Chapter Text
“And the nominees for Spring Fling Queen are Jennifer Hayes-”
Jennifer squealed, covering her mouth in shock.
“Jane Hopper.”
Jane stared in disbelief at her friends, who cheered.
“Stacey Albright.”
A smug Stacey tossed her hair over her shoulder and giggled at her friends’ praises.
“And Lilian Tompkins.” A pretty cheerleader gasped and clapped her hands together excitedly.
They were given a few seconds to absorb the news, which gave the Party time to reflect on how they had gotten here.
It started out as a joke. Dustin had somehow convinced the faculty that he would make a great morning announcer. With very few other applicants and none who matched his enthusiasm and energy, they had reluctantly given him a chance. As it turned out, he was actually amazing at it.
So there he was, preparing for yet another boring day, when a flyer caught his eye. Spring Fling was coming up. Which meant nominations for Spring Fling King and Queen were coming up too. It was an event that everyone who cared about popularity looked forward to. A chance for their best and brightest to show off their school spirit and win their votes. Their prize at the end? A shiny crown and bragging rights for the rest of the year. Worthless in the long run, but vitally important to those who would no doubt peak in high school.
Dustin got an idea. What if someone in the Party was nominated. Scratch that, what if one of them actually won it? Wouldn’t that be hilarious? Wouldn’t that just stick it to all of those assholes, who had tried to make their lives a living hell over the years?
Dustin had consulted with the others first. Max had been absolutely delighted. Jane too, once they explained what Spring Fling was. The guys were on board too, even if Will was anxious about everyone finding out the truth and making their lives more miserable than they already were.
“C’mon Will, I won’t even choose you. I was thinking of Lucas and Jane anyway. Not Mike though. Gotta make it at least a little believable.” He gave Mike a pointed look.
Mike flipped him off.
Seeing he was outnumbered, Will finally agreed.
In the aftermath of the destruction of Vecna and the Upside Down, everything had been chaotic for months afterwards. El’s death, which turned out to be a clever trick, was enough to convince the military that she was really gone. So when they left, she was able to return to her real name, Jane Hopper. Or Jane Hopper-Byers, once Hopper and Joyce finally tied the knot. Surprisingly, no one had seemed to realise she was the same Jane Hopper whose pictures had been spread everywhere. Or more likely, no one wanted to deal with it. Not after the absolute mess the military had caused and the tragedies it left behind.
As they all readjusted to high school life once more, the Byers finally moved out of the Wheelers and into a new house with the Hoppers, though Jim still kept his cabin. Karen and Ted were finally released and able to return to their family. Max’s recovery took a lot longer, but eventually, with all their support, she relearned how to walk and was even able to rejoin them just in time for senior year. Thanks to their combined efforts, they even managed to get her caught up with her studies, taking advantage of a homeschooling programme specially designed for those with ongoing medical issues.
Entering senior year together was like a dream come true. The Party was finally together once more. And although they had their own interests to keep them busy, like art or basketball or even Jane’s new spot on the track team, they continued to be closer than ever.
“And the nominees for Spring Fling King are Chance Romanillos-”
A group of jocks cheered loudly.
“Connor Chambers.”
The popular blond haired and blue eyed athlete winked at a few of the nearby girls, who squealed.
“Lucas Sinclair.”
Lucas whooped. Max cackled.
“And…Will Byers.”
Silence.
Will blinked. Surely he hadn’t heard that right. Right? It had to be a joke. Or a mistake. Or maybe he had misheard.
“Oh my gosh, congrats Will!”
One of the cheerleaders squealed, leaning over to squeeze his bicep. Will gave a pained smile, missing the way she lit up. And the way her friends gave her jealous looks.
“Dude.” Mike muttered under his breath, once the announcements continued.
“I’m gonna kill him.” Will declared. “I’m gonna kill him.” He vowed.
Max snorted. “Need some help?”
Will shot her a grateful look. “Would you?”
She lightly punched his arm. “Of course. You know I’ve always got your back, Byers.”
Will smiled.
