Chapter Text
School had gotten out on the first Friday of June and Hawkins was kicking off summer with a heat wave. Maybe that had been a sign that Jay should’ve headed to camp, but he couldn't bring himself to do it. After all, most of his friends back at camp had died or were headed off to college. So Jay decided to stay back in Hawkins against his dad’s wishes.
This of course meant that he couldn’t stay in their trailer for the summer. Jay, after much convincing, talked his one and only normal friend, the amazing Robin Buckley, into letting him crash at hers until her parents came back from their cruise towards the end of June. After that…well Jay didn’t really think that far so hopefully he would still get to crash at Robin’s.
Jay’s dad and step mom had moved to Hawkins, Indiana shortly after Jay’s mom, Aphrodite, had decided to go claim him. It was stupid what he’d gotten claimed for. Nonetheless the Brooks had lived in Hawkins for the past 7 years and everyone thought they were weird. There was his war vet shut in dad who never left their trailer and his amazing step mom who works at Bradley’s Big Buy and never really went into town. Meanwhile Jay who was only friends with Robin Buckley and was always off to some fancy summer camp in New York (at leasts those were the rumors).
“Dumbass, hurry up!” Robin shouted from downstairs. Right, another simi-dumb thing Jay had done was get a Job. Specifically a job with shit uniforms.
“I’m comin’ Robin,” Jay huffed. “This uniform fuckin’ sucks.”
“Hey you’re the one who suggested we get jobs at Starcourt,” Robin frowned, her arms crossed. She was currently standing at the bottom of the stairs.
“Yeah yeah,” Jay waved her off as he made his way down the stairs. “Let’s just go.”
“I still can’t believe you’re skipping out on that camp you go to every summer,” Robin shook her head as they both headed out the door.
“Oh shut it Buckley,” Jay winced. He had never ever, nor would he ever, tell Robin what that camp really was or why he wasn’t going back, but she knew something had happened last summer. Something that had broken Jay a bit.
“We still think biking is the best idea?” Robin winced eyeing the two bikes Jay had picked up at a garage sale. Robin and Jay knew how to ride bikes; they were just kinda shit at it.
“What other choice we got Rob?” Jay shrugged. Robin growned and got onto one of the bikes as Jay got onto his.
“Say you know were your going Brooks?” Robin asked. “Cause I don’t.”
“I got you Buckley,” Jay nodded. “I know they way.
↢—-↣
Jay did in fact not know where he was going and they ended up being 15 minutes late on the first day. Yippee. This left Robin and Jay to rush across the somehow already crowded Mall to get to the Scoops Ahoy part. There they were met with a very angry looking guy not in company uniform.
“You two are very late,” the guy, who was going bald and gray (that;s rough buddy), grumbled at the sight of them. “You better have a good explanation!”
“We got lost sir,” Jay winced.
“Hmph,” the guy frowned. “Don’t be late again or I’ll have to fire you two!”
“We won’t sir,” Robin nodded.
“Right,” the guy frowned. “Harrington!”
Robin and Jay shared a look after all who could forget Steve Harrington. The king of Hawkins High? Harrington opened the glass window that led to the back and popped his head out. He looked even more ridiculous in the uniform than Jay did.
“Yes Sir?” Harrington said.
“Train these two,” the guy grumbled and stumbled somewhere else in the mall.
“Right, well come in you two,” Harringtong huffed. “The rush starts in about an hour.”
“But it's literally 9am,” Jay frowned.
“Hey Ice cream can be enjoyed at any time of day!” Robin pointed out.
“Nah I agree, sorry what’s your name?” Harrington asked.
“Jay Brooks, that one’s Robin Buckley,” Jay introduced them.
“I’m-” Harrington started to say.
“We know,” Robin and Jay chimed.
↢—-↣
A week into working at Scoops Ahoy Jay learned two things. One rush didn’t start until 11:30-ish and Steve Harrington was friends with a bunch of middle schoolers. Specifically the middle schoolers that were friends with the one and only Will Byers aka the kid who came back from the dead. Jay didn’t mind most of the middle schoolers that Steve was friends with.
Max was a pretty cool kid who was dating the simi-lame lover boy Lucas. Will Byers didn’t speak much, but he was really good at art shit having left little doodles on napkins that Harrington kept like the mom friend he was. Meanwhile Mike was a whole other story. Mike, from what he could gather, was dating a girl who’s dad/parental garden was really strict and didn’t let her go to the mall. So he was constantly bailing on the group to go hang with his girlfriend. This left Will to be a third wheel to Max and Lucas.
“Hey Dingus, your gaggle of kids are headed over here again,” Robin groaned as she watched Will, Mike, Lucas, and Max make their way over to the Scoops Ahoy.
