chapter five
pizza

FOR what felt like an eternity in the mind of Aries Hopper was now done. Aries was always exhausted at the end of every school day, just dreaming about her bed. About her blankets and getting to be under them and never coming out from under the blankets. Even if her father yelled for her to wake up Aries would stay in bed until he came in and dragged her out of bed.

Everyone's one true love is their bed, because at the end of the day your bed won't leave you. Esme was much like her bed. Comforting and a safe place for Aries. She knew Esme would never leave just like her bed.

"Are you comparing me to a fucking bed?" Esme scoffed confused.

Aries gently smiled grabbing ahold of Esme's hand, "yes you're both comforting and I know you'll both never leave me, now can we please run out of here so I can go lay in said bed" Aries was practically dragging Esme down the hallway trying to get home.

Esme was her ride so of course she had to wait for Esme to do her daily annoy Ayriela and her friends before she left. Just to remind them that she existed and would always be there to torment them.

"Wait that comparison is actually cute, I like it now" Esme smiled ahead nodding to herself.

The girls quickly busted out the doors and stopped seeing Jonathan surrounded by steve and his friends. Both girls froze watching the scene. "I didn't even know he was in school today, he didn't tell us" Esme said sadly.

"Well now we know so let's go see what they're doing to him" Aries was the first to storm over and Esme followed behind her the same angry look plastered on their faces.

"Ohhh look who it is" Tommy H smiled as Aries and Esme entered the circle. "Perfect timing ladies" the boy continued.

"you don't know when to just shut up, do you?" Aries said quickly not even thinking about the words that flew out her mouth.

Esme smiled holding her handout to the side for Aries to high five. Just as the girl did Tommy finally grasped what she said sucking his teeth glaring at Aries.

"What the hell are you guys doing" Aries snapped standing in front of Jonathan. Esme was standing beside the boy making sure no one tried to touch him again.

"Teaching this perv a lesson" Steve's voice was sharp as his eyes stayed glued in Jonathan's direction.

Aries quickly looked over at Nancy who was looking down not making eye contact with anyone. "What the hell are you talking about Harrington?" Esme snapped.

Carol smiled handing Steve photos, steve held out the photographs in Aries direction waiting for her to grab them. She looked back at Jonathan who was staring down at his feet.

Esme's stomach grew tight as she approached Aries side waiting for her to grab the photos. Both girls already had an idea of what it could be and they had a hard time grabbing the photos.

Esme was first to reach out grabbing the photos, Aries peered over seeing photos from Friday night that Jonathan took. Them hanging out by the pool, in the pool, and then there it was. The most concerning photo. There was a photo of Nancy Wheeler taking her shirt off from the back.

Aries jaw tightened looking down at the last photo. Esme pushed them back into Steve's hands rubbing her eyes.

"Still gonna rescue him?" Carol smirked chewing loudly on her gum.

Both girls were stumped, The first few photos weren't as bad, but the last photo was what really got them. The one of Nancy, they were uncomfortable for Nancy and felt horrible.

No excuse could lessen Jonathan's actions because it was terribly wrong. "Okay, I get it but don't fucking push him around" Esme snapped.

Aries was silent glancing over at Jonathan who had tears in his eyes. He was already embarrassed and ashamed of taking these photos but now seeing the look on his two best friends face made everything worse.

"No I'm gonna push him around because he's being a fucking weirdo, and he knows he did something wrong look at him" Steve said walking past the barricade Esme and Aries had formed in front of Jonathan. Both girls immediately turned around glaring at Steve.

"Well that's the thing about perverts, it's hardwired into them" Steve grabbed ahold of Jonathan's jacket collar fixing it trying to intimidate him. "They just can't help themselves" Steve left a rough pat on Jonathan's shoulder before tearing the photos apart.

Aries quickly looked over at Esme who stood watching the scene confused on what to do or how to feel. Tommy H began to laugh mockingly provoking Steve more.

"So... we just have to take away his toy" Steve threw the ripped up pieces in the air turning around to grab something out of Jonathan's book bag.

"Steve" Nancy muttered

"No please not the camera" Jonathan begged. Aries and Esme immediately got into defense mode realizing what Steve was talking about.

"Steve stop, don't touch his stuff" Esme yelled. Carol quickly stood in front of the girl holding her back.

"Get your fucking hands off me" Esme groaned disgusted pulling Carlos's hands off of her.

As Jonathan kept creeping close to Steve tommy rushed forwards pushing him back. Aries was quick to enter the situation shoving tommy back watching him stumble.

"Don't touch him" Aries voice was low which made it all the more intimidating.

Tommy glared at the girl storming forwards, whatever he was about to do she knew for a fact she was about to punch him in the face. Defense.

"Woah, woah, wait, tommy, tommy" Steve said grabbing ahold of Tommy's shoulder pulling him back. Aries and Tommy continued to glare at each other regardless of Steve's intervention. "It's okay guys, everything's okay" Steve smiled. Steve smiled at Aries quickly but she could tell that was not a genuine smile it was a malicious one.

