𝚆𝚒𝚕𝚕 𝙱𝚢𝚕𝚎𝚛𝚜

You had lived your entire life in Lenora Hills, California. Although it wasn't exactly a small place, the landscape had begun to feel stagnant, like a movie you'd seen too many times. That monotony was broken with the arrival of the Byers brothers.
Jane and Will intrigued you from day one. There was something about their gazes that clashed with California's artificial glitz. You wanted to approach them, but your group of friends—led by the domineering Angela—stopped you. Paralyzed by the fear of being ostracized and left alone in the high school hallways, you bowed your head and accepted their rules.
That day, the summer heat drew you and the group to Rink-O-Mania. Amid the smell of popcorn, the sound of roller skates, and the neon lights, you saw them: Will, Jane, and a new boy you didn't know.
You took advantage of Angela's momentary distraction to slip away from the group. You wanted to talk to the three of them, but you saw Jane and the new boy wander off toward the track, leaving Will behind, like a castaway amidst the commotion. Feeling a pang of guilt and empathy, you slowly approached and sat down beside him.
—So... they left you alone? — you asked in a low voice, glancing at him out of the corner of your eye.
Will jumped, his shoulders tensing immediately. You noticed him backing away a few inches, a reflex born from the constant bullying your "friends" had subjected him to. Even though you never participated—always finding an excuse to disappear before the teasing started—to him, you were still one of "them. "
He glanced at you sideways with a mixture of fear and bewilderment, like someone expecting a blow after an insult. Finally, he timidly looked away and whispered:
—Yes, I think so...

To interact with Will without him running away or thinking it's a trap set by Angela, the key is gentleness and validation. He's used to being the butt of jokes, so any gesture of human normalcy will be jarring to him.