HE DOESN'T SPEAK / *

“you got it.” jonathan says encouragingly as he sits next to eleven on the couch. an old mystery novel, dog earred and worn, is being passed between the two of them. he thought it would be a good idea to let her listen some of the time rather than get through all the jumbled words. “you’re doing great.”

jonathan isn’t much for fanfare ! on his birthday he stays in, his mother bakes him a box cake, and he spends time with his family. sometimes he’ll get a gift, but he insists it isn’t necessary (joyce totally does, even if it’s something small). he loves that no one at school knows when his birthday is, honestly. the bigger the deal it is the less of a fan he is.

jonathan takes a quick, impulsive step backwards at jamie’s statement, feet unsteady as he went from tile to the wooden floor. “what?” he felt his hand go to the door frame, knucles going white. “what do you mean it got you?” there’s panic seeping into his voice. something unsure and scared. he’s being thrown back to a year ago, a hospital surrounded by government doctors. his brothers blank eyes. this wasn’t his brother though, it was his sister. “what got you jamie?” his voice is grave. “tell me.”

“i’m not !” he pressed himself to the floor of the tub, water making the porcelain surface even cooler than it was normally. “nancy! can’t you justt go home, please?” he had felt it, creeping up his spine, wanting to flip on. he would love to solve their spat but he didn’t want to end up dragging nancy down with him. that fight can go left unsettled for all her cares. “we can talk later!”

jonathan knew nancy was right, of course she was. he could feel the goosebumps rising up on his skin, but he wasn’t particularly inspired to say anything. “okay,” he says as he shuffles closer. just the body heat is better than wrapping his arms around himself. it’s awkward and weird, but in a way that is so nancyandjonathan that he doesn’t question it.

“don’t you usually?” jonathan said, face pinched as he thought about the consequences. it’s not like he hadn’t been in the general vicinity of jimmy before, he knew how these things worked. even if there was a way around it, jonathan isn’t sure if jimmy would take the easy way.

“it’s not like it’s something i plan on experience regularly.” he said, a slow exhale as he inspected his knuckles. he doesn’t understand why he always got into more scrapes when morgan was around. “i’m sure the face i have is just fine.”

thank you ! this means so much especially with how swamped i’ve been this week and worried about what people will think of my absence listen i know it doesn’t matter but i feel like i miss so much and i miss you! i will definitely send this along !

jonathan takes his free palm and wipes it on his jean jacket. ah, a death. sounds so real. “i’m sure nothing is goin’ to happen nance, don’t even worry.” this is the first place that had felt so real. most of the time he could crack a joke or be a little more relaxed. after all, the more relaxed he was, the less scared nancy tended to be. laughing later would be nice though, not that he’d ever tell nancy i told you so . the ballroom may have added at least like, ten levels of doubt to all of his previously held beliefs. “rumors or reported?” he asked, not trusting one local from this crazy town. at least if it was written in a newspaper, it had the tiniest bit more credibility. he swpet his camera across the space. “hello?” he called out as if anyone would answer.

jonathan went stiff as robin pulled him in from a hug, mostly from the force and surprise of it. “i’m holding you to that promise.” he said, voice laced with something akin to indifference.  robin was always roping him into something. it’s not like he was one to keep tabs on favors, but this one would be hard to forget. “i’m glad you know what couples do or whatever.” the corners of his eyes crinkled up. “but it’s not that hard, just like how we met in real life but add...romance.”

THIS VERSE IS OPEN . ( verse posts can be found here )