That was one thing that had changed following everything. He and Max had become closer. Much closer than they had been before. Saving her life had been the perfect icebreaker. Suddenly, the two were almost as inseparable as he and Mike had once been. Lucas too. Before long, the Party’s dynamics changed. Max and Lucas became Max, Will and Lucas. Even when Will had tried pulling away, tried to give the couple their space, they hadn’t appreciated his efforts.
Will was still single, technically. But Max and Lucas seemed to be conspiring to change that. Either by convincing him they could take care of him, which usually led to some pretty intense makeout sessions, or by scouting for any suitable guys they thought might be good for him.
Will appreciated their efforts, as embarrassing as they were. But it was hard for him to really think about moving on. What happened with Mike had been a hard lesson for him. A reminder that heroes didn’t always get their happy endings, no matter how much they had sacrificed. But still, he forced himself to try. To take Max and Lucas’ suggestions on board. And lately, well, there was a certain jock who had been giving him looks. The kind of looks that made him think that maybe there was something there. Maybe he wasn’t quite as alone as he thought he was.
As for the others, well Mike and Jane had stayed together for a while, but it didn’t take long for the cracks to show. It hadn’t been easy for either of them to come to terms with it. To realise that despite their best efforts, they just weren’t the same people they had once been.
Eventually, they both realised that their relationship had come to an end and agreed to part ways. Of course they wouldn’t just leave each other. They couldn’t, not after everything they had lived through. But it would take some time for them both to adjust to this new normal. Made all the more difficult, by how their best friends were suddenly attached at the hip.
Max and Jane were still best friends, of course they were. But Max now had three people she had to devote her attention to. Not just one. Will had tried to step aside, to give the girls time to reconnect, but just like with Lucas, the pair of them had shot that idea down without hesitation. Will was the reason Max was with them. He had stopped Vecna in his tracks. He had helped her re-enter the waking world. Something that none of the Party would ever let him forget. And if that meant he’d usually be there when they hung out, well he’d just have to get used to it. They both wanted him there.
It wasn’t until lunch time that Will finally found Dustin. Dustin looked up from his lunch tray, wincing at the look on Will’s face. He hastily held up his hands, hoping to calm his friend before the inevitable explosion.
“Okay, here me out.”
Will sat, dumped his bag on the floor and folded his arms. “Talk.” He demanded, a far cry from his usual gentle personality.
The others took their seats. Around them a couple of students took notice, watching the spectacle with curious eyes.
Dustin winced again. He glanced around, noticed the stares, then leaned in closer to keep them from being overheard.
“I stuffed the ballot box for Lucas and Jane, like we talked about. But that’s it. Dude, I swear, I did not put your name in. You know I wouldn’t do that to you. Hell, I even told you that right at the start.”
Will scowled, letting out a huff, but finally nodded. “Then who did?” He asked.
Dustin shrugged “No idea. But your name was on there. People actually voted for you.”
“Yeah as a joke.” Will sighed. “C’mon man, you know what people are like here. They just did it to mess with me.”
The others were suspiciously quiet.
Will narrowed his eyes. “Right?”
Nobody would look at him.
“Guys?” He tried one last time.
Finally, Max took pity on him.
“Will.”
Oh God, she was using her Max voice. Like Mike’s voice he used to use, but it was Max instead. The voice she only ever used when he had done something monumentally stupid, like the time he had agreed to help the cheerleaders with the homecoming posters. Or the time he had reluctantly agreed to tutor one of the jocks, who was in danger of repeating his senior year. Neither of which had ended up well for him. Seeing as jealous boyfriends had ripped up his work and one of the jock’s buddies had tried to beat him up behind the school.
“Will.”
That was Lucas. Lucas who was supposed to have his back. The same guy who had gladly taken his first kiss, then encouraged him to make out with his girlfriend while he watched.
Was it weird? Absolutely. But they were all already weird. Weird was their normal.
“Guys, seriously?” He whined. “Mike, you agree with me too, don’t you?” He begged.
