Chapter Text
It was a sunny afternoon in Montauk as Jonathan’s train stopped at the station. He had this un-easy feeling in his stomach as the train came to a halt. It was not like he was very ‘easy’ ever, but the combination of seeing her mother get married and seeing everyone for the first time in a while made his stomach turn.
“You ready?” Nina — his girlfriend of few months asked, already standing on the isle. That was the third reason for the uneasiness — introducing her to everyone. It was the first time he’d had to do this since the whole group knew Nancy when they started to date. It wasn’t like she’d been pining over him, Will had updated him about Nancy’s new boyfriend who was attending as well. So everything should be fine.
“Yeah, let’s go.”
The couple gathered their things and on the platform, waiting, was Will, their mom and Hopper.
“Jonathan!” Joyce said and straightened her arms for a hug. “Oh you should visit more often!”
“Mom,” Jonathan and Will sighed in unison. The hug was needed, but maybe just a tad too long.
“Okay, I saw you last month mom,” Jonathan groaned and patted her back.
“Joyce, don’t embarrass the poor kid,” Hopper grunted.
“I’m your mom, I have the right to hug you just as much as I want to.” Finally she let go and saw Nina. “You must be the girlfriend.”
“Hi, Nina,” she smiled widely and shook Joyce’s hand.
“So nice to meet you,” she said in response. Will swore that he could see this slight spasm on her mom’s face as the two shook hands. But in a mere millisecond it was gone.
“Should we go?” He asked. “The wedding’s in an hour and we need to get ready and everything."
“Yes, let’s go,” Nina smiled. Jonathan grabbed their suitcase, which was very light since all they had was some nicer clothes and the camera-bag which was a lot bigger than the suitcase.
“Does this really have to be such a production?” Hopper asked, side-eying the camera.
“Oh Hop,” Joyce sighed and swatted his chest.
The five of them walked over to Hopper’s car — it was a nice bonus of the job and hell of a let better than the one he had in Hawkins.
“So, the whole shebang starts in about an hour. But everything is all set up. You guys can change there and I thought that we could have some lunch before the ceremony,” Joyce asked from the front seat.
“Sounds perfect mom,” Jonathan agreed.
“It’s not really a big thing,” Hopper tried to grunt, but was interrupted by Joyce starting to throw questions at Nina. They talked the whole drive to the house. It was a basic, but beautiful wooden house, next to the ocean. A lot of wild flowers, since neither Hop nor Joyce were keen on gardening. She tried to grow some tomatoes in the spring, but forgot to water them during a particularly warm couple of weeks. After finding Joyce sniffling because of the dead tomatoes, Hop has made sure that they had fresh, store bought, tomatoes every single day.
At the house Jonathan and Nina changed their clothes in the spare room.
“So, are you ready to meet everyone?” He asked her as he was pulling her zipper up. Her long brown hair was in curls and she was wearing a beautiful purple, smart dress. Sometimes Jonathan couldn’t help but think how he — an struggling art-student with debt the size of the mind-flayer — found himself with a girl with a actual high-paying job in the Wall street with a 401K and clothes that had to be dry-cleaned. He on the other hand was wearing the same clothes he had on when the kids graduated. Thankfully he was going for more of a ‘indie-director’-vibe which didn’t require much effort. But somehow they actually lasted past the two-week-mark which is when he usually ran for the hills.
“Are you ready for me to meet everyone?” She asked turning around, her eyes finding his. “Jon. I think it’ll be just fine. Or are you thinking about Nancy—?”
He knew that it wasn’t just him, who had the uneasiness in his stomach about the ex-factor. “No, no. We’re cool now. It’s really going to be fine. And my mom and Will already love you. Hop would, but he needs a long while to warm up to anyone.”
She leaned over and gave him a sweet kiss on his cheek.
“Shall we?”
“Yeah,” he smiled and they walked to the small open dining-room.
“Aren’t you fancy,” Joyce yelled gleefully from the kitchen. “I’ll bring us some snacks and drinks.”
“Need any help, mom?” Jonathan asked.
