A Friend I Need. Zoran And Will Byers with Byler Content

Chapter 3 - The Punch

Zoran was concerned about Will.  Ever since they shared their memories Zoran found out Will tried to end his life by cutting one time when he was in Lenora Hills.  He felt rejected, alone, and scared and didn't feel he deserved to live.  Zoran also found out that the day he seen Will on his bike, Will went to a cliff to jump off.  The thought of meeting someone new kept that thought down.

Zoran fought most of his life in a struggle to stay alive daily so it is a foreign concept to Zoran to end your life purposely.  How does he bring this up to Will without Will closing himself off.  Zoran wants Will to know he is wanted and cared about. 

As Zoran explores Will's memories of his former friends abondoning Will made no sense to him.  They went through so much together then all of a sudden they ignore him.  It is if he wasn't valued as a person anymore and considering he is a caring person confuses him even more.  As Zoran thought about this stuff he went back to Saturday when they went to St. Moritz.  Zoran and Will picked out a bike that Zoran bought.  He remembers him and Will trying to load the assembled bike into the back of the Land Crusier and the challenges of it.  Zoran was happy he had his own bike now to ride with his friend.  Zoran knows he has to show Will he is important.  Zoran hopes Will learns from his memories that life is important.

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It was lunchtime on Thursday the 13th of November.  Will was late for lunch and Zoran was at his table waiting.  He saw the Party minus Jane sitting in their usual spot at their table.  Zoran thought he should confront them because their behavior bothered him.  He walked over to their table and they registered him. 

"What do you want Mike lookalike?"  Max asked with her usual assertiveness. 

"I wanted to say something.  I don't know why you are ignoring Will but he doesn't deserve it.  He went through a lot with Vecna.  He is my friend and you should still be his too."  Zoran said his piece.

"How do you know about us and Vecna?  Did Will send you over here?  Mike was questioning Zoran almost getting right into his face.

"Will doesn't know I am here and wouldn't want me here.  We traded memories so we know everything the other knows."  Zoran got cut off.

"What does that mean you know everything he knows?  I think Will put you up to this."  Mike was in Zoran's face standing.

"What did I put Zoran up to Mike?"  Will showed up to see what was going on. 

"You are mad we are moving on without you.  You need to face facts Will.  Having Zoran come here and you telling him things you shouldn't be telling him is not right."  Will eyebrows were furrowed and he had a very confused look on his face.

"What are you talking about Mike?  What did Zoran say?"  While Will was confused, in the background Jason Carver was watching with rapt interest.  He heard of 'Zombie boy,'  but he never interacted with him.  From what he could gather his gut told him everything that happened in Hawkins started with his disappearance.  He needed to know what Will knows but he needs an in to get to know Will.  Jason got up and moved toward Mike and Will.  "Come on Zoran, let's go back to our table."  Will and Zoran were going to move but Mike was still arguing with Will. 

"I am done Mike.  Let's us go."  As Will started to move Mike punched Will in the face.  Mike got into a headspace and he pulled back for another while in the back of his mind was screaming no no no, don't hurt Will.  Just before releasing another punch to a supremely confused Will, Jason grabbed Mike's arm and put him into a hold.

"Let go of me Carver!"  Mike bellowed out. 

Lucas and Dustin went to defend Mike, but the remnants of the basketball team were surrounding them.