JULES HAD no sign that the Byers were alive. So she went with plan B the next morning. Knock on their front door like a maniac until they open.

"I know that's you, Jules." Jonathan spoke from behind the door, opening it hesitantly.

"Thank god. You're alive!" She grinned. "I was really getting worried there." Jules crossed her arms, tapping her foot on the ground.

"I assume you've heard about Will." Jonathan shook his head. Jules nodded, uncrossing her arms. "We have food...If you would like to join us." He suggested.

"I'm fine. I already ate and just wanted to see if you were alive. But, thank you. Um, see you at school? Hopefully?" Jules stepped back.

"Hopefully." Jonathan nodded at the Henderson girl.

═ ∘◦❦◦∘ ═

JULES WALKED through the school hallways. She couldn't find Jonathan, a sense of worry in her stomach. She eventually found him pinning Will's 'have you seen me?' posters on to a bulletin board.

She took the stack and started handing them to him when he needed them. She thought about all the happy memories she had with Will. She was like the big sister he never had.

"I think you've studied enough, Nance." Steve stated, taking the study cards out of her hands.

"Steve—." Nancy started, trying to grab her cards again.

"I'm telling you, you know, you got this."

"You told me that last week. And guess what? I failed. Your magic failed me all mighty Steve Harrington." Ty interrupted, causing Tommy and Carol to smile.

"Don't worry. Now, on to more important matters. My dad has left town on a conference and my mom's gone with him, 'cause, you know, she doesn't trust him." Steve ignored Ty with a shake of his head, trying not to chuckle.

"Good call." Tommy chuckled.

"So are you in?" Steve asked.

"In for what?" Nancy asked, confused.

"No parents? Big house?" Carol explained further.

"A party?" Nancy questioned.

"Ding, ding, ding!" Carol said.

"We have a winner." Ty teased. Tommy laughed, hitting Ty's shoulder in a joking manner.

"It's Tuesday."

"It's Tuesday!" Tommy mocked. "Oh, my God."

"Come on. It'll be low key. It'll just be us. Invite like, 2 other people. What do you say? Are you in or are you out?" Steve asked.

"Oh, God. Look." Carol said as she spotted Jonathan and Jules by the bulletin board. Everyone turned to look. Ty cleared his throat, looking away momentarily.

"Oh, God, that's depressing." Steve noted.

Jules talked to Jonathan about some music she recently found. Jonathan nodded along to her words, focusing on pining the new poster onto the board.

"Should we say something?" Nancy asked, staring at them with sympathy.

"I don't think they speak." Carol said in a snarky tone.

"How much you want to bet he killed him." Tommy scrunched up his nose.

"I don't—I don't think he did." Ty denied, with a shake of his head, his voice slightly cracking in the middle of his sentence.

"Shut up." Steve shoved Tommy. Nancy decided to walk away from then, leaving the others behind to stare.

"I'll tell you more about it later." Jules' words came out rushed and unclear that it made Jonathan raise an eyebrow.

"Hey." Nancy announced her presence. Jules firmly put her lips together, nodding her head slightly.

"Oh, hey." Jonathan responded kindly. You could tell that he was surprised.

"I just...I wanted to say, you know, um...I'm sorry about everything." Nancy turned to look at Steve and his friends, seeing as Jonathan and Jules flashed a glance their way. "Everyone's thinking about you." She faced forward again. "It sucks."

"Yeah." Jonathan nodded.

"I'm sure he's fine. He's a smart kid." Nancy finished, the school bell ringing.

"I have to go." Nancy chuckled. "Chemistry test."

"Can I talk to you later, Jules? I have an invitation for you, as they call it." Nancy asked, pointing to Tommy and Carol.

"Yeah. Of course." Jules agreed, furrowing her eyebrows.

Jonathan ended up leaving school. He was going to see his Dad to ask him about Will. And now, Jules was all alone again, just going through her routine as she normally would.

═ ∘◦❦◦∘ ═

     NANCY CAUGHT up to Jules in the school parking lot. The Henderson girl had completely forgotten about her question for her and she just wanted to go home.

"Hey, Jules." She greeted. "I was wondering if you wanted to come to Steve's place for like, a really small party?" Nancy asked, gripping her books in her hand tighter.

"A party? When Will's missing?" Jules paused. "I don't think that's a good idea." She stated, speaking slowly and squinting her eyes.

"Oh, I—I mean I understand that. But, I know you worry about Dustin a lot. Felt like you needed some stress gone." Nancy tried her best to convince the girl.

"Will Ty be there?"

"No." Nancy lied.

"Okay. Fine, I'll go." Jules sighed, shaking her head.

"Great! See you later."

═ ∘◦❦◦∘ ═

     JULES MET up with Barb and Nancy in front of Steve's house. The girl had to admit it, Steve had a nice house.

Music blaring could be heard inside of the house, Nancy moved her hand to ring the doorbell. Jules sighed. She did not want to be here.

"Barb, chill." Nancy glanced at her best friend, who you could tell was nervous.

"I'm chill." Barb responded.

"No, you're not." Jules shook her head, which got Barb to agree with her. Steve opened the doors to his house, revealing himself.

