it's my feeling we'll win in the end

Chapter 4: will you call my name?

When Will first met Eleven, he had thought she was psychic. I mean, she was definitely telekinetic and to him, telepathy didn't seem like that far of a stretch. He was quickly assured that no, she was not in any way telepathic. Will was actually far more comfortable with her being able to throw him across the room with a flick of her wrist, rather than being able to read his mind. But sometimes, even now, there are moments that make him wonder if she really can hear his thoughts. Right now, for instance, as she stares him in the eyes and asks him why he's being weird around Mike.

"What?" he manages weakly. "Nothing! I'm not being weird. You're being weird. Who's Mike?" Smooth. El just stares at him and he knows what's coming next.

"Will," she says sternly, "friends don't lie." Her single favourite phrase.

"I'm not..." he starts, but he can't lie to her stern yet soft face. She wouldn't believe him anyway. Because she's psychic . Or just observant. It's unclear. Either way, she takes approximately zero bullshit.

"Will," she says unbendingly. "Friends. Don't. Lie." He opens his mouth to answer, but just then Mike is back at the table, packing up his papers. Will snaps his mouth shut so fast it makes a loud click, which earns him a confused look from Mike. And his cheeks are warm again. Of course. When Mike finally moves away, Will whispers to El:

"Look, we can talk. But not here, okay? Not right now." She looks like she wants to argue, but she must see the panic in his eyes because she just nods.

"Come to the cabin. Tomorrow." It's not a question.

Needless to say, Will does not get a lot of sleep that night. For hours he runs through different ways his conversation with El could go. He could lie. But maybe then she'd sense it and snap his neck with her powers in a blind rage. He could tell the truth. But maybe then she'd get jealous and snap his neck with her powers in a blind rage. In every scenario he runs through, there's a lot of blind rage and neck snapping. Maybe he's being dramatic. The worst actually plausible thing that she might do is probably just telling Mike. Which is so much worse!

In the morning he drags himself yawning and bleary-eyed out of bed. He brushes his teeth, combs his hair, and tries to make it look like he didn't stay up all night dreading today. He looks through his closet for an outfit that says: "Please don't beat me up with your powers even though I'm totally crushing on your newly-ex boyfriend". He can't find one, so he just pulls on a striped polo. Good enough.

By eight o'clock, he has already dressed, showered, and eaten. God, he just wants to get this over with. But El had said to come over after Hopper leaves for work, which won't be until at least ten thirty five (one zero three five, she'd told him). He spends the rest of the morning tapping his foot, drumming his fingers, and glancing at the clock every five seconds. At ten fifteen he decides that's late enough and flings himself out the door and onto his bike.

After a few minutes of furious peddling, he finds himself standing in front of the cabin, feeling the first few drops of summer rain on his cheeks. The truck's already gone, so Hopper must have gotten to work early today. Well, early for him. He makes his way to the door, careful not to trigger any of the trip wires. He's about to knock on the door when it suddenly swings open. El waves him in from where she's sitting on the couch then wipes her nose on her sleeve. Jesus, he'll never get used to being friends with a literal super hero. He steps into the cottage and closes the door behind him.

"Hey, El. Uh, how are you?" he asks, hoping to delay the inevitable with a little small talk. Unfortunately for him, Eleven doesn't do small talk.

"Will," she nods, and pats the couch beside her. As soon as he sits down she says, "So?"

"...So?" he says like he has no idea what she's talking about.