[ 𝚂𝚞𝚗 & 𝚁𝚊𝚒𝚗 ] ~ 𝙹𝚘𝚗𝚊𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚗 𝙱𝚢𝚎𝚛𝚜 𝚡 𝙾𝙲

VII - Unexpected

Justin knocked heavily against Jonathan Byers's door. Her knuckles turned a sore red as she rasped her fist against the wood. It had been an hour since Jonathan had dropped her off at her house. As soon as she got there she was bombarded with questions from her mother about her little brother. She couldn't find Dustin. Apparently he said he was staying at Will's house, but nobody was answering the phone there. So, that's where Justin was now, sent to check and see if her little brother was there. 

A tired looking Jonathan pulled the door open, scanning Justin over curiously as he slumped against the doorframe. His elbow rested just near his chest, leaning into the wood. "Hey. . .What are you doing here?" He cleared his throat.

"Hi- Uhm- Is Dustin here?" She questioned, looking over his shoulder, into the house. 

"No? Why, what's wrong?" Jonathan pushed himself off the doorframe, crossing his arms over his chest as his brows drew together. 

"My mom said he was here and that nobody was answering the phone. I'm not really worried. I mean, he wanders around all the time and he's been fine this whole time, but my mom's all scared-" 

"Hey, it's fine, I get it-" Jonathan assures. "Uhm- Will said he was staying at Mike's tonight, so I could try calling there, but-" 

Justin's nose scrunched up at the idea. "No, no- I'll just tell my mom that Dustin's here and asleep. It'll be fine." She sighs, running a hand over her face. "I'm sure he's just goofing off with that Lucy kid. Oh god- Is my brother at Steve fucking Harrington's house?" She snarled the name like it was toxic on her tongue.

Jonathan laughed slightly. "I take it you don't like him?"

"He's a dick. He's always been a dick, he always will be a dick." Justin growled.

"He's really not that bad. Steve's gotten. . .better? I guess- In the past couple years." 

"Right." Justin rolled her eyes. "Anyways, I should go home." 

"Hey- Uh. . .wait."

"Hmm?" She tilts her head, looking up at him with her blue eyes clashing with his brown. 

"Do- Do you want to- uh- to come in?" Jonathan stuttered out, breaking eye contact.

"Why?" Justin huffed a soft laugh, not mockingly, just out of confusion. 

Jonathan swallows, meeting her eyes again. "It's late, and dark, and I don't really want you driving alone right now."

"Aww, Byers, you worried about me?" She smirks

"Maybe I am." He chuckled back. 

"That's cute." Justin pauses, taking in a breath and looking behind her at the dark street. With a shallow nod, she smiled softly at him. "Yeah, sure. But you owe me a cup of tea." 

"I- I don't think we own tea-" Jonathan scoffed slightly. "Uh- We have coffee and hot chocolate-"

Groans in exaggerated distaste. "Of course you're coffee drinkers. Blegh-" 

"No coffee then?" He quirked a brow as he pulled the door open more to let her in. 

"God no. I'll take a hot chocolate though." 

"It's July-" 

"And?" 

Jonathan smiles a genuine smile, his eyes lighting up as he watched her brush past him and walk toward the kitchen. His entire stance seemed to relax as Justin entered his house. All the annoyance he'd felt toward his girlfriend earlier melted away as he instead focused on trotting his way into his kitchen to grab her a mug and the hot chocolate mix.  

"You know, I would normally ask Will if I could use his hot chocolate, but I'm sure he wouldn't mind."

"It's Will's?"

"Yeah. I promise he wouldn't mind. And if he does, I'll buy him more." Jonathan assured, putting a pot filled with milk on the stove. 

"Does he drink the coffee too?" Justin leaned back on the counter, her fingers flexed back against the marble, her legs sticking out at an angle. Jonathan glanced at her before looking back to the stove. 

"Uh- No, no. He doesn't drink coffee. I think my mom would kill him if he tried." Jonathan laughed softly.

"Oh good, at least one of the Byers still has some sanity left." She leaned her head back to rest on the cupboard behind her, her chin tilted up. 

"I'm sane." 

"You sure? Cause yesterday you dragged me along to snap photos of rats." She grinned, keeping her head against the cupboard as she moved her eyes to look at him. 

He hesitated as she looked at him before responding with a dry laugh. "Okay- That was not my fault and you know it."

"Oh, yeah, of course." She nodded slightly. "You're sane, your girlfriend's just not." 

Jonathan glanced away slightly. "Look- She's not insane." 

"I know- I know. Sorry, bad joke." Justin mumbled, shutting her eyes softly. 

"No, it's okay- I'm uh- I'm sorry that she's such a . . ." He trailed off.

"Jerk?"

"Yeah, I guess. I'm sorry she's such a jerk to you."

"Not your fault." She murmured, looking at him once again. "So. . .World's best mom mug, huh?" Justin nodded at the mug he had pulled out for her hot chocolate, garnering a laugh from Jonathan. 

"Absolutely amazing." He smiled widely. "Want to know the best part?"

"What's that?"

"Lucy got a matching one for Steve." 

"Oh my god!" Justin gasped, clearly excited at the idea. "I have literally nothing to do with that information, but it's. . .I think that's- I think it's the best thing I've ever been told." 

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Word Count - 908

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Published - January 26, 2024

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