ONE
Doll face
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❪ tw: strong language, smoking, mentions of death, and mentions of cancer ❫

STRANGER THINGS
(season 2, ep 1)

JACKY WAS WHISKEY in a teacup. A pretty little thing that won't hesitate to punch you in the mouth. Her blood type was fierce. Not type A or type O. Fierce. Jacky's familiar scent of Christian Dior Poison, which she bought on sale with her babysitting money filled the small house. She and her father were rushing to get ready as El stared at them from the table.

     Jacky downed the rest of the milk that was in her cereal bowl before placing it in the sink and wiping the liquid that dripped from her rosy lips. "How does my outfit look?" Jacky turned the El, displaying the black t-shirt tucked into her high-waisted blue jeans, a red jacket, red converse, and a red belt.

"Pretty." El smiled.

"Thanks." Jacky smiled back at her. "Dad, we could really use a bigger mirror!" Jacky raised her voice before she rushed back into her shared room with El to get her bag.

"Yeah, yeah," Jim mumbled as he searched for his hat. "You want a ride to school?" He asked.

Jacky picked up the black backpack off of her bed that was across the room from El's before grabbing her Walkman off the nightstand that separates both sides of the room. "It's okay, I'll bike." Jacky looked at him through the open door.

"Hat. It's cold." Jim scolded her walking into the room and handing her a beanie.

     Jacky slightly rolled her eyes. "Bye, dad."

     "Bye, kid." Jim ruffled his hand through the girls' two-day-old roller set hair with a light smile.

     "Bye, El." Jacky looked back at her once she made it to the front door.

     "Bye," El said softly before Jacky walked out the door.

            HER MIXTAPE WAS currently playing Super Freak by Rick James as she biked through the parking lot. She stopped in front of the rack where everyone kept their bikes. Jacky whipped her head around as she got off, looking around at the teens standing by their cars, talking, finishing homework, and the few that were smoking. She placed the black vehicle in an open space and locked it. Seconds after Jacky took her headphones off she heard a voice behind her. "Hey, Jacky." Jonathan greeted.

Jacky turned around and a smile grew on her face once she realized who it was. "Hey, John."

Jonathan took a second to look down at her bike. Jacky barely ever rode her bike anymore since Jim always drove her without asking. "Hopper didn't drop you off today?" He questioned.

Jacky shook her head. "Nope."

     Mary-Rose always parked in the same spot and it wasn't like you could miss her bright blue Camaro. "Hey, Rosey."

     She was braced up against the car and a smile grew on her red lips as the pair walked towards her. "Double J's." Mary-Rose lifted herself off of the car before reaching into her back pocket. Her red nails seemed to pop more against her black jeans. She pulled out a small box of cigarettes that she bought for Jacky who didn't seem to find the time to get to the store herself and she definitely wasn't going to take any from her dad. "Here." Mary-Rose extended her arm, handing it to the girl in front of her.

     Jacky grinned before taking it. "God, you're a lifesaver."

     Jonathan watched as Jacky placed a cigarette in between her lips and pulled out the lighter from the small pocket on the side of her backpack. "Nicotine is gonna be the death of you."

     Jacky looked over at him as she blew out the smoke. "I've been getting checked for cancer every month since Sarah died, I'll be fine. I only smoke two a day at the very least. They ain't killing me yet." She sent the boy a tight-lipped smile as they all walked across the parking lot.

Jonathan's laughter was interrupted by the obnoxious sound of a car engine and tires screeching. The three stopped dead in their tracks and looked over at the unfamiliar car approaching the parking lot. They were definitely not from here, the car had a California license plate. The door to the driver's seat opened and out came a boy with a messy mullet, decked out in denim with a cigarette in between his fingers.

Seconds later a younger girl who was around Jacky's kids' age with bright ginger hair came out and immediately skated over to the middle school across the way. Jacky rolled her eyes, slightly annoyed at how he entered. "How dramatic." She muttered though it was loud enough for him to hear. She made eye contact with him for a second as she blew the smoke out of her mouth and she continued walking up to the doors. "I like to make an entrance." He yelled out to her after he threw his cigarette on the ground and watched her walk between her two friends. She ignored him.

"He seems like a douche," Mary-Rose spoke up.

     Jonathan nodded. "I'm with you on that one."

     "Same here." Jacky agreed. She pressed the burning part of the cigarette against the brick before she dropped it in a bush and walked in after Mary-Rose.

