Will was on cloud nine. It had only been three days since he and Elliott had kissed, but everything was already so different. Nothing had outwardly changed necessarily. They hadn't told anyone. They still all hung out as a group at school. Elliott still came over to tutor El for a bit in the evenings. Only Jonathan was the wiser. But for Will? His life was turned completely upside down.

To start, Elliott had a penchant for passing notes. He had done this with the party since they had all become friends, sending tiny messages to them all during class time to keep from melting out of boredom. But now, Will found tiny, secret love letters tucked in his locker after each break. It was so small and thoughtful and everything that Will had been wishing for from a significant other. On Will's part, he had gifted Elliott with one of his old walkie talkies, and they chatted before bed each night, whispering sweet sentiments to one another as they drifted to sleep.

Additionally, Will was more confident around his friends. He spoke up a lot more, Elliott beaming every time he did. It was as if a tiny bout of confidence had been released as soon as he and Elliott both came out to each other, and Will was so much happier. Everyone noticed it, even Steve, who said "Byers, where did this voice of yours come from?" when they went to visit him at the movie palace midweek.

But the best change of all was the kissing. After tutoring El, Elliott had begun spending a bit of time in Will's room before Jonathan gave him a ride home. And that time was devoted solely to making out. Will finally understood Mike's weird fascination with Eleven's mouth, because if Will had it his way, he would kiss Elliott for the rest of the week.

It was Thursday night, and Elliott needed to leave soon. He had spent an hour tutoring Eleven on math, and then thirty minutes with Will in his bedroom. They both knew Jonathan was supposed to drive him home soon and that they should get ready to leave, but Will just couldn't keep his hands-off Elliott.

"Mmm, Byers, you taste so good," Elliott whispered in Will's ear as he kissed down his neck. Will gasped in response, hands gripping Elliott's shoulder hard.

Just then, the door burst open, and Eleven's voice carried in, "Will, Elliott, I have one more question on this problem-" she stopped dead in her tracks. Will squeaked and leapt off Elliott's lap, landing in a heap on the floor. Fuck. Fuck fuck fuck fuck Eleven did you not learn to KNOCK when a bedroom door is closed? Will breathed, panicking at what she might say. Elliott seemed just as terrified, eyes darting back and forth between the near brother and sister.

Eleven was silent a moment. Her face was blank, unreadable. Then, she spoke.

"You said you didn't like kissing, Will! You liar!" She burst into a teasing smile.

Oh my god. Will breathed out heavily. He forgot. She really didn't know enough about discrimination in society to know that most people in Hawkins looked down on gay people. For her, it must not matter.

"El…" Will whispered. "Are you… are you okay with me kissing Elliott?"

Eleven looked perplexed. "I was kidding when I called you a liar. Of course that's okay." She paused. "Is he YOUR boyfriend, Will?"

Will sputtered, "Erm, I guess, yeah. I mean yes, yes he is." He thought for a moment, choosing his words carefully. "Eleven, are you okay with Elliott being my boyfriend too?"

Eleven looked at him like he had grown another head. "Why does it matter?"

"It just does," Will said.

Eleven thought for a moment. "Well, I know I like kissing Mike, and that Mike is my boyfriend, so why shouldn't you have one? Also, I like Elliott a lot. I think you are nice together."

Will breathed lighter again, glancing at Elliott who had finally regained his composure and was straightening up from where he had been cowering. They smiled at one another.

Just then, Jonathan slid up behind Eleven, about to knock on Will's door, and paused, mouth agape. He took in the situation and looked at Will. "Does she…"

"She does." Will smiled.

"is everything…"

"Everything's great," Elliott smiled too.

Jonathan nodded slowly, before saying, "Well, anyway, Elliott, I have to take you home. Will, why don't you stay here and you and Eleven can… talk?"

Again, Eleven look extremely confused, but Will understood. He would need to explain the full situation to her. "Okay, thanks, Jonathan."

Jonathan nodded and beckoned to Elliott, who scrambled to get all his stuff and say his goodbyes. Once the two left, Will turned to Eleven. "El?"

"Yeah Will?" She still looked perplexed. "Why are you being weird?"

He let out a small smile at that. He was being weird, he supposed. At least, he would be acting weird, if so many people didn't denounce being gay. "Listen El. I know you might not know this, but some people aren't okay with people like Elliott and me… with boys who like boys, or with girls who like girls."

Eleven continued staring, seeming even more confused. "Why?" she asked.

"Who knows, honestly. Their reasons aren't good. But anyway… people don't think it's normal."

Eleven chewed her lip. "Well, so what? I am not normal. I am a freak. Who wants to be normal?"

Will smiled a bit wider at her. "Not me, I guess. Because I really like Elliott. But Eleven, this is really important." He squared off and looked directly in her eyes. "You cannot tell anyone. It is a big secret and it is my secret. Only you and Jonathan know."

Her face knitted. "Why can't I tell Mike? Or our friends? Won't they be happy for you?"

Will shook his head. He still needed time before they knew. "I will tell them… eventually. Just… please promise me you will keep it a secret?"

