A Harrington Heartbreak

Sweet and Sour Goodbyes

Three Months Later
October, 7th 1985
Caytlinn's POV

My brother and Robin had gone to get jobs at Family Movies - which I knew was going to fail miserably - while everyone else helped pack up the Byers' home. I could hear Max and Lucas singing, from the other room. From where I was sitting, I could see Dustin's 'wtf' look. The two of us hadn't spoken ever since the mall, and I doubt we'd have an actual conversation again. I was in the kitchen, looking at Dustin.

"Wait, did we get that verse right? It's 'unfold behind the clouds'?" Max asked, a giggle erupted from her throat. She was distraught from Billy's death, but she was just hiding it. A mask covering her sadden side, so she could enjoy the last moments with the Party.

"Yeah, but you're butchering it, so could you please stop?" Dustin asked, sending them a deeper glare.

"So then join in, Dusty-bun!" Lucas taunted from the other room.

"Yeah, come on Dusty-bun, why don't you join us?" Max snorted.

"You guys are so funny, you should be on Carson." Dustin grumbled, keeping a dead straight face.

"Can't we just hear your rendition?" Max asked. Dustin knew it wasn't ever going to be let down, and they were going to torture him through highschool with it, and yet he still sang it with her that night.

"No."

"Please? Just one verse!"

"No. No way. It's reserved for Suzie's ears and Suize's ears alone!"

The name bugged me. Suzie. Suzie this. Suzie that. Suzie from Salt Lake City Utah. I picked up the box I had just finished packing up and stared at the kitchen. It was crazy that last year, we were standing here talking about how to take down the demo-dogs. It was insane that it pretty much all started here and now it was getting left behind. But it was for the best. It was for the best that everything that had happened in the last two years and this year should be left in the dust, for good.

The room went silent, and then Lucas and Max erupted into singing the song again. I was already tired of the song, and yet they still kept doing it. But if it was torture for Dustin, then maybe, just maybe it would become my favorite new song.

I watched as Dustin waved the middle finger around in their face, his completely straight face. Dustin glanced at me, and I turned away only to run face to face with Will. Mike didn't say anything, but just stared at the box he was packing. "Hey."

"Hey."

Will set down a bunch of books into a cardboard box. On the top of the books, was the guide to Dungeons and Dragons. The game that brought the Party so close together, and tore us all apart. "Whoa, dude. That's the donation box," Mike said, stopping Will from leaving.

"I know. I'll just use yours when I come back." Will answered, shifting on his feet. I could feel the tension rise between the two and I had nowhere else to go, so I was stuck. "I mean, if we still wanna play."

"Yeah, but what if you want to join another party?"

"Not possible."

Mike chuckled, and Will walked back to his room. I sent a glance at Mike, before hurrying after Will. Jonathan and Nancy were standing at his door, staring into his room, and I reminded myself to say goodbye to Jonathan after I talked with Will.

"Hey, Will. Slow down," I said, as I stepped into his room. It was barren and empty.

"Hey."

"It's not gonna be the same without you guys here. I mean, who will play D&D with us? Or what's left of the party?" I asked, leaning against the door frame. I crossed my arms and gently set my head against the door. Will stood on the opposite side of the room, leaning against the window sill.

"You could join Hellfire, maybe? You're one of the best players I know and you could beat all of them. Prove them all wrong." Will shrugged.

"I enjoy the Party. Not some groupie group of D&D lovers. The Party were my friends and only my friends. I don't want to be a part of another group."

Will nodded. We both remained silent and stood there, before I asked if he wanted to go. Will answered no, before coming over and throwing his arms around me in a tight hug. I hugged him back, hard and we just stood there, and I head the slightest of sobs coming from him. I gritted my teeth because I didn't want to cry, but that didn't happen.

"Don't leave."

"I'm sorry."

Soon enough we were all outside, saying our goodbyes. Dustin, Mike, Lucas, Will and I gave each other one giant hug, because it was going to be our last. We were all teary and sad because we were torn apart. After everything that we had gone through, we were going to be separated. We all got our separate hugs with each other. I hugged Mike, before El wrapped him in her arms, and I turned to Jonathan.

"Jonathan!" I called out. The eldest Byers looked at me, and I hugged him. I would miss Jonathan. He was always so nice to me, before when Steve was a shit show asshole. He was like the second brother I never had. "I'm gonna miss you."

"Me too. Me too Cay. Me too."

He let go of me and laughed. "Before I forget..." I trailed off grabbing a box. I had almost forgotten that I had brought this. I held the box out and he gently took it. "For old times sake. Really where it all began, I guess."

His eyes were wide and mouth slightly ajar. It was my fault his first camera broke - well, Steve broke it, but it was mainly my fault - so I was just returning the favor with a better camera, so he could use it in California. "Thank you."

Once the Byers had packed up, Joyce had gotten in the Uhaul with El, while Joanthan and Will got in his car. Nancy, Mike, Dustin, Lucas, Max, and I all stood on their lawn, watching their cars disappear into the distance. It was a goodbye forever.

Once we got on our bikes, the others biked off in the direction of their houses, and I went my separate way. The Byers' home was gone. Castle Byers' was gone. All the nights we'd spent on the Walkies were gone. Everything relating to the Byers, was gone. It just all fell down.

I rode home in silence, and when I saw Steve in the driveway, complaining to Robin about something I held my breath. My bike dropped to the ground at my feet. I couldn't hold it back as the tears rushed up and choked me. Everything was just so much. I wanted to cut it all off.

I just cried into Steve's chest, as he stood there holding me tight. I didn't want to let go. Everything hurt. It killed me to think of everything that happened to us. It was just all gone. A part of my family was torn apart because it was for the best. I didn't want them to go. Will and El were my friends. Jonathan was like my blood brother and Joyce was the mother I never had.

The buyers of the new house would never know what had happened there and that was for everyone's sake. They didn't need to know. Nobody did, so that was all on us to keep it secret. To hide it from everyone. I'm not sure how well Steve was at keeping secrets, especially with how close Mollye and him were getting. It was going to come out sooner, rather than later.

Okay!!! Season Three done!!!! There are plans for season four and it's gonna take a turn for the worst. Mostly....we'll see....!!!!!hehehehehe - AND I think I may have a face claim for Caytlinn next season. Maybe....