Shatter [Jonathan Byers] Stranger Things II

XXXV: Guilt

guilt

noun

the fact of having committed a specified or implied offense or crime.

Jonathan heard the rumours that were spreading, not just about him and Nancy, but about Emilia, Steve and Billy. He had heard of the new kid, but had not ever met him, and wondered how his girlfriend's name became associated with someone like him. He kept his head and eyes down as he walked through the halls that morning to his locker, avoiding the piercing stares of those around him. The words were sharp and accusatory, and he hoped Emilia would show up to laugh along with him at how stupid the rumours were.

But Emilia never showed up at Jonathan's locker that morning, and by the time he decided to head to hers, it was too late. Grabbing his bag, he slipped it over his shoulder and walked towards his class all while searching for Emilia, and avoiding making eye contact with anyone else. Along the way, he heard all these horrible things about what Emilia had done.

Slept with Billy -who was Billy?

Kissed Steve.

That one hurt him.

He knew that she had not slept with anyone, he knew that these rumours about her and this Billy kid were all lies, and that they were going to hurt her more than they did him. He had a few select words for this kid too, who was likely the one who started the rumour -though as to why, Jonathan had no idea. He wondered if maybe Carol had started them, but they hadn't heard from her in a long time. She had been put in her place last year and hadn't crawled out of that cave since.

But Emilia knew that Jonathan had gone home with Nancy, and she had then driven Steve home. Would she have kissed him out of spite? Was she mad at Jonathan for leaving the party without her and with Nancy instead? No, Jonathan knew that Emilia wasn't like that. Besides, she would have told him when they went bowling, or shown some sign of guilt.

Distracted as anything, Jonathan walked right into someone as he turned the corner to enter the classroom. It was Carol, and instead of saying anything, she did something far more sinister, far worse. She grinned from ear to ear, like the Grinch, she looked as though she was about to take advantage of this situation in order to make Emilia's life hell once again.

Jonathan wasn't going to take her bait, in fact, he wasn't even going to let her speak. "I don't want to hear it, Carol. I heard enough of your voice last year."

"Woah, Creep's got a temper," Carol mocked as she raised her hands in defence.

"Yeah, didn't you guys learn that last year?"

She smirked, clearly remembering when Steve and Jonathan had the fight after they humiliated Nancy in front of the whole town. Shaking her shoulders like she had somehow won the conversation, she walked passed Jonathan with a grin. She was up to no good, but there was nothing that Jonathan could do about it. He had to sit in class and try to focus on what the teacher in front of him was saying, and yet he couldn't hear a word that was said. When they were given time to read, Jonathan opened his book to a page, and didn't read a single word.

All he could think of was Emilia and Steve.

Steve was in gym class, being assaulted by a half-nude Billy when Nancy decided to finally show her face. He ducked out of the game, eagerly, though not eager to talk to Nancy, just to get away from Billy, who was constantly attacking him. He darted out through the back door, welcoming the brisk but fresh air. He noticed Nancy looked prettier than she ever had before, and he wondered if it was because she was out of his reach now. She didn't love him, and what did that mean for their relationship?