chapter two.
with robin

James Parker stood behind Mike, Lucas and Dustin, the girl they found sat in front of them on Mike's couch as they stood in the Wheeler's basement. James watched the girl closely as they three boys fired questions at her, him slapping Dustin when he asked her if she had cancer. When Dustin slapped his hands and she flinched in fear, James had had enough.

"Okay, that's enough." He stopped them, as Mike went to get some clothes. "She's probably scared."

"And cold." Mike added, handing her the clothes. "Here, these are clean. Okay?"

The girl nodded, standing up and going to pull her top off, the boys all rushing forward. "No, no, no!"

"Oh my god!" Dustin exclaimed.

"See that over there? That's the bathroom." Mike stammered pointing to the bathroom. "Privacy. Get it?"

James stepped forward slowly, the girl turning to look at him. He made eye contact with her, noticing her hands slightly shaking. Taking a breath, he gently led her towards the bathroom, Mike following after him. The girl went into the bathroom, Mike automatically going to close the door, James and the girl stopping him. James noticed the signs, the shaky hands, the darting eyes, she was petrified, like someone would try to kill her at all times.

"You don't want it closed?" Mike asked.

"No." She whispered quietly, Mike making a joke before James slowly pulled the door so it was open enough for her to see through but not open enough that everyone else could see in.

"Hey, why don't we leave the door like this?" He asked softly.

"Yes." The girl replied.

The four boys gathered around, Mike explaining his plan to them. James thought it was an alright plan but if this girl was really in danger he knew she would never agree to it.

"Mike," James spoke before he went to leave. "be careful, she's scared and alone."

"Don't worry." Mike nodded.

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James Parker stood next his best friend, Steve Harrington as he spoke to his girlfriend about the party he was throwing as his parents were out of town. James and Steve had been friends since they were children, the two growing up together, at this point they were practically brothers. The two were hardly seen apart and had been together through everything.

"Oh, god. Look." Carol spoke, forcing everyone's attention to where Jonathan Byers stood, pinning missing person flyers up on the wall, him clearly hoping someone will find Will.

"Oh god, that's depressing." Steve commented.

"Should we say something?" Nancy asked, staring at him. Nancy Wheeler was Steve's new girlfriend and Mike's older sister. She was the girl next door type, a good girl in all honesty but there was no doubt in James' mind that she could be a badass.

"I don't think he speaks." Carol shrugged.

"How much do you wanna bet he killed him?" Tommy joked, Steve shoving him.

"Shut up."

James scoffed, also pushing Tommy after Steve. James wasn't friends with Jonathan Byers, no, but he was civil enough to know he would never kill his own brother, he would never kill anyone but that wasn't what really bothered him. What really bothered him was the thought that Will Byers, sweet, innocent, Will Byers could be dead in a ditch somewhere.

James watched as Nancy went over to speak to the boy before the bell rang. The brunet spun around as Nancy walked back over to them, ready to go to their chemistry class and ace his chem test as he came face to face with a certain brunette.

"Monroe." He greeted as she rolled her eyes.

"Parker." She sighed, waving goodbye to Robin who left smirking. "If you excuse me I have to go somewhere before I beat you in the chem test."

James' eyebrows furrowed as he looked around the hallway, not having a clue where she could be going.

Avery huffed angrily, stepping around him. "You know Parker you might enjoy making other people's lives miserable but I don't, I prefer to help rather than hinder." Avery walked away before James could reply, the blonde walking up to Jonathan before he left the school doors. "Jonathan!"

The Byers boy turned around. "Hey Avery."

"I'm sorry about Will." She smiled sadly. "But I'd like to help, I have a shift at the diner tonight so I cam put some posters up in the mall if you'd like."

"That would be great." Jonathan grabbed a handful of posters from his bag, handing them to her.

Avery nodded, smiling slightly. "And Jonathan... this must be so hard for you and your mum, like I can't even fathom what you are going through, and I hope I never have to and so whatever you need I am here, and so is my family. And so, I wanna give you this, it's not charity and it's not loads, it's just enough for you, to do you through this, get the help, be okay."

Avery handed the boy a small envelope, Jonathan peeking inside to see some cash in it. The boy smiled slightly, knowing that Avery meant well, after all he hadn't had a lot of time to himself and he desperately needed it with everything going on. But, god, how much he wanted to throw it at her and shout at her, but the sincere look on her face made him stop, because she was right, he needed this, he needed help and he needed to find his brother.