              JACKY WALKED SIDE BY SIDE with Jonathan down the hallway. They shared their first-period class with Nancy and even after everything that happened last year with her being involved with the whole fighting off a monster thing they didn't speak. But it wasn't like they were on bad terms they still smiled and waved in the halls and even had a conversation with Mary-Rose bout Barb at the hospital when they found Will. Jacky often pushed her sad feelings down, but she did miss Barb and she wished they stayed friends. "Gag me with a spoon." Jacky groaned as she saw Steve and Nancy kissing outside of their classroom. Jonathan eyed them as well. Jacky didn't like how hung up Jonathan was on Nancy she just wanted him to be happy and being in love with a girl with a boyfriend was NOT gonna make him happy.

"Hey, do you wanna come over tonight?" Jonathan turned to her as they walked in.

     Jacky dropped her bag by her chair before sitting down. "Of course, I haven't seen Will in a couple of weeks."

     "Great, I can't fucking stand Bob." Jonathan mentally rolled his eyes at the simple thought of Bob.

     Jacky understood that Jonathan just wanted what was best for his mom but, she felt like he still needed to give him a chance. She also felt like he might've been mad because he wasn't used to having a guy in his house that wasn't his dad. Even though he hated him. "He's not that bad. He seemed pretty nice when I met him."

     "Oh, he is that bad," Jonathan argued. "I just don't get what my mom sees in him he just so...Bob. Like he's just extremely boring and too nice it just gets on my nerves."

     She let a laugh slip out which made Jonathan's face fall. "I'm sorry but, at least your mom is happy. You have to learn to try to tolerate him even a little bit."

     Jonathan was about to open his mouth to speak but the bell had just rung and their teacher had an announcement to make. "Class, I'd like to introduce you to our new student, William Hargrove." Jacky looked away from Jonathan and her eyes landed on the boy she saw in the parking lot. Her green eyes were met with his blue ones and a smirk tugged at his lips.

     Billy looked back at the woman next to him. "Billy." He corrected her.

     "Excuse me?"

     "It's Billy." He clarified.

     "Sorry, Billy." She corrected herself before looking back at the crowd of teenagers. Jacky could hear the whispers coming from the girls in the room, they acted like this with every attractive guy they saw. "He just moved here from California. Take any empty seat."

     Billy noticed the empty seat next to Jacky. She felt the burning sensation of a stare but she knew who it was and she didn't acknowledge it at first. Jacky looked over at Billy after she pulled her notebook out. "Watch those eyes, Hargrove."

             AS THE DAY WENT ON Jacky just wanted to get on her bike and leave but unfortunately that wasn't an option. She was standing in front of her locker, putting away some of her books before she had to go to lunch. Though, she wasn't aware that Billy was walking up to her. All day almost every single girl in school was all over him. But Jacky was just different to him. "Hey doll face." Billy leaned up against the locker to her left.

     Jacky's movements came to a stop before looking over at him. "Hi, William." She fake smiled.

     A chuckle erupted from his throat. "It's Billy."

     "Mhm. What do you want, William." Jacky pulled another book out of her bag.

     Billy took a step closer. "I've heard a lot about you. Jacky Hopper. You're pretty talked about."

     "Yeah? What did you hear?" Jacky questioned.

     "That you're the hottest girl in Hawkins."

     She couldn't help but laugh at the sentence. "I don't believe that's all they said." People always talked about Jacky but it was mostly assholes like Tommy H saying she was a bitch.

     "You may be a little intimidating but every guy here stares at you like you're gold." He mentioned. It was true, they admired silently.

     Jacky, however, couldn't care less. "They can stare all they want."

     "Is that guy you were with this morning your boyfriend? Because honestly, you're a little too pretty for him."

She huffed before she closed the locker door and fully turned towards him, looking him dead in the eye. "Don't say that. And no, he's not my boyfriend. Never had one and I'm not looking for one. I'm shutting you down because no matter how attractive you are I'm not gonna be like every other girl here who would do anything for you to just breathe in their direction. And you're an idiot if you think someone like me gives a shit about being labeled hottest girl."

     It was silent for a few seconds and Billy was just staring at her. "Got it. But that's not gonna stop me." He smiled.

     "Real determined aren't ya?"

     "Yes ma'am."

     "Aw, already submitting to me do I really have that type of power over you, Billy?" She teased.

     "Funny." Jacky turned around but Billy placed a hand on her shoulder, causing her to turn back. "You coming to this thing?" He asked as he held up the flyer Tina was giving out earlier for her Halloween party.

     Jacky's eyes switched from the flyer and back up to him. "I guess you'll have to go to find out." She spun on her heel and walked down the hallway. Steve Harrington caught a glimpse of her out of the corner of his eye and he quickly looked down the hallway, seeing her walk away. He's been wanting to talk to her since the hospital but, couldn't seem to find the right words.

