I Love You Though... - Byler

Will

My name is Will Byers, I'm 16-years-old and live in California with my brother, step-sister and mom.  My life hasn't been exactly normal, we moved to California to try and fix that problem, it didn't really work though.  Everything followed me here.  I think you should know that I make up things in my head and pretend that certain people love me, even though I know they do.  And I'll find myself hugging myself or using a blanket and pillow and after a while I'll think it's someone else.  God, I sound stupid.  My mom - Joyce - is about as supportive and amazing as they come, but sometimes it just seems like she's not always there for me.  Like a piece is missing.  

I wake up to mom hovering the house at about 7 am, I know a bunch of people are coming around but isn't this a bit extreme?  Surely it is.  I rub my eyes and yawn, standing up from my bed.  I open my curtains and leave my room to talk to my mom.  "Mom, mom!"  I repeat because of the noise.  
She eventually sees me and turns the hoover off.  "Will, you're up!  Could you make breakfast?"  
"Isn't it a bit early?"  I ask.  
She looks at the clock.  "Well, they'll all be here in half an hour."  
"I'll get El to help with breakfast."  I start walking to her room and nock on the door.

"Who is it?"  El asks with a croaky morning voice.  
I open the door.  "Will."
"Jesus, Will.  It's only seven."  She says.  
I laugh a bit.  "Mom is making us make breakfast so you've gotta get up now.  Everyone'll be here in about half an hour."  
"Why are people coming so early though?"  She looks at me confused.  
I shrug.  "No clue.  Come on, we've gotta get a full-English made before they get here."  

I leave El to wake up a bit before I walk to kitchen where mom is hovering and polishing the surfaces over and over again.  I get the frying pan out, layer it in butter and place egg, bacon and mushrooms in it.  And I put the sausages in the oven and I get all the plates onto the table, and El comes out of bed 10 minutes later.  "Jesus Christ, El.  Could've used to a few minutes back."  I say.
"Language!"  Mom shouts.  
El yawns before talking.  "Yeah well, you got me up at seven."  
Jonathan gets up five minutes after El to help a bit.  And bang on time, we had all the food we needed lay out on the table.  And we were all sat there, waiting for Mike, Nancy, Max and Dustin to turn up.  Everyone else was in hotels.  It felt kinda nice that everyone went to the extreme lengths to come visit us.  

After ten minutes after half past I started to feel the overwhelming anxiety that no one was coming, and that no one wanted to come.  What if I had just dreamt all of this?  No, I'm talking like an idiot.  It's been ten minutes, ten fucking minutes.  I just need to calm down.  "How long do you think they'll be?"  I ask her.  
Mom shrugs and smiles.  "Well, how should I know?"  
I feel like I'm sitting in the doctors office, waiting for my name to be called.  And I don't know if I want my name to be called.  What if the doctor finds out there's something really wrong with me?  And then, I hear the door bell ring.  Oh, shit.  They're here.  Why is that a bad thing?  There are my best friends after all.  I need to stop panicking.  

"I'll get the door, mom."  I stand up and walk to the door.  Before opening it, I hesitate a second.  I can see mikes long black hair through the eye piece in the door, I can also see his arm up to his face.  Maybe he's biting his thumb?  And maybe that means he's as nervous as me.  Maybe they're all as nervous as me.  But is that even a good thing?  I don't know, all I know is that I sound like an idiot right now.  

I unlock the door, and standing there, is Max, Dustin, Nancy and Mike.  Max has the same flame-like red hair and face covered in freckles.  Dustin has grown a few inches and has grown his hair out, Nancy has shorter hair and Mike... he's grown his hair out and somehow he looks amazing.  But before I could think about what they all look like, Mike's arms were wrapped around me.  And suddenly, I felt at home again.  For the first time in 2 years, I felt happy... content.  I also miss when we could all just sit and talk about stuff for hours on end.  
I pull back from the hug and let everyone in.   "Hey."  I say to Mike.  
"Hey."  He says back, somehow shocked he was talking to me.  

Jonathan and El run through the corridor together, and Jonathan wraps his arms around Nancy and kisses her.  And El one by one hugs everyone there.  And I do the same.  We lead everyone into the dining area and sit at the table.