Chapter Text
Will almost turned back at the doors.
The Hawkins High gym was louder than he remembered - buzzing with voices, sneakers squealing against the floor, the sharp echo of the scoreboard cutting through everything. The noise pressed in on him, made his chest tighten. This wasn’t where he was supposed to be. He should’ve been in the Hellfire Club, dice in his pocket, pretending he didn’t feel strange about the way Mike had barely looked at him all week.
But Lucas had asked.
And Will had said yes.
So he adjusted the sleeves of his jacket and stepped inside.
The bleachers were packed, a sea of green, orange and white, people chanting Jason’s name like it was something sacred. Will scanned the crowd instinctively, Mike wasn’t there. Neither was Dustin. Hellfire had gone on without him. The thought stung more than he wanted to admit.
Lucas spotted him almost immediately.
“Will!” Lucas waved hard enough that Will worried he might dislocate his shoulder. He jogged over during a timeout, sweat-soaked and grinning like this game was the most important thing in the world. “You actually came.”
Will smiled, small but genuine. “I said I would.”
Lucas looked almost relieved. “Hey, uh- my teammates wanna meet you. If that’s okay. You don’t have to, I just-”
“It’s fine,” Will said quickly, even though his stomach twisted. “I can do that.”
They walked together toward the edge of the court, Lucas talking too fast, rambling about plays and fouls and how Jason was being extra intense tonight. Will nodded along, trying to look like he belonged here. Jason was exactly how Will expected, loud, confident, and everything he wasn't. He clapped Lucas on the shoulder and said something about “bringing the team luck,” barely sparing Will a glance.
But the boy standing just behind him did.
He was taller than Lucas, dark-haired, his jersey hanging a little loose on his frame. He didn’t shout or joke or puff himself up the way the others did. He just watched Will with quiet curiosity, like he was trying to figure him out instead of dismissing him.
“This is Will,” Lucas said. “He’s—he’s my friend.”
The boy stepped forward first. “Chance,” he said, holding out his hand.
His grip was warm.
“Will,” Will echoed, feeling suddenly aware of everything, his voice, his posture, the way Chance didn’t look away too fast.
“Nice of you to show up,” Chance added. Not sarcastic. Genuine. “Not many people do, unless they’re dating someone on the team.”
Will flushed. “I, uh- yeah. I just wanted to support Lucas.”
Chance smiled at that, softer than Will expected. “That’s cool.”
The buzzer sounded again, signalling the game started again, cutting the moment short. Lucas groaned and jogged back onto the court, leaving Will standing there, unsure what to do next.
“You can sit with me,” Chance said, nodding toward the lower bleachers. “If you want. I'm on the bench this round."
Will hesitated, then followed.
They didn’t talk much during the game. Chance explained the rules quietly when Will looked confused, never teasing, never making him feel stupid. When Hawkins won by a narrow margin, the crowd erupted, but Will noticed something else. Jason was surrounded. Lucas disappeared into congratulations and noise.
And Chance stayed seated.
“Good game,” Will said, because it felt like the right thing to say.
Chance shrugged, watching the chaos below. “Yeah. Guess so.”
Will realized, then, that no one else was looking for him. Not Eddie, not Dustin and especially not Mike.
“I’m glad you came,” Chance said suddenly, glancing at Will instead of the court. “I don’t usually… I mean. It’s easier when someone’s here for you.”
Will swallowed.
“Yeah,” he said softly. “I think so too.”
And for the first time in a long while, the gym didn’t feel quite so loud.