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friendly-neighborhood-himbo · 2 years

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This is chapter 1 of my Gareth fic from ao3.

Warnings: Language, Jason Carver is a POS, canon-typical violence

Chapter 1: The Storm

I was driving home from softball practice when my car broke down. I let out a sigh seeing the rain that was pouring down. It had started when I left from practice, and I was hoping to get home before the worst of it hit. “I don’t know why dad bought Jason a new car just to give me the old beat up one,” I say as I cover my head with my varsity jacket and run into the rain to look at the car. I pop the hood to see that the radiator has finally given out. “Damn it,” I grimace before poking around at the houses surrounding me. I spot a driveway that has the car of Gareth Emerson, my friend that my brother and his popularity pushed away from me. I stare contemplating my options for a moment before a roll of thunder and a lightning strike pushes me forward. I quickly run across the road and knock on the door. My hair is plastered to the sides of my face by now, and I drop my varsity jacket from over me, since it’s already soaked through.

“Hel-“ a voice says stopping when his eyes meet mine, “What’re you doing here Carver? I thought you and your perfect all-american family didn’t want anything to do with a freak like me,” Gareth says crossing his arms.

“I never said that. My car broke down, since my dad gave me the old clunker that Jason beat up while buying him a brand new car. I need to borrow the phone,” I say moving from foot to foot from the cold and my worry about the weather. The thunder rumbles loudly and reverberates through my body causing me to jump and close my eyes. “Can I please just come in for a bit until someone can come and pick me up?” I ask slowly opening my eyes to look at him pleadingly.

“C’mon then,” he says nodding his head backwards to usher me inside. “The phone’s in the kitchen, I’ll go grab a towel.” I pick up the receiver and dial the number.

“Carver residence,” mom says as she picks up the phone.

“Hey mom, the car has broke down for good this time. I’m at the Emerson’s house. They let me in to use the phone, could you come pick me up?” I ask letting her know what happened.

“The storm is getting worse, and it isn’t safe to be on the roads. We’ll try to pick you up after it calms down. Would it be ok for you to stay there for a while?” She asks.

“If not I’ll figure something out, thanks mom,” I reply rolling my eyes as a shiver from being soaked runs down my back.

“Alright, we’ll be there as soon as possible,” she says sweetly and I hang up wrapping my varsity jacket further around me. I stand in the kitchen shivering not wanting to drip water anywhere else.

“Here, this might warm you up a bit,” Gareth says holding the towel out to me.

“Thank you,” I reply quietly taking the towel. I take my varsity jacket off of my shoulders and wrap the towel in its place. “I’m sorry for dripping water everywhere,” I say drying my hair, “My mom said with the storm getting worse that I’ll just have to wait it out. I can go wait in the car if you want.” After I say this another clap of thunder reverberates against the house shaking it. I let out a small yelp stepping closer to Gareth, “Sorry.”

“It’s alright. You can stay in here until your mom picks you up. I’ll see if I can find something for you to wear that’s dry,” he says going to leave again.

“You don’t have to do that. You’ve already done enough letting me stay here,” I say grabbing his wrist as he goes to leave.

“I can’t have the princess of Hawkins High catch a cold under my supervision. C’mon, I’ll take you to where you can change,” he says grabbing me by the hand and takes me upstairs.

“I’m sorry about everything. I know you probably never wanted to see me again. I didn’t want to bother you, but I didn’t have anywhere else to go,” I say as we enter his room.

“Don’t worry about it. I know it was your brother that drove us apart. I know how he is, and I wasn’t going to ask you to deal with his abuse over our friendship,” he says digging through some drawers. “I told you once, I’d do anything to see you safe and happy. Your brother threatened me that day, but worse he threatened you. I couldn’t let that happen,” he says handing me a pair of boxers and a faded Iron Maiden shirt.

“I didn’t know that that happened,” I say grabbing the clothes, “You just stopped talking to me one day, and I thought you hated me. I said so many awful things to you over that, and you were just trying to keep me safe. I’m sorry,” I say dropping the clothes and hugging Gareth.

“I told you I’d do anything,” he says hugging me in return. “I’ve missed you. You’re still as scared of thunderstorms as you were when we were 11,” he says laughing as I jump at another roll of thunder.

“Yeah, I’ll change out of these clothes so I don’t drench you anymore than I already have,” I say pulling away.

“Alright, I’ll put on a movie for us to watch, do you still like The Thing?” he asks.

“You know I’m so scared of it. Are you trying to make me more terrified than I already am?” I ask with a laugh, “Do you think you can handle me being super scared?”

“Don’t worry I’ll be here to keep you safe,” Gareth replies with a laugh, “Get changed. I’ll put the movie on and start some popcorn.”

I let out a laugh in return and once the door closes I shuck off my wet clothes. I completely strip and put on the shirt and boxers. I revel in the warmth and smell of them. I missed Gareth so much, and even if I hated him for what he did, I never stopped watching him from afar. I smell the popcorn cooking downstairs, and decide to go down. “Gare?” I ask as I walk into the kitchen. He’s standing over the stove shaking the popcorn to cook it evenly. I stop staring at his arms toned from practicing drums over the years.

“Hey, you still like extra butter on the popcorn?” he asks turning to see me leaning against the doorway of the kitchen.

“Of course, don’t I always?” I reply walking over to the stove, “I’m sorry about letting my brother get in between our friendship. He’s a spoiled brat that always gets what he wants, and dad plays into it. That’s why I got Jason’s old broken down car while he got the brand new one.”

“That’s bullshit. He’s the one that overran that one and broke it all to hell. Now you have to deal with his mistakes and not being able to take care of the many things he’s just given,” Gareth says angrily as he finished the popcorn before turning off the stove and pouring it into a bowl.

“Yeah, but that’s what I’m used to, and hey at least it brought us back together,” I say nudging his elbow and grabbing the bowl. We head to the living room and put on the movie. I snuggle up to him under the blanket as the thunder rolls overhead and the movie starts.

“Don’t worry princess, I’ll protect you,” he says with a smirk on his lips and a playful glint in his eyes.

“My knight in shining armor,” I say with a laugh before putting my