Star Crossed Lovers (STEVE HARRINGTON)

The Vanishing of Will Byers

Murphy's POV:
"I got jello and pop tarts." Jonathon mumbled. I nodded, letting my head rest back as smoke erupted from my lips. The cigarette in my hand calming me, while Jonathon sat beside me in the basement. "I got Hot Pockets and Dinky's." I coughed out. He smiled as we switched on the tv, static noise filling the room.

Jonathon had slipped Gone with the wind in the VCR, we'd rented the movie the other day after school specifically for today. I was having a shitty week and what better than a classic movie and only the grandest of snacks.

I inhaled the cigarette and offered it to Jonathon knowing his answer. He shook his head quietly and we sat back as the movie began to play. "DUSTY ANY CHIPS LEFT?!" I yelled, throwing my shoe up to the ceiling, hoping he'd answer.

"They're playing D&D remember?" Jonathon mentioned. "Oh shit. That's right Byers. Good looking out." I pressed the cig into the oak table beside me, putting it out and leaned my head against Jonathon who leaned his head on top of mine. "I think I would make a pretty good soldier if we had a war like that." I said through chewing.

"Murph... you wouldn't be fighting." Jonathon muttered. I looked at him feigning shock. "Excuse you Jonathon Byers. I will fight the big fight okay? Disappointed in you, where is the feminist Jonathon who refused to let me open any doors in middle school?" He only chuckled at me before I spoke again. "What about you anyway?" I questioned. "I would. If I had to." He replied nonchalantly. "The patriarchy is simple delightful." He rolled his eyes at my comment, as we watched the movie.

An hour in he turned to me while the movie continued playing "I gotta go" Jonathon said tiredly. "Work?" I asked. He nodded. "Eric asked me to cover him earlier, I should go. It was fun though." He smiled cheekily. "Oh I know... 'Never pass up new experiences, Scarlett. They enrich the mind." I grinned back.
He grimaced at the corny reference and shoved a pop tart in his pocket for later. "Enjoy the rest of the movie Murph." He sighed. "Get home safe Byers."

The next day:
I woke up to Dustin hanging over me. "Ugh never do that again Dusty. It grosses me out seeing your face so early in the morning." I ruffled his hair as he groaned. "Lunch money?" He grinned toothlessly. I rolled my eyes dramatically "You owe me big time buddy." I handed him a few dollars and got up, pushing him out of my room. Before he could leave I grasped his wrist and said "If you need more come find me." Smiling at him. The moron was my little brother after all.

I made my way into school hooking my walkman into the small gap between my fishnets and skirt. Ignoring the dress code officers and making my way to my locker, rolling my eyes. I hate school.

"Has Dustin seen Will?" I flinched at the sound of Jonathon from behind me as I removed the headphones connecting me to my walkman. "It's 8am. You know the rule about me and mornings Byers." I mumbled. He grabbed my hand gently turning me to him. I furrowed my eyebrows confused at his eagerness. "I don't know if Will came home last night. I was at work. My mom thinks he might've left for school early so I was just wondering if maybe Dustin saw him I don't know-"

I cut him in. "Woah woah woah. Slow down. Breathe Byers I haven't heard you speak this much since you got spiked at the halloween dance." He took a deep breath, I offered him my flask which had some fun juice in there. He took it and gulped at least half of it down. "Dusty didn't mention anything about Will this morning but I'm sure he's fine. They're probably all at the AV club right now nerding out." I reassured. He nodded. "Yeah you're probably right."

After a day of torment:
"Fuck I hate school so much" I complained noisily as Jonathon walked beside me quietly. He didn't respond and I could see he was bothered. "You know what... Let's go find your brother, maybe then you'll be more fun. I'm sure he's around somewhere. Maybe bunking off." I joked. He nodded silently and continued walking with me. "My moms probably stressing herself out like crazy right now." He mumbled quietly to himself.

"You go check on her. I'm gonna go find Dusty and interrogate. We'll find him Jonny." I said placing a hand on Jonathan's shoulder, he smiled a small smile and we split up, walking in opposite directions.

I opened my front door and slipped in, looking for Dustin. "You seen Dustin?" I asked her. She shook her head basically ignoring me. I scoffed and walked off. "DUSTY?!" I called out. No response. Great.

I jogged over to his room and grabbed his walkie talkie. "This is Murph, any of you nerds listening right now tell Dusty to get his little ass home now over." With that I turned it off, grabbed my keys and left again. This time I got in my car and drove straight to the Byers' where I found Joyce hysterical.

"Now's not a good time kid." Hopper started but I pushed past him and made my way over to Joyce, hugging her. He sighed behind me as Jonathon came outside and looked at me with sad, sad.. tired eyes. "He's okay. I know it." I whispered into her ear as she cried on my shoulder. Jonathon glanced at me for a second and nodded towards the inside of the house, silently telling me to follow him.

As I made my way in after him, he sat down on the couch with tense shoulders. "I should've been there." He began. "I'm not letting you blame yourself for this Byers. He's going to be okay. He's a tough kid with the biggest brain I know." It was true, Will was a genuinely genius child and I knew he was okay. At least I hoped he'd be. "Thanks for being here." He mumbled as I reached over and pulled him into a hug. "It's okay Jonathon." I whispered, suddenly feeling the weight of the situation.

When I got home later that evening, Dustin was in his room with a bunch of comics laid out over his bed. "Listen up and you better listen good." I started, his attention focused on me at the sound of my tone. "You will not be playing detective and trying to find Will okay? Your curfew is a hell of a lot shorter and I want to know where you are at all times of the day. Hopper told me you and your gang are obsessed with the idea of finding Will and I get it this is scary for you but you are my little brother and I'll be damned if I lose you."

I let my words simmer, his eyes dropping to his crossed legs as he nodded sadly. "He's gonna come back buddy. I know he will...You wanna hang out in the basement with me?" I offered. He slightly shook his head uncomfortably. I sighed, sitting next to him on his bed and pulling him to me just like I had with Jonathon earlier. "Wanna watch Carrie with me?" I asked. His ears perked up slightly. "But mom said-" I cut him in annoyed at the mention of her. "Doesn't matter. I'm saying you can. Let's go, come on I think I still have some snacks from ditching." He smiled at me, I grabbed his hand and we snuck into the basement.

Not even 15 minutes in and he was out like a light. I tucked my blanket into him gently and took his hat off and placed it at the table near by. "I love you nerd." I whispered, pressing a kiss to his head and attempting to get comfortable. The thought of Will being in danger scared me just as much as the thought of it being Dustin. It hindered my sleep but eventually I began dozing off into a deep slumber.

I have no idea for how this story will do but I hope if you're reading this you liked this chapter <3