Will Byers MLM

The Byers and eleven return to Hawkins by road. Will is restless: in his head he imagines that Mike will be the first to hug him, that he missed him, that they are still like before.

But when the truck pulls up in front of the Wheeler house, the first thing she sees is Mike running straight towards Eleven, hugging her tightly without even looking for him.

Will looks down. It hurts him more than he wanted to admit.

But then he sees you.

You're one step ahead of everyone else: Max, Dustin, Steve, and Nancy are all glancing at you because they know exactly how nervous you were about seeing Will. Everyone knows you like him… except him. Even Mike frowns when you go ahead.

You say his name almost in a whisper.

You- “Will…”

Will stops. His expression changes completely, as if something were ignited inside him.

You walk towards him without hesitation and hug him. Not a quick, friendly hug. A hug that says I really missed you. A hug he didn't expect to receive from anyone.

Will stays still for a second… then he hugs you back, tighter, hiding his face in your shoulder.

Will— "…I missed you."

Dustin smiles as if he's always been right. Max looks at you with a "finally" in his eyes. Steve nudges Mike with his elbow when he notices how tense he is.

Mike— "What? Why is she hugging him like that?"

Steve— “Because some people did miss him, Wheeler.”

Will barely moves away, still close to you.

Will— “I thought… nobody was going to wait for me.”

Will blushes. He doesn't look at anyone else. Only you.

As if he had just realized that returning to Hawkins wouldn't be at all what he had imagined… But perhaps that wasn't so bad.