“I’m fine, I’m fine, just sit and make yourselves comfortable!”
Jonathan pulled the chair for Nina who sat between Will and himself.
“When are the others coming?” Jonathan asked Will.
“I’m pretty sure they left from Philly pretty early so they should be here in like twenty minutes or so,” Will replied. “They won’t be late, Lucas will make sure of it.”
Jonathan chuckled and just then Joyce walked in with a tray full of sandwiches and ice-tea for everybody.
“Here you go, it’s nothing fancy.”
“Thanks mom, it’s great,” Jonathan said with a smile.
“Yes, thank you Joyce,” Nina agreed. “Are you nervous about the wedding?”
“Just a bit, only because I’m really more comfortable when I’m not in the spotlight — same with Hop,” Joyce replied. “Will is the one who convinced us to even have a wedding.”
“I just know that there are a lot of people who really want to celebrate you guys.”
“Well I’m glad that he managed to — convince you I mean,” Nina said with a bright smile.
“Me too,” she agreed.
“So, Will, you study illustration, right? Have you liked it?”
“Uh, yeah. I’m really loving it. Everyone is so inspiring and like-minded,” Will explained. “You know there are so many cool people. Like this dude Shepard Fairey, he did this amazing campaign just last year—“
“Andre the Giant, right?” Jonathan asked, taking a bite from his sandwich.
“Yes!! He’s a genius!”
“There are so many amazing artist in NYC,” Jonathan said. “Although, it makes it that much harder to actually succeed.”
“But you can do it,” Nina added, stroking the palm of his hand.
“Of course he can! Jonathan you’re a genius,” Joyce added which in turn made the boy groan in embarrassment.
“Who’s a genius?” They heard Murray’s voice from the doorway.
“Murray!” Jonathan greeted the man.
“Well duh, of course I am,” the older man chuckled. “Is someone ready to get married?”
Joyce blushed a little, but before she could answer, her fiancee interrupted them. “Don’t go bothering them Murray! We have to move the chairs still. People are coming any time soon. I swear to god this better be the last time we have visitors…” He grunted as he pulled Murray towards the yard in his tow.
“Good to meet you!” He hollered.
“So uh, that’s Murray,” Jonathan explained to Nina, who laughed a little.
“But back to you Will, so you live in Rhode Island?”
“Yeah, well in student dorms at the moment. Although we’re looking at places bit farther from the campus for the next year. It’s a bit crowded and I’ve done enough partying for a lifetime,” he chuckled.
“We?” Joyce asked with a smirk.
“Yeah — umm — me and Nathan,” he stuttered, not making eye-contact with anybody.
“Nathan? As in the one I met at the gallery in February?” Jonathan asked with a smirk.
“Yeah, we’re kinda…” He trailed off, a pink hue reaching his cheeks.
“Dating?” Jonathan filled.
“Yeah. Something like that.”
“That’s wonderful sweetie!” Joyce gleed with joy. “Why didn’t you bring him? I should meet him soon!”
“Yeah you will. This is just a bit much for now,” Will muttered, but a smile was filling his face. Finally lifting his eyes from the food and glancing first at Joyce and Jonathan, who both had wide, excited smiles and then turning to Nina, whose expression was strange.
“Nathan?” She asked, confirming what she was gathering from the conversation. “You’re—?”
“Oh, Jonathan hasn’t—?” Now his whole face was getting red. It wasn’t like he hadn’t come out many times by now, he studied art in the city — most of his friends were in the minority some way or another.
“Yeah, sorry Will, I should’ve told, but did know if you wanted me to—“
“Hey, it’s fine, I get it,” Will chuckled. “Yeah, I’m gay.”
“Oh,” Nina whispered. Her expression still a question mark to the group.
“Uhh anyways. He’s studying photography, that’s kinda how we met — Jonathan knows him from their circles as well.”
“So you’re making sure that he won’t break my boy’s heart?” Joyce asked Jonathan with a smirk.
“Oh of course mom,” Jonathan reassured her. “But he seemed super great actually. Happy for you, bro.”
