artsy freaks

by queerstories05

Summary:

Ellie & Will are attending Lenora Arts Academy and they won't have to go down this journey alone.

Chapter 1: {1}

Notes:

Hello everyone! This is no longer a chat fic because it's no longer the direction I want to take this fic in. As of today, this fic is no longer abandoned. Sit back and enjoy the show :D

 

 

It's a few hours before classes start. Will is honestly very nervous but also hopeful. He read once in an article that people in California are a lot more supportive of trans people than in Hawkins. He doesn't know what he'll do if that's not the case. 

He feels Ellie tap his shoulder repeatedly and turns toward them with a soft smile. Ellie smiles widely. "I just checked the schedule. Our tour guides should be here soon! Hopefully we can see the dance studio and after..." 

Their voice trails off when they notice that Will still looks lost in thought. They squeeze Will's shoulder and speak in a reassuring tone. "We're the wonder twins, we can handle anything!" 

Will nods with a forced smile. Ellie frowns but honestly they understand why Will is uneasy, this is a new school and away from Hawkins. They're sure Will misses Mike as much as they miss Max. 

A few seconds later two people who look a little older approach the wonder twins. One has a very cool hairstyle and is black. The other has earrings that seem to be some kind of flag. The one with the earrings grins widely. "I'm Adena and I will be touring Ellie. Cas here will be in charge of Will." 

Cas tilts their head. They can tell that Will doesn't look on board with that idea. They speak up. "Let's combine the tours. I know how scary the first day can be."

Will looks a little relieved. Ellie speaks up in curiosity. "Are you also a student here?"

Cas smiles and shakes their head. "I graduated 2 years ago. Adena and I go to a junior college in SF." 

Will's eyes widen, finally say something instead of nervously playing with his sweater. "Isn't SF on the other side of California?"

Cas nods. "I have a car. We're here because we work part time as tour guides and we're there for students who need someone to lean on."

Ellie tilts their head. "So the two of you are like guidance counselors or am I thinking of the wrong term?" 

Adena winks. "Kind of," She then lowers his voice into a whisper. "We let you get away with shit like spraying paint on different buildings and eating edibles between classes."

Cas slightly flicks their partner's forehead and sighs. "Addie we can't be bad influences to every high school sophomore we meet." 

Adena smiles sheepishly. "Sorry about that. I'm so used to being around the troublemakers that are my two idiot children."

Will nods and gains the courage to say something he usually would keep to himself. "No need to apologize. A few days ago my brother's friend tried to feed me a pizza slice that had edible substance in the sauce." 

Cas laughs in disbelief. "No fucking way. You have to tell us more."

Will frowns. "That's going to be interesting to you? Something I talk about?"

Adena feels himself become very protective, it's clear that someone in Will's life didn't pay attention to what he said and it made him timid, unsure. He may not know Will that well but she can tell that he's the type of person who deserves to be confident.

Someone who deserves to step out of his shell. Adena is going to help him and she knows exactly who's going to help her. Bran because if not him, who else.

Will & Ellie join Cas and Adena's circle right away, it honestly happens naturally. The wonder twins learn that Val & Bran are also freshmen but Val is Cas's cousin while Adena and Bran grew up in the same neighborhood.

At first Will genuinely did think that them knowing each other for so long would make things so awkward for him and Ellie but the complete opposite happened. 

Will's first day of classes went by pretty smoothly. He did get some looks but none of them seemed judgy. Curious. The students who glanced at him seemed curious, interested almost. I feel someone squeeze my shoulder and look to see Ellie. 

Ellie is smiling proudly. "You don't have to work 6 part time jobs anymore. You're welcome by the way."

Will frowns. "Please don't tell me you tried to take on 3 of the jobs."

El huffs. "And so what if I did. I'll be fine, Val has been teaching me more about social cues and life." They then start talking about how Val is very smart and pretty. 

Will chuckle under my breath. "I think someone has a little crush."

Ellie pouts slightly. "Her or Max." They phrase it as a statement not a question.

They then run toward Cas's car before Will can say anything in response. He narrows his eyes slightly, he knows he can question Ellie about that eventually. Cas parks the car in front of Surfer Boys Pizza. Ellie tilts their head. "Isn't this where Jonathan's friend who is always high works?"

Will doesn't even have to ask how Ellie learned what being high means. He makes the 'I'm watching you' gesture at Val and in response they smile innocently while shrugging.

He then gets out of the car and Val calls out that they won't corrupt too much. He playfully rolls his eyes. Bran sticks his head out the window and grins brightly. "Goodbye Prince William! Don't miss me too much."

He then blows Will a kiss which Will catches and pretend to throw away. 

Bran clutches his heart like he's been stabbed. He yelps when Cas abruptly pulls out of the parking lot and starts to speed down the road. His dramatic protests get quieter and quieter until the car is out of sight.

