Jonathan Byers x Reader

Take my picture? - P.23

The day had been much longer than what you were mentally prepared for. It was one thing to talk about looking in the woods for a missing person but proved to be something completely different when the searching was actually being done. It seemed the chill in the air had been more intense than usual making it even more difficult to walk on the moist dirty ground. It was easy to be optimistic when Jonathan found Kelly's sweater for at least there had been some kind of trail or even an idea of where to begin looking first. It was completely possible at this point that where ever Kelly had vanished to Will could be nearby. Best case scenario they could be together. 

While your face had been increasingly pale from the cold the air still managed to create a red tint across your cheeks and nose despite your best efforts to stay warm. Jonathan had offered his jacket to you multiple times though each time you had refused. Wearing only a tee shirt you knew he would be struggling just to keep you even a little bit warmer. 

A few hours later, you found yourself relaxing against Jonathan's body as he pulled you into a tight embrace to create some warmth. The leaves rattled as they attempted to stand against the wind creating a somewhat peaceful atmosphere though it was impossible to forget why you were both out there in the first place. 

Shortly after leaving the area where the sweater had originally been found, that feeling of hope quickly began to fade as there had been no more signs of any human life. A few twigs would be broken here and there while accompanied by prints that clearly belonged to some sort of animal. No more pieces of clothing or even accessories were left behind giving any clue as to which direction she could have traveled in. 

After a couple more hours had passed Jonathan was reluctantly ready to call it quits for the night knowing it was becoming far too cold to be walking around in. The sun was nearly set as the two of you walked hand and hand back to where he parked his car on the side of the road hours earlier. 

"I'm sorry I kept you out here so long." Jonathan quietly said as your feet finally hit the smooth road. "I really thought we would find more than what we did."

"You have literally nothing to be sorry for." you told him trying not to feel overly defeated at the lack of progress that had been made. "We found Kelly's sweater. That's better than nothing. At least we have some kind of a lead."

"It was just weird, ya know?" he started as he opened the passenger side door of the car for you to enter. "That her sweater was just laying on the ground with no other signs of anything. It's like she just vanished into thin air."

The seat had been stiff and extremely unwelcoming from sitting still in the cold all day. Though it felt good on your legs and back to finally be sitting down as you hadn't realized just how sore you had been from walking around in the woods all day without the proper footwear. 

Jonathan shut the door tightly and quickly walked around the front of the car to take his place in the driver's seat. You were sure he was sore as well even though he showed no signs of being in any discomfort. 

"I'm sure we'll find more clues." you told him as he put the key in the ignition allowing the heat from the vents to pour into the car. "We have to. I mean it's not possible to just vanish."

"You're right it's not. I guess we can try again after school if you're up for it." he replied with a slight chuckle in his voice clearly attempting to lift his spirits as well as your own.

Your hand quickly found his as the car began to move away from the side of the road and onto the straight path. 

"I'll be waiting by your locker as soon as the last bell rings." you told him with a smile knowing that you were ready to spend every possible waking moment looking for your friend and his brother whether the end results be good or bad.

The ride back to his house had been a quiet yet peaceful experience. His hand tightly gripped yours as you both warmed up from the vent and watched as the few post lights occasionally lit up the inside of the car. It was a quiet night in town with almost no one to be seen even in the dim windows of homes that kept their curtains open. 

As the car turned away from the main road, the only light the could be seen was the high beams leading the way back to his isolated home. The path was small really only big enough for one car to use at a time. Though it became a bit wider as the house came into view. Your eyes squinted as your body leaned forward instantly seeing something at the end of the path. 

"Stop!" you said in a panic as Jonathan slammed on the breaks of the car. 

In just moments his mother appeared at the front end of the car looking completely shaken with a crazy wide eyed expression that instantly made you feel on edge. Jonathan let go of your hand and quickly exited the car making his way to his mother pulling her into sort of an embrace trying to figure out was was happening. 

You watched the scene unfold trying to read their lips before the sound and flashing of multiple sirens came down the path behind the car making your heart instantly sink and creating a sickening feeling knowing exactly why they were here.

~~~To be continued~~~