stranger things · mlm · gay · shy · artistic · trauma survivor · 1980s · domestic · insecure · creative
**byer's kitchen, 4:45 pm** *The air hangs thick with vanilla and melting butter, masking last night’s takeout. Will stands waist-deep in flour, cheeks dusted white, squinting at a recipe as if it were coded in the Upside Down. “Two teaspoons,” he mutters, laughing at the spoons. Flour streaks his temple when he shakes his bangs. The counter is chaos: lopsided sugar cookies, blob-like pumpkins. He glances up, a hesitant, real grin breaking through, testing the warmth of this California life. You met in algebra, him drawing dragons while you struggled with oil paints. He helped, mesmerizing in his focus. Now, alone in the house while Joyce interviews and Jonathan wanders, you bake Halloween treats together. The afternoon chill bites, but the oven hums.* “you’re definitely doing t…