"Get in!" Jonathan yelled at Jonah who was exiting his house. It was the first time in a while Jonah had went back home and honestly it was a pretty shitty experience. Derek yelled at Jonah for a straight hour claiming how if Jonah wasn't home more then the cops would start asking questions and Derek would go to jail. Jonah didn't care too much about that part, since he would be happy to see Derek finally get what he deserve and got to jail. However his night didn't end there. Derek invited over some lady he met at a bar and the two made noise all night. Jonah could hardly close his eyes because of how loud it was. Finally, there was no food in Jonah's house which meant he was going to have to go out hungry.
"You look like shit." Ben commented taking a drag from his cigarette he was smoking at the moment. Nancy rolled her eyes and hit Bens arm causing him to wince in pain. Jonathan placed a hand on Jonah's thigh, causing him to turn his head and give Jonathan a grin.
"You feeling ok?" Jonathan questioned.
"Nothing a road trip can't fix." Jonah replied running a hand through his hair.
"Can you drive? I didn't wake up this early for us to sit in the middle of the street." Ben said leaning forward and blowing cigarette smoke in Jonah's face. Jonah turned and shoved Ben back in his seat before facing Jonathan again.
"You heard him. Let's get this show on the road."
*******
Jonah let out a sigh as he sat on a park bench along with Jonathan, Nancy, and Ben. Ben of course was smoking yet again and Jonah rolled his eyes when he blew smoke in front of some woman's face.
"Am I the only one who's feeling like we're being watched?" Ben questioned.
"Probably because you're a sixteen year old kid smoking in a park filled with little kids." Jonah replied not making eye contact with Ben.
"He's right. You should put that out." Nancy suggested. Ben rolled his eyes and put the cigarette out on the back of his shoe. Jonah continued to look around the park, feeling a little uneasy with everything that was going on. It all seemed too.......perfect.
Suddenly everyone started staring at the group on the bench and Jonah bit his fingernails to hide the fact that he was terrified at the moment.
"I think we should go." Jonah said standing up. Everyone else followed him and eventually they reached the car.
"Start the car." Ben demanded once he noticed the car wasn't moving.
"What do you think I'm doing?" Jonathan replied once more trying to start the engine. Suddenly Jonah jumped back when he saw a man knocking on the window.
"Trouble with your car sir? I can give you all a lift if you like."
"Oh hell no. This is classic horror movie shit. We gotta go!" Ben exclaimed. Jonah turned his head to see people were slowly surrounding the car, causing him to gulp and send Jonathan a worried look.
"Sure you don't want that ride?"
"Oh fuck me." Jonah whispered as he glared daggers at the man who was knocking on the window.
The group winded up being brought to Hawkins Lab, where Ben was pacing back and forth.
"Ok, when I heard lab, I thought you meant like—-like the good labs where they find cures for like, cancer or something. What the fuck is this?" Ben yelled waving his arms around. Jonah rested his head on Jonathan's shoulder and let out a sigh.
"That's because Nancy sugarcoated the fact that someone died in here. This isn't a cupcakes and rainbows lab. More like one of those labs you'll see in sci fi movies." Jonah explained as Jonathan played with the rings on his fingers. It soothed both of them for some reason.
"Oh god. Am I gonna go to jail?"
"No. Now sit down. You're giving me anxiety."
"Oh, I'm giving you anxiety? I-" Ben was cut off by the door opening revealing Dr.Owens. Jonah had seen him a few times, but they never got the chance to have a full conversation.
"Oh! Not very pleasant in here, is it? Sorry about that. Hospitality's not our strong suit. You know, scientists and all." Jonah took a step back from Dr.Owens and Ben pulled Nancy back in an attempt to protect her. Nancy gave him a thankful look and he just sent her a small smile.
"You're up for a little walk?" Jonah crossed his arms over his chest before making his way out of the room along with Ben.
"Does this happen a lot?" Ben whispered quite loudly. Jonah rolled his eyes at that.
"Just a normal day being kidnapped and such." He mumbled back.
"Men of science have made abundant mistakes of every kind. George Sarton said that? You guys know who George Sarton is? Doesn't really matter. The point is, mistakes have been made. Yes." Dr.Owens stated as they walked down a hallway.
"Mistakes?" Nancy repeated.
