In The Woods; Jonathan Byers

{2}

Third person perspective

To say that Jonathan knew Grace well was an understatement. Jonathan knew Grace more than she knew herself, he wasn't sure how he knew her so well, he wasn't even sure of himself anymore. He only cared about his mother, Will, and nobody else. As he had said to her previously "I don't like most people, so you're lucky". In which she rubbed his shoulder and brought him into a hug during that time, they hadn't talked in a month or so, now that his brother is missing, she really thought about how dumb their fight was. It was about Nancy. He stared at her from a distance at time and Grace couldn't help but feel jealous, Jonathan wasn't staring he was just...staring, speculating. He'd rather observe people than you know..talk to them, a photographer usually just watched what happened around them and find the artistic side of everything.

(FLASHBACK)
"Jonathan" she groaned at her best friend as he looked from down the hall. "Jonathan" she hit his shoulder "What?" he furrowed his eyebrows at her and she shook her head "We have to go, come on" she pulled his arm and dragged him out of the school. "The movie's starting soon, we have to get there" he turned her around and put his hands on her shoulders "What's wrong?" She scoffed "I'm just...if you don't like most people, why the hell do you stare at Nancy Wheeler? I just don't understand that all.." He sighed "Grace, I'm just trying to figure her out, I know how everybody else is, they want the same boring life in this boring town, most women in this town married the jocks and started their goddamn dysfunctional families, I think she's different" he hugged her and she sniffed in his ear "Okay, I-I don't know what's wrong with me" she pulled away and he wiped away her tear with his thumb, "Alright, come on".

After they finished at the theatre, it had gotten a little darker and the sun was about to set considering they stayed at the school a little late to develop photos. Jonathan had taken off his coat and draped it over her shoulders, the wind making her shiver "Why were you mad Grace? I mean I think you sounded a little jealous.." He trailed off nervously and very quietly. "No, no way" she said quickly and he smiled a little bit "Even if I was jealous, it wouldn't matter" he furrowed his eyebrows "What does that mean?" She looked at him with confusion, a voice in her head fighting her 'What are you doing, you obviously like him' but she knew better than to tell Jonathan the truth, in fear of being shot down. "What? It means I'm not your girlfriend and I don't have the right to be jealous, you can do whatever you want Jonathan" he stopped, causing her to as well "Grace" she furrowed her eyebrows and stepped closer to him "I..I like s-somebody" she put her arms through the jacket "Who?" "It's uhm..y-yeah uhm...Yo-Nancy, I like Nancy" he internally cringed and wanted to slap himself 'What is wrong with you dude!' He fought in his head. "Oh..well- kind of obvious..I guess.." Grace said nervously, taking off the coat, leaving her in her light black jacket. She began to walk away "Wait, Grace!" She kept walking and said "Good for you Jonathan, don't worry about me, I like somebody too" he sighed "Who?" "Steve Harrington" she said off the top of her head and cringed "Oh..well that's..great.." She looked back for a second and scoffed, walking home. "Grace! Let me give you a ride home!" He caught up to her "Why?!" She yelled in the empty street "You never know what could happen at this time of night" she hesitated but nodded, she was pissed but she didn't feel like being kidnapped tonight. After she got home she slammed the car door and then slammed the front door of her house.

She could hear the haunting slam in her head as she sat on her bed next to Jonathan. "Let's get this straight, I don't like Steve. You don't like Nancy." His eyebrows raised "How'd you know.." He trailed off "Because I see the way you look at me, and the way you look at Nancy, they're completely different you idiot" he shook his head "Okay..and.." She didn't want to waste time, considering the upcoming mission with the Doctor might be enough to kill her this time. "I like you, and I want to be your girlfriend, and if you say no, you will be lying, because I know you Jonathan Byers". He looked right into my eyes and took my hands "I'm sorry..about Nancy, about everything, I just didn't want everything to fall apart after-" "We were good Johnny, we were better than good, and than your interest went to Nancy Wheeler" "Grace...I like you too, and I wanna be with you but it's, it's complicated" "How?" She looked generally shocked "If we find Will, I will be your boyfriend, and if we don't find him...give me some time will ya?" His eyes were brimmed with tears and she took his hand and nodded. "Alright, can I make an offer?" He nodded and she leaned over and kissed his cheek, causing him to flush. "Go get some rest" she said to him and he got up to leave, "Jonathan Byers" she sighed as she heard the front door shut. Jonathan just stood under the opened window in the front of the house and smiled, hearing her voice "Grace Hopper" he called and she looked out the window with a chuckle "Shut up dork" he smiled and got in his car after waving at her.