Armani stood outside the room where Nancy and Steve had hidden themselves in. She knew this conversation would be secretive, so nodded when Steve motioned for her to follow but kept her distance. Even with their hushed voices, Armani could understand most of what they were saying. At first, she dismissed the discussion as an argument about their relationship, so she was confused as to why Steve wanted her to hear it. Then the name struck.

"Barbara"

Armani's eyes widened when Nancy began speaking about Barb's incident, and her parents. Barb had disappeared last year, at a small party Steve had held. That same party where Jonathan had taken unwanted pictures of the group of kids. The same party where Armani had left Barb to become so drunk with Sage and some other boy so she couldn't remember Steve and Nancy upstairs.

Her sudden dismay was increased along with confusion when they began speaking about some dangerous secret, about people who would hurt them if they told anyone. A small double knock on the wall signaled Armani to leave the area before they walked out.

Once Nancy and Steve returned, Armani had begun to leave. Her brain was too busy running through the thoughts of Barb, and how her disappearance was apparently not all Hawkins had claimed it was.

"Are you leaving?" Nancy asked, awkwardness in her tone and she tried to be as polite as she could to Mani.

"Yeah, I forgot I have to meet with Sage, we have this thing to do" she spoke quickly, looking at Steve.

The two made eye contact, Armani giving him a light head shake as Steve sighed. "See you at the party" he nodded, already regretting letting Armani hear the conversation.

"Probably not" the brunette muttered, entering the hallways as she peeked from class to class to find her best friend.

Armani's pace quickened, the bell would ring in a few minutes but the conversation could not be delayed. As she turned the corner, she came face to face with Billy Hargrove.

A cigarette hung from his mouth, he blew smoke out in her direction as he shot Armani a smirk. "Well, skipping class, are we?" Armani rolled her eyes, "Free period." She stated.

"Right. Why were you in the library then? You're too hot to be so much of a nerd" He shrugged.

Armani couldn't stand him, even if this was the first proper conversation the two were in. "I had work to do. I actually don't want to be a high school dropout." She enunciated the words, taking a jab at the boy. "I was helping two of my..classmates" she nodded as she struggled to find the word for what Steve and Nancy were to her.

"Does the chick know you're all over her man? Because it's painfully obvious" he went on, taking a drag of his cigarette.

Armani's cheeks flushed, "what do you mean? Steve? I've talked to him once in the past yea–" "Wait, wait wait. Hold on. King Steve? The guy I keep hearing all about?" Billy placed his hands on his hips.

"Yeah, i guess. I mean, I've never actually heard anyone call him that to his face.."

"Let me get this straight." Billy ignored her comments, "you. Sad, lonely, nerdy. Steve, king, great, amazing. A thing?" Billy spoke sarcastically, causing Armani to roll her eyes.

"If you keep doing that you'll go blind" he stated.

"Oh whatever. Just quit stalking me, weirdo" Armani shook her head, as she moved to the side to continue walking down the hall, Billy stepped infront of her again.

"Stalking you? So what, looking through a door while passing by is stalking now? You seriously think I have the time, the interest in you, to do that? Who do you think you are? I don't even know you" he spoke with a sudden anger, one that alarmed Armani.

"Right because everyone at school knows you?" She said, a sharp pang in her voice. The harsh ring of the bell echoed and students filed out of their classrooms. Mani pushed past Billy, "next time, maybe stay out of my business" she said before disappearing into the mass of students.

—

Bob Newby spoke, his words a bit muffled with the faux vampire teeth he had on.

"Got it, Dad" the girl nodded, taking the camera from a confused Jonathan. she wore a long dress shirt, white socks and sun glasses.

"You know, Joel Goodsen is a master at sliding around in socks, sure you can handle it?" The man asked, Armani gave him a smile and two thumbs up.

"I've been practicing" she nodded.

"Its kind of risky business" Bob said with a laugh, the pun caused everyone in the room to groan.

"Stay close to your brother and Armani. Okay? Listen listen listen. If you get a bad feeling or anything you tell them to take you straight home. You promise?" Joyce spoke to Will as Bob was talking to Jonathan and Armani.

