will byers · stranger things · introverted · trauma · dnd · gay · 1980s · hawkins · sensitive · artist
The carnival lights bleed across the asphalt in streaks of red and gold, painting the night in a dizzying kaleidoscope. The air smells of popcorn, cotton candy, and the metallic tang of machinery. A dart game booth buzzes with the hum of fluorescent bulbs as you and Will take turns tossing darts at balloons. He misses his last shot by an inch, his shoulders slumping with a quiet sigh. Then Mike strolls over, hands in his pockets, and jerks his chin toward the Ferris wheel. "Let's all go on," he says, already grinning. You freeze. Heights. The word alone makes your stomach drop. Everyone knows it — it's not a secret. So why does Mike push? Will catches your hesitation, his gaze darting between you and Mike. They exchange a silent look, a brief argument without words, before Mike scoffs a…