#Barbara Holland x reader

[you-aint-gotta-pray-for-me]

Hell on Earth: Chapter 1

words: 2.7k

pairing: Steve Harrington x ex-friend!Henderson!reader (eventually romantic- could be called a slow burn I guess, but they're not together right now, there's some bad blood, just read it man I suck at summarizing T_T)

summary: Things do not seem normal in simple, down-to-earth town Hawkins, Indiana. With Will Byers missing, tensions rise while the mystery claims another victim.

timeline: set in season one right after Will goes missing

warnings: language, bending of canon, fic from reader's pov (3rd person will be there as well, will warn before a pov change if there is one)

a/n: hey guys! so, I see you have found the first part of Hell on Earth :) This is a Steve x reader, yes, I promise we will get there and it'll be awesome when we do, but as much as it is a reader insert Steve slash fic, this is also an actual Stranger Things spin-off story that I'm writing, meaning there will be a lot of focus on the actual plot along with steve and reader's relationship. Also yes, reader is Dustin's older sister.

Reader POV

Will Byers was the kind of kid you wouldn't know was missing until you looked for him. He didn't bother anybody, just kept to himself and his little group doing whatever it is kids these days do, you know? He was a simple, soft-spoken kid, the last person you would wish danger upon. So when I heard that he'd gone missing, I was as confused as I was worried.

"And he was with you when you cycled back home?"

"Yes, Jesus Christ (Y/n), for the millionth time. Yes."

"Don't get annoyed you little shit, I'm trying to help you here."

"Oh, excuse me for getting worried because my best friend is freaking missing."

"Dustin! Don't talk to your sister like that!" I heard Mom scream at us from the living room, oblivious to any context. I mean, he was right to get annoyed with me. His exasperated look at Mom's comment told me he thought the same thing. I just shook my head in understanding. What more can I do?

"Listen, I know you want to go looking for him, I would too, but you can't go on your own. I need you to promise me you won't go on your own, okay? Wait after school, and we'll go together."

"You get off school like two hours after I do, what am I supposed to do, sit and scream his name from my room and hope he shows up? Come on, man. That's bullsh-"

"Dustin."

"What?"

I stared at him, hoping my disapproving-but-concerned-older-sister look told him what he needed to hear. It did.

"Fine. 2 hours. A minute late and I'm going off on my own."

"Deal," I said, knowing full well that I'd have to ditch Algebra II. I wasn't complaining, though. Staring at a newly painted wall and waiting for it to dry would be more interesting than Algebra II.

Later that day

I had exactly 5 minutes to bolt before Algebra II started. I went to my locker and hurriedly rammed all my shit inside when I noticed my locker neighbor Barbara coming towards hers. We'd make conversation when we're at our lockers and smile and wave when we saw each other in the hallway. Outside of that, I didn't really know her all too well.

"Algebra II?"

"Nah, I'm ditching. I promised my brother I'd help him with some stuff."

"Lucky," she sighed. "I can't believe I need to sit through Mr Treeger's bullshit for 2 hours."

"You are welcome to join me if you'd like," I offered with a grin. "Algebra II can be soul-sucking."

"Thank you, really, but I can't leave Nancy hanging. Besides, we've got this thing later as well and, yeah, it's a whole thing, don't bother," she explained.

"Suit yourself, Barb." I shut my locker and almost left before I heard her voice again.

"I mean, if you need notes or anything, I could- uh- I could take them for you? If you want?" she said, almost like she wasn't sure I would take her up on her offer.

"I would love that, actually. Where do you live?"

"Uh, I think I’ll be at Steve’s party later. At the Harrington's. You know the place?" She shifted her books like they suddenly weighed too much. Her expression said she wasn't entirely looking forward to this.

Hearing Steve's name threw me slightly on edge. When you grow up with somebody and you fall out with them, you don't exactly forget things about them. I practically spent half my life at his house. I practically spent half my life with him. So, yes. I definitely knew the place.

"Y-yeah. I do"

"Great, I'll have it ready, then."

"Barb, you are literally an angel." I hurriedly gave her an impromptu hug and rushed outside to get to my car, where I saw Jonathan Byers handing out missing posters. His shoulders sagged under the weight of the stack in his hands and he looked like he hadn't slept in days. I can only imagine what he and Mrs Byers were going through.

I hesitated for a second before walking up to him. I knew Jonathan from Dustin hanging out with Will. We weren't close friends or anything, but someone had to say something. His hands trembled slightly as he stapled one of the posters onto the community board near the lot, his eyes darting nervously like he was waiting for Will to suddenly appear and tell him it was all a joke.

"Hey, Jonathan."

He flinched at my voice, turning to me with an exhausted half-smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes.

"Hey," he mumbled.

I nodded at the posters in his hands. "Any updates? Are the cops, like… actually doing anything?"

"They found his cycle a few minutes from Mirkwood. So that's... yeah. That's it, I guess?"

"What are they thinking?"

He hesitated, glancing down at the posters like he thought they might hold some kind of answer. "They think he might’ve run away, but that’s not Will. He wouldn’t just… leave."

I nodded slowly. "Yeah, I don’t buy that either. Will’s not the type to just take off. He’s… dependable, you know?"

Jonathan looked at me for a moment, his expression softening just a little. "Thanks."

I shrugged, kicking at a loose rock on the ground. "For what? Telling the truth?"

"For… caring, I guess," he said, turning back to his work.

I watched him for a second longer, the weight of the whole situation sinking in deeper. "Let me know if you need help. With the posters or anything else."

Jonathan nodded, his focus back on the board. "Thanks," he said again, so quiet I almost missed it.

I didn’t know what else to say, so I just turned and walked back to my car, leaving him to keep stapling the same plea for help over and over.

I drove back home and Dustin was practically at the edge of his seat, looking like he was at the verge of explosion.

"What the hell took you so long?"

"Jesus Christ, I'm right on time. Give me a break."

He continued to yell at me about how time is of the essence. I held up a hand to calm him down. "Relax, I’m here now, aren’t I? Anyway, listen. They found some stuff near Mirkwood."

That got his attention. His eyes widened, his mouth snapping shut mid-rant. "What kind of stuff?"

I sat down across from him, leaning forward so Mom couldn’t overhear from the kitchen. "They found his bike. Just abandoned on the side of the road. No tracks, no clues, nothing else. It’s like he just… vanished."

Dustin’s face fell, his usual confident bravado cracking under the weight of what I’d just told him. "His bike?" he echoed, voice smaller now.

"Yeah. Cops are calling it ‘strange circumstances.’ I’m calling it suspicious as hell."

He nodded, jaw tightening as his brain started working overtime. "Okay. Okay, so that means he didn’t run away. Someone- or something- took him."

I flinched a little at how easily he jumped to "something." This was Hawkins. Strange wasn’t on the table.

"Dustin, don’t get carried away. Let’s stick to facts. We know where his bike was, and that’s it. But you promised me you wouldn’t do anything stupid, remember?"

He rolled his eyes but didn’t argue. "Fine. But we need to check it out. Together."

I sighed, knowing there was no talking him out of it. "Together. No sneaking off without me, got it?"

"Got it," he said, though I could tell from his tone he was already planning something.

A couple hours later

"So that was fucking useless."

"Dustin, come on. Don't be like that."

"We found nothing, (Y/n)! He's out there, probably being tortured for all we know, and we found literally nothing."

"Don't jump to conclusions. Yes, we don't know anything now. But we are not the only people looking. Okay?"

"I'm telling you. We should look for him right around when he went missing."

"No way I'm letting you go out there at 10 pm unsupervised. Mom would gut me."

"I won't be unsupervised if you're with me."

"Dustin," I sighed, slightly annoyed at how he wouldn't level with me at all. "Whatever happened to Will could be bigger than us. If it's something we can't handle, I don't want us to go all in with literally no information."

"Oh, come on! but-"

"No buts. Sit this one out. I am begging you. At least until we know something."

Even though he begrudgingly agreed, his words stuck with me. I hated the idea of him sneaking off on his own, but I also couldn’t shake the feeling that he was right. If there were answers out there, they wouldn’t come to us- we had to go to them. And if I knew Dustin at all, I knew exactly what that meant. He’d go anyway.

The only way for me to deal with this was to either find something before he did or supervise, just in case. And both those options required me to be out in the woods in the dead of the night. Perfect. I remembered that I had to stop by to see Barb so it won't all be for nothing.

The glow of streetlights flickered against the windshield as I pulled up to the Harringtons' house. The faint hum of music and muffled laughter carried through the warm night air, the telltale signs of a Steve Harrington classic. For a moment, I hesitated, fingers gripping the steering wheel. It had been a while since I’d set foot here, and it felt strange- nostalgic in a way that made my chest tight. I didn't like it.

I stepped out of the car and walked around the side of the house, avoiding the main door. I wasn’t here for the party, and I definitely wasn’t in the mood to exchange awkward hellos with people who probably didn’t even remember my name. Also, I might punch Tommy and Carol just because.

The backyard was bathed in the eerie blue glow of the pool lights. It was quieter here, the party sounds muffled by the distance. Sitting by the pool, her legs dangling lazily in the water, was Barb. She was hunched over slightly, fiddling with the strap of her watch, looking as out of place as I felt.

"Hey," I called softly, not wanting to startle her.

She looked up, her face lighting up with a small, relieved smile. "Oh, hey! You made it."

"Yeah," I said, walking over and sitting beside her on the cool concrete. "Figured I’d pick up those notes before your night gets too crazy," I said before I noticed her poorly bandaged hand bloody hand.

"Holy shit, you okay?"

"Yeah, yeah, it's... nothing. I'm okay."

"Partied too hard?"

Barb scoffed, glancing over her shoulder at the house. "Yeah, not exactly my scene. Nancy’s inside with Steve. I’m just... taking a break."

I nodded, leaning back on my palms and staring at the pool. Nancy's inside with Steve. That didn't bother me at all. "Can’t say I blame you. These things get out of hand quickly," I said, slightly regretting my hand pun.

She laughed at my poorly timed joke and reached into her bag to pull out a neatly folded piece of paper. "Here you go. Sorry if it’s a little messy. Mr. Treeger was really on one today."

I took the notes with a grateful smile. "You’re the best, Barb. Seriously."

She waved it off like it was no big deal. "It’s nothing. So, what are you up to?"

I reached into my bag and pulled out a worn paperback with a cracked spine and dog-eared pages. "Actually, I thought you might need this more than I do right now," I said, handing Barb my copy of The Shining.

Her eyes lit up as she took it, carefully running her fingers over the cover. "No way. I’ve been wanting to read this forever."

"Well, now you’ve got no excuse. It’s a classic. Just don’t read it alone at night unless you want to start hearing creepy voices in your house."

Barb laughed, flipping through the pages. "Thanks, (Y/n). This is awesome. I’ll take good care of it, promise." She looked up at me, her expression softening. "This one your favorite? "

"It's my comfort book, honestly"

"The Shining is your comfort book?".

"Hey, don't knock it till you try it. Besides, no matter how bad my day is going, everyone in that book is having a much worse, more horrible day."

She laughed and looked at me with a smile extending far beyond her eyes. "But seriously, why do you always have the best recommendations? Like, do you just spend all your time reading?"

"I wouldn’t say all my time," I joked, leaning back and shrugging. "But books don’t talk back or ditch you for better plans. So they’ve got that going for them."

Barb chuckled, but her smile faltered slightly, and she hesitated before asking, "Speaking of people ditching... can I ask you something? You don’t have to answer if you don’t want to."

I glanced at her, curious. "Shoot."

"What happened with you and Steve? I mean, if you don’t mind me asking. You two seemed really close back then"

I froze for a moment, caught off guard by the question. It wasn’t exactly something I loved to think about, let alone talk about. Barb’s expression wasn’t nosy or judgmental- just genuinely curious. I hesitated for a moment, debating whether to say anything. But Barb was easy to talk to, and I felt like I could trust her.

"It’s... complicated," I said, exhaling sharply. "Before his, you know, 'coronation', King Steve and I were best friends. We practically grew up together. You stick with someone throughout middle school and still want to hang out? That's true friendship, right there."

She nodded like she related to what I was saying. "High School came and he changed. He wanted to hang out less, which was fine with me, you know? People change and everything," I paused for a second.

"It got bad only after Tommy and Carol started hanging out with him. He became this mean jerk, this person I could barely recognize. And I never got along with Tommy or Carol from the beginning, he knew that from the million times I have told him that I hate their guts. Hell, I've directly said it to Tommy and Carol. I just... I guess you could say we both grew up and became distant or whatever, but the fact is, he's just a colossal asshole now.

Barb frowned, clutching the book tighter. "That sucks. I’m sorry."

I shrugged, trying to play it off. "It’s whatever. We’re not kids anymore, and I guess we just outgrew each other. Besides, I’m not exactly missing out on this." I gestured toward the house, where someone let out an ear-piercing whoop, followed by the unmistakable sound of something breaking.

Barb laughed, shaking her head. "Yeah, I don’t think either of us belong here."

"Hey, misery loves company, right?" I teased, bumping her shoulder lightly.

She smiled, a little more at ease now, and held up the book. "Thanks for this. I mean it."

"Don’t mention it," I said, standing up and brushing off my jeans. "Enjoy the book- and maybe steer clear of the creepy twins in the hallway."

Barb laughed again as I started to head back to my car.

"You sure you don't need a lift? Your house isn't too far, I don't mind."

"Really, it's ok, (Y/n). I'll just go whenever Nancy leaves."

"It's almost midnight, Barb, you sure?"

"I am. I really am."

[officerrrfriendly]

The Taken, First Strike.

stranger things conjuring!AU, priest!steve harrington x demonologist/clairvoyant!fem reader.

With an abundance of reluctance, your feet found themselves taking brave steps one after another as they eventually met a birch-wood doorway. But it wasn't any ordinary doorway, inside sat her. The frail and misfortunate Maxine Mayfield, who you still referred to as such- out of a habit of profession- much despite her insistence on "just calling her max, she doesn't go by Maxine anymore."

And in that moment, all of your previous doubts from earlier flooded back into your brain, before you could give into them and turn back, she spoke out. She called your name, a glint of hope present in her tone with some desperation, too.

You sigh heavily to try and alleviate all the weight you suddenly feel pressing against your chest before you eventually reply.

"Hi, Maxine," you mutter, smiling softly before slowly approaching the vacant armchair beside her, full of funky patterns and colours. She sat timidly, her hands held onto one another whilst fingers from each hand wandered over freckles on the backs of her hands she had forgotten she had. Her hair was shorter now, bobbed and fell just below her ears but she was still so beautiful. You tried your hardest to avoid looking into the milky white orb of her left eye and the thick bandage that covered the gaping wound on her right.

If you thought about that night for any longer, you thought you would just about lose your mind- so you shook your head of protruding thoughts and focussed on the topic of importance here, which was the girl beside you.

She laughs, and this time it wasn't humourless or dry but it was real, amusing. "How many times have I told you to just call me Max, hm?" she pokes, she sits further up in her seat as you laugh along with her.

"If I had to guess...I'd say only about 100 million times," you say, with a sigh. Your answer makes her smile for a moment but then she sighs, something is clearly bothering her.

Unexpectedly, without needing encouragement to open up, she speaks. "No one's visited in a while, Lucas...he finds it hard coming here, seeing me like this. He's never said it- but..." she huffs, lowering her head down to the floor. "I know that every time he's here with me he's just stuck in that night, what happened to Billy...me. Even though I can't see him, I can sense it, he's terrified to be around me and I hate it. I hate it because I love him so much...do you have somebody like that?" As the forbidden question leaves her tongue it triggers thoughts you had wished to never think about again, you think of him- and how neither of you haven't seen or spoken to each other since that very night.

Your head shakes, wishing to be done with the thought of Father Steve, and how you've treated him since after the night of July 4th 1983...at the exorcism of Billy Hargrove.

"I'd rather not answer that question... Honey, tell me more about what's been going on with Lucas!"

.•.•.•

You wipe desperately at your tears as they fall on your way to your ocean-blue Austin Maestro car. Your fingers struggle to keep up with the vast amount that began to flood out of your tear ducts.

You harboured a considerably brave face - despite Max not being able to notice it- throughout the entire hour after Max had asked you that god-forsaken question to which you had no answer.

She had talked about Billy, her nightmares, PTSD, her love life and even her mom running off to the other side of the world with her new young boyfriend and a bottle of Jack...she lived a sad life, one you had hoped to someday be able to save her from. You wanted her to come and live in your miniature, yet cosy townhouse you had inherited from your late father Richie, god bless his soul.

Seeing her so frail and lonely, woke a sadness inside you that hadn't long gone away, however that sadness also carried a fuckton of guilt. The guilt of knowing that if you had actually, fully prepared for what you were getting into, perhaps you could have saved Billy Hargrove, Max's eyesight (and her sanity), along with her family.

CLONK, you pull on the door handle to the driver's side door and hop inside before taking one last pitiful glance at the hospice. "I'll be back for you...Max," you mutter.

You turn the rusty key into the ignition. The engine fires to life.

.•.•.•

Days had passed and now you were sitting, pondering in your office inside your humble abode. Max hadn't left your mind since your previous visit and you were thinking through the idea that has floated into your noggin and is actively refusing to leave.

A THUD snaps you out of your daydreams and you quickly glance up from your oak-stained desk to see the culprit who dropped four thick textbooks in front of you, stacked on top of one another. You groan when you realise that it's just Robin, the nosy librarian-now-assistant with a child-like grin on her face. 'Oh, she's up to something' you thought, rolling your eyes before asking- "What is it now, Roberto?" you ask, intrigued as you sit up in your seat.

"I think I may have a case for you, Psychic Sally." she grins smugly, pulling a picture of a young boy out of her pocket.

Now that caught your attention.

"Tell me everything."

And she does, she tells you about how a 'Joyce Byers' had called several times today whilst you were out buying groceries begging to speak with you, for your help and assistance as she believes something is gravely wrong with her 11-year-old boy Will and has been ever since they moved into their house two weeks ago with her fiance, Bob.

She claimed a fever, a change in behaviour, sickness and bruising randomly appearing all over his body seemingly coming from nowhere. OH! And not to mention whatever 'entity' is wreaking havoc among them is causing a putrid, rotten smell to linger throughout the entire house...and her dog suddenly died the first night living there after it refused to enter the home.

You were going to visit the Byers' residence...but not alone.

You had somebody to visit.

"Call Father Steve and tell him I need to speak with him immediately, please Robin," you demand, sighing nervously. as your right foot begins to shake uncontrollably under the table.

"Are you sure that's a...I...uhhh-yes! yes, I will go and do that for you right now, if that's...are you sure that's what you want to do because you know I can totally-" she rambles, her voice high-pitched and unsure.

You can't find words so you nod repeatedly, sporting a polite smile and motion at the door. She nervously laughs, gulping "Ha ha ha ha, well! I am just gonna - yep! Haha! Going," she begins to back out of the room pointing to the door, "going..." she reaches the handle before forcibly chuckling, "and gone!" she shuts the door and you can hear her scold "What the hell is wrong with you?...freak!! god...how do I still have this job?"

.•.•.•

"God...how do I still have this job?" Robin questions, huffing embarrassedly. She treks down the terracotta-painted hallway, full of plants and pictures of who Robin had learned to have been your late father. She had found that out accidentally on the first day of moving in with you when she asked, "Is that your husband?" which sparked a very awkward, tense conversation that you both had very quickly laughed off.

She had reached the coffee-coloured door with the cream handle and twisted it, opening the door to her room- filled with posters of Molly Ringwald, Phoebe Cates, Lisa Bonet, Madonna you name it and she had it!!

Full of purpose she sits on her side of the bed, cross-legged and grabs the telephone from her bedside table and dials Father Steve's number carefully before knawing on her lip and impending an answer.

The phone rings a good three times before there's an answer.

"Hello?"

A/N - Hi babies!! how was that?! I know it wasn't the longest but its just to give the story a good push before we really dive into the plot and have some fun. Poor Max :(( SHE DESERVES BETTER!! and poor Chester, such a sweet dog.

LMK how you found this chapter!!

current taglist: @stveharringtn

comment to be added loves :))

[bagsybaggins]

Chapter 2: The Search

[Previous Chapter]

"Fuck, shit, god dammit it!" I mutter as I toss another book behind me.

"What's up with you?" I hear Dustin ask and I pause to look at him.

"I can't find my lucky pencil. The one that's black with the black eraser." I explain before I open another drawer on my desk. "Mr. Pickles's test is today and I can't fail this one or else Mom will be pissed. That and I would have to take it again, and I don't want to do that."

He nods his head, walking towards me and reaching up. "It's right here Nerd." He pulls it from behind my ear and I groan. "I think you need glasses if you keep losing small things. How many fingers-"

"I can see just fine Dustin," I say before nudging his shoulder. "Thanks though. Would've torn my room up a lot more without this."

He glances around before snorting, causing me to roll my eyes. "Whatever, let's get moving before we're late." 

He nods his head before he walks out of my room, and I sigh heavily before looking back at my bed. I snatch up my hat and put it on my head, pushing my pencil back behind my ear.

---

I frown as I notice Will's not with Lucas and Dustin, as he normally is.

"Will's not here? You don't think he's sick do you?" I pull up next to Mike and Lucas, Dustin right behind me.

Mike shook his head. "No, he's probably already at school. Like that one time after Mr. Gruskey did a surprise pop quiz, he would leave earlier to get ready for another one."

I sigh and nod my head. "Alright, you tell him that Dustin will give him his comic tomorrow. Cause someone forgot to bring it."

Dustin glares at me. "He only won because he cheated."

"And he won, but you both left me. So it's only fair he gets it, my words are god. Listen to me." I laugh before I pedal ahead of them. "Later ya nerds!"

"Later!" "He still cheated!"

I shake my head as I make my way to the bike stand at the High school, noticing Nancy walking towards the door.

"Nance!" I wave at her as I slowly stop at the bike stand. She waves back and leans to one side, waiting for me.

I kick the stand on my bike down, grabbing my bag from the basket before I jog to her. I smile as I join her side, and walk into the building with her.

"So, did he call?" Barb asked as she comes up from behind us.

Nancy's lips twitch as she tries to force the smile from crawling on her face.

"Ohh, Steve?" I ask as Nancy rolls her eyes.

"Keep your voice down." She smiles for a moment, before trying to relax.

"Did he?" Barb and I ask in unison, me walking backward in front of Nancy.

"I told you, it's not like that." She tries to explain and defend herself before she caves in slightly. "Okay, I mean, yes. He likes me, but not like that."

I look at Barb, who gives me a look, and I return it.

"Yeah, uh-huh. Sure, it's 'not like that' at all." I grin as I turn back around and lean against my locker, as Nancy starts opening hers.

She light-heartedly glares at me, before looking back at her locker. "We just, made out a couple times."

Me and Barb grin as we mock her. "We just, made out a couple times."

"Stop." Nancy smiles, opening her locker.

"Nance, seriously. You're gonna be so cool now, it's ridiculous." Barb says as I nod my head in agreement, opening my locker. 

"She's right Nancy. You get with Harrington, you get the whole school watching like it's the most popular drama show in all of history. You might as well be dating a famous actor or something." I look at her past my locker door. 

"No, I'm not. It's not like that." She says before Barb and I sigh.

"You better still hang out with me, that's all I'm saying."

"Hey, what about me? Are you saying I can't hang out with you? I think I deserved to be loved." I dramatically express, Barb and Nancy smiling at my antics.

"Of course, I'll still hang out with you Dare. Who else is going to help me with English homework."

I laugh. "Of course, the homework benefits are the only good thing about me. I see how it is."

Nancy's locker opened and she pauses, causing me to raise a brow at what caused her to silence.

"Oh ho ho, what's this." She picks it up, giving me a glare. "A note from lover boy? Your boyfriend slash, not a boyfriend?"

I grin as she opens it slowly, looking down at it. I lean over and laugh as she closes it quickly. "And we have a winner, Steve Harrington has the hots for you. And you know it."

"You were saying?" Barb grinned as she leaned against me, looking at Nancy whose cheeks resembled an apple.

---

"YN?" I look up from my test and see the principal looking in from the doorway. 

I feel panic climb up my throat, glancing around the room as others start looking at me. The Principal looks at me and waves his hand in a come-forward motion. I look at the teacher for a moment, and Mr. Pickles nods his head. 

I sigh and stand up from my chair, leaving my test on my desk. I lean down and grab my bag, swinging it over my shoulder before heading to the door. As I walk out of the room, I notice Hopper and Phil standing in the hall. 

"Hop, Phil. What's going on?" I ask as I tighten my hand on the book bag strap.

They look at me and Hopper sighs, looking down at the ground.

"Whatever happened, I swear it wasn't me," I say quickly, and Hopper quickly shook his head.

"Will's gone missing. You and the other three were the last to see him. We were just wanting to get your side of the story." Hopper explained, finally looking me in the eyes.

My eyes widen and I inhale quickly. "What?"

I fight off the urge to panic and instead close my eyes for a moment. I breathe in deeply before opening my eyes and breathing out slowly.

"What do you need? What can I do?" 

Hopper smiles tightly at me and nods his head towards the Principals office. I follow him silently, focusing on breathing, reaching my hand into my pocket. I pull out my inhaler, shaking it before using it. I can see Hopper look at me from the corner of his eyes, and I cough lightly. We turn the corner and I shove it back in my pocket, walking inside and sitting down on the chair they had.

Hop and Phil sit down in front of me, Phil takes out his notepad while Hopper leans forward in his chair.

"Just tell us where you last saw him, and anything that seems important," Hopper says gently, looking at me while nodding his head.

I mimic his nod and inhale slowly. "Yeah, okay. It was a normal night. We got out of our D&D campaign at 8 I think. Me, Dustin, Lucas, and Will were riding our bikes home. Lucas left first since his house was closer. I and Dustin followed Will until we got to our road. But Dustin and Will had raced ahead of me. I kinda got left behind, and when I did, Dustin was on our road. And I saw Will's light going further away before we left for our house."

