Complicated • Stranger Things

5 - The Flea and the Acrobat

The next day was the day of Will's funeral. I was able to find a black dress hidden in my closet to wear for the ceremony. During the burial I stood next to Jonathan and his mom, who was still in denial that that boy was her son.

I knew what it felt like to lose a closer family member, so I understood where she was coming from. She just lost her child, of course she's not going to want to believe he's really gone, but she was going to have to accept it eventually. It was hard on Jonathan to see his mother in such denial.

After the ceremony I found Dustin, who I haven't seen since the night Will went missing.

"Hey, kid. I haven't seen you in forever." I gave him a small smile.

"Yeah, I guess it has been a while." He agreed.

"How have you been holding up?" I asked.

"Fine, I guess." Dustin told me.

"I've missed you! We need to hang out again soon, like old times." I pulled him into a tight hug and he squirmed in my grasp.

"Okay, okay." He said, finally escaping me.

"See you later, Dusty." I laughed and ruffled his hair before walking away.

As I was about to leave the funeral I spotted two familiar heads poking out from behind a gravestone.

"What're you two love birds doing over here?" They both gave me a glare, each for their own reasons.

"We're um...." Nancy started.

"It's okay. She knows." Jonathan told Nancy.

"I know what?" I asked.

"About what happened to Barb." Jonathan answered.

"Oh, you mean about the monster thingy?" I questioned.

"Yeah, that." Jonathan confirmed.

"How does she know?" Nancy asked.

"I'm right here, you know. Jonathan told me what happened the other day. So, if you guys are going on a secret search for Barb, I'm in." I explained. "Just let me know what the plan is."

After Nancy and Jonathan explained to me what was going on we headed over to a car that belonged to one of the people attending the funeral. Jonathan broke into it and started to try opening the glove box.

"What are you doing?" Nancy asked.

"Just give me a second." Jonathan responded. Once he got it open he pulled out a gun.

"Are you serious?" She questioned.

"Cool." I said, examining the gun.

"What? Do you want to find this thing and take another photo? Yell at it? " Jonathan asked as he dug through the glovebox a little longer before shutting it and getting out of the car.

"This is a terrible idea." Nancy said.

"Do you have a better one?" I asked and Nancy just shot me a glare.

"You can tell someone, but their not gonna believe you. You know that." Jonathan added.

"Your mom would." Nancy pointed out.

"She's been through enough." Jonathan denied and I nodded in agreement.

"She deserved to know." Nancy said.

"Yeah, and I'll tell her. When this thing is dead." Jonathan told her and it was silent after that.

We planned to meet up and go into the woods to search for Barb, or the creature, or just something. I found a phone to call home on to let my dad know that I'd be out late, but there was no answer.