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Jonathan hummed under his breath. Clinging to Nancy's side softly. He kicked his legs and softly played with the fur of his squishmallow under the table.
He wanted to go home. Wanted to snuggle up with Nancy under the covers, wanted to be held, wanted to be taken care of. But he wasn’t sure how to say that. How to let on to Nancy that he wasn’t just being extra clingy because of nerves. She had only seen him small once before after all.
He felt a soft whine escape his lips- by accident he was sure. But nevertheless it caught Nancy’s full attention- and it was just then Jonathan realized he was crying.
“Jon? Oh… buddy…” she let him fall into her as she rubbed his back soothingly. He sobbed into her shirt silently, she noticed a few people starting to look at them and frowned. “Hey bub, shhh… how bout we go outside huh?” she felt him nod slightly, so she grabbed his hand and helped to guide him out.
They got out of the school, and Nancy lef them to a small slightly hidden area where she plopped down under a tree, setting Jonathan on her lap.
“Shhh, hey hey… it’s okay…” she bounced him slightly and watched him slowly calm down. Nancy sighed, pulling her phone out. She knew she had to get Jonathan home, but he was in no state to drive, and she had no license. So her next best bet was to ask if Steve could quickly drive them. She knew he’d understand the situation.
He quickly replied to her text and she put the phone away. “Alright, Steve is gonna give us a drive, is that alright sunshine?” Jonathan nodded slowly, hugging his plushie against his chest. Nancy hadn’t even realized he had it with him until now.
A few minutes later Steve met them at the tree. He smiled softly “heya bud” Jonathan waved back shyly, before being helped up by Nancy and led to Steve’s car.
The drive was silent besides the radio, and a few times Jonathan pointed to things out the window and named them. He had two fingers lodged in his mouth, making his words slightly slurred.
Once they arrived at the Byers residence Nancy checked the time- No one would be home for at least another hour. Not that she thought they had much to worry about- Jonathan told her his whole family knew, he was just embarrassed. She hopped out and moved to help Jonathan get out, who immediately latched onto her.
“Alright alright…” She silently thanked Steve before helping lead Jonathan into the house. Where he immediately took the lead and dragged her to his room.