how to mend a broken heart

one

"come on will you're going to be late for your first day at your new school" jonathan called from the entryway while tying up his shoes, his camera slung around his neck.

"coming" will yelled back, grabbing his backpack and rushing to the door. he shouted a quick i love you to joyce and el and ran outside.

el was being homeschooled this year so she could catch up to the rest of the kids her age before going to public school. leaving will alone with no one to eat lunch with, let alone talk to.

"you okay kid?" jonathan said softly, studying wills worried expression.

"yeah, yeah i'm fine. it's just... this is my first year without mike and it feels wrong"

"yeah, i get that but i'm sure you'll make some new friends."

will shook his head and frowned, staring out the window at the passing cars. "i don't make friends easily jonathan. no one likes to talk to me"

"maybe someone will" the older byers brother said gently, ruffling wills hair.

jonathan parked the car and glanced over at will. will was biting his lip so hard it was bleeding and he looked like he was about to cry.

"if you need me to come get you at any point just call me okay?" the older brother spoke softly, placing his hand on wills shaking shoulder.

"okay" will whispered

"now, go make some friends okay?"

"okay"

with that will got out of the car and walked slowly towards the high school.

he pushed open the dark blue doors and started to head to his homeroom when he was slammed roughly into a locker by an older boy.

"watch where you're going girly boy" the guy said, laughing harshly as will fell to the ground

"oh fuck off james" came another voice, will didn't see who said that but he was grateful that james was distracted for long enough for him to slip away.

five minutes in and i'm already being bullied. will thought and laughed bitterly. it really wasn't funny but it was ridiculous.

he could escape the mindflayer, escape the demogorgons. hell even escape hawkins

but he could never and would never escape his demons

his sexuality

the fact that those bullies were right

and god did will ever hate it

will slumped into his chair and stared at the blackboard, tears clouding his vision

"you okay over there?" came the same voice as earlier today

will turned around and his eyes locked with the most beautiful boy he'd ever seen.

everything from his eyes to his hair to his lips were gorgeous, perfect.

"y-yeah i'm okay" will stammered.

the other boy smiled and turned away to talk to his friends, but will couldn't look away.

—————

will would glance over at the boy every minute or so. the boy was clearly popular, he had girls fawning all over him at all times and everyone seemed to look up to him and no one went against what he said or wanted.

will didn't want the boy to be like troy but he couldn't help comparing the two.

maybe will just had an issue, or bad experiences with the "popular" group or maybe the boy really was like troy.

about thirty minutes into class the boy caught will staring and smirked. he leaned forward across his desk and extended his hand for will to shake.

"my names matteo" he said titling his head, his eyes scanning wills features as if he was analyzing him.

"why are you talking to the queer" the boy sitting beside matteo said and laughed at wills heartbroken expression

matteo rolled his eyes, "oh my god you are homophobic, so fucking funny!!"  he snapped at the other guy and then turned back to will.

before he could say anything else, the bell rang and will basically ran out of class not wanting to be mocked any more.

before the door could swing shut behind him he glanced back and his eyes met matteo's and he felt his heart race.

only mike had ever made him feel that way before

maybe school wasn't gonna be so bad after all