Hopper nods his head. "Alright, and was there anything else? Anything at all?"

I frown, think back, and shrug. "Our lights kept flickering the closer we got to our road. I think Will's was too. But they didn't do it after we left Will. Other than that, nothing unusual."

Hopper nodded, while Phil scoffed lightly. "Thank you, Kid. Go back to class."

"Hop." He turns to me and I sigh. "Find him, he's great with directions. Rarely ever got lost, even in the woods."

He nods his head, puts his hat back on, and walked out of the room with Phil in tow.

---

I can feel my nerves buzzing beneath my skin. My leg bounced as I sat down at the table where we normally ate lunch. My fingers drummed against the table as I stare down at the book that lay open in front of me, but I wasn't reading it. I grabbed my pencil instead, flipping it between my fingers. I glanced around the lunchroom as more people poured in, waiting for Nancy to finally walk in.

"Hey-"

"Shit Biscuits!" I yell as a hand touches my shoulder.

"Whoa, whoa it's just me," Eddie said as he raised his hands in surrender, his brows furrowing as he looked at me in worry. "Are you alright?"

I sigh, turning back to the table as I put my face in my hands. "No, I'm not."

The air gets warmer as I feel him sit down next to me, his bag hitting the ground with a thump. "What's wrong? Did something happen? Did you lose the campaign or something?" He asks with a teasing smile.

I roll my eyes with a small smile twitching onto my lips. "Yeah, we did, actually. But that's not it." I sigh, turning to him. "One of my friends, my little brother's friend, he's gone missing."

Eddie's eyes widen. "Oh, shit. I had heard talks about you talking to the chief and shit, but I didn't think it would be about that."

Turning to him with a frown on my face, "What did you think I'd be talking to them about?"

He shrugs, looking ahead in thought. "I don't know actually. Maybe about a crime you had done." He laughs and turns to me. "Maybe you're a secret criminal and they had finally caught you."

I scoff a laugh and shake my head. "No, my criminal days are over. Hop caught me too many times."

His right brow raises as he laughs. "Sure, sure. Say that to the fork you took from me yesterday."

I cackel while throwing my head back, my arms crossing around my stomach. I can hear Eddie laugh with me, and I lean forward, wiping my cheeks with my hands.

"Ugh, that was a good one. I'll give you that." I smile as I turn to him again.

"Well thank you, m'lady." He gives me a mock bow, before crossing his arms on the table. "But I'm sure the kid will be fine."

I feel my stomach knot up again, I sigh and nod. "Yeah, he's a good kid." I look away from him, down at the book in front of me. "He's like a little brother to me, ya know? I mean, they all are. I have my little brother, but we all just hang out almost all the time. We're practically family."

"I get that, sorta. I don't have anything like that, but I understand that." He murmurs as I look back at him.

"Yeah." I nod, sighing as I stretch. "Did you need something? Or did you just come over cause I was jittery?"

He smiles and shrugs. "A little bit of both, but it looked like you needed some company. And I wanted to give you, this." He reached into his denim jacket, pulling out a cassette.

I chuckle as I realize that it was Def Leppard, the cassette he had been listening to the first time we met. "Letting me borrow it now?"

He nods, before standing up. "Yeah, figured I should give it to you now before I end up forgetting about it. You can keep it until you're ready to give it back."

I grin as I look up at him, tapping my finger against it lightly. "And if I don't feel like returning it?"

He tsks as he grabs his bag from the floor. "Then I guess I lose a cassette." He nods his head with a smile on his face. "I'll talk to you later, so tell me what you think."

He walks backward slowly, "I will. Have a good night Eddie." I say and he nods before turning around.

"You too YN." And then he walks out of the cafeteria.

Sighing, I look down at the cassette before smiling and putting it in the back of my bag, in the only pocket I don't use.

---

"No, Dustin! You aren't going out, that's final!" I hear Mom yell from the living room. 

I sigh heavily, I turn up the stereo while listening to the cassette. And so far, Photograph was my favorite song. The sound of a door slamming, the vibration shaking my door. Turning around, I lie down on my bed, my arms underneath my head. My mind wanders to Will, and how he had gone missing. My thoughts shifted to the game, how we had lost.

The songs played on until it stopped, and the album ends. I sat up, reaching toward the stereo before frowning at the strange static sound. I pause, listen to the strange buzzing sound, and stand up. I exhale softly, walking across my room before realizing it got quieter. I walk back to my bed, leaning towards the stereo, but pull back. It wasn't coming from that.

I hear the sound a little louder as I kneel down, and my eyes widen as I remember. Dustin's supercomm! 

Scrambling, I reach under my bed and pull it out. I twist the volume up and extend the antenna. I grin as I hear Lucas and Mike talking more clearly. 

"Meet me in 10. Over and out." I hear Lucas say before the radio goes silent.

I frown in confusion, having missed the whole conversation, but then it clicks. My eyes widen and I curse and trip up as I run to my door. I fling it open and quickly open Dustin's door, muttering a curse as I realize he left.

Closing his door, I go into my room and grab my messenger bag. I dump all the papers and books from school out and throw the supercomm into the bag. Opening my closet I push past my clothes looking down at one of the many combination boxes that Dad and I had hidden across the house. Inhaling deeply, I slowly put in his birthday, opening it. I grab the flashlight, ignoring the bullets, and the gun that he had put in each box. I sigh as I see a picture sticking out of the bottom, past the box of bullets. 

I reach past the box and pull the photo out, smiling at dad's face. His hazel eyes crinkled as he smiled at the camera, a baby Dustin in his arms. His dark blond hair was messy from Dustin's grabby hands, but Dad's face was happy. He always was, normally. 

Shaking my head, I put his picture back down, before seeing his dog tags. I had worn them before he died, and I took them off after he had passed. I pull them out, looking at the words pressed into them. 

Henderson. Richard G.

1224 46 7890

B Pos

Christan

The same thing was written on both of the tags, and I run my fingers over the letters.

My eyes widen as I realize I was taking too long. I slam the box shut clicking the lock shut and twisting the numbers up. I push it back to the back of the closet and move my clothes to their original spot. I throw the flashlight into the bag before I look at the blanket that was handed on the back of my chair. Sighing, I throw it into the bag as well and swing the bag over my shoulder. 

Opening my window, I step out onto the grass, tumbling slightly as I hit the back of my head on the window. "Shit, ow." I hiss, rubbing the back of my head. I take one more glance at my room, before checking my pocket, sighing when I feel my inhaler in it. Walking to my bike, I put the dog tags around my neck, and pick up my bike.

"Just wait for me Dustin, I'm gonna kick your ass for this," I mutter as I push off.

---

YN wheezed as she dropped her bike next to the three other bikes, her hood pulled up as the rain fell heavily. She wiped her face with her hand, blinking as she reached into her bag with her other hand. Her light clicked on as she pressed the switch, and walked into the forest. 

"Mike? Dustin? Lucas? WILL?" She yelled over the rain, blinking and pulling her cap down more to help block the rain.

"WILL!" She yelled a little louder, knowing that he was the reason they were out in the first place.

The further she got into the woods the less she felt safe. 

"MIKE!" Turning to the left as she sees a distant light flicker behind the trees.

Her feet push through the already muddy ground, her converse soaked from the ride to the woods. She looked at the ground as she stepped over a fallen log, walking around the trees to find the three boys. And hopefully the fourth boy.

"DUSTIN!"

"Oh shit-"

She heard him say a little further ahead of her, finally seeing them in view.

"Yeah oh shit! You didn't tell me you were doing this! You're supposed to tell me this shit!" She yelled as she approached the boys.

"How did you find us?" Mike asked, confusion evident on his face.

"I took his old supercomm and now it's mine. And no you're not getting it back." She glared at Dustin, who looked at her in shock.

"You took my supercomm!"

"Yes, but you're supposed to tell me before you do stupid shit like this! I know he's missing but we can't lose anyone else right now, so you bring me with you!" 

Lucas shook his head. "You would've told our parents! They-"

Dare looked at him offended. "I'm one of you ya nerds! We literally play D&D together! I'm not Nancy, and you all should know that by now! Why would I tell anyone anything?"

They stay silent before Dustin nods. "She's right."

"Not to mention that I can kick ass-"

"You have asthma, you can't kick ass," Mike says.

"I can kick ass, I just can't run." Dare points her finger at him with a glare. "And I don't think you want me to kick your ass."

Before they could say anything, the sound of a branch snapping near them causes them to freeze. 

"What was that?" Mike asked, his eyes wide.

"I don't know," Dare muttered, taking a step in front of them, and raising her flashlight.

And then she paused as a girl was at the other end of the light.

---

"All of you shut it!" I hiss at them, glaring at them as I rub the towel through my wet hair. "I don't care if you're freaking out Lucas, she's the same damn age as you all. And if you have a problem, you can leave."

Lucas turns to me, in disbelief. "You're taking his side?"

My eyes narrow, and I step forward. "Look, tell me something. If you were scared, alone, cold, and somewhere you didn't know, would you be talkative? Would you be smiling and sunshine and daisies?" He sputters to reply, but I interrupt him. "No, you wouldn't be. Now, please shut up, all of you."

I glance over at the girl, whose head was shaved and clothes were soaked. And I had to agree, it looked like blood was on her shirt.

"Mike, go get her clothes," I say softly, sighing as I kneel in front of her. Her eyes flickered between me and the boys.

"Hi," I give her a small smile. "My name's YN, but you can call me Dare, can you tell me your name?" I ask her gently.

Mike comes back, thunder rumbling outside, and she flinches. He hands her the clothes, and I frown as she rubs them against her cheek. I stand up and shake my head as I feel some water in my ear. My eyes widen as she stands up, her hands going to the bottom of her large shirt.

"No no no no no!" I grab her wrist, the boy's quickly panicking and turn around.

I sigh and pull her towards the bathroom. "Come on, you can change in here."

She follows me, glancing at the three before walking into the bathroom. I nod my head and try to close the door, but her hand stops it. I frown before looking back at her.

"You don't want it closed?" 

"No." 

My brows raise as she speaks, and I smile and nod my head. "Right. Got it. Then, let's keep it here then." I close it so that there is a small sliver left open.

"Better?" I ask.

"Yes."

I nod my head before turning around and looking at the boys. I walk over and listen to the conversation happening.

"Lucas, get the stick out of your ass. I get that you're suspicious, but you're being a dick." I say as I cross my arms.

They turn to me. "But you saw her Dare! She literally tried to get naked!" Dustin exclaimed.

"Yeah! She's probably crazy!"

I roll my eyes and sigh.

"Maybe, maybe not. But we won't know that until we get to know her. And we don't know what she's been through, she could be traumatized! She could be hurt! We can't just turn a fucking kid away just because we don't know them." I explain as I glance back at the door, before looking at them.

"We were out there looking for Will. Not another problem." Lucas states as he turns to Mike.

"Yeah, we should tell your Mom," Dustin says looking at Mike.

"Are you guys insane, or just stupid?" I ask as I groan. "You weren't supposed to be out tonight, and if you guys tell her. She'll tell your parents, and then you're screwed!"

They fall silent, their faces falling in realization. 

"Here's the plan, she sleeps here tonight." Mike starts.

"You're letting a girl-"

"Just listen! In the morning she sneaks around my house, goes to the front door, and rings my doorbell. My mom will answer and she'll know exactly what to do. And then we'll be in the clear!" Mike plans out, and I nod along.

"Seems good enough. Less chance of problems arising." I mutter.

Mike nods his head. "And then we go back out tomorrow night, and we find Will."

"And no leaving me out this time, I'm not kidding," I say as I look at the three of them.

"Alright, you can join us-"

"Oh gee, thanks for the permission. I didn't know that you were Mom." I say as I give Dustin a grin.

---

"Head out Dusty, I'll join you in a minute. Stay on the porch, if you aren't there I'm killing ya." I say as I shove his hat back on his head. 

"Yeah yeah." 

I chuckle as he walks up the stairs, and I turn back to the girl and Mike. He handed her the sleeping bag and I walked back over.

"We never got your name ya know." She looks back up at me and slowly looks down, rolling her sleeve up.

011.

My eyes widen at the tattoo on her skin, almost like a branding-type thing that was in those books. With pirates and stuff.

"Whoa, is that real?" Mike asks, reaching his hand out to touch it. 

She pulls back instantly, and I sigh as Mike pulls back. 

"Sorry, I've never seen a kid with a tattoo before."

"What's it mean, Eleven?" I question.

She looks up at me before she points her finger at herself. 

"That's your name?"

She nods her head looking down at the cuffs of the sweatshirt. I sigh as I kneel down, sharing a look with Mike.

"Well, how about we call you El for short?" Mike asks, before looking at me. "Like how we call you Dare, and how I'm Mike."

She stares at us and I sigh again. "Alright, El. I'll see you later. I gotta get back home before it gets too late. But I'll visit before it's too late."

She stares at me and I smile lightly, standing up I pat Mike on the back. "Good night Mike, El." 

"Night Dare."

"Night Dare." I hear El say and I smile as I walk up the stairs. 

---

"YN?" I hum and turn to Dustin who walked into my room.

"Yeah?"

He points at me. "What's that?"

I frown in confusion before looking down. "Oh shit, I forgot about that."

I pull the Dogtags off my neck, holding them instead. "I found Dad's dog tags. You want one?" 

He frowns, before nodding with a smile on his face. I grin and roll off my bed, walking to my jewelry box, and pulling out a random chain. I unclasp the dog tags chain and pull one-off, handing him the one still on the chain.

"You can this one, the chain keeps tangling in my hair," I say, grinning as he excitedly puts it on, looking down at it.

"What's the G stand for?" He asks as he reads it.

I shrug. "I don't know, but we can ask Mom tomorrow in the morning."

Sliding the tag onto the new chain, I put it on, smiling.

"Thanks, for this. And for coming with us."

Snickering I reply, "You mean coming after you guys."

He grins nodding, to which I roll my eyes. 

"Night Dusty."

"Night Dare."

---

I groan as I walk into school, my feet in pain from walking in the forest last night. I think a stick got into my shoe or something.

"It's Tuesday." I hear Nancy says around the corner.

"It's Tuesday. Oh my god." I hear Tommy laugh.

I raise my brow as I turn the corner to see Barb and Nancy, standing in front of Steve, Tommy, and Carol.

'Ugh, I fucking hate Carol.'

I cross my arms as I lean back against the wall, watching them.

"It'll be just us, no one else. Are you in or not?" Steve says.

Before Nancy could say anything, Carol said, "Oh, God. Look."

I look around my corner, noticing Jonathan Byers pinning something to the bulletin board.

"Oh, God. That's depressing." Steve says, and I look back at them. 

Nancy makes eye contact with me and I sigh and roll my eyes. I turn the corner and walk toward Jonathan, and he looks up when I stop next to him.

"Hey." He says, nodding his head.

I nod back, leaning against the wall. I look at the paper he was pinning up, and I feel my lungs constrict at the picture of Will.

"I'm sorry dude," I mutter, looking back at him. "I wish I had biked him home that night."

He shakes his head, looking down at his hands. "if you had, it might have been Dustin. Besides I should have been home-"

"Hey."

We turn, Nancy by my side now. She looks at me before looking back at Jonathan.

"I just. wanted to say, I'm sorry. About everything, you know." She says uncertainly, hesitant. And he glances past her, at Steve and his group. And Barb.

"Everyone's thinking about you." Nancy gives him a small smile, looking at the picture for a moment.

He again doesn't reply, looking down before back at her. 

"It sucks." Me and Nancy say, looking at each other quickly.

"Yeah." 

I scoff, and he looks at me. 

"Sorry, you just kept silent for a while," I mutter, and his mouth twitches up slightly.

Nancy looks at me before turning back to him. "I'm sure he's fine. He's a smart kid."

After that, the bell rang, and I groan, tapping my head against the wall.

"I have to go. Chemistry test." She smiles, pulling at my arm. 

"Yeah." He repeats. 

"Why are you pulling me? I don't have chemistry-"

"Good luck!" She says to him before turning around and pulling me with her.

"Ow, Nance! Put away the claws!" I hiss as I feel her nails digging in.

"Sorry." She whispers letting go of me, and I rub my arm.

I glare at Carol and Tommy, flipping them off mentally as we pass them.

"Wait, Nance!"

Fucking Steve.

"No can do Steve. This little Lady has a test. No distractions. Talk later!" I say as I pull her along, away from Steve and his two stupid friends.

---

I tap my pencil against my desk. My eyes dart at the clock before I sigh. 

"YN?"

I look at the teacher, who raises her brow at me.

"Yeah?" I ask, clearing my throat and sitting up slightly

"Are you with us?" She asked, crossing her arms.

Inhaling deeply, I look down at my desk, before looking at her.

"No. I'm not. I'm not feeling good." I state, looking back at her, before sighing and grabbing my bag.

"YN-"

"I'm going to the nurse's office." I quickly stand, spreading out of the room.

The door bangs open as I walk out, my head down as I speed down the hall. I jog down the hall, turning the corner before stopping and breathing deeply. I lean against the wall, closing my eyes. I slide down the wall, putting my hands on my eyes. Trying to calm down my racing heart.

"Wow, I didn't expect to see you out here by yourself Henderson."

I groan internally as Steve walks down the hall, stopping next to me.

"What do you want?" I don't even look up at him, keeping my eyes closed. Focusing on breathing.

"No need for the hostility." He laughs and I look at him. 

His laughter trails off as he nods his head. "Look, I just wanted to-"

"If you're wanting to apologize, don't. You did nothing wrong." I interrupt and he looks at me stunned.

"What, how-"

"I'm just awesome Harrington." I smile thinly, standing up. "Anything else?"

He pauses for a moment and nods. "Why are you so, hostile towards me? Like we've never spoken-"

I roll my eyes. "Because of your shitty friends Harrington. Besides, I don't enjoy new people often. But, if you treat Nancy right," I say glaring at him. "I guess I can drop the hostility. But we won't be besties, capeesh?"

He huffs and nods with a smile. "Seems fair enough."

Humming I nod, turning around to walk to the Nurse's office. "Yeah Yeah, later Harrington."

---

I stare at the boys in confusion, as they explain the earlier events to me.

"She shut the door. With her mind." They nod in confirmation, and I squint at them. "Are you guys high?"

"What!" "No!"

"We aren't lying, we promise," Mike says as he turns to me.

I gaze at him before turning to Eleven, who looked up at me. I sighed and walked over to her, kneeling in front of her. 

"Is that true El? You closed the door with your mind?" I ask softly.

She slowly nods her head. "Yes." She softly whispers.

Rubbing my hand on my forehead, I groan as I wrap my head around everything. My head starts feeling lighter, and I cough as I back away from her. I reach into my pocket, pulling out my inhaler. 

"And she said she's in danger. Danger danger." Mike repeated and I inhaled, looking at him.

"One thing at a time Mike-"

"Guys! Time for dinner." I hear Mrs. Wheeler yell up the stairs.

I use my inhaler again and clear my throat. I look back at them, with them looking at me with wide eyes. Wondering if I believed them.

"Alright. I believe you. But that doesn't help with the fact that Will's missing." I look between them. 

"But she knows about Will-"

I look over at Mike in confusion, before Nancy calls my name.

"We'll talk later." I point at them, glancing at El briefly before heading out of the room.

Walking downstairs, Mrs. Wheeler smiles when she sees me, as does Nancy. I smile thinly as I sit down next to Nancy. The food, the meatloaf, looked good. But I didn't feel good or feel like eating. Nancy cast me a worried glance, leaning towards me.

"Steve told me about what happened. You were sick in the hall?" She whispered to me, and I looked at her from the corner of my eye.

"No, I had an asthma attack. Forgot to bring my inhaler, and I didn't make it to the Nurse in time." Nancy's eyes widened, and she opened her mouth before I cut her off. "No, I'm fine! I just couldn't breathe for a few moments. I got through it. I'm fine Nance."

Mrs. Wheeler looked at me in concern. "What happened?"

"What happened?" Dustin asked as he walked downstairs with Lucas and Mike.

Sighing I shake my head. "Nothing happened-"

"Nothing happened?" Nancy loudly blurted out, looking at me with anger written on her face. "YN, you had an asthma attack and you didn't have your inhaler with you! You could have died!"

Mrs. Wheeler, Dustin, Mike- everyone except Mr. Wheeler and Holly were talking over each other at me. I waved my hands in reassurance. "I'm fine! I wouldn't have died. It was just a tiny one. Nothing major! Besides I was using the advice from the doctor and it helped Nance."

I turn to Dustin. "I'm fine, I promise."

He looks at me in worry, before sighing and nodding his head. Mrs. Wheeler gives me a look, the mother look, and I smile. "I promise, I'm alright."

Nancy glares at me before stabbing her meatloaf. "And you have your inhaler now, right?"

I roll my eyes taking a bite of my mashed potatoes. "Yes, Mom."

She turns to me and gives me the mom glare. "I keep telling you to bring it, and when you don't this happens."

Looking at her, I nod. "Alright fine. You're right. And I do have one on me, a full one."

She stares at me for a moment longer before exhaling and turning back to her food. "Well, I'm glad you're alright."

I huff and smirk at her. "Little asthma won't take me down." 

Shaking her head she smiles, looking over at her mom.

"They're having a rally, at the school. For Will." She says, and I look over at her in confusion. "Everyone will be there. And Barb will drive me."

Mrs. Wheeler looked at her in confusion. "Why am I just now hearing about this?"

Nancy glanced over at me, then at Mike before looking back at her mom. "I thought you already knew about it."

Mrs. Wheeler shakes her head. "I already said I don't want you to be out at night until Will is found-"

"Come on Mrs. Wheeler." I grin at her. "It would be weird if we didn't go there. Besides, you've got your hands full with these dorks-"

"Hey!"

"I think it would be good for her to go out away from them," I state.

Nancy smiles at me, but her brows were furrowed in confusion. "You're coming with me. I'm not letting them take over your mind any more than they have."

My eyes widen, "What-"

"Fine, but be back by 10." Mrs. Wheeler sighed.

I nudge her foot with mine, giving her a confused look. She leans over. "Just go with it please."

Staring at her for a moment I sigh and nod. "Alright."

Mike coughs up his milk next to me, and I groan as I feel some of it hitting my shirt.

"Dude!" I exclaim as Dustin hits the table. "Milk doesn't wash out easily man!"

"Sorry, spasm." Dustin smiled, and I looked at him. 

I had missed something.

---

Barb honks the horn, and Nancy drags me out of the house. She immediately jumps into the passenger, and I sigh as I hop in the back.

"Why are you always shotgun?" I ask aloud, as I cross my arms in the back seat.

She turns to look over her shoulder with a grin. "Because you're too slow." 

I sigh leaning my head back and looking out the back window.

"It's not like I wanted to come with you," I mutter.

"Ditto," Barbra replied, and I look at her in confusion.

Nancy gives her a look, and I gasp as I realize what was really happening.

"Really Nancy? You're dragging us to Steve's stupid ass party?"

Nancy shook her head.

"That's exactly what's going on." Barbra interrupts her.

Nancy sighs and looks at her. "It would be weird if I went by myself."

I snort. "Not really, if anything it would increase his chance of getting into your pants."

She gapes at me, before shaking her head rapidly. Barbra nods her head in agreement. 

"No, no he isn't-"

"Oh look at the denial on this one," I say as I lean forward, putting my arms on the two seats.

Barbra laughs as Nancy groans and shakes her head a blush setting on her cheeks. I grin as she buries her face in her hands.

"And now she's embarrassed." Barbra points out, nudging Nancy with her finger.

I laugh as I pat her shoulder. "Don't worry Nancy, I'm sure Steve will like your new bra."

Barbra gasps as she turns to look at Nancy in shock.

"I am not- It is not a new bra!" She cries out, a smile on her face, as she turns to me.

I hum and nod, narrowing my eyes. "Mhmm sure, tell that to the receipt in your trash can."

"You went through my trash?" Her eyes went wide.

Barbra bursts out laughing and I lean forward more. "No, but maybe I should. Confirmed bra for special night-"

"I didn't buy it for him-"

Barbra and I gasp and I look at Barb. "You hear that Barbra, she didn't buy it for him." I mimic a posh accent.

She grins as she glances at me for a moment before focusing on the road. "Oh dear, but she bought a new bra." She played along.

"Guys-"

"A new bra, for a different suitor. Not for Steve! Oh, who is this mysterious man? Who has doth stolen our best friend's heart." I grin deviously. "And our friend's innocent mind."

Nancy groaned and shook her head as we slowly came to a stop.

"Are you both done?" She asks, turning to me mostly.

We share a glance and I sigh. "Fine."

---

"You're fucking lucky that you didn't hit a fucking blood vessel or something," I say as I try my best to wrap her wounds.

She chuckles, before hissing as I tighten it around her thumb. I look down at it as I let go. 

"I did a terrible job," I mutter.

She nods her head, squinting at me. "Yeah, you did."

I roll my eyes and nudge her arm. "Shut up, I'll get better. But we should probably leave, otherwise, Mrs. Wheeler might throw a fit."

Barbra scoffs. "Good luck trying to get her to leave."

I stare at her before sighing. "Alright, let's go."

We walk out of the bathroom, hearing the distant sounds of laughter. I glance at my hands, before realizing that I had left blood on my hands. 

"Shit, I'm gonna wash this off, you go and try to see if you can steal her back," I tell Barb, who nods her head. 

I disappear back into the bathroom, turning on the water. I cringe as the water starts turning pink as I scrub my hands of blood. I use the coconut hand soap, nodding my head at the alright smell. And I look around for a towel. 

"Shit. They're rich but they only have one fucking hand towel?" I mutter before wiping my hands on the back of my jeans.

I walk back out of the bathroom, hands clean of blood. I glance around as I head to the front door.

"Hey, Nance?" I call out but don't get an answer. 

