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CHAPTER SEVENTEEN | ELECTRICITY
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i wore your armor just to feel deathless.
-crybaby // caitlyn seihl
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"You're staying with me tonight."
Steve hadn't argued with Jackie, and for that she was thankful. Wrapped up in her covers with Steve's arm slung casually over her waist was enough to give her at least a semblance of safety and normalcy. The room was shrouded in darkness, but the moon outside Jackie's window offered enough light to make Steve's face barely visible.
"This is crazy," Jackie whispered, moving closer to Steve and pressing her cheek to his chest. "I can barely handle what's going on with me and now we have to deal with monsters?"
"You still don't know everything that happened last year. Hell, I still don't know everything that happened last year." Steve ducked his head down and pressed a small, reassuring kiss to Jackie's forehead. "You can call it quits. You don't need to come with the kid and me tomorrow."
Though she knew he wouldn't see, Jackie still rolled her eyes. Lightly, she whacked his arm. "Are you crazy, Steve? I'm not backing out when your life is at risk! Dustin too! I'm gonna be there and I'm gonna protect you if it comes to that."
Steve's arm tightened around her waist.
"You really are the best person in the world, Jackie." He shifted around until his face was directly in front of hers. "But I'm not letting you risk your life for me."
For a moment, Jackie was silent. She lifted her hand and stroked her thumb over Steve's cheek.
"That's what people do for the people they love," she said, voice barely above a whisper.
She smiled softly and pressed her lips to Steve's cheek before turning around and closing her eyes. His grip on her tightened, pulling her back flat against his stomach. Before she fell asleep, the last thing she felt was his head tucking into the crook of her shoulder.
[ ... ]
Jackie woke up with the sun in her eyes. Groaning, she sat up and rubbed the sleep from her eyes and looked to her left. Steve was gone but the spot where he'd been was still warm. Despite the situation, she couldn't help but smile at the memory of Steve holding her tight and tucking his head into the crook of her neck.
"Hey." Steve entered the room, wearing nothing but a towel and a blush on his cheeks. "I went to shower and forgot clothes... I was hoping you were still asleep."
Eyes wide, Jackie forced herself to look away from his torso. He wasn't built like the sculptures of Greek gods, but Jackie liked that. Clearing her throat, she drew her knees to her chest.
