Chapter Text
Argyle sat at the back of his homeroom class as the teacher introduced a new student. Transferring for his senior year, rough. Was his initial reaction, but he also saw this as an opportunity. Argyle was pretty sociable, he was nice to anyone who found the energy to attempt conversation with him, but he didn’t really have any actual friends. No one wanted to hang out with him outside of the allotted school schedule, so maybe this Byers kid could be his last ditch effort at having that type of bond in his life, make his senior year a little less lonely. After Jonathan’s introduction, Argyle applauded. He did not know what drove him to do it, but it felt like that’s what was supposed to happen. Jonathan gave him a perplexed look, maybe even a little embarrassed, but Argyle just grinned at him. The empty desk that appeared to be reserved for this new peer was the one just in front of his, an ideal situation. Jonathan quietly walked to his seat, wondering how the clapping boy could so easily ignore the mocking stares and whispers of the people around him. The second he had taken his seat he felt a slight kick at the leg of his chair. He attempted to ignore it, opening his notebook, prepping himself for the actual start of the lesson. Another kick. Jonathan let out a small sigh, hoping this would signal to the fluorescently dressed boy that he was uninterested in conversation. A third knock to the leg actually managed to make the chair move, Jonathan whipped around, aggravated. He couldn’t tell if this kid was mocking him, bullying him like those kids had always done back home. Argyle had a huge smile plastered across his face that only grew wider when the new boy finally turned to face him.
“Hey,” he began in an attempted, but overall unsuccessful, whisper. “I’m Argyle.”
Jonathan shook his head as his eyebrows pushed together:
“Ok. Good to know.” his head started to turn back towards the board, prompting Argyle to kick his chair once more. If Jonathan wasn’t such a pacifist he thought he might attack this annoying brute.
“Dude, what is your issue?” he whisper-shouted, hoping to draw minimal attention. When he glanced quickly around it seemed everyone, the teacher included, was wrapped up in their own work. Argyle blinked slowly at him. He retracted his leg back towards himself.
“Nothing, sorry man, I didn’t mean to bother you.” His eyes fell down on his open notebook, the margins filled with scribbles, the pages with half-written notes, trailing off into unrelated thoughts. Jonathan almost felt sorry for snapping at him, but he turned around anyways. The two remained silent for the rest of the class.
The bell rang and students began to flood out of the classroom as their teacher attempted to remind them of the homework. Jonathan stood up and spotted the back of the boy who had been sitting behind him. Over the course of the class he had managed to begin feeling guilty about the way he had reacted to Argyle, deciding that maybe he hadn’t had negative intentions after all.
“Argyle!” he shouted, speed walking between desks to try and catch up with the slightly taller boy. Either he did not hear him or he was purposely ignoring him because he continued on his path into the hall. Jonathan groaned and picked up the pace, bumping past some people who shot him angry looks. “Sorry!” he shouted back at them as he continued. At least it wasn’t hard to keep track of the boy, he was essentially dressed like a giant traffic cone.
“Argyle!!” he tried to get his attention one more time, gaining more attention from the surrounding students. Finally as he began to catch up Argyle stopped walking, causing Jonathan to collide into his back and stumble backwards a bit. Argyle turned around, his very relaxed face turning back into a grin.
“Hey, Byers! What are you in such a rush about?”
Jonathan grabbed his forearm and pulled him towards the wall and out of the way of the bustling students. Argyle looked around them and back at Jonathan confused.
“What’s going on, dude? Aw, man, do I have toilet paper on my shoe again?” He lifted his foot and looked down, surprised to see nothing there. “Aw, false alarm.”
Jonathan shook his head “Nothing’s wrong, Argyle, I just wanted to apologize, for snapping at you in class. I, uh, I didn’t mean to, I thought maybe you were making fun of me.”
Argyle’s bloodshot eyes widened “Oh, dude, it’s no sweat, that was not my plan at all, sorry for the confusion, brochacho.”
Jonathan’s face contorted at the unknown term. This kid felt like a walking stereotype of a Californian.
“So, then, what was your plan?” he asked.
“Oh! Well, I didn’t think that far ahead. I guess the end goal was to be friends, figured you would need one, a friend, being new and all.”
Jonathan’s face softened a little, it would be a relief to have a friend, even if said friend wasn’t the most coherent individual in Lenora.