With that Jonathan put his hand on Will’s shoulder and grabbed it a little — the same way he’d done so many times before. But now, he finally was himself.
“Knock knock!” Another voice — this one belonged to Lucas who walked inside. “Byers!”
Both him and Dustin walked straight over to Will, who stood up as fast as he could and hugged his friends tightly. Next in line was Max and lastly Mike, who pulled the kid in a tight hug.
“Missed you,” he whispered as the others were getting up from their seats. The kids went over to Joyce to hug her and congratulate her.
“Uh, everyone, this is Nina,” Jonathan then introduced his girlfriend who lifted her hand in an awkward wave. “Nina, these are Will’s friends from Hawkins — Mike, Lucas, Dustin and Max.”
“It’s good to see you.”
“Didn’t Steve and Robin come?” Will asked.
“They just dropped us off now, they’re picking up Nance and Matt from the train-station,” Mike explained, glancing quickly at Jonathan, but averting his gaze quickly back to Will.
“So, Joyce, should we get you ready for the wedding?” Max asked her. “Or are you just wearing jeans, because I’m all for that option as well!”
“No, no. Well I don’t have a wedding dress or anything, but I will change clothes that don’t have jam on them,” she muttered and headed towards the master bedroom, hand in hand with Max who was blabbing about something or another.
“So, Lucas, when’s your wedding?” Will asked, patting the boys back. Jonathan was shocked about the question, but even more shocked about the fact that Lucas didn’t even flinch.
“Hopefully soon,” he sighed, looking as his girlfriend closed the bedroom-door.
The boys laughed a little and nudged him. At the same time Jonathan couldn’t help but think about the girl standing next to him and how he was no where near buying an engagement ring for her. His thoughts also floated back to the one engagement-ring he did buy a few years ago.
“I think it’s time I go and set up the cameras outside,” Jonathan stuttered. “You guys can sit and catch up here. Nina, you want to come with?”
“Sure,” she said with a smile and followed him outside.
“So, ready make a run for it?” Jonathan asked Nina as he was putting the finishing touches on the setup.
“It’s really not that bad, colourful characters,” Nina smiled. “And lots of love.”
“Yeah, really love them,” Jonathan agreed before pulling her into a hug. “Especially my brother.”
“Yeah,” she muttered. There was again this strange air, but before Jonathan had an opportunity to ask, they heard steps from the yard and saw Steve and Robin walk hand in hand, followed by Nancy and the boyfriend. Jonathan took a few breaths as they walked over to them.
“Nancy, Robin, Steve, this is Nina,” Jonathan said. From the corner of his eye he could spot Steve and Robin tense up for just a second, before shaking her hand.
“Nice to meet you!” Nancy sounded sincere, for at least anybody who didn’t know her. Jonathan did. There was this certain twitch in her eye that he spotted. “This is Matthew.”
“Pleasure,” Jonathan tried his best to sound sincere, or at least as much as Nancy did. For most it looked like a completely innocent, kind introduction. But he could still feel this lump in his throat. But after the introductions there was a pause which screamed awkwardness — thankfully Robin was unable to sit in a silence.
“So when did you guys get here?” She asked quickly. She was kinda surprised when she got the invite in mail, it was pretty apparent that it wasn’t Hopper’s or even Joyce’s idea — the invite had Will written all over it.
“Like an hour ago actually,” Jonathan replied. “How about you? I think you had the longest drive?”
“Uh well, Dustin, Mike and Steve drove to Philly yesterday and I flew. It's a bit of an unnecessary travel, but I haven't seen their place yet so this seemed like the perfect opportunity,” Robin explained.
“Oh right, they live there now?” Nancy asked.
“Yeah, and again — they’re so cute I just want to squeeze them —,” Robin said and Nancy let out this bright beautiful, happy laughter which in turn made Jonathan smile.
“But yeah, they have this great apartment outside the city. Next to a skate-park of course,” Steve added.
“That tracks,” Nancy laughed. “And here they come.”
