"Ready for this?" She asks him on the porch to her house.
"Your dad will kill me," Jonathan deadpans.
"No he won't. He'd have to go through me first. And mom, frankly. And Holly. Maybe even Mike," she smiles back.
He's still nervous around her family, mostly her dad, even though they've been together for over a year now. She can't blame him, really. She thinks of her dad as harmless and to be honest a pretty useless jaded guy with seemingly only a passing interest in his children's lives. But she gets that his suffocating silence, stony gaze and dry tone puts Jonathan on edge. He's sure her dad hates him, she herself wouldn't go that far but it's hard for her to deny that he at least doesn't care much for Jonathan. She doesn't get why, since Jonathan is the best. But then again her dad is the most boring person she knows so maybe it's natural he doesn't like the funniest. But to be honest maybe Jonathan's right in his suspicions that it's because of his stutter ("he thinks I'm an idiot") and/or that he's "too poor and not good enough for you".
"Plus, he'll hear about me being accepted by Columbia first. That's gotta put even him in a good mood, his eldest being accepted into a great school," she continues.
"S-sure, but then your mom will ask me and I'll tell t-them about NYU and then we'll have to tell them about our plans of l-living together in sin and that's where I see this going south," he continues in his slightly sarcastic tone.
"Listen to me," she begins and puts her hands on either side of his face, drawing him in close. "Demogorgon. Mind Flayer. My father. We've battled well against two, I think we can take the third too."
That draws a chuckle which is all she wanted. She gives him a kiss before they head inside.
"Oh honey I'm so proud of you!" Her mom positively beams over the dinner table. "That is wonderful! Congratulations!"
"Thank you," she smiles.
"Yes, congratulations honey," her dad says. With… well his voice is at least not completely devoid of emotion for once. "What happened to Northwestern? Or IU?" He then asks in his 'neutral' tone which is really not neutral, she knows by now.
"Northwestern was just a backup, Columbia was my first choice. And I didn't apply to IU," she calmly explains.
"Hm. Nothing wrong with IU. I went there, you know."
"I know, I never said there were? I wanted to go to Columbia, and I got in!"
"Yes, that's great."
"It is great! So great," her mom chimes in. "We're so proud of you honey."
"Yeah, congrats I guess," Mike butts in using his patented I-don't-really-care-that-much tone.
"Thanks," she says again.
"Oh Jonathan, how about you then? Heard anything?" Her mom turns to Jonathan with a smile. She grabs his hand under the table for support.
"Oh, y-yes actually. I g-got into NYU," he answers with a polite smile.
"Oh congratulations! That's great! Oh Joyce must be so proud, as she should be!"
"She is," Jonathan smiles.
"So, Tisch?" Mike asks.
"Yeah."
"Cool. Congrats."
"T-thanks."
"Well, congratulations," her father says, curtly.
"T-thank y-you," Jonathan politely answers and she gives his hand a comforting squeeze.
"So, New York," her father continues in a short tone.
"Yes," she answers. "We'll both be in New York, isn't it great?" She throws out there, gauging the reaction.
"Of course it is," her mom smiles. Her dad just gives off a grunt.
"We think we're gonna try and find an apartment together, off-campus. Cheaper, plus we'd just constantly be in each other's dorm anyway," she ploughs on now that she's started. She can feel Jonathan grow more nervous. For real, his knee's touching her knee and he's tapping his foot like he does when he's anxious, she can feel.
"That sounds lovely," her mom continues to be enthusiastic, which is no surprise. She adores Jonathan. Her dad just grunts in response again but then opens his mouth.
"You know, you shouldn't pick your college just because of a boy."
"What? I'm not!" She's flabbergasted by his take.
"Really? Seems to me there's a lot colleges you could go to, but you're set on the one that happens to be in the same city as his."
"Now, Ted…" her mom admonishes.
"T-that's n-not h-how it h-happened," Jonathan says, nervously but right to her dad's face. His stutter has really become much better in the last year, but it becomes prominent when people make him nervous or anxious.
"I'm going to Columbia because I want to become a journalist and they're the best at that! Don't you listen?"
