Chapter Text
“So, who were you two thinking?”
“I’m… Not sure.” That’s a lie. Will had known who he’d wanted to write about since the project was announced.
“I’m guessing that any important leaders will be taken, so maybe we could try somebody of a more passive role? Someone on the sidelines in a sense.
El clapped her hands together; Will could practically see the lightbulb appearing above her head. “Will, you talked about that guy… The father of computers! Alex Turning?” God damnit.
“Alan Turing?” El nods excitedly, practically buzzing with excitement.
“Yes! Great idea! Well done, Byers.” Jaimie looks at Will as Will turns his head.
“Well, I’ve been bullied for being a nerd my whole life… May as well put it to use.” Will grins down at the paper in front of him, a dusty pink colour coating his cheeks, blooming across his nose and onto the very tips of his ears.
“Well, they do say it’s ‘character building’ don’t they.” Jaimie grins, fingers mocking quotation symbols.
The two-hold eye contact for what could have been anywhere from a second to a few years. Meanwhile El looks between the pair, smile growing along with the mischief in her gaze.
“Hey, Jaimie, would you mind seeing if you could find a couple biographies? Will and I can skim through these and see if they have anything!”
“Rodger that!” with that, the boy mocks a small salute and walks away.
“El-“ “You like Jaimie!” Jane whisper yells before Will can do so little as think.
“I- Jane, don’t be ridiculous. I’m not gay.”
Will’s heart is stuttering, brain feeling as though it’s swelling right out any possible facial orifices. His breathing is halting to a stop as El asks a question, sweet enough to rock him to his very core.
“What is gay? And yes, you definitely do!”
Sometimes Will forgets just how little El knows about the world.
“Oh… Well, gay is when a boy likes another boy, or a girl likes another girl. It’s generally not… It’s frowned upon is all.” El looks confused, then sad, then angry, then confused once more.
“That does not seem bad. I have killed many people and I’m not bad, therefore, even if you did like boys, you would not be bad. Plus, I kissed Max once. I would definitely kiss her again. I like Mike though so… Am I gay?” Tears began falling down wills face, drops of salty water dropping and being caught on the faded grey of Wills tee shirt, even if her short tangent was completely ridiculous.
Will leans forward wrapping her in a hug before either can think. “El, you are genuinely too perfect for this world.” Will mutters this into the soft fabric of his sister’s shirt, before pulling away from the hug. “And I believe that would make you bisexual. Like David Bowie.”
El is about to respond when a crash comes from the nonfiction aisle, bringing them back to reality and reminding them that maybe heart to hearts shouldn’t be held in public libraries. About two seconds after the crash came from the nonfiction aisle, the third partner emerges from the aisle, holding about six large books, and wearing a sheepish grin. An old lady emerges right after, agitated, history book clutched in her left hand.
And right before Jaimie makes it back, Jane leans in to whisper just once more thing.
"He definitely likes you too."
After the—rather awkward—events from before, the teens hunker down on the project, getting a fair lot done in their short study session. Having gotten through the Early Life portion, they decided to give themselves a break. This meant that they gave themselves five minutes to chat with one another.
It was really just boring conversation until Jaimie got them on the topic of music.
“Jane, we’ve been over this, Madonna, Blondie, and Wham! can not be considered music taste. Its just garbage designed to be catchy, getting people hooked on it with the shallow lyrics and upbeat, electronic music. It has no meaning and it is, therefore, not music.”
“Well, William, it is good garbage no matter what it is made for and it is fun! Not everything has to be sad or angry to be good.”
“But sad and angry are often how you know it’s real.” “Happy is not real?”
“Earth to wonder twins! Hello?”
The two brunettes look at each other, then Jaimie, then down, faces flushed red.
“Sorry…” They both mumble under their breath.
“No, it’s fine, I just didn’t want to have to break it up when you two got in some type of fist fight.” Jaimie said this in his usual lighthearted tone before lower his voice and dropping his smile. “But there is something I should tell you…” The pair looked at him, completely enthralled. “Will is right!” A victorious grin from Will and a gasp of betrayal from El. “But, hey, if you two can get through your differences, my band’s playing a gig tomorrow…Might be fun if you’d like to go!”
“Of course, we would!” Eleven exclaimed before turning to Will. “What is… gig?”
“Live music.” Will answers in a hushed tone.
“Great!” Exclaims Jaimie. “Well, it’s at 9:30 at The Launchpad.”
“We’ll be there.” Will says this, then looks at his sister who’s practically buzzing with excitement.
They eventually go back to the project, with a different energy. Excited for the day before them.