The group turned around and saw Lucas, Max, Dustin, Mike and Will walk towards them.
“Byers,” Robin said with a sniffle. “It’s been too long.” She walked over to Will and cave him a big squeeze.
“You could come to Rhode Island, you know,” Will said.
“I know, I know. But life gets in the way…”
At the same time Nancy and Matthew greeted rest of the group. Nancy hugged Mike and Jonathan's heart cracked a little. Mike seemed fine on the outside, but he had aged more than the rest of the group. He stayed in Hawkins, writing novels. One of which was now published. Jonathan couldn't help but think how different things could be, or should be. Jane should be here.
“So, finally we're under the same roof," Dustin commented. "Or on the same yard..."
“Finally,” Nancy said with a sigh. Her eyes met with Jonathan who gave her a smile — loaded with memories.
Max let out a little sniffle which made Lucas whip his head towards her. The expression was so serious it made rest of the group laugh.
“You okay?” He asked, looking straight at his girlfriend, whose face was turning red.
“Yeah. Allergies. Shut up,” she muttered. But Jonathan wasn’t far behind — these reunions were always tough. They’d agreed on meeting once a month after the graduation. They met that July, in August they were all busy and the same repeated in September. In October nobody even tried to plan it.
Suddenly a glass was clinked and they all turned to see Murray standing on the yard with Joyce and Hopper in front of him. Jonathan walked quickly over to the video-camera he had set up on the lawn.
They didn’t do the whole ‘bride-walking-down-the-isle’-thing. Everyone just stood on the yard. Hopper did have a light suit and a blue shirt on. Joyce on the other hand was wearing a nice pair of loafers and a longer, dark blue, dress. Not too fancy, but not just basic either. The trusted leather-jacket was inside because of the beautiful weather.
“Can I get everybody’s attention please? Thank you,” he said. “Now, I’ve been waiting to officiate these guys’s wedding long before they knew that they should even have a wedding. And thank god for the young Buyers for making it possible — this would’ve been a lot more awkward at the city hall. ”
“Careful,” Hopper whispered, but was ignored.
“Anyhow, dearly beloved, we have gathered here to join these two in the holy matrimony. Because what is better than finding love when the whole world tries to prove that it does not exist. I have known Hopper for a long time and let me tell you, it must be true love if this old bastard manages to profess his feelings.”
A laughter erupted in the audience.
“And I can also tell you that there are very few women who would travel to another country to save the love of their life — especially when all odds say that they are dead. It’s the kind of love most people dream of.”
“Now, I’ll stop talking as the couple has written their own vows,” Murray said and stood aside as Joyce nodded.
“Alrighty, I really didn’t prepare much, because how can you sum up everything you mean to me,” she spoke to Hopper. “You’re my rock and my everything, the ways in which you have time and time again saved me and my family is something I will always cherish.”
The tears were definitely threatening to spill out of Jonathan’s eyes at her words. “So, Hop. I give this ring to you. As a promise that I will always love you, and I will always come home to you.”
“And now Jim,” Murray added and gave the ring to him.
“Joyce, baby,” Hopper started. “When you waltzed back into my life some years ago, I had no idea of the wild ride I was about to get on. I have loved you for many years and I can promise you that I will love you for the rest of my life. You, Joyce, are one in a million. The way in which you care, how you protect and how you love is something most people can only dream of. And now, somehow, this grumpy old man is blessed with the opportunity to get a part of that. I can’t wait to call you my wife, and officially be a part of your family.”
The last part he directed to Jonathan and Will, who both were holding back tears.
“This ring serves as a constant reminder that I’ll do everything I can, for the rest of my life, to come home to you, care for you and love you, the way you love others.”
“By the power vested in me by the great state of New York, I pronounce you man and wife. Jim, you may kiss your wife.”
With that, Hopper pulled Joyce in a passionate kiss and the yard filled with whistles and clapping.
And just like that, they were finally married.
In fifteen minutes they all were sitting in various garden furniture that they had gathered on the lawn and the deck. In the end they ordered catering — Joyce’s request as she was certain that her cookings would’ve sent the whole group into ER. It was nothing fancy, but nobody paid it a thought.
