you are not alone → stranger things

xxx. love pentagon

YOU GUYS THIS IS AMAZING I GOT ALMOST 200 READS IN ONE DAY!! THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOUUUU
btw I know that this is earlier than the last chapter but that was intentional

***

Friday afternoon, January 12, 1984
Jonathan's POV

I can see you across the room, Nance, I wanted to yell at her. Why are you avoiding me?

Nancy had been completely shutting me out for the past few days. She had even skipped school, which I had never known her to do. Ever. Everything had seemed fine on Tuesday, but then she was just... gone.

Now I was alone in the mall, sitting on the fountain and listening to my mixtape, and I had just seen her walking alone into Contempo Casuals, the hood of her pink sweatshirt up. I couldn't tell if it was for the slight drizzle outside or if she was trying to hide.

I stared at the entrance, and she came out a few minutes later with two enormous bags. How had she gotten so many clothes in so little time?

Nancy glanced around, and she noticed me staring at her. Her eyes stretched wide, and she quickly turned and hurried away.

I clenched my teeth and, after wrestling with myself for a moment, got up and ran after her. "Nancy!" She slowed slightly, but didn't stop. I caught up to her right out the door and grabbed her wrist. "Nance, what's going on?"

She yanked her hand away. "Leave me alone."

I sighed. "I can't. I can't let you get away from me again." I looked her in the eye. "I already suffered through that once."

She sniffled, ducking her head, and her hood slid down. "I know. But, Jonathan... I just..." I saw her swallow. "I can't. I can't deal with it."

I reached for her hand, and this time she didn't pull away. "We can deal together."

Nancy gazed at me for a moment, her eyes softening, but then looked down and pulled away. "No. We can't." She backed away, her hand pushing her bangs from her face. "Whatever we are, it needs to end. Okay?"

"Why are you pushing me away?" The world seemed to go quiet but for our breaths. "What did I do?"

"Nothing. I just can't deal with this stupid love triangle or square or whatever the hell you want to call it!" She was yelling now, motioning wildly with her free hand. "Might as well be a pentagon, if we're including Billy!"

"Wait a minute," I stammered, "who... who else is there?" She seemed to deflate, biting her lip anxiously. After a moment of silence, I noticed tears in her eyes. "Nance?" I asked softly, worried.

"Barb," she whispered. "Barb loved me." And she broke down, sagging to the ground surrounded by the plastic bags. She gave a loud sob and lowered her face to her knees. Then, at this worst time possible, the light drizzle turned to relentless rain.

I quickly scooped the bags in my arms and pulled her up. "Come on. My car's not far."

As we ran through the rain, I felt someone watching me. I looked around and saw a black Camaro idling nearby. As soon as I looked at it, though, it backed up and drove away.

***

I rubbed Nancy's arms comfortingly, pretending to know what to do. "It'll be okay."

"No it won't, Jonathan!" she sobbed. "She never even got to tell me, then I as good as killed her..."

"Nancy." She looked at me tearily. "Listen to me. No, listen. You didn't kill Barb. You didn't cause her death. That monster did. None of this is your fault."

We were sitting on my couch. Mom was still out somewhere, so I was left to deal with Nancy myself. Of course, I understood why she was so upset, but I really didn't know what to do.

Nancy sniffed and leaned against my shoulder. I could feel her warmth through my jacket and wrapped an arm around her. She seemed slightly better just from the contact.

"I need to get those clothes to Eleven," she murmured. She got up. "I need to go. I'm sorry. Thanks for the sympathy."

On instinct, I got up with her and took both her hands in mine. "I'll drive you."

She smiled slightly. "Okay."

I leaned forward and gently pressed my lips to hers. I felt her relax, and she squeezed my hands.

"Thank you," she murmured.

"Of course."

YOU GUYS BILLY WAS WATCHING THEM AT THE MALL LOL STALKERRRR