Problems of adults

Chapter 39 : A New Friend

Eight days after, Jane was still at the Byers'. She spent the day before with her sister to cremate their father. Constance kept the funeral urn with her to know what they would do with it. None of the sisters wanted to go back to their apartment, so they stayed with their respective girlfriends. Jane was laying down on Max's bed, looking at the ceiling. Max wasn't next to her, she wanted to give Jane some moment alone to think. But Joyce was very worried, so she prepared a tray for her and went to the room. She lightly knocked and entered with a warm smile before placing the tray on the nightstand and sitting on the bed.

- "You don't wanna eat?" Joyce softly asked.

Jane looked at the tray before looking at the woman and shaking her head to say no. Joyce put her hand on the girl's forehead to see if she was sick, but she knew why she was like that.

- "I know it's hard-"

- "I told him that I wish he was the one who died and that I hated him," Jane confessed.

Joyce pouted. Now she was understanding better why Jane was closed on herself, well, more than usual. The poor young girl was feeling responsible for her father's act.

- "He knows you didn't think a word of it-"

- "I did."

- "You were angry when you told that."

- "Did he kill himself because of me?"

- "No, Jane, don't think that. Your father was...he had lots of problems and, sadly, he made all the wrong decisions which pushed him over the edge, but it's not your fault."

- "I probably convinced him to do it."

- "Don't say that. It was his own decision."

Jane clenched her jaw, not feeling better. They got cut in their conversation by Jane's phone beeping. The young girl looked at it and saw a message from her sister. Constance was telling her that she was coming back to their apartment. Jane sighed with her nose before answering her that she would come back too. She took support on her right arm to sit, but she was too weak to do it alone. Joyce grabbed the young girl's arms and helped her to sit.

- "Where are you going?" the mother asked.

- "Back home."

- "Are you sure you're ready?"

- "I don't know. I'll see. But I don't want to let Constance alone."

- "Let me drive you."

- "No, I'm fine. I'll walk."

- "You're not-"

- "I'll walk!" Jane answered angrily.

Jane regretted answering like that, Joyce didn't hesitate to welcome her and to help her, and it was how she was thanking her. And answering like that got her out of breath and made her dizzy.

- "I...I abused enough your hospitality."

- "You're always welcomed here," Joyce warmly smiled.

- "I know."

- "I'll gather your stuff. Why don't eat while I do that?"

- "I'm not hungry."

- "I know. But there is no way for me to let you go knowing that your stomach is empty."

Jane lightly rolled her eyes before obeying. She took the plate that was on the tray and ate a little bit while Joyce was packing Jane's stuff. A few minutes later, Jane stood and put her bag on her back before going to the living-room where Max and Will were. The two teens stood when they saw her.