love me - stranger things²

[001] unaware.

CHAPTER ONE

unaware.

JENNIFER SAT ON HER BED, HER RED ELECTRIC GUITAR SITTING IN HER LAP AS SHE RETUNED IT. A lit cigarette lied between her lips, a habit she had picked up more since the death of her sister. Whenever she'd wake up from a nightmare and it was still dark out, she would find herself sitting outside with a cigarette between her fingers, taking in the silence of the empty street. 

Faint music played through her stereo, quiet enough so that her neighbours wouldn't hear it through her open window, yet loud enough so that the songs played in the back of her head. "Hey, I'm going out to the store real quick." Her father stated as he opened the door, peering into her room. He felt disappointed seeing the cigarette, though, decided not to say anything about it. 

All Jennifer could muster up to reply with was an almost incoherent, 'mhm', her eyes not even leaving the guitar in her hands. Robert looked at his daughter for a moment, hoping that she would say more, but left when the girl kept silent. Ever since Nicole died, Jennifer found herself straying further and further away from her father. She felt guilty for it, yes, but she feared that if she weren't to put space between them, he would get mixed up in all the Upside-down shit; something that she was strongly against. 

Robert made the frequent effort to speak to her, the girl in question only ever replying with a few words, not enough for their encounters to be considered real conversations. 

Later that day, Jennifer found herself walking into Starcourt Mall, making her way to Scoops Ahoy. "Hey, Robin." She greeted, a wide smile plastered onto her face. The two had quickly become good friends, finding joy in poking fun at Steve whenever they were bored. 

"Hey, Jen." The girl made her way past the gate, specifically put there to stop customers from walking through, though it wasn't unusual for Jennifer to do so. Seeing as there were no more customers for Robin to serve in that moment, the two moved into the back room, Jennifer sitting on the bench whilst Robin leant against the wall. 

"So... have you found her yet?" Jennifer questioned, a playful smile on her face. Robin rolled her eyes, though her smile remained. A while ago, Robin had found herself too comfortable with Jennifer and had slipped up, practically coming out of the closet to Jennifer; though, when the girl didn't say anything, Robin had assumed that she just hadn't picked up on it. That bubble was quickly burst when Jennifer would continuously ask Robin if she found a girl she liked yet, something she had done with Nicole that she now subconsciously did with Robin. With Robin finding out about how supporting Jennifer was, the girl was more than happy to be more open with her about it, excited that she finally found someone she could be clear with about her romantic life.