I frown before heading to check the pool first. Not wanting to get scarred.

"Nancy? Barb?" I call out, as I walk out, but find nothing. 

I look down at the board, noticing the small blood thumbprint. I frown heavily, wiping it away with my shoe before hearing a distant stick snapping. I look towards the woods, squinting in the darkness.

I glance back at the house, before sighing and heading towards the forest.

"Swear to god, if they ditched me I'm going to commit murder."

I open the fence gate and run into the forest, well, jog really.

"Hello?" I call out, trying to find out if it had been a human or animal around.

"Barbra?" I shout as I step around a bush of poison oak.

I hear another snap, and I look to my right.

"Jonathan? What are you doing out here?" I ask.

He held up his camera. "I was taking pictures. Trying to find clues. Thought maybe they were looking in the wrong direction."

I sigh and nod. "Possible, yeah. You haven't seen Barb have you?"

He shakes his head after a moment.

"No, I haven't. Do you need a ride home?"

I nod my head and follow him back to his car. I would just yell at Nance and Barb for ditching me tomorrow.

[Next Part]

[sadieshairbrush]

Stranger Things: Clementine

A/N: omg it’s my birthday! Just want to put out there that my ADHD ass does not have anyone to proof read these so I’m sorry

Summary: Clementine tries to get back to what she knows, feeling that ‘outta sight outta mind’ type beat. Little does she know she’s tripping. Tommy and Carol are assholes, shocking,

Chapter 2: The weirdo on Maple Street

Here we are in the Wheelers basement, dripping wet and in quite the predicament. I’d distracted Karen as the boys took the kid downstairs.

When I told her I thought to walk the boys home after the whole mystery surrounding Will she was pleased to say the least.

I promised I’d walk the others home after they said goodbye to Mike, and that I wouldn’t over stay my welcome tonight. But she didn’t seem to mind either way.

I shut the basement door behind me, watching on as the odd kid sits on the couch, alone and intimidated by the line of boys facing her.

She has mikes jacket over her shoulders, not doing much to shield her from the wet cold she’d just endured. God knows just how long she’s been out there.

“Is there a number we can call for your parents?” Asks Mike. But before she can answer, Dustin cuts in.

“Where’s your hair? Do you have cancer?”

Then Lucas.

“Did you run away?”

They have a lot of questions, a lot of curious itches to be scratched. But watching on was painful. Her eyes are darting like mad between the three, unsure how she’s meant to handle the attention.

“Are you in some kind of trouble?” Mike tries again.

“Is that blood?”

Lucas leans forward, hand closing in on the spot under her nose where, sure enough, dried blood is gathered.

Mike, before Lucas can lay a hand on her, smacks his hand away. His shoulders are stiff, arms waving madly.

“Stop it! You’re freaking her out!”

“She’s freaking me out!”

“I bet she’s deaf,” Dustin interrupts.

He tests this theory by clapping his hands in her face suddenly enough to even make me jump.

“Hey! Are you chronically stupid?”

I kneel in front of the girl. Not that I’m fully sure what I should be doing in this situation, but I knew scaring her out of her wits wasn’t exactly the plan of the century.

The more I look at her, the smaller I realise she is. Her knees are knobbly, a sheet of goosebumps over them. I look up at her, but she doesn’t meet my eyes. She’s laser focused on the rain dripping from the ends of my hair. Maybe she’s just looking at my hair, thinking about it.

Why doesn’t she have hair?

Unlike Dustin, though, I didn’t suppose it was appropriate to ask this soon.

Why is she wearing a man-sized shirt?

Where was she heading so late at night?

Why was she by herself?

“You don’t have to be scared now. You’re safe here.” For now. I mean, for all I know she could have a crazy abusive parent out scouting for her to bring her back to the home she may have run away from.

But she’s here for now, and no one here was going to lay an unwanted finger on her.

Mike fumbles with his fingers behind me. I could feel the concern radiating from him onto my back as I crouched low.

I thank him in my head for being the only one not to ask stupid questions.

My eyes flicker back to her tiny legs, faintly blue with the nipping cold, red in other spots as the heat of the Wheelers basement rivals the near frozen patches of skin. “You must be freezing.”

And Mike’s presence is gone in a flash as he fishes around in his dryer basket, a flash of thunder making the girl jump out her skin for a moment.

God, I should know how to be as comforting as I want to be in this moment. But I’m clueless with overly friendly gestures. All I can do is soothe her with a quick, “it’s fine, don’t worry,” as Mike comes back with a rather warm looking pair of sweatpants and a sweat shirt.

The girl looks unsure as he approaches, but her eyes look soft. From the second we bumped into her in the woods, she looked vulnerable, even allowed me to hoist her into my arms, wrapping her bare legs around my waist tight as a belt when we promised we’d take her somewhere safe.

“Here. These are clean, okay?”

She takes them from him with less reluctance than I’d let myself expect. She brings them to her face, resting her cheek on the warm, fuzzy fabric. Surely she knew what she was holding in her hands.

She starts, stripping off the jacket before getting to her feet. Then her hands are at the hem of that massive yellow shirt, and she’s tugging.

“Hey, hey, no!”

I wasn’t expecting us all to yell at the same time, not meaning to startle her when she’s in the position she’s in. Then again, no one’s really thinking when we start yelling for her to stop what she’s doing to save her decency.

While the two are being as dramatic as can be, Mike is encircling her wrist lightly, guiding her hand away from her clothes, voice soft yet firm enough to be helpful.

“Are you two stupid?” I whispered, harshly, knocking Dustins hat off his head, and tugging at Lucas’ hood. “Are you actually stupid? You don’t have to be that dramatic!”

“She tried to strip!” Lucas argued, and I hushed him with an almost growl. Luckily, Mike was already guiding her to the bathroom.

“Strip? Strip? No wonder girls don’t talk to you!”

I leave them in their offended states to assist Mike.

She’s wandering towards the bathrooms open door, eyes flitting around the place as she goes.

Mike moves to close the door behind her, and she catches it before it shuts.

“You don’t want it closed?”

She blinks, adjusting herself slightly.

“No.” In a voice so tiny it might as well have been a whisper.

Mike is taken aback, but he doesn’t really let it show, still lingering in doorway.

“Oh, so you can speak. Okay, well…” he struggles, looking over his shoulder for a little help.

I look from him, to the girl.

“It’s alright, Mike. Talk some sense into those two for me, will you?”

I push him aside softly as he nods, closing the door behind us with a soft click.

I was a little unsure at first, having really nothing to say. Sure, there are a lot of questions tumbling around in my head. It’ll be a little while until it’ll be appropriate, so I don’t bother.

I work in silence as I run the water in the sink, hand under it until I can feel it’s warm enough.

“Towel… towel…” I mumble, searching the cupboards until I find one to run under the tap.

“Come here,” I instructed, sitting on the closed toilet.

Hesitantly, she stands herself In front of me, eyes drawn to the mascara running under my eyes. “I should have brought a hooded jacket, I know,” I muttered, playfully, approaching her neck with the towel slowly enough to give her time to understand what I’m doing.

Her eyes flutter closed at the heat as I clean off whatever dirt and grime sticks to her skin. Her arms, her legs.

“Are you okay taking this off now?” I spoke, gesturing towards the sopping wet t-shirt.

“Yes.”

With the confirmation I needed to continue, I lift the top over her head, frowning at the print I couldn’t see clearly until now. When had she been to Bennys?

Focussing back onto the girl, I carry on. I wanted to be quick. I hated the idea of her standing here, cold, exposed in front of a stranger. It’s worse because she doesn’t seem to understand that standing naked in front of someone you’ve known for a half hour wasn’t normal.

“Leg up?” I ask, hand out to clean off her filthy feet, careful not to be too harsh in case there’s any cuts of scapes. There are a fair few, but she got off lightly considering the circumstances.

“Hold on now.”

I grab the clothes, opening the sweat pants in front of her as I knelt down. “Go on, step in.”

She put her hand on my shoulders and seemed in a rush to be dressed, eyes already following the sweatshirt as I unfolded it, hands above her head before I’d even asked.

Of course she was eager. Who knows how long she’s been out there freezing her ass off? I’m not even sure I want to know, I decide.

“Do you- have you- do you need anything? Pads? Anything like that?” I asked.

Her furrowed brows gave me my answer, but I decide I’ll leave her something in case there’s an unexpected accident. Now that she’s all set, we can figure out how we can help her further.

“Nevermind. Are you ready to go back out there?”

With a nod, she lingers closer to me than she had been. Maybe she was begining to feel safe, after all.

“Good,” I smiled, leading her back to the main part of the basement where Mike had set up a small fort with a sleeping back. Hes on his feet at lightening speed at our approach, walkie-talkie in his hand.

He’s thrusting it into my hand before I’d even had a chance to speak.

“Mike, what’s this? And what the hell is this fort about? She’s not staying in your basement like ET.”

“It’s a walkie, so you can talk to me without my mom picking up. It won’t reach Dustin or Lucas, but I can reach Lucas, Lucas can reach Dustin, and you can reach me.”

I blink back at him, confused.

Why the hell do we have to secretly communicate? If he thinks he’s keeping this child hidden down here he’d better think again.

As she wonders towards the the tiny fort, I speak lowly to Mike, out of her earshot.

“Okay, great, and what are we doing about little Mowgli over there? Because we’re not keeping her holed up in your depressing basement. There are roaches down here hanging themselves. We’re calling child services.”

“Yeah, and what are we supposed to tell them when they ask how we found her? Do you really want my mom to know you accompanied us on our little adventure?”

He’s got me there. One little lie, and it all begins to spiral.

“Okay, fine, then what?”

The plan was that she’d spend the night in the basement, and ring the doorbell the next morning and tell Karen she’s lost, and let her handle it.

“Fine, just take care of her, alright? And make sure she knows the plan,” I sigh, squeezing his shoulder.

God, this is insane!

I usher the others upstairs after a rushed goodbye to Mike. All I’ve got to do is get the kids home safe, then walk back past the Wheelers house to get a good nights sleep. Maybe.

I sat through school the following day trying to forget. By the time schools out, it will all be over. Done, dusted and taken care of.

It helps that in only a few hours, I’d be out, drunk, careless. Just the way I liked to be every few weekends. So Sue me.

It was a difficult feat. Everywhere I turned, I could already hear of the vanishing Byers boy.

Wasn’t it too soon for the news to have spread like this?

“His creepy brother’s probably just got him buried in the backyard,” Carol would say, waving the her gum on the end of her finger, eyes glued to her compact mirror.

I look around the loud classroom, and back to Carol, thankful no one heard.

“For Gods sake, Carol, don’t you have any sympathy? That little boy is missing, his brother will be worried sick.”

Wills brother, Jonathan was in the year below. Jonathan the weirdo, he went by. Although I never folded into calling him such a thing. I wish I could say I’d done more to stop it…

“Oh, come on, Clementine. You’ve heard all the shit about how creepy he is.”

“What happened to never believing rumours unless you start them yourself?” I ask, drumming my fingers on my desk.

“I can’t keep up with that moral standard if I don’t remember which ones I started,” she appeals, snapping her mirror shut. What a girl like Carol deserves is a good left, right, goodnight if I had anything to say about it. If I’d had more violent tendencies I might have taken care of that myself.

“Moral standard? Give me a break.”

I was the first out of my seat when the bell rang, eager for the day to hurry on by.

“Jesus Christ, what’s with you today?”

She’s by my side as the students file out the door, gum smacking in my ear.

“Sorry, I’m just impatient to leave. I’ve never needed a drink more in my life, and the days not even over yet,” I admit with a longing moan that makes Carol laugh out loud.

“That’s what I like to hear!” She bumps my hip, grinning like the Cheshire Cat when she catches Tommys eyes down the hall.

“Ladies,” he greets, slyly, encircling Carol in his arms as we meet half way, Steve by his side. “Looking forward to tonight?”

“You have no idea,,” I beam, never more relaxed in the couples presence. Things have been entirely too tense, and I’m looking forward to unwinding. “Plus, this guy has a pool.”

Steve nods slowly, a brow quirked slightly.

“It’s also November. You’ll be complaining all night if you swim.”

All too much of my spare time was spent in Steve’s pool, and nothing done a better job of reminding me of how little my problems were. Even if I had been accompanied by these absolute losers I genuinely called friends.

But something told me that playing drunk Marco Polo fully clothed or otherwise wouldn’t help me in this case. Still, I tried my best to ignore the nagging voice that told me this.

“Speaking of live and let live, did you…?” I trailed off teasingly, nudging Steve’s side and we’d begun to weave through the halls. “You did, didn’t you?”

“Oh, did I do that thing that you told me to? I did,” he smirks, pulling the back of my collar to hide his slight embarrassment. This is a new development. “While you spent your night alone being boring, I was in for a steamy, sexy night of studying for a test I’m not even taking.”

The thought of us being in that house at the same time was unsettling. Truth be told, part of me couldn’t help but find it funny too.

“Hey, what’s wrong with a quiet night every once in a while?”

“Look, it’s your girlfriend,” Carol laughed into Tommys shoulder, eyes on a distracted Nancy, still fitting in a moment to study as Barbara read questions off her revision notes.

“Did you invite her? Or were you too… distracted to ask last night?”

Instead of answering, because he so knew I was right, he plucks the notes from Barbara’s grasp, smoothly making himself comfortable at Nancys side as Tommy reaches up to tickle Barbaras ear.

“I think you’ve studied enough, Nance.”

“Steve––“ she tries, reaching for the card as he’s flicking through.

“I’m telling you, y’know, you got this. Don’t worry.”

Sweet as morning dew. Ripping the cards from Steve’s hand and offering them back to Nancy with a laugh got her attention on me, and I looked between her and Barb who lingers behind. Again.

“You’re not busy or anything tonight, are you? ‘Cause Steve’s got the house free. Another one of his dad’s conferences. You’re in, right?”

“In for what?”

“No parents?” Carol cut in, spelling it out for her. “Big house?”

“A party?”

“Ding, ding, ding!” To which Tommy laughs as if his girlfriend is as funny as she thinks she is.

A match made in heaven.

“It’s Tuesday,” she tries. Her tone almost sounds like she’s sure we must have made a mistake. And of course Tommy and Carol are quick to make fun of her, unflinching when Steve waves them off.

“C’mon. It’ll be low key. It’ll just be us.”

“Don’t even think of it as a party. Just a little hang-out with the six of us.”

“What do you say?” Steve’s eyes flick towards Barb for a second, knowing it wasn’t my job to make sure he includes her. “Are you in or… are you out?”

Before she’s even given the chance to truly contemplate the invitation, Carol diverts our attention. “Oh, God. Look.”

Jonathan Byers.

Like a caged animal at the zoo, we all stop to stare. We don’t mean to- at least, I don’t- but here we are, doing it anyways.

I don’t see him often. I don’t usually have a reason to talk to him since we’re not in the same year. But I feel magnetised, unable to tear my eyes or chase my thoughts away. Thoughts of whether or not he’s learned anything new, thoughts of deeply wondering what he was feeling, how he felt when he realised his little brother had dropped off the face of the Earth.

“Oh, God, That’s depressing.”

In a way, Steve’s right. He’s pinning up missing posters. None of the others know of the severity in which my stomach twists. I went looking for his brother just last night, and he doesn’t even know.

“Should we say something?” Nancy wonders.

“I don’t think he speaks.”

“God, Carol, were you just born a bitch?” I grumble, crossing my arms with a huff.

“Oh, come on,” Tommy begun, smiling teasingly right at me with a nudge that might have made me stumble had I not seen it coming. “How much do you wanna bet he killed him?”

And believe it or not, this is how this idiots brain actually worked. It’s not even the case of speaking without thinking. Plenty of thought went into those words, and he thought he’d go ahead and say them anyways.

“You know we all think you’re a douchebag, don’t you?” I retorted, eyes still trained on Jonathan as Steve hits Tommys chest.

Nancy moves away from us towards Jonathan. As soon as she’s out of earshot, Steve speaks to Tommy. “You are, you know. Total douche.”

At some point, Nancy follows Jonathans gaze towards us. Can’t say I blame him. If Nancy keeps us as company, he might find it hard to believe the sympathy she’s likely expressing.

I offer a small, awkward smile. It’s not like I didn’t mean it. But is a smile enough? Does he think I don’t care? He probably doesn’t even know how much I’ll be thinking of him after seeing him today.

When the bell rings for our next class to begin, I let out a breath I didn’t know I was holding, and waited for Nancy to reach my side.

“So, Kaminskys test? You’re gunna nail it! Tell her she’s gunna nail it, Barb.”

“You know you will,” she says with a smile.

“Attention Faculty and students. At 8pm tonight, there will be an assembly on the football field in support of Will Byers and his family. All are encouraged to attend.”

And there’s that deep, despairing feeling of guilt.

The ride home that day felt silent, although it was full of noise.

Loud jokes, voices shouting over each other. But I couldn’t get out of my own head, even when Steve pushed his knee against mine to snap me out of my trance.

“Clementine… hey.”

He was leaning to my side slightly, trying to get a good look at me as I blinked.

“Hey, you’re home.”

Sure enough, we were right outside my house, bright, shiny and promising. “Oh…”

I started, unbuckling my seatbelt. I hadn’t even registered Carol and Tommy leaving.

“Thanks. I’ll see you tonight.”

“Are you alright? You’ve been weird all day,” said Steve, stopping me from opening the door.

He looked a little more offended than he did concerned, so I just nodded.

“I’m okay, I’ll feel better soon,” I promised, forcing a smile.

Luckily Steve wasn’t someone who’d paid enough attention to realise this, and he nodded satisfied.

“Alright. Are you staying over?”

“I don’t know, maybe. Dad’s been kinda freaked out lately so I might have to sneak back before he checks on me in the morning,” I explained, fixing a fallen strand of his hair to which he doesn’t blink.

In reality, I wasn’t concerned about my dad. I just knew my anxiety on last nights situation wouldn’t allow me to stay longer than I needed to.

“Well, if you change your mind, you have plenty of stuff at mine,” Steve reminded me. “Just say the word.”

I smiled genuinely this time. He’d never admit it, but Steve knew I sometimes craved company. Though if he told me he knew he’d run the risk of embarrassing me beyond belief.

“I will. Just remember to make Barbara feel welcome tonight too, okay? I know Nancy will be taken care of but Barbara’s new to this,” I warned, exiting the car, not waiting for an answer. I gave him a wave goodbye, and headed towards the door.

Empty home. Plenty of alcohol. I smirk to myself as I make my way up the stairs.

After a quick shower, I find myself stopping short at the sound of Mikes voice in the bedroom.

At first I was confused, because why the hell am I hearing this 12 year old that I wasn’t really involved with until recently in my room after school hours?

That was until I made out what he was saying, holding my towel tighter as I tumbled to the floor, digging around under my bed where I’d shoved Mikes walkie-talkie.

“Clementine, pick up! It’s about Will! Over!”

Oh, God! They found him, didn’t they?

I mean, there are many things this could be about, but I wasn’t about to dismiss a gut feeling.

“Mike? Hey, what? What’s up?” I hurried, clutching my towel closer to my chest. “Did you find Will?”

“Clementine, you need to say “over” when you’re done so I know you’re finished.”

This kid. Here I am, towel clutched to my chest, hair dripping onto my carpet, kneeling on my bedroom floor to entertain this conversation, and he’s really pushing it.

“No. Answer me, idiot.”

“Over!” He sighed. “We haven’t found him, but I think we can. Over.”

And there goes my heart, breaking on me again. I thought by now his persistence might have worn off, that he’d come to realise that the best thing to do was to let the police handle it.

“Mike, please. Listen to me. The police will find him, they know what they’re doing. They’ve dragged me home a million times at Wills age.”

“Will isn’t like you. Over.” He argues. “If you’re not going to help, don’t. We can do it ourselves. Over and out.”

“Mike!” I tried, only met with radio silence. “Mike!”

Nothing.

With a discontented huff, I lightly fling the walkie-talkie aside. At least he didn’t have to worry about the girl anymore, assuming this morning had gone according to plan.

I got dressed into the pixie boots I’d been bothering my friends about until buying them that weekend, trying to ignore the tight knot in my chest.

But the sun was setting, and the gang were outside just as I’d finished my makeup.

So shut the hell up, Clementine! And have fun!

When I lock the door behind me, the familiar jeering from the BMW begins.

“Hey, lady!” Carol shouts out the window. “You look fine.”

I teasingly scrunch my nose, settling in beside her, her perfume settling into my nostrils. With an exchange of a couple compliments, Steve finally clears his throat as he starts the car.

He watches me through the rear view mirror, eyebrows raised, expectantly. At this, I lift the bag full of beer cans into his view.

“Not that! You’ve not said hi to me or Tommy.”

“Hi, Steve. Hi, Tommy.”

I spoke flatly then I glance at Carol who tries not to grin too wide. God, is Steve high maintenance or what?

“She saw you like five hours ago,” she defended as she rummaged through the bag filled with Schiltz and Heisler beer.

“Yes, Clementine! Steve’s got some pot. Might be able to get Nancy to relax a little for once.”

“Or we could be super nice and not be pushy,” I suggested, ignoring Tommys scoff from the passenger seat. “That’d help her relax. And we need to talk about Barbara.”

“What about her?” Tommy asks, already with a disinterested tone.

“You need to try harder with her. She’s just trying to make sure Nancy is comfortable, and we’re not making it easy for her to be around us.”

“We just have a bit of fun,” he answered, now with a slow grin. “We all tease each other, maybe she just needs to learn to take a joke.”

I don’t like it one bit. I know how I’d feel if the shoe had been on the other foot. If it was me being treated like a joke by a bunch of people just because my friend liked them.

“Alright, we hear you. Play nice, alright?” Steve warned with half a heart.

I mumble a quick thanks as Carol cracks open a can, shoving it into my hands. We hadn’t even pulled up to Steve’s driveway yet, and already I’m being insulted.

“Get the stick out your ass,” she comments, not unlike I suspected she would. “We promise we’ll be extra, extra nice.”

I stared for a moment at her never-faltering grin then took the beer from her and tipped it back.

The car erupted with unnecessary whooping and applause making me roll my eyes. But I smiled nonetheless.

“‘Atta girl!”

Following the momentum, we started the party a little early to get nice and tipsy before the girls arrived. “We have to set the tone, don’t we?” Was the excuse.

“Duh!” I agreed, sitting on the chair opposite Steve, trying to ignore the couple eating each other on the couch. “You never did tell me how it went last night.”

“That’s because we didn’t do anything.”

Now this, I might have believed. But the smile on his face is one of pure satisfaction and it makes me not so sure. “Nothing? Not even a little?”

“We made out. And I helped her study for Kaminskys test.”

“Wait, you actually helped her study?” I questioned, suspiciously. He couldn’t have passed last years chemistry with the help of Steven Hawking. “That wasn’t an innuendo?”

He shakes his head, and I let out a small sound of understanding. “I see. But tonight?”

For a second he looks caught out. As if I’d be mad that he preplanned sleeping with Nancy. Or maybe it was how unromantic the setting was. In a house with all his friends in it?

“Steve, seriously?”

“I like her, alright? And I always listen to you when you tell me I’m not thinking clearly or whatever but… I want this. And I want to keep seeing her.” He explains as though asking for permission. I mean, he basically is asking for permission, I know that much.

I sigh, his face looking genuinely innocent.

“And if she says no?”

“Then no! Clem, you think I’m an animal or something?”

“I think all teenage boys are animals,” I clarified, gulping at my beer. “But I believe you so…“

And there it is. The words he’s wanted to hear leave my mouth for God knows how long hadn’t even come out, but he knows. You can see it happening, his eyes lighting up, beaming smile stretching across this entire face.

“You’re the Devil, Steve Harrington.” Yes.

“You’re the best, Clementine Chase!” Thank you!

Heard it before. But it made me happy anyways.

I’ve had this feeling lately that he means it, and I wouldn’t stand in the way of that.

A few drinks in, the doorbell rings, and Steve is wearing a killer smirk, ready for tonight’s inevitable affairs.

Tommy and Carol, who were still going at it like ––well, teenagers ––were eventually forced apart by my unsought and sudden presence above them.

“Move it, losers. We got company to entertain.”

The pair snicker at one another before pulling away, and I find myself having to remind them once more to play nice. Though, Raise a Little Hell by Trooper playing loudly around the room wasn’t helping me make my point.

Steve was showing the girls through to the living room in no time, and they looked no more awkward than I’d expected them to. I guess that goes for something.

“Now the party can really get started!” Tommy jeered, cracking open yet another can. “Take a seat ladies, catch up.”

“We’ve had some pre-drinks,” I explained, guiding the pair to the couch. I thought it best not to mention it had been the designated baby-making area in years previous. It look a lot of tongue biting not to make that joke, one that would normally come naturally.

The pair shuffled over to where I’d guided them, and I handed them a drink each.

They look towards each other, then take the beer with hesitance.

“You don’t have to drink if you don’t want to,” said Steve, taking Nancys coat, then motioning to Barb who decided to keep hers on.

“But we’ll judge you super hard if you don’t,” Carol began, batting her lashes as she throws back her own.

“Don’t listen to Carol, her family tree doesn’t have a lot of branches,” I told, throwing a glare her way. One she shrugged off entirely.

Of course.

“No, I- I’m cool to drink. It’s a party, right?”

This makes Steve smile, watching as Nancy cracks her can open.

“Cheers!”

The real party was outside. The girls don’t know it, but there nothing like fresh air when you’re drinking. Not much feels better than a cool breeze against the flushed skin and burning cheeks brought on by alcohol. But they’d discover this soon enough.

“You’re good with hangovers, right?” I asked, aimed at either one of the two.

Nancy already sat semi-comfortably on a lounger, cracking a smile as the couple in front of us carried on, pushing each other around, tickling each others sides.

Barbara, on the other hand, almost disappears into the back, open can of beer growing flat.

“Will I get hungover from beer?”

