Jailbird || Stranger Things

six ➵ rehabilitation

Within weeks, Teresa found herself settled. The RadioShack was ideal for multiple reasons.

First and foremost, because it worked to Teresa's strengths. As a kid, she'd always taken things apart to figure out how they worked, which had been the main reason Diane made her join the AV Club. Until she got to high school, she managed to channel her interests in a productive way.

Of course, once she made it to freshman year and started thinking she was grown up, as well as most of her 'friends', Teresa needed other outlets. In addition to the AV Club, she'd joined the softball team, before she was completely swept up in a relationship she didn't find toxic. If you asked her in January 1984, she still would have said it wasn't.

She'd be wrong.

Nevertheless, working in RadioShack meant she was next door to Joyce on most weekends, which gave plenty of opportunities for Reese to make good on her offer to help out. And perhaps make new friends who would take her mind off people she missed in California.

"Reese?"

Jonathan often worked late, but that specific night, Joyce also found herself busy. Knowing the situation all too well from the night Will disappeared, Teresa had been quick to offer her help to the concerned mother.

Responsible was beginning to be a key description of the girl.

"I'm your and Will's taxi for the night."

Her small collection of mixtapes didn't surprise the older Byers boy, who was given free rein over the packet in the glove box. They got deep into a conversation about Bowie, intermittently interrupted by Jonathan giving her directions towards the Wheeler house until they finally arrived, and Teresa took a look at the building.

"Holy shit," she mumbled, letting Jonathan swap out the cassettes.

"Are you all right?" he asked once he put the collection of tapes back into the glovebox.

"Yeah. Sorry," she turned back to him.

"Do you— Want to come with me?" he asked as he put his hand onto the door.

"Are you—" she glanced at the house, feeling incredibly small. Looking back at Jonathan though, she swallowed her inhibition and instead nodded, pushing her own door open.

Stepping into the cold night, Reese's hands immediately sunk into her jacket's pockets as she followed Jonathan to the front door of the house. He gave her a small smile and nod, raising his hand to knock while she took in the unbelievably grand house. She knew this wasn't even the rich part of town.

"Are you nervous or something?" he asked, watching as she kept staring up at the house.

"No," her breath clouded in front of them, making her hold back a shiver. "I'm just suddenly aware that I'm really out of my depth."

Jonathan decided not to say anything, very much aware of what turns her thoughts were making as she looked over the Wheelers' house. They'd been friends as kids due to their parents' history, but while she changed on the outside, she was still the same girl who was much more in her element on their side of town.

He thought about saying something comforting, but before he could, the door was opened, and Teresa's blank expression was replaced by her polite smile.

"Jonathan! Hi, come on in," Mrs Wheeler grinned, stepping aside. "I'm sorry, you must be—"

"Teresa Hopper, nice to meet you, Mrs Wheeler," Jonathan nodded for Reese to go first, who immediately offered her hand to the woman

The woman let out a small sound of surprise, taking the girl's hand, and shaking it, although her movements were slow and hesitant. "Pleasure. Call me Karen."