request: Can u write will Byers x gender!neutral reader angst where reader likes will but will doesn’t like them? I hope you’re having a nice day
word count:0.7k
author’s note: absolutely i can. i hope you’re having a nice day, too! this is short and sh*tty, so i apologise haha. i am very proud of the title for this, thank you. this will have STRANGER THINGS 4 SPOILERS!!
pairings:will byers x gn!reader
warnings: ST4 SPOILERS, not proofread, unrequited love i guess
“You ready?” Mike’s voice brought you out of your reverie, and you jolted up in your hard plastic chair. The two of you were in the airport at the moment, waiting for your flight to California. Waiting to finally see Will. You had been counting down the days on your calendar, each red X you scribbled on a testament to the time you had spent apart. You had battled your parents so hard for this trip, causing them to finally give in when you mentioned that Wheeler would be accompanying you.
You couldn’t stop thinking of your mother’s saddened, knowing expression as she watched you jump up and down with glee.
You pushed the thought away and gave Mike a tight smile, “Yes. Let’s go.”
The two of you stood and headed for the plane, dragging your luggage along.
“I can’t wait to see them,” you excitedly said to Mike when you landed, wringing out your hands.
“Same, weekly letters from El and Will aren’t nearly enough.”
“Wait, weekly?” you asked, a frown etching itself on your features, “You get weekly letters from Will?” Maybe it had been a slip of tongue, an accident where he grouped the two together. You could understand weekly letters from El, she was his girlfriend after all.
“Don’t you?” Mike asked, his eyes scanning the airport, oblivious to your stricken expression. He stood on his tip-toes, as if it would grant him a sort of advantage, and continued looking about.
To answer Mike’s question truthfully, no, you didn’t get weekly letters from Will. All of his writing to you was half-assed and hastily scrawled, as if he was too busy to take the time to properly reply to your neat, detailed correspondence. If you were lucky, you got one letter from him a month, maybe even two. However, the half empty pages did nothing to deter the rapid flutter of your heart, or the heedy headspace the sight of his handwriting sent you to.
But you couldn’t tell Mike this, could you?
“Yeah,” you answered, “I do, too.”
“There they are!” Mike declared, already setting off in their direction. You rush after him, biting back a smile as you watch El throw her arms around him. Your gaze immediately darts towards Will, your eyes not wanting to be deprived of him for a second longer, but feel your heart pang at the way his eyes look, glassy and cracked. You follow his line of sight, and he’s looking at-
Mike.
You push down the nagging feeling at the back of your mind as El lets go of Mike to greet you. Laughing at her boundless enthusiasm, you pull her in for a hug, but watch Mike and Will’s awkward interaction over her shoulder. Will goes in for a hug, and Mike awkwardly keeps him at an arm’s distance, tapping him on the shoulder. You wince inwardly. El pulls away from you, still beaming, and you try and lift the corners of your lips to match her energy.
She skips away from you, Mike and her talking again, and you look towards Will, waiting for him to greet you. He doesn’t, eyes still latched on to Mike and El, his fingers absently playing with the painting he’s holding.
Swallowing your pride, you approach him and lightly tap his shoulder.
When he finally looks at you, it’s like he’s worlds away.
“Hey, stranger,” you say with a small smile, which Will barely returns, his free hand reaching out to pull you into a side hug. He lets go before your arms have a chance to even fully wrap around his waist, and quickly looks towards Mike and El again, as if he’s scared they saw you embrace.
He doesn’t say a word to you.
You swallow hard as you walk behind Will towards the exit, Mike and El in the centre of the group, the centre of Will’s attention. You’re surrounded by people you call your friends, but you’ve never felt more alone.