Eleven looked deeply at him. "Okay." She smiled. "Our first brother-sister secret."

Will sighed quietly in relief. Thank god. "Yes El."

She stood there for a moment, before walking quietly into his room and sitting beside him. "What is your favorite thing about Elliott?"

Will was taken aback but recovered and went to grab his sketchbook. "Everything."

Eleven grinned. "That's my favorite thing about Mike, too," she teased.

Will made a pretend grossed-out face and flipped to his most recent drawing, the one he'd been working on of Elliott. "Plus, look how handsome he is."

She gazed in awe at his lifelike portrait, scrambling to get a closer look. "You need to give him this, Will! It is so good!"

Will blushed. "Do you think he'd like it?"

Eleven nodded slowly. "If Mike ever drew me, I would swoon."

Will laughed. He loved Eleven's romance movie lines. "Okay, I'll give it to him."

They smiled at one another just as the front door opened and Joyce called from the door, "Eleven, Will! Hop and I are home!"

Eleven turned to look at Will, this time with a serious expression on her face. "Will, I won't tell anyone. But tell our friends soon, okay? Friends don't lie."

Will smiled. "Okay El. I promise."

El left the room, and Will, fueled with a new resolved and optimism, followed her out. The first thing he saw with his mother smiling at him, Hop's hand on her shoulder. The love in Joyce's eyes was unmistakable. He gulped, and blurted out, "I'm dating Elliott. I'm gay and I'm dating Elliott."

Joyce's eyes widened, and she looked at Eleven, who was smiling nervously at everyone. Then, she looked back to Will. "Oh sweet boy… Hop and I know."

Will gaped. "How… how does EVERYONE know this before I say it?" He was honestly a little annoyed.

Hop rushed in to save Joyce. "Kid, we're here for you no matter what. Thing is… you're not as quiet on the walkie talkie with Elliott as you think."

Will could just NOT get this coming out thing right. "My GOD. First Jonathan sees my-" he was mid-gesture to his neck when he realized who he was talking to and switched the subject, "-then El walks in on us, and now this! Am I the worst teenager ever? I'm supposed to have control of these things!"

Joyce smiled with tears in her eyes. "Will, I'm your mom. I have known you your whole life, I just didn't want to say anything to influence you. And I love you. No matter what. All I want is for you to be happy."

Hop, who was lovingly looking at Joyce through her whole speech, turned to Will and said gruffly, "Uh, ditto kid." Will stared at them both. This was absurd. In one week, it went from Will being completely on his own to being accepted as gay by four incredibly important people in his life.

"I…" Will didn't know what to say.

Joyce saved the day. "We obviously have a lot to talk about, my sweet boy. But it can wait. Sleep tonight, and we can talk tomorrow. Just know, I love you, and I am here for you."

Will felt tears prick his eyes. He ran into his mom's arms, burying his face into her soft shirt, feeling Hop and Eleven wrap their arms around the Byers.

Will knew there would be a lot of hard conversations in the next few days. But right now, he was just happy to have his mom tell him she loved him.

That night, Will called Elliott, trying to be extra quiet after what Joyce and Hopper had said. "Hey Ell? You there? Over." Will whispered.

The other end of the line crackled for a bit until it buzzed alive and Elliott's voice sounded through, "Hey Byers, are you doing okay? Now that Jonathan and El know, I didn't know how you were feeling? Did she promise not to tell anybody? Over." Elliott seemed nervous.

Will chuckled before pressing the button and saying, "I'm good. Yes, Eleven is okay with it, and yes she promised not to tell anyone yet, not even Mike. But I… uh… I told my mom. And El's dad. Over."

Silence.

"Elliott, you there? Over."

"Elliott?"

Finally, Elliott responded. "Hey, sorry, I was just, uh, taken aback. Did it go well? Over." Even his distorted voice over the walkie sounded weaker than it did before.

Will answered carefully, "They are okay with it. They said they loved me. Over."

More silence.

"Elliott? Are you okay? Did I do something wrong? Over."

Elliott's voice crackled, "No, No, Will you did nothing wrong. I am so happy for you. I just… I am a little jealous. And sad. Over."

Will sank into his bed. Of course. Here Will was, four people in his life accepting him, and Elliott was still living a lie at home. Not only that, but he was handling it all without his mother. "Elliott, I am so sorry, I wasn't thinking. Over."

"No worries, sweetheart. I am glad you are being supported. That is what you deserve. Over."

"I just wish that you could be supported too. Over."

Yeah… but I'm okay with the small victories for now. Over."

"…Me too." Will sighed. "I miss you. Over."

Elliott chuckled a bit more lightly. "You just saw me! Over."

"I know, I know. But still." Will snuggled under the covers. "I wish you were here by my side still. Over."

A sigh. "Me too."

Will yawned. "Sweetheart? I think I am going to sleep. Over." It had been an exhausting day.

"Of course, Byers. I… uh… I can't wait to see you tomorrow. Sleep well and sweet dreams. Over."

"Sweet dreams Ell. Over."

Will shut off the walkie and sunk deep in his bed. And when he fell asleep, he did not dream of monsters like he normally did. He dreamt of Elliott.