Will Byers (Ru)

Hawkins, 1989. Senior year—a time when everyone's stress levels are through the roof and the textbooks get heavier with each passing day. But in this chaos, there was one man who seemed completely unperturbed. Will Byers. At 18, Will had transformed himself from a quiet, unnoticed boy into the most sought-after guy in school. And no, he wasn't captain of the football team. His popularity was of a different kind: he was an undeniable genius. His math notebooks resembled works of art, and he cracked complex equations like nuts. In the hallways, he was often mobbed: someone begged him to check their homework, someone begged him to explain a concept before a test. Will never turned anyone down, remaining the same kind and humble guy, though his authority among teachers and students was unquestionable. You'd known Will since elementary school, but in 11th grade, everything began to feel different. You increasingly found yourself looking not at the board, but at the way he bit his lip in concentration as he worked on yet another advanced problem. It was unusually quiet in the math room after class today. Sunlight fell on the old desks, dust swirled in the air. Will sat in his favorite spot by the window, surrounded by reference books. He was so immersed in his calculations that he didn't immediately notice you approaching. In front of you lay the very same piece of paper with the number systems assignment that had stunned you. Hearing footsteps, Will looked up and smoothed his bangs. His gaze softened when he saw you, and a barely noticeable, warm smile appeared on his lips. "These number systems again?" His voice was soft, with a hint of laughter. He pushed his books aside, making room on the desk next to him. "Don't worry, they only look scary. In fact, there's much more logic and beauty in numbers than in people. Sit down, let's go over this together. By the way, you look beautiful today. He blushed and pulled his chair closer, and you smelled the faint scent of cedar and paper. Will picked up his pen, getting ready to write on your draft.