EVERY BREATH YOU TAKE | Stranger Things.

VII. Breakups and Funerals

THE FUNERAL OF WILL BYERS WAS FULL OF PEOPLE BUT THE WEATHER DIDN'T CARE, THE SUN BLAZING DOWN.

Daisy wore a long-sleeved black dress, sheer tights gracing her legs, and was accompanied by some all-black heeled Mary Janes. When she looked at herself in the mirror she saw how her eyes looked more lidded and tired than ever. The information from yesterday still took a while to set in but it seemed as if her brain just rejected that information.

Her hair was half up and half down, some strands falling down her shoulders. She fiddled with the small ring on her middle finger all the way to the funeral service and even when she got there. The skin on her lips was red and broken, some small specs hanging on for deal life, which were put out of their misery by Daisy harshly ripping them off.

Quickly smoothing the pad of her fingers with the cross on her necklace and twisting the chain, feeling the little holes before fully untangling it when Frances bumped her shoulder in the backseat.

"Jason's been asking about you." She whispered, looking to see if Daisy would even speak but all she did was shrug.

"He always asks about me." Daisy's response was blank and gave off the idea that she didn't care about her romance with the Carver boy. "You know it's true."

"He's your boyfriend, obviously he's gonna care about you." Frances continued on and the annoyed look on Daisy's face didn't run past the eldest.

Silence. All Daisy did was look out the window at the passing scenery which wasn't as mesmerizing as one would hope. Especially not on the day of a funeral.

"Just break up with him, Daisy." Frances lowered her voice. "Trust me. You guys may have problems but leading him on doesn't benefit any of you."

Daisy nodded and pursed her lips, "Can we have this conversation later rather than now?"

Frances sighed, looking away from her sister and out the window, her breath fogging up a part of the window. "Maybe."

Jason wasn't at the top of her mind and never has been if she was being truly honest. It was just another hoax for both of their popularity — more so his. He wanted to be known as the guy who got Daisy Hugo to settle down but he was still a long way from that title because it wouldn't take her a long time to end it with him.

Even as he stood a few feet away from her at the funeral, looking at her hands that were clamped together while they listened intently to the pastor.

"Fear not, for I am with you. Be not dismayed, for I am your God." Pastor Charles spoke. "I will strengthen you. Yes, I will help you. I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."

She bit the inside of her cheek, nodding mindlessly and looking down at her shoes. She noticed that they looked more polished and when she turned to her mother she was greeted with a tight-lipped smile. It was noticeable Laura was just here because Daisy had taken care of the kids and Will for a small amount and on rare occasions, but it was something.

Even the hug or half hug she gave over to Joyce seemed forced without any actual sympathy behind it. Was this really who Daisy wanted to be compared to? The answer would have once been yes, but as she matured she saw how cold and short-tempered her mom was.

Daisy's feet dragged her over to Jonathan, gently squeezing his arm and motioning over to where the gate was, a place that would give the three of them more privacy to speak.

"Daisy?" Laura called out, her pale cheeks slightly red due to the temperature. "We're going home."

"Okay."