“Oh, okay, um, yeah, that sounds alright.” Jonathan did not think Argyle’s smile could grow any wider, but it seemed to consume his whole face.
“Aw, hell yeah, dude!” he immediately pulled Jonathan into a very unexpected hug. Not knowing what to do in this situation he simply gave a small hug back, tapping Argyle on the back twice, waiting for a release that took far too long to come. When he finally was freed Argyle began rambling once more.
“What’s your next class? I could walk you there if you don’t really know the layout of the school yet. Or you could go alone, I don’t want to impose. You might get lost, though, so I think it’s best if I go, if you want.”
Jonathan stared at him for a moment. He did kind of need help to navigate the school, but he hoped he wouldn’t talk the whole time.
“I’ve got shop class next.”
Argyle let out a strange laugh.
“No way, dude! So do I! Oh this is gonna be so gnarly.” He wrapped an arm around Jonathan’s shoulder as he guided him down the hallway, pointing out important areas, well-known students, and anything else that might be of use to his new friend.
“You sure know a lot about the people here, you must be pretty popular.” Jonathan said as they turned into the shop class.
“Ah, yeah, I wouldn’t…” Argyle’s face fell a little. “Well I wouldn’t put it that way, I guess I just retain a lot of information, much to everyone’s surprise.” he let out a slight chuckle, trying to alleviate the tension that was accidentally brought on. Jonathan could tell Argyle probably talked to a lot of people, but he thought about his clapping after he was introduced in class. The staring, the giggles, the whispers. Part of him felt that maybe, maybe the people here saw Argyle more as a big joke, maybe didn’t interact with him for the right reasons, and Argyle just… couldn’t tell. Suddenly his talking felt less like an annoyance, and more like a cry for companionship. Argyle released Jonathan, they were now sitting next to each other at one of the shop tables.
“Well, uh…” Jonathan started, unsure of if he was making the right choice. “You’ve got at least one friend right?” he punched Argyle’s arm lightly, awkwardly, it was not a movement he had frequently done before and felt a bit forced, but he didn’t know how else to show he meant what he was saying. Argyle’s smile never seemed more genuine than in that moment.
“Yeah! Yeah, I do, and so do you, right?”
Jonathan smiled and nodded as the teacher walked into class. Argyle dropped his voice to a whisper.
“Hey, uh, if you’re busy you don’t have to, but, uh, I don’t work today if you wanna, I don’t know, hang out after school, or something?”
Jonathan did not expect an invite like that to come so soon. He knew it was a school night, but he doubted his mom would need much convincing, she’d probably just be happy that he had made a friend on his first day.
“Sure, yeah, that sounds fine,” he said with a tight-lipped smile. Argyle, with that dopey smile plastered on his face nodded. “I, uh, don’t have a car, though. It broke down a little while back and I haven’t had the… funds.” he fiddled with his pencil uncomfortably.
“No car? Oh, what! Were you planning on taking the bus to school all year?” Argyle’s face contorted into a look of concern.
“Yeah, me and my siblings don’t really have a ride, my mom works, so.”
Argyle shook his head.
“Nah that’s crap, dude. I’ll give you guys lifts. I’ve got a van.”
Jonathan looked shocked. Was this guy really assuring lifts to and from school for the rest of the year after knowing him for barely an hour? Not just him, but El and Will as well.
“Oh, uh, that’s really nice, but you don’t have to, if it’s out of the way, you’d just be wasting gas we can deal with the bus.” Jonathan must not have sounded very convincing, the truth was he didn’t even believe it himself. If he and Will were subjects of bullying in Hawkins, he was sure it wouldn’t be much different here, and he didn’t even know what it would be like for poor El, already adjusting to so much change. Argyle just continued shaking his head.
“It is no problem, brochacho, you’re my friend I’ve got your back. And I’ll pick you up tonight too, just give me your address and phone number, don’t even sweat it,”
Jonathan accepted and began scribbling his info on a piece of notebook paper, ripping it out and handing it to Argyle, who continued to speak.
“And uh, do you…” he glanced briefly around. “Do you smoke?”
Jonathan scrunched up his face. His mom smoked, he had never liked the smell much outside of the nostalgia of it, and he had vowed not to pick up cigarettes, besides a lot of articles talked about how it wasn’t good for your health, how there could be permanent side effects.
“No, sorry, cigarettes aren’t really my thing.”
Argyle laughed.