                     THE BYERS HOUSE was like a second home to Jacky. Ever since Will came back she found herself visiting and checking on him a lot more and that was basically how she got so close to Jonathan. Jacky was currently showing Jonathan a Polaroid of the Halloween costume Mary-Rose bought for her. It was a flapper costume that consisted of a red and black frilly dress that sparkled a little. "It came with a boa and everything, plus the dress is like two inches long. Can you believe?"

     Jonathan shook his head. "I really can't. You're actually gonna wear this?"

     "Hell no. My dad would never let me leave the house again. I told her I'm going as Sandy from Grease I already have the clothes anyway." She put the polaroid back into her jacket pocket.

     Jonathan gave her a look before he started to laugh. "Isn't she blonde?" He joked.

     "Shut up." Jacky scoffed. "Is Will in his room?"

     "Yeah, I was just about to go check on him."

     Jacky quickly got up from her spot on the bed and walked down the hall, ahead of Jonathan. She cracked open the door and saw Will staring down at a drawing he was working on. "Hey, you miss me?" Jacky spoke up.

     Will's eyebrows furrowed together before he looked up and realized it was her. "Jacky!" He smiled.

     Jacky wrapped her arms around him. "Hey, kid."

     "I didn't know what you'd like, so I got a variety. Take your pick." Jonathan walked in after her and placed the tapes on Will's bookshelf.

     "Whatever you want."

     "All right." Jonathan sat in front of Will while Jacky sat on the other side of him. "What are you working on?"

     Jacky leaned over his shoulder. "You should definitely be an artist when you get older." She scanned the picture before her face turned into a look of curiosity. "Who's zombie boy?" She asked.

     "Me," Will responded dryly, not looking at anything else but the paper. Jacky and Jonathan gave each other a look.

     "Did someone call you that?" Jonathan asked but Will stayed completely silent. "Hey. You can talk to either of us. You know that, right? Whatever happened."

     Jacky gently placed a hand on his shoulder. "Come on, Will." She lightly shook him.

     "Can you guys stop treating me like that!?" Will exclaimed, finally looking up.

     "Stop treating you like what?"

     Will let out a frustrated sigh. "Like everyone else. Like there's something wrong with me."

     "What are you talking about?" Jonathan started to get more and more worried.

     "Mom, Dustin, Lucas. Everyone. They all treat me like I'm gonna break. Like I'm a baby. Like I can't handle things on my own." Will explained. Both of the teens' faces fell, finally coming to the realization that they've always been treating him like that since they got him back. Jacky always had a protective side, especially when it came to kids. She connected with all of them and taking care of kids again reminded her of Sarah and she wasn't able to save her. But she was given the opportunity to save Will and she didn't want anything bad to happen to any of them at all anymore. She would protect them with her life. Not everyone wanted to be protected though. "It doesn't help. It just makes me feel like more of a freak."

     "You're not a freak," Jonathan assured.

     Will shook his head at him. "Yeah, I am. I am." He looked back down at the drawing and the room was silent for a few seconds.

     Jacky was staring at the wall while Will spoke. "So what?" She looked back over at him.

     "What?" Will looked at her confused.

     She shrugged. "You're a freak. So what?"

     "Do you wanna be normal? Do you wanna be just like everyone else? Being a freak is the best. I'm a freak."

     "So am I," Jacky added.

     "Is that why you guys have like only have one other friend?" Will questioned.

     Jacky's lips rolled into a thin line. Jonathan just chuckled. "We have friends, Will."

     "Do we really?" Jacky looked up at him.

     Jonathan blinked at her. "Jacky."

     "What? I thought we were owning up to shit."

     "Well, you guys just hang out with me a lot," Will said before looking straight at Jacky. "Even when you're not getting paid."

     Jacky fully sat up and moved next to Jonathan. "Will, you're not just a random rugrat I look after. You're my friend. Why would I only speak to you when your mom wants to go on date night? Especially after everything, we went through last year."

     "Will you're my best friend, all right? And I would rather be best friends with Zombie Boy than with a boring nobody. You know what I mean?" Jonathan tried to explain but Will just looked around. "Okay, look...Who would you rather be friends with? Bowie or Kenny Rogers?"

     Will's face scrunched up. "Ugh." He shook his head.

     "Exactly. It's no contest. The thing is, nobody normal ever accomplished anything meaningful in this world. You got it?"

     "Well...some people like Kenny Rogers," Will mentioned.