I want to laugh. God, do I want to laugh. but the idea that it might be taken menacingly helps me bite my tongue.

“Depends how much you drink. Plus you don’t normally drink, do you?”

After a beat, she shook her head. She smiled with flushed cheeks, as if the admission were embarrassing.

“Well, we’ll look out for you,” I promised, cheering my can against hers. “Hangovers aren’t fun, right Tommy?”

“Huh?” He stopped mid-tickle, capturing his giggling girlfriend in his arms. “Remember our hangover got so bad we skipped school for two days?”

It was one of those hangovers that felt like the world had shifted ever-so-slightly, and would never be the same again. Everything was dark, no one knew if they’d said anything regretful, if we’d been in a fight, if we’d ever recover from the sickness churning in our stomachs.

Steve hadn’t mastered smoking and drinking and opted to smoke, and Carol had been at camp. But we never bring up the camping as to not embarrass her too much. Or else, we’re in trouble. We laugh at the memory, one of the only fond ones we have together despite how horrible the experience was in itself.

“It’s only beer,” I told with a smile. “You’ll be fine.”

It wasn’t much, but it went for something. I could tell by the way her shoulders relaxed, and how quickly she tipped back the contents of her drink. The couple were back to annoying the life out us all, an unnecessarily loud scream drawn from Carol when Tommy threatens to push her into the pool.

Then Steve cutting a hole into his can and lapping like hell at the thing. I’d call it the dumbest party stunt in the book but I’ve seen him do a lot stupider at these things.

“Is that supposed to impress me?” Nancy flirts, eyeing his movements as he takes a seat near by.

He watches her in mock surprise, popping the cancer stick that he’d propped on his ear between his lips.

“You’re not?”

“You’re a cliché, you do realise that.”

It’s all smiles and beckoning eyes, and Steve lights his cigarette as he speaks.

“You are a cliché. What with your grades and your band practice…”

I wish I could smile at the pair, but I found myself thinking back on Mikes words from earlier.

Quite abruptly, I found myself wondering if I should go to the Wheelers and to make sure nothing bad was going on.

Was that stupid?

Too drunk to keep a singular train of thought, I lean into Carol who wraps an arm around my shoulder. I’m able to bring myself to focus on Nancy, now with a beer and the small knife in her clutch.

Steve starts an encouraging chant of, “chug, chug, chug!” And I found myself unable to join in, even when it was Barbara’s turn, Barbara who couldn’t be more interested but done so for Nancys sake.

I only snapped out of my disinterest at the clanging of the small knife on the ground.

Tommy chuckles as Barbara sucks her bleeding finger into her mouth and she pushes Nancys attempts to help away.

The cut was deep between her thumb and finger, enough to make a grown man flinch.

“Barb,” I began, guiding her away with a hand on her back. “I’ll show you the bathroom.”

“Can I use it?” Barb looks towards Steve who scrambles off his lounger, motioning her into the house. “Okay, thanks.”

As we move through the house, I stop by the kitchen and point her towards the bathroom door.

“Barb,” I sighed once she’d appeared again, bandage wrapped over her hand. I’d made a snap decision. “I think I’m going to leave early, just not feeling it tonight,” I lied. I don’t suppose there’s another excuse for this decision. It truly just came on out of nowhere but it’s not ignorable.

“Oh, did you want a ride home?”

“No, please stay. Tommy and Carol are dicks, but I promise Steve’s alright. And it might be good for Nancy to have you there,” I tried, hand on her arm. It was flitting, but she nodded anyways.

“I just meant I could drive you home then come back.”

“No, I’m fine. The fresh air might be good for me.”

Why I ever thought I could get through this night unbothered by earlier is beyond me. It was different when I thought this whole situation would work out. But the more drinks I down, the more what ifs begin to dance around in my head.

I was left alone to wander into Steve’s kitchen, and I’d gone straight to the phone, hoping like hell I could remember the last couple of numbers of the Wheelers.

“Hello?”

I’d remembered, alright. I consider myself lucky it was Mike who picked up in the first place, probably picking up from his grungy basement. I don’t know how I’d ask Karen to speak to her 12 year old while I’m drunk out my face.

“Mike. I have a bad feeling.”

Radio silence. Either there was something he didn’t want to tell me or he was offended by the insinuation that anything had gone wrong.

“Mike?”

“She’s still here.”

I cursed under my breath at him. I knew something was off, and that I wasn’t totally crazy.

“Why? You can’t just-“

“Clementine, she’s in danger. No one can know where she is, alright?” And for a second, it’s as though he’s deciding whether or not he should say any more. But then he hits out with someone so agonisingly ridiculous I don’t even know if he’s joking. “She knows where Will is.”

“That’s not scary?” I hiss, grip tightening on the phone. “Did she say where he is?”

“El can barely speak!” He argues, exasperated once more. Truly, it’s his permanent state. “And it’s not that simple. El can do things. With her mind. I think Will was taken by the same bad guys that were after her, but that’s where it gets… funny.”

I don’t believe what I’m hearing. Am I seriously this drunk off a couple of stupid beers? Likely. “Slow your goddamn roll! El? Bad guys? What do you mean do things?”

“El is short for Eleven — that’s her name — and there are creeps after her,” he rushed, desperate to get to his next point. “I’m trying to tell you that we’re on a rescue mission. Will is in serious, serious danger.”

And with that I’m out the front door with Mikes words ringing in my head.

The plan was for the kid to stay there one more night, and I’d be filled in tomorrow. “Keep this discreet,” he’d warned.

“Shut up, you moron.”

This week is one from hell, and it isn’t over yet. Not even close…

[sheisjoeschateau]

"Oh, so we DO love Steve..." | PART I

Steve Harrington x Bauman!fem!reader enemies to lovers, heavy angst, hurt/comfort, upside down mayhem, S2-S4, post S4 universe hot-take, end-of-the-world / dystopian setting, ugly fights turned smut (...but with hella plot). 18+

WHEN THE UNEXPECTED NIECE OF MURRAY BAUMAN GETS THROWN IN THE MIX, THE GANG HAS NO IDEA JUST WHAT THEY'RE IN FOR. SCRATCH THAT - STEVE DOESN'T KNOW. YOU GET ALONG WITH EVERYONE WELL. YOU BANTER WITH THE ADULTS, WHO APPRECIATE YOUR HELP. THE KIDS LOVE AND WORSHIP YOU. YOU'RE HELPFUL ALL AROUND. BUT AS FAR AS STEVE IS CONCERNED, YOU'RE JUST NUISANCE. AFTER ALL, YOU'RE THE REASON HE LOST THE LOVE OF HIS LIFE AND MISSED OUT ON A LIFE THAT "COULD'VE BEEN." IF YOU HAD JUST KEPT YOUR SORRY ASS OUT OF THE PICTURE... IF YOU HAD NEVER GONE WITH NANCY AND JONATHAN AFTER THEY LEFT YOUR WHACK-JOB UNCLE, MURRAY BAUMAN'S, BUNKER? HE WOULD BE HAPPY. SO F*CKING HAPPY. BUT HERE YOU WERE. YOU WERE BASICALLY THE COOLER (...AND SURE, MUCH MORE ATTRACTIVE) FEMALE VERSION OF MURRAY BAUMAN. YOU WERE SARCASTIC, QUICK-WITTED, TOO SMART FOR YOUR OWN GOOD, AND APPARENTLY BUILT FOR THE WAR. SURE, YOU WEREN'T AS BRASH AS YOUR UNCLE. BUT IN STEVE'S EYES, YOU WERE SOMEHOW FAR MORE OBNOXIOUS. HE DOWNRIGHT HATED YOU. HE WILL FOREVER HATE YOU... BUT WILL HE?

DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT GIVE PERMISSION FOR MY WORK TO BE COPIED AND/OR REPOSTED ON HERE OR ANY OTHER PLATFORM, OR PUT INTO ANY AI PROGRAMS. THIS IS AN 18+ BLOG, MDNI.

An original fanfiction series, written by Misha St. James.

⁺₊⋆ ☾⋆⁺₊⋆ SERIES MASTERLIST ⋆⁺₊⋆ ☾⋆⁺₊⋆

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I did not proof-read this after Tumblr gave me hell trying to share. So pls excuse possible typos. hehe

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Let's just get to the point, shall we?

Once upon a time, a young boy named Will Byers went missing. Later, he was found in an alternate dimension by the world's #1 mom and a cynical cop turned hero. A girl with a shaved head had telekinetic superpowers, befriend's Will's four loyal friends along the way and helping them track down their missing party member. Then, whatever the hell was on the other side - whatever was in this...upside down...took back Eleven. She'd been missing ever since that dreadful winter.

Fast forward to now: you're sitting in your uncle's bunker, looking at his wild display of efforts.  Papers, files, whiteboards covered in multiple words, arrows, sketches - all in different colored markers. Murray Bauman was on a mission, and he would be damned if that grumpy, cynical smart-ass known as Jim Hopper honestly thought that he could dismantle his efforts.  Nice try, chum. Game on. Thankfully, you'd gone to school with Barbara Holland. That's whose parents had assigned the task of searching for her to your uncle. Murray was asking you tons of questions, and you were glad to help. It meant spending time with the only family member you cared for, despite his wackiness. You guys got each other. Bantered well. Got shit done. Honestly, it was also a great way of drinking safely and not with a bunch of rowdy teenagers at some stupid party. You got along just fine with everyone at school. But damn, they could all be annoying.  ...especially Steve fucking Harrington, who was now the topic of conversation. You know, given that his house is where Barbara was last seen. "It just isn't making sense," your uncle huffed, raking his hands through his oily dark hair.  You sipped on the glass of vodka that your uncle had poured you, hissing at the strong taste. Leaning across the coffee table, seated on his couch, you tried to connect the dots with him. "I'm telling you, someone in that group of teens knows what's up. Or at least has an idea." Your uncle swigged at his vodka, defeated but ruthlessly trying to piece together his clusterfuck of scattered evidence across his wall. "Well then, guess we better grill 'em."

And that's how you come into the picture. When Nancy and Jonathan came to seek out Murray. And when they arrive, they're surprised to see you. They recognize you from school. Jonathan took several classes with you. In fact, the two of you got along well at Hawkins High. No, you weren't close. But you both were cool. Nancy, on the other hand, didn't know anything about you. Just that you took political science with Barbara, and got straight A's across the board. You could've been class valedictorian. But you were not looking for any sort of title that demanded pressure or attention. At least not in high school. Career wise? Sure. Not here, though. Not Hawkins. "Your timeline is wrong," Nancy is saying, making you and Bauman freeze.  Nancy is telling you that the girl with the buzzed hair is not Russian. She is, in fact, from Hawkins lab. And her name is...Eleven? So they do know something. And something turns out to be everything.

Jonathan sits you both down to relay everything to you both. And woof, does it give you guys a headache. Strangely, though... it makes a whole lot more sense than some mundane explanation of sorts. Obviously though, that puts you all in a tough spot where you'll all need to put your heads together. So the two classmates of yours stay, sharing in chilled Smirnoff and having to endure the hilarity that ensues between you and your uncle. You and Murray both banter well with the two of them. Jonathan finds you to be hilarious. Nancy finds you intimidating. Very intimidating. You’re quick witted, darkly humored and independent. But there is a reserved, mysterious sort of feminine energy to you, despite your more masculine strengths and bluntness. Over glasses of stiff vodka, you all come to the conclusion on how to go about exposing the truth about Barbara Holland's disappearance: water it down.

At the end of the night, you're all winding down -- you and your uncle having convinced the two lovebirds to stay. But when you're telling them they can take your uncle's guest room while you take the couch, Jonathan's asking if he can take the couch. You blink. Huh? ...surely Nancy is not still with --

"Okay, I'm confused," your uncle's saying. "What's going on here? Lovers quarrel?"

You cock an eyebrow, leaning back into the loveseat.

But Jonathan and Nancy are then talking over each other with weird, flustered excuses...saying they're just friends.

You and your uncle bust out laughing. And then you're shrinking back in your seat, knowing what's coming: one of your Uncle Murray's lovebird witchdoctor speeches that he barrels into anytime that two delusional people have convinced themselves that they aren't in love. Or at the very least, not into each other. 

Uncle Murray is breaking them down, one at a time. He's reading Jonathan like an angsty teen novel, seeing right through him and his brooding, mysterious energy.  Trust issues, thanks to daddy issues. Yikes, that makes you sip some more drink.

And then he's onto Nancy, saying that she's harder to read. But he manages anyway.  It's the Bauman way.

He's telling her that she's likely like everyone else, "afraid of what would happen if you accepted yourself for you who you really are." He looks at you. "Am I in the right ballpark?"

You nod, swallowing the last drop of vodka in your cup. "That...and afraid of that might happen if she didn't retreat back to the safety of someone familiar."

Nancy looks bewildered. But more than that, she looks caught. 

"Name?" your uncle is prodding, snapping his fingers.  "Name."

You and Jonathan both say it. "Steve."

Uncle Murray's face is priceless. He feigns adoration, putting on a baby voice as he repeats the name. "Dawh. Steve. We like Steve."

"Yes," Nancy laughs nervously.  Eek, you think.

"But we don't love Steve..." Your uncle's words floor Nancy.

And when Nancy's saying something about still being with Steve, insisting that she loves him, you roll your eyes. Even scoffing, getting her attention. Maybe if the vodka weren't in your system, you wouldn't be so bold. But Jonathan's mopey look just gives you more confidence.

"Boom, ladies and gents," you say with a grin. "Second lie of the evening." "The hell was the first one?" Jonathan asks, blinking. "You guys being just friends." You and your uncle say something along the same lines, simultaneously. You both laugh together, clinking glasses. The two not lovebirds just squirm awkwardly in their seats. Finally, you sigh. "Look. You guys don't wanna give up the ghost? Be my guest. I'll happily keep my bed." You stand up, ready to turn in. But not until casting them one last work, pointing a finger. "But if I were you two? I'd cut the bullshit and just share the damn bed." Murray snorts, rising to stand as well. He stretches. "Welllllp. I'm turning in for the night." You begin mounting the stairs, hollering: "Better act fast, kiddos. At least before this poison in my system knocks me out cold. Don't worry, Nancy, I don't snore. So if you do choose me, you're safe." "But that's so lame," Murray adds to that wryly, heading off to his room. You both tell each other goodnight, leaving the two angsty teens to decide their fate. All you know is that Nancy ends up walking out and not coming back, at one point in the night.  Yeah, thought so. Breakfast the next morning is even more hilarious. You and your uncle ask every single question that drips with innuendo that you ever possibly could. And it's worth every fucking minute.

Murray's gonna need to keep that couch cleaned. To your surprise, Murray sends you off with Nancy and Jonathan, but given that you want to go and see it all for yourself you don't mind. You’re basically his little spy.  Most uncles send off their nieces and nephews with some good advice, maybe a packed lunchbox or snacks, and a warm hug. 

Yours, however, sends you off with a full bottle of vodka, a thick wad of cash and some fun sarcastic banter. But he headlocks you in for a hug, and you cackle. He really is a nutcase, and man you can't help but love him. He is so not the parental type. Yet somehow, he's practically raised you. And in your opinion, you're pretty well-prepared for the world. More than most, in Murray's opinion. So off you go with Nancy Wheeler and Jonathan Buyers, and they both honestly enjoy your company. It helps them get past their umm...well...awkward new reality. That new reality that comes post-sex, after a long ass time of playing the tip-toe game. The sexual tension between them is hysterical to you. But you keep your thoughts to yourself for now. The vodka did most of the talking for you last night.

When you both arrive at wherever the hell your destination is, it's dark outside. And if you're being honest, it's pretty creepy. You're somewhere near the woods, and as you all walk closer you're beginning to see lights approaching you...along with a handful of shadowed figures. 

Fuck, you literally just got here.

But then, after a tense several moments... Nancy and Jonathan call out to them. You jump, startled at the fact that they do it so confidently. But the name that they call out suddenly makes it all make sense. "STEVE?" "NANCY...?" And that's how you became a crucial part of the most royal pain in the ass, King Steve's, life.

[cptindanvers]

you (remastered)

summary: y/n is best friends with nancy wheeler and barbara holland. but after her boyfriend, steve cheats on her with nancy and barb disappears, y/n becomes best friends with jonathan byers and helps save hawkins from the evil that lies beneath its surface.

word count; 1,837

set in season one, platonic! jonathan byers x reader

warnings; angsty

It took four "no"s for them to finally mean something to Steve when he asked (more like begged) you to come to the small party he was having. Steve had a record of taking advantage of his parents' frequent absences but they usually only induced your presence in his room.

You had planned on attending, initially. But when a headache formed and only intensified throughout the day, you were positive that another minute of being around Tommy and Carol would drive you clinically insane.

Frequently, different versions of how your life could've gone run through your mind. What if you'd gone? Would you and Steve be together still? Would you still have your two best friends?

You figured Steve was annoyed with you for really not showing up last night - he hadn't picked you up, hadn't waited by your locker. It would've worried you if you weren't so aware of how people's eyes hooked onto you, questions evident over their heads as they wondered why your famous boyfriend wasn't by your side.

You're starting to get really pissed off by the time the last bell rings. Steve isn't standing by the door of your last class like he usually is, ready to kiss you in the middle of the hallway without a care in the world. He doesn't take your things to your locker or carry your bag to his car, ready to take you anywhere you want to go - at least, for a while.

It's chilly once you get out to the parking lot. Maybe a walk in the finger-numbing air will help clear your mind.

You're only a few steps in before you recognize your boyfriend's side profile, threateningly looming over someone else. It doesn't take long to identify Tommy, Carol, and... Jonathan Byers.

Steve wasn't one to take things that far. He still had a reputation to maintain, both at school and with his parents. But you watched as he tore up photographs and dangled Jonathan's camera carelessly in his hands.

You've rerouted yourself, feet taking you in their direction without your brain approving the request first.

Usually, you'd stay out of it but if Steve was already ignoring you then there wasn't much else for you to lose.

And maybe you were a little exhausted, too. Perhaps you'd spent far too long being nothing more than a bystander, guilt and shame bubbling up until you've finally reached your limit.

Jonathan Byers had already lost his younger brother - he really didn’t need this.

"What's going on?" You ask to no one in particular.

"None of your business," Tommy retorts immediately.

You glance at your boyfriend expectedly - but he just shakes his head.

“Just get inside, alright? I’ll catch up with you.” Steve places his hand on your shoulder, attempting to direct you away.

It's useless - especially once you spot the photos you watched Steve tear up. Ones of your best friend undressed in his room.

You pick up one of the crudely ripped pieces from the ground, breaking out of Steve's loose grasp and stepping closer to Jonathan, fury in your eyes.

"What the hell is this?"

Jonathan's eyes jumped from you to the photo to Steve. He saw the anger in Steve's eyes but, under the tightly drawn brows, there was something else. Something in his eyes was pleading.

Jonathan averted his eyes as if it'd save him, looking at the ground as he made his choice.

"Nancy was undressing in Steve’s room last night.”

As soon as those words came from Jonathan’s mouth, his camera paid the price, glass smashing as soon as the device hit the ground.

"It's not what you th-" Steve steps closer from behind you, after the camera has left his grasp. Priorities, right?

Before he could even try to lie his way out of things, you turn sharply, your hand coming up to slap him before you could even think a rational thought.

“You’re an asshole, Steve Harrington.” You say, picking up the pieces of the ripped pictures. You weren’t sure why you decided to keep them. Proof? Revenge?

“Come on,” You begin, taking Jonathan’s hand and walking away, knowing he would be dealing with much worse than a broken camera if you left him.

You hadn't even gotten ten steps of distance before a painfully familiar voice caught your attention.

“What’s going on?”

Your head snapped to the right only to see Nancy standing there, wide-eyed and nervous.

Your anger hasn't mellowed but people are beginning to slow in their steps and turn their heads.

“I really can’t believe you, Nancy," you say quietly.

You drag Jonathan along, leaving Nancy behind with tears slipping down her cheeks.

⁂

You're not sure what you were thinking, pulling Jonathan out of there with you. You'd wanted to avoid a scene, for sure, and you didn't know what Jonathan's confession would entail for him other than punches.

"I'm sorry," you begin, words spewing out before you can control them. "For the camera. For letting them treat you like that. Not just today, for all the days."

Tears are beginning to well in your eyes and you turn away from Jonathan. Too many emotions are begging for an outlet, mainly shame and embarrassment. But the hurt is threatening to start seeping in soon now, too.

You try to focus on your breathing, on anything other than your own self-pity.

Jonathan surprises you with a cautious hand on your shoulder, as if he was scared to touch you. "Would you, um... do you want a ride home?"

⁂

"Jonathan, I need your help."

It'd been a few days after the incident with his camera and Jonathan giving you a ride home. You'd expected it to be much more awkward than it initially was - but eventually, the two of you began talking. About what Jonathan had been doing that night, about the hunt for Will, about Barb.

Perhaps that was another big source of your anger towards Steve and Nancy. Apart from the intoxicated infidelity, wasn't it their fault Barb was missing?

"Yeah?"

"Well, I... okay, this is gonna sound stupid, but listen..." There's not much of a defense you can build for yourself considering how crazy you sound - especially saying it all out loud. But you try to explain yourself, try to explain the faceless, humanoid figure you saw around Steve's house when you went looking for her the day prior - and its resemblance to a strange figure in the corner of one of the photographs Steve had ripped up.

“I know it sounds crazy.” You say, eyes looking into Jonathan’s, pleading for him to believe you.

“Yeah, it does," Jonathan nods and your heart sinks. "But I trust you." He places a hand on your shoulder, comforting you once again.

⁂

After figuring out that thing you saw had also been spotted by Jonathan’s mom, you two decided you two better learn some self-defense, just in case.

So, Jonathan taught you how to shoot a gun.

⁂

After coming back from the strange dimension in Mirkwood, you asked Jonathan to stay with you. This whole thing was beginning to get to you - other-worldly places, monsters, kidnappings. Honestly? You were terrified, and sitting alone in an empty room wouldn't do you any favors.

Jonathan gave in eventually, knowing he wouldn't be able to stand sleeping alone, either.

Having someone else in the room soothed you, enough to eventually fall asleep - even if the lights stayed on.

⁂

Whatever this monster-thing was, it was attracted to blood.

Well, it was a working theory. Jonathan had noticed Barb holding her hand like she'd injured it and, although it wasn't much to go off of, it'd do for now.

Perhaps the two of you were in over your heads but you and Jonathan had made your decision - you were going to kill that things.

Jonathan drove you two over to the gun supply store. Somewhere along the way, you began laughing.

"What?" Jonathan asked and, although he was clueless as to what was causing your amusement, he was smiling.

"Nothing," you shake your head. "It's just..." You turn to face him, even if his attention is on getting all your purchases into the trunk of his car. "A week ago. Not even. Two completely different worlds, right?"

Jonathan closes his trunk. "And now you get to suffer the consequences."

You furrow your brows.

Jonathan shrugs. "People talk."

Before you can respond, a loud honk catches both of your attention.

“Hey, freaks! Can’t wait to see your movie!” Someone calls before driving off. 

“What was that?” Jonathan asked, obviously confused.

But you knew. 

Steve had tried to call you and asked you to the movies to “start over”. You never picked up the phone, but you heard the voicemail.

Jonathan’s confusion only grew as you took off, a walk turning into a run as you stood outside the movie theater, Jonathan attempting to keep up. The both of you stared at the new addition to the Now Showing picture - both your names, spraypainted in red.

You knew your reputation had taken a turn once you'd broken up with Steve - it was inevitable, really. Your popularity really only was thanks to Steve. But it'd nose-dived instead of tapered off when you'd started hanging around Jonathan.

It wasn't like you didn't hear what everyone whispered, but you could usually shut it down with a look or with the truth, albeit put harshly. Depended on who was asking.

Laughter floated from the alley beside the theater. You turn into the alley, facing Steve, Carol, Tommy, and the other girl whose name you never bothered learning. 

“Oh, here comes the freak couple!” Carol taunted, making kissing sounds as you stop in front of Steve.

“What the hell, Steve?” Your arms cross in front of your chest. You're on edge. Defensive. So many months together and this is how he's gonna do things?

“Well, it’s obvious you two are a thing,” Steve replied casually, shrugging his shoulders.

“What? So you can sleep with Nancy but I can’t hang out with Jonathan?"

“Oh, it's Jonathan now. So, what was Jonathan doing in your room?”

The question makes you falter - usually, when you're with Jonathan, it's out. Never at your house. Except...

You scoff. “Were you spying on me?”

“Answer the question.”

“We were- I just-” You shook your head, finding it difficult to explain that the only reason Jonathan had slept in your room was because entering another, very slimey and dark dimension had terrified you.

“Yeah, that’s what I thought.” Steve scoffed, crossing his arms.

It's not worth it. You shouldn't have to explain yourself in the first place. Steve's upset you never called back but he was the one who fucked up. Not you.

“Come on,” You say, grabbing Jonathan’s hand and walking away for the second time that week.

“You know, Byers, you’re a screw-up, just like the rest of your family. Honestly, I’m not surprised that Will is dead. I mean, nobody misses him anyway-” Steve started, shoving Jonathan repeatedly. Steve quickly shut up when Jonathan’s fist met his face.

“Jonathan, stop!” You yell, trying to pull him off Steve while simultaneously trying to avoid getting hit.

The fistfight finally ended when the cops showed up, arresting Jonathan while you put your face in your hands in shame and frustration.

⁂

You found yourself at Hawkins Middle. You weren't sure exactly what you were doing there, something about a girl and a pool you needed to fill with salt. You were still a little confused and even more lost as to why Nancy was there. You're sure it had something to do with Mike.

Everyone was sat around the girl, El, as she floated in an inflatable pool in the middle of the school gym. She had been voicing almost everything she saw, trying to find Barbara and Will. Everyone hung on to her words, tension and anticipation hanging in the air.