“Harrington went to get more cookie dough from the freezer,” Jay called.
“Shit we had to babysit his kids,” Robin frowned.
“I'll handle it, you go help Harrington with the cookie dough,” Jay offered.
“You're my bestest friend ever Jay Brooks,” Robin grinned.
“My dear Buckley, I am your only friend,” Jay reminded her.
“Shut it dumbass,” Robin scoffed and left to go help Harrington.
Mike walked up to the counter and rang the bell over and over again.
“Harrington is off getting more ice cream chill kid,” Jay frowned. Mike ignored him. See this was why he hated Mike Wheeler, he was an annoying little shit.
“Mike,” Will frowned. “Did you hear what he said?”
“Yeah yeah just send Steve out here once he comes back,” Mike frowned.
“You actually gonna order ice cream this time?” Jay asked.
“Uh I’ll take a butterscotch in a cone,” Will shrugged.
“Mint Chocolate chips for me and Lucas,” Max grinned.
“Hey I wanted Vanilla!” Lucas whinned.
“That's boring you’re going to try Mint Chocolate chip!” Max declared and Lucas huffed.
“Right two mint and one butterscotch comin up,” Jay disappeared into the back to get the ice cream. Half way through the order Robin and Harrington showed back up.
“Finally!” Jay cheered. “Your children showed up and actually ordered ice cream this time!”
“Seriously?” Robin asked. “Was my guess correct?”
“Will ordered Butterscotch not Banana,” Jay revealed. “But Max is a total Mint Chocolate chip girl so I believe you owe me 5 bucks Buckley”
“Urgh!” Robin huffed. “I thought she’d like Chocolate Peanut butter..”
“Are you two betting on what flavors they get?” Harrington snorted.
“Shut up Harrington, your only friends are middle schoolers!” Jay pointed out and headed out with the gang's order.
“They’re freshmen next year!” Harrington pointed out as he came out of the back. “Ew they’re freshmen next year…”
“Face it Dingus you're a loser,” Robin teased following Harrington out of the back.
“Finally!” Mike grinned. “Steve, we have an idea and you owe us!”
“Nice to see you too Wheeler,” Harrington huffed. “What’s your idea?”
“Movies!” Mike grinned. “You mentioned it yesterday!”
“Shit…” Harrington groaned. “Ok but only once and if you tell anyone you’re dead!”
“Dude what is going on?” Jay frowned.
“The little twirps are blackmailing Harrington into letting them sneak around to get into the movies for free,” Robin explained.
“Ah,” Jay nodded. “Hey middle schoolers, your ice cream!”
Max dragged Lucas over to get their ice cream meanwhile Will was hunched over a napkin drawing something again.
“Will!” Jay shouted. “Butterscotch!”
“Oh thanks,” Will nodded and went to grab his ice cream.
“We're gonna be stuck with these kids coming in everyday aren't we,” Robin groaned.
“Looks like it Rob,” Jay frowned and went to take a new customer's order.
↢—-↣
Something Jay and Robin could not get over was how bad Harrington was at flirting. It was quite clear that he sucked at it. He was so bad Jay and Robin had a bet going for how many times he would fail to pick up a girl by the end of June. So far Jay was winning as he had exceeded Robin’s number a week ago and was halfway towards Jay’s
“Hey Dingus, quit trying to pick up girls!” Robin shouted at Harrington after a particularly bad pick line. “It's painful to watch.”
“Hey, quit cheating!” Jay whisper-yelled so Harrington wouldn’t hear him.
“I’m not that bad,” Harrington tried to defend himself.
“You are that bad,” a little girl, who was actually Lucas’ little sister, huffed. “Chocolate.”
“One Chocolate coming up,” Harrington frowned.
Luckily for Jay and much to both Robin and Erica’s dismay Harrington wasn’t about to give up on picking up girls.
↢—-↣
“Butterscotch,” Will grumbled as he walked up to the counter.
“Hey Rob one Butterscotch,” Jay called back to Robin and Harrington. “Also your kid’s here Harrington.”
“Huh?” Harrington popped out of the back. “Oh hey Will.”
Will rolled his eyes and sunk into one of the booths.
“Why’s your kid so moody,” Robin frowned and handed the Butterscotch to Harrington.
“No clue,” Harrington frowned. “Wait, he’s not my kid!”
“Sure Harrington whatever you say,” Jay laughed.
Harrington took the butterscotch over to Will, meanwhile, Jay and Robin stayed back at the counter. Even with all the teasing they did with Harrington, it was pretty clear he cared for those kids. Jay never thought he would see the King of Hawkins High be so.. so kind to someone like he was to Will or Max.