Boys Don't Cry - Byler

Chapter 2

Trigger warning! Abuse

Wills pov

School today wasn't that bad. I finally have friends, who I think like me.

The only part I'm worried about is when I get home. I really don't want to deal with Lonnie's shit.

I walk over to the bike rack with the losers club.

"Hey guys, I'll race ya!" Richie says, getting a head start. "No fair!" Eddie says hurrying getting on his bike. Max rolls her eyes and starts after them, same as Dustin, Lucas, Stan, Bill, El, Bev, and me.

We all talk while laughing at Richie's stupid jokes and everyone's reaction. Stan is the first to go, then Max, El, Beverly, Bill, Lucas and Dustin, then Richie. Me and Eddie live closer so it's just us.

"So..do you like everyone?" Eddie asks excited. "Yeah," I nod, "Richie isn't a jerk like his brother." I laugh. He laughs too.

"See you tomorrow!" Eddie smiles and I wave. "Bye!"

I drop my bike, and walk up to the door. I really don't want to be here. I open the door, set my bag down and untie my shoes. It's really quiet. Usually mom or Johnathan would greet me.

"Hey!" Lonnie. I just realized my mom's car isn't there. Shit. I'm here alone with him. Shit. shit. shit. fuck.

"Why are you late?" He asks, slurred. Oh now I'm in trouble. He's drunk. I got home like 20 minutes late because Stan kept laughing so hard he fell off his bike on accident.

"Sorry I-" I try to say. "Don't say your sorry, just tell me." He raises his voice a bit. Now my hands are shaking. "I- I was with my friends." I say. "I saw you out the window you were with some queer boy."

"No! I- he wasn't-" he cuts me off. "Don't give me that shit. Now what did I tell you? I don't want those fags influencing you." He yells at me. Now my breath is very uneven.

"We were just hanging out! He lives in the neighborhood, and we were with everyone else before they had to go home!-" I raise my voice a bit. Guess my dad gave me his anger issues. Not as bad though.

"WILLIAM! I didn't ask for an excuse! Do you understand?!" He screams. I try not to cry as I nod. He comes closer and hits me across the cheek. "Say it!"

"I under- understand." I stutter. "Say it again!" He yells. "I.. understand!" I shout back at him, the tears falling from my face.
"Go to your room, and stop crying. I'll give you something to cry about." He walks off and I try to catch my breath.

I run the the bathroom first and look in the mirror. There's a small purple bruise across my cheek. I sigh deeply, and walk out, and to my room.

Once I get into my bed, I cry. And that's how I fall asleep.

___

I get to school, and see the losers club waiting by the bike racks.

"Holy shit! What happened to you?" Richie asks. "It's nothing." I reply, and try to smile slightly. "You sure?" El asks me. I nod. Eddie, and everyone else, gives me a worried look. I try my hardest to look happy.

It's lunchtime, and I'm walking to the cafeteria. It's been a long day already, full of threats from Henry, teasing from Troy and Mike. Mostly Troy though. Mike seems more quiet.

Shit. I accidentally walk into someone. "I'm so sorry!" I say. "It's okay." And of course, it's Mike.

God why is he so beautiful? I try to walk away. "Wait," he says. I turn back around.
"What happened to your face, if you don't mind me asking." I mind. I do in fact mind.
"Nothing." I say, trying to dismiss the subject. Couldn't he just make fun of me or something?

"It doesn't look like nothing." He says. I don't know if the look of concern he's giving me is genuine. Probably not.

"It's fine, Mike." He keeps his gaze on me. "Was it Henry?" He asks, staring at me intently. "No." Thank God I didn't stutter. The way he's looking at me makes me want to scream. "Why do you care anyway?"

"Because," he steps closer to me, we are literally 4 inches apart. "Just because I tease you doesn't mean I don't care about you." Oh. My. God. Is this a dream? Did those words really come out of his mouth? Am I hallucinating? Hearing things?

I am completely flushed and he for sure noticed. "Hey Wheeler!" Lucas says with Max, Dustin, and El behind him.

He keeps his gaze for a second, then turns towards them. "What Sinclair?" I'm sure they can all see how much I am blushing too. "You should go to your table. Will!" He motions me to come over. Mike looks back at me. After a while I stop staring at Mike, and walk over into the lunchroom.

"What was he doing?" Dustin asked. "Was he giving you a hard time? Cause if he was I swear I'll-" I cut Max off. "It's okay, he wasn't." We sit down at our table with everyone else. "Well what did he say?" El asks.

"What did who say?" Eddie asks. "Richie's dickhead brother." Max says. "Oooh, what did he say?" Richie asks. Great.

"Nothing, he didn't say anything, really." I try to convince them, but I don't think it's working. "Really? Because I don't think you would have been as red as you were if he didn't say something." Dustin smirks. Oh my fucking God.

"You were what?" Beverly asks, giggling.
"I wasn't! I-"
"Oh come on yes you were!" Lucas says.
"You like him?" Stan asks, looking astonished.
"H-holy shit," Bill smiles and laughs.
"Michael Wheeler? My brother?! You like HIM?" Richie says.
"For one, no I don't. Two, keep you voice down!" I say.
"No one is believing that." Dustin says, amused with what he's created.
"I'm sorry, but yes you do." El laughs.
"I don't!" I say, holding back a laugh.

"Will Byers, please, step out of the closet." Max says. I blush a bit.
"I'm gay too, you know." Richie says.
"You are?!" I say, I guess I'm not that shocked.
"So am I," Stan causally says.
"And I am too." Eddie says.
"I'm bisexual," Bill said.
"Me too," Dustin says next.
"I'm a lesbian," El says
"Same." Beverly agrees.

My jaw dropped. It already dropped a while ago. How are these people so open about this?

"So.." Max says. I give in. "Fine. I am gay, but I don't like Mike." I say. No one seems to believe me, but Richie and Dustin cheer, and Max claps.

This is going to be an interesting year.