"YOU READY TO HANG THESE?" CARLA ASKED, HOLDING UP A ROLL OF TAPE AND A SIGN.

Jonathan gives a nod, taking half of the sign stack from a nearby desk, as well as his own roll, and begins hanging signs on walls, boards—wherever he could. Carla too began to hang her own stack of 'Have You Seen Me?' signs, moving away from her friend so they weren't working in the same spot.

The two had been given permission to hang signs before class that morning—the school feeling pity for Jonathan and his mother—and Carla was at her friends side to help. Jonathan informed her that Hopper had returned during breakfast, stating that nothing had been found of his brother, which gave the Wheeler even more motivation to help. If they hung posters, maybe more people would open their minds and start becoming aware of the situation.

Her own breakfast had been tension filled—Mike asking Nancy on what her test was, before stating it was on human anatomy, which almost caused Carla to choke on her orange—and she needed something to distract her mind from thinking about what Nancy and Steve had been doing in her room. Will's posters did just that.

Though they'd started before classes, students were still piling into the school, cliques all grouping together. Different parts of different conversations were hitting Carla's ears—something about how Eddie Munson was a total freak, and there's no way you're making the football team, bro—as well as the usual high school talk; girls about the hottest guys or the newest drama, the boys on who they got to second base with, and what sport they're planning on trying out for.

But, there was a few conversations dedicated to Carla herself, as well as Jonathan.

As students entered the building, weird looks started coming Carla's way. Usually, she didn't care if people talked behind her—so what if she hung out with Jonathan Byers, the school freak? He was a better friend than they ever could be, and so what if she and Steve dated last year? They were over—but she was starting to care about the entirety of the school as people started to comment on the fact she was hanging posters for Will.

It was the fact that Will was missing, and people were laughing that got Carla pissed off. It was a completely fucked thing to do—and too many people were doing it for her to brush it off. She'd at least caught five groups of teens gawking at her, as well as four more staring at Jonathan, one of which containing Tommy H., Carol, Barb, Steve and Nancy out of all people.

Hanging up her last poster, Carla walked over to Jonathan, who still had a few left to hang. The boy paused to look at her as she spoke, "Okay, I'm finished. I'm gonna head to my locker, unless you still need me."

"That's fine. I'm almost done, anyway." Jonathan turned back to the flyer he was hanging up, "See you later."

"Bye." Carla replies, heading off towards her locker, which just so happened to be where Steve and his group—as well as Barbra Holland, who was there for Nancy—stood. Her sister brushed past her and over to Jonathan, which she didn't question. Nancy had no problem with the Byers boy, and was more than likely going to share her apologies about the situation.

Passing Barb, Carla thought she was clear of Steve and his friends, but was clearly not as Steve appeared at her locker. He plastered a smile on his face, a stupid yet charming smile that had charmed almost every girl at Hawkins High. "Hi."

"Can I help you, Steve?" Carla dialed in her locker code, opening the door and grabbing a chemistry book and a few more supplies she'd need for Chem.

"Well, I was going to invite you to a party." Steve replied, giving his ex the same invite he'd given his girlfriend a few moments beforehand. "My place, tonight."

Carla shut her locker, leaning against it as her eyes met with Steve's, "And why should I go? It's a Tuesday night and I have much more important things I could be doing."

"Because it'll be fun." the Harrington replied with a small amount of pep in his voice, which went ignored by Carla as she gave him an unimpressed look, "Look, it'll be Tommy, Carol, Barbara, your sister, and us." He gave a small smile, "Fun, right?"

"Wow. Sounds so fun." Carla rolls her eyes, exaggerating. "Tommy and Carol are my favorite people."

"I promise they won't be assholes." Steve promises, though she doubts he really means it. He just wants her there—why, Carla doesn't really know.

"Fine, I'll go." she gives in with a sigh, watching as his face lights up, "Happy?"

"Very." Steve replies, "See you tonight. 8 o'clock on the dot."

Heading back to his group, Carla rolls her eyes yet again and sets her gaze on the Byers boy, who was currently on his way back to his car—he wasn't going back to school yet, which Carla understood. With an idea in mind, she brushed past the Harrington boy and his friends, meeting the boy halfway into the parking lot.

"Do you have any flyers left?" she asked, to which, while confused, the Byers boy nodded. He handed them over, unsure on why his friend wanted more. She never gave an answer, and instead ran towards Hawkins Middle, yelling, "Thanks!"

Running past biking kids and parents dropping off their kids, Carla looked around the lot to find two familiar boys rolling their bikes up to school. Spotting them, she called out, "Boys! Wait!"

When she approached, Lucas was first to speak, looking over at her with annoyance, "What do you want? I shouldn't even be talking to you. You lied. Friends don't lie." When he saw her open her mouth to explain, he cut her off, "Oh, and don't 'baby boy' me about this—"

"I know, I know. I lied to you guys, and it's the top rule and I broke it." While wanting to apologize to the boys, she didn't have time. Eventually, they'd understand why she did so. "But, can you please hang these up around the school? Not for me, but for Will?" She extended the hand full of papers towards the boys.