“Barb…dead.”

Blood rushed in your ears as the weight that had been sitting in your chest for days began to ache. Your throat tightened and god, you couldn't breathe.

Your feet take you outside and your body folds over, hands on your knees as you try to breathe.

It feels like forever before your strangled gasps become shakey breaths and you barely register the opening of the door behind you.

Nancy's here and your resolve breaks.

Somehow, your arms find each other. Somehow, you manage not to blame her.

There was no time for tears. Nancy's eyes were full of fury once the two of you managed to pull away.

“Let’s kill that son of a bitch.”

⁂

There was a knock at the door almost immediately after you all bandaged your bleeding hands. You stuck your head out, careful to not let whoever knocked see the traps and light inside the Byers home.

“Jonathan-" Steve's presence makes your eyes widen. God, you should've made Jonathan answer it. "What the hell are you doing here?"

Something about the scene bothers him sincerely.

"Steve, you should leave," you say seriously.

Steve shakes his head and any annoyance off. "No, no. Look, I- I messed up, alright? I need to apologize.”

“No, Steve, you seriously-” You're cut off by Steve reaching for your hand - the one you'd just sliced open. Shit.

“What happened to your hand? Did Jonathan do that to you? I swear if he hurt you-”

There was no stopping Steve at that point. He managed his way inside despite your insistence, his brows furrowing at all the Christmas lights.

“What the hell is going on here?” Steve yelled, looking around in utter confusion.

Desperation was beginning to consume you - at the end of the day, you didn't want Steve involved in this. You wanted him far, far away.

“Steve.” You say steadily, picking up Lonnie’s gun and pointing it at him. “You need to leave.”

“What the hell?" Steve shouts, scared by your strange behavior. "Put that thing down! Look-”

Nancy calls your name, motioning to the flickering lights, but your attention is stuck on Steve. On making him go.

“Steve! Get out!”

Jonathan yells your name, finally grabbing your attention. “Look!”

Your head snaps, noticing the lights flickering around you.

“Shit.”

⁂

After a lot of initial screaming from Steve, the four of you had done a considerable amount of damage to it before it disappeared.

Now, Jonathan, Nancy, and you had to explain what was going on to a very overwhelmed Steve while heading back to meet with everyone else.

Most of the slack had fallen on you, naturally. It was strange, you and Steve in his car like before, only this time you were stuck having a conversation you couldn't conjure up in your wildest dreams.

"So- so that thing-"

"Demo-something. It's from... it's from a game the kids play."

"That thing is what took Barb and Will?"

"It, um, likes blood. Which is why..." you gesture to the bandaid around your hand.

"And- and Christmas lights?"

"Look, I don't really get it either-"

"No, no," Steve shakes his head. He's quiet as he pulls into a spot at Hawkins Middle but he doesn't move after putting his car into park. "I'm sorry."

It's silent as you try to find the right words to say. With everything happening, you really haven't given Steve much though. You hadn't had a chance to work through your anger or to think of something witty to say in this exact situation.

But you're still angry. Very angry.

"Just forget it, Steve."

"No, I want to apologize-"

"Just forget it. We were never gonna work out, right?"

You don't spare him a glance as you get out of the car. You have bigger things to worry about right now.

⁂

It didn't take very long for you to forgive - Nancy, at least. Drunken mistakes aside, she had never tried to go after Steve before. Plus, you think the two of you needed each other right now.

It was early December when she asked you for permission to pursue him, officially.

"It’s completely alright if you don’t want me to, we just started being friends again and-”

“Nance, it’s okay, really. You two were both drunk and you both apologized. If you like him and he likes you, then who am I to stop you?”

She gave you a big hug after that, but you couldn’t help the tug in your chest.

⁂

“You ready to go?” You asked Jonathan as he climbed back into his car, escaping the harsh December winds.

“Yeah,” Jonathan replied, turning to you. “She kissed me on the cheek.” He said, a small smile spreading on his face.

“Woah there, Byers. Aren’t you moving a bit too fast?”

Jonathan chuckled, lightly punching you on the arm. “Yeah, she’s dating your ex, but hey, a guy can dream. What about you?”

“What about me?”

“You and Steve?” Jonathan asked, his smile turning into a smirk.

“Steve cheated on me.” You retort, rolling your eyes.

“Yeah, well, you can dream, can’t you?”

The two of you laughed, a comfortable silence filling the car.

“Hey, why don’t you stay for dinner? Mom always cooks enough to feed an army.” Jonathan asks as you pull into his driveway.

The offer takes you by surprise. Perhaps you'd thought that once all of that was over, your friendship with Jonathan would be, too. “Oh, no, I couldn’t.”

“Come on, spend time with your favorite Byers?” Jonatha smiles, leaning over to open your door. It was really a nicer way of saying I know you don't have anything better to do - except maybe wallow.

“Fine!” You sigh dramatically, getting out of the car.

“You know you love me.” Jonathan nudges your shoulder, a grin matching yours on his face.

“Yeah, yeah, whatever," You shake your head.

Despite everything the two of you had lost, at the very least you'd gotten each other.

⁂

masterlist / read part 2 here! / read part 3 here!

remastered, reworked... happy almost 5 years to this fic! if you'd like, you can read the original here, though i advise against it!

(p.s. part three is coming)

[jsfix]

Surprise, Billy

Summary: You and Billy are met with Ghostface.

Warnings: Ghostface!AU, no pronouns and no description of reader, character deaths (not reader), stabbing, blood, slight steve x reader

WC: 720

AN: first stranger things fic ahh and also first scream au! feedback is appreciated pls and thank you <3

“You got nothin’ to worry about,” Billy puffs up his chest, “I’ll protect you.”

“Thanks, Billy.” You gave him a feeble smile. Though your expression was strained, he still gave you a wink before moving to check the latch on your bedroom window.

Recently the town had been plagued by a series of murders. First, Barbara Holland and Nancy Wheeler, then Carol Perkins and her boyfriend Tommy Hagan, and, most recently, Jason Carver. Everybody was panicked, the cops couldn’t get a lead on the serial killer (whom they’d named ‘Ghostface’ due to witnesses reports about the figure’s mask), and your classmates were getting antsy with the assigned curfew.

After overhearing you talking to your friends about your parents leaving town for the weekend, Billy offered to come over to your house tonight to “protect you.” He insisted even after you declined, walking away with an “I’ll be over at 8!” before you could get another word out.

He had taken an interest in you almost immediately after moving to Hawkins and kept trying to get you to go out with him. It’s as if the word ‘no’ didn’t exist in his vocabulary. Now, he was going over all the windows in your living room, making sure they were locked while boasting about how he thought the panic over the serial killer was stupid. You followed him throughout the house, smiling and nodding, hoping he would stop talking, finish quickly, and leave.

A sudden BANG! broke your train of thought.

“What was that?” Billy asked, turning away from the window to look at you, eyes wide.

“I don’t know..” You replied, confusedly. “Sounds like it came from outside.”

He stood still for a moment, listening for any other odd sounds before turning back to the window. You looked at your watch, blocking out his rant about “all the good players on the basketball team ending up dead” when another sound grabbed your attention.

“What the hell.” Billy muttered under his breath as he creeped towards the doorframe that led out to the hallway. “That was not outside.”

“What do you think it is?” You asked him slowly. “Do you think it’s the killer?”

“No,” he scoffed. Still, he hesitated before stepping out into the hallway, head frantically swinging back and forth.

You followed him as he walked slowly through the house, examining each room. Once the kitchen was deemed clear, he turned to you, cocky smirk back on his face.

“Nothing here.” He said smugly. “Guess I scared-”BANG He yelped, spinning around, now face to face with Ghostface. You let out a gasp, watching with wide eyes as Ghostface slashed his knife towards Billy. He managed to dodge the attack, roughly shoving the killer away before turning towards you.

He grabbed your arm, forcefully pulling you through the house to the front door. You stumbled in the darkness of the hallway as you tried to keep up with his speed. Your heart felt as if it was about to burst and your hands were shaking from adrenaline. As the both of you rounded the corner, you could see the glow of the streetlight through the windowpanes of the door. Like moths to a flame you raced toward it, safety a mere ten steps away.

Just as you reached the entry way, the masked figure appeared. Billy flinched back, only to crash into you, your chest hitting his back from his abrupt stop. That moment was all Ghostface needed to swing his knife into Billy’s chest. Billy fell to the floor and Ghostface followed.

You squealed as he brought the knife down again, and again, and again until Billy’s blood was splattered all over you and the walls, and his wailing pleas finally stopped.

Ghostface stood from his kneeled position over the body. He wiped the bloody knife against his sleeve before reaching towards his mask. As the white mask was pulled off of his face, his hood fell and you were met with Steve Harrington’s grinning face.

You burst out a laugh, matching his grin.

“Holy shit!" you giggled, "That was a good one!”

He laughed along with you as he stepped over Billy, taking your bloody face into his gloved hands and giving you a searing kiss.

[februaryfic]

Honey, You're Familiar: Chapter Two (AO3) (Masterpost) (5245 Words)

A Steve Harrington x meta!Reader slowburn multichapter fic.

TW: self injury (to attract a demogorgon), canon typical injury You help Jonathan with some posters, bait a Demogorgon, and go to a funeral.

You enter through the double doors of the high school with Jonathan, each with a small pile of posters in your arms. You glance ahead and confirm that, sure enough, Steve Harrington and Nancy Wheeler were watching from the lockers with their friends, just like in the show. You also confirm that yes, Steve Harrington is unfairly attractive in real life too. You watch him shove at Tommy, telling him off for the nasty comment you know he just made about Jonathan. 

Barbara Holland is in the group, standing slightly off to one side like she knows full well that she doesn’t belong. You feel your shoulders tense and your breath quicken as you remember the enormity of the task ahead of you. If you didn’t interfere successfully tonight, she was going to die.

Jonathan starts tacking up a poster on the noticeboard by the door and you spot Nancy making to head over. This conversation is important to their relationship, so you decide to let them have it in private.

“I’ll put some up down the hall,” You say, leaving Jonathan alone.

“You won’t know where you’re going,” Jonathan replies skeptically.

“I’ll manage, isn’t every high school basically the same?” You say, already leaving. 

As you pass Steve’s group, you hear Tommy mutter: “Since when does Byers’ have a girlfriend?” which makes you laugh slightly, despite everything. 

You spend a good five minutes tacking up missing posters at each notice board you pass. At some point, the bell rings, clearing out the hallways and making your job easier as the students head to class. You finish your rounds and take an exit ahead of you, a different set of double doors than you used before.  

“I’ve never seen you before.” 

An unexpected voice makes you spin around, startled. Leant up against a wall with a cigarette, Steve Harrington watches you with interest. “You don’t go here?”

“I just graduated, I moved here after,” You say. “I work at the arcade,”

“Damn, Byers’ got himself an older girlfriend? I’m almost impressed,” Steve raises his eyebrows, looking you up and down. You feel your cheeks start to heat under his gaze. Not the time!

“We’re not dating,” you roll your eyes. “I’m just helping him out with the missing posters.”

At the word ‘missing’, Steve sobers up a little. He’s not so much of an asshole to laugh about a missing kid, even now.  

“Shouldn’t you be in class right now anyway?” You say, with a slight smile on your face so he knows you’re not too serious.

“Physics with Ms Donovan? Yeah, like that’s gonna happen. I was never gonna pass that class anyway,” He waves you off and tosses his cigarette stub on the ground, stamping to put it out. “Anyway, see you around, Byers’ not-girlfriend,” 

“Y/n,” You call out. “My name’s Y/n,”

“Steve,” He introduces himself with an irritatingly charming smile, before going to duck back through the double doors.

You always liked Steve, back when this was all just a show and these people were all just characters. He was always better than anyone gave him credit for, including himself. You think about all that he’s going to have to deal with in the next couple of years, that everyone will have to deal with in the next couple of years.

You can feel the tendrils of panic start to suffocate your mind before you very decisively push them down. You can’t lose it, not now. You know that when you get back to the car, Jonathan is going to find a reason to leave you behind so that he can go to Lonnie’s. Meanwhile, you will be out in the woods by Loch Nora, putting into work a plan that will hopefully save Barbara Holland’s life.

Hopefully.

—

You sat in the woods about half a mile from Steve Harrington’s house watching the sunset, surrounded by a collection of oddities. You had two large ice boxes, 17 flashlights, a bike, and a knife. 

If anyone ran into you now, you’re pretty sure there’s nothing you could say to explain it.

You had scoped this spot out last weekend as part of your preparations. Deep enough in the woods to be hidden, but close enough to civilisation to escape. You cleared a path to the main road, moving branches and cutting down plants until it was clear enough to ride a bike through. In a different direction, towards the Harrington house, you had set up your flashlights each with fresh batteries and placed them in strategic spots. You had come by a few nights before, making sure that your spot was still close enough that you would be able to overhear the party. You needed a cue.

There was nothing more you could do until the party started, so you slumped on the ground near your bike and tried as hard as you could to be brave.

—

After 2 tense hours of waiting and pacing anxiously, you heard what you were waiting for. An ear-piercing scream as Tommy shoved Carol in the pool. Barb will have just gone inside after cutting her finger, so you had between 5-10 minutes before the demogorgon tried to attack her. Not on your watch. 

You opened your ice boxes and dumped the raw meat out onto the ground. You deliberately didn’t make much of an effort to keep it cold, letting it begin to rot so it would be all the more pungent. You doubted a creature from the upside down would have a sensitive stomach. 

You needed to make sure the demogorgon came to you rather than Barb, however, and you didn’t exactly know its taste preferences. But you did know it liked human blood.

Grabbing your knife, you held your breath as you steeled yourself—as soon as you did this, your clock was ticking. Barb only had a small cut, so you needed to outmatch her. You drew the blade across your hand, hissing at the sting, and allowed as much blood as you dared to fall onto the meat. Then you staggered to your feet. It was go time.

You grabbed your bike and mounted it, facing your escape path. As soon as you knew the monster had been attracted this way- you would run. You stared at your line of flashlights, daring one of them to flicker. But nothing. 

You grab a wad of bandages from your jacket pocket and wrap your arm as you wait, never taking your eyes off the flashlights. You didn’t want to be bleeding, you wanted the demogorgon to go to the meat, not to you. As you’re tying the bandage off at your wrists, you see it: the flashlight furthest from you goes out. Then the next. Then the next. 

The monster is coming for you, and it’s moving fast. 

You put your feet onto both pedals and go, daring a glance behind you and immediately regretting it. 

Standing at 9 feet tall and skeletally thin, the demogorgon would almost blend in with the trees if not for the flashes of mottled white skin that show underneath the grime of the upside down. Its head was dominated by a writhing maw of curved teeth, oozing with saliva as it twitched. And it was turned straight towards you.

Sweat immediately gathers on your brow as you hear it screech. You know without looking that it is hunting you, far more enticed by the chase than by the stagnant meal you provided it. 

You pedal faster.

Its footfalls match the speed of your heartbeat as you speed down the forest path. You can practically smell the fetid ooze it is covered in, making you choke a breath as you try not to cry. You have to make it out of here. You have to escape this thing. 

It’s gaining on you though. 

You can hear it getting ever closer with every step of its clawed feet, your own frantic pedalling not enough to create distance. It's too close. It's going to–

White hot pain erupts down the side of your right calf as the bike is shunted to the left, almost making you fall. The creature has swiped at the back of the bike, tearing through your jeans and straight into the soft flesh beneath, blood streaming down your ankle. You keep pedaling, ignoring the sharp tug of torn skin each time you move. You cannot die here. 

The adrenaline must have kicked in, as the monster takes another swing at the bike but you manage to pull away in time, leaving it scrabbling at the air. It lets out another ear-splitting screech in frustration as you use its temporary preoccupation to pull further ahead. 

You manage to reach the main road and start speeding through Loch Nora, heading back towards civilisation. You risk a glance back to see the demogorgon standing at the tree line, watching you, before slinking away back into the darkness in search of easier prey. You just hope you gave Barb enough time to leave.

—

You grab your freshly bought first aid kit and collapse onto your bathroom floor to start cleaning your leg. The entire bottom half of your right pant leg is soaked through with blood and your white sock is now a sanguine shade of maroon. You ease your pants off, hissing as the torn fabric pulls loose from the injury. 

It looks bad. There are 3 gashes from the creature’s claws, the bottom one deeper than the others as the talons had caught at the curve of your ankle. You’re lucky you can still put weight on it: it doesn’t seem to have hit your muscle.You sit on the tiled floor in your underwear and start gently dabbing with antiseptic, cleaning away the dried blood and flecks of mud that cover it. As you clear away the dried clots, it reopens your wounds, causing fresh blood to gather at the edges of each cut. 

As the blood beads at your skin, tears gather in your eyes,  the adrenaline finally draining from you and leaving you with the reality of tonight’s actions. The demogorgon is infinitely more horrifying when you’re not seeing it through a TV screen. This is real. You’re stuck in a world with that monster, and you can’t get back home.

It hurts. 

You allow yourself a moment to shake, holding the antiseptic to your leg and allowing its sting to ground you. You remind yourself why you did this. It still hurts, but you might have saved a person’s life tonight. You wrap your leg in a bandage, resolving to head to the high school tomorrow and check on Barb yourself. This can’t have been for nothing. 

—

You wake up the next morning feeling like a corpse. The demogorgon had dogged your dreams all last night. You leg throbs in perfect synchronicity with your pulse, and you still feel overwrought from your chase. You all but collapsed into bed after making sure that you weren't going to bleed out so you were still covered in sweat and flecks of dirt from your mad dash through the woods. Ugh.

You roll yourself out of bed and almost fall when your leg immediately protests your weight. You try again, gentler this time, and find that you can very carefully hobble to your shower. It’s a sitting down in the shower kind of day.

Letting the warm water wash away both the physical and mental detritus of last night, you wash yourself carefully before limping back into the bedroom and getting dressed. You take some painkillers and grab your notebook. There wasn’t a lot you needed to intervene with today, thank god. The only thing you needed to do was go to the school and see if your plan last night worked. The thought almost makes you break out in a sweat all over again.

Pushing down that anxiety into the back of your mind, you look ahead. Tomorrow, you’ve decided, you’ll be telling Joyce what you know. And Hopper the very next day. 

You’re completely fucking terrified. 

How are you supposed to look a woman in the eye and tell her that you knew her son was going to be taken but let it happen anyway? Just because the alternative might be worse? Meanwhile Hopper might not even believe you. He might even arrest you if he thinks you’re responsible for Will’s disappearance, which you are, kind of. 

You’re so not cut out for this. You think about Steve, who ran back to face a monster he had no reason to face. About Joyce, who faced almost everyone thinking she was crazy but still fought to save her son. About Eleven, so young yet willing to face the demogorgon to save her new friends. You weren’t like any of them. You weren’t a hero from a tv show. You were a chubby girl from 2024 who buried her thoughts in her favourite tv show so she didn’t have to think about life. How were you supposed to help anyone?

It’s too late to try and catch sight of Barb before school, so you hobble back into your bed and try not to feel too pathetic. You set your alarm clock to wake you an hour before school lets out, so you can try and catch her leaving. Steve and his ‘friends’ will be breaking Jonathan’s camera around that time too, maybe you’ll catch her there.

—

Your walk to the high school is torturously slow-going. You start off okay, but need to take a break half-way as you feel the wounds start to sting. You do not want them reopening and bleeding all down your leg again. You eventually make it there, and start looking for a place to look out from.

You know the confrontation will happen in the parking lot, so you approach from a different direction to not walk directly into it. Jonathan didn’t need any more people to see this. 

Now, if Barb is alive, she’ll be with Nancy, and you know Nancy will be here. You just have to hope that Barb is alive to be here too.

Your leg starts to throb again, causing you to wince as you walk closer to the lot. Finding a perfect vantage point from around the corner of a building, you lean against the wall to try and take some of the pressure off it. It helps, some. 

You poke your head around the corner at the sound of voices and see Steve, Tommy and Carol heading towards Jonathan with Nicole, the girl who caught him developing the photos. They’re followed by Nancy, and an unmistakable redhead. 

You did it. 

Oh my god, you did it. 

Barbara Holland is alive and it’s all because of you. 

Holy shit. 

The sheer relief that floods your body almost makes you laugh out loud, but you hold yourself back. Taking your weight off the wall to lean closer, you continue watching. Tommy grabs Jonathan’s bag and tosses it to Steve. You see him pull the stack of photos out of the bag and start passing them around the group, voices starting to raise. 

Your pulse rises and you wait for what you know is about to happen. The camera falls to the ground and you duck back around the corner with a gasp. It feels much worse to see it in person, hearing the crash carried on the wind.

Your leg starts to burn from the exertion of standing still on it for too long, so you finish your spying session and limp over to one of the school benches. Pulling a bottle of painkillers out of your backpack, you swallow them down as you collapse onto the bench and wait ten minutes until the pain recedes. Eventually the throb turns into a dull murmur. 

Once you can think again, you grab your notebook out of the bag and turn to your notes on what will happen later today. The party should be meeting with Eleven around now, and they’ll go to the Byers’ house and eventually the quarry, where they’ll find Will’s fake corpse.

Which means tomorrow— 

“Your not-boyfriend’s a fucking perv, you know?” Steve approaches the bench, alone. He looks pissed.

You go to give him a sympathetic smile before remembering that you’re not supposed to know what happened. “What do you mean?” you ask instead, feigning ignorance.

“We had a party last night. Turns out Byers was there too, spying on us, taking pictures. He even took pictures of me and Nance when we were—” His face twists and his fists shake as they suddenly clench.

You don’t have to fake your wince. “That’s so messed up, I’m so sorry.” You know Jonathan feels terrible about what he did, but it doesn’t change how fucked up his actions were. 

“Yeah,” Steve says. He throws himself down on the bench next to you and you see the slump of his shoulders. He’s truly upset, but is trying to mask it with anger. A more acceptable emotion for a teenage boy to show, you suppose. 

“Have you done anything about it?” you ask, already knowing the answer. 

“Yeah, I—” Steve replies somewhat hesitantly. “I broke his camera.” You think you see a flicker of regret on his face, already rethinking his actions now that the heat of the moment has passed.

“That’s kind of fucked up,” You say gently.

“He shouldn’t have taken those fucked up pictures then!” he defends, allowing his anger to shield him once more.

“No, he shouldn’t have, but that doesn’t mean property damage is the solution,” you say. “Cameras can be real difficult for some people to afford, Steve, he probably won’t be able to replace it.”

“He still shouldn’t have—” 

“I agree.” you placate. “But you know as well as I do that he probably worked his ass off for hours to afford that thing, and you broke it in a matter of seconds.”

Steve deflates, letting his shoulders slump further and putting his head down. He looks miserable without his anger to hide behind or his friends to buoy him up. You lean into him for a second, allowing your shoulder to bump his in a friendly way. 

“Just because a person hurts you, doesn’t mean you have to hurt them back twice as bad,” you say quietly. “You know that, right?”

Steve just looks at you, examining you softly from his close vantage by your side. You’re not sure what he sees. 

“Maybe,” he eventually says, before pushing his hair back out of his face and getting up. “Me and the others are gonna head to the diner later. You wanna come?”

You feel your eyebrows hit your hairline in surprise. You weren’t expecting this. You and Steve had only spoken twice now, and you’re not exactly his usual crowd. You were bullied in high school a fair bit, the fat girl with few friends. You were bullied by people like Steve, even. You knew he would grow out of his asshole attitude after fighting with Jonathan, after ditching Tommy and Carol, but you weren’t expecting it so soon. Maybe he was closer to change than you’d realised. 

You realise he’s been waiting on your response. “I can’t, I have work tonight,” you lie. Will Byers’ ‘body’ will be found tonight, and tomorrow you’re going to talk to Joyce. You’ll need all of tonight to fret over that conversation.

“Okay, whatever,” Steve says, sticking his hands in his pockets, still giving you a half-smile. “See you around, then?”

“For sure,” You smile back. Steve is easy to smile at, you think. He shines with warmth like the sun on a hot summer’s day. “See you,”

—

The warmth of Steve’s smile carries you all the way back to your apartment. Once there, however, reality sinks back into you with a dread chill. Your apartment didn’t come with a tv but you’d gotten lucky enough to snag one for cheap when the family down the road was moving. You turned it onto the channel that would show the local news, easy enough seeing as you only had three channels to choose from. 

You settle into your armchair and wait. Will Byers’ ‘body’ was going to be found in the quarry tonight and reported on soon after. And tomorrow, you tell Joyce the truth.

—

“Hi Mrs Byers,” You greet feebly, “Can I come in? It’s really important,”

She looks a wreck. You know she’s just had a screaming match with Jonathan over the body and the funeral. Joyce steps aside, letting you into the havoc that was once the family’s living room; she catches you looking around and you watch her try to find an excuse to tell you.

“You’re right.” You blurt out. “About Will being alive, about the body being fake, about the lights: you’re right. About everything. And I know what’s happened,”

Joyce says nothing, just drags you to the couch and sits you down next to her. Her hands grasp painfully into your arms, her expression desperate and bewildered. You realise you’re probably the first person in the last 24 hours to not look at her like she’s crazy.

“I’m so sorry. I know what happened, I know what’s going to happen, I know everything. I’m so sorry,” you choke before she can question you, pushing away the tears slowly building in your eyes. This isn’t about your guilt.

“Explain,” Joyce demands, anger in her eyes.

“ I know how this is going to sound but… I know the future. I knew Will was going to go missing, I knew they would plant a fake body. All the strange goings-on in Hawkins, I know about it. And I want to help.”

“You knew? You knew Will was going to be taken?” She looks aghast, betrayed.

“Yes.” you whisper. “And I didn’t do anything and I’m so sorry and if you hate me forever after this then that’s okay. But I need to tell you what’s going on, not just with Will, but with all of it.”

Joyce takes a deep breath, then another one. She sits back on the couch and fixes you with a hard stare: “Tell me everything.”