Chapter 2: {2}

 

 

 

2 WEEKS LATER 

 

It's another facetime session between the party in Hawkins and the wonder twins. Mike sinks lower into his seat. "I just don't think it's THAT big of a deal." 

Dustin shakes his head and grins widely. "Micheal sweetheart you're performing your first gig, it IS a big deal." 

Mike immediately makes a face and kicks at Dustin. "Would you stop calling me sweetheart? You're not my wife." 

Dustin winks and makes a kissy face toward Mike. "I could be." That earns him a pillow to the face. 

Ellie clears their throat loudly. "Moving on from Dustin's AWFUL flirting, please make sure to film it." 

Will moves into the frame and raises an eyebrow. "What gig are we talking about and what exactly will be filmed?" 

Lucas also moves into the frame with a huge grin. He hasn't heard from Will in a while. He cheers. "BYERS! Holy shit guys he actually lives." 

He then sees what his name is on facetime and scowls. "Okay what the fuck, who changed it?" 

Mike grins and shrugs. "You're welcome for that. It was needed." 

Lucas huffs and almost rolls his eyes, almost. "Remind me why I'm going to your gig again." 

That sparks an argument between Lucas and Mike on how being in a band is better than playing a stupid sport. Mike gets even more angry when Lucas brings up how there's a reason he joined the team but won't say the reason. 

Ellie feels their eye twitch. Can Lucas & Mike stop acting like children for one second? Max basically shouts. "Can both of you shut the fuck up?! Will is on call for the first time in a fucking century. Now is not the time to make petty comments toward each other, gosh." 

Mike & Lucas both quickly apologize. Mike then realizes what Max said about Will being on call. He gets really close to the camera, basically blocking the others' view. He smiles widely. "Hi Will, the only person ever! How are you, how's the new school? Are any mouth breathers bothering you?" 

Will almost feels his cheeks heat up. He didn't expect Mike to be that excited to see him. He smiles lightly. "Everything's been going shockingly well, I found a group of people that are super kind. I'm sorry for not being as active, that's what 3 part time jobs will do to you." 

Max gasps in shock. Lucas's jaw drops. Dustin makes a sound of disbelief. "THREE part time jobs?! Will you can he honest, are you secretly being tortured in Lenora?" 

Will laughs lightly. "No no torture, don't worry. I'm a scholarship kid at high school for the arts. I was supposed to have six but someone-" 

Ellie interrupts with a huff. "I did you a favor, you ungrateful swine!" 

The next few minutes are Will & Ellie playfully bantering back and forth. They're interrupted by a knock on the bedroom door. Joyce comes in and she's holding something behind her back. She notices the computer being set up on facetime and with her free hand she waves. 

Will tilts his head. "Mom what are you..." His voice trails off and the gasp he lets out turns into sobs. His best friends quickly panic and ask if he's okay. 

Ellie grins knowingly. "That's your first dose of testosterone right?" 

Lucas cheers. "Hell yea! Proud of you man." Dustin, Max, and Mike make sounds of agreement. 

Mike smiles softly. "You've wanted this for so long. I'm really proud of you Will." 

Will frowns and more tears fall down his face. "But Mike, you and I made a promise that you would give me my first T shot. Now we're in different states and..." His voice trails off and he scrunches up his nose in frustration. 

Mike just wants to squeeze Will's cheeks because he's so cute. He uses his 'Will' voice. "It's alright. When you visit Hawkins or when I visit Lenora, I can help with the T shot and we can pretend like that's the first one." 

Dustin scoffs, about to say something but Lucas elbows him in the ribs. That causes a pillow fight between the two of them. Will smiles. "I'd like that, what you said about you helping me with testosterone when either of us visit." 

Soon Mike has to go to get ready for his gig tonight. At first he doesn't want to leave but when Eddie honks again, he knows he has to. He bites down the urge to call Will cute and packs up his stuff before saying a final goodbye. 

Later that day, around 10 pm, the Wonder twins are hanging out at Val's dorm. Bran grabs the TV remote and hooks up Instagram to the TV. He hums. "There's this band playing tonight and I think it's in Hawkins." 

The instagram live stream starts and Will feels sane until he doesn't. Mike appears on the screen holding a bass guitar and holy shit he looks so fucking beautiful. Will can't stop looking. Bran raises an eyebrow. "You good there Will? Your face is very red." 

Will quickly excuses himself and locks himself in the bathroom. He splashes water on his face and takes a couple of deep breaths. Everything's okay. He looks at his reflection and chuckles weakly. Rationally he knows it's okay to be gay but right now... 

He brings out his phone and dials Jonathan's number. It goes straight to voicemail. He remembers his past texts with Jonathan and how Jon mentioned that Robin is good at giving advice. He does have her number saved because she's friends with Steve and is technically the second babysitter.