𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐝𝐲 ⟿ s. harrington

𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐞𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐲

Watching as she made her way towards his bedroom door, Jonathan called back to her with a smile. "Can't call it babysitting when they're your kids."

Alex laid her hand on the doorframe as she turned, giving him a look. "They aren't my kids if two of them are leaving me." Looking around the room one last time, she had said her goodbye to the last memory she would have sitting in Jonathan Byers room. She dropped her hand down as she felt her smile fade the moment she turned her back to the group.

Running her hand against the wall of the hallway, she had looked around at a house that had become a second home to her. She wasn't just saying goodbye to the Byers, but she was saying goodbye to a home she practically lived in.

When she had entered the living room, immediately Max and Lucas called out to her for some backup. "Tell him, Henderson! We just want one versus from your stupid brother."

"Come on, Alex, we missed our chance at hearing it. You gotta make him do it," Max pleaded. Alex gave a small sigh looking at the two sides of the situation. Dustin had given her a look, practically begging her to defend him while the others had already burst back into song once again.

Alex's shoulders slacked as she came to a final decision. Walking over to Max and Lucas, she laid her hands on their shoulders, leaning down and causing them to come to a stop with their singing. They dreaded that Alex had picked her brother over them. It was a decision that Steve would've made and given they had appointed Alex the cool one between the two, they expected better. But she had made her decision long before they had even bothered to ask.

She didn't disciple them as they had expected. Instead, she opened her mouth, picking up where the two had left off in the song. Throughout the Byers' house, their voices had carried through, the NeverEnding Story being sung out until laughter followed soon after.

It was everything Joyce Byers had needed to hear before she left for California. This house deserved one last laugh, one good memory before she could close the door behind her and let Hawkins go.

『••☀︎••』

After saving the world, they had thought nothing could be any harder. That was until the whole group that helped pack up the Byers' house were all outside for final goodbyes. None knowing when the next time any would see each other again.

Alex had stood back, watching as everyone had held one another in each other's arms, tears already falling and goodbyes being said. She couldn't bring herself to do the same just yet. Doing so would mean letting them go.

Feeling a nudge in her side, Alex looked up to see Jonathan standing next to her with crossed arms, looking out at the group as she did. He couldn't bring himself to look at her, unsure if saying goodbye was something he was going to be able to do. "Do you think we'll see each other again?"

Alex kept her eyes on him. All he wanted was the truth. She couldn't promise him they would even if it wasn't what she had wanted. "I hope so. This summer was hard enough not seeing each other all the time."

"I'll find reasons to come back. And, who knows, maybe I'll save up enough money so on your birthday I can come back and pay you a visit." He sniffled his nose as he finally brought his eyes to her. He had tried so desperately not to cry, but seeing she already was, he couldn't help but laugh. "I hate crying."

Alex gave a small nod as she struggled to find her voice. He was her best friend and he meant the world to her. To say goodbye had caused unimaginable pain. Rather than force herself to speak, she pulled him into her arms, hoping to never let go. They had let the other cry it out as they stalled their goodbye just a little longer.