Prom Night '86

Jonathan Byers- Lovers Lake

"You promised you'd stay," Robin said as I stopped swaying with the beat of the off-putting music. "I did stay for the first fifty songs you dragged me through," I answered her, my hands on my hips as my feet ached under the weight of my own body. "Your being so dramatic I didn't 'drag' you towards the dance floor you volunteered to follow behind me." Robin through back at me. Her voice was raw and hoarse from the constant yelling to sing along with the lyrics.

"Will you at least tell me who's picking you up and taking you away from this sweet party?" She questioned me. Rolling my eyes, I just leave her at the table. Grabbing the sides of the dress and walking out of the gym. The cold air sweeps under the dress as the gym doors close behind me, and the sounds of the party start to quiet around me.

It doesn't too long for Jonathan's car to round the corner of the bus loop at the back of the school. His headlights blind me for a brief second before my eyes adjust to the yet again darkness of the Saturday night. Jonathan isn't one to try and be slick when he's talking, but there's something about the way that Jonathan rolls down the window. He's leaning into the passenger one hand still holding onto the wheel.

He's gripping the wheel his knuckles going white under the tight grip. His eyes are raking over my body, and it weirdly doesn't make me feel like I'm being looked at rather it's a good deep feeling at the bottom of my gut. Finally, he speaks, "You looked beautiful tonight." It's a plain statement, my mother had said that as I walked down the stairs, and so had Robin as I gathered my dress into her car earlier tonight. For some reason though when Jonathan says it, it's different. Like it means something so different compared to everyone else.

"You really think so?" I question him, my voice feels so tiny, but the way that's he's looking at me has me all confused. Even though I can't manage to get my head around the fact that Jonathan had even mentioned picking me up tonight. I gather my strength and take charge. Grabbing the handle, I let a part of my dress drop and open his car door. When I gathered myself into the passenger seat the dress bunches at the bottom of footwell. My ankles finally forgiving me, and now Jonathan and I are even closer than before.

"So, where are you taking me?" I asked, Jonathan had already driven out of the schools parking lot and onto the road before I was able to get out of my own head and ask my question. His hands were both on the wheel. There was a moment of silence before I just let my eyes graze over Jonathan for the first time since getting his car. Jonathan was wearing what looked like much more comfortable cloths then what I was wearing and I wished that I'd brought a set of clothes to change into, the cold air added for regret to my poor choices earlier this afternoon.

He was relaxed something I felt that I never saw anymore, from anybody within our small group of friends. The kids were always excited but there was pain behind the young eyes, and honestly the pain that we had never was going to be able to be hidden. The shit we had seen and been through was just too much to handle for some of us and it showed. It showed on Jonathan face, so it was odd to see him so relaxed like he was finally in his element. "I wanted to show you, a umm favorite place that I really enjoy going to... If that's okay of course?" Jonathan says nearly stumbling over his words. I conceal my giggle, by looking out of the passenger side window. The stars tonight are brighter than I think they've ever been. "Yeah, that's okay." I said.

The sky is completely lite up. I can't help but notice the way the stars tingly and flicker against the black backdrop of the nights sky. I don't notice that we've arrived until Jonathan cuts off onto the off ramp and down a dirty and dark road. We drive like this for what seems forever, the car hitting bump and rocks within the road. When the car came to its final stop I finally looked back over at Jonathan. He was breathing so slowly, so gently that if he hadn't just driven us where ever we were I'd think he was dead. Then he looked over at me, those sweet dark eyes making their way into my heart, and mind. I couldn't bear to look at him anymore. "So where did you bring us?" I ask making the motion of stepping outside of the car.