Stranger Things x Reader Oneshots

•Snowstorm Cuddles• Jonathan Byers

Requested? Yes! By a lovely anon on tumblr.
Warnings? Mentions of anxiety, slight ptsd if you squint, and unedited
Word Count: 1.7k

It's finally, finally, winter. You're favorite time of year. You love the holidays, the cheerfulness, the snow, drinking hot coco while watching Christmas movies. Everything about winter made you feel alive and happy.

Except for this year, it just doesn't feel the same. The snow didn't make you smile like it had before, late night re-runs of It's A Wonderful Life didn't make you squeal in excitement because it's your favorite holiday movie, and hot coco didn't taste as delicious as usual.

Why? Why did you feel this way?

Well, for starters, your best friend's brother went missing, then was confirmed dead, and then a little girl with powers showed up, and monsters! It was too much, too sudden. Even after the girl with powers sacrificed herself for your kid friends, the memories still lingered.

And to put the cherry on top of this terrible Sunday, your parents are out of town, on Christmas.

Joyce Byers, the mother of your best friend Jonathan, invited you over, but you don't even want to leave the comfort of your home. You just wish this year felt the same as all the others.

Christmas was sacred in your household, and was very strict. On Christmas Eve, you and your parents would watch a movie of your choice and eat sugar cookies. Then, on Christmas morning, you'd exchange gifts with your parents, but of course when you were younger, 'Santa' would come.

But the evening of Christmas, you'd head over to the Byers'. You'd give each of the Byers a gift, and tried to be generous since your family had a little more money.

Will said he needed more paints for his DnD figures? You'd buy him he biggest paint set you could find. Joyce mentions that her toaster broke? You'd give her the newest model. Jonathan chatted excitedly about a new camera that just came out? You'd drive to the next town and wait in a long line to make sure you get it.

But the money for these gifts was never just handed to you, you weren't spoiled that bad. You always picked up overtime at the record store from Thanksgiving to Christmas. The grueling hours were a small sacrifice if you get to see the joyous smiles on the Byers' faces as they opened their gifts.

But all the anxiety and paranoia from Will going missing and all the monsters distracted you from enjoying your favorite time of the year. And the delayed planes from the giant snow storm is what is keeping your parents away. Nothing is going right.

     So now, it's Christmas Day, a half hour before you had to go to Joyce's to hand out presents. You didn't go to the Christmas Eve party yesterday— made up some lousy excuse that you weren't feeling too hot— and now you debated whether you should go today.

     The presents for each of the Byers sat in the chair next to your desk, staring at you. You scowl, knowing you'd feel awful if you didn't at least give them their gifts.

     You groan, leaning your head back against your pillow. You know that if you're going, you had to get dressed right about now. You look towards the window and let your eyes follow the snow falling to the ground.

     Storm? There's no more than four snowflakes hitting the ground every ten minutes? Maybe you're overthinking it, but that doesn't look like a storm to you.

     You stand up, walking to your closet and picking out a nice sweater. You pair it with nice but comfortable pants before going to the bathroom to fix up your hair and brush your teeth.