Chapter Text
That afternoon Joyce was impatiently waiting until she was done with work ,she’d been there since six in the morning and she had only gotten one twenty minute break. She was exhausted ,it was nothing new though.
She sat at the register, turning around every few minutes to check the clock. It had been a relatively calm day ,she didn’t like that.
Usually Joyce got to speak to customers all day ,ask them questions and just enjoy some small talk ,but now she’s alone with her thoughts.
Alone with her thoughts about Karen.
The second the hands of the clock behind her showed her that the time was fifteen minutes before three she grabbed her coat and rushed out the door, not even waiting for her coworker to sit down at the place she sat just seconds ago.
Joyce started her car ,not easily ,the car was old and not in the best conditions but it got her where she needed to go.
It took about three minutes before the car had started ,and when it did so Joyce grabbed her notepad and wrote down to go to the mechanic the second she would get her pay check.
Right after that she drove away.
There was traffic, not a lot but for Hawkins any traffic was a large amount. Everyone was headed to parent teacher night ,most people living in the town had kids that went to Hawkins high ,and most of them went there themselves about two decades prior. Most of those people couldn’t stop reminiscing their highschool memories, because frankly most of them had peaked in highschool.
Joyce wasn’t like that ,sure that period of time was memorable and she loved theatre but there were also a lot of things that she’d rather not remember, on the other hand ,every period in her life had stuff in it that she’d rather not remember.
Joyce had been thinking about her past so much that she didn’t even think about the fact that she’d been sitting there in her car in the school parking lot while people walked by for at least five minutes, they already called her the town crazy lady ,she mumbled something to herself about getting her shit together while getting out of her car.
She ran inside and made it into the classroom right on time ,there was some time in which the people that worked at the school would explain some stuff and after that she’d get a chance to talk to her kid’s teachers more privately.
She walked over to her kids after she saw Jonathan waving at her, she soon spotted will standing right next to him and of course will was talking to Mike ,which meant that Karen probably was near here somewhere.
Joyce didn’t want to talk to Karen ,she felt bad about it. Karen was basically watching after her kids for free and Karen had always been nice to her ,maybe just a little too nice.
Joyce didn’t like the way Karen made her feel…confused ,yes confused that’s the only way she could describe it. Karen would wink at her and playfully touch her arm and that confused Joyce. They’d moved on from highschool, Karen was married. She felt the kind of confusement that kept her up at night.
Then she heard the voice of her ‘friend’. “Hey ,Joyce ,a pleasure to see you here hun!”
Before turning around Joyce plastered on a smile that could’ve fooled anyone.
“Hi karen.”
Before karen could even start a conversation Joyce already muttered something about having to get to Jonathan’s classroom on time.
She left karen there as she hurried away to her son’s classroom. It had been half a truth ,she really did have to get there on time, lucky for her it was also a good excuse.
Jonathan’s math teacher invited them in and requested will to wait outside of the classroom.
The teacher informed Joyce that he had no worries about her son ,at least not worries about his schoolwork. Socially he had some comments.
“He’s just very closed off ,he doesn’t socialise ,doesn’t put himself out there.”
Joyce nodded ,she knew all this but she also knew Jonathan liked it liked it this way ,he had Nancy and…well actually just Nancy.
Maybe she should worry, what if he’s lonely?
“Your son is a good fella ,he can make it far if he stays motivated.”
Joyce smiles and makes a mental note to compliment him more often.
“Well that was it for today.”
They both shake his hand and wish him a good evening.
Then they head to mr Clark’s classroom for Will.
Joyce has always thought that he was a nice guy ,he was polite and Will liked him a lot. As far as she knows he’s a good teacher too.
Will and her sit down in the two chairs opposite of mr Clark’s desk.
Jonathan is waiting in the hallway.
As expected Scott Clark tells her that will’s grades have been good and that he’s doing fine socially.
Sadly enough she’s also informed that Will has been getting bullied by some other boys from his year. And his other friends have also been getting targeted.
“Will ,why haven’t you told me about this ?”
He shrugs his shoulders.
“It’s not like you’d be able to do anything about it anyways.”
Joyce knows that that’s partially true.
“We’ll talk about this when we get home.”
Mr Clarke nods in approval.
“I think we’re all wrapped up here then I think.”
“Okay then.”
They walk to the door and both thank Scott Clarke.
