What is Love? (A Byler AU)

Struggles of a Seventh Wheel: The Will Byers Story

It was the next morning and I was seated at the table in the kitchen enjoying breakfast. For some reason, Jonathan wasn't up yet, but that made sense seeing as he spent time alone with Nancy last night. I'm glad that they aren't always rubbing their relationship in everyone's face though. They keep a healthy amount of time apart, and it shows with how strong their love is. Maybe society will be different in the future and I'll be able to find love too.

It was almost nine o'clock in the morning, so I really wanted to go get Jonathan up so he wouldn't be late for work but I also didn't want to walk in on anything in case Nancy spent the night.

Soon some loud thumps were heard from the room, not those weird ones Max sometimes complains about at her place but thumps as though someone was in a rush. Apparently, Nancy is not so subtle, but she is fast judging by the brunette blur I noticed racing past the kitchen window, moments before Jonathan hurried into the room. He looked ready to run out the door, and I don't blame him. If I had a job I'm sure I would be in a rush too if I woke up this late.

"Hey, hey, hey!" Mom ran over to stop him. "Wait up."

"Oh, no, I'll eat at work." Jonathan insisted. "I'm late." Mom then reached over and wiped some of Nancy's red lipstick off his cheek. Thank god he hadn't left the house like that.

"Your cheek," she told him with a smile. Mom was really happy for Jonathan and Nancy, much like everyone else was. They made a really cute couple, but it was kind of gross sometimes.

"Alright, alright. I gotta run. See you later!" He waved at us as he rushed out the door.

"Alright." Mom put her hands up in surrender.

"Ugh. Gross!" I complained after Jonathan left.

"Well, I don't think you're gonna think it's gross when you fall in love." She assured me as she sat down at the table. Oh Mom, if only you knew. It was hard sometimes hiding who I was from her, but I had to stay quiet. Society is a weird place. I always thought my mom would be accepting, but after Lonnie and all his crap when I was growing up it just became too hard to tell who would be accepting.

"I'm not gonna fall in love," I told her as I put syrup on my pancakes. I want to fall in love, but I can't. Mike has a girlfriend. He is straight. I need to get over things, the world just isn't like that.

"Okay." Mom didn't seem to believe me though, judging by the look she gave me. "Hey," she said as she got up from the table and went towards the fridge. "What happened here?"

I looked over to see that the picture I had drawn of Bob Newby, the man my mom used to date last fall who died saving my life, had fallen from its place on the fridge. I really missed the guy sometimes; we all did. Without him, I'm pretty sure many of us would be dead. Hawkins Middle also wouldn't have an AV club, which is a tragedy all its own.

"I don't know," I murmured as I went back to eating. I had to hurry or I would be late to meet the party at Dustin's to welcome him back from the science camp he went to.

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As I was getting ready to leave on my bike I heard the super-comm go off. It was Dustin, " This is Gold Leader returning to base. Do you copy? Over."

I wanted to answer him, but we had all promised we would surprise him; which meant not answering him until we saw him at his house. Mrs. Henderson knew about it, so she would hopefully help to keep the secret. She called last night and said she left her spare key under the back doormat so we could park our bikes and get in undetected.