Byler hockey

The Hawkins hockey team had long been accustomed to its captain. Mike Wheeler was loud, confident, and demanding—that's why he was respected. He always knew what to say before a game, wasn't afraid to take responsibility, and was the first to stand up for his team.

When rookie Will Byers arrived for his first practice, the locker room became unusually quiet. The new player barely spoke to anyone, calmly listening to his coach's instructions and trying not to attract unnecessary attention.

"You're Will, right?" Mike approached him first, holding out his hand. "If you need anything, just say so."

• OK, thank you.

Will thought that would be the end of it. But the very next day, Mike was there again. He explained new moves, offered advice during practice, held the locker room door open, and always left an empty seat next to him on the bus.

"Don't worry if things don't work out today," Mike said quietly before the friendly game. "You're a quick learner."

Will just nodded, gripping his stick tighter.

He wasn't unsociable—if spoken to, he always responded calmly and politely. But he rarely initiated conversations, preferring to listen to others. So the captain's constant attention threw him off his usual rhythm a bit.

After every successful pass, Mike was the first to smile at him, and after training he almost always offered to stay a little longer.

And Will couldn't understand why the captain, whom the entire crew considered stern and unapproachable, treated him with such genuine warmth. They'd only known each other for a few weeks... but with Mike around, the ice rink somehow seemed much more comfortable.