"Hm. Just seems like you've already made all these plans together. Hm. Just saying, high school romances are all well and good but they don't usually last now do they?" Her dad bluntly continues and she's exasperated.
"W-with all d-due r-respect Mr. Wheeler," Jonathan starts instead, and ignores all eyes, including her dad's condescending gaze, falling on him and powers forward. "T-that's a p-pretty stupid n-notion."
"Excuse me?" Her dad challenges and glares at Jonathan.
"N-nance is g-gonna be the b-best j-jou-journalist in the w-world and that's why she's g-going to C-columbia. She told you s-so. She d-didn't pick it for me."
Her dad scoffs condescendingly at Jonathan's stutter. She has to hold herself back from going at him for it. It infuriates her. But Jonathan ignores it and just continues.
"A-a-and… I l-love Nancy and t-this," he gestures between them, "i-isn't just a high school th-thing and i-it wouldn't end just b-because of d-dis-dis-…" he's heated and gets stuck on the word so she squeezes his hand again and jumps in before her father can with more condescending bullshit.
"Distance, it wouldn't matter if we went to college in different cities, I love Jonathan and he loves me and that's what matters and thankfully it just so happens that our dreams happen to match up nicely like this which is great, why can't you just be happy for us?!"
Her dad has no response to that. She's had it, she's done with this. She gets up from the table and Jonathan follows. With his hand clutched in hers she marches out to the hall with him right behind her. They can hear her mom giving her dad some choice words and then come their way. They halt in the doorway.
"Oh you don't have to leave like this," her mom pleads.
"Please mom, I just can't with him tonight," she pleads in response.
"Oh well. You guys go, enjoy your evening. Ugh, I can't believe him sometimes. I'll talk to him. I'm so happy for you, both of you! And I think living together sounds like a great idea!" Her mom responds.
"Thanks," she says.
"T-thanks. And thanks for d-dinner, it was delicious," Jonathan adds.
"Oh thank you," her mom smiles and pulls first Jonathan and then her into hugs.
"Thanks for standing up for me," she tells him when they're alone outside, walking in the nice spring evening.
"You'd have done it yourself I just c-couldn't help myself. Your dad can be a real idiot," he replies, stutter less noticeable now when it's just the two of them.
"I know. But anyway, thanks. And screw him, doesn't matter what he thinks. What matters is this, she tells him and gestures between them like he did earlier.
"Right," he says and presses a kiss to her temple.
Four years later…
"S-sometimes, people don't say what they're r-really thinking."
Jonathan takes a pause after saying it and looks right at her. She smiles and nods to him. They've worked on the speech for weeks. He's worked on the exhibition for months. The nod means good start and good length on the dramatic pause, continue now.
"Capture the right m-moment, it says more."
He's so amazing. So talented, so hardworking. He graduated top of his class from Tisch this spring. He couldn't decide between artistic or journalistic photography – so the genius built a course-load consisting of both and aced all of it. And now… boy have the two of them both been on a roll these last few months. Especially him. They both graduated this summer. With honors. He'd already been headhunted by this art gallery to do this autumn exhibition even before graduation. And one day in the summer she came home to their apartment to tell him she had applied for a position as junior staff writer at the New York Times. Amazingly, he had smiled his crooked smile and told her he'd just gotten off the phone with one of his old professors who'd encouraged him to apply for the position of junior photographer because the professor could put a good word in. And did. And even more amazingly, they both got the jobs. They're a team, ready to take the world by storm. Ready to get to the truth of everything.
"Street photography is all about t-the moment."
They've both worked their asses off. Especially Jonathan, using his free time to work on the exhibition. But it's fun. They're both doing what they want to do. And they're together. He's capturing moments in time. But they're both in motion.
"I don't claim to know what p-people are thinking, or saying. I don't know if anyone of us knows. But I think photographs gives us a chance of working it out."
Ms. Lacroix who owns the gallery caught sight of Jonathan's photographs at a Tisch exhibit and it all started there. Now they're here, opening day. Jonathan came home to the apartment one day in a slight panic because "Ms. Lacroix wants me to 'say a few words' at the opening". All these years later public speaking still terrifies him, even though he's gotten so much better at it. Even though his stutter overall has gotten extremely better, it's barely even noticeable anymore when he's just speaking in normal every day situations. When it's just the two of them it's near non-existent because he's completely at ease with her. It's mostly noticeable when he's stressed or anxious. Such as when he's speaking in front of a group. She managed to calm him down. Pointed out that he's done this before, that he'll crush it and that she'll help him.
