Sweet Dreams - Steve Harrington

chapter 8

Word spreads fast in a small town like Hawkins.

The smallest rumour can spread like wildfire, especially when the residents are extremely noisy. When the diner on the corner of main had mushrooms growing from the carpet, everyone knew within a day and the place had to shut down from a lack of customers. Or the town was buzzing when news of a new record store opening across town was heard, people wouldn't shut up about it for months. 

Even the news that Barbara Holland ran away from home and gone missing.

But Jennifer never, ever, expected the news of Will Beyers body to be found to become one of those rumours she heard in the whispers.

It happened early that morning. 

Jennifer was nursing a major hangover from the night before after drinking half a bottle of tequila from her dad's liquor cabinet. The lock he had on the cupboard was rather stupid as Jennifer knew where he hid the key but would never tell him that. She finished half the bottle within the hour and locked her door to keep her father from entering. As long as he knew she was home, she wouldn't be in further trouble.

But the next morning, Jennifer began to suffer the consequences of her actions. Her alarm didn't go off from the lack of batteries and Jennifer was already late to school. She decided she had to go and began slowly getting ready for school with her morning routine.

She turned on the radio in her bathroom and began brushing her teeth was when she heard the news.

Will Byers body was found dead.

The boy who is practically her little brother is dead. The boy she was protective and defensive over is dead. She couldn't believe it.

Jennifer chose an unhealthy decision to skip school that day. But her saw her actions as justified. 

It wasn't for her. It was for Joyce.

Last night, she bailed to visit Joyce Byers because of Jonathans photographic actions that broke her trust and boundaries. But this wasn't about Jonathan anymore. This is about a grieving mother. A mother who just lost her son.

Instead of going to school, Jennifer stole a ten dollar bill from her dad''s jacket, picked up a bouquet of flowers, and headed over to the Beyers residence to give her condolences.

But Jennifer didn't expect this to be so difficult.

She has been sitting on the Beyer's front step unable to bring herself to knock on the front door for the past twelve minutes. The bouquet of flowers rested beside her and her cheeks were slumped into her palms staring at the abandoned bike that laid in the grass in front of the residence.

The red bike was the bike Will learned to ride on. 

Jennifer remembered all those times Will would fall over but get back up and try again. He was a determined and stubborn little shit. But he was the closest thing Jennifer had to a little brother.

Everything about this god damn house reminded Jennifer about Will. The spare tire resting against the porch, the dent beside the door from Will kicking his shoes off before racing inside, the collection of sticks displayed beside the bottom step that Will uses as wands with his friends.

Why did she think she could do this?  Why didn't she think this through? Why does it hurt so damn bad?

"Jen?"Jennifer looked up to see Jonathan standing in front of her standing there speechless.

He was surprised to see her sitting in front of his house when he pulled up to his house. But kept his distance for caution. Jonathan was visiting home to grab his wallet before he would leave to plan the funeral home for his little brother but he never thought he would see Jennifer crying on his front step.