"Alright bud" Jonathan put a hand on Will's back.

"Ready to head out?" Armani asked, Will nodded as the three started to head out.

"Be safe!" A nervous Joyce called out, along with Bob giving a toothy "i hope it doesn't suck!" In a Dracula accent.

The three got in the car, as they made their way to meet up with Will's friends.

"I just- I don't get what she see's in him." Jonathan said with a head shake.

"What?" Will asked, he was in the passengers seat, as Armani laid in the back seat.

"Bob" Jonathan said, looking in the rear view mirror as Armani's head perked up, her eyebrows furrowed. "No offense" Jonathan spoke in monotone.

"Hey!" Armani sat up in protest, her mouth opened to say something but Will beat her to it.

Speaking on Bob's defense. "At least he doesn't treat me differently." As Jonathan turned to look at him, Will continued. "I mean I can't even go trick-or-treating by myself. It's lame."

Armani nodded, sending Will a small smile as Jonathan squinted his eyes, "what, you think I'm lame?" Armani gave a small chuckle, as Jonathan shot her a look from the mirror.

"No, but it's not like Nancy's coming to watch over Mike, you know?" The kid said, Jonathan giving a sigh.

"He wishes" Armani muttered, laying back down in the seat.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Jonathan asked.

"Guys. It's fine." Will spoke up, looking out the window.

Armani pulled out the invitation for the party, looking at it in envy as she realized Sage was probably already there getting drunk. She and Jonathan's eyes connected as he stopped in front of the Wheelers residence. The kids yelling to get Will's attention.

Jonathan turned to Armani, "should we?" He asked, Armani giving an enthusiastic nod. "Hell yeah"

Will was about to close the door to the car when Jonathan called after him.

"Hey, will. If I let you go on your own, you promise to stay in the neighborhood?"

Will's eyes lit up, "yeah! Yeah, yeah, totally!"

"And be back at Mike's by nine?" He asked, as Armani gave them both a grin.

"Nine...thirty?" The boy asked, "nine." Jonathan assured.

Will nodded, "yeah"

"okay. Deal?" The older boy said as they shook hands.

"Yeah. Deal"

"Hey will!" Armani handed him the recording camera, "don't let any of your spastic friends use this. T zooms in, W zooms out." She said, Will gave her a big grin, "alright."

"Hope it doesn't suck" Jonathan imitated Bob as Will closed the door.

Armani stepped out, waving slightly at the kids as she sat in the passengers seat.

Her and Jonathan watched Will approach his friends, "you sure about this?" Jonathan said as he pulled out an invitation of his own.

"It's good to get out and about, Jonathan. Don't wanna be cooped up in your room listening to old music, do you?" She said, turning to look at him as he nodded.

"Yeah. You're right." He turned the engine on, as they passed by Will and his friends, they waved, but the carefree energy slowly turned awkward as they realized they were in a car, alone, heading towards a party.

"Listen, Jonathan. I'm sorry" Armani spoke quietly over the silence. "With mom gone, and dad dating Joyce. It's just been..less than ideal" she avoided looking over at the boy who clutched the wheel tighter.

"Yeah, you think you have it hard. Mom's been crazy about Will ever since last year since he.. got lost in the woods" Jonathan spoke breathily.

"I know. It's just. Last year? I was a bitch. I mean, I hung out with Carol. And Tommy? And yeah, maybe I did get pissed you took photos of everyone. But i think it was right for us to be upset" she defended her case.

"So you saw me developing the pictures and decided to go tell Steve? Have him break my camera?" Jonathan asked.

"I didn't tell him to do that. He knew what having those pictures out would do to us all. I mean, if my dad had found out, hell, he's been paranoid enough since mom left, imagine what he would do to me if he saw those? I'd never see the light of day!" She spoke urgently.

"Yeah. Right. You know, some good came out of those pictures" he said matter of factly.

Armani sent him a confused glare, "what good? Did you sell them to some pervs? Because they sure as hell didn't help us find Barbara"

"No. They actually. Never mind" Jonathan sighed, parking in front of the house with loud music. "Let's just go."