Work Text:
Hawkins Mall had always been a place where time seemed to slow down. It wasn't the most glamorous shopping center—small, a little outdated—but it was home. And for the Byers family, it was the perfect place to open Byers' Brews & Bakes, their bakery and coffee shop that had become a local favorite. The smell of fresh-baked croissants, cinnamon rolls, and espresso floated out of the small storefront, greeting customers with the kind of warmth that felt like a hug.
The bell above the door chimed softly every time someone stepped inside, the sound barely cutting through the low murmur of the shop. The Byers coffee shop existed in a gentle in-between—never too loud, never too quiet. It was the kind of place people wandered into without meaning to and then forgot why they'd been in a hurry in the first place.
Warm light spilled from the hanging lamps overhead, their amber glow settling into every corner like it had always belonged there. The walls were painted a soft cream, worn in places where years of touch had dulled the color. Framed postcards and faded illustrations lined the space unevenly, each one slightly crooked, as if they'd been placed with care but not perfection. Near the counter, chalk drawings bloomed across a dark board—small flowers, stars, half-finished sketches that looked like they'd been started during slow afternoons and never erased.
Will Byers stood behind the counter, hands dusted with flour, watching the coffee machine hiss and steam. He liked this part of the day best, when the shop felt settled into itself. When the smell of espresso and fresh baked bread clung to the air and the world outside the windows blurred into something distant and unimportant.
He wiped his hands on his apron and reached for a mug from the shelf. None of them matched. Some were big others small, some painted in singular colors like soft blues and greens, others with interesting designs that were painted on. They'd been collected over time, Will taking the time to decorate the outside of the mug for customers who stayed and if some people had their coffees to go, Will would write a small note on the plastic cup or draw a smiley face. Will liked that everything was different. It made the shop feel alive.
A couple sat near the window, knees brushing under a small round table, whispering to each other like they were afraid to disturb the atmosphere. In the corner, someone curled into the old couch with a book, one of the knitted blankets pulled over their lap. The radio on the back shelf played quietly—soft acoustic music that blended into the rhythm of the shop instead of standing out.
Will poured hot water over freshly ground beans, breathing in as the scent bloomed. Coffee, sugar, vanilla, something warm and familiar. The smell had become a kind of anchor for him. No matter how strange or heavy the world felt outside these walls, in here everything made sense.
Jonathan passed through the back door, carrying a tray of bread loaves. "Busy?" he asked quietly, like loud voices weren't allowed here.
"Steady," Will said. "The good kind."
Jonathan smiled and set the tray down before disappearing again. The bell chimed as another customer entered, letting in a brief rush of mall noise before the door closed and the shop settled once more.
Will glanced around, taking it all in—the scratched wooden counter, the soft glow on the tables, the way people seemed to breathe easier once they stepped inside. This place wasn't flashy. It didn't demand attention. It simply waited, patient and kind.
Outside, across the hall, the mall continued its endless motion. New shops opened, old ones closed. Change hovered in the air, even if no one wanted to say it out loud yet.
But here, for now, the coffee stayed warm. The music stayed soft. And the shop remained exactly what it was meant to be—a place that held people gently, asking nothing from them at all.
Will picked up another mug and began again, unaware that this quiet little space would soon become the center of something much bigger than any of them had planned.
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Will Byers had spent months perfecting his pastries after learning from his mom, finding joy in the simple rhythms of baking, mixing, and brewing. The quiet hum of the bakery had become his peace after everything he'd been through, after all the madness his father brought to his family which caused them to move and live in Hawkins, Indiana. Now, the only thing he had to worry about was making sure the coffee was good enough, all baked goodies were perfectly flakey and soft, and that his girl cat, Muffin doesn't try to make the plastic pastries fall from the tray onto the floor again.
The mall, once just a steady, familiar backdrop to Will's life, was undergoing some changes of its own. The space across from Byers' Brews & Bakes—a store that had been empty for months—was finally being rented out. Will had caught glimpses of workers coming and going, and there was a sense of something big getting ready to open. A shop, a new business, something unknown.
He couldn't help but watch from behind the counter as a large sign went up one morning: The Wheeler's Vineyard.
Will furrowed his brow. Was it a winery? A bar? Whatever it was, it felt... off. This was located near a bakery. A place for warmth, comfort, and a quiet cup of coffee—not a rival establishment selling fancy wines and cocktails.
It was only a matter of time before he'd find out exactly what they were selling.
---
Will liked working alone most of the time, finding comfort in the rhythm of the bakery. But he wasn't alone for long since his older brother, Jonathan also helped out at their family owned business as well as his mom, his hands full of orders, always with a new story about the weird things happening at the mall.
"Did you see the workers in that new shop across from us?" Jonathan asked one morning, slipping behind the counter with his usual tired grin. "I heard they're opening a wine bar."
Will's stomach twisted a little. "A wine bar?"
Jonathan shrugged. "That's what I heard. I mean, it makes sense for the mall, right? It's been dead for a while maybe thats the attraction it needs."
The shop across was one of the larger spaces in the mall, and the walls had just been painted over with dark, sophisticated colors. All Jonathan could tell was that there were a lot of wine glasses on the counter when he had the chance to peak through the cracks in the curtain.
"But selling alcohol items where teens are mostly located- are they insane?" Joyce suddenly said as she removed some receipts that were hanging on the wall that they didn't need anymore since the customers have received their orders awhile back.
Will stayed quiet for a moment, watching as customers came and went, enjoying their lattes and pastries. His mind kept returning to that sign. The Wheeler's Vineyard. He didn't know why it bothered him so much. Maybe it was because the bakery had always been a small, quiet place in the mall. It was his family's slice of peace in the chaos of the world. But a wine bar... that was different.
And it felt like competition. But as him mom said the best way to win someone's respect is by being kind. And the Byers family had decided once they meet the people of the new shop, they well gladly bring some fresh baked goodies.