“I’m not talking about cigarettes, man.”
Suddenly, Argyle’s whole demeanour made a lot more sense.
Jonathan sat at the kitchen table, his mom was standing by the oven, stirring a pot of pasta sauce. He loved her, but he had to admit her cooking skills were minimal, and spaghetti was a go-to meal in the Byers household.
“So, uh, mom,” he fidgeted with the corner of the napkin he had set at his place. “I was wondering if… if after dinner I could go out with a friend?”
Joyce’s eyebrows shot up as she stared into the red paste, her stirring remaining consistent.
“Well… it’s a school night Jonathan…”
“No no, I know, I’m sorry, I just thought. Well he- Argyle, this kid at school he seems nice and he wants to be friends, I guess, and I thought it might be nice, he seems like he doesn’t have a lot of friends…” Jonathan was semi-projecting onto the boy. He hoped maybe his mom would feel pity for Argyle, or maybe notice that he wasn’t talking about Argyle at all. Either way she seemed convinced.
“Ok. Alright, just don’t make a habit of it, okay? This is a special exception.”
Jonathan gave a half-smile.
“Yeah, of course. Thanks, mom.” He began to stand up, prepping to get El and Will down for dinner.
“So… am I going to meet this Argyle or…?”
Jonathan froze. He hadn’t really intended for that to happen. His mom was the furthest thing from judgmental, but he still feared she might be astute enough to realize that Argyle was in a perpetual state of being stoned, and by extension would disapprove of the friendship. Maybe if he had had more time he could’ve given his new friend some kind of advance warning.
“Oh! Uh, I mean I hadn’t really thought about it… I guess I could ask him to come to the door at least.” He opened and closed his left hand in and out of a fist repeatedly. A habit he had picked up some time in middle school to try and soothe his nerves.
“That would be nice, I’m excited to meet him,” she turned to face Jonathan with a grin. “My boy’s got his first new friend.”
Jonathan forced an awkward smile and nodded before turning to go fetch his siblings. He had to call Argyle before he left. Let him know that he might have to talk to his mom. He turned into his room instead of continuing and picked up the landline Joyce allowed him to have in his room to talk to Nancy. And for a split second he thought if Nancy would approve of Argyle. A thought that vanished quickly as he dialled the number his friend had left him. It rang a few times before a drowsy voice finally answered.
“Cardenas residence, Argyle speaking.”
Jonathan furrowed his brows at the formal greeting.
“Hey, Argyle? It’s Jonathan,”
His friend’s tone shifted.
“Ooooh Jonathan, man! Hey, how are you? What’s up?”
Jonathan shook his head, a small smile playing at his lips.
“I’m fine. Hey, I just wanted to let you know my mom wants to meet you, so you’re gonna have to come in for a bit when you get here.”
Argyle laughed at the other end.
“Oh, your mom wants to meet me? Is she hot?”
Jonathan’s face fell in disgust.
“Oh my God. Not like that don’t say that that’s so weird.”
Argyle continued to laugh.
“I’m kidding, Byers, man, relax. I’m not into older women.”
Jonathan continued shaking his head.
“Just. Be cool, alright?”
“Alright, man, no worries, I’ll be cool as a cucumber.”
The phrasing did not put Jonathan at ease whatsoever but he accepted it. Mostly because he still needed to gather Will and El for supper without causing suspicion as to how long it was taking. He said goodbye and hung up the phone, heading for Will’s room first. He knocked lightly, Will opened the door almost instantly, El was sitting on the floor behind him some cards laid out in front of them. He had been worried about El and her transition into the family, but now that she was here it felt like they had always had a sister. Will spent a lot of time teaching El different card games and board games, he had even lightly begun to introduce her to the world of Dungeons and Dragons. They would rent movies on Fridays and gather on the couch together, El on one end and Jonathan on the other, Joyce and Will squished in between them. They’d share one big blanket and two bowls of popcorn. Jonathan couldn’t even imagine their family without her now.
“Who were you on the phone with?” Will asked, a small smile on his face.
“Was it Nancy?” El piped up from behind, letting out a giggle. The two of them liked to make fun of how often they called each other. Joyce told Jonathan she’d pay for weekly calls but if he went over he had to pay out of his pocket. And he almost always went over.
“What? No, it wasn’t Nancy.”
Will’s eyebrows went up.
