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chaos had ensued the night of tina’s party.
billy and heather had been parked out at the quarry, sharing a joint on the hood of the camaro when rustling through the trees and loud yells and growls had alerted them to what could only be described as nightmare fuel.
weird, slimy, dog-like creatures came barrelling out of the woods, followed by nancy wheeler, steve harrington, and jonathan byers, of all people, wielding various weapons.
heather hadn’t had much time to react before billy was throwing her into his car and yelling at her to lock the doors.
billy had joined the fight despite looking scared out of his mind and like he didn’t have a clue what was going on, a stark contrast to the other three who looked way too familiar with whatever the fuck those things were.
and heather doesn’t like to think of herself as a damsel, but when one of things jumped on the hood of the camaro and screamed at her through the windshield, she was praying to god the glass would be strong enough to hold, because, honestly, what the fuck was she supposed to do?
it had been jonathan who knocked the beast away, pummeling it to the ground and killing it. shared a look with heather through the glass like he was making sure she was okay before running off to the others to finish the fight.
she made billy stay at her house that night. snuck him into her room after they learned from the other three about portals to other dimensions being opened in hawkins, about the truth of what happened to barbara holland last year.
heather hadn’t wanted to be alone, looking over her shoulder constantly to make sure another one of those things wasn’t creeping up behind her. she hated it. hated feeling weak, vulnerable.
so, the next day at school she finds herself seeking out jonathan at lunch. finds him sitting alone at one of the lunch tables outside.
“hi,” she starts confidently, placing her backpack on the table as she takes her seat.
jonathan glances up at her, confused. eyes darting around before they land back on her. “are you lost?”
“nope. you’re just the person i wanted to see.”
“why?”
“i… need your help with something.”
jonathan byers is not someone heather has ever thought twice about. but last night has sort of changed that. hasn’t been able to stop thinking about the way he came to her rescue. how, despite how meek and sheepish he seems, he had kind of been an action hero.
it was weird. and kind of attractive.
“look, if this is some popular girl hazing ritual-”
“what would i need to haze you for?”
jonathan shrugs, folding inwardly like maybe he doesn’t know himself. “i don’t know. but everyone’s staring. so, whatever reaction you’re looking for, you’re not getting it.”
heather looks around. notices everyone outside does seem to be focused on their table. she just shrugs it off. “everybody always stares at me. i have that effect on people. anyway. i need you to teach me to fight.”
“i’m sorry?”
heather sighs, rolling her eyes. “teach me to fight,” she repeats more slowly like he’s stupid. a bitchy habit, she’ll admit. “after last night, i don’t-” she pauses, taking in a rare moment of vulnerability she never allows herself to show in front of practical strangers. “i don’t want to be caught off guard like that again. i want to know how to handle things next time. if there is a next time.”
she stares at jonathan, silently asking if there will be a next time.
he takes a moment like he’s assessing her, how deep he wants to go into this, how deep he wants to get her involved in this, before answering, “there’ll be a next time.”
heather sucks in a shaky breath, but nods her head. “i want to be ready.”
“aren’t you friends with hargrove? i’m sure he can teach you.”
“how to throw a punch, sure, but. he was as lost as i was last night. only advantage he has over me is muscle mass and unbridled rage.”
that earns her a small smirk from jonathan before he quickly schools his features. “why not steve-”
“ew, no,” heather immediately cuts off. “absolutely not. and don’t say nancy, either. she’s not the one who saved my life last night.”
“i didn’t-”
“yes, you did, hero boy. so just accept the praise and say yes?”
the bell rings, signaling the end of lunch. jonathan looks back at the school, buying time before he gives heather an answer.
“okay. fine. i don’t know how i’m supposed to do this, but meet me at the old junkyard after school.”
“i have cheer practice.”
jonathan scoffs, like he’s mocking her, but he’s got that little smirk on his face again, so heather doesn’t take too much offense.
“fine. after cheer practice.”
heather smiles her gratitude and stands up. she grabs her backpack and slings it over her shoulder, halfway turned to head to class before looking back at jonathan for one last thing.
“y'know, between kicking steve harrington’s ass last year and now fighting monsters… you’re kind of sexy, byers.”
she sends him a wink, giggling to herself with the parting image of jonathan’s cheeks turning red at the compliment.
it was half said just to rile him up, but she half kind of meant it, too.