And, this was Avery for god's sake. Avery, who had been friends with him for god knows how many years. Avery, who tutored him in biology last year. Avery, who had happily modelled for his photos many many times. Avery, who was one of his best friends, who cared for him so deeply, who loved him even though he was kind of a loner. Avery Monroe was helping Jonathan Byers and he loved that, just as much as he loved her.

"Everything will work out." Avery smiled, before turning and heading to her chemistry class.

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After school, Robin and Avery were walking around the mall putting flyers all over the place for maximum coverage. Once they were finished, the two girls made their way to Lorelai's diner. The girls entered the diner, the smell of fresh food instantly welcoming them. Lorelai's diner was a warm and welcoming place, the blue and purple making for the perfect atmosphere.

"Hey mum." Avery greeted, the two friends sitting on one of the stools against the bar.

"Hello girls." Lorelai smiled as she walked past, pressing a kiss to Avery's head.

"Have you heard anything about Will?" Avery asked her mother.

"Not yet, your dad said they were following something but he thinks it's a dead end." Lorelai explained. Avery sighed.

"I hope he's okay."

"Me too." Lorelai nodded. "You don't mind closing up today?"

"No, I'll see you at home." Avery smiled at her mum, who kissed her once more before leaving.

"What do you fancy today Miss Buckley?" Avery asked Robin, who smiled at her, thinking.

"Hmm, well Miss Monroe, since you asked, I will have the Monroe Milkshake special." Robin answered.

"Ah, my favourite. I knew there was a reason I kept you around." The two girls laughed as Robin got up and walked over to the juke box. She thought for a moment, before moving over to the record player that was next to it, picking a vinyl and putting it on to play.

The lyrics to 'Killer Queen' by Queen began to play throughout the diner, Avery laughing as she grabbed everything she needed to make milkshakes. Robin did a dance back over to her, sitting opposite the girl as she made them both milkshakes, her dancing as she did.

"Here you go darling." Avery placed the milkshake in front of the girl.

"Thank you love." Robin smiled back. The two began to drink their milkshakes when the bell above the door rang out signalling someone had walked in. Avery looked up, scowling as she realised who had entered.

"Didn't you and the rest of your little gang bang crew have a party tonight?" Avery asked James.

"Yeah but I left when I felt as if I was fifth wheeling." James shrugged.

"So what are you doing here?" She questioned him.

"Well I thought this was supposed to be the best place in Hawkins to come for milkshakes." He shrugged.

"Thank you." She smiled in response.

"But then I realised you worked here." He added. "And so I came to show you this."

He held out in front of him, his science test. James and Avery's rivalry was well known with the teacher's at Hawkins High School as so they would always grade theirs first so they knew who beat who. Avery looked at his test, a large red 98 at the top of it.

"Wow, you got higher than fifty in chemistry, your parents must be so proud." Avery told him sarcastically.

"98, you cannot of got higher than that so that means I won and to celebrate my victory I'll have two burgers and two of those milkshakes you two have got there." James smiled cockily, sitting down in one of the booths.

"Why do you need two of everything, you finally got a date?" Avery looked at him, a smirk settling on her lips.

"No, just celebrating my victory." He repeated.

"I wouldn't celebrate just yet."

"And why's that, they only way you could have beaten me is if you got... oh no." James' expression turned to one of horror as Avery smirked.

"Oh yes." She walked over to the booth where he sat, placing her hands on his table, sliding her own chemistry test in front of him. James looked at the test, then up to her, who still smiled.

"You got..." He trailed off.

"100." She finished. "And I think to celebrate I'll have two burgers and two more milkshakes. Sam you got that."

"Coming right up." Sam, the chef, called back.

"Why you got a date or something." James rephrased her words from earlier.

Avery walked back over to where Robin was stood, her eyes still locked with James as she sat down. "I do in fact, with Robin."

"With Robin?" James asked.

Robin placed her arm over Avery's shoulder the two now sat even closer as Robin repeated. "With Robin."

James stared at the two girls, who each held the same smug expression before he huffed. He honestly couldn't believe she had beaten him, especially in a test as hard as that one was and to top it off he couldn't think of a retort so instead he simply glared at Avery and made his way towards the exit.

"Bye Parker." Avery bid goodbye in a sing song voice before she turned to Robin, pressing a victory kiss to her best friend's cheek. "I love life Rob."

"Me too." She smiled back. "Now about this date?"

( 💌 ) isobel's notes
just some of james and the party
and avery and jonathan who i love
a lot, definitely an underrated
friendship
and of course javery
and robin because i love her
season one avery has my heart wish
she could stay this cute and innocent :(

don't know how many of you are
sturniolo fans but what y'all be
interested in a matt book?