Murrayed

Chapter One|| Murray

"Will, what's happening?  What on earth are you so upset about!?"  Mike was dumbfounded.  After all the shit that had just happened, now he wanted to fight?  Now, when Max was in a coma, and Eddie had almost died?  Now, after their home was in ruins and their lives weren't much better?

God, couldn't Mike just leave him alone?  He was third wheeling milkvan again, and the same as before, it was miserable.  He had already tried to just rip the bandaid off, but of course, it hadn't worked.  "I thought we fixed this!  This stupid fighting, and the third- wheeling, and..."  God. This was stupid.  He was stupid.  Just a few days ago, he thought that possibly, just possibly, Mike might like him back.  Now they were having a yelling match in his empty living room.

What was he even talking about?  Weren't there bigger problems than that right now?  Like the giant, hot gashes of the Upside Down that were running through their town?  And anyway, he hadn't been spending that much time with El.  "And?  And what Will?  I thought we fixed this too!  But ever since we got back, you've been giving me the cold shoulder!  I don't even know what I did!"  This was unbelievable!  He-

"Whoah, whoah whoah!  Okay, what's going on here?" God, these kids were stupid.  "Is this not just a fight between friends?"

Murray?  Where did he come from?  He just interrupted them! And what did he mean by 'friends'?  Wait.  No.  Shit.  Did he think?  Did he think Mike liked Will?  Like that?  "No way!  That's all we are.  We're just friends,"  He confirmed, sitting down.

Will looked up at Murray, then back at his lab, his leg beginning to bounce anxiously.  Of course.  He was so fucking stupid.  He shouldn't even have let himself think like that.  Will knew that it was only going to hurt him.  Mike didn't like him.  Mike didn't like boys.  But Murray knew about him.  He always knew.  Shit.  Murray was going to tell Mike.  What was he supposed to do?  "Yeah!" Oh no. Oh god no.  "Just friends.  We've always just been friends."

Murray let out a loud laugh.  Really?  He couldn't believe it.  They really were stupid.  Will was red.  Bright red.  Did they really expect Murray to believe that?  They couldn't even look at each other!  "You know, I've heard a lot of crazy shit in my life, but that one has to take first place.  You two are worse than your damned siblings!" 

Will watched as Mike stood up again, his lanky figure moving to stand next to the couch, grabbing the arm of it.  To him, it seemed almost forcefully.  Was Mike okay?  He seemed even more stressed than before all of the sudden. 

He was freaked.  Really, really freaked.  He did not like Will Byers.  What was wrong with this man?  He was wrong.  He was insane.  "This is insane!  Insane!"  He shouted.  "You're just a crazy, balding old man!  You don't know anything about me!" 

Murray just sighed, smile never faltering.  They were so dramatic.  And definitely worse than the others.  That damn denial ran deep.  "Look.  You're young, attractive.  You've got chemistry, history.  Plus, the real shit, shared trauma."

He turned towards Will, staring him directly in the eyes.  Shit.  What was Murray about to say?  Will was panicking, unable to think of anything he could do to stop him from just telling Mike.  His leg bounced a bit more aggressively as he held eye contact.  No, no, no, no.

"Trust issues, am I right?  Something to do with that terrible dad of  yours?"

Will gulped down the knot that was quickly forming in his throat.   He hated his dad, but he was right.  Everything he said was right.  He was just a worthless fag, he knew it was true.  But at least Lonnie wasn't in Will's life anymore.