As soon as Joyce closed the door to the Byers house after one final look, the goodbyes and the tears started. Mike was about to hug Will before Max pushed him out of the way, grinning. "Sorry Wheeler, me first" and grabbed her friend in a tight hug.
Will felt surpirsed but hugged back just as tightly. He had never really spoken to Max or El as much as the boys.
"I'm gonna miss you Will. I know we didn't talk the most but I always liked your company"
Will didn't expect such words from Max, as he thought he didn't mean much to her. Clearly he was wrong. He's glad to be wrong about that.
"I'll miss you too Max. Stay safe" Will said with tears pouring down his cheeks. They let go of the hug but still held each other.
"Make sure you Take care of El" Max told him. Will smiled. "Of course" and before he let go, she told him " And make sure she takes care of you as well!"
Will gave her a bright smile before letting go and hugging Mike while they both crying silently.
"You're my best friend Mike. I'm gonna miss you so much" Will said through his tears.
"I know buddy! I'll miss you too. I know I wasn't a great friend this summer but I'm gonna make up for it. You just wait till you come back to visit and I'm gonna give you the D&D campaign you've been waiting for"
Will smiled and let go as he wiped his tears. "Thanks man. I'm looking forward to it"
Mike grinned. "Me too"
Will smiled and went to hug Dustin.
"I'm really gonna miss you Byers! You're the nicest guy I know and that's never gonna change"
Will smiled and let go. "Thanks Dustin. I'm really gonna miss you too. Let me know how everything works out with Suzie and all of your science inventions"
Dustin grinned. "I will. But don't think you're leaving without this" Dustin pulled out a comic and gave it to Will.
X-men 134.
Will started laughing happily at the comic he never received. He had completely forgotten winning thst comic was the last thing he did before he was takem. Another of the many things that were changed by him being taken to the upside down.
"Thanks man" Will said before he shared one more hug with Dustin. Then he went to hug Lucas.
"I'll miss you Will. You've been such a big part of my life since I was 5. I know things changed this summer and I'm sorry for the part that I caused to make you feel that way" said Lucas trying to hold in his tears.
"Hey it's cool Lucas. Things change. That's how life works and I just didn't wanna accept it. For what it's worth, I'm glad you and Max found each other!"
Lucas smiled. "Thanks man"
When they let go, Nancy came over to give Will a hug once she was done saying goodbye to Jonathan.
"You stay safe Will! Look after Jonathan for me"
Will smiled. "I will. Look after Mike for me"
Nancy smiled. "Of course"
El came over and Max wrapped her in a big hug. "I can't believe I'm not gonna see you for so long after we just started bonding!"
"Me neither! But thank you for everything Max. Especially for showing me there's more to life than stupid boys" said El.
Max giggled. "I was happy to do it. Make sure you and Will stay healthy. I want you guys to make new friends, but try not to befriend anymore red-heads. I'm not being replaced" Max said in a serious tone.
El let go with a big smile and said "I'll never replace you MadMax"
The two girls smiled and hugged again. Then El was hugged by Nancy.
"I'm gonna miss you El and I'm so proud of you. You've come a long way from the girl who had to wear my dress"
El smiled. "Thank you Nancy"
El went to hug Lucas.
"Take care Lucas. And keep an eye on Max and try not to get dumped a seventh time" joked El.
Lucas laughed. "Yeah I'll try, Look after yourself and Will, El"
El let go and went to hug Mike. They both hugged and cried and pressed their foreheads together. Neither of them could think of what to say so they used their tears to express it. They would miss each other so much.
El went to hug Dustin.
"You have a great time in your new town Mage. I'll really miss you" Dustin said as El cried and rubbed his curly hair.
"Bye Dustin. I never apologised for ditching you when you got back from camp, so I'm sorry"
Dustin looked happy to hear that but waved it off. "Ah it's cool. I completely get it and water under the bridge"
El smiled and saw the others were standing together as a group so they went to join them and she gave Mike another long hug. They both cried again and didn't say anything.
Jonathan and Nancy were having a long hug and kiss. It was a while before they said anything.
"We'll be ok Nancy. We just said it ourselves. We have shared trauma.."
"So what's a little more" finished Nancy. They had one more big kiss.
Joyce gave nancy a hug. "You stay healthy sweetie"
Nancy smiled. "I will Mrs. Byers. You too!"
Joyce smiled and went to give Dustin a hug. "How could I ever thank you for figuring out how El could find Will with the sensory deprivation tank?"
"Don't thank me Mrs. Byers. It's something I was happy to do"
Joyce gave him a smile and went to hug Max, which seemed to surprise the girl. "Look after yourself Max. I''ve not had a chance to say it yet but I'm sorry for what happened to Billy"
Max gave a smile. "Thanks Mrs. Byers. I'll see you around"
Joyce smiled and went to hug Lucas. "Thank you for being a good friend to Will since Elementary school. Amd for being a good friend to El and helping her out so much"
Lucas smiled. "That's what friends do Mrs. Byers. I hope things work out for everyone with this move"
Joyce smiled. "Thank you" and turned to Mike.
"Mike what can I say? You were Will's first ever friend and you always looked out for him. And when you weren't doing thst you were being so sweet to El. You're a lovely person Mike. I feel like I know what this is doing to you and I'm sorry"
Mike smiled. "It's cool Mrs. Byers. You're just looking out for your family. That's nothing to be sorry for"
Joyce smiled at the maturity displayed by this young man and gave him space to say goodbye. As she saw how sad all of them were, it broke Joyce to see them like that. For maybe a second, Joyce thought maybe she should cancel this move.
But she pushed that feeling down. When all the hugs were over, the four Byers family members said one final goodbye. El and Joyce got in the moving truck while Jonathan drove him and Will.
Just like Lucas, Joyce hopes this move does work out for everyone. As the truck starts to move, Joyce decides there is only one way to find out, and that is by moving forward.