"I think these photographs says something about the people in them, about the streets they were taken on, about the city they were taken in. And maybe also about me who took them. I hope t-they say something to you too."
She told him that less is more really is a good strategy for speeches. She told him it was time to go back to basics, strip everything else away. So they started off with what he told her in the red hue of the Hawkins High darkroom many years ago. And then took it from there.
"Thank you all for coming."
Nailed it. Short, simple and sweet. Letting his photos speak more. She enthusiastically claps like the rest of the room. Jonathan blushes slightly and humbly bows his head. He can't wait for the applause to stop so he can get off, she knows and smiles at him. Next to her Will and Joyce stand, just as enthusiastic as she is. Will is at Tisch himself now – though not in the photography department. Joyce came out to visit now for the exhibition. "I am not missing my eldest first big solo exhibition" as she told them. Joyce is beaming with pride. She's so proud of her boys. Nancy's heard from Holly that Joyce has had Jonathan's photographs and Will's artworks up by the register at Melvald's and has been telling anyone and everyone who will listen (or not even that) about "her Jonathan's big exhibition at a gallery in New York". She relayed this information to Jonathan who went completely crimson upon hearing it, while she thinks it's the sweetest thing ever.
The applause finally peters out as servers steps forth with trays filled with champagne glasses, and Jonathan gets to step down and heads straight towards them.
"You did awesome babe," she tells him as soon as he's reached them. "And congrats again, I'm so proud of you," she continues and gives him a quick kiss.
"Thanks," he answers as she naturally tucks herself into his side.
"Honey I'm so so proud of you," Joyce says and gives him a quick hug and kiss on the cheek.
"You've said that f-five times already today," Jonathan notes through a crooked smile.
"Well I am!" Joyce throws back.
"This is so cool!" Will exclaims. "All these people came here to see your pictures!"
Jonathan bashfully looks down at the ground instead of up at the packed room full of people now milling around looking at his photographs, his art. She bumps his hip and beams at him when he looks at her. He mirrors her smile.
"Jonathan! Humble boy, that was great!" Ms. Lacroix calls out as she swoops down on them, beckoning a server with her and swiftly passing out champagne glasses to them all before taking one herself. The gallery owner is eccentric, unapologetic and a big fan of Jonathan, which makes Nancy a big fan of her.
"T-thanks, Nancy helped me," Jonathan answers.
"It was your words! You did awesome, there's a lot of people here just to see your photos, stop being so modest," she smiles at him and bumps his hip with hers again.
"Yes, it's a great turnout!" Ms. Lacroix agrees and looks around the room at the mumbling mess of people wandering around along the walls. "Compared to other opening nights this is great, good amount of people, good mix of people and hear that sound?" She continues and dramatically pauses. They all listen. They can't hear anything, just the murmur of the room as people look at Jonathan's photos, mumbles about them and talks among themselves.
"What? I just hear a lot of noise of people," Will is the one to say it.
"Yes but it's a good noise! Trust me, I'm a great judge of these noises. You don't want it to be too loud – that means people are talking amongst themselves more than looking at the art, but you don't want it too quiet either, that means people look at it and don't have anything to say about what they see. This is the perfect level. I can already tell you're gonna be hit, Jonathan!" Ms. Lacroix explains. Joyce looks even prouder.
"I don't know," Jonathan mumbles and looks down at his shoes. "Feels awkward to be s-standing here while everyone walks around looking at my photos," he continues. She puts her hand on his back, rubbing it in soothing circles. She gets that feeling. She could only wish to be as Jonathan, but even if she was, she's not sure she'd be brave enough to display it to the world like this, displaying a part of yourself as the art is.
"Oh that's normal," Ms. Lacroix waves it off while reaching out to shake Joyce's and Will's hands. "Louise Lacroix, nice to meet you!"
"Joyce Byers, proud mother," Joyce beams.