After a while Jonathan finally gathered the courage and gently tapped his beer-bottle with a fork.
“Everyone, can I say a few words,” he started and coughed a little to clear his throat. “So, everyone knows I really don’t care for talking, and believe me, if it were possible I would’ve just written a script for someone else to talk. But. For you, mom, I will.”
A chuckle erupted in the group. It wasn’t much — the more he looked, it was pretty much the same group which was planning the crawls a couple of years ago.
“Hop. I’ve always been protective of my mom. I think it comes with the territory. But some years ago, the universe threw us into a situation where I never thought we’d be. A situation which I wasn’t prepared to handle. And when I was most scared for us, for Will and for mom. You were there. And you’ve always been there. Which is why I am less scared now. Less afraid. I haven’t thanked you enough. Not just for saving the world so many times, but for saving us. For caring for my mother and loving her — in the grumpy way that you do.” He glanced at his mother, who was wiping tears from her face.
“And mom. There really isn’t a way in which I can actually describe the magnitude of your love for us and ours for you. You are the absolute best mother there is. Most of us, in this room, would be dead if it weren’t for you. But that’s really just a small part of what makes you so amazing. Our life hasn’t always been perfect, but there hasn’t been a day when you have made us feel like that — that our family wasn’t perfect.”
“Everything you’ve done, has been for us and I never really thought that someone would be worthy enough to marry you. The love you two have, serves as inspiration for everyone. And I think I can speak for all of us here when I say that your love is something most of us can only dream of. A bond that cannot be broken.” It was like automation, his eyes drifted slowly to Nancy, whose eyes were teary as she looked at him.
“So, I know I speak for me, Will and Jane when I say; thank you for everything you’ve done for us and let’s rise a glass for mom — and dad,” Jonathan ended the speech lifting his glass. That was the sentence which did it, there wasn’t a dry eye as they all clapped and lifted their glasses in cheers.
“Oh damn you Byers,” Steve groaned and wiped his eyes ferociously. At the same time Joyce and Jim stood up and walked to hug both Jonathan and Will.
“Love you so much kiddos,” Hopper whispered and sniffled.
“We mean it,” Will added.
As they sat back down Jonathan saw Will holding his hand on Mike’s shoulder as Dustin patted the other one. Mike gave him a quick, nod before wiping his eyes. They both knew how unfair it was that Jane wasn’t there to celebrate this.
“To the happy couple!” Jonathan added and finally they all sipped their drinks. Next to the boys Lucas was wiping the tears from Max’s cheeks that escaped every time she thought about Eleven. Nancy was avoiding everybody’s eyes as Matthew gently stroke the back of her neck. Robin was trying to hold it together as Steve was sniffling.
“Alright, alright,” Murray then said. “Let’s wipe off the tears and I think it’s time to have the first dance and get the party started!”
And with that Steve pressed play on the sound system which Dustin had helped set up and Etta James’ At Last started to play.
Joyce let out a laugh in the midst of the tears and Jim took her hand pulling her to the deck.
At last
My love has come along
Oh, and my lonely days, they're over
And life is like a song, oh yeah, yeah, yeah
Jonathan leaned on Nina’s chair as they watched the happy couple dance. After the first song, Steve switched to more recent hits — which Robin had picked out and the tables emptied as they all poured on the dance-floor.
“Shall we get some drinks?” He asked Nina, who took his hand and they walked over to the table — masquerading as a bar.
“You want some wine?” Matthew asked Nancy who nodded. As he left, only her and Robin were sitting at the table.
“Damn, that was a beautiful speech, have to admit,” Robin said with a smile.
“Yeah, it was.”
“So, how’s everything with Matt?” She asked Nancy. It was the same tone she used when she asked about Jonathan when he was in California.
“Everything is great. He’s super nice, great writer. Everything is going great. Just by the book.”
“Yeah?”
“Yeah, for sure,” she added. She knew it wasn’t the most convincing, but A for effort.