While things had been a little awkward between the two of them, Will had done his best to try not to let it get to him. Then with Lucas and Max turning their attention to him, he hadn’t had much time to dwell on how Mike would never return his feelings.
When he and Jane broke up, of course Will had been there for his sister first. He’d tried to be there for Mike too. But they both knew that their relationship wasn't quite the way it once was. It had changed. They had changed. For the better? Well time would only tell.
“Of course. It’s obviously a joke. I mean c’mon, why else would people vote for you?”
That hurt. Even though Will tried to hide his expression, Mike clearly saw it, because he immediately backpedaled.
“No, that's not what I meant. I just meant, everyone knows you’re not into that sort of stuff. So why would they vote for someone who obviously didn’t care, unless it was to embarrass them or something?”
Max glared. So did Jane. Neither of them were happy about the unintended insult. But both knew Mike well enough to know that he really hadn’t meant to be an asshole. He just rarely thought things through. Especially when it came to Will, who always seemed to get stuck with dealing with him at his worst.
Will sighed. He wasn’t ready to forgive Mike quite yet. Not when those words had come out so easily, like he had thought them before. Like he really thought no one would ever vote for Will. So he refused to look at him, turning his attention back to Dustin.
Dustin raised an eyebrow. A silent question.
You okay?
Will gave a tiny nod.
No, but I’ll get there.
Max wrapped her arms around him. Her presence was a much needed comfort, even if he didn’t want to admit it.
“Dude, out of all of us, the rest of the school likes Will best. I don’t think it’s a joke.” Dustin pointed out.
Will scoffed. “Yeah, right.”
The others weren’t laughing.
“You didn’t know?” Lucas asked curiously. He didn't look like he was joking.
Will stared. “Guys c’mon. I don’t need you trying to spare my feelings. I know what I am. The school knows it too.”
Max rolled her eyes. “Obviously not, if you hadn’t realised the obvious. Like homecoming. You helped the cheerleaders with their posters and now every time any of them see you, they come over to say hi.”
“Or when you tutored Rory in history and kept him from getting kicked off the team. Nobody even tried to go after us after that.”
“Or when you helped out with the photos for the school paper, after Trevor got the flu and they didn’t have anyone else. Didn’t he keep giving you Reeses for like a week, after he found out they were your favourite?”
“Do we need to go on?” Jane added innocently.
Will glared at his sister. “Okay first off, their boyfriends ended up ripping up that poster, so it’s not like I really did anything. Second, Rory’s asshole friend literally tried to beat me up when he heard about it. And okay, maybe I can accept the Trevor thing. But that’s only because of what Jonathan taught me about taking pictures. And it was just that one time.”
“Yeah, but the cheerleaders got super pissed when they found out what their boyfriends did. A couple of them even got dumped. And didn’t you hear how Rory punched Carl after he found out. The whole school was talking about it.” Lucas informed him.
“Wait, wasn’t that when you got the flu?” Dustin added. “You weren’t in school for like a week.”
Will remembered that. Ever since the Upside Down, his immune system had taken a beating. When he did get sick, it always hit him hard. And that week had been no exception. He’d been completely miserable, even if his family were right there to help him through it.
Will groaned. “C’mon guys. This is starting to sound like some crappy rom-com. I’m not the main character here. The whole school isn’t suddenly going to like me and vote me as Spring Fling King. I mean, that’s just ridiculous!”
Once again, his friends stayed quiet.
“Is it?” Jane asked.
Will gaped at her. “Yes!” He exclaimed. “Wait, is something else happening here? Is Vecna back? Why are you guys acting like I’m the one being weird about this?”
“Okay, okay, you’re right Will. You’re right. I mean, I do genuinely think people voted for you. But like you said, we don’t know why. So you’re probably right. Even if a bunch of people do like you, it could still be a joke or something.” Dustin offered, resting a hand on his arm.
Mike looked uneasy, but still smiled at Will in support, when he looked at him for reassurance.
Done with it all, Will grabbed his things and made to leave. “Don’t follow me. Just…Dustin can you try and get my name removed? Please?”