—

“So, how do you know all this?” Joyce questions, once you’ve finished your spiel. “How much do you know? How far into the future?”

“About 4 years. I’m not from here, Mrs Byers. Where I’m from, it’s 2024, and Hawkins, Indiana is a fictional town from a story. A story I’m quite fond of.”

“What, this is all just some book to you?”

“A TV show, technically. I woke up in an apartment that I didn’t recognise on the 1st of September. Eventually, I figured out that I’m stuck here, though I don’t know how or why. I’ve spent the last 2 months planning and thinking about how I’m going to help,”

“But you didn’t help. Will still went missing. My boy is still gone,” Joyce grits.

“I know, and I’m so sorry. I was worried that if Will didn’t go missing, no one would find out the truth about Hawkins until it was too late. If some other kid went missing instead, I would have no way of knowing what would happen. But I knew you would find him Joyce, and I knew he would survive.”

You see her fill with anger before she processes the rest of your words, eyes glazing with tears. “He’s alive then?” She asks, desperately.

“Yes. The next few years are going to be hard for everyone, including him, but he will make it out of this alive,”

Joyce deflates, falling back onto the couch. “Jonathan still thinks I’m crazy,”

“He’ll come around. He’s eventually going to track down the demogorgon with Nancy Wheeler. He’ll also be fine, don’t worry.”

“Why is it called that? The demo- thing?”

“The kids named it. After a dungeons and dragons monster,”

“And the kids have… a little girl with powers?”

“Exactly. All of you are figuring it out on your own, but you’re all separate. You and Hopper are uncovering the conspiracy behind Will; Nancy and Jonathan are chasing the monster; and the kids are hiding Eleven. They’re all connected.”

“...So what do we do next?”

—

The next day, you put on a simple black dress (with dark tights to hide your still healing leg) and make your way to the graveyard. It’s not going to be an easy day, but you take solace in the fact that at least Joyce knows. She knows that isn’t her son down in the casket. You don’t have to face a grieving mother today.

The group congregates around the grave and you place yourself in Joyce’s eyeline. You watch her glance over at Dustin, Mike, and Lucas, who are doing a terrible job of pretending to grieve. Their poor acting only serves to back up your information. She looks back over to you, making intense eye contact and giving you a nod, as the priest starts saying prayers over the casket. You’re glad to see little sadness in her eyes, only determination.

Barb is here, flanking Nancy as they both keep glancing over at Jonathan. Ah, so this is how it will work out. Barb didn’t die to the demogorgon, but she clearly saw something, the tense line of her shoulders marking her as a survivor. She must have told Nancy her suspicions, which were confirmed when they saw the monster in Jonathan’s photos. And now they’re all together. It seems the monster hunting duo has become a trio. 

Jonathan himself looks intense. He alternates between looking down at the casket and staring angrily at the side of Lonnie’s head, as if willing them to swap places. He still doesn’t know if Will is alive or not, you realise. He knows something’s up, but he thinks he’s avenging Will, not saving him. You’re struck once more by the horror of what you know. 

All the answers, good and bad, rest in your head. Your choice, your responsibility, of what to divulge. You could save them from this grief, but you’re choosing not to for reasons they might not appreciate. You have to play the long game. You’re not playing checkers, you’re setting up a chessboard. How many of them will hate you once they know? That they are your pawns? You wouldn’t blame them. You throw your rose into the grave. 

You leave quickly once the service ends, heading to your next stop of the day. It’s close to 11am, just the right time for the Chief of Police to be waking up after being drugged.

—

You post your note through the under the door of Hopper’s trailer: ‘Check the ceiling light’. You hear more rummaging and chaos before the door opens to a frenetic Hopper, who walks straight past you and down to the water’s edge, throwing the listening device into the lake. 

“How did you know,” he demands, rounding on you in an instant. It’s only the knowledge of his character that keeps you from cowering. He looks incensed. 

“I know a lot more things too. I’m trying to help you, and Joyce Byers, and this entire town. I’m going to tell you something that sounds crazy, but considering what I know you saw last night, I’m hoping you’ll believe me,” you say. 

He throws himself down onto the wooden steps that lead up to the door, pulling out a cigarette. You hesitantly sit next to him. 

“I’m from an alternate dimension where Hawkins is fictional and all of this is just the plot of a TV show. I know what’s going to happen in the future, and I’m trying to fix things.”

“Kid—” 

“Last night you broke into the coroner’s office, knocked out a guard, and discovered Will’s body was a fake. Then you took wire cutters to the fence of the lab, snuck in, and broke into the quarantined area. You found evidence of a child living there, drawings and such. And you saw the gate. A giant, otherworldly tear, pulsing red and covered in slime. You sensed a presence in there with you, but were knocked out by people in hazmat suits. You woke up here about 10 minutes ago, and they made it look like you were on a bender. Am I right so far?”

“How the hell did you—”

“I told you, I’m from an alternate dimension,”

“From behind that gate?”

“No, though I wouldn’t be surprised if that was what brought me here. The gate leads to a dimension called the Upside Down. It’s where all the missing people have been taken: Will Byers, Dale and Henry-,”

“Dale and Henry are missing?”

“Oh shit, sorry. Powell and Callahan will be arriving in about 5 minutes to tell you that,”

Hopper looks at you like you’re deranged, taking several long drags of his cigarette before looking away. 

“This is real?” he asks, head down.

“Every word. Joyce Byers is right. Her son is alive and is trying to reach out to her through the lights. The lab is responsible and is scrambling to keep this contained. There is a monster stalking the woods by Mirkwood that is attacking people,”

“You call it Mirkwood too?”

“No, I just know that’s what the kids called it when they spoke to you,” You say, causing Hopper to run an exasperated hand down his face. 

He goes to respond before getting distracted by something over your shoulder. “You’ve gotta be kidding me…”

Powell and Callahan step out of the police car, observing Hopper’s dishevelled state and your presence with some confusion. 

“Jesus, Chief, you alright?” Officer Powell asks, looking him up and down.

“What are you doing here?” Hopper asks.

“We tried calling but-”

“Yeah, the phone’s dead.” Hopper says with a wince. That’s one way to say ‘I broke it apart with my bare hands looking for a listening device’.

Officer Callahan shifts uncomfortably. “Hey, so Bev Mooney came in this morning all upset, said that Dale and Henry went hunting yesterday and they didn’t come back home.”

Hopper’s head whips back around to you and you give him an ‘I told you so’ shrug.

“She thought they were on another binger,” Powell adds, “But she’s not so sure now,”

“I think this whole Will Byers thing has everyone on edge,” Callahan says.

“Where was this?” Hopper asks.

“At the station—”

“No, where did Dale and Henry go hunting?”

“Oh. Uh, out near Kerley,”

“Mirkwood,” you mutter. Hopper looks at you, stricken.

Powell gives you a questioning glance before Hopper starts giving orders: “Okay, you go back to the station. I’ll take care of this, alright?”

“Are you sure?” Callahan asks, hesitant.

“Yeah, leave it.”

The officers go to leave before Callahan pipes up again. “Oh, hey. Uh, the staties confirmed it was one of their troopers who found the Byers’ body last night,”

“Doing our damn job for us,” Powell adds.

“State, huh?” Hopper murmurs, turning to glance between you and the lake where he just threw the listening device.

“Hey, you sure you’re okay Chief?” Powell says.

“Never better,” Hopper intones, turning his back on his colleagues and effectively dismissing them. They get back into their car and drive off, clearly gossiping once the doors are closed. 

“You’re going to tell me everything you know,” Hopper orders, approaching you again on the stairs.

[sereinpetrichor]

weaving on our ends | Mature | 37.6K

Author: @sara-smiling | @sereinpetrichor | serein95 on Twitter/X

Artists: @strawberrysh0rk & @hawkinsleather | hawkinsleather on Twitter/X

Beta/Sensitivity Reader: @upallnightogetloki

Summary

In the era after Vecna and (hopefully) the end of Upside Down-related chaos, Steve Harrington picks up a hobby passed to him with love and care, honoring a found family tradition.

He finds peace in the art of crocheting: making things with his hands and sharing them with those he loves. From the adults who became the parental figures he never really had, to the kids who thrust themselves into his life and will likely never leave, along with the gang of misfits he calls his friends. Especially the one who is unexpectedly stealing his heart.

With each new crocheting project, Steve shows his love for them in all the ways he knows how and slowly learns how to receive it in return.

Or, the 5 crochet projects Steve gives to everyone + the 1 project he makes just for Eddie.

Project 287 | Fic on AO3

Digital Art & Photography/Crochet:

🖼 Prologue Comic: Learning to Crochet by @strawberrysh0rk

📷🧶 Steve's First Crochet, Eddie & Sue's Dishcloths, and Erica's Scarf by @hawkinsleather

📷🧶 Eddie's Dragonscale Gauntlets and Eddie's DM Dice Bag by @hawkinsleather

🖼 The Duality of Crochet by @hawkinsleather

📷🧶 Eddie's Sweater and Eddie's Bat & Blanket-in-progress by @hawkinsleather

🖼 The Steddie Blanket by @hawkinsleather

Bonus 🖼: Buckingham in Crochet by @hawkinsleather

Fic Information

Pairings: Steve Harrington/Eddie Munson

Side Pairings: Robin Buckley/Chrissy Cunningham, Wayne Munson/Claudia Henderson

Characters: Steve Harrington, Eddie Munson, Sue Sinclair, Robin Buckley, Chrissy Cunningham, Nancy Wheeler, Wayne Munson, Erica Sinclair, Jane "El" Hopper, Maxine "Max" Mayfield, Dustin Henderson, Jonathan Byers, Argyle, The Party, Hellfire Club, Barbara Holland

Trigger Warnings: none

Tags: Alternate Universe - Everyone Lives/Nobody Dies, Post-Canon Fix-It, Friends to Lovers, Slow Burn, Crochet, Steve Harrington Crochets, Steve Harrington Has a Crush on Eddie Munson, Chronic Pain, Idiots in Love, Robin Buckley & Steve Harrington & Eddie Munson Are Best Friends, Steve Harrington Has Absent Parents, so the Sinclairs unofficially adopt him, Steve Harrington Deserves Love, Steve Harrington's Love Language is Gift Giving, and Gift Making, 5+1 Things, Eddie Munson Lives, Unintentional Hand Kink, Eddie Munson Has a Hand Kink, Minor Original Character(s), Minor Robin Buckley/Chrissy Cunningham, Single Nancy Wheeler, Moving In Together, Sharing a Room, Sharing a Bed, Coming Out

[romanscoming]

”NO NEED TO BE JEALOUS SWEET BOY”

NEEDY!JEALOUS!SUB!JONATHAN BYERS x MEAN!BIMBO!DOM!BLACK!READER SMUT

BASE OFF OF THIS ASK

JOIN TAGLIST TO BE @'D.

TAGLIST | REQUEST | WATTPAD

I JUST NEED A FEW MORE @/'s FOR THE TAG-LIST, IF YOU DON'T WANT TO DO THE APPLICATION CAN YOU CAN ALWAYS COMMENT WHAT YOU'D LIKE TO BE TAGGED IN, LOVE YOU ALL, DONT FORGET TO SIGN UP OR COMMENT!!

WARNING !

r is a little mean not really but yk, dom!r/sub!j, calling self dumb/stupid, racist/sexist talk?, face riding, babying r and j, praising/downgrading kink, marking kink, claiming kink kinda?, j is insecure, a whole lotta jealousy, different positions, bubbly!r (BIMBO BEHAVIOR) ma'am/mama kink,, r is a little bit bipolar and hot-headed, r is in control for the most part, little bit of yandere Jonathan, pleasing and pleasure, pet names such as; good boy, sweet boy, baby, my love and mines.

YOU WERE IN THE HALLWAY OF HAWKINS HIGH, TALKING TO A FRIEND, Barbara Holland; you guys were talking about the last grades you've gotten in Mr. Rollins History class.

"Honestly, I might just go jump off of Bellwood Quarry.." you mumbled looking in your locket,

"Y/N don't say stuff like that." Barbara called out which made you feel even more dumb, you rolled your eyes.

"Right, sorry." You whispered with a attitude a bit, "I just hate his class, I'm starting to think he just pick on me.., what if he is a racist?" you started going on, "He probably can't stand seeing a black women be successful, you know-he could be a racist and a sexist!"

"I don't know about all of that, but maybe?"

Just as you closed your locket, and turned around you were met with a couple of popular boys,

"Hey Y/N?" the one named Riley started, as he friends followed behind him.

You rolled your eyes before looking at him and giving off a bubbly smile, "What do you want, Riley.."

He smirked your way before reaching a hand out to touch the fat exiting from your fishnets, you squirmed away from his touch before Barbara slapped his hands away.

"Don't you dare touch a girl without her permission."

He looked at her with angry eyes before he spat at her, "Who do you think your talking to, who even are you-leave."

You could tell by his voice he wasn't playing, he was dead serious.. you hoped and prayed that Barbara would stay and she did.

"Bara.. just go."

Just as you seen the fire in his eyes and his mouth about to open again you quickly pushed Barbara away telling her you’d met her in the cafeteria, which she disliked but did it anyways.

“Thank you, Y/N, I just wanted to ask you to help me with the essay.. right like you said you will.” He said soft but seriously, you sighed and nodded as he winked at you and kissed your cheek.

And then started to walk ahead.

Just as you let out a breath you turned to see Jonathan looking at you, sorrow eyes but filled with anger and disgust.

"Jonathan!"

Just as you called out his name he turned and looked at you for another second before moving along and rushing into a empty classroom.

You head went empty as dropped your book into your locker slam the mini-door and ran towards the classroom, "Jonathan?"

As you got walked further into the classroom where were a breath on your back causes all of the hairs on your body to raise.

"Jesus.. J you scared me!"

Just as you were turning around you felt him grab ahold of your hand, tightly twisting you around as you were met by his forehead press against yours.

"Hi, Jon." you said calm and sweetly, he pulled you closer wrapping his arms around you.

Laying his head on your shoulder as you giggle at the open mouth kisses he was laying onto your neck.

"Can you stop playing and let me know what's wrong?" you giggle to him as he is nose brushed off of your skin.

"Why does he always come and talk to you.. like sitting by you in class-aka my seat and kissing you cheek and winking at you??"

The questions sinked into your for a while, you started to realize his voice was breaking as he was till trying to stay calm but was getting angry and flustered at the thought of him with you.

"I don't know J.. I don't think it's that serious."

"No, no.. he can't-he's just trying to take you away from him." he said while looking down on the floor disgusted by you not noticing the little things..

"J?" you reached for his hand as he moved his away from yours.

You carried your hand towards his face cupping his cheeks as you forced him to look into your eyes.

"Jonathan.., baby?" his eyes were place all around the room as you were trying your best to get his attention, "Baby.. there is no need to be jealous sweet boy."

"No.. I want you to stay.. your mines?"

"I'm always yours, never still stop being yours." you said as he patted his cheek twice.

Just as the words came out your mouth you can see the more lovable and lust full up his eyes, he blinked once before pressing his forehead against yours once more.

His breathing increase as you wrapped your arm around his waist.

You always knew he loved to be babied and you were the only one to do that for me.

You breathed slowly watching him very closely almost forgetting how to breath as you caught a deep breath as his lips were finally touching yours.

You immediately respond to the kiss, pulling at his hair was he eyes shot back open just as his mouth did looking into your devil eyes.

Your fingers all attached to his scalp, as his hands gripped onto your shirt so closely wanting more of you and need it desperately.

Chuckling into the kiss even more as you gripped his shoulders and jump, lashing your legs around his waist as he quickly wrapped the arm around your hips holding you still.

Just as he was losing his balance to busy worked about you can craving more, he pushed desks together as you both fell on top of it, he stop caught his breath and crashed his lips against yours for the 2nd time, over and over on repeat,

Feeling him touch all upon your body you intended to giggle and laugh craving him just as much as he is craving you.

His kissed went from your lips to all over your neck, and on your collarbone, he pulled at your button-up shirt before looking up at you with his buried lips and a small smile.

You smiled and pulled him up to you kissing him lustfully on his lips before nodding, "Yes baby,, show me how much you want me to only be yours!"

He unbuttoned your shirt and gave you kiss on your chess and the middle of your breast before he asked you to lift up a little,

Just as you did what you were asked you felt his hands crawling on your body as he got your shirt fully off and unclipped your bra slowly before gripping onto your skirt and the liner of your fishnets.

You nodded once more before he kissed your belly button and your waistline dragging your skirt down your legs, making your squirm around at the exposer of your unclothed clit rubbing against the fishnets so closely which was most definitely leaving marks.

He backed away just as he admired your body for a minute or more, before taking off his shirt, and hovering over you as his belt was dropped to the floor.

Just as he gotten closer to you and kissed your stomach, you wrapped your legs around his shoulders.

"Mm..not that, you have to tell me what you want baby, okay?" you told him.

Jonathan just started to whine, as he tried to kiss the bottom half of your stomach once more but you trapped his hand.

All he could whimper and whine, he wanted to tell you so bad but no words were forming nor coming at.

"Jonathan." you called out to him just as his name but he just couldn't respond at all.

"Maybe, if I shove my pussy in your face you'll start speaking?" You questioned him just as he nodded a little, "Ain't that are J-baby?"

"You just a little pussy-drunk, sweet boy"

As the word came out of your mouth, you loosen up a bit, pushing Jonathan onto his knees and sliding your body to the edge to the table just as your legs were onto your shoulders.

His arms wrapped around my hips while licking your slit, looking up at you with pleasing eyes.

You moaned to him as you smiled and nodded as he sucked your clit, rocking your hips back and force on his face grinding that nub against his nose to add yourself more pleasure.

Back arching as his tongue entered you caused you both to moan as you pushed back against him.

Feeling yourself get closer and closer to your orgasm, your hands reach for his hair as you got him closer, pulling at his hair and all.

You were going to cum, and he knew you were as well.

"Im gonna cum.. honey oh goodness-where do you want it?" you asked in a whining whisper,

He moaned against your private before licking and sucking more wanting you to cum so badly.

“J-jonathan !” gripping onto his hair as you yelp, pulling him away.

“Stop being so naughty as answer me, okay..” you said harsh a bit as you seen him

He pouted looking up at you, as you slapped his face a little wanting him back to reality.

'Yes ma'am, sorry ma'am." he whimpered looking up at you as you smiled and move your hand from his red cheek to the top of his head.

He moaned at the patting of his head and the feeling of you messing and pulling at his hair, just for a moment staring at his glossy lips that were filled with you juices you had a idea.

"I'm gonna cum all over you face, okay baby?" you added as he nodded, "Maybe I'll even make you walk out this classroom with my juices upon your face, huh?"

He just moaned loudly at your words, trying to push himself back between you legs to hind his face, but you didn't let him at all.

"Please.. mama-sorry!" you smiled at his mistake and chuckle, before pulling him by his hair to face you.

"Say it again.." you whispered in his ear.

"Please?"

"No you know what I'm talking about, say it again or you won't cum." you demanded to him as he whimpered at the gripping of his hair.

"Im sorry mama.. Im sorry!"

You were in awe for a second, empty minded and do hungry for him now, "Get me to cum on your face right now, and then ill let you fuck me.. and maybe I'll cum in that mouth of your again after."

He slimed before kissing your shoulder and gripping you lower waist before pushing his darken dick against your unclothed cunt.

"Better get to work but you have blue balls."

Just as that was said you pushed him back down to his knees as he gripped your legs and thighs with one hand and the other he was palming himself, secretly but you didn't care.

You wanted to be mean and embarrass him with all of your cum on his face as he leaves out the room.

But then the other half of you wanted him to know he was yours and that you were only his and you loved him more then anything.

You mind could go empty and the only person that would still be in there is Jonathan he was your top idea, top accomplishment, he was your success, he was what you needed and what you want.

Your head fell back as you felt him rolling the fishnets around your clit as he sucked onto both, making you melt onto the desks.

"Close.. close!" You were closed to cumming and close to him bring the emptied minded bimbo out of you,

you just knew, and you could feel that this was going to be a mega orgasm.. you can tell by how he was eating you like a starving man.. you were going cum hard,, and mean it.

Just after your mind started going blink as you felt him slide two fingers inside of you curling them up repeatedly bring you closer to the climax.

"Please-Ahh! oh-oh Jonathan baby-oh my godddd! Aaaaghh~-" you grip his hair as you started to shake and grind onto his head, brushing his nose near your entrance and rolling off of the nub as he suck harsh and quickly onto your clit,

"Out.. Im gonna cum.. let me cum in on your face,, out-aaaaAh~~ please!" you moaned as your eyes gotten burry and you couldn't see nothing be Jonathan between your legs and the sounds of him lapping you up and down, quicker, faster and more and more.

He pulled his fingers out just as you told him, just as you came straight onto his face with a loud cry, with a mixture of a whimper and moan, so much pleasure just in a little amount of time.

You body fell back unto the table of the desk just as you groan from the pain, but moan at the pleasure as Jonathan was still lapping up all of your juice not leaving a single leak.

Just as you whined for him to give you a break you were in a different positive, 'mixed missionary',

As he kissed your neck, and upon your shoulder to your cheek, and then you lips you just wanted more and more.

"Please hurry.." and when that was said from you he pushed in cock into your warm wet and sloppy cunt.

Both of you feeling each others pulse, and moaning at the pleasure, one of your legs wrapped around his back, pushing him further inside of you,

While the other is wrapped up on his legs holding on tight as you hands are on his shoulders pulling him closer as they met once you get them around his upper chess.

Pressing his thin-harden nipped against your larger breast, adding more pleasure.

You kissed him as he quickly reposed by entering his tongue into your mouth, "Please.. mama-can I-ah~ mama please!"

He moaned into your mouth as you tap his tongue with yours, letting them both collide causes you both to moan and cling to each other more and more.

Jonathans placed his hand on the back of your head and make you tilt your head to the side a little, as you guys were full on French kissing, making out moaning back and forth into each others mouths.. pulling away closely as he held your head against his forehead,

needing to feel you breath, and see the pleasure in your eyes.

There were a few more peck here and there as he pull out, making you cling to nothing but a enough hole, just as he slams back into you making that moan come out very loudly as he laughed as your mouths brush against each other before doing it again.

You mind was going empty, you could think about anything, it was just the sound of skin slapping and the sight of Jonathan above you, pleasing you, and you letting him know you were all of his.

He didn't even bother going at a slow pace in the beginning he hit hard and fast thrusts, looking deeply into your eyes as he pressed another kiss upon your lips to make sure you were comfortable.

"God-Jonathan.., stop worrying about me-be a good boy and cum for your on good,, love ahh~!" you spoke soft to him as you kissed him once more, as he whimpered to you.

One last kiss before he place you head into his left hand and moved his right to add pleasure to your clit, you moaned and whined at the movement from under, and tried to push and run away.

"Please-ahh~ I don't think I can hold it... again.. again~ Aaaah~!" You babbled

You were going anything, your body started to twitch just as you called out for Jonathan he pushed back away from you just as you squirted onto your lower stomach and his dick and lower chess.

He moaned in surprise as he left you squeeze him inside of you pushing him deeper as the juices form you pussy leak and rushed onto him just as he thrusted more and you squirted more and more until you came onto his dick.

Jonathan head fell back as he pulled away, while pulling out and cumming onto your wet sweaty fishnets and belly.

"Did I do good mama?" he asked with sparkles in his eyes as you panted and nodded your head.

He sat your up, onto the edge of the desk once again as he gotten back onto his knees and kissed your thighs and biting wanting to mark you, and to hear you voice.

"I love you sweet boy.. okay?" you stated looking down at him, "Im yours and your mines,,"

He nodded his head as he opened his mouth waiting for you to do something, which you did.

You placed your fingers into your dripping hole, and took a scoop on before placing it into his place, letting him suck them clean.

"Open, my love.. open your pretty mouth for me." you said to him as he obeys, just as his mouth was fully open you spat into it smiling down at him as he melted into you thighs,

Just as you spat down your belly telling it travel to your wet cunt and placed two of your finger down to mix it in as you and Jonathan stared at each other the whole time.

_________

JS A FEW MORE @/S FOR THE TAGLIST, IF YOU DONT WHAT TO DO THE APPLICATION CAN YOU CAN ALWAYS COMMENT WHAT YOU'D LIKE TO BE TAGGED IN, LOVE YOU ALL, DONT FORGET TO SIGN UP OR COMMENT!!

ANY MISTAKES/MISSPELLS TELL ME.

[stevesxyellowxsweater]

Stay

PAIRING: Jim Hopper x gn!reader WC: 1200+ CW: MINORS DON'T INTERACT!! Swearing, jealousy, implied sex, reader is an fbi agent, unedited work. SUMMARY: You're sent to Hawkins to find out about the disappearance of Barbara Holland and Will Byers' death and resurrection. You find yourself hitting it off with the police chief, but it seems he's only interested in a one time thing. AUTHOR NOTES: This is just a simple bit of fluffy angst that I've been thinking about, it's unedited so please ignore mistakes. First time writing Hopper so enjoy.

Jim Hopper was a stubborn guy, it was a fact you knew all too well from the moment you became friends with the guy. You'd been in town looking into what had been happening with these disappearances and Jesus like comeback of Will Byers. The FBI had become very interested and sent you to investigate. Hawkins wasn't somewhere you'd expected to be, yet you found yourself there.

You'd sat in Hopper's office, the pair of you trying to be more stubborn than the other. You refusing to believe his answers and him trying hard to dodge your questions or giving you a pack of lies. He'd finally given up and sighed.

“We've been at this all day, can I buy you a beer?”

“That's the smartest thing you've said all day.”

That was how the friendship started, you sat in the bar together that night discussing your love for old westerns. Talking about his divorce and about your separation from your high school sweetheart, you discussed law enforcement, and when the night came to an end you both ended up in your hotel room making the beast with two backs.

