ghosting

INTERMISSION ONE: PART FOUR

the older brother

He found himself sitting on the couch, his legs swinging back and forth. There were hush whispers coming from the other room and the boy frowns as he watches his brother come back to him and give him a soft smile.

"Hey Xavi," he whispered, bending down to make eye contact. "l have to call someone and then we can talk ok?"

He nodded.

"Perfect."

His brother got up and Xavier spoke for the first time in a while, "pudo usar el baño?"

"Yeah of course."

Xavier walked to the bathroom, through the rooms, and looked back to make sure no one saw him, he took in a deep breath.

november 15 1983

There was banging on his door. He groaned and turned to face the wall, trying to ignore the pain in his body as well as the knocks.

"Xavi come on!"

The boy groaned louder and slowly got up, hissing at the pain on his shoulders and thigh. The door swung open and Dustin stood in front of it, his foot tapping rapidly.

"What what what," Xavier said. "What is soooo important you had to wake me up, Dust?"

Xavier started walking around his room.

"It's not even a school day-" he whined

"It is."

"Fuck me."

-

He stood in front of his car cursing at the gas tank being opening and sugar being seen at the ridges.

"Pinche gringo oh my fucking god-"

"What happened?" asked Dustin

"Go back inside Dust," he replied. "Have to call Jonathan."

-

Xavier grumbled as he walked with Jonathan through the hallways. The last bell had rung and the younger boy's eyes were rimmed red. When they picked up their brothers he stayed quiet throughout the car ride back to the Byers' house. The car stopped in front and Jonathan turned back to the boys.

"Go inside," he said. "We'll catch up."

Dustin looked at Xavier, his eyebrows creasing. "But-"

"Go inside Dust," he said softly. "We'll follow you in soon."

Dustin nodded his head and went with Will inside. Xavier sighed and started sliding down the seat and cursed as he felt the pain in his shoulders.

"What's wrong?" asked his friend.

Xavier hesitated. "Nothing."

Jonathan raised an eyebrow. "Is it Eddie?"

Xavier scoffed. "I... yeah. Maybe? I don't know," he whined.

Jonathan smiled softly and pushed Xavier's hair back. "What is it?"

"The lights scared me," he confesses. "I thought the demogorgan was back and I freaked out. Like really freaked out. It was so bad and then I-" he stumbled in his words and hit his head on the car seat. "Did you know that one I watched Dustin sleep during the weekend? Like I had to make sure he was there."

Jonathan nodded. "I understand," he replied. "I was the same with Will. Well, both my mom and me."

Xavier chuckled. "Do you think we'll get better?"