𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐦𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐬

iii. jonathan 'the freak' byers

𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐎𝐧𝐞
𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐕𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐟 𝐖𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐁𝐲𝐞𝐫𝐬
part three

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐧𝐞𝐱𝐭 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠, Steve, Carol, Tommy, and Lily were stood by Lily's locker. She had just finished giving the boys a recount of the previous night, and how she had had to sneak out of her bedroom window to go to Carol's. Like Nancy, her mom had placed her under house arrest following Will Byers' disappearance. Like Steve, she'd had no idea who the boy was until yesterday, and she was less than pleased at being put under house arrest because of him.

"So, your mom didn't find out about last night?" Carol asked, after Lily had finished. Her story, as usual was paired with a plethora of excited hand gestures. "I still can't believe you're on house arrest".

"I told her I was going to bed early. I guess she bought it, else she would have said something" Lily answered.

This jogged Steve's memory. Before school, his mom had told him she and his father were out of town for the night. His father had a conference and, as usual, his mom would be going too. She didn't trust her husband as far as she could throw him, and rightly so. Ever since he'd been old enough to understand the word "affair", Steve had sworn to never follow in his father's disgraced footsteps.

"So, speaking of parents" He interjected, propping his elbow on Lily. He always joked their height difference made Lily's shoulder a perfect arm rest for him, "Mine are out of town tonight-"

"Why? Are they finally going to therapy?" Tommy joked, and Steve saw Lily shoot a frown in his direction, unnoticed by the others.

"Shut up, man" He retorted, lightheartedly, "My dad's got a conference and Mom's going with him. So, do you guys wanna come over at eight?" He suggested, then looked at Lily, who was never on time, "Or half eight, if you can't arrive anywhere on time".

"Sorry, did you want me to come?" She scowled.

Tommy on the other hand, grinned, "Sweet".

"Who else are you inviting? You haven't asked Little Miss Princess, have you?" Carol asked, reluctantly.

Knowing she was referring to Nancy, he frowned. Carol and Tommy had already made it very clear that they didn't like Nancy. In Tommy's words, she was "Too much of a priss for her own good". Lily, on the other hand, knew the Wheeler family well, so had never really expressed her opinion on the younger girl. But, she was Lily Andrews, so naturally Nancy was intimidated by her.

"No, not yet. But I will be" He replied, shortly.

Tommy groaned and looked at Lily, "If Nancy's coming, you may as well invite Maddison along, too" He mocked, meaning Cindy.

As usual, Lily jumped to defend Cindy, "Stop calling her by her last name. She already feels out of place as it is".

"Because she is out of place with us" Carol interrupted.

Lily rolled her eyes, "Don't pretend like you weren't best friends with her too, in middle school".

Back in middle school, Carol, Lily and Cindy had been an inseparable trio. Steve could easily recall them doing practically everything together. It wasn't until Carol started dating Tommy, and she and Lily started to chose their social life over their grades that this changed. While Lily had been decent enough to remain friends with Cindy, Carol acted like she and the other girl had never been friends.

"Cool it girls" He poked at them, smirking, "Cindy is more than welcome to come. It'd be nice to have someone there that won't scare Nancy away" He offered, truthfully.