“It wasn’t Nancy? Who else could it possibly be?”
Jonathan rolled his eyes.
“Contrary to what you two seem to believe, I have friends you know.”
El and Will shared a glance.
“You do?” El said as she began to stand up. It wasn’t mean-spirited, it rarely ever was coming from her, it was genuine curiosity with the lack of a filter.
“Yeah. Matter of fact I just made a friend today, and he’s coming to get me after dinner, which you two need to come down and eat.”
Both of them scurried so close behind Jonathan as they walked back to the kitchen that he was sure if he stopped it would trigger a cartoonish moment of them knocking into each other, then into him, and all of them collapsing onto the floor.
“Well whose your new friend?” Will asked, practically breathing down his neck.
“His name’s Argyle. Cardenas, apparently. You’ll see him later so don’t start asking a thousand questions now, okay?”
Usually they wouldn’t have actually stopped, but the walk from the bedrooms to the kitchen was short, and they seemed smart enough not to pry in front of Joyce.
Dinner went by in relative silence. Joyce asked about their first days and was met with generic responses of “fine” from Will and Jonathan. El spoke the most, given this was her first day of school ever she actually did go into detail on how her day was, but after that it was back to forks scraping plates and throats clearing. When everyone had finished the kids began clearing the table as Joyce washed the large sauce pot she had left to soak. Jonathan nearly dropped the glass he was holding when the doorbell rang. Joyce looked at him and smiled. Will and El looked at each other with wide eyes. Jonathan placed the dishes on the counter and wiped his now sweaty hands against his jeans as he walked a bit too quickly to the door. He composed himself before opening it carefully, Argyle stood on the front step. His clothes seemed a little less dishevelled than they had earlier at school, and it smelled like he had put on some cologne. His hands were shoved in his pockets and he was rocking on the balls of his feet and muttering something to himself, until he noticed his friend standing in the doorway.
“Aha! Hey, Byers!” He did not wait to be invited in and immediately went in for another hug. Jonathan realized he had befriended a hugger and was trying his best not to regret this decision. He gave another weak hug back before they pulled apart. He glanced to his side where all three of his family members had gathered in a small huddle, staring at Argyle. He probably wasn’t who they were expecting him to make friends with. His bright clothes contrasted Jonathan’s rather dull wardrobe, and his hair came almost down to his waist. He stood a few inches above Jonathan, which meant he was taller than anyone else in the house. Jonathan looked at his family’s faces and back at Argyle who seemed unaware of any surprise.
“Uh, guys, this is Argyle. Argyle, this is my family. That’s my brother, Will, and my sister, El. And, uh, that’s my mom.” He hoped his friend wouldn’t say anything stupid like he did on the phone earlier.
“Nice to meet you, dudes!” Argyle walked over to the group and pulled each one into an individual hug, each one met with a similar reaction to when he would hug Jonathan, confusion and limp arms, at best a weak back pat from Joyce.
“Nice to meet you, too, um, Argyle, was it?” Joyce gave a tight-lipped smile as she looked up at him.
“Yup! Been my name since I was born.” he let out a small laugh and nodded. Joyce laughed as well, though it was more of a courtesy thing.
“Well. You boys have fun, and stay safe.” she said as she herded Will and El away from the two boys.
“Bye Argyle!” El called back as she was made to walk away.
“Bye!” He called back before turning back to Jonathan, who began to lead him out the front door as quickly as he could without coming off as mean. “You’ve got a nice family, Byers.” he said as he pulled his van keys out of his pocket. Jonathan paused at the end of the driveway and stared at Argyle’s ride.
“It’s a- uh…” he thought of the nicest way to point out the obvious.
“A pizza van? Yeah I work at Surfer Boy Pizza. It’s my van, though, they just install the sign, put on the decals, y’know? It’s whatever, at least they pay my gas for deliveries.” Argyle unlocked the van and opened the passenger side door for Jonathan, which he felt probably wasn’t necessary, but accepted anyway. His friend got into the driver’s seat and put the keys in the ignition.
“So, where are we going anyways?” Jonathan asked, putting on his seatbelt and leaning back into his seat. The car peeled out of the driveway so fast Jonathan felt like his heart was still back in the street in front of his house. “Jesus, dude!”
Argyle didn’t seem to care how fast he was going.
“I know a place, Byers.” he said, speeding down the streets of Lenora with the windows down.