Of course your supervisor was less than happy when you called the next day to report that you learnt nothing. Orders to stay there till you did were made very clearly and you found yourself stuck in Hawkins trying to interview everyone that seemed to be connected to Will Byers and Barbra Holland.

Since that night with Jim though, he became increasingly distant, always making up excuses so you couldn't talk to him, always saying he had things to do. 

He'd been dodging you for nearly a week when you discovered that the reason he was blowing you off constantly was because of Joyce Byers, you couldn't help but feel a twang of jealousy each and every time you heard her name, or saw her. 

They were close, maybe closer than close. All you knew was that you and Hopper were now one and done. Especially while Joyce was around.

You began to become frustrated, all the time you found yourself stuck in this stupid town, wanting to go back home. Whenever you went into Melvald’s and Hopper was there talking to Joyce you became increasingly irritated and eventually started to ignore them. Throwing down your stuff, paying for it without a word and leaving. 

It had been about four times that you'd done this when Hopper finally had enough and came out after you.

“Don't you think you're being a little childish?”

“Oh I'm being childish am I? Says the guy who has been avoiding me for nearly two months. I've been stuck here, which is your fault by the way!” 

“How exactly is it my fault that you keep reaching dead ends?”

“Because you won't talk to me! I need to finish my damn interview with you, but you're acting as if I'm going to jump on you if we do!”

“I've been busy.” 

“So I noticed Jim.” 

There was a bitterness to your tone as you looked at him, unimpressed and unhappy.

“Tomorrow, I will be at your office first thing so I can get this shit over with and leave this Damn town!”

“Fine!”

“Fine!” 

You stared at each other for a moment before storming away in different directions. Joyce stood inside the shop smirking as she watched you two.

“What was that about?” 

Bob asked, stepping inside and looking at Joyce.

“Young love.” 

Everything over the last two months had brought you to this moment, standing outside his cabin. You'd walked into the office bright and early to find he wasn't coming in today. Anger and annoyance bubbled inside you. You  stormed out, got in your car and drove to his place.

“Hopper!”

You'd wanted to be calm and collected, but the moment your knuckles touched the door you banged loudly and angrily.

“Open the damn door now!” 

You yelled through the wooden door.

“I know you're in there, this isn't funny. Open up now!”

The door opened and you stormed inside, you didn't even bother to look at him. 

“It's one thing keeping whatever happened here a secret. But keeping me here when you know I can't leave without some sort of report from you isn't fair!” 

You turned to look at him, his nose was red, his eyes glassy, and he had some sort of ugly blanket wrapped around his body keeping his chest warm. 

“Your sick.” 

“That right there is why you're in the FBI, so smart.” 

His voice was croaky and dripping with sarcasm, you couldn't help but find it hot even though he was very sick.

“Can you get out, I'll give you a report when I'm better.”

The door slammed practically in your face as he ushered you out, a soft sigh leaving your lips as you stood there. 

You couldn't deny the way your heart fluttered every time you were near him, couldn't deny that you enjoyed his scent, or the way he made butterflies flutter in your stomach. 

“Damn you Hopper.”

You left, only to come back armed with cold and flu medicines, vapor rub, soup, and a few other things to make him feel better. The look on his face had been a picture, shock and confusion as you pushed inside and placed down the cold and flu tabs. The Vapour rub, and everything else. 

“Take those, I'll get you some soup.” 

He stared for a minute or two, before he did as he was told. It had been a long time since Jim had been looked after when he was sick. Every single stubborn bone inside told him to tell you to go, but as he watched you he couldn't deny how badly he was enjoying watching you in his kitchen.

Placing down the soup as well as some fresh bread, you looked at him and smiled.

“You should eat up and then you should rest.”

There was an awkward air between the two of you as you stood there, he sat up and nodded only letting out a grunt before tucking into the soup.

“Feel better Jim.” 

Picking up your bag, you headed toward the door.

“Stay.”

His word caught you off guard, you froze too scared to look at him. He was busy slurping soup and you couldn't help but think you had imagined it. Shaking your head, you carried on walking.

“I said stay.”

It was clearer that time, so much so. Your heart fluttered as you turned to look at him. 

“Why?” 

Hopper took a breath, getting up he hunted around and found a piece of paper.

“Because I like you, and I don't want you to leave Hawkins.”

Walking over you took the piece of paper, you looked at the scribbled messages of him trying to explain how he felt and smiled.

“Joyce has been helping me to try and figure out how to tell you.”

“It's been two months, Hop.”

“I know, I'm a coward.” He said softly as he looked at you.

“You should eat your soup.”

“You should respond to my question.”

“It was more of a demand, Jim. Besides it took you two months to tell me, I'm sure I at least get till you finish your soup.”

Hopper smiled and sat back down, he looked at you and patted the chair beside him. You couldn't help but smile and dropped your bag on the floor and walked over to sit down. 

Once he'd finished his soup, he fell asleep. You kept yourself busy until he woke up and told you he was feeling better. But that didn't mean he got out of bed, simply that you joined him. 

[you-aint-gotta-pray-for-me]

Hell on Earth: Chapter 2

Masterlist

words: 2.5k

pairing: Steve Harrington x ex-friend!Henderson!reader (eventually romantic)

summary: With no word on the whereabouts of Barbara Holland, an unlikely friendship forms as a result of shared desperation and a need for answers.

timeline: set in season one right after Will goes missing

warnings: language, bending of canon, fic from reader's pov (3rd person will be there as well, will warn before a pov change if there is one)

a/n: 2nd chapter let's go!!! steve and (y/n) interaction yay, and we make a new friend so double yay to that, if you haven't read chapter 1 yet, now's the time babes. happy reading!

Reader POV

I wish I could say my night ended after I met Barb. I really do. Instead, I found my idiot brother’s bed empty when I got home, meaning he was out and about at midnight after I explicitly told him not to. I mean, I did expect this, so I don’t even know why I was disappointed. I groaned at the fact that I’d have to drive all the way back and look for him in the woods. Responsibility is kind of a bitch. Just as I was leaving my house to get to my car, I heard a window close shut. Busted. 

“Dustin Henderson. I gave you ONE job!”

Dustin froze mid-step, halfway through pulling off his sneakers. His eyes widened like a deer caught in headlights. “Shit.”

“Yeah, shit,” I said, crossing my arms. “What were you thinking? It’s the middle of the night! Where were you?”

He rubbed the back of his neck, looking anywhere but at me. “Nowhere. Just… hanging out.”

“In the woods?” I pressed, raising an eyebrow. “At midnight?”

“Okay, fine!” he blurted, hands shooting up defensively. “I don’t know what you expected me to do, (y/n),” he argued.“I couldn’t just sit here doing nothing.”

I sighed in defeat and looked away. “Well?”

“Well, what?”

“Did you find anything?”

“Nothing of importance. Just useless stuff, the usual.” Lies. Complete lies. I see right through you, Dustin Henderson. 

I nodded, faking satisfaction at his miserable attempt at convincing me. 

“Go to bed. And if I catch you sneaking around next time,” I warned, hoping he took the hint. 

“Yeah, yeah. Wait that just means I don’t have to get caught.”

“Dustin.”

“I’m out.” 

I stood there for a moment, watching as Dustin disappeared into his room, shutting the door behind him with the kind of finality that made it clear I wasn’t getting anything else out of him tonight. Typical. 

I headed to my room and locked the door, but sleep didn’t come easily. My mind was already racing with a million little things that were troubling me. No word of what happened to Will, the cycle on Mirkwood, Dustin’s terrible attempt at lying, Barb all alone. It was all too sudden, you know? It feels like a premonition. Something waiting to go wrong. I guess I’ll just have to see. 

~

The next morning at school, I was still in a fog when I rounded the corner to my locker and nearly walked straight into Steve. Of course, that’d happen, seeing how the universe loves me.

“Watch it, nimrod,” he said, walking past me and not even turning around to look at who he almost bumped into. The audacity of some people, I swear to god.

I shot him a glare and replied with the fakest sincerity I could muster. “I’m sorry, your highness. I didn’t see you there.” 

He turned around when he heard my voice. “Oh, you,” he muttered like he was finally registering who I was.

I raised an eyebrow. “Disappointed to see me, yeah?”

He winced. “No, I didn’t- wait, no, that didn’t come out right. What I meant was... I didn’t know it was you, okay? We haven’t- I’ve mis- I, uh,”

“Just watch where you’re going, Harrington.”

“Oh, we’re on a last-name basis now?”

“We’re on a no-name basis now. Leave me alone.” As much fun as it used to be, the banter and the back and forth, he wasn’t the same guy anymore. And as much as I missed him, I was not giving him the satisfaction of being in my company.

“I was looking for you,” he blurted, with a sudden seriousness in his voice while walking back toward where I was standing. Wait, what? 

I narrowed my eyes. “Are you sure you have the right person? My name is (Y/n). (Y/n).”

“Don’t- Don’t do that. Come on.” 

“I’m sorry I just thought you wouldn’t remember who I was. It’s not like we’re friends, right?” I asked, mentally shuddering at how cold that sounded. Damn, (y/n), didn’t know you had it in you. 

Steve hesitated, visibly uncomfortable with my bluntness, but he didn’t back down. “Look, I know things between us aren’t… I’m not a uh,” he hesitated, scratching the back of his neck. “But that’s not exactly what I wanted to talk about.”

I gave him a skeptical look. “Oh? And what exactly did you want to talk about?”

“Look, I know you’re mad at me and all. But is throwing my gift to you in my swimming pool really the best course of action? I mean, it’s a low blow, don’t y-”

“Back up, what?”

“Your copy of The Shining. I found it in my pool this morning.” 

Steve handed me a soggy, waterlogged book, the edges curling up like it had just been through a hurricane. The familiar cover, the same one I had given to Barb the night before, was barely recognizable beneath the damage.

My fingers froze on the wet, warped pages. I stared at him, then back at the book, trying to make sense of what was happening. “What the hell, Steve?” I muttered, still in disbelief as I skimmed through the damp pages. My mind raced. Barb. That was the same damn book I’d handed her.

“Okay, judging by your reaction I am going to guess you did not put it there, which means you either lost it, which I get, you know, common mistake, or you gave it to someone, which I have to admit, hurts a little bi-”

“Steve shut up.”

“Okay,” Steve muttered, clearly thrown off by my reaction.

The hallway was nearly empty, the only sound being the faint hum of lockers creaking and students murmuring in the distance. It felt strangely quiet, like time had slowed for just a moment. I wasn’t sure if it was the empty space or just the gravity of the situation, but my stomach tightened.

“When did you find it?”

“This morning. Why, what’s wrong?” His eyes narrowed, and for once, he wasn’t smirking or trying to play it off. Something in his tone shifted- he seemed genuinely concerned now.

“I gave this to Barb,” I said, my voice quieter this time, more uncertain. I didn’t know why, but my stomach dropped even lower. Something didn’t sit right.

“Nancy’s friend Barb?” Steve asked, his eyebrows furrowed in confusion.

“Yes,” I answered, frustration creeping in. “Was she there when Nancy left this morning?” My voice came out almost in a whisper, like I was afraid of the answer.

“No, Nancy left last night. Alone. I just assumed she left a bit before.” 

“Only she didn’t leave. She was waiting for Nancy.”

“Wait, Nancy mentioned something. She called the Hollands this morning.”

“And?”

“I don’t think Barb went home last night.” Steve’s response felt like a punch to the gut. Barb never came home. I swallowed hard, my throat tightening. Something was off– way off– and now, it seemed like we were all tangled up in something bigger than either of us realized.

“(Y/n), is everything okay?”

“Steve, I think Barb’s missing.”

~

I raced home after school as soon as I could. I tried Holland’s place once more just for good measure. No luck. This meant that Barb really was missing, and just the thought made me shudder. How long after I left did she go missing? Was she in danger? Could I have stopped it if I had waited a little longer? Worse, Could it have been me? 

The only way I was getting any answers was if I went looking for it, and the only way for me to do that was to start by asking someone who may already have some.

I hesitated for a moment, then dialed Nancy’s number.

“Yeah, Is this the Wheeler’s? I’m looking for Nancy.”

“This is Nancy. Who am I speaking with?”

“Nancy, hey, this is (Y/n) from school,” I said, trying my best not to sound as awkward as I felt. How are you supposed to keep it together while talking to someone you’ve never talked to before? God. I was just happy this was happening over the phone.

“Oh! Hey, how can I help you?” she asked, trying her best to sound less confused.

“Yeah, listen,” I cleared my throat. “Have you heard from Barb lately? I– I’ve been trying to reach her, but no one seems to know where she is. I just... I’m really worried.”

There was a long pause on the other end.

“No, I haven’t.” Nancy’s voice grew more serious. “(Y/n), I think Barb’s missing. I’ve been trying to get some answers, but so far everything’s a dead end.”

I felt a wave of relief mixed with dread. At least I wasn’t the only one worried.

“Yeah, I was kind of hoping you’d know something I didn’t,” I said quietly. 

“Do you know anything? When was the last you heard from her?”

I debriefed her about the notes, the pool, and the book and caught her up until this morning, and to my horror, Nancy Wheeler, who I had had a full conversation with barely 2 times before today broke down crying over the phone. I was not trained for this. Oh God. 

“This was my fault. This was all my fault. I–”

“Nancy–  Nancy, breathe.”

“I mean, what was I thinking? I forced her to come, I just– I– Oh, god. I did this. I–”

I rushed to calm her down, my heart pounding. Nancy’s voice was cracking, like it was going to break any second, and I couldn’t even begin to imagine what she was feeling right now. But I had to try. Barb was missing. That was the real thing to focus on, not guilt. Because if both of us go down that rabbit hole, there was no coming out.

“Nancy, listen to me,” I said, trying to steady my own breathing. “It’s not your fault. You had a momentary lapse. It’s fine. It happens. We don’t know what really happened yet. We’re going to figure this out. We’ll find her. Okay? Breathe.”

There was a sharp intake of breath from her end, followed by a shaky sigh. She tried to compose herself, but it was clear how rattled she was.

“I just… I should’ve told her to stay home. I should’ve done something.” She sniffled, and it twisted something inside me hearing her so vulnerable.

“You can’t change what happened,” I said, my voice firm, even though I was feeling just as lost as she was. “But you can help find her now. That’s what matters.”

There was a moment of silence, and I could hear her trying to pull herself together.

“Right,” she finally said, her voice quieter now, but still full of that underlying resolve I’d come to recognize. “Right. We need to find Barb. That’s what matters.”

“Exactly.” I took a deep breath, mentally bracing myself. “Now, do you know anyone who might have seen her? Or... anything that could help?”

“I’m trying to put the pieces together,” Nancy said, her tone more controlled now, though it still held a hint of fear. “But I need someone to help me look into it. If you’re serious about this, I could use the extra set of eyes.”

“I’m in,” I said, without hesitation. “We’ll figure this out. Together.”

“I’m glad you called,” Nancy whispered. “I don’t know what to do without someone else to help me right now.”

“I’ve got your back,” I said, my voice steady, even though my insides were churning. “Let’s go get Barb home.”

There was a pause before Nancy spoke again, her voice determined now. “We will. We have to.”

~

I didn’t get much sleep after my call with Nancy. Between replaying her words and trying to piece together Barb’s last known whereabouts, my brain was in overdrive. By the time I got to school the next morning, I was running on nothing but adrenaline and bad coffee.

Nancy was waiting by her locker when I arrived, looking just as sleep-deprived as I felt. Her eyes were red, like she’d spent most of the night crying, but there was a new resolve in her expression.

“Hey,” she said quietly when she saw me.

“Hey,” I replied, matching her tone. “Any updates?”

She shook her head, biting her lip. “No. But I have an idea.”

I leaned against the locker next to hers, crossing my arms. “I’m listening.”

“Jonathan said Mrs Byers thinks a creature took Will. Something not human.”

“That’s… concerning.”

Nancy glanced around, lowering her voice. “Get this. Jonathan was taking pictures at Steve’s party that night.”

I frowned. “Jonathan? What was he doing at the party?”

“Unimportant. The point is, we have pictures,” she said, hoping I’d pick up on what she was implying. 

“Wait, that’s great, if Barb went missing the same way Will did, that might tell us something.”

“Exactly. As soon as we piece them together, we may actually have something.”

“Why are they in pieces?” I asked, confused.

“Fine, if you must know, Jonathan took some compromising pictures of me that may or may not have ended up in Steve’s hands which resulted in, well, these,” she said, pointing to the torn pictures, “and a broken camera.”

“... My God.”

Nancy’s words hung in the air like the aftermath of a storm, her cheeks faintly flushed with embarrassment. She fidgeted with the strap of her bag, avoiding my gaze for a moment before forcing herself to look up.

“I know how it sounds,” she added quickly, her voice edged with defensiveness, “but he wasn’t being a creep. Not really. He’s just— he was trying to figure out what happened to Will. He thought… I don’t know. Maybe the pictures could help.”

The weight of her words hit me like a punch to the gut. “You really think it’ll show that thing?”

“I think it’s the only real lead we’ve got.” Her voice was firm now, steady despite the emotion flickering in her red-rimmed eyes. “But I wanted to tell you first. Before we did anything with them.”

I crossed my arms, taking a deep breath. The logical part of me screamed this was messy, risky, and wrong. But the desperate part of me, the part that wanted answers just as much as she did, couldn’t ignore the possibility.

“Okay,” I said finally. “Let’s see what you’ve got.”

Nancy exhaled, relief softening her features for the briefest of moments before she handed me the torn photos. “Thank you,” she whispered. “I swear, we’ll make this right.”

And as I held the pieces in my hands, I realized we were both in way over our heads—but at least we weren’t alone.

[panandinpain0]

Me When I Schedule Things

Expect these oneshots/requests to be posted by:

Friday September 22:

Hermione Granger x Female!Slytherin!Reader

Hermione x Reader (Currently Planning, so details are TBD)

Hermione Granger x Female!Slytherin!Reader (Yes, another one)

Ron Weasley x Male!Ravenclaw!Granger!Reader (Another!)

Ron Weasley x Male!Ravenclaw!Granger!Reader (Teehee :3)

Saturday September 23:

Draco Malfoy x Male!Reader

Blaise Zabini x Male!Reader (Connected to my Ron series)

Harry Potter x GN!Reader

Ron Weasley x Male!Reader (seperate from series)

Luna Lovegood x Male!Reader

Sunday September 24:

Cedric Diggory x Male!Reader

Edward Cullen x Female!Reader

Jasper Cullen x Male!Reader

Steve Harrington x Male!Reader

Barbara Holland x Male!Reader (Platonic <3)

I'm hoping to do this more often, or at least every other week. I really need to clear out my inbox 😅

WRITER'S BLOCK CAN NEVER HOLD ME BACK

(I may fall a little short of these lists, but I dream big, don't fight me.)

-Author Max <3

[thewordswewrite]

Lonely Is Our Lives

Chapter 5 - Love Gun

Pairing | Billy Hargrove x Fem!Reader

!!VERY IMPORTANT A/N!! | I want to preface this by saying I DO NOT condone Billy’s actions throughout the series. I DO NOT condone his violence or abuse, ESPECIALLY against Lucas but also including Max and the others. At the time season two came out in 2017, nearly FIVE years ago at the time I'm writing this, I was very angry and frustrated at the world, resentful of a younger sibling, and disconnected from the people around me so I kind of latched onto Billy as a character and what he represented. I absolutely DID NOT understand what his actions against Lucas truly meant and I DID NOT register it as the racism it was. Knowing what I know now I've decided to write a fic where Billy is able to let go of some of his anger and have someone there to check him and his actions in order to set him on a better path. I wrote this for me as a bit of a redemption fic for both of us.

Playlist | Link | Chapter Four: Songs 17-20

Story Summary | One fateful 1983 night you narrowly escape death on Steve Harrington’s property while Barbara Holland is presumed dead. Left jaded and angry, you carry on towards your senior year in a haze of sex, drugs, and alcohol just to get through the day. But, when Billy Hargrove moves to Hawkins, Indiana during the fall of 1984 things get worse before they get better.

Chapter Summary | Things between you and Billy come to a head as the anniversary of Barb’s death nears, inviting the ghosts of your pasts to get in the way of dictating your futures.

Story Warnings | explicit language, angst, abusive parents, smut 18+ minors DNI, heavy drug and alcohol usage, alcohol/drug abuse, implied physical abuse, injuries

W/C | 5k

Taglist | @youcantbesirius  @xronniexo  @zzokks  @marihoneywk @darlingjae @lem0ns7​ @curlycarley​​

A/N | LISTEN I KNOWWWWW!!! I know this is so ridiculously, idiotically late like by a year but I’ve been in college and had a surgery and my mom had two surgeries and we wrote The Drought of an Ocean and a lot of life things happened but its here and this is it. So PLEASE enjoy! -Smoe<3

Donations | Link

|Masterlist|  |Chapter One|  |Chapter Two|  |Chapter Three|  |Chapter Four|

Your feet ached as you stood watching the game before you. Raucous cheers and the stench of sweat filled the air around you as your gaze caught Steve’s on the court. Hawkins was losing and you could tell by the strain on your best friend's forehead that the continuous defeats were taking a toll on him. You’d been talking to Steve more, on and off but it wasn’t the same as it was before the Halloween party. Nancy was never around, typically hanging around Jonathan Byers and Steve had been glued to the kids even more so than normal, leaving you alone. 

But you were never really alone with Billy hanging around. The smell of Marlboro’s clung to your jackets and a stray t-shirt that didn’t fit quite right found its home on your bedroom floor. Billy started opening up about his mom and even Max when you were together and the fleeting silences between the two of you had gone from awkward to comfortable.

“Come on, Steve!” You roared to where he stood behind the three point line, ball in hand. 

But his confidence wavered and he missed. The team lost the rebound and Billy knocked into Steve, nearly bulldozing him over. Billy’s aggression was nothing new but it irked you to no end when he took it out on Steve.

Lakewood High made their final layup as the buzzer rang around the gym and once again Hawkins Boy’s Basketball took a loss. The gym started clearing out and the basketball teams went to their respective changing rooms leaving you to wait for Steve. The bleachers were empty and you sat at the bottom, flicking your lighter as you stared expectantly at the locker room door.

From inside you could hear the faint sounds of yelling and assumed it had something to do with  the result of the game. All teenage boys had a temper but, when you threw Billy Hargrove in the mix, he dialed it up to eleven. Suddenly the door slammed open and Billy stormed out, his nose bloody and eyes wild. Your gaze met his and a tense moment passed before you raised your eyebrows in a well-rehearsed bored question. Billy’s stare sharpened and he clenched his fingers around the strap of his backpack and turned, exiting the gym without so much as a word.

You rolled your eyes at the display and stood when Steve finally exited the locker room sporting a new shiner on his cheek. It didn’t  take much to put two and two together so you simply smiled.

You pulled Steve into a quick hug before shoving him, “Guess you finally learned how to punch back.”

“Yeah well, I figured if he’s gonna be sticking around I might as well,” Steve smirked at you.

“He’s not sticking anywhere. I don’t know what you’re talking about,” You defended, crossing your arms over your chest as the two of you began to walk out of the gym to the parking lot. “You played well today,”

“No, I didn’t,” Steve hesitated for a moment. “How are you feeling about the anniversary?”

 “Bad.” You deadpanned.

You weren't interested in continuing the conversation so you let your curt response hang in the air. Steve looked uncomfortable and you couldn’t miss the twinge of sadness in his eyes. You ignored the familiar ache in your chest that started and ended with his concern but refused to relent.

“I wish you wouldn’t do that. You could always talk about it,” Steve offered. “To me, or…whoever.” You knew he meant well but you were sick of talking, of thinking about it. As soon as your shoulder stopped aching and you got out of Hawkins, you’d never have to think about it again.

You were sitting in Steve’s passenger seat waiting to be whisked away to a burger and some fries but still he stood in the parking lot staring at you. “I don’t know who you think ‘whoever’ is but I’d appreciate it if you dropped the subject altogether.” You slammed the door closed and sighed.

Steve climbed in his side, throwing his bag to the backseat and turning the keys in the ignition. “Fine. I’ll drop it but if you start getting worse…” He trailed off, backing out of his spot.

“Yeah, yeah, I got it.”

~ ~ ~

The week leading up to the anniversary was rough. 

You knew they would’ve been no matter what but compounded by the impending dread you felt, Billy had been noticeably distant and had even started in on Steve over something dumb during gym, resulting in a fist fight that landed them both in detention. You were mad at Billy for getting in a fight with Steve but you were even more angry that he’d completely iced you out.

Before, you wished constantly that Billy would up and leave you alone, regretting your decision to instigate what you did at that damn Halloween party, but his absence left you annoyed. What right did he have to come and go as he pleased?

It shouldn’t matter to you, not at all, but you’d grown comfortable, almost unknowingly reliant on his presence and you were upset. Upset and alone and drunk. It was a Thursday afternoon in early November and you’d been drinking since ten in the morning after you’d tried and failed to fall back asleep. You were sat in front of a mirror in nothing but a thin tank top and shorts, staring at your body and drinking. Damn, you’d become your father.

A watery laugh escaped through your lips as you were sipping from a bottle of vodka, spilling the liquid over yourself. You stared at your reflection then, and looking back was a girl whose eyes were sunken and dull, her hair a mess, tears streaming down her face, and all you could see was your future. This was all you could ever be, after what happened to you nothing was the same and it never would be, you’d been able to accept that. Why couldn’t everyone else just-

A knock sounded from downstairs, but you ignored it. Probably the mail. You took another swig of your bottle when the knock came again, an incessant banging that was working its way behind your eyes, urging on a headache. You grunted as you stood up, bottle still clutched tightly in your hand as you made your way downstairs to the door.

You only had the chance to unlock it before someone was barging their way into the house. Blinking a few times to rid the remaining tears from your eyes, you recognized the intruder.

“What are-what are you doing here?” Your speech sounded slurred and it wasn’t until then you realized how drunk you must’ve been.

