people are strange ♔ steve harrington x oc

• 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟐𝟓 •

The committee meeting was not going as Jenny had expected. She had quickly realised after she and her mother had arrived, that Winnie Kline had just been looking for an excuse to play golf with Mrs Wheeler, Helen, and all her other Jazzercise friends.

As much as Winnie was less than interesting company, Jenny did feel bad for her. She never had anything important to do outside of being on her husband's arm, so it must be lonely for her whenever she wasn't planning luncheons or going to the pool or mall.

The conversations, however, were just as dry as expected, with the main topic of the day being them complaining about their electric kitchen appliances going awry and their magnets not working ever since the power outage, and the hottest gossip being how Mrs Holloway didn't rsvp or show up for golf today. Jenny tried to shake the horrible feeling of unease that arose as she hit her golf ball towards the woods.

"So, Jenny," One of the ladies, Mrs Carver, asked Jenny as they walked back up towards the country club hall. She hoped it wasn't another question about Steve and her. "What's your plan for after school?"

At least it was more interesting than normal, "Well, originally, I wanted to do something with literature, or archaeology..." Jenny told the lady, who looked a little less than interested, "But recently, I've been thinking about becoming a detective."

"Ooo, that sounds exciting," Mrs Carver gushed politely.

"Sounds dangerous," Mrs Cunningham piped up, "And you'd be away from your family."

"Well... not necessarily," Jenny tried to reason.

"Who'd tackle the laundry pile, or remember to clean the lint tray? Or stock the fridge?" She listed.

"Me when I get home?" Jenny offered. "Or my husband?"

The ladies both laughed, "I guess he'd make the kids' lunches too?" Mrs Cunningham asked.

"Yes?"

They chuckled again as Jenny walked away, dragging her golf club behind her and restraining herself from whacking them in the shins. They always wanted to hear her talking, but never what she said.

Looking up at the entrance to the hall, Jenny noticed Larry Kline wearing sunglasses and a dirty expression, nursing what looked to be a Negroni. Stiff drink for this time of the day, she thought. She looked back at the women heading back to their cars, and called out to her mother, asking her to hold her equipment whilst she went to the bathroom.

"Mare Kline," Jenny greeted pleasantly with a diddy smile as she approached him. His expression dropped as if he had been under the impression he was invisible. He cleared his throat and flashed her one of his characteristic hollow smiles.

"Jennifer, dear!" He said, taking a sip from his drink. "How was the game?"

"Oh I'm a terrible golfer," She said with a chuckle. "How about you?"

"Me?" He asked nervously. Jenny squinted, observing his face. His nose had been covered in a beige-coloured gauze and his eyes were so badly bruised that even his sunglasses and poorly colour-matched foundation couldn't cover it all.

"Poor golfing technique too?" She joked, gesturing to his nose and eyes.

"Oh," He laughed, "no, no... Run in with a cabinet door."