love me - stranger things²

[012] reuniting.

CHAPTER TWELVE

reuniting.

AS QUICK AS THEY COULD, THE GROUP LEFT THE MALL AS SOLDIERS WENT IN, STEVE AND JENNIFER WALKING CLOSER TO ONE ANOTHER THAN THE OTHERS. Jennifer looked to the ground as she walked, it was only for Steve stopping beside her that caught her attention. Steve knew that the girl had drifted away from her Father ever since Nicole's death, and, though he wanted to tell her it was a bad idea, he knew that he couldn't meddle in that kind of stuff. Despite that, Steve knew that when he saw Robert Lawson standing ahead of them, watching Jennifer concerned, the girl had to do something. 

It only took Jennifer a moment to move, Steve's encouraging hand on her lower back helping her to do so. As she stepped closer to her Father, she felt the hot tears well in her eyes, her heart both breaking and healing as she approached the older man. Robert didn't question what had happened, he didn't question why she was there in the first place, or why she locked him all, all he wanted to know was if his daughter was okay,

He gently yet firmly grasped onto Jennifer's arms once she was in reaching distance, looking over her and her beaten up face for a moment before pulling the girl into his chest. He cradled the back of her head, his other arm wrapped around her back as his face rested in her hair as tears also welled in his eyes. Subconsciously, he rocked the two of them back and forth, the steady motion comforting Jennifer. "I'm sorry, Dad." Jennifer sobbed, her voice cracking as her head was dug into his chest, her arms wrapped around his torso. 

"It's okay, baby girl." He comforted softly, simply happy that his daughter was safe and finally back in his arms. "It's okay." Robert muttered once more, his arms tightening around her. The two embraced one another a little longer, sharing very few words, though, every one they did was filled with emotion. Soon enough, the Father and daughter pulled away when they saw Joyce's sobbing face.

Robert looked at Jennifer concerned for a moment, unsure of what to do until the girl gently nodded her head, signalling to the man that she was okay. As Robert went over to Joyce, pulling her into a comforting hug, Jennifer walked over to Steve who sat next to an ambulance. 

The girl sat down beside Steve, a paramedic coming up to her and treating the cut on her cheek, unable to do anything for her busted lip and her sore nose. The two sat in silence for a moment, Jennifer resting her head on Steve's shoulder. Silently, the boy let his hand slide towards Jennifers, their finger intertwining with the boy gently caressing Jennifers hand with his thumb. 

"Why didn't you tell us it was your birthday?" He asked softly, not wanting to pry. Jennifer thought for a moment.

"It's my first birthday without Nicole." She explained, sighing. "I guess... celebrating it would have made it feel more real. I just wasn't ready for that." Steve stayed quiet, his hand tightening around Jennifers as a way to comfort her.

Jennifer looked up at Steve, the boy looking back down at her, their eyes dancing around one another features. Steve was the first to move, slowly but surely lowering his face closer to the girls until their lips connected. It was only a short kiss, though still full of passion, reassurance. 

When they pulled away, the girl couldn't stop the smile making its way onto her face, her cheeks slightly flushed. Steve chuckled softly at Jennifer, though, his face too was a soft shade of pink. The boy looked at her nervously, his eyes darting around her face. "Will you go out with me?" He asked softly.

Jennifer couldn't help but chuckle; not a teasing chuckle though, instead, one that showed him that she too was nervous. She nodded softly, her hand lifting up to caress the side of his face before pulling him into another kiss which Steve was quick to respond to - one hand holding onto the back of her neck whilst the other remained holding onto hers. 

__________

"NO, PLEASE, GIVE ME MORE TO CARRY. I'VE GOT THREE ARMS YOU KNOW." Jennifer spoke sarcastically as Jonathan kept giving the girl more and more boxes to carry out to the U-Haul truck. Jonathan simply rolled his eyes before picking up a few boxes for himself and walking out of the, now almost completely empty house, Jennifer close behind him. 

After putting the boxes into the truck, Jonathan left to go back inside the house, Nancy following behind him. Meanwhile, Jennifer stayed outside for a few moments, putting the remaining items that sat outside the house into the trust until the front porch was empty. 

Soon enough, the house was completely empty, those that were present now all outside, saying goodbye to the Byers who were leaving to California. Jennifer hugged El goodbye, and, though it was only a short, brief embrace, it was still full of emotion, the two having shared a lot within the past couple years. Jennifer and Jonathan then embraced one another, reluctantly saying goodbye, though Jonathan didn't exactly want to leave, he knew it was the best option for them. The girl then moved onto Will, the boy she had watched grow up now leaving Hawkins, Indiana. 

Robert and Joyce stood in front of each other, their arms wrapped around one another. They shared a few words of encouragement, the two sad about having to say goodbye with how close they were. Once the two let go of one another, Jennifer and Joyce embraced.

Jennifers arms were wrapped around the other woman, Joyce doing the same. "Just call me if you need anything." Joyce reassured, knowing that Jennifer still couldn't talk to her Dad freely about everything she had been through, not wanting to reveal everything to the man. The girl simply nodded, knowing that if she were to speak, the tears that welled in her eyes would fall, leaving her face puffy and red. 

The older woman pulled away, he hands resting on Jennifer's shoulders before she tucked the hair covering Jennifer's face behind her ears. Joyce smiled softly, giving the girl one last tight hug before reluctantly getting in the truck with El and driving away, Jonathan and Will close behind. 

WORD COUNT: 1,065