𝐬𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐫 𝐣𝐨𝐛; byler

f o u r t e e n

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"woah, careful there!"

but max's call did nothing to stop will from missing the stair, tumbling backward, and almost falling before being caught by jane.

"oops," he laughed, leaning on her slightly as he struggled to straighten up again. jane kept her hand carefully fastened around his waist and though he made feeble attempts to shake it off it was practically the only thing keeping him from falling.

"oops indeed," jane said, and he could hear the smile in her voice. somewhere in the back of his head, he knew he was being a complete idiot. but the thick cloud of gin-induced fogg kept him from caring.

simply put- will byers was drunk, and he didn't mind it one bit. 

that lemonade-alcohol drink really was good, and he ended up having a bit more than one. like, a lot more- he couldn't remember exactly how many, but he did remember a not-so-small stack of glasses in front of him by the time they had left the bar.  

"thanks for takin' me out, i love you guys," he slurred, lying his head on jane's shoulder. he did. he loved them, they were the best friends he could ever make!

but the two girls laughed.

"we love you too, drunk-o. let's get you home,"  max said through her laughs. she came to stand on his other side, putting her hand around the other side of his waist.

"i'can walk by my alone!" will tried to protest, but the two girls just laughed harder.

"sure, of course you can. but until you can walk by yourself, we're just going to hang here." max responded. will didn't get it, but since they were laughing he just laughed too.

"he's so adorable," jane said to max- as if will couldn't hear her- and then turned back to will. 
"i swear, will, how can you get this drunk from some tom collins? it has like, a half cup gin." 

"i'm not thaaat drunk. just a little!" will said, but the laughter didn't stop. what was so funny?

"he did have a lot of them, janie. like ten or something," max said to jane.

by now they had climbed out of the restaurant and were walking in the open night air, through the town- the beautiful town, the town he loved the most. and there was his favorite tree, and his favorite bench- everything seemed to be his favorite tonight. he loved everything, and even though everything was slightly blurry it was still amazing.

"i want another lemonade," he said to one of the girls by his side- oh, jane!

she laughed. "i think that's enough lemonade for tonight, mr. collins. we don't need you passing out on us,"

"i'm not collins! i'm will!" will said, which made max snort with laughter.

"sorry, my mistake- will." jane said, and her voice was edged with amusement he couldn't place. 
"where are we going? to get more drinks?" he asked.

"no, we're going home." jane responded, her voice endlessly patient.

"aww, i don't want to go home!" he said. he knew he didn't want to go home, he knew that for sure, but he couldn't remember why, what he was avoiding: but he knew it was something.