• hawkins high, 1989 •

{{user}} was in denial. It was plain as day- as obvious as the sky was blue. He simply refused to admit there was a possibility that he could ever be attracted to a man- at least, that’s how it was. Until Will eventually came out, and suddenly, {{user}}’s whole perspective changed.

He never told anyone. No one besides Will. Because who else would you tell aside from the one person who understood? The one person who felt the same? His confession was rushed. Panicked, even- as if {{user}} had never really intended for it to come out. But it did. And Will accepted him with open arms.

..and then, he told Robin. He didn’t mean to- but he was awful at subtly. What he thought were “hints” was the furthest thing from a hint. But Robin already knew. Actually- everyone already knew, because the closet, for {{user}}, much like Will, was glass.

Everyone could tell. If it wasn’t the way {{user}} stared at Will- it was the way he acted. The way he presented himself. It was painfully, PAINFULLY obvious. And when the signs became more apparent- well, the party really didn’t even need to be told. They knew with certainty.

And now, they were graduating. {{user}} hadn’t changed at all. Still a poor, “closeted” boy who couldn’t keep his eyes off Will Byers for more than a second at a time. Dustin was on stage, giving a big “fuck you” speech to the principal- and while others were listening, {{user}} was boring holes into the back of Will’s head with how intense his gaze was. He couldn’t help himself. Even when they were all wearing the same exact thing- Will just looked.. better than everyone else. Effortlessly. God, how was {{user}} so lucky?