"Will Byers, uh, proud brother," Will says.
"Will's an a-artist," Jonathan quickly says.
"No come on-" Will protests, as modest as his brother.
"Ooh, that's interesting! Are you based here too?" Ms. Lacroix asks.
"Uh, I guess, I go to Tisch…"
"Ah, you too? It's a great school. What's your preferred mode of expression? Do you paint, draw, sculpt, photograph…?"
"Uh, draw… and paint some."
"Wonderful! Do you-" Ms. Lacroix cuts herself off as she spies someone across the room. "Excuse me, lovely meeting you all and I'll see you all later but I just spotted Mr. Francis over there and he's loaded with cash and a friend of the gallery, I've got some schmoozing to do," she finishes and hurries off in the direction of some old guy in an expensive suit.
Friends and some of Jonathan's old professors take turns coming up to them to gush about the exhibition. Jonathan is continually flustered by all the praise, he's so modest and uncomfortable in the spotlight, and it makes his stutter a bit more noticeable. No one else seems to care, or even really notice it but she knows he himself is infuriated by it which just makes him stutter more. So she helps him in the way that's become second nature to her, to them when carrying conversations when he stutters. She takes some of the load off of him by finishing his sentences when she can tell he's about to get stuck on a word, she fills in gaps, butts in and adds on to his sentences, to give him time to breathe and collect himself. They've found it's a good way to cope with it. They know each other so well they can finish each other's sentences all the time, usually she doesn't because she loves to hear him speak but in situations like this she does, to seamlessly alleviate him without anyone else thinking twice about it, she knows no one bats an eyelash at it, it's really not surprising to anyone that they are "one of those couples" as her friend Amanda once said.
Soon as she gets the chance though, when there's a brief lull in people coming up to talk to them, she leads Jonathan outside, to get some much needed fresh air. They sneak out the back and finally find themselves alone. He leans back against the brick wall and she can tell how he's instantly relaxed when it's just them, him and her. That makes her happy, will always make her happy.
"How's New York's best photographer doing?" She smiles softly and steps in close in front of him, fiddling with his shirt collar.
"Better now," he smiles down at her.
"This is a great night," she tells him.
"I know. It's just a-awkward to be in there with everyone coming up…"
"I know, I get that."
"I'm happy mom could come out."
"Me too. She's so proud of you."
"I know."
"I'm so proud of you," she tells him again.
"You've said that."
"I know, but I really really am. So proud. You've worked so hard, you've put your heart and soul into this. And it has turned out amazing, as I knew it would. You're great Jonathan. You're so talented, so hardworking and so brave. No, don't roll your eyes, I'm serious," she pokes him in the chest. "You are. And you need to know how unique that is. To be this talented and combine it with your work ethic. There's lots of talented people, and there's lots of hardworking people. But it takes both to succeed and you have it both in bunches. And you're the bravest person I know. You're brave in every way. Obviously in the going face-to-face with a monster way-"
"You did too," he interrupts, blushing.
"Don't interrupt, yes I did but whatever, we're both brave but this is about you. You're incredibly brave in that regard. But also in whole other ways too, like this. Displaying your photos, your art, displaying pieces of your soul like this. That's brave. I sure haven't done that. And on top of it you face your fears of public speaking and stand in front of the whole crowded room and speak from the heart. I know you don't like it when I go on like this about you and you always try to turn it around on me but I need you to get that you're amazing."
When she's finished he looks at her for a half-second. Then his lips are pressed against hers, his hands are pulling her in close and then go into her hair. She eagerly responds to the kiss, deepening it before they pull apart. He rests his forehead against hers.
"I love you," he tells her.
"I love you," she tells him.
"And fine. We must be an awesome couple then since you're even more amazing than-"
She silences his him with another kiss.
"Hush, can we call it a tie?" She smiles.
"Fine," he answers before capturing her lips again.
