"EVERY BREATH YOU TAKE" Will Byers x Reader

Ghostbusters// chapter 8

Y/n's POV

"You know no one else is dressing up, right?" I warn, watching Mike zip up his Ghostbusters jumpsuit.

He scoffs. "Yeah, they are."

I just shake my head, slipping on a pair of cat ears from the basement table.

"That's it? That's your whole costume?" Mike groans.

"I'm not the one who's gonna look like an idiot when nobody else shows up in uniform," I shoot back.

"Shut up," he mutters.

I have to fight not to laugh as the boys scream Ghostbusters! the entire ride to school. But when I spot Will waiting outside, my fake smile drops into something real.

"Hey, Spengler!" Mike shouts.

"Egon!" Lucas calls.

"Yeah! Venkman!" Will adds.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa—" Mike stops dead, glaring at Lucas.

"What?" Lucas frowns.

"Why are you Venkman?" Mike snaps.

"Because I'm Venkman," Lucas says, like it's obvious.

"No, I'm Venkman."

"Why can't there be two Venkmans?" Will offers.

"Because there's only one Venkman in real life! We planned this months ago—Dustin's Stantz, you're Egon, I'm Venkman, and you're Winston." Mike spits the words in one breath.

I huff and step back, joining Will.

"I never agreed to Winston," Lucas shoots back.

"Yes, you did!" Mike yells.

"Nope," Will says quickly.

I squint, digging through the memory. "He didn't. I checked."

"Not helping!" Mike growls.

"No one wants to be Winston," Lucas says.

"What's wrong with Winston?" Mike demands.

"He joined the team late, he's not funny, and he's not even a scientist," Lucas rattles off.

"Yeah, but he's still cool," Mike argues—less certain this time.

"If he's so cool, then you be Winston," I shoot back. "Now can we go?"

"I can't!" Mike insists.

"Why not?" Lucas challenges.

"Because..." Mike falters.

"Because you're not Black?" Lucas asks, voice dripping with sarcasm.

"I didn't say that!" Mike shouts.

"You thought it," I say flatly. Lucas smirks.

Mike starts toward me, but Will plants himself in the way. "Calm down, Mike."

"Don't tell me what to do, Byers!"

"Guys! Guys!" Dustin yells. "Why is no one else wearing costumes?"

Silence.

"...Crap," Lucas mutters.

The hallway feels like a firing squad. Everyone stares, whispering. I rip my cat ears off and shove them in my bag.

"Told you," I mutter, smirking at Mike.

"When do people even decide this stuff?" Dustin grumbles.

"Everyone dressed up last year," Will points out.

"It's a conspiracy," Dustin hisses.

"Just be cool," Mike says.

"Who you gonna call? The nerds!" a boy jeers.

I glare, flick my head ever so slightly, and watch him face-plant out of nowhere. Blowing on my fingertips, I grin.

I tug Will toward my locker. "Hey. Your mom gave me a change of clothes for you. She kinda... predicted this." I hand him a hoodie and jeans.

"Thanks," Will says, relief flooding his face.

"Hey! No fair!" Mike protests. "I'm your brother!"

"And you're also the genius who ignored me this morning." I smirk.

Mike sighs. "Whatever."

I join Dustin and Lucas, who are busy gawking at Max as she skateboards past. She flashes me a grin and a wave; I wave back.

"Maybe she likes Ghostbusters," Dustin whispers.

"Of course she likes Ghostbusters. That's not the point. The point is we're dressed up and she isn't," Lucas says.

"I didn't bring regular clothes. You?" Dustin asks.

Lucas jerks his chin at me. "She brought Will some."

"They were from his mom," I clarify.

"We gotta do this," Dustin mutters. "Now or never."

"What?" I ask, crossing my arms.

"Ask her to trick-or-treat with us," Lucas admits.

I snort. "That's going to fail. I'll do it for you."

Their jaws drop. "Really?" Dustin gasps.

"She's my friend, you stalkers."

"We weren't stalking!" Dustin insists.

"Uh-huh."