I PREFER HIM OVER YOU !

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ALEX HAD PUT ALL OF HER TRUST INTO THE BOYS TO WATCH OVER THE GIRL THEY HAD FOUND. It wasn't hard for her to put full faith in the boys and for them to allow Alex into their party. She knew there was no one she could trust more. That young girl was someone that Alex couldn't seem to get out of her head, causing her to be more distant than usual in school.

Nancy Wheeler had been so focused on studying for her chemistry exam coming up that Alex had been certain that she had been in the dark about the girl hiding out in her house. Still, listening to Barb run through flashcards, Alex couldn't focus on it and Nancy was going to pass her exam anyways so it had only seemed pointless at this point. Barb had glanced over to Alex with concern, noticing her eyes focused on the floor with her books clutched tightly to her chest. "You okay, Alex?"

Briefly glancing up to Barb, Alex gave a small shrug, "Late night, I guess. I've been worried about Will..."

Not listening at all, Nancy had given a tap to her notecards when she had noticed that Barb had failed to continue. "Come on. Next question."

Sending Nancy a small glare, Barb was not too impressed by her inability to notice the strange behavior of their friend. Still, she had cleared her throat in a disapproving manner until continuing with the chemistry questions written down.

These questions did not last long as the three had continued down the hallway. Ready to round another corner of the halls before class, Steve had spotted them and was not too thrilled with their lack of entertainment. In a swift motion, he had taken the cards from Barb's grip-- which had been easy given she didn't really care to study-- and he continued by wrapping on arm around Alex.

Following along, Tommy had tickled inside Barb's ear while Carol had given a small yank to Nancy's hair. Instantly, all three of the girls had brushed away the people that came to annoy them, causing them all to huddle together as Steve rifled through the notecards. "I think you've studied enough, Nance. I'm telling you, you know, you got this." Bringing his eyes up from the notecards, his eyes instantly flicked over to Alex. "She's got this, right, Alex?"

Letting out a small sigh, Alex forced a smile to her face as she looked around the group. "Yeah, totally."

Taking note of the strange behavior in Alex's tone of voice, he decided to try and cheer her up. Of course, if he had asked her to hang out with him he would not hear the end of it from Tommy and Carol. It didn't help the fact that Nancy had been looking up to him with a sparkle in her eyes. So he settled on a more inclusive idea. "On to more important matters. My dad left town on a conference and my mom's gone with him, cause, you know, she doesn't trust him. So are you guys in?"

Confused, Nancy shifted her eyes over to Alex in hopes of getting some understanding, but as she had been all morning-- Alex was seemingly out of the conversation. Shifting her eyes back to Steve, Nancy asked, "In for what?"

"No parents? Big house?" Carol questioned as if it were only obvious. For Nancy, it clearly wasn't, she wasn't big on parties.

"A party? It's Tuesday."

"It's Tuesday!" Tommy mocked, unable to contain his laughter. Rolling her eyes, Alex had tried to help Nancy out. "It's not really a party. I mean, it'll just be you guys. More like a double date than anything."

"It'll be lowkey," Steve confirmed. It still had bothered him that from the sound of it, Alex was not at all interested in coming to his so-called party. "It'll just be us. What do you say? Are you in or are you out?"

Nancy's nerves had spiked as she had considered it. Already her mom was unwilling to allow her anywhere outside the house, especially in the dark, since Will's disappearance. She hated thinking it, but she wished the Will hadn't ruined so many plans for herself already this year. Before she could speak up, only willing to go if Barb and Alex would come with, Carol had already pushed everyone's attention behind the three girls.

At the same time, Nancy and Alex had glanced over their shoulders to see Jonathan Byers back at school. Only this time, he had been hanging up posters without a thought about heading to any of his classes.

Before even considering dismissing herself from her friends, Alex was keener on seeing Jonathan after she had left him last night. Rushing over, she had never seemed less distant from anyone causing all of the group she had left to exchange glances. "Freak love," Tommy whispered, earning a hard punch to his arm from Steve.

As Alex approached, Jonathan had been trying to escape, assuming that maybe for once someone would be trying to comfort him on his missing brother. It was a relief when he had seen that Alex was there and he knew she wouldn't pity him. "How's the search going? If Hopper's giving your mom trouble, I will kick his ass if you want."

"We got a phone call," he admitted quietly. Shifting his backpack back onto his shoulder, he kept his head low. "I don't think it meant much. My mom doesn't think so though. She's sort of freaking out thinking it's Will."

Alex had debated telling him about the girl that they had stumbled across in the rain. Only she had known how Jonathan thought. He was one to quickly dismiss any ideas of anything strange happening and it would only be a matter of time before he would repeat the story back to Hopper which would only lead to further chaos. "I know you hate hearing it, but most of the time your mom is right about these things."

"You only say that because you like her," he mumbled. "But you were right about my dad, about seeing him. I'm gonna go there after this and see if he has Will or even heard from him."