Six months later…
Jonathan's been a bit odd lately. It's nothing major, she can't quite put her finger on it. When she asks him he says he's fine. It's just… he's been stuttering more around her than he's done for a long time. As their relationship grew and he grew more confident in it he just became more relaxed around her and stuttered less and less. Because "You make me comfortable". He barely stutters at all anymore when it's just the two of them unless he's particularly stressed about something. But he says he's fine. And there's no reason for him to be particularly stressed now. Sure there's a lot going on at work but not like it's worse than last fall. But for the past week he's been stuttering like he hasn't done around her since high school really. But then again, maybe it's nothing. It's up an down with this stuff, sometimes he has a good day and sometimes a bad day and it's no big deal. It's just odd… usually doesn't last for a week like this.
Maybe it'll pass. It's Saturday morning and they both have the whole weekend off, maybe that's all he needs, to relax, she thinks as she stretches out in bed and rolls over to cuddle into him. Only to find emptiness beside her instead of the nice warm cuddle-bug she expected. Huh, he must already be up, she thinks and listens. Yep, she can hear him in the kitchen. She silently wishes for him to be standing there making pancakes right now. Jonathan and pancakes, that's all she needs this morning she feels. Yawning, she swings her legs over the edge and rises from the bed. She heads to the bathroom for a shower.
Stepping out of the shower she just throws on panties and one of Jonathan's t-shirts before venturing into the kitchen, she'll hear from him if he's thought of any special plans for today but as far as she's concerned she'd be content to just basically snuggle up with him on the couch the whole day.
She finds him in front of the stove, more properly dressed in pants and a shirt.
"Yes!" She calls out, startling him a little. He looks up. She points to the frying pan he's occupied with. "I was hoping for pancakes," she smiles. He breathes out and chuckles. "Hey," she continues, walking up to him and wrapping her arms around him from behind.
"H-hey," he responds. She leans up and kisses his cheek. "S-slept well?"
"Yeah, you?"
"Yeah," she answers while setting the table,
He stutters like before, she notes. Odd.
"W-what do you want t-to do today?" He asks.
"I don't know, what do you know want to do?" She answers while getting juice, maple syrup and jam from the fridge as he's finishing the last few pancakes.
"I t-thought maybe we could go for a walk, later? I d-don't feel like going out tonight. I was t-thinking I could c-cook instead?" He nervously suggests as he comes over with the stack of pancakes and sits down opposite her.
"Sounds great, I didn't feel like going out either. I just want you," she tells him.
"A-and pancakes," he smiles.
"True," she grins and digs in. "Luckily it's a package deal."
They sit and enjoy breakfast, enjoy each other's company. But his slightly odd behavior keeps gnawing at her.
"Hey, you okay?" She finally asks.
"Y-yeah, why?"
"You sure you're okay? You seem nervous."
"N-nervous? Why w-would I be?"
"I don't know, but you seem like it. You're stuttering like you just do when you're stressed now, you haven't stuttered to me like this since high school. I don't mind it, I'm just wondering, is everything okay?" She lays out.
"Yeah, a-all good. Are you good?"
"I'm fine! Also you keep tapping your foot like you do when you're anxious," she further observes. His foot immediately comes to a halt, she can tell. "Why are you anxious? It's just us, you and me. What's eating you?"
He's quiet for a second, thinking. Then he breaks into a grin, smiling and shaking his head.
"Damn y-your observation s-skills…"
"Sorry, can't help it," she grins back. "But seriously, what's up?"
He gets up and starts clearing the table. She remains seated, waiting. She knows he'll tell her when he's ready. He takes his time putting the dishes in the sink, pensive, thinking. Then he turns and looks at her. Looks at her with so much love and adoration it puts a big smile on her face. A smile takes form over his features too. He seems to make his mind up. He steps forward.
"N-nance… I love you. I l-love everything about you. H-how brave you are, b-bravest in the world. How s-smart you are. T-the smartest in the world. How k-k-kind you are. How f-funny you are. How b-beautiful you are. I-inside a-and out," he begins, stopping himself to silently berate himself for stuttering and stumbling, she can tell. His words makes her heart swell. He's standing in front of her now. She takes one of his hands in hers, rubbing her thumb in gentle circles over the back of it to calm him, let him know it's okay. She wonders where he's going with all this. A passing thought that he's working up to a proposal invades her brain but she quickly shoves it aside. Not think like that. Just listen. "Y-you're p-perfect. It a-amazes me that you are t-the bravest, smartest, k-kindest, funniest, most beautiful person in the w-world, all at once. A-and that y-you being that s-still want… m-me." He stops again and looks her in the eye.
"You are, and I do," she softly says. He nods and readies himself to continue so she doesn't say anything else, she doesn't want to interrupt him. The intrusive thought of where he could be headed returns. Blood rushes to her head and she feels butterflies in her stomach.
"T-that's amazing to me. You're amazing. You s-saved Will, saved my mom… saved the whole w-world… I've been in l-love with you since we were 16. You make me a b-better person. You make me h-happy, you make me s-stronger, b-braver. You support me. I w-want to always support you, I'll do anything for you. I c-can't imagine my l-life without you." He pauses and lets out a deep breath.
Okay now she's pretty sure of where he's heading. She quells her instinct to just shout yes and jump his bones here and now because he's obviously prepared his words and she knows how hard he must've worked on them, always struggling with his confidence in delivering speeches, but together they always get it. But this he's done alone.
"I w-want to do everything with you. I want t-to always be with you. Seriously you m-make every situation b-better just by b-being there and b-being you. I w-want to see the world with you. I'd say I'd want to g-give you the whole w-world but I know you'd do a better job of t-taking it yourself. B-but I'll do anything for you. I love you." He drops to a knee in front of her where she's still sitting on her chair and from his shirt pocket produces a simple but elegant ring. "S-so, N-nancy Wheeler would you marry me?"
She can't help but stare at the ring for a second. Then back to his eyes. He's looking up at her with an earnest but nervous look. Like he's somehow incredibly unsure of her answer and anxious for her reply.
"Of course!" She finally bursts out and throws herself at him, tackling him to the kitchen floor. He somehow manages to catch her without dropping the ring and holds her close on top of him while she grabs his face and plants a big kiss on his lips. He lets out a deep breath she didn't realize he'd been holding and smiles up at her. She beams down at him.
"Really?" He asks.
"Of course you doofus, what did you think?!"
"I don't know!"
She plants about nine more kisses all over his face before he halts and moves his hand from her hip to grasp her hand and brings it up between their faces. She holds out her finger and he gently slides the ring on it with his other hand. They both marvel at it for a second. Then she captures his lips again.
"I love you, I love you, I love you," she repeats to him. "Everything you said, Jonathan everything… same back to you. You're the bravest. The smartest, kindest, funniest best person I know and you make everything better and I never want to be apart from you. I love you I love you," she giddily gets out, so amped to get her thoughts and feelings out after refraining from saying anything before since she didn't want to interrupt him.
"I love you," he responds and kisses her again.
She grins down at him, she can't stop smiling from ear to ear. His change in demeanor is so clear, the nerves, the stutter has disappeared again. So this is what he's been anxious about all week. Suddenly she's very aware of something.
"I can't believe you proposed to me when I wasn't even wearing pants!" She exclaims. He chuckles.
"Well I wasn't going to, I was going to do it tonight but then this relentless investigative reporter got me with her astute observations and I couldn't keep it in any longer!"
"Oops," she grins. "I'm glad you did, now that I'm engaged to you I feel like I couldn't have taken another second being not-engaged to you!"
"Me either," he grins and pecks her lips again. Before turning serious. "Sorry it wasn't… eloquent, I wanted to do it better, but I just got nervous and…"
"Hey, it was great. It was eloquent. It was beautiful. Perfect," she tells him.
"I don't know…"
"It's not how you say it. It's what you say. But for the record you said it well too. Because it was straight from the heart. I knew."
"It was."
"I love you so much," she tells him. She can't stop saying it.
"I love you," he responds. "We're still on the floor," he then notes with a chuckle.
"Oh, right," she laughs and gets up off of him before giving him a hand to get up. Not just any hand, the hand now adorned with a ring that promises to seal and confirm what she's known for years now. That she belongs with Jonathan. Forever. "Hey that walk you you mentioned before," she continues. "I don't really feel like it anymore. I can think of another activity…"
He takes one look at her. With a glimmer in his eye he picks her up and carries her off to their bedroom. She giggles into his neck as she holds on to him. She's had pancakes. Now Jonathan is all she needs.