𝐌𝐎𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍 𝐒𝐈𝐂𝐊𝐍𝐄𝐒𝐒 steve harrington

xxiv. and why do you sing with an english accent?

━︎ VOL TWO. CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

❝︎ he was a masterpiece of tragedy ❞︎

Jack's eyes slowly open and he sees his parents arguing in front of his bed.

    Lovely.

    He's in his own bedroom, maybe last night was just a dream, and none of it was real. The Russians, the Mind Flayer, Billy.

    Keith is sprawled out on his desk chair, going through his records. Steve is nervously tapping his foot at the end of Jack's bed.

    "Well, this is quite the group." Jack groggily says.

    Steve stands up. "Jack."

    His parents have stopped arguing, and his father immediately starts lecturing him.

    "Are you fucking kidding me? Just because you're 18, you do not get an excuse to leave the house for days at a time! You were gone for two days, and then we got a call from this kid-" He pointed to Steve. "-saying you seized at the mall, while it was burning! How irresponsible can you be?"

    He turns to Steve. "The mall burnt down?"

    His father scoffs. "Can't even talk to your old man."

    "You're not even my old man," Jack says. "You left me, you're just Jeff to me, not dad, not my father, not pops, not old man, you're nothing."

    "Jeff." Jack's mom speaks up. "He just woke up, why don't we leave him with his friends."

    His dad walks toward the door and angrily stomps out.

    "Feel better, honey. " His mom voices as she leaves.

    "I'll get there." Jack smiles softly.

    Once the door is shut, Jack slams his head against the pillow.

    "I fucking hate him."

    Keith walks toward the bed, next to Steve. "I think it's so badass that you guys were in the mall when it burnt down."

    Jack and Steve nod, they both know what they went to was not cool, at all.

    Keith continues. "I mean seriously, I hate you so much, Harrington. I will forever think Jack has horrible taste in men, but that shiner you got is fucking heroic."

    "Thanks." Steve deadpans.

    "Hey, Keith," Jack says. "Want to meet at the diner tomorrow? I really just want to rest right now."

    "Is that code for I want to make out with Harrington?" Keith raises an eyebrow.

    Jack rolls his eyes. "No, you jackass. I can barely feel my body."

    Keith hops off the bed. "Oh, I get it. The ladies always come first, well gentlemen for you, but I get what you mean."

    "Bye Keith." Jack and Steve wave him off as he slams the door.

    "What happened after I seized?" Jack immediately asked.

    Steve sighed. "I was holding you, so no bad falls or anything. But I read a book back in February about what to do if someone is having a seizure. I just did what I could remember, and stayed with you until the medics came." He takes a deep breath. "Billy died, and Hopper."

    "Hopper?" Jack asks, shocked. "Is El okay? Is Max okay?"

    "Max is, well, coping. I sat next to her in the ambulance, she was upset, even if he was an abusive asshole. El is living with the Byers for now, I heard from Nancy she hasn't really been talking or eating."