"Hello, ladies." He greeted.

═ ∘◦❦◦∘ ═

     "I'M LEAVING." Jules froze, seeing the one and only Ty Hopper standing near Steve Harrington's pool. She narrowed her eyes at Nancy, who gave a sheepish smile in return.

"Oh, come on, Jules. Have some fun." Steve frowned. He might not be the nicest person ever, but he at least wanted her to stay.

"I would but," She paused, nodding her head to along own words. "Nancy Wheeler here, told me there would be no Ty Hopper at this 'small party'."

"Why don't you just ignore each other?" Steve frowned again but this time, in confusion.

"If only if we're that easy." She scoffed, walking to the opposite side of the pool, where no one sat.

Tommy picked Carol up by her waist, taunting her that he'll throw her into the pool. He didn't since Carol kept yelling the word 'no!' repeatedly.

Steve pulled out a beer, pierced it with a pocket knife, and then chugged it. Jules cringed. He was definitely trying to impress Nancy.

"Is that supposed to impress me?" Nancy asked once Steve sat down on the pool chair. Jules didn't hear the rest of the conversation as she wanted to try as well.

"I think I can do it faster." Jules shrugged. Steve raised an eyebrow.

"Oh, yeah? Why don't you go ahead and try." The Harrington boy challenged. Jules walked up to the cooler, and did the same as Steve. Just a little quicker by a couple of seconds.

"I hate to admit but, that was just a little faster than me." Steve shrugged. Jules looked at him with a shrug.

"Just a little." She winked. Jules walked to to side of the pool where Ty stood. They gave each other tight lipped smiles before turning their attention towards Nancy.

"You gotta make a little hole right in—." Steve instructed her carefully. Jules focused on the Wheeler girl's actions, tapping her foot slightly.

"I got it." Nancy interrupted, doing as told.

"Yeah, she's smart, you douche!" Tommy laughed. Ty looked towards Jules, swallowing the lump in his throat and beginning to speak before he was interrupted with his friend's chanting.

"Chug. Chug. Chug." Steve started chanting. "Chug. Chug. Chug." Tommy and Carol also began. Jules sighed, slowly beginning to chant as well.

"Barb, you wanna try?" Nancy asked, turning her attention towards the girl who obviously didn't want to be there.

"What? No." Barb responded quickly. "No, I don't want to. Thanks." She repeated, Nancy going up to her.

"Come on." Nancy tried her best to convince the Holland girl.

"Yeah..." Steve noodle in agreement. "Come on. Yeah." Jules stared at them in disbelief, her mouth parted slightly. Really? She thought. Peer pressure?

"Nance, I don't want to." Barb repeated more firmly.

Ty stared at his friends. We're they just friends? Or were they just peer pressuring him? No. The second option can't be it. Ty asked them to be his friends.

"It's fun! Just give it a—." Nancy tried again.

"Nance..."

"Just...Just give it a shot." Nancy nodded, getting Barb to stand up.

"Okay." Barb gave in with a sigh. She grabbed a beer, beginning to hesitate on her actions. "So you just..." She muttered. Jules and Ty gasped when Barb's hand slipped, causing her to accidentally cut herself.

"Gnarly." Tommy chuckled, smiling slightly. Jules looked at him in disgust.

"Are you okay?" Nancy asked. Jules rolled her eyes, huffing.

"Yeah." Barb assured her.

"Barb, you're bleeding." Nancy stated, trying to check Barb's hand.

"I'm fine. Where's your bathroom?" She answered again, turning her attention towards Steve for the second part.

"Oh, it's...It's, uh, down past the kitchen, to the left." He nodded.

"Okay. Thanks."

Ty walked up to Jules, standing in front of her. Jules stared at him for a second, waiting for him to speak.

"Hey...Jules." He gulped, nodding his head slightly.

"Hi, Ty." Jules responded, pressing her lips together firmly. "So, what's up?"

"I just wanted to see how you were." He stated, putting his hands in his pockets.

"Oh, um, I'm good. What about you?" She asked.

"Oh, my, God! What the hell, Tommy?" Carol suddenly exclaimed. But the two teenagers ignored her, putting all their focus onto each other.

"Uh," He turned towards the splashing slightly, turning his attention back to Jules. "I'm good, too."

"That's good...Um, I have to get home." Jules pointed to the door. Ty followed her gaze, looking at the door and nodding.

"Oh, right. Well, get home safely and I'll see you around." Ty waved slightly.

"It's a small town." She shrugged, walking towards the door. Nancy and Steve looked at each other, and back to Ty who was smiling to himself.

"Guys!" He exclaimed, walking toward the edge of the pool that everyone was in. "I think it went well!" He grinned. Steve and Nancy nodded.

"Whatever helps you sleep at night." Tommy loudly whispered. Ty glared at him, going to sit down in one of the pool chairs.

author speaks!
you guys should interact more.
i love hearing your thoughts.
also, thank you to sadieszn , who
helped me with the jules and ty
conversation!!!

jules and ty argue!
first interaction with us, ty.
how do you feel. - jules
i feel great! - ty