"Yes."
"You killed Barbara."
"Abundant mistakes, but, the men involved with those mistakes, the one responsible for what happened to your brother and Miss Hollands death, they're gone. They're gone, and for better or for worse, I'm the schmuck they brought in to make things better. But I can't make things better without your help." Dr.Owens said and at that Jonah stepped forward and raised a brow.
"You mean without us shutting up?" Nancy snapped and Jonah nodded in agreement.
"She's tough, this one. You guys been together for long?" Anger and jealousy immediately flooded through Jonah and he grabbed Jonathans waist pulling him closer.
"No." Ben and Jonah replied at the same time. While Jonah had a hold on Jonathan Ben had his arm wrapper around Nancy's shoulders.
"Wanna see what really killed your friend? Teddy, I brought an audience today. I hope you don't mind." Jonah turned to face what everyone was looking at and when he did his eyes widened.
A gate to the upside down.
Flashback:
"Jonathan? Jonathan where are you?" Jonah yelled desperately as he ran through the upside down. His heart was pounding out of his chest and tears pooled his eyes from desperation and frustration.
"Jonah I'm right here!" Jonathan yelled back as his voice echoed throughout the dark and scary place. The sound of a monster was loud enough to send Jonah running faster then ever.
He needed to be in Jonathan's arms.
Jonathan squeezing Jonah's hand was enough to snap him back into reality. Jonah wiped his watery eyes and faced jonathan who gave him a worried look. Dr.Owens then led the group out of the lab and they were back in the car.
"So is no one going to talk about what the fuck we just saw?" Ben questioned letting out a breath he didn't even know he was holding in.
"I-I don't know." Nancy replied. Jonah pulled his hoodie over his head and rested his head against the window causing Jonathan to frown. Whatever he saw in there must've really messed with him. As the drive went on, Nancy replayed the recording she caught of Dr.Owens back inside the lab before it stopped.
"You sure you wanna do this?" Jonathan asked. Nancy nodded her head and turned her head towards him.
"Let's burn that lab to the ground."
*******
"You think your parents are worried about you Ben?" Nancy questioned as the sun was starting to go down. Ben let out a dry laugh and paused his mixtape that was playing on his Walkman.
"My dad never worries about me. Unless like, social services wants to pay a visit." Ben replied.
"And your mom?"
Ben suddenly felt a pang in his heart when Nancy mentioned his mom. She was a good woman, but Bens father scared her so much she went off running. Nancy was so lucky. She lived in a nice house with two parents who probably loved each other to death.
"She left when I was a kid."
"Oh, I'm so sorry. I-I didn't mean-"
"Do rich people have a habit of apologizing every two seconds?" Ben blurted cutting Nancy off. Nancy just chuckled and nodded.
"Oh yeah, it runs in our DNA or something."
"Oh, well can't say I relate too that."
The two giggled and from the drivers seat jonathan gave a soft smile and turned his head towards Jonah who was fast asleep in the passengers seat. He must've been exhausted.
"Look, I know this is a lot to process, but you get used to it after a while. Trust me, it freaked me out too the first time."
"It'll freak anyone out if you tell them there's an alternate dimension where monsters exist and they collide with our dimension." Ben mentioned shrugging his shoulders nonchalantly.
"You're right about that. So what're you listening too on your Walkman?"
"Queen. I'm obsessed, trust me. I saved up money to go see their concert that I wound up not even going too because there was this major thunderstorm." Nancy laughed at that causing Ben to laugh as well.
"I'll take you to a queens concert."
"Yeah, my mom said the same thing before she ran out."
"Well I won't run out on you. I think you're kind, and you have a good heart. Nothing like your asshole brother." Ben laughed at that.
"Nothing at all. Hey, you take me to a queens concert and I'll take you to California. It'll be fun! I'm sure the beaches over there are much more fun then the beaches here."
"Oh yeah, definitely." The two shared eye contact before Nancy rested her head on his shoulder. Bens eyes widened before he wrapped his arm around her, making sure she felt more comfortable.
And so Ben drifted off to the sound of the rain pattering against the car and Nancy's breathing.
Word count:1,665
yess we stan our future couple making promises to each other 😍
also had to bring up jonahs trauma for this chapter sorry not sorry