Dustin nodded. “Sure man, whatever you want. But uh, I don’t know if it’ll change anything. I mean it was announced to everyone.”
Will sighed heavily. “Yeah, but let’s hope I can get out of it. Jane and Lucas are way better choices for something like this.”
Max held out her hand. Will reached over to squeeze it. A little ritual she had found herself doing from time to time, when she needed to be sure it was all real.
“We still on for tonight?” Lucas asked.
Friday night. Date night.
Will sighed, but nodded. “Yeah, wouldn’t miss it.”
He really wouldn’t. That was kind of the problem. Will knew they had to end this little thing between them. There was no way it could last in the long run. Not when Lucas and Max were so obviously perfect for each other. But part of him wanted to be selfish. He wanted to accept their love. He wanted to enjoy being made to feel special, by people who actually understood him.
“Good.” Max glared at him, like she knew what he was thinking.
Will rolled his eyes in response. “I’ll see you guys later. Just…give me some time, okay?”
The others nodded, watching him leave with worried looks.
Then Dustin finally spoke. “So uh, how mad do you think he’s gonna be when he wins?”
The others stared at him.
“Wait, he won?” Mike gaped.
Dustin shook his head. “I mean not yet, but I overheard a group of cheerleaders going around, telling everyone to vote for him. Apparently they really want him to win.”
“Why?” Jane asked, looking concerned.
Dustin shrugged. “Could be a prank. Or it could be because they think he’s cute now.”
“And nice.” Max said.
“With a great body.” Lucas continued.
The two shared knowing looks.
“And he’s always helping people.” Jane added.
Mike glared at them all. “What the hell guys? It’s Will! Stop treating him like he’s some kind of object.”
Max snorted. “Uh excuse you Wheeler. We can say whatever we want about him because he’s ours. You don’t like it? Go suck on a lemon. Or better yet, go cry into your pillow because you’re only now realising you screwed up.”
“He’s not yours!” Mike hissed at her. He glanced around, embarrassed to see people still watching them. He coughed, then sat up properly.
“I thought you were setting him up with Chance?” Jane asked.
Lucas sighed. “He’s ours until Chance makes his move. Dude’s taking forever though. And Will still has to say yes to him first. And if doesn’t, then we get to keep him.”
“Oh.” Jane replied.
The other members of the Party never quite knew how to respond to the whole Max, Will and Lucas situation. Especially after they’d walked in on both of them kissing Will more than once. After everything that had happened, they’d all assumed Max and Lucas were endgame. When they started including Will, they had kind of assumed it was a joke at first. But now it was clear to all of them that it was anything but. The only problem was, Will still didn’t seem to understand that.
Mike huffed, but kept his mouth shut as Max gave him a warning look. He didn’t want to admit it, but Max’s comment had hit a nerve. The worst part was, she was right. He was an idiot. He was an idiot for ignoring Will for so long, then he was an idiot for calling him his best friend before the fight for their lives. He was a bigger idiot for not making more of an effort to reconnect after everything. And now it was too late. He was too late.
The others ignored him for now, giving him time to process everything.
“Well whatever happens, we’ll be there for him. Besides, he’s going up against Chance, Connor and Lucas. That’s three jocks going against an artsy kid. The jocks always win, you know that.” Max pointed out.
“I’m not a jock.” Lucas immediately complained.
Max rolled her eyes. “You play sports, you’ve become friends with Chance and you even have the jacket. Babe, face it, you’re a jock.” Then she leaned over to kiss him. “Our jock.” She added with a smirk.
Suddenly, Lucas had no more complaints.
“Do you really think one of us could win?” Jane asked. She looked nervous.
“You? Absolutely.” Mike reassured her.
Jane smiled shyly.
“Totally.” Dustin agreed with a bright smile.
Jane giggled. “And Will? Or Lucas?” She asked.
Lucas shrugged. “I doubt I’ll win. But Will? I think he could.” He admitted. “And I think the school would lose their damned minds if he did.”