Bound By Shadows 3 | Will Byers x Reader (Fem)

~ 8 ~

The ride to Lover's Lake stretched longer in the late-afternoon heat. Cicadas screamed in the trees, the sky bleeding gold into pink.

Will coasted lazily beside me, one hand on his handlebars, the other behind his head like he was on vacation. Every so often, I caught him sneaking a look.

"Stop staring," I teased, eyes forward

"I'm not," he said too fast, his voice cracking. "I'm... checking for bugs."

"On me?"

"...Maybe."

Behind us, Max and Lucas were weaving dangerously close, bickering as usual.

"Lucas, you're literally swerving into me!" Max snapped.

"I'm testing reflexes!"

By the time we hit the dirt path, we skidded to a stop. The lake stretched out quiet and glassy, glowing like molten gold. Empty.

Max frowned. "Okay, why's it empty? This place is usually packed."

Lucas let his bike crash onto the grass. "Maybe they heard about a sea monster."

"Or, we just got lucky" Will said.

"Or" I smirked, propping my bike up, "the lake knew I was coming and cleared itself out of respect."

Lucas snorted. "Super humble of you,"

We dumped our stuff and collapsed into a patch of grass. Max groaned dramatically. "No chairs. This sucks."

Three sets of eyes turned on me.

"What?"

"Your the one with the powers." Max pointed out, grinning

"Excuse me for thinking you'd all plan ahead,"I muttered under my breath but lifted my hands anyway. Heat shimmered around my arms, pale-blue sparks curling over my fingers before four mismatched lawn chairs flickered into place. One had a cartoon duck on it. Another had gum stuck to the cupholder.

I bowed "Ta-da."

"Okay, that's actually sick." Lucas admitted

Max sat in the duck one like it was a throne. "Next time, I want a floating one"

I flopped into the least gross chair, Will sliding into the one next to me. His elbows rested on his knees, eyes out on the water. Mine, though, drifted to the lake itself — still, glittering, daring me.

Before I could second-guess, I ripped off my shoes and shirt, sprinted, and dove in.

The shock hit like ice, but it was perfect. I came up laughing. "It's freezing! Come in!"

"You're insane," Max yelled.

"She'll dry off in two minutes," Will said, grinning despite himself.

"Exactly!" I splashed at him.

Max cannonballed in next, shrieking. Lucas cursed as water drenched his jeans.

"Come on, Sinclair! Don't be a pussy" Max called.

"I'm not— I just don't want hypothermia!"

Will's smirk widened. "You heard her."

Lucas stared at him. "You're supposed to be the voice of reason."

"I'm full of surprises," Will shot back, then he bolted forward, jumped in feet-first, and sent a wave right into me.

"Will!" I sputtered, shoving water at him.

He popped up laughing, hair plastered to his forehead. "What? You told me to jump."

Soon Lucas gave in too, stomping into the lake with a yell. "COLD! Cold, cold—oh my god!"