Lost Souls ↠ Steve Harrington ✓

Chapter Two ✓

THE MALL RATS

JESS WOKE UP THE NEXT MORNING WITH HER MOTHER RIPPING HER CURTAINS OPEN. "Mom- what the hell are you doing? It's like 8:00 in the morning." Jess groaned, rubbing her eyes as her Mom walked over to her bed. 

"You work at nine today." Jess scoffed. "It's not even a real paying job, I'm just helping her out." "Still. You committed to this by helping her so you still shouldn't be late." Jess sighed, running a hand through her hair. "Besides, maybe you should get a job with Steve. You can scoop ice cream for the rest of the summer until you want to figure out what you want to do for school."

The woman sat on her bed. "I don't know what I want to do. How am I supposed to figure that out?"

Natalie smiled. Kissed her daughter on her head before heading to the door. "You'll figure it out."

"Wait, Mom-" Before her mother walked out Jess gave a groan. She laid back down in bed until eight thirty, and then decided she should get ready.

She got dressed, washed her face, brushed her hair and her teeth and headed down stairs. In the kitchen her mom was cooking with the guy who she's been seeing. Jess bit her lip not sure if she wanted to hang out with them this morning, and just skip breakfast all together.

"Hey, Jess, we were just talking about you," the man said, sending her a smile.

At least this guy didn't give her a creepy vibe like the last one. Jess folded her arms. "Oh, really?" She looked at her mother raising an eyebrow. "Breakfast is almost ready." Daniel, the boyfriend, kissed her Mom on the cheek and grabbed some orange juice from the fridge.

Jess has always been so used to seeing one guy with her mother. Her father. The man who disappeared. Who  got killed in the upside down. "I'm not hungry. I'll grab lunch for me and Joyce a little later. But thanks." She chuckled unsurely. "You sure? I make the best eggs in town."

Jess's face fell realizing that's what her father always said when he would cook breakfast for her before school. "N-no. I- I'm fine." Her mother sent her a look. "Did I say something wrong?"

He chuckled. "No, not at all. I'm gonna be late. Love you mom, bye." With that Jess walked out, and Natalie sighed leaning against the counter. "What's wrong?" Daniel kissed the side of her head. "She's going to freak out when we tell her..." "hey, hey. She'll come around. I promise." Daniel embraced her in a hug, and wrapped his arms around her. "I promise."

-

Jess parked her car in front of the general store, and seen Joyce putting new prices on a few items. "Hey, sorry I'm late. My Mom's boyfriend is practically living with us and I can barely get to the fridge without him being right in front of me." Joyce gave the girl a quick hug.

After all they've been through together Joyce thinks of the girl as family. "I'm sorry, sweetie. Hey, if you ever need a break from it all you're more than welcome to come stay with me. The boys are always out late hanging out with their friends and Jonathan is Nancy. I'm all alone."

Jess smiled. "I might take you up on that offer." "Please do. We can watch bad TV and eat popcorn." "Sounds like a plan." The girl chuckled.

Joyce smiled and gave her a box to put out a few things on the shelf. "Emotions have been shared. Boundaries have been set. Orders have been restored," Hopper said. The  bell ringing above him as he walked in the store. Jess furrowed her eyebrows wondering what the hell he was talking about why he suddenly looked so happy. Especially in the morning.