Will didn't mean for it to become a thing.
It just… did.
The first drawing Nova gave him stayed folded in his pocket for two whole days before he worked up the nerve to give her one back. Then another. Then another.
By the end of the week, it was normal.
Normal like Dustin's endless talking. Normal like Mike's overthinking. Normal like Lucas pretending not to care. Normal like Joyce humming while folding laundry.
Normal like safety.
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MONDAY – SCHOOL HALLWAY
Will stopped at his locker, fingers already numb from the cold.
Something white peeked out from the vent slats.
He glanced around — no one was obviously watching — and carefully pulled it free.
Folded paper. Neat edges.
He didn't open it right away.
Mike noticed. Of course he did like always.
"What's that?"
"Nothing."
"That's definitely something."
Will opened his locker just to avoid eye contact, stuffing the paper into his notebook.
Dustin leaned in. "Is it from her?"
Will's ears burned. "No." he said too quickly.
Lucas grinned. "It is from her."
"She draws now?" Dustin said, impressed. "Okay, that's actually cool, you guys have something in common."
"She's always drawn," Will muttered.
Mike blinked. "You notice that?"
Will froze.
"…yeah."
They exchanged looks.
"Oh," Dustin said slowly. "Ohhhh."
Will slammed his locker shut and walked away from them. Thankfully not seeing the mischievous grins his friends were wearing behind his back and not hearing the silent teasing they were saying.
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LUNCH PERIOD
Nova sat at the twins usual table with no one but them in it like always, cross-legged on one of the stools, pencil moving lazily across the page.
Will hovered nearby, unsure.
She glanced up. "You can sit, you know."
He did.
She slid the paper toward him without ceremony.
It was a sketch of the four boys riding their bikes — not perfect, not detailed, but unmistakably them. Dustin's arms thrown wide, Mike leaning forward, Lucas steady, and Will just behind them.
Will stared. "You drew… all of us?"
Nova shrugged. "You're always together."
Knox, leaning beside her, added, "Hard not to notice dude."
Will smiled before he could stop himself.
He pulled his own folded paper from his bag.
Nova opened it.
It was her and Knox at the arcade — her focused, Knox relaxed, leaning back like he trusted the world wouldn't fall apart if he looked away for a second.
She laughed softly. "You made me look cool."
"You are cool," Will said.
Knox snorted. "Careful, Byers. Compliments make her dangerously cringy."
Nova kicked his shin.
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The Party's POV:
Dustin slammed his tray down. "I'm calling it."
"Calling what?" Mike asked.
"Will and Nova. It's happening."
Lucas chewed thoughtfully. "They're just… friends? right?."
"They exchange drawings," Dustin said. "That's not nothing."
Mike sighed. "It's kind of nice."
Dustin stared. "Who are you and what have you done with Mike Wheeler?"
Mike ignored him. "Will looks… happier."
Lucas nodded. "Yeah."
They all glanced toward the table a little far from them.
Will was laughing.
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In the afternoon - Byers's Home
Joyce came home tired.
Her shoulders ached, her feet hurt, and she still had to figure out dinner. But when she stepped inside, she stopped.
Will was at the table.
Drawing.
Not hunched. Not tense.
Just… drawing.
Jonathan noticed too in the couch.
"He's been like that all week," he said quietly.
Joyce smiled, setting her purse down. "What are you drawing, honey?"
Will startled slightly. "Oh— um— just stuff."
She leaned closer.
It was Nova again. Sitting, her left arm by her face while she looked outside of the window.
Joyce didn't tease. Didn't pry.
She just said, "She looks amazing, you drew her great as always sweetie."
Will nodded. "Thanks." cheeks warm by the thought of his mom saw him drawing her again
Jonathan raised an eyebrow but stayed quiet with the thought of 'she'.
Later, while Joyce cooked, Jonathan followed Will into his room.
"So," Jonathan said, leaning on the doorframe. "...she? huh."
Will groaned. "Please don't."
Jonathan smiled gently. "Relax. I just… like seeing you like this."
Will shrugged, embarrassed. "She likes my drawings."
Jonathan nodded. "That's a good place to start."
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By Saturday
The Party rode hard through Hawkins, wind cutting cold against their faces.
They skidded to a stop near the arcade.
Nova and Knox were already there.
Nova sat on the curb, tightening her skates. Knox balanced on his board, rocking slightly.
Dustin lit up. "Arcade rematch!"
Nova grinned. "You're still mad about Pacman?"
"Forever," Dustin said.
Inside, coins clinked, machines buzzed, and laughter echoed.
Will stood beside Nova as she played pacman, watching instead of speaking.
"You don't play pacman?" she ask.
"I just like watching you play," he sheepishly admitted.
She smiled. "Me too. I like watching you play." Will's cheeks getting red by the second (A/N: It's Will and him blushing against the World)
She handed him a folded paper.
He handed her one back. Like he was prepared with it happening at any time.
Neither of them opened it yet.
They didn't need to.
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Joyce taped Nova's newest drawing to the fridge. It was Will laughing when he sat by with them during lunch. Joyce saw the drawing when she was cleaning up Will's Room, she could tell the difference between Will's and Nova's but it was still a pretty good drawing that captures Will's smile and warmth.
Jonathan noticed. "New artist?". Also noticing the difference.
Joyce smiled. "New friend."
Will in his room embarrassed as always knowing what his mom did but with smile he didn't really tried to hide, while trying to hide Nova's other drawing from the likeness of his mother.