In the entrance hall of Hawkins High, Donnie found Steve standing with his two closest coneheads, Tommy and Carol. His hands were on his narrow hips and his eyes were fixed on something near the doors. Her cousin was so tuned in that it took him a moment to respond to her fist bump on his bicep.
"Hey, boogers," she addressed the trio, charmed by the adoring pull Steve gave to her hair, and after being discreetly nudged in her side, she widened her tunnel vision, noticing the girl Nancy Wheeler hung out with standing to her left. "You're not a booger," she decided, upper lip scrunching at the sight of stiff frills, "but hey."
"Hey-" Nancy the Second began to say before being crudely interrupted by gum-chewing Carol.
"You look like shit, Hammond." Carol sneered, a devious grin appearing on her squirrely face.
Tommy tightened his arms around his girlfriend, turning his head to laugh in her lust bruised neck. "Yeah, she looks like she was fucked upside down."
Their shared laughter was shrilling, motivation for Donnie's eyes to roll and her tongue to kiss her teeth. She glanced at Steve for clarification. He waved twitching fingers around the perfect mold of his hair before settling his hands upon her head, swiping downwards to tame her tresses.
Oh.
"I woke up late this morning," she explained, allowing her cousin to continue his sprucing. "Doesn't matter, really, 'cause I'll always look better than you two combined. You're a disgusting pair. In looks and spirit. And before you ask- again! - no, I won't join you for a threesome. Unfortunately, the promise of pizza after isn't a sufficient enough bribe." She winked at the goblins, grinning when they groaned oh my god, shut the fuck up and oh my god, you're fucking annoying.
"Whatever. You better get your pervy boyfriend before he corrupts Steve's sweet little Nancy." Carol jeered, white face now a shade of pink. She gestured towards the entrance, puffing out a satisfied chuckle when Donnie broke away from the gaggle, a look of distaste twisting her features as she marched over to the two mentioned.
She smoothly stepped between them, hands breezing beneath the hem of Jonathan's jacket to caress warm skin, ears peaking at the conversation taking place.
"It . . .sucks," Nancy trailed off lamely, a sullen look pinching her petite face.
The pathetic exchange itched the envious and possessive muscles in Donnie's core. It was a manifestation of what her boyfriend had wanted since middle school: to be at the mercy of Nancy Wheeler, the sole recipient of her attention. She was certain that if she dropped a hand down his jeans, she'd discover that he'd creamed himself.
"You know what else sucks, Nancy?" Donnie's voice was weighed down by a dismal tone, but her eyes were rolling. "Your poor play at sympathy."
Nancy was taken aback, stuttering, "I—No, I'm—I just wanted him to know that people . . .are here for him. That I'm—"
"Annoying?"
Jonathan inhaled sharply, groaning as he reached out for his girl, "Easy, Don. She was being nice."
Donnie resisted the urge to mock him, even though she was perturbed by how quickly he came to the other girl's defense.
"I'm gonna go," Nancy whispered, turning to leave.
"Why did you do that?" Jonathan asked, feeling flustered under her unwavering gaze.
"What?" She sounded so innocent, long dark eyelashes fluttering prettily, but he knew better. She moved closer, "Fuck up the scene you were gonna add to your spank bank?"
"What are y—do you hear yourself right now?" Jonathan sputtered.
She was an absolute brat. Making a big thing out of nothing to get a rise out of him or satiate her boredom.
"I thought you liked when I talked dirty in school?" Donnie sighed in the concave of his ear, her tongue poking out to flick against his lobe.
"You know that's not what I meant." His hands dropped to her hips, fingers threading the belt loops of her pants. He scrunched the cotton material and shook his fists with every word he spoke, "Listen to me. I have to drive down to my dad's and see if he has Will. The cops won't do it. Can you stay out of trouble?" She gave him a deadpanned look, which made him add, "At least until I get back?"
"I can hold on 'til then," she promised, perking her lips expectantly.
His laugh lines deepened as he grinned, "Good girl."
He kissed her softly.
He kissed her until he found the strength to pull away, planting loving lips on her hairline before walking out the front doors. Once Jonathan was out of sight, Donnie's eyes shifted to the bulletin board they'd been standing next to, brows furrowing. The missing poster he pinned solidified their loss but didn't make it feel any more real.
Hopper shot up from his perch on the principal's desk, thick fingers pinching the brim of his uniform hat. Donnie entered the room, eyes scoping lazily until she brought her gaze down upon him. She brightened and was soon greeting him in that over-the-top way she does, unsuspecting. He meant to say something, anything back but his voice caught in his throat.
"Happy to see you're taking our partnership seriously. So, wha's new?" She claimed the chair across from him.
Hopper stared at her. Mouth open and body stiff. "I . . . I," he tried. Delivering bad news was never easy, especially in such a close-knit town, but he got good at it. Good at dissociating himself from the responses that'd follow. He had a feeling that Belladonna's reaction would tear him up. He decided not to look at her as he spoke again. "What I'm gonna tell you is gonna be very hard to digest. I need you to know that I am here for you," he cleared his throat and rubbed a hand against his hairline, "This morning, your father was found in his diner. Dead. . . Suicide."
The strangest sound escaped her figure—a laugh. His brows furrowed and his eyes rose to gauge her current state. Her lips were raised in a watery smile and her eyes were swimming. Yeah, that did it.
He proceeded to ask if her father seemed off and if she suspected anything.
"Suicide? My baba? You know him," she rose from her seat, accusing fingers jabbing in his direction, "does he seem like someone who would do something so selfish? Do you truly believe he would abandon me?" like my mother did.
She was spiraling. Baby doll face twisting with confusion and other emotions he didn't have the heart to place. He shouldn't have looked up. He scolded himself as his eyes returned to his work shoes. He continued, "Sometimes people hide things from the ones they're closest with-"
"How dare you give me that shit." She spat, and he sprung away like her words were acid. He found himself standing before one of the windows. "There was a kid with him last time I saw him—"
"What kid, Don?" He turned to face her.
"He was still at the diner, waiting for cps. I called to tell him I'd be spending the night at John's. He told me not to wait up. Were they not there?"
He shook his head. "Listen, I'm gonna do my part to keep you out of the system. I made a promise to your parents, and um," he coughed out the lump growing in his throat, "you're my family. Don't—uh—don't worry about your other classes. They've been inf-" he grunted as she slammed up against him.
He returned the hug, his heart shattering as she began to cry.
"You're gonna be okay. Shh."