“Nance, come on,” Robin groaned. “You know I accidentally burped on air last Thursday and you four meeting was still the most awkward situation I’ve been in this week.”
“Oh god,” Nancy wrinkled her nose in disgust. “Okay fine. Matt is perfect on paper. And we talked about this with Jonathan, that what if all we had was shared trauma. But when I see him…” She trailed off.
“Look, I’m not saying that breaking up wasn’t the right call. You wouldn’t have done those amazing things and really tested your abilities the same way if you guys were together—.”
“You’re rambling,” Nancy commented.
“Okay, regardless. I just want to throw this out there — Jonathan looked at you the same way you looked at him.”
Nancy froze for just a second, but it didn’t go unnoticed by Robin. This time — however — she didn’t say anything.
Just then Matthew sat next to her. “Here you go,” he said and set a bottle in front of her. “They were out of wine.”
“I don’t think Hop buys much wine outside of restaurants,” Robin chuckled.
Nancy whispered a small thank you to Matthew and tried to smile at Robin’s joke, but she was deep in her thoughts as he laid his arm on the back of her chair. Nancy looked around the yard where he saw the kids — or younger adults, she should say — dancing and laughing along with Steve and Murray. On the side, Jonathan and Nina were talking with his mom and Hopper. She couldn’t help but feel a small sting in her gut when she saw Jonathan stroking Nina’s back gently.
“So when do you guys have to head back?” Steve asked as he sat next to Robin.
“Uh, in like few hours. I wish we could’ve stayed for longer, but I have work in the morning,” she replied. “Are you guys staying the night?”
“Yeah, we’re driving in the morning.”
Jonathan and Nina joined the group. “Good speech Jonathan,” Robin complemented. “Even made the tough Harrington cry like a baby.”
“You cried like a baby. Shut up,” he countered. “Is the cannibal-movie done yet?”
“Uh yeah, we have the screening this summer,” Jonathan said.
“Have you seen it?” Nancy asked Nina, who tensed for just a second.
“Uh no, he’s insisting that I’ll see it when everyone else does,” she replied. “So uh, Matthew was it? How did the two of you meet?”
Nancy could spot Robin giving a quick knowing glance to Steve as Matthew spoke.
“Yeah. We met at work, I do sports news for the same paper where Nancy interns at.”
Just then Steve leaned over to Jonathan and muttered something about Nancy not being an intern anymore, which, to be honest, was a fair correction.
“We were just friends for a while, but then I got a permanent position and yeah —“ Nancy explained.
“That’s so cute!” Robin gleed. “I can’t wait for Vickie to move to Northampton, this long distance is absolutely killing me.”
Robin came out to the group a little after Will. They took a break with Vickie, but few months ago they almost accidentally met again. And the love was still there. That’s also the reason why she thought that she’d have some authority in the matter of reuniting with past loves.
“Yeah, it’s torture,” Nancy agreed. She remembered how it was when they had to do it with Jonathan. She glanced quickly at him, before noticing the strange look on Nina’s face. Quickly she averted her gaze and looked at Matthew with a smile. “Its so much easier when you get to the same city.”
“Amen to that,” Steve agreed. “We’re actually talking about buying a house with Alyson.”
“Who is Alyson?” Nancy and Jonathan asked in unison, making Robin laugh. She’d actually met her once when visiting Vickie (and her parents) in Hawkins.
“Actually, Alyson has my blessing.”
The wedding was wonderful. They danced and sang and talked all night. Jonathan and Nina had bought tickets to the absolutely last train that left in the evening. They both had work in the morning and had to leave. Nancy and Matthew had left a few hours earlier. The others were driving tomorrow and Will was staying for the weekend. It was around ten when Lucas drove the two of them to the station — and Max of course accompanied him “just so he doesn’t have to drive back alone”.
Lucas asked Nina some questions about her work in law, but it was getting pretty apparent that the two of them were aspiring to the different sides of the legal-system. He talked about the situations he faced as a black kid in Indiana — especially how absolutely terrifying the army and police seemed to him back then. He wanted to make a difference. To represent kids who didn’t have anybody fighting for them.