Lucas took a quick glance at the flyers, snatching them from her grasp once he realized what they were, wheeling his bike towards the school without another word afterwards.

Carla let out a slight scoff as she watched him. She knew she lied but that was a little tough. Then again, he'd just lost one of his best friends—if she lost Jonathan, she'd be pissed too.

Dustin gave an apologetic look, and was about to start walking off when the older girl noticed her brother's appearance—or lack there of. "Hey, where's Mike at?" He'd been perfectly fine at breakfast, and wasn't anywhere else in the lot.

"Oh, uh...." Dustin trailed off, looking everywhere but at the Wheeler girl, cursing as he did so, "Shit."

"Dustin?"

"He—He didn't feel well on the way to school and decided to go home." the Henderson boy quickly spoke before running off towards Lucas, leaving Carla confused in the parking lot. Something was definitely up with these boys if Dustin had to lie—which he totally was.

Carla decided she'd look into it later, and instead headed back to her own school to take a chemistry test she hadn't studied for.

The day had passed slowly, and Carla wasn't in the mood to do anything other than lying on her bed with her cassette player, listening to music. She'd need it if she was going to spend the night with Tommy and Carol.

But, instead, she found herself heading for Jonathan's car, not to go home, but to go to his father's house. He'd decided to do so at his house that morning, and Carla decided to go with him for moral support. Lonnie had always been tough on his oldest son, and the Wheeler wanted to be there if he needed her.

Passing by Tommy and Carol's car, the red headed girl gave a fake smile, chewing her gum in a rather annoying fashion. "See you later, Carlie."

Carla returned the fake smile before hopping into the passenger seat of Jonathan's car, the boy giving his friend a confused look at the small remarks. "What does she mean?"

Carla gave a shrug, "Steve's holding a party with a few people. I decided to go—" the girl paused as she noticed the Byers boy giving her a knowing look, quickly sending him one back, "What? Why are you looking at me like that?"

"Nothing." Jonathan shrugged, starting up his car.

The rain had begun to pour once they made it to Lonnie Byers' house. It wasn't too special compared to Joyce's in Hawkins, just more taken care of and neater—he had the money to fix things, and re-design. It was the newer looking car that made Carla feel sick. While Joyce was struggling to feed her two boys, Lonnie was buying new vehicles for his own enjoyment.

Parking the car in front of a different house, Jonathan exited the vehicle, "I'll just be a second. Stay in here."

While she'd usually be against staying in the car, Carla knew it would be better if she did so. Lonnie wasn't her favorite person, and was some-what of a creep—Jonathan didn't want his father making comments on her.

Listening, she watched as he slammed the door and ran through the rain to get on to the porch of the house. The Byers boy looked through the window of the door, before beginning to slam his palms onto it, trying to grab someones attention.

The door opened, and from what Carla could see, a woman with brown ratty hair—who also looked decently young—was standing in front of Jonathan. She supposed this woman was the new girlfriend who had hung up on Joyce the day prior.

Jonathan stood at the door for a minute before brushing right past the woman, who followed after, seemingly yelling at him.

It wasn't long before Carla heard her friend loudly talking to his father—an argument more than likely happening. "Then why didn't you call Mom back?!"

Carla knew Jonathan was easily offended by words, especially from his father, and wasn't the best at sticking up for himself. She also knew Lonnie wouldn't go easy on his son, and decided she wasn't about to sit in the car and let her friend get possibly hurt.

Getting out of the boys car, Carla ran through the light rain and into the house, the ratty-haired woman immediately yelling. "Hey, what do you think you're doing? Get out of my house!"

Carla gave a quick apology, "Sorry, but I—" she saw the two men outside, and the girl quickly ran outside to make sure her friend was okay.

As she came up to her friend, Lonnie looked the brunette girl up and down, causing Carla to feel sick. She hated the way his eyes stayed on her as he spoke, "Who do we have here?" He finally peeled his eyes away from the Wheeler and back to his son, "This your girlfriend? Because, honestly, you could have done better."

Carla would be offended if it came from any other mouth than Lonnie—who, based upon the beer cans and other substance bottles she'd seen inside the house—was probably drunk every other night, and truly didn't have a say on what his son did. She didn't give a fuck what he thought of her.

Jonathan blew up at the comment, "No! This is Carla! Do you remember, Carla? Or are you too drunk to remember anything, like your own kids?" His father gave a slightly surprised look at his son's words, which the Byers boy ignored, pressing a 'Have You Seen Me?" poster to his father's chest. "In case you forgot what he looks like."

He then grabbed Carla's arm, and walked away from his father without another word.

mara's misc!

jonathan is starla shipper #1 ya'll have to get behind him. he was giggling inside when carla stated she was going bc he knows damn well why she said yes.

anyway lonnie is trash so goodbye to his musty ass after this episode. really unsure on how he pulled a queen like joyce and ended up with kids like my bby will and jonathan, (who i still hate but not as much as lonnie).

its honestly kinda ironic how jonathan is besties with carla yet i hate him.......

hope you enjoyed <3 see you back for chapter 5, aka you know what.