Byclair Oneshots

Stars

Will stared up at the night sky with his fingers splayed out across his chest, while his other arm lay in the soft, green grass.

"It'll work. I'm sure she's just busy. A-and time zone wise, you know? It's different over there. She's a long way from Hawkins." Dustin sat criss-cross applesauce practically clinging to the speaker of the towering cerebro.

"Yeah, yeah that must be it." Lucas replied absentmindedly. He lay not far from Will, his hand intertwined with Max's who groaned beside him.

"Jeez, Dustin. You sound like a broken record. She's not picking up, if she's even real to begin with."

"She is real!" Dustin spat. "You'll eat your words, Maxine. Just you wait."

She quickly let go of Lucas' hand at the sound of her name at its full length. "Well we've been here for hours and your imaginary girlfriend hasn't exactly tuned in to say hello yet."

It went on like that for a while longer, and the entire time Will couldn't be bothered. His focus was on someone else. Someone who managed to remain admirably calm through the name calling and bickering.

Lucas had always been that way. He wasn't much of a mediator, that was usually Dustin's job. But if there were anyone to demonstrate keeping a level head, it was Lucas. He'd matured a lot from the small boy with the fiery temper, but he still had the same drive. Just in different ways.

Will noted how the distant moonlight and glowing stars highlighted his chiseled features. He'd always been the most athletic out of their friend group, but this summer Lucas had spent ample time going for runs and working out. He'd once told Will about it on a bike ride with Max while Dustin was at science camp and Mike and El were off on one of their many couples escapades. "Basketball tryouts are months away, but I might as well start getting ready now if I'm gonna really impress them. I might even be captain one day." He'd said it with a snarky smile on his face. That darn smile. It was so contagious Will had covertly turned his head to hide his bright smile in response along with the blush forming on his cheeks.

Now under the stars Will couldn't help but stare at the developing muscles on his arms that stood as proof to that past revelation. He turned back to Dustin who fiddled with the station some more. Max sighed and collapsed down from holding herself up with her elbows and landed on Lucas's chest, twiddling with her small fingers.

Lucas, still quietly staring up at the night sky, simply put an arm around her without a word.

It was that silent grace that Will loved about him.

Will simply found him beautiful.

And like most beautiful things, the rule is to look, but not touch.

He hated how badly he wanted to be in Max's place. Feeling safe in Lucas' arms, his chest rising and falling so steadily, his heart beat slow, certain almost.

If only he could feel that warmth for himself.
But for now, he lay on the too soft, too green grass, staring up at the stars and wishing for the one thing he couldn't have.