𝐇𝐮𝐫𝐭 𝐌𝐞 𝐀𝐠𝐚𝐢𝐧 ; 𝘉𝘺𝘭𝘦𝘳

𝟓.

The Byers Residence | Wed 8:34 PM
Will Byers

"Alright Boys! Pizza money's on the counter!" Joyce yelled from the kitchen. Her heels clicked as she walked to the front door, the woman pulling down her strapless red dress one more time before exiting. Will would rather she didn't go out at all, but not even Jonathan could stop her.

Their mother has been secretly dating someone for weeks now. Quiet giggles coming from her room. The weekly dates. How every time she comes back from work, she's all giddy. And Will knows working at a department store is nothing to be excited about.

Who's this mystery man she's hiding?

Will pushes himself off his bed and makes his way over to the money, which he eyes for a beat, the gears in his mind turning involuntarily.

You should pocket it! I doubt Jonathan even heard what she said.

"No...that would be wrong." Will whispered to himself. He hates when they come alive and start trying to so tell his life. It's not only annoying and scary, the painful migraines that come after make him want to throw his head against the wall.

No! If Jonathan or Mom finds out they'll never forgive us! We'll get disowned and'll have to fend for ourselves on the streets!

"It's just twenty bucks..."

Right! So no one will miss it!

"Will?"

The younger boy twisted his head around to his older brother, who hasn't been to his dorm in almost six months. After Lonnie got out of the hospital, he tried to come back, claiming he wanted to talk but it always turned into an argument. And Jon always had to be the one to come and break it up. So to keep his family safe, he moved back in.

"Oh h-hey...want me to order something?"

Jon's hair was much shorter now, his mustache finally starting to grow in. His head was covered with a black hoodie, hands stuffed into both his pockets. Will always thought he looked like a stoner, and if he was right, considered asking for a hit.

"Sure but um, you ok? You look a little exhausted."

"Just school." He lied. It's hard to sleep with two people in your head bickering all the time.

"Tell me about it. People giving you and Mike a hard time?"

We should call him over, you haven't got any action in almost a year. It's sad.

"Uh...Uh-yeah. But we're fine, it's not that bad."

It's absolutely hell. Will's constantly paranoid about running into James when he's alone and getting his shot handed to him for stabbing him in the leg. He's just biting his time until the day comes at this point. He knows he can't avoid him forever.

"Do people at your school know about you?" Will then asks, shifting the conversation off of himself.

"Some do but they haven't said anything to my face at least. I try not to make it obvious but it's hard, you know?"

He knew better than anyone. People looked at Will and automatically knew. He used to resent Jon for it when he first came out, how he had a deep manly voice and he didn't like painting his nails or trying on their mother's skirts. But the truth was that he was just better at hiding it, which was harder than Will could ever imagine.

"I get it...can I get some advice on something."

"Shoot."

"What do you do, hypothetically, if you see someone you haven't seen in a while who you used to have feelings for, what would you do about them...coming back up again."

Jonathan's eyes bulge and he leans his weight against the wall while thinking. "Will, I hope you know I really like you and Mike together."

"It's just hypothetical!" He reiterated, crossing his arms.

I love all the lying you've been doing lately. It's totally badass.

I don't! Lying isn't healthy for the soul, Will.

"You should stick with what you've got. Don't let this old guy get in the way of the old guy."

Jon ends it there, walking away back to his room and leaving Will in deep thought about what he should do. Another thing that kept him up besides the voices and the flower monster outside his window was Stan and their reunion. He missed him and what he used to be, but it's clear he doesn't want anything to do with him anymore. So he should probably just give and move on. Stick with what he's got like Jonathan said.

But what if what he's got isn't...good enough anymore?

• • •

Will's awoken by talking, but a different kind than he's used to. Calm whispers fill the house, possibly Joyce saying goodnight to her date. Or at least that's what he thinks until the door creaks open and a man steps inside, ghostly in the dark blue.

"You awake?"

Will doesn't answer and pretends to be asleep, not recognizing the figure at first. Until their distinctive silver watch gleamed in the moonlight, broken and only worn for show. He only knew one person who'd do it, and the other voices couldn't handle the realization.

What the fuckity fuck is he doing here! Didn't Jon kill this son of a bitch?

Why don't we just talk to him? We need peace in our life, don't we?

Will don't listen to this foolishness, let's commit a murder! And make sure he doesn't come back this time. Hurry! Before he leaves!

"We're not doing that." Will mumbled, gaining the attention of his father.

"What you say?"

Suddenly, an intense headache washed over him, dissociating him from his body. His consciousness. One of them was trying to take over, and he wasn't going to let it happen.

Will sprung up in his bed, startling Lonnie and making him step back. His fingers ran through his hair harshly, tugging harshly on it to try and stop it.

"Stop...stop..." He mumbled to himself before screaming, "Get the fuck out!"

"Ok, Jeez! I just needed to—"

"I don't care! Just l-leave!"

His voice started to shake, and his yells weren't completely directed towards his father, but the best way to calm himself and the voices was for him to be gone. Then they'd have nothing to say anymore.

"Will, I get that you're pissed at me or whatever but this is important!"

Will stood up, approaching his father while slipping into that dark place. The mad one was surfacing, and he couldn't bare to watch what they'd do now.

"Call me Trice," they said, eerily calm before swinging at Lonnie, who dunks just in time for them to miss and punch the wall. Lonnie grabs a hold of his body, the mad one bringing out strength Will never knew he had, completely throwing the older man off of him and against the dented wall.

While Lonnie was on the floor, they went back over to the bed and grabbed the knife from under the pillow, observing it for a bit before peering down to the frightened man who's back was pressed against the corner of the room.

"I think it's best you leave now. And don't interrupt my sleep again. Better yet, go die. Let me know if you need help."

He quickly scurried out of the room, the mad one watching him run down the hallway and to the front door. Then, they head back to the room, opening the closet door and crouching down to the floor. Lying down on the hard wood, they're eyes slowly close. Will silently fighting for his body.

To be continued...
[2/21/21 | 1284 words]