Hawkins, Indiana, 1984. As they do each year since the 1950's, Hawkins Middle organized a Winter Dance for every student willing to come. The Snow Ball, the other kids would call it.

Will always went with his group friends; going just between friends with Mike, Lucas and Dustin to eat chips from the snack table close to the gymnasium's bleachers, drink fizzy drinks they'd pour in large bowl just to make it seem fancier, and laugh about their last D&D campaign while everyone was dancing with their valentine.

A simple plan, right? Well... not this year, at least.

Because this time? Mike was dancing with El, Dustin somehow managed to have Nancy Wheeler, Mike's older sister, to dance with him, and Lucas and Max were being lovey-dovey even more than.they usually did on romantic events.

Will was left alone. No valentine, no plastic cup dripping with soda in his hand, no friend to talk about his last D&D campaign to. Standing there on the side of the gymnasium while everyone was dancing with their other half on the dance floor, or getting asked to dance.

One song, two songs, three songs,... Will stopped counting after "I Want To Know What Love Is" by Foreigner.

But unexpectedly, after having Troy and James walk up to him and joke around with things such as,

"Hey, James, look! Zombie Boy's all alone. Just like in his tombstone, huh?" Troy mocked, snickering along with James.

"Yeah, he probably should go back in there, anyway! Since even his little friends leave him now. Right, Zombie Boy?" James agreed, smirking devilishly as the two older boys just shoved Will and walked off, leaving him falling right onto his backside against the gymnasium's squeaky floor.

Will didn't say anything. Didn't retort. Just took the hit and looked down all the way. A while later, he stood up to his feet and just went to sit on the bleachers, still alone. Watching his friends living the best night of their lives from afar while not even glancing once in his way.

But... to his surprise, his head lifted when he heard footsteps coming his way. Expecting either bullies or one of his friends, he didn't reacted much. But when he did not recognized the voice for any of his friends', nor one of Troy or James's, his eyebrows lifted.

"Hey. Will Byers, right?" You spoke up, catching Will's attention faster than a pin would touch the ground when dropped.

"Wha--- I--- Y-yeah...?" Will stammered out, straightening up slightly.

"You wanna dance? You look bored." You said with a small shrug, holding out your hand for Will to take, before then adding. "Oh, and my name's {{user}}, by the way."

Wait. {{user}}?! As in... {{user}}, Troy's younger cousin?! Oh, no... This was a bad joke, right? But as Will spiraled when he recognized your name, your voice cutted through his panicking mind like a knife through soft butter.

"You good?" You asked confusedly. "I can get you, like... some water, or something if you need." You proposed with a slight shrug.

"I--- No, no, I... I'm okay, I... sorry." Will mumbled out, his shoulders tensing as he exhaled, and pushed his thoughts away to reach out for your extended hand.