With a sulk face, Will stared out of the window. He felt embarrassed—his mom treated him like a baby! What would Onyx think of him now? They couldn't even go to an exhibition without his mother dragging him home with her cop boyfriend! Tears of powerless anger burned in his eyes. She knew how hard it was for him to make friends! And now there was finally someone who thought he was nice, and his mother acted like a complete idiot! Next time, Onyx would surely ask someone else!
As soon as his mother turned off the engine, Will threw the car door open, got out, and slammed it shut. He rushed to the front door, grunting in frustration as it turned out to be locked so that he still had to wait for his mother.
"I understand that you're upset, Will," his mom sighed while she came to stand next to him, putting the key in the hole. "But there's something really off with that boy."
He jerked his head to the side. "That someone is different than other people doesn't make him a bad person!"
If anything, Onyx was super friendly and sweet. He had shown him things nobody else could. He was different, he was strange and Will loved it. Normal people didn't like him anyway.
"It neither means that someone like that can solely have good intentions, Will."
Will huffed. "Just open the door."
He was sure his mother tried to catch his glance, but he kept his face averted. He was just sick of being treated like a child!
"Don't run upstairs. I want to talk to you about this."
Will gritted his teeth. As if she could make things undone with a conversation. He didn't want to talk at all. She wouldn't understand how special Onyx was anyway. And even when he told her that the boy had taken him back in time, she would call him crazy. Or no—she would probably claim that Onyx had drugged him!
He however didn't want a giant fight either and so he headed to the living room, where he leaned with his backside against the couch, crossing his arms in front of his chest stubbornly. The sooner his mother was done talking, the better. He didn't even have time to think about the time-traveling and Onyx's powers!
"Sit down, Will. I don't like this attitude." His mother gave him a stern look.
Will rolled his eyes rebelliously but sat down on the couch. His mother came to sit next to him and petted his hair.
"You do understand I want what's best for you, right?"
"Why did you come to the exhibition?"
She sighed. "That boy just caused me a bad feeling. What are you doing with such an older boy?"
"He isn't that old, he goes to the same school. He's in his final year. Hopper is three years older than you too—you never found that strange, right?"
"It's different when you're younger."
"Why?" Will bent his head and stared at his knees. "He's nice, Mom. Nobody ever asked me to go somewhere. You know I'm not good at making friends."
She placed her hand on his knee. "And that's exactly the reason why I'm worried, baby. Don't you think it's a little strange?"
"What?" he muttered. "That someone likes me? That someone wants to spend time with me and doesn't think that I'm a freak?" He swallowed with difficulty. There was a giant lump in his throat.
"No one thinks you're a freak, sweetheart. And if people do, they don't know you. They have no idea what a sweet boy you are."
Will huffed. "And why do you think Onyx can't see that?"
His mother said nothing.
He looked to the side, feeling slightly triumphant, but the feeling faded at the sight of the deep lines in her face. He sighed. He didn't want her to worry about him.
"You told me I had to let it go—all the things that happened to us. That we moved to this place to start over. But that means that you have to let things go too, Mom."
She bit her lip. "I'm trying, Will, I really am. I..." Sighing, she bent her head. "You know what? Why don't you ask him to visit some time and have dinner with us, so I can get to know him. And.. apologize," she admitted reluctantly.
The idea that Onyx would be in his house, made him sick with nervousness. Wouldn't it be super weird to ask him over? Well—at least he was happy that his mother wanted to apologize. "I don't know if I want that. I don't know him that well and you were acting really weird, Mom."
His mother rubbed her face.
The silence that fell, pressed heavily upon him.
"Can I go to my room now?" he asked quietly.
She heaved a deep sigh. "Go ahead."
Will stood up immediately and went up the stairs. He fell down on his bed, facing the ceiling. There was a weird feeling in his stomach when he thought back to this afternoon. It had been bizarre to walk around in the Wild West. He remembered how Onyx had pulled him to his chest when that horse stormed towards them. The memory made him feel warm and a smile spread across his face.
With all of his heart, he hoped his mother hadn't scared away his new friend.