(⁠=⁠^⁠･⁠ｪ⁠･⁠^⁠=⁠)

No not just people, no, souls.

He loved watching out his window or sitting on a bench at the park, the interactions happening below and around him. New york was active, alive. It was... Free.

Will's sketchbook was filled with normal day to day people, drawings of kids playing with sticks. A man throwing a ball for his dog, two ladies elbows linked with coffee in their hands as they laughed loudly, an old man feeding the pigeons, a picnic that seemed like a first date.

Will loved normal after growing up and never having it,, in that stupid small town, with a neglectful father and a work addicted family to keep them alive, after being the outcast at school, the victim of whispers and cruel peopel. he liked not having the attention, he liked being able to sit at his local coffee shop and not feel like eyes were constantly on him,

But will byers eyes were always on someone else, recently on a regular in the coffee shop. the guy would always take the tiny booth nearest to the back. Almost blending to the shadows. Avoiding eyes.

where most saw no one, just another tired college student. will saw someone. He saw the perfect reference. He saw art.

Soon enough will had drawn him enough to the point of memorization. Always with those headphones and nerdy shirts, messy hair that seemed to be untameable, glasses that kept falling down his nose.

Eventually will was offered to put his art up in a showcase, he hesitated about putting one of the boy up... But he had consumed such a part of him. He deserved to be seen.

Will Byers stood nervously by his art as he watched familiar faces he's drawn point at the sketches of themselves and snap pictures by them, laughing at the food memories, offering to buy them. He shook hands and told them they're free to have them after the showcase. After all, shouldn't they have a capture of the joy in their life to look back on?

It was getting to the time of closing and he was getting ready to head out. Pulling his letterbag over his shoulder, when he turned to see one more person standing in front of the coffee boys drawing.

He recognized the dark curls immediately, the probably fake leather jacket. "I always did feel like someone was constantly staring at me." The boy spoke, turning to face Will. Will had never seen him this close before. He'd been missing those freckles in the drawings.

Will stood frozen awkwardly.

"I'm mike. If you ever want to rename the piece." He added.

"I'm—"

"will. I see your plaque." Mike chuckled nodded towards it.

"I was gonna say sorry... For being creepy." Will fidgeted with the strap of his bag.

"don't be.. I like it. No one's ever... seen me like this. Payed attention to me like this." Mike shrugged, a small smile stretching across his face, making will want to trace his smile lines.

"well i... I do. A little.. to much..." Will bit his inner cheek, glancing nervously at mike who's smile just grew more, eyes soft.