"You're going to see Lonnie?" she questioned in disbelief. "Can I come?"

Shaking his head, he felt it was better for her to stay behind. Having Alex anywhere near Lonnie felt like a nightmare. Not to mention he'd be embarrassed to show exactly who his dad was. She had only ever heard stories and that was enough for her to hate him. "It's okay. There's a test today so you should stay, uh, you know, take a break."

"Maybe I don't want to."

"I'm making you and I think my mom would make you too. Besides, you can tell me all the answers when I get back. That'd probably make me feel better, you know."

Managing a smile, Alex had nodded her head in agreement. Stressing about school should be Jonathan's last worry and if that was the way she could help— she was willing. However, that didn't stop Jonathan from making her feel less helpful than she already felt. Extending out a few sheets of the missing person flyer he made for Will, he hoped she'd take it. "Maybe you could give one to your mom. Maybe strap one on to Mews and have her run around town or stick it to your brother's back, I don't know. It'd help a lot so I could see Lonnie."

Taking the fliers, she couldn't stop herself from smiling brightly. It was a way to not only help Jonathan now but also Will. Knowing Jonathan had needed it before seeing his father, Alex threw her arms around her neck, pulling him against her. "You kick his ass if he has Will or not," she whispered. The second she had pulled away, she had noticed a sheepish Nancy standing by, waiting to speak to Jonathan herself. "Call me later," Alex whispered before leaving the two to talk.

As Alex had tried to gather up Barb to head to class after knowing Nancy left her with the people she hated the most, Tommy and Carol felt the need to speak about what they had witnessed.

Smacking her gum loudly, Carol looked Alex up and down, "Better be careful, Alex." If it had not been for her popularity and spending time with Tommy, Carol had always felt that she would've been much closer to Alex. Sometimes, she wished she had been but high school popularity had been more important than having someone around you liked. A part of her had envied Steve for still trying to stick to their friendship when she couldn't have one of her own.

Tommy, on the other hand never cared about Alex Henderson. He hated her for bringing down Steve's popularity, which only brought down his. Frowning, he finished a thought Carol couldn't seem to finish up. "Hang out with the freak, become the freak. We can't hang with people like that, and you wouldn't wanna lose us for him, would you?"

Barb couldn't take the idea of listening to Tommy explaining himself to Alex on why she needed them when it was clear she never did. But this had caused her to leave and leave Alex all to herself with the group. Feeling uncomfortable with Barb gone and Tommy's eyes locked on her, Alex gave a small shrug. "I actually would prefer him over you."

Licking his lips, he took a step towards her. "You're hilarious, you know that, Alex? Almost couldn't tell you were joking."

Still annoyed with Tommy's cluelessness, Alex just nodded her head in response. "Cool. I'm gonna go."

"Don't you wanna walk to history together?" Carol questioned. Alex had shaken her head in response. "I have to stop at my locker and I wouldn't want you late because of me. I'll see you there though. Save me a seat?"

Carol had nodded her head in response and grabbed onto Tommy's hand to pull him away. There was one person that seemed to not care if he had been late. Following behind Alex, Steve had felt the need to apologize for last night and if he had to get down on his knees and beg for forgiveness, he would. "I know you saw me last night, and I'm sorry. I'm an asshole."

"Doesn't help you guys make fun of Jonathan. Which, by the way, isn't cool at all," she called over her shoulder. "No offense, but I really couldn't care less about you ditching me for Nancy last night. Just wish you told me."

"Okay, Jonathan, he's just... weird."

Scoffing, Alex had paused at her locker and sent him a dangerous look. "Jonathan's a really good friend. Something you're not exactly being anymore."

"I promise no more making fun of him. But the Nancy thing..." Steve cut himself short when he saw the look that Alex had given him. It was annoyance and frustration mixed all into one. He tended to get this look a lot. "Don't give me that look. I wanted to tell you but I didn't know how you felt about, you know, Nance and I being together."

"I don't care. Just quit lying to me."

"Then come to the party."

"You mean me being the fifth wheel on the double date? No way," she scoffed. But the pleading look in Steve's eyes had caused her to want to give in. She had conditions, however. "I'll only go if Barb comes."

"Barb can come. Anyone you want can come," he stated, his grin growing knowing that she was willing to come.

"This doesn't mean I forgive you." Pulling one of Jonathan's papers out, she pushed it against Steve's chest. "If you give this to your parents when they get back and don't be an ass towards any of the Byers, you'll be forgiven."

"When you come over, you'll see it on the fridge for everyone that steps into my kitchen to see. I won't disappoint you this time." Stepping back, he had looked over the paper of the youngest Byers with a small frown. It had meant so much to Alex for him to stick to his word, and this time, he knew there wasn't any other choice. Looking back up, he saw her finally smiling at him which only made him feel better for choosing her over his popularity.