The hallway is loud ,Jonathan is leaning against the wall ,he’s talking to Nancy.
Then she sees Karen approaching her ,Joyce knows she can’t avoid her forever.
“Joyce, we haven’t had a chance to speak yet.”
“Yeah.”
Mr Clarke speaks up again.Thank God Joyce thinks.
“Can you bring this box to the storage space near the math classroom?”
“Scott-I have no idea where that is?”
But he already thanks her ,at which she rolls her eyes. “Fine I’ll just figure it out myself then.”
Karen speaks up “oh I know where that is ,I volunteered at the last PTA meeting!”
“Of course you did.”
She awkwardly laughs ,not sure whether that was a compliment or an insult.
“Shouldn’t you be here for Mike.”
“He’ll be fine ,we would’ve had to wait for five minutes anyways, Nancy can watch him.”
Karen rests her hand on Joyce’s shoulder.
“Come on this way.”
The storage room is dark.
“Is there a light switch?”
“Yeah I think it’s over here somewhere.”
And apparently it is since a small lightbulb that’s hanging from the ceiling dimly lights up the small room.
Joyce puts down the heavy box on the first table she sees.
“Well ,thanks for showing me the way.”
“You’re welcome ,Joyce.”
Karen takes a few steps towards the other woman.
“You look beautiful ,as always.”
Joyce looks at her a little flustered “thanks ,you as —“
Karen abruptly interrupted her.
“Do you remember highschool?”
She looks at her confused.
“Of course I do.”
“Do you remember us in highschool ?”
She bites her lip. “What are you insinuating?”
“Jesus, do you remember how we used to kiss or were you always too drunk for that.”
Joyce giggles, of course she remembers, she’s also slightly amused by how the tables have turned.
“Oh you mean that…well maybe you can help jog my memory?”
Karen pulls her closer.
“I mean if that’s what you want then who am I to deny you that.”
“Right.”
“Right.”
Then their lips finally meet ,it’s a lot more gentle than it was in highschool, which pleasantly surprised both of them. Then Joyce abruptly pulls away.
“I- we can’t do this ,trust me I want to…I really want to but you’re married and this isn’t highschool anymore.”
Karen nods. “I’m sorry ,I really thought you felt the same way.”
“I do.”
Karen looks at the other woman in a state of confusion. “Ted is my husband.”
She says in a way more disgusted tone then she had initially intended.
“That’s not your issue ,we won’t get caught and if we both have feelings for each other then i think we should just see what happens.”
Joyce sighs and leans back.
She bites her lip and fidgets with the skin next to her nails.
She’s conflicted, she really, really wants to kiss Karen again. But she has to think of what that’ll mean for herself. She just got out of a relationship, but all these years she’s wondered what it would be like to kiss Karen again. But could she handle the guilt ,the reason she broke up with Karen in highschool. The people telling her it’s wrong ,and the secret eating Joyce up from the inside out. And now there’s even more factors, she has kids ,can she keep something like this a secret from them?
And yet Joyce answered “yes ,yes I want to try this again.”
Joyce smiles from ear to ear. Karen grins back. “Are you sure…I mean if you need more time to think about it then I owe you that.”
“No ,no I haven’t been this sure of anything in years.”
Karen leans in for a kiss ,for a second it’s just the two of them in the world ,nobody else.
Karen’s hands travel to Joyce’s shoulders. While the other woman’s hands reach for her back.
They pull apart again quickly when they hear footsteps in the hallway. “It’s too risky here.” Karen nods. “When you come pick up your kids from my place we can”-
“Talk.”
“Sure.”
Both of them start to head back to mr Clarke’s classroom.
In the hallway there they see an old classmate of theirs with his daughter and son. As Joyce expected Karen starts to make smalltalk, the classic “how have you been.” With an overly enthusiastic smile on her face. They’re about to walk away when the young girl looks at Joyce and says “ms Byers, I didn’t know you wore lipstick ,it looks pretty on you!”
Joyce looks at the little girl ,slightly confused. “I don’t”-then a look of realisation spreads over her face- “oh thanks sweetie.” When the family walks away Joyce quickly reaches for the part of her sleeve that’s partially rolled up and uses it to wipe her lips, after that she rolls it back down.
“Karen if we want to do this we have to be more careful.”
“Mhm.”
