high school thing rather than a California thing.
Will sucked in a deep breath and stepped forward, he was no longer ‘Zombie boy’, he wasn’t the school fag, he was just the new kid, and he could carve his own path and leave his past behind.
That was until he spotted a familiar face and dark curls.