The Strangest Things (Dustin Henderson x reader)

End of the Dog Days (flashback)

Your POV

As the drive seemed endless, I felt something jiggle under my feet. I looked down and found Chester's old collar. 
"What did you find, sweety?" mom asked me.
"Chester's old collar..." I replied as the memory came back to me. 
"Wasn't Chester your pet?" El asked, looking at the collar. 

I stared at the collar and started having that flashback....

****

(A week after Snowball)

I woke up at 8:35, seeing the frosty white tint on my window. It was snowing. I got out of bed and walked towards the living room, looking for Chester so I could feed. But, what I saw broke my heart...

Chester lay in a corner, curled up in a ball, not moving. I ran up to him and felt his chest with my palm. He wasn't breathing and he was cold. I said the same word over and over again like a prayer.
"No, no, no, no, no!"

My eyes stung as they began to gloss over with tears. I started to sob quietly as I laid my head on Chester's back. He felt different. Of course it was because he was dead, but this was new to me. 
"-Y/N, what happened?" I heard a voice behind me say. I turned my back to see Will
"Chester..." was all I could bring myself to say. Will approached us quickly and knelt down next to Chester, feeling him. 
"He's...no..." Will's eyes were forming tears.
"He's gone, Will. I found him like this..." I sobbed. We embraced each other as I heard someone stir from behind us.
"Sweethearts, what happened?" came my mother's sweet voice. 
"Chester's gone, mom," Will sobbed.
"Oh no..." mom rushed over and kneeled beside us.
"...That's terrible. He did have a good life, didn't he?"
Will and I nodded in agreement, continuing to sob.
"-We'll have a nice funeral for him, okay?" mom said.
"Okay," I sobbed while Will nodded. 
"-Mom, what's going on?" came Jonathan's voice. 
"Chester's gone," I cried.
"Oh no..I'm so sorry you guys. I know how much he meant to you guys," Jonathan said, as he knelt down next to us. I leaned into to him and cried. 

*time skip*

After mourning over Chester, mom had wrapped him in his blanket and placed him in the shed before the funeral. 

I went to my room and contacted Dustin on my intercom
"Dusty...do you copy?" I spoke into my intercom. Almost immediately, he answered.
"This is Dusty. What's wrong N/N?" he said, identifying the concern in my voice, speaking in the same tone.
"It's Chester...he..."
"-Oh no. I'm so sorry, N/N. Is there anything--"
"-Come to the funeral, please."
"I will of course. Do the others know?" Dustin asked.
"Will's contacting them right now. I'm gonna contact Max in a minute," I responded.
"Okay. I'll be there soon. I love you, N/N."
"I love you too, Dusty," I sniffled and chuckled.

I got off our channel and went to the channel Max was on. 
"Max, do you copy?" I said into the intercom.
"This is Max. Lucas just told me after Will told him. I'll be there soon. I'm sorry for your dog," she said.
"It's okay, Max. Thanks," I replied.

I turned off the intercom and went to change. I put on a black v-neck shirt, black skinny jeans and brushed my hair out, putting a simple black headband on my head. 

I went into the kitchen where Jonathan was making breakfast. I wasn't hungry, but I didn't want to upset my brother, so I ate a bit of toast. 
Will came out in a black t-shirt and pants, he had some eggs, but didn't have the appetite to finish them. Mom came back from the shed and had some breakfast as well. 

Once we all finished our breakfast. Will and Jonathan went to go dig a hole next to Castle Byers.
I stayed inside and watched Punky Brewster on TV until people started showing up. 
There was a knock on the door, and when I went to answer it, it was Dustin. He was wearing all black. He wasn't wearing his hat and his expression matched mine. 
He immediately engulfed me in a hug. I returned it tightly. He kissed my cheek and slung his arm around my shoulders. 
We went to sit down on the couch, watching TV until the door knocked again. 
I answered it to see Mike. 
"Hi Mike," I said. He opened his arms and I hugged him. I invited him in and told him Will and Jonathan were digging the hole. We went and joined them out back. A few minutes later, Lucas and Max showed up. Lucas went to help with the hole while Max stayed here with Dustin and I. 
A few minutes later, El and Hopper showed up. Hopper went to help with the hole and El came and watched Punky Brewster with Dustin, Max, and I. 

Once the episode was over, the four of us went outside to check on things. When we went outside, it looked like they were almost done.
"Is the hole almost done?" I asked, sniffling. Dustin gripped my hand to comfort me. 
"Yeah. Almost," Jonathan replied. 

                                                                             ***

Once the hole was finished, mom brought out Chester, wrapped in a blanket. We all gathered around. Will and I were going to perform the burial since he was our dog, technically and Will and I had picked him out at the shelter. 

Mom placed Chester in the 5 foot hole.  "Do you two haven anything to say?" mom asked, directing it to me and Will.
"Thank you...for uh, being there when no one else could," Will sniffled.
"Thank you for comforting me through the darkest of times when I felt alone," I sniffled. 
"Anything else?" mom asked. Will and I exchanged looks and shook our heads. 
I then reached down and grabbed his collar and placed it in my pocket.

The burial began. Will and I shoveled the dirt mixed with the snow. This wasn't the first time I buried an animal. I buried my dead hamster when I was 9 when she died. I named her Zipper because she was really fast on her wheel. It was satisfying, watching her for minutes on end. 

Once Chester was buried, we went back inside and Hopper started to carve a head stone for him. I really liked Hopper. He was like a dad since Bob died. At first he was kinda like an uncle when Sarah was around because she and I were friends. I also envied El. Not in a bad way. I just found her really lucky to have someone like Hopper when I didn't have a dad. Also, I envied the band she wore on her wrist. I know Hopper had worn it before he adopted El and passed it down to her as a daughter, but I also would've liked to have the bracelet too. Sarah was my best friend and I think she would've wanted me to have it if Hopper didn't. But, I am an acceptable person and I learned that one of the greatest gifts one can have is of acceptance. And I love El. She's my best friend and like a sister and I would never do anything mean to her. Never. 

The gravestone had said:

Chester
1978-1984
Boy and Girl's best friend

I smiled at that at that and Will and I went to plant the headstone by ourselves.
"He really was our best friend, huh?" Will said as we stuck the headstone in the ground.
"Yeah. He was," I smiled to him. I slung my arm around him and we headed inside. 

Mom had put on a movie and all of us had gathered around the tv to watch. Everyone stayed for dinner and dessert as well.  

Soon Hopper left with Mike and El. Lucas left with Max and it was only Dustin left. He stayed until my curfew. 
"I'll see you tomorrow if you wanted to join the D&D campaign. I know it's been a rough day, but you're always welcome to invade if you decide to come,"
"I'll come!" Will chimed in. 
"Yeah. I'll come," I said, nodding. 
"Okay. See you tomorrow N/N. Love you sugarplum," he said. I leaned in and kissed him. 
"PDA!" I heard Will shout from the couch. Dustin and I chucked.
"Okay, Will the Wise!" I shouted. 

I walked Dustin out the door. I hugged him and gave him one more kiss before he went back on his bike.
"Don't slip on the ice!" I called after him as he rode away.
"I won't I promise!" he called in reply. 
I chuckled and went back inside to retrieve more warmth. 

*end of flashback*

Another tear rolled down my cheek as the memory came back to me. I wiped the tear and started to count the cars that passed by.