“Alright, we should go,” he finally said and took the bags from the ground. “Thanks for the ride. Tell everyone we said bye and please don’t let anyone get arrested.”
“I’ll try,” Lucas chuckled as Max leaned on him.
“They wouldn’t arrest anybody at the sheriff’s,” Max protested.
“Alright, get home safe guys,” Lucas laughed and waved as they got on the train. Just as the doors were closing, he could hear the boy continuing. “Should we go back to the party or make out in the car for a while—“
Jonathan laughed and the two of them walked to their seats.
“So, what did you think?” Jonathan finally asked her as the train started to move.
“It was fun,” she said, leaning her head on the window. “You have fun friends.”
“Yeah I do. They’re really important to me,” he agreed. There was a slight pause. “And I think they liked you. Will already talked about inviting us to their housewarming whenever they find a place.”
Now the silence became heavy. After few minutes Nina finally spoke; “So, Will is gay, huh?”
“Yeah he is. Sorry about the ambush,” he cringed.
“You should’ve told me.”
“I didn’t think it was my place to tell,” Jonathan admitted. “I mean even though it’s kinda normal in the circles in NYC, it’s not everywhere else.”
“Normal?” Nina asked, rising her eyebrows ever so slightly, but it didn’t go missed by him.
“What’s with the tone?”
“No tone,” she waved him off.
“No seriously, you have a tone,” he insisted.
“I just… Haven’t met anybody like that.”
Jonathan had to bite his tongue not to snap at her. “Like that?”
“I don’t mean it like that. It’s fine, but it’s strange that he’s so open about it. Flaunting you know?”
The calming breaths he’d been taking since the start of this conversation were running low. “Flaunting?!”
“You know what I mean.”
“I really don’t.”
“Really Jonathan, you know what it’s doing? You’ve seen the news.”
“It’s doing? IT’S DOING?” Now he was shouting in the train, but couldn’t constrain himself. “You live in New York Nina, you’re educated! How the hell are you this ignorant—“
He was interrupted by her standing up and rising her voice to the same decibel to match his; “it’s a sin. It kills people Jonathan. I’m not saying people can’t be gay. But acting like it. It’s not normal. It’s not. And Robin and Vickie? They are both —“
“I think I have to go. I’ll bring you your things tomorrow. I don’t think we should see each other anymore.” With that he walked away to the next cart. He was seething. He couldn’t believe it. Couldn’t believe her. And most importantly couldn’t believe that he had allowed someone like her into his life.
“Hey Jon,” Will greeted him on the phone. “Just got home?”
“Yeah, few minutes ago,” he replied and leaned on the wall. “Is everyone passed out there?”
“Pretty much yeah. Dustin, Mike and Lucas are outside talking, everyone else has kinda moved inside.” There was a silence on the phone.
“Well good. It’s nice that you guys can meet again. Should you go back —?”
“In a sec. I just wanted to ask.” Will trailed off. “How was the trip?”
“Just fine—“ After a long pause which Will didn’t interrupt. Jonathan knew that he had a hunch about what this was about. “We broke up.”
“Because of me?”
“No, not because of you.” He replied confidently.
“I shouldn’t have said anything about being gay,” the other muttered on the phone. Jonathan could hear the weight this had on him. Will had always been sensitive in a sense that he really noticed people’s emotions. He knew that Nina’s reactions didn’t go unnoticed by him.
“Hey no, absolutely not. Never think like that. That you should hide yourself—“
“I just thought that since she’s not from some hick town that she’d—“
“Not be a huge ignorant ass?”
“Well,” Will sighed on the phone. “I kinda picked on the tone when we talked about this at lunch. I’ve heard it before, you know. Anyways, I’m sorry.” It broke his heart a little to hear that life wasn’t as easy for his brother as it was for him.
“Don’t be. It’s better I know sooner rather than later. She wasn’t the one for me.”
“Yeah,” Will said — voice still quiet. “On the other hand — Nance couldn’t take her eyes off you.”