Escape ~ S.Harrington

13} Fun at the Funeral

"So, let me check to see if I'm all caught up: You're working with Jonathan?" "Yep."
"And you stole a picture from him in the parking lot that had Barb in it?"
"Uh-huh."
"And now you and Jonathan both think that there's a creature out there, without a face, who attacked Barb and probably Will?"
"You are spot on, Jenna."

Jenna had been listening to Nancy's explanation of what was going on with her for, like 15 or so minutes. Surprisingly, she didn't find it THAT weird taking into account what had been going on with her and the boys.

"So what's the plan, Nance?"
"We're gonna meet up with Jonathan after Will's funeral and talk through a plan that we can work with."
"Ok, sounds like a plan."
"You're not going to question anything?"
"Nope. I think I'm set. I trust you, Nance. Plus, you're one of my most trustworthy friends. I hope NOTHING ever ruins that for us."
"Jenna, we are best gal pals and nothing could ever destroy that or our bond over annoying little brothers."
"Fair. I'm tired, can we go to bed now?"
"Sure, sounds like a plan to me!"
"Alright then, goodnight, Nance."
"Goodnight, Jenna."

~

Morning rolled around and Jenna had to head back to her house so she could get into her funeral clothes. She threw on the only black dress she had, which was way too tight and she hadn't worn the damn thing in years. Dresses were NOT her thing. She brushed through her hair so she at least looked semi presentable and grabbed her black Converse. She wouldn't be caught dead in dress shoes unless it were for an occasion, like a dance, plus she didn't have any black ones.
She met Dustin and her Mom in the kitchen, then went to the car so they could head to the funeral.

Once at the funeral, Dustin and his sister met back up with the party, minus El for obvious reasons, and put on their 'I'm sad that my friend is actually dead' frowns. Everyone gathered in a semi-circle around Will's casket and listened to a priest bless Will's soul. Jenna stood behind the boys to make sure no 'funny business' was happening, and sure enough, her brother started causing it.

"Just wait till we tell Will that Jennifer Hayes was crying at his funeral," Her brother told his friends.
"Shut it, dickwad. We're at a funeral," Jenna said while smacking the back of his neck.
"Ow..." He whispered from his sister's slap.

Eventually, everyone started throwing roses into the grave with Will's casket. Jenna walked up to talk with Joyce afterwards. She saw Joyce as a mother figure and wanted to check in with her.
"Hey, Joyce," She said, calmly approaching the grieving mother, "I know this is a stupid question to ask but, how are you doing?"
"I'm ok..."
"No. I want the full truth. Here, let's step off to the side to talk for a sec."
"That'd be nice."

The two women walked a few feet away from everyone so they could have a more private conversation.
"So," Jenna started, "Tell me what you think is really going on. I could see it in your eyes that something isn't right with this funeral for you."
"Jenna, you're gonna think I'm crazy."
"Well, I myself am a bit crazy, so I probably won't."
"Ok then... I don't think that that was Will's body. And I keep hearing him through the lights in my house and, and in the wall. I could almost touch him through the goddamn wall! He kept calling for me but then a monster showed up and I just kept yelling for him to run."
"What kind of monster, Joyce?"
"I don't quite know for sure, but I don't think it has a face. God, I'm sorry. You most definitely think I've lost my sanity."

"Joyce. Keep this between us for now, kay? I don't think that that was Will's body either AND I've seen a picture with a monster like how you described. Now, don't tell anyone that because people are going to think you've lost more sanity than they already thought, got it?"
"Oh, Jenna!" Joyce exclaimed while wrapping her hands around the girl, "I was hoping SOMEONE would believe me. I'm so happy it's you! And I'll keep my mouth shut, don't worry. I have Lonnie staying with me right now and he's right on my case. Thanks Jenna."
"Anytime, Joyce. Now, get your ass back with everyone else and pretend like it's Will. People will get suspicious if I'm hogging your attention."
"I'll talk with you later, Jenna."
"I was hoping you would."

Jenna walked off from Joyce to find her brother, and then Nancy.
"Hey, little bro," She said, tapping him on the shoulder, "I'm gonna check in with Nancy and Jonathan. Don't get into any trouble, got it?"
"No promises," He told her, "And the boys and I are going to talk with Mr. Clarke about a theory. I promise not to tell him what's actually going on."
"Alright, scamp," She said while ruffling his hair, "Be careful."
"Will do, Jen."

Jenna saw Nancy and Jonathan walking over to a few other graves and yelled, "Wait up! I'm coming with!"
They all walked behind a fence together and started their plot.
"This is where we know for sure it's been, right?" Jonathan asked while holding a sheet of paper in his hands.
"So that's..." Nancy said while pointing at the paper.
"Steve's house," Jenna finished.
"And that's the woods where they found Will's bike," Jon said, "And... that's my house."
"It's all so close," Nancy commented.
"Yeah," Jenna stated, "Exactly. It's all within a mile it looks like."
"Whatever this thing is," Jon added, "it's... it's not traveling far. "
"You want to go out there," Nancy said while looking Jonathan dead in the eyes.
"We might not find anything," He told her.
"I found something," Nancy said, "and if we do see it... then what?"
"I stab or shoot its ass, that's what!" Jenna yelled at the group, "Or we just kill it somehow, I guess."

Jonathan led the girls over to his car where he started to jimmy open the glove box.
"What the hell are you doing, Byers?" Jenna asked him.
"Just..." He said while struggling to pop the lock, "Just give me a second."
Jon pulled out a gun and a bit of ammo. Nancy was not having it.
"Are you serious!?" She yelled at him.
"What?" He questioned, "You want to find this thing and take another photo? Yell at it?"

Jon hopped out of the car and Nancy said, "This is a terrible idea."
"Well, Nance," Jenna told her flatly, "it's the best we've got. I mean, you could go tell someone, but they'd never believe you and you know that."
"His mom would," Nancy said.
"She's been through enough," Jon defended.
"She deserves to know," Nancy said.
"Hey," Jenna added, "I've, uh, had a nice talk with Joyce, to put it nicely, and we don't need to bring it up with her right now, kay? I handled it. Now, let's go kill this son of a bitch!"

~

Each of the teens had gone back to their houses to change and look for whatever weapons they could find. Jon already had his weapon and said that he would go to the woods first to set up some 'target practice'. Jenna just threw on some jeans and a green zip-up with a striped shirt underneath. She also ran around the house hunting for what could be used as a weapon. So far, she found a tennis racket, the toaster, an empty bottle of vodka from under her bed, and a hunting knife. She still needed to check the storm cellar, though. Down there, there were a couple paint gallons and a conveniently placed crowbar.
"Well, I guess that's lucky for me."

Jenna drove over to Nancy's to pick her up so they could go meet up with Jonathan. As she was pulling into the driveway, none other than Steve Harrington was pulling out.
"What happened with his ass?" Jenna asked Nance.
"Oh, nothing," Nancy replied back, "He was just apologizing for acting like a total dick when it came to Barb disappearing and he asked me to go see a movie with him tonight but I can't for obvious reasons, and..."
"Nancy. Calm down. Right now, lying to him is the best thing for his safety, now get in my car, we're going hunting, bitch!"