Other Friends

Part ii ~ New Beginnings

We may not share a name, or blood

That matters not to me.

I could not love you anymore

If you were family.

Early December 1983

"I'm sorry, he did what?" Bella questions her friends as the three were spending the night at the Rose Residence.

"He was taking pictures of Nancy!" Lizzie repeats for her, making Bella look at them surprised.

Bella quickly looks at Windy, "Did you dump him?"

"Not yet, haven't exactly had the time." Windy tells the girls with a shrug.

Lizzie raises her hand, "I vote you dump his ass."

Bella raises her hand, "I second this."

"What, you just want me to walk up to him and say, I dump your ass?"

"Yes!" both girls exclaim simultaneously.

"Geez, okay, okay." Windy replies, hands raised in surrender.

Late December 1983

"They have a right to know." Lizzie says to her uncle as she watches him change the locks on their cabin door.

"It's too big of a risk Liz." Hopper tells her with a sigh. "She needs to be safe, and the less people know, the better."

"You are asking me to lie to my best friends! One of which you saved from the upside down. I feel like that merits a right to know." Lizzie argues.

Hopper stops and looks at her, "I'm sorry Lizzie, but it's safer this way. No one can know." he says before going back to work.

January, New Years Party

"What are Steve and Nancy doing here again?" Lizzie questions Windy, the one who invited them.

"Jonathon felt like we all should begin the New Year together, because of what happened." Windy shrugs, not quite looking at Lizzie and Bella.

'Yeah. But I don't know Steve, and you don't know Nancy; so again what are they doing here?" Bella says with an eyebrow raise.

"I don't know. I really don't know. He's even over there with them and it's been so awkward lately!" Windy whines back at them.

"Wait. Have you not broken up with him yet?" Lizzie whispers.

Windy shakes her head in denial, "We just needed to talk it out."

"Well, did you?" Bella questions.

"No..." Windy admits, avoiding eye contact.

"If I can break up with Eddie, you can break up with Jonathon." Lizzie reveals to the group.

"I'm sorry-" "What?" The two girls exclaim at the same time, garnering the attention of the other trio across the room.

"Scream it louder, why don't you. I don't think they heard you in New York." Lizzie sasses to them.

"Sorry, but, you...and Eddie? What happened?" Bella's head tilts in confusion.

Jonathan comes up to the trio before Lizzie could respond, "Everything okay over here?"

Windy opens her mouth about to say something when Lizzie interjects, " No, Jonathan. Frankly it's none of your business. Also are you going to kiss your girlfriend at midnight?" Lizzie questions.

Bella's, Windy's and Jonathon's eyes went super wide. "Uh-" Jonathan starts to stutter a reply, as he looks back at Nancy.

Windy sees him look at the brunette and comes to a realization. "Jonathon. I dump your ass. You obviously like Nancy more than your own girlfriend. So this relationship we've had since 8th grade is over."

Windy then grabs a beer, chugs a couple of sips and then dumps the rest on his head. She then walks out of the house, leaving flabbergasted teenagers.

You've seen me through the worst of times

And helped my heart to heal

You lift me up when I am down

And care for how I feel.