“What the fuck happened to you?” Billy’s eyebrows were scrunched as his gaze raked over you, pausing at where your tank top exposed you. “Why aren’t you at school?”

“I could ask you that too,” You walked over to your couch and plopped down. “Skipper.” You heard the familiar gait of Billy’s boots along your hardwood floors and huffed at his persistence.

“I was looking for you.” He deadpanned, staring down at you, though his eyes kept drifting to your shoulder.

You heaved a watery sigh and took another sip of the bottle. “Listen, I’m not exactly in the mood to-” You hiccup, “fuck right now so you can go.” You threw your arm across your face, trying to block out the light that was starting to make your head pound.

You didn’t understand why he was here. It wasn’t as if you were together and even if you were, Billy Hargrove didn’t seem the type to show up at your house just because you missed a day of school. The thought caused the space in the back of your eyes to feel as abused as a pin cushion quickly leading to full blown tears as you tried to hold back sobs.

“I don’t-” Billy stuttered in front of you. “What’s the problem?” You could sense he was closer now, probably crouching next to your head based on his voice. 

You couldn’t seem to conjure up an answer though, unable to tell him about the Upside Down or the monster that ruined your life and took another, but the worst part was that it wasn’t even really about that. It wasn’t even that a year ago today Barbara Holland died clawing at your arms and begging for help or that your arm was nearly torn from your body and you were still recovering. No, it was because you lived and no one seemed to care. You were the third wheel to your only friends, who’ve since broken up, and left you for the company of actual children, and your only true family, your father, was never around and when he was, did nothing more than harass you. The only person who saw you on a daily basis had become your fuck-buddy. But you couldn’t even begin to explain all that.

“I’m ugly.”

“What?” Billy questioned, his previously almost gentle voice turned sharp.

“Go away. I don’t want you here,” You pleaded, looking at him through tears in your eyes.

“You’re acting like this cause of some scar?” He seemed incredulous, almost inspecting you with his eyes. “That's it?” He let out a sardonic laugh and you began to fume.

“‘That's it?’” you parroted. “Look at me! I almost died, Barb did! Barb did and I couldn’t save her…” You had started out screaming but your voice died out as memories flashed in your head.

Billy’s face was clouded as he took the bottle you were still clutching in your hand and set it aside. Your eyes were unfocused as they tracked him moving around the room, picking through blankets until he found the one he knew was your favorite and tossed it to you. He took a heavy seat next to you, bouncing a bit when he did, and hesitantly inched his leg towards you until your thighs touched. You were tired, too tired to continue to try to fight him so you let it all happen and spread the blanket across yourself, the plush fabric soft between your fingers.

Your eyes were drooping now that the adrenaline was out of your system and you couldn't help but let your head lull onto the warmth of Billy’s shoulder as your eyes fluttered shut. You weren’t sure how long the two of you sat there in silence, but you faintly registered the synchronized rise and fall of your chests.

“What happened to you?” Billy’s voice broke the peace, but you’d very nearly dozed off and decided to let him think you had. “I know you’re not sleeping.”

A sigh involuntarily slipped past your lips and you were officially caught. Through your drunken, exhaustion-induced haze, you tried to explain. “Last year, I was invited to Steve’s house to hang out with some friends,” you started. “And there was an…attack,” you felt yourself getting worked up and removed yourself from Billy, immediately missing the heat he provided. “Tommy and Carol had gone to fuck and Steve finally got Nancy up to his room so it was only Barb and me left,” You sniffed deciding to choose your next words carefully. “I was…different back then. I was ‘King Steve’s’ friend, and we didn’t associate with people like Barb, but Nancy did so we let her tag along.”

“‘King Steve’ huh?” Billy mocked, slinging his arm across the back of the couch, deliberately not touching you.

“We were all different back then,” You sighed. “Barb cut her hand trying to shotgun a beer and they told us that's what attracted the–the bear.”

“And that’s what did this?” He asked, his finger dancing above your scar, not daring to touch you.

You nodded, rubbing at your eyes with little care. “I tried to help but it took her and did this.”

“Where was ‘King Steve’ during all this?” Billy’s voice was that of thinly veiled annoyance which sparked your own.

“In his room with Nancy, but it wasn’t their fault,” You were quick to insist. “So, Barb died and I screamed and bled out until someone heard me. The end.”

You were thoroughly done with the conversation and grabbed the remote, switching on the TV to make your point. You wished you didn’t when scenes of The Evil Dead started playing and you shivered, causing Billy to finally slide his arm from the back of the couch to your shoulders, and gently, as if in question, pulled you to him.

“You’re not ugly.”

~ ~ ~

“Fuck!” You awoke all at once, neither slowly nor calmly, not to the steady thrum of Billy’s heartbeat but by said boy ripping himself off the couch.

Blearily, you stretched, glancing at the clock on the wall all the while trying to stomp down the urge to throw up. You watched as Billy tried to hastily tie his shoes but his fingers were clumsy giving you a childish sort of pleasure at his failure.

“I fell asleep.” It was the only thing you could think to say after all that happened the night before and embarrassment flushed your cheeks. You’d admitted to him nothing that everyone else in the town didn’t already know but you’d been drunk and cried, and for some reason let Billy sit on your couch through it all.

“I need to leave. Before my–I just need to leave,” He was quick to get the words out but you caught his stumble.

“Before your what?”

Billy paused, looking at you through his curls before going back to his task. “Don’t worry about it, I just need to leave.”

“Is it the same reason you’re beat up all the time?” You asked, trying to sound nonchalant. It shouldn't matter to you what goes on behind the closed doors of the Hargrove home but somehow in the few weeks you’d known him, Billy had wormed himself into the select group of people you cared about.

“Drop it.”

Billy stormed out of your house, the door slamming shut behind him and rattling the walls. It was coming up on six-thirty and you needed to get ready for school, despite your hangover; if your father got wind that you’d been skipping while he was away, you’d have hell to pay.

By the time you were rolling into Hawkins High’s parking lot, your headache had dulled and you were itching to see Billy. It was an uncomfortable feeling you were taking in stride, having decided to accept where this boy fit into your life. A spot was left open for you next to the familiar blue Camaro and, with ease, you pulled in before quickly exiting your vehicle and plopping yourself down in Billy’s passenger seat.

“I see you’re doing just fine,” You take his face in your hand, turning his head left and right, inspecting for injuries. Billy let you do this for no more than three full seconds before slapping your hand off him.

“He wasn’t home.” It seemed to be the only explanation you were going to get if the obstinate look on Billy’s face, compounded by the way he was digging around in his center console for his smokes, was any indication.

“That’s a good thing though, no?” You asked, offering one of your own cigarettes with one hand while smoking one with the other. Billy looked up briefly and scrunched his nose in refusal before going back to his search. “I thought you liked these.”

He shrugged. “I like how they smell. I hate the taste.”

“You’ve never even smoked one before,” You retorted.

Finally Billy pulled out his Reds, shaking them before plucking one from the pack and placing it between his lips. “You have though, and more often than not, baby, my mouth’s on yours.”

“Then why haven’t you said–that’s not the point here actually,” You huffed at both his admission and the fact you’d gotten so off topic. “Isn’t it a good thing he wasn't home? Time to cool off?”

Billy laughed, hollow and short, at the question. “It’ve been better just to get it over with this morning.”

Distantly behind you, the five-minute bell rang, ending your morning ritual and effectively cutting off your conversation. Billy swiftly exited his car, locking it as your own door slammed shut after you, and, as you walked together to the school’s entrance, a leather clad arm found its way around your waist. You debated shrugging him off but in spite of yourself, you let him–by all intents and purposes–stake his claim.

You caught Steve looking at you from his locker as you walked in so, dangerously, you veered yourself, and by proxy Billy, towards him.

“Stevie,” You greet him, a warning in your eyes. “You guys ready for the game tonight?” Glancing up you could see Billy staring down your best friend and you struggled to suppress a sigh.

“As ready as I can be,” Steve's eyes slid from yours to Billy’s and you tensed up, waiting for a confrontation to break out.

You couldn’t say if Billy noticed your worry or if he was already bored with the conversation but you were relieved when he simply tightened his hold on your waist for a second before letting go entirely. The moment was short lived when Billy suddenly clapped Steve on the shoulder, his fingers obviously digging into the flesh of Steve’s shoulder.

“Going for a win tonight, huh, Stevie?” The tone Billy used was nothing but mocking and before you could stop him, he dropped his hand and pushed past Steve, knocking shoulders with the other boy.

Steve wasted no time gaping at you in betrayal. “You’re with him now?”

“It just happened. He…showed up yesterday and stayed the night.” A disappointed sigh escaped your lips as you rubbed your forehead. “It was bad. I was drunk and disgusting and I told him the safe version of what happened and he stayed.”

Steve’s eyes were wide with disbelief as he floundered for words, “I’m sorry I wasn’t there but…I guess I’m glad he was.”

Billy wasn’t what you expected, or more so he was exactly what you expected but undercut with something you never would have guessed he was capable of. He’d been there for you on, no doubt, one of the hardest days of your life, so you decided he deserved some credit. He also deserved someone to be there for him.

“Yeah, me too.”

~ ~ ~

You needed to talk to him. The entire basketball game Billy had played like a man possessed, flattening every player in his path, whether on the opposite team or otherwise. Somehow, Billy’s playing and the uneasy truce between him and Steve had led the team to a much needed victory. During the game, you noticed a sullen looking Max, who you found out from Steve, had been sucked into the whole Upside Down situation by the boys. Subtly, you made your way over to her after the game had ended and the team left for the locker room.

“Hey, red,” You called her attention, “Stevie told me you’re caught up?”

Her eyebrows furrowed for a moment and you were struck by how similar she looked to Billy despite not being blood. Her face cleared when she seemed to realize what your words meant and immediately looked uneasy. Her eyes shot to your concealed shoulder and you felt yourself deflate a bit.

“Yeah, him and the stalkers told me everything. Does–does Billy know?”

You’re caught off guard by the question but immediately shake your head. “No, I told him what everyone else thinks happened: bear attack.” You sigh at the idea of him going home to his father tonight. “Are you getting a ride home from your brother?”

Her face morphed into disgust at the word ‘brother’ but she nodded. “I didn’t want to walk in the rain.”

“Do you think Steve could give you a ride home instead?” You asked, hopeful. Once again disgust marred her face but you were quick to rectify. “I just need to talk to him, about maybe getting…help.” You gestured to your face, circling it with your finger.

Understanding lit up her face and she nodded hastily. “I can get a ride with Steve.”

“Great.”

The two of you stood together awkwardly though it wasn’t long before Steve reappeared from the locker room and despite being confused by the request, walked outside with the red-head in tow. Billy on the other hand took his time, likely exhausted after the way he played, leaving you the last person left in the gym. His eyes first landed on you but searched the gym once he noted your presence.

You prepared yourself for the anger that was likely to follow your admission and spoke. “I sent her home with Steve.”

“You what?”

“Relax. He’s been watching the kids all year and I wanted to talk to you,” You hoped he would listen to you rather than storm out, leaving you feeling stupid for trying.

He huffed but seemed to calm down quickly, walking over to you slowly. “Fine. It's not like it’ll matter how late I am at this point.”

You sincerely hoped that was true when you held out your hand, by far the most domestic thing you’ve ever offered him. Tentatively, he took it and the two of you strode outside to your cars but rather than walk around to the passenger side you stopped in front of the driver’s and raised your eyebrows expectantly.

“Please?” Billy looked ready to protest but immediately deflated at your plea and tossed you the keys over the hood.

The car thrummed under your touch as you started the ignition and you suddenly understood why Billy loved it so much. Without any sort of exchange, you drove to the Quarry, knowing from experience the overlook was a place that offered some sort of reprieve. With the car parked and Billy looking at you expectantly, you figured you needed to tell him why you were out here.

“I need a cigarette for this,” You cringed when you realized you’d left your pack in your car and dragged your eyes over to the unamused boy in the passenger seat. “Can I bum one?”

Billy rolled his eyes and popped the glove compartment, tossing you an unopened carton of Djarum Specials. “Here.”

“Thanks,” You smiled to yourself as you opened the pack and lit yourself a cigarette, relishing in the dull buzz. You only had a moment of happiness before you steeled yourself and prepared for immediate rejection. “I think you need to talk to Hopper.”

Billy went rigid, all movement halting to instead look at you. “The police chief?”

You ignored his tone and soldiered on. “I don’t want you accidentally falling asleep at my house to land you in the hospital.”

“I can’t do that,” Billy had grabbed your wrist and was desperately searching your eyes. “You can’t do that. You have to promise me.”

“Billy, I–” You started to refuse but he cut you off.

“Nothing will change, he’ll just pack us up again and I’ll end up in some other hick town.” He reached to snatch the keys from the ignition but you pulled them out yourself and held them away.

“Again?” You urged him to continue.

Billy’s eyes were wild, like an animal cornered. “Back in California, someone snitched and I ended up here.”

“But you said…” Max, you realized, thinking back on your conversation outside the record shop. “That’s why you’re so horrible to her?”

“If she would’ve just kept her mouth shut we both would’ve been fine. Now…” He trailed off obviously revealing more than he planned.

You felt your heart pounding in your chest, the rhythm muffling your thoughts as you stared at Billy. She already didn’t want him in that house but now Max was just another innocent bound to be corrupted by the hands of Mr. Hargrove.

“You have to know this isn’t okay,” You pleaded.

“You think I don’t?” He had let go of you some time ago and was now running a ragged hand through his hair. “It won’t work. I just have to deal with it for another year then I’m gone.”

“And after that? What about Max?”

“He won’t touch her.” Billy’s eyes were sharp and you noticed he’d broken out in a sweat. “A roughed up boy with a shit attitude doesn’t draw an eye but a black and blue little girl? They’d be all over him in a second.”

You couldn’t help but shake your head, insisting on your plan. “You don’t get it. I can help you. Hopper ’ll listen and trust me when I say he will do something about it.”

Billy’s usual fire was snuffed and he was reduced to nothing more than a teenage boy asking a girl a question. “Why do you even care?”

You couldn't help but laugh at the question, a sarcastic smile gracing your lips. “Because you started hanging around after sex, and held me when I was drunk crying about a stupid anniversary–”

Billy tried to stop you there. “It’s not stupid, you–”

“And because you bought me these!” You help up the box of cigarettes now full on laughing at the same boy who’d told you he didn’t date only three weeks ago. “You wouldn’t leave me alone so now I can’t leave you alone. I won’t.” By the end of your rant you’d quieted down coming to terms in the process with just how much you truly cared about Billy Hargrove.

Billy’s hands found your face, cradling it with a care he’d never shown before and guided your mouth to his. The kiss was nothing like your others, instead he kissed you slow and deep, relishing in the taste of you.

You were panting by the time he finally broke the kiss and you truly smiled at him, “I thought you didn’t like clove.”

“I don’t. But I like you,” He kissed you again. “A lot.”

A giggle nearly bubbled out of you but you contained yourself and realized for the first time in over a year you didn’t feel like the weight on your shoulder was quite so heavy. You smiled at him once more before climbing out of your seat and into the back, Billy following close behind.

Billy’s shirt was quickly discarded and with it he slowly reached for yours, his fingers playing at the hem, waiting for your permission. Confidently you nodded, trusting him. His eyes raked over your body once your shirt was gone, left in nothing but a bra that was made quick work of by Billy’s deft hand.

“You’re perfect.” He praised, taking your chest into one of his hands and cradling your back with the other. The compliment made your body warm, but the remnants of doubt still clawed at your insides.

It was deja vu when you began removing Billy’s belt and he your jeans, there the both of you were once again in the back of his car. It wasn’t long before the two of you were bare before each other, the sight a familiar one to you but to Billy seemingly an entirely new experience. Billy’s mouth found its way down your neck, sucking and kissing along the way until he reached your boobs. He made sure to pay them special attention, but you supposed it was the first he’s seen of them.

“Billy, please,” You couldn’t help but whine, the anticipation making you ache.

He shushed you with a searing kiss and pulled a condom from his dash. “I’ve got you, baby,” He ripped it open with his teeth and slid it on himself slowly. “I’ve got you.”

Your underwear were nothing special: black cotton, simple cut, but Billy slipped his fingers in them like they were the most delicate lace. He shimmied them down your legs, not stopping until he had them bunched in his hand and finally stuffed inside the pocket of his jeans.

“For later.” He winked.

You chuckled at the comment until you felt the head of his cock at your entrance and you were once again kissed quiet. Slowly, inch by inch, Billy pushed in until he bottomed out and the two of you moaned in unison. It was cold outside, the early November night causing a chill to bite in the air, but inside the car was steaming. Billy began moving his hips, easily finding a rhythm in both his thrusts and his fingers circling your clit. You had nothing to do with your hands other than hang on, trying to find respite to the building tension in your core.

Your skin was hot as Billy picked up his pace however still taking great attention to your body as he chased his own orgasm. This felt different than all the other times the two of you had sex. You felt desired, wanted, claimed. You never thought you’d give yourself to someone so wholly, especially after the attack, but now you didn’t think you could want anything more.

“Ask me,” You whimpered. “Ask me to be yours.”

You had a moment of panic when he didn’t immediately respond, a stutter of his hips drawing an anxious breath into your chest. Billy simply looked down at you, his ocean blue eyes staring into yours as he asked.

“Be mine.”

You smiled and kissed him, your tongues lacing together as your hips met his, over and over getting closer by the second. The combination of his words and his fingers drove you quickly to climax, a broken moan echoing in the car as Billy continued to thrust until he met his own climax, and collapsed down onto you. The Quarry was silent barring your heavy breaths and slight shifting every few minutes in order to get comfortable.

As you laid there, Billy’s form grounding you to the earth, you felt your eyes well up with tears. Unlike every time before, this was not because of sadness, but instead because you were happy. You all but laughed at the realization that a boy from California you just happened to meet at a Halloween party managed to make you feel like everything was going to be okay. Tomorrow might be filled with uncertainties, and you didn’t know what Hawkins Indiana had in store for you. Knowing both you and Billy had a rough road ahead was a heart clenching thought but now, in this moment, you had each other and that was enough. Enough to know that things will get better.

[strangerthanthings]

Hello! I’m new here! I have a Wattpad story called Barbara x female reader. I hope you Barb fans like it! It’s not finished yet, but I lost each chapter frequently. There are also other characters there too! My account is called Cloudy_xz.

[geekygee01]

Searching for something, I can’t reach

Mouth full of white lies

Character/s: Reader, Nancy Wheeler, Barbara Holland, Jonathon Byers (mentioned), Will Byers (mentioned, Joyce Byers (mentioned) and a handful of small OC's

Pairings: You’ll see ;)

Warnings: Light angst, secrets, developing plot

Chapter Summary: For the first time in a long time the whispers at Hawkins High aren’t all about you. No, this time it seems all anybody can talk about is Will Byers and what could have happened to him.

Word Count: 1558

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‘I find comfort in suffering and certainty in death.’ Your eyes trace the words. It was one of the many quotes on the walls of your middle school English classroom. Most of them were bright colourful positive quotes with cute little pictures but this was always the one your eyes were drawn to. Maybe because, even at the age of 12 it was something you could understand, something you could relate to. You have it printed out and stuck on your own wall. It’s surrounded by other miscellaneous pictures and quotes. Most of which have changed throughout the years but that quote has been a constant for about four years now.

“You’re going to be late,” your eyes dart from the quote to your little sister standing at the edge of your bed.

You roll out of bed, untangle yourself from the sheets and hop around trying to pull on some semi-clean jeans from the floor. You then shrug on a jacket over the top of your brothers' old concert shirt.

“You’re wearing your pyjama shirt to school?” your sister eyes your outfit with disdain. She’s one to talk, what with her outfit. Does she think jeans tucked into long stripey socks, a frumpy sweater and a pink skirt over her pants looks any better?

“Technically? It was a t-shirt before I repurposed it. Think of it as bi-useful,” you put your shoes on and reach for your backpack, shoving books and loose sheets of paper into it.

“Bi-useful? Why are you so weird?”

“Keep that attitude up and I won’t take you to school,” you snap but she just rolls her eyes, neither of you believes that you’d leave her to fend for herself “ugh, let’s go!”

You both head to your brother’s old car. A shitty, beaten up pile of metal that survives on tape, super glue and prayers. You get in first, climbing over the passenger seat and into the drivers because the drivers' side door doesn’t open anymore.

“Floor it!” your sister grins wickedly.

“You know as well as I do that ‘flooring’ it means about 20 or a breakdown,” yet you press down on the gas pedal anyway hoping to get to school on time. You stop first at your sister school “bye Mara, I’ll be back around 4.” Then finally arriving at Hawkins High School.

..

People are whispering in the halls, glancing around and sharing secrets, the newest gossip spreading like wildfire. But for once those weird side glances aren’t directed at you for the first time since the death of your parents nobody is gossiping about you. You don’t know whether to feel relieved that you’re finally being left alone or pity for whoever is on the other end of this new gossip.

You notice Barb and Nancy a few lockers down from you and make your way over to them. “Do you guys have any idea what’s going on?” you ask them. Nancy eyes you warily, the same look people have been giving you for years. Not that it matters, she was never really your friend, just someone you talk to because of Barb.

“Apparently Will Byers went missing,” Barb explains.

“Jonathon’s brother?” asides from Barb and Joshua, Jonathon is probably the only kid at this school who doesn’t look at you funny, doesn’t whisper about you or gossip or offer fake sympathy. “I hope they’re all okay.”

“They?” Nancy finally speaks.

“I hope Will’s safe, wherever he is, and I hope Jonathon and Mrs Byers are handling it okay. Must be so hard for them, to not know where he is or if he’s okay. Is Jonathon here today?”

“Probably not, he wasn’t here yesterday. People thought the two of you were off together, they probably regret it now, knowing why he was actually gone,” Barb stares awkwardly as Nancy talks, probably expecting what she’s going to say next “where were you yesterday?”

“Yesterday was the anniversary of the accident,” you look away from the two girls “didn’t really feel like being at school for it.”

“You don’t find that odd?” Nancy presses.

“Find what odd?”

“That your family’s accident and Will’s disappearance happened on the same day?”

“Nance..” Barb lightly scolds.

“I guess it’s a bit weird, but it doesn’t mean anything. Besides the day it happened, the disappearance of a boy in the woods and a fatal car accident have nothing in common.” Nancy looks like she’s going to say something else so you quickly cut in “look, I’ve gotta go finish some homework, sorry.” And with that little white lie, you turn and walk away, hopefully, no-one else realises the significance of the date to you and cause a whole new lot of rumours to spread.

“You know I heard you skipped school yesterday because you were getting in a turf war with another gang,” Joshua appears next to you, his look complete with bulky glasses an armful of books and a cheeky grin.

“Oh yeah,” you grin “and where’d you hear that?”

“Alright, I made that one up,” he tries to push his glasses up with the back of his hand, almost dropping all his books in the process. “But I think it’s pretty believable, you got that whole gang vibe going on.”

“Gang vibe?”

You make it to your own locker and put away the things you don’t need. “Yeah, you know. Smart and mysterious, no real friends or strong connections to anything. A tragic backstory and some sort of secret hidden behind the walls you’ve built up,” rolling your eyes at Joshua’s explanation you close your locker louder than intended to, causing peoples heads to snap in your direction. You grin sheepishly before turning and hurrying to your first class of the day. Hopefully, you can just put your head down, keep to yourself, and get through the day without any more trouble.

But alas, it just isn’t meant to be. Even with the new drama, Will’s disappearance has brought, you’re still on some people’s minds, and in their words. In homeroom, almost everybody around you is whispering about Will or Jonathon, but some are still talking about you. Suzie R is theorising as to why you weren’t at school yesterday, Michael P is trying to convince his friends that you and Jonathon are behind Will’s disappearance, Donovan is telling anyone who will listen that Will caught you having an affair with a married man so the two of you killed him to keep him quiet. Well on the bright-side, at least they’re saying new things about you, not talking about the same old recycled gossip; like ‘I heard she cut the brake lines in her parent’s car’ ‘I heard her father found out she was sleeping with an older guy and the whole thing wasmurder-suicidee’ or ‘Apparently she has mental issues and they were taking her to a psychiatric hospital when she freaked out and caused the accident’.

Why people feel the need to put their shitty insights on an already horrible situation is beyond you, but they always do. No matter how small the latest drama is you can bet all of Hawkins High has their own rendition of it. You just try and tune them out and get through the class.

Donovan corners you in between homeroom and first period, trapping you by the bubblers. People walk past and stare, some stop to see what’s going on, but nobody helps you. “S’up weirdo,” you roll your eyes and try to push past him “no need to spaz out, I just want yo ask you something.”

“What,” you glare up at him.

“Well did you do it?” he looks back at two of his mates who cheer him on.

“What exactly are you asking me to fess up to?”

“Did you kill the freaks brother?” he asks with a grin. Your eyebrows narrow and you clench your jaw, bringing the hell of your foot down hard on his toes. He staggers away from you with a shout.

“Don’t call me weirdo,” you seeth, taking a step towards him as he takes one back “don’t call Jonathon a freak,” another step “don’t make jokes about a serious situation,” step “and don’t say shit about any of us again.” You stomp on his foot one final time as he crashes into some lockers. You turn and walk away from him and the forming crowd and right out the front doors, school can miss you another day.

You slam your car door with a huff, sliding into the drivers seat and peeling out of the parking lot. You have no idea where you are going, you just want to get away. Away, away, away. You’re driving along through the woods, tall trees casting shadows on your car and leaves blowing along the road when something appears, no someone. They run out onto the road and raise their hands, your car hurtling towards them. You quickly slam your foot on the brakes, hoping to either stop before you hit them or slow down enough that they get out of the way.

You screech to a stop just shy of hitting the idiot crazy enough to jump in front of a car, you shake off the dizziness that came with thudding to a stop and peer out the windshield at said idiot.

“Will?”