Escape ~ S.Harrington

6} Pre-Party Sike Out

Jenna cruised through the rest of her day at school, then snuck out to her car so she wouldn't have the chance of running into anyone. If she was being honest with herself, she really wished she hadn't said yes to going to Steve's party. She was still mad at Steve, Tommy and Carol loved to pick on her, and she simply wasn't in the mood for human interaction. Plus, now she had to lie to her brother about where she was heading because if there's one thing she knows about her brother, it's that he hates Steve and especially hates when she ditches him to hang out with Steve. And with everything that's gone on with Will, it's a recipe for a meltdown.

Once to her car, she started it up and cranked her radio, still with Jon's mixtape loaded in. Super Freak by Rick James flooded her car and her senses as she drove out of the school. It was her favorite song in the whole wide world because it helped her to embrace being called a freak. It helped make it feel sexier. She called it her badass anthem. Though the ride was short, it helped her to unwind and relax before the overthinking would begin about the party. Music was her favorite form of escapism that gave her room to just let go of everything in her mind and embrace the words being sung to her. She loved reading, watching movies, and sitting down with her mom to watch TV as well, but none of them did the trick quite like listening to music... or drinking.

Jenna's bubble of tranquility popped once she arrived back home. Once inside, she petted her cat Mews, took off her shoes, and went to her room where she plopped her backpack down to get ready for homework. She fell back into her spinning desk chair and got out all of her work for the night. Luckily, it was only a couple chapters of reading for English, finishing a worksheet for science, and a couple pages of math homework. Jenna had always been a smart, hardworking student but was also a procrastination pro at the same time. Whether it was fidgeting with a pen or having a conversation aloud with herself, work was a struggle to get done. Unlike most days, though, she was on a time crunch and had just enough motivation to wrap everything up in an hour. All she had to do now was just lie to her brother. Jenna creaked open her door and looked into the kitchen to find that Dustin wasn't even home. She found a note quickly scribbled out on the counter from him telling her and her mom that he'd be at the Wheelers.
Phew, that was a close one.

Jenna walked down the hall to her mom's bedroom where her mother was folding some laundry and sitting with Mews.
"Hey mom. Is it alright if I go over to Steve's tonight? He's having a small thing and it'd be weird if I didn't go."
"Sure honey. Just be home by 12, you know that's your curfew."
"Thank you so much mom!"
"No problem. Just remember, don't get pregnant."
"What the hell mom!? So uncalled for."
"What!? I don't know what boys might be there and you never know what could happen. Always use protection."
"I didn't come in here for that kind of talk, mom. Oh, and could you please not tell Dustin about this? It'd hurt his feelings and he's a bitch to deal with when he's cranky."
"Language, sweetie! But, I won't tell him. I'm well aware of how he gets with anything involving Steve."
Jenna smiled at her mom, grateful that she was so understanding and way less strict than most other parents that she knew.

She walked back down the hall to her bedroom. She opened her closet trying to find a decent outfit for the night. After some intense browsing, she decided on black mesh shirt with a black bra underneath, a pair of light-washed jeans, and a black zip up. She got herself changed into the outfit, grabbed a book, and headed off to the kitchen to grab some dinner. She flung open her pantry and grabbed a pack of Pop Tarts. She was way too lazy to cook so that was all she felt like making. She ripped open the package, dropped the Pop Tarts into the toaster, and waited two minutes. As she stood there, she contemplated how the night could go for her.
Steve and I could make up and everything could be normal again. Tommy could make an insensitive comment towards me. Who am I kidding, that's practically given. Steve and Nancy could hook up and make everything 10x more awkward. I could get completely wasted and say something I shouldn't. Someone could fall and drown in the pool-

BEEP!
Always the fucking beeping to either save or ruin my day. God, I really need a drink right about now.

Jenna yoinked the Pop Tarts out of the toaster and snapped out of her head. When she had nothing else to distract herself or focus on, she'd let her thoughts get the best of her. Trauma from many years ago helped this habit grow into her teen years, leading to her... overthinking episodes. Jenna scarfed down her dinner, kissed her mother goodbye on the cheek, and headed to her car. Unfortunately for her, she was never told a time to show up, so she just assumed that 7:00 would be fine. She drove down the street towards Steve's house, listening to The Chain by Fleetwood Mac, which she loved and adored. Everything about Fleetwood Mac's music just clicked well with her brain. Right as the song ended, Jenna pulled into Steve's driveway, where she noticed that she happened to be the first one there. With a sigh and roll of her eyes, Jenna reluctantly got out of her car and walked up to Steve's front door.

RIIIING!
The shrill doorbell at the Harrington residence always bugged the ever living shit out of her. It was just flat out annoying and very overdramatic if she was being flat out honest. On the other side of the door, Steve was anxiously waiting for her to get there. He just wanted a few moments to talk to her alone before everyone else got there and he got just what his desperate ass wished for. The doorbell ring snapped him out of his thoughts and he ran to the door.

Jenna was met with a fairly well put together Steve Harrington as he opened the door for her and gestured with his hand for her to go inside. She walked in and threw her shoes near the door, then walked over to his couch where she fell onto it and laid down.
"So," Steve mumbled as he approached the couch with his hands behind his back,"Can we talk?"
"Sure, if you're not gonna be a complete dick and can explain yourself," Jenna stared up at the ceiling, prepared to have to listen to his bullshit.
"Ok, noted," He sat down next to her, "So, Jen, I know you already know this, but I'm so unbelievably sorry for blowing you off for like the millionth time. I know I can be a complete asshole, but I genuinely don't want to see you upset. I'm trying my best to be better, and..."
"I'm gonna stop you right there before you sound too pathetic and sappy," Jenna sat up, "This isn't just about you missing a few movie nights. When I first snapped at you, yes that was what I was mad about but really, it's a lot more than that. For one, your 'friends' treat me like shit and you don't do shit about it. I've even caught you joining in with them! You know how it felt to get picked on when you were younger, but you don't know how it feels when people get older and crueler, and you especially don't know how it feels when the person you are closest with makes fun of you and trades you in for new fucking models alright! I'm sorry I'm not popular and a complete mess of a person, but that's just who I am."

Steve just sat there, at a loss for words. He didn't know how she felt about his status change. He just thought she was supportive and didn't think anything else of it.
"I also want you to know," Jenna continued, "That I do care a lot about you Steve. I know how important popularity is for you, but it's turning you into a different person that I don't like. I just want the old Steve back that I became best friends with and if I can't get the good parts of you back, well, I guess I won't waste my time moving on with the new Steve. It's just too much for me to handle and it's hard to be around you sometimes. I can only take some much before I break."

Steve soaked in every word Jenna spoke to him as he realized that he did change a lot over the past year-ish. He also didn't realize how much of a toll it was taking on his best friend. She meant the world to him and it hurt him to hear her talk about him like that. Right as he was about to open his mouth and assure Jenna that he was still the same Steve that became friends with her all those years ago, the doorbell rang and cut him off. Steve mentally face palmed as he sighed and got up to get the door.
We're gonna have to finish this discussion later. I can't lose her.
He better plan on finishing this later. I don't wanna lose him.

[Edited]