He looked back over at Jonathan not getting too close, extending his arm out with the camera in his palm. "Here you go man" Steve shrugged. Just as Jonathan reached out Steve dropped the camera before he could even grab it. Aries groaned watching the camera shatter to pieces.

Esme was standing with her fist balled watching the scene unfold. Both girls knew they couldn't do anything to stop this. Laughs filled the area and Aries rolled her eyes looking over at Steve and his friends.

"Are you serious?" Aries scoffed angrily looking at Steve. His eyes landed on the girl and smile was no longer plastered on his face.

He looked away staring down at the camera, "come on let's go, the games about to start" Steve muttered. Aries watched as he rushed off and the others followed.

"Boo" tommy whispered in Jonathan's face. He stopped getting a little too close to Aries, "shove me again, and Steve won't be here next time to stop me" tommy threatened.

Aries stared at him unbothered, "okay can't wait for the next time" aries said in a monotone voice clearly not threatened at all.

Tommy laughed in her face before shoving past her, "bye" carol smiled tossing the torn up photos in the air.

Once they were gone and all that was left was Nancy, Jonathan immediately dropped to the floor picking up pieces of his camera. Aries and Esme followed helping him.

The were quiet not saying a word to one another. It wasn't till steve yelled Nancy's name did the two girls notice her staring at Jonathan as she picked up pieces of photos.

Aries watched Nancy jog over to Steve who stood there, he caught Aries eyes and stared right back. Aries quickly flipped him off and he rolled his eyes doing the same before grabbing a hold of nancy and turning around.

Now it was just Jonathan, Esme, and Aries. And of course the awkward silence. No one really knew what to say. Aries picked up the rest of the pieces of the photos while Esme helped Jonathan with his camera. Once the girl got everything she stood up bunching them together, without asking she walked over to the nearest trash can and left all the pieces there.

Aries slowly walked over seeing Jonathan and Esme standing up.

"Guys" Jonathan whispered. Both girls looked at him waiting for him to continue. "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry, I don't know why i did that. I know it's wrong but I just- I don't have an excuse I'm so sorry" Jonathan muttered.

He glanced between the two waiting for a reaction. "Jonathan, that apology shouldn't be for us, it should be for Nancy. You're right there's no excuse because what you did was wrong, but for now Jonathan go give that apology to the person that really deserves it" Aries stared at Jonathan before quickly rushing off.

She hated having to see him like that, having to feel a certain way about him. He was like her brother so her mind was going crazy. But she knew for now even if Jonathan was her brother, she needed to keep just a small distance. Not too much because of course he's going through the will situation but at the same time, he's done something so uncomfortable and terrible.

"Bye Johnny" Esme muttered walking away from the boy and towards Aries. Jonathan stood still watching his two best friends rush off and away from him.

His heart sank the farther they got, and eventually he knew it was time to look away.

Aries Hopper and Esme Lana did not look back once, too scared to see the look on his face.

Right after the Jonathan situation Aries asked Esme to just take her straight home. She knew Madison would probably be coming home late anyways, so waiting for her was not an option. The house was quiet which was rare so Aries took advantage of it and did her homework and managed to clean her room.

On her very last question of her math homework her thought process was interrupted hearing a sudden knock. Aries quickly shot up looking around to see where the sound was coming from.

Another knock filled the room, Aries quickly turned around her eyes landing on her window. Her frightened face fell seeing Enzo standing outside her window with a flashlight.

He was smiling as he waved at the girl, waiting for her to either let him in or tell him to go home.

Aries smiled rushing towards the window and opening it. "Hey, it's late. What're you doing here?" Enzo shrugged before pulling out a box of pizza he was hiding.

"Hey" he grinned knowing he'd won her over.

Aries eyes lit already smelling the pizza through the box, "well then come in" aries stepped to the side grabbing the box from Enzo so he could enter.

Once Enzo was in aries closed her window with her free hand and placed the box of pizza on the floor. Enzo slid off his jacket sitting across from the girl.

"I just came tonight because I wanted to catch up, after Friday you know. I can hardly remember the drive here but I just have a feeling that we had a good time" Enzo smiled.

Aries smile faltered a bit, they both couldn't remember so what really happened Friday night. The girl quickly shook the feeling away knowing she was an over thinker.

"Yeah me either, I don't — I can't seem to really remember much of that night. But I know I had a good time" Aries smiled trying to pull herself together. "Thank you for this pizza I was starving" Aries was quick to change the subject opening up the box.

"No problem, Nancy told me you really liked pizza, and uh— Madison can eat pizza all the time so I figured you're a pizza lover too" anyone could tell he was nervous. Just by the simple fact that he was stumbling over his words.

Aries could tell he was nervous which only made her more nervous, because why was he so nervous?

"You figured right, I am a pizza lover" Aries nodded which earned a proud smile from Enzo.