“I’m serious.”
Karen blinks. “So am I dear.”
When they get to the classroom all the kids are there waiting for them.
They say a few goodbyes and ‘see you tonight’s and after that Joyce quickly drives to her work again. It’s in the evening so most of her customers are underage teens that are trying to buy booze and people that are so busy during the day that they have to buy everything at seven PM.
It’s overly quiet. And everything she does hear reminds her of Karen.
At about fifteen minutes before closing time about five people still run into the store and Joyce sighs at that. After what might as well have been thé longest fifteen minutes of her life she closes the doors.
She has to lock them with three different keys and after she’s don’t that she starts walking to her car. With every step she takes she feels like there’s a rock being lifted into her stomach. In the car she has to sit dow and breath for a few minutes. She’s nervous and scared and exited. Whatever she’s about to do ,it can change the entire course of her life.
The drive over to the wheeler’s house feels shorter then normal. She’s able to find a parking spot basically in front of the house ,the first time that that has happened. Before getting out of the car she mumbles “fuck you universe ,fuck you.”
She walks to the front door as confidently as she can. About twenty seconds after she rings the doorbell the door swings open to reveal Karen wheeler standing in. The door opening. “Come in ,Joyce.”
As she steps in her fingers brush against Karens.
She whispers in her ear. “You’re so beautiful.”
Joyce takes of her coat and follows Karen into the living room area ,everyone (and when I say everyone I mean EVERYONE) is gathered around the table.
They appear to be playing a game ,which confuses Joyce even further.
“You’re playing dark tower?”
Will looks at her and nods with a large grin on his face. Karen looks at Joyce. “Do you want to play?”
After a few seconds of Joyce just staring at her she clarifies. “The game ,of course.”
She nods. “Why not.” She sits down next to Jonathan, and after Karen got her a glass of water she sat down opposite of Joyce.
It’s a little weird to have everyone here ,together without fighting. Even Ted.
Joyce starts to feel a pang of guilt ,she did just kiss this man’s wife three hours ago in a storage closet.
Then Ted ruined it for himself by making a comment about Karen’s body. Out of shock Joyce pulls back her arms ,which causes her to spill the glass of water over the table and her own shirt.
“Oh shit I’m sorry…I’m too clumsy for my own good ,I’ll clean it up.”
Karen stands up nearly immediately.
“Don’t be ridiculous…I’ll clean it up later ,we have to get you a fresh shirt though ,you can borrow one of mine.”
“We’ll be back in a sec.”
The two of them hurry up the stairs ,into the master bedroom.
“Smart ,to spill the water.”
“Karen I didn’t do that on purpose.”
She giggle’s.
“I know ,still smart of you.”
She leans in and kisses Joyce on the cheek.
“Okay so I’ll just grab you a shirt of mine that you can borrow, you can give it back next time we see each other.”
Karen grabs a shirt that’s a deep purple with a floral pattern, from what Joyce can see they’re probably violets.”
“There you go.”
There’s an awkward silence.
“Do you want me to leave ,because I can leave.”
When they were together in highschool they really did nothing more then kissing ,and Karen really didn’t want to make Joyce feel uncomfortable.
“No ,no it’s completely fine don’t worry about it.”
“Are you sure?”
But Joyce already had buttoned down half her shirt.
When Joyce’s shirt is off and she’s buttoning up Karen’s shirt Karen can’t help but say something.
“You’re gorgeous Joyce, I hope you know that.”
She tries to brush the compliment off. “Thanks.”
“I’m serious.”
When the shirt is fully buttoned she takes a step towards Karen.
“And I seriously thank you.”
After that she kisses her on the lips ,at least until they’re interrupted by someone yelling downstairs. “Hurry up!”
They head back downstairs.
“You guys finished up the game without us?”
“Well it’s way past mikes bed time and I’m sure that Joyce is tired too so well.”
Joyce nods at that very correct statement.
She thanks the wheelers ,especially Karen for looking after her kids and tells them she’d love to return the favour sometime. Then they head out the door in a hurry.
The boys say they had a great night and Joyce is glad to hear that.
The second they arrive back at their home even will admits that he’s tired. And after about ten minutes Jonathan and will are asleep in their beds.
Joyce is also in her bed ,but instead of sleeping she’s lying on her back ,staring at the ceiling.
“What have I done.”