      Bob happened to be walking down the hall when he said that and peaked into Will's room. "Kenny Rogers. I love Kenny Rogers." They all looked at each other and Jacky's face started to turn red as she tried to hold in her laugh but she couldn't.

     "What's so funny?" Bob walked into the room.

     "It's nothing." Jacky shook her head, the grin still lingering.

     Bob picked up the tapes from the bookshelf and looked down at the first one. "Mr. Mom." He smiled before making a whooping sound. "Perfect!" Jacky involuntarily leaned her head against Jonathan's as they continued to laugh.

🪓

                JACKY SAT TO WILL'S left as they watched the movie. It was probably the most boring movie she's ever watched. Where's Mommy keep the extra diapers. Everyone but Jacky and Jonathan laughed. "This movie makes me wanna gouge my eyes out." Jacky leaned over the couch, whispering to Jonathan before plopping a piece of popcorn in her mouth.

     "You and me both." Jonathan sighed.

     "What about this is supposed to be funny?" Jacky muttered, continuing to hear Bob's laughter. The sound of the phone ringing made her feel like she should check the time. She glanced down at her watch eyes slightly widening when she saw 7:58. "Oh shit. I have to get home."

     Jonathan looked over at her. "Now?"

     "I have curfew."

     "Jacky." He whisper yelled. Jonathan felt like having Jacky there would keep him from murdering Bob.

     "You'll live. See you at school." She said her final goodbyes to everyone before she rushed home.

                   THE BIKE WAS PLACED in its usual place by the side of the cabin. Jacky quickly rushed to the front door, hoping she wouldn't get in trouble but her body completely froze when she heard her dad's voice behind her. "Hey, Jacky."

     "Hi, dad." She sent him a smile after she turned her head.

     Jim turned off his flashlight and walked up the wooden stairs leading to the porch. "Where were you?" He questioned.

     "The Byers. Jonathan asked me to watch a movie with them." She explained before she knocked on the door, signaling El to unlock it. She felt her father's intense stare, forcing her to look back. "Why are you looking at me like that?"

     Jim always had rules when it came to boys. He'd rather Jacky not date at all but if she did he had to like him. And it was very hard to please Jim in that situation. "Nothing's going on between you two? Right?" He asked before they heard the door unlock.

     Jacky huffed. "No. He's a nice guy but he's just a good friend." She denied before they both stepped inside.

     "Okay, just making sure." The sound of the TV was all you could hear now.

     She ripped the red material off of her arms and handed the jacket to Jim since he was already hanging his up. "Joyce's boyfriend was nice though."

     The mention of "Joyce's boyfriend" made him freeze up a little. Jacky always had a hunch about Jim having feelings for Joyce but he never admitted it. "Oh. Um Bob, right?"

     "Yeah. He's kind of corny but nice."

     Jim gave her a tight-lipped smile. "That's good, she deserves to be happy." Jacky knew her father like the back of her hand. He was her best friend and she knew that he hoped it was him instead. Jacky switched off the TV as Jim grabbed a can of beer from the fridge. His eyes wandered over to their small dining table. El set it up while they were gone and there was a plate of eggos sitting there that she didn't finish. "Hey, what'd we talk about?" Jim raised his voice.

     "No signal." El's voice emerged from her bedroom.

     Jacky sat down in the yellow chair and her head turned to the cracked door. "What?" She questioned.

     "No signal. It's 8-1-5. You're late. So is Jacky." She sounded upset.

     Jacky always hated it when El was upset, it made her feel horrible. "Sorry, El. Went to a friend's house."

     "Yeah, I lost track of time. I'll signal next time, all right? Uh, and it's 8:15. It's not 8-1-5." Jim corrected the girl. The door opened and El's footsteps sounded a little faint.

     She sat down in front of Jim. "Eight-fifteen." She spoke slowly. They had to correct her about that often but she was still learning.

     "Now, what did we talk about? Dinner first, then dessert. Always." Jim reminded her. "That's a rule. Yeah?" He leaned forward

     El nodded at him. "Yes." Jacky smiled at her before moving one of her curls. She felt happy sitting here. It felt like she had her family back. Her mother barely spoke to her anymore but Jacky didn't even care anymore, they were all she needed.

—jacky is heavily inspired by jade west

—dw jacky and billy don't get together she literally has no romantic type of relationship until steve

—so sorry for the wait i've mostly been wearing for my eddie fic bc i'm so obsessed with season 4 and find it really interesting

—and lastly jacky and steve are going to get more scenes together in the next chapter and won't be interacting that much till dustin needs help getting dart