"Great because if not that would've been my last couple dollars to waste" Enzo took a bite of his pizza not making eye contact with aries.

Aries eyes were glued on Enzo watching him fight for his life to try and not look at her in the eyes. She laughed to herself knowing Esme would find this funny.

Enzo immediately looked up confused seeing Aries laughing to herself. "What's so funny?" The boy asked as aries caught her breath.

The girl shook her head smiling looking up at him, "I was just thinking of Esme, how she'd most definitely laugh at us right now" in awkward situations Aries needed Esme. If she wasn't literally there then she had to find a way to bring her up.

It was just comforting.

Enzo rolled his eyes smiling, Enzo had known Esme long enough to know what the girl would say about the two teens awkwardly eating pizza on Aries Hoppers bedroom floor.

"She'd totally make fun of us" Enzo chuckled as aries nodded.

The two went quiet unsure of what to do or say. It was so much easier when there was no awkwardness between the two. When there was no feelings to get on their way. But at the same time now it was so fun. Just the thrill of seeing one another knowing that there was some feelings there. How your stomach would hurt even at a glance of one another.

It was so different and so fast.

"Hey um — I was thinking, Steve's having another get together at his house next week and I wanted to know if you'd want to come?" Enzo was hesitant on asking knowing that Steve and Aries weren't in a good place with each other.

Aries demeanor immediately changed at the mention of Steve and his house. She cleared her throat shrugging, "I mean yeah sure, but um— promise me if it gets too much we can just ditch?" Aries asked.

Enzo eagerly nodded. Truth was he wanted to be alone with just him and Aries but whenever he was he'd get so awkward and quiet. He felt easier talking to her in front of people even if it was with Steve Harrington and his clown of a friend group.

"Oh yeah totally, I promise" Enzo laughed earning a small chuckle from Aries.

"Alright we're gonna pinky promise this, if you break it we never speak again" Aries threatened holding out her pinky.

Enzo smiled clearing his throat reaching his pink out hooking it onto Aries'. "I take pinky promises very seriously Aries" Enzo's voice was low trying to come off intimidating in a jokingly way.

Aries laughed nodding at his commitment. Before the two could move Aries door swung open and the girl immediately pulled away her hand looking up at the door.

Hopper stood above the teens with his arms crossed watching them.

"Dad" aries shot up trying to distract him.

Enzo quickly stood on his feet, he was about to shit his pants. And so was she.

"Enzo just came over to study we have a uh— a history test in a couple days" aries lied trying to convince her father.

She looked over at Enzo nudging him so he'd go along with the lie. "Oh yes! Very important test, was having trouble so Aries offered to help me" Enzo said flatly.

Hopper stood quiet staring at the two teens. Not a look of rage on his face. It was sadness.

Aries quickly noticed the lack of rage and raised an eyebrow, "dad what's wrong?" The girl dryly laughed confused.

Hopper took of his hat staring at the two, "we uh — we found Will Byers body in the lake" hoppers eyes stood on his daughter waiting for her reaction.

As soon as the words left his mouth Aries heart sank, her face immediately turned pale and tears filled her eyes fighting to come out.

"W-what do you mean? He's missing, he's just missing he's not dead" Aries snapped defensively.

Enzo stood frozen staring down at his feet unsure of what to do with himself. Then he remembered, his brother is gonna need him a whole lot right now.

"I- I gotta go I'll see you at school Aries" Enzo mumbled before rushing out the house.

Aries eyes followed Enzo seeing him walk out, once she heard the door slam her eyes flicked back to her father.

"Dad, you're joking right? This is a sick joke. He's missing he's not dead! Why would you say that?" Multiple voice cracks were heard as the girl yelled in confusion.

"I'm sorry kid, it's him. We just found him" Tears began to fill his own eyes seeing them fall from aries eyes as she shook her head.

The door busted open once more and both of them flew up towards the door knowing it was Madison.

Madison froze seeing her father and sister teary eyed watching her with the same look Miss Wheeler was looking at her with.

Guilt. Sadness. Sympathy.

And just by her expression Aries knew she'd already knew. Aries was the first to move pulling her sister in for a hug as the two girls sobbed on each other. They were both close to Will in different ways. This was a kid they knew and loved. Someone they shared this love for.

Hopper tossed his hat aside pulling both girls into his side sighing as they clutched onto him. And none of them could stop crying. Their fathers embrace made it all the more real.

Will Byers was no longer missing, Will Byers was dead.

authors note.

finally here is chapter five! Here she is in all her glory I hope you love this chapter! It was a bit difficult to write this chapter because I've had such writers block but I had to get a chapter out. Also I wanted to just touch on the topic of Jonathan taking this photos of Nancy and how people literally just forget about it when it should be discussed more! So I don't want to take this topic lightly!! Also yes there are some intentional stuff in here so make sure you pay attention when you read!! Have a lovely night!!

also I didn't get to check for any spelling mistakes or grammar to please don't murder me if there is, thank you 🙏🏽🙏🏽