50- Love is Confusing

Summary: Will likes Bob, which is why he's confused on why Johnathan doesn't. That is, until he talks to his brother and finds out why.

Requested by: Section8grl

Will sometimes didn't understand Johnathan.

Like, why he didn't like Bob Newby, the guy their mom was dating.

Of course, Will wasn't super excited about the whole ordeal and he didn't know how to feel about Bob, but he was glad that his mom was happy.

But Johnthan?

Will was pretty sure that he was happy for their mom as well, but really didn't like Bob.

Why?

That was what Will intended to find out.

So, when Johnathan and him were listening to 'Time After Time' Will decided to turn down the music.

Johnathan turned to him. "What's wrong?" he asked.

Will stared up at his older brother, then decided to just ask the question that's been nagging at him

"Why don't you like Bob?" he blurted out. "I mean, I know that it's weird to see mom dating but you just seem you really don't like Bob."

Johnathan stared at him until he let out a long sigh, dragging his hand down his face.

"Look." Johnathan started but immediately stopped.

The two brothers sat in silence as Johnathan thought of what he's going to say.

"I don't not like Bob." Johnathan stated slowly. "It's just..."

"Just what?" Will was starting to grow irritated. "Why don't you 'not' like Bob?"

"Because I'm pretty sure mom is in love with Hopper!" Johnathan finally exclaimed. "And I'm pretty sure Hopper feels the same way."

Will was taken aback.

What the crap?

"What- what make you say that?" he finally asked.

Johnathan's hands were running through his untamed hair.

"Will, come on." Johnathan gave him a look. "You've seen how they act around each other."

Will sat in thought for a moment then nodded slightly.

Hopper and Joyce did act different around each other.

And Will and Johnathan witnessed a couple of those moments.

Johnathan looked up when he heard laughing.

He was currently grocery shopping for his mom at Melvad's, where she was working the checkout counter.

Johnathan was expecting it to be Bob, he'd been coming around more often, but it was Hopper.

"Hey! They have a sale on Cocoa Puff, can we-" a voice called from behind him.

Johnathan turned and saw his little brother coming down the aisle, cereal box in hand.

"Is that Hopper?" Will asked.

Johnathan simply nodded.

"Huh. I haven't seen mom smile like that in a while." Will innocently commented, then got distracted by what was in his hand. "So? Do you think we can get them?"

Johnathan nodded absently, still focused on the two adults.

Joyce suddenly tipped her head back and laughed at something Hopper said, her smile huge.

Will was right, their mom hadn't smiled like that for a while.

Johnathan drummed his hands on the steering wheel.

He knew Will loved hanging out with his friends, but couldn't he be a little quicker getting out to the car?

Johnathan was humming along to a song he knew vaguely when something caught his eye.

Joyce and Hopper were walking along the sidewalk, side by side.

They both had bags in their hands, bulging at the seams.

Were they shopping?

Together?

There was a tap on the glass.

"Hey, you gotta unlock the door." Will called through the window.

"Sorry!" Johnathan unlocked the door.

"It's alright, sorry I was late." Will said, climbing in and buckling his seatbelt.

Unlike the time in the grocery store, Will didn't see Hopper and Joyce, but Johnathan kept looking at how close they were to holding hands as he drove off.

The time that confirmed that Joyce and Hopper were in love was when he was walking through the police station after signing some paperwork.

Still 8 months later and the government had a tall stack of papers that they needed them to sign.

Johnathan was minding his own business, strolling down the hall when he heard it.

A whimper.

Johnathan hated to snoop, but he looked in the closest office that had its door open.

What he saw shocked him.

Hopper had Joyce in a tight hug, with her sobbing into his shoulder.

Johnathan stood there for a moment then decided he already overstayed his welcome.

Johnathan booked it out of there, his mind still processing what he just saw.

Finally, his brain concluded one thing.

That Joyce and Hopper were in love.

"Johnathan?" Will asked. "Did you even hear what I just asked?"

"Hmm? Sorry, spaced out there for a minute." Johnathan told his younger brother. "What did you ask?"

"Why do you think mom is with Bob?" Will asked again.

Johnathan rolled this question around in his head.

"I'm not completely sure," Johnathan said. "But maybe mom thinks she's providing us with a decent father figure."

"Couldn't Hopper be one?" Will asked, eyebrows scrunching together.

"I don't know Will." Johnathan told him, laying down on his bed.

Will joined him and the two of them stared at the ceiling in silence.

"Love is confusing." Will finally declared.

Johnathan let out a chuckle.

"Oh, for sure." he agreed. "For sure."

AN: Hope you liked it Section8grl! Oh my gosh! 50 prompts! Ahhh! I can't believe it! Thank you all so much for all of your requests and reviews! I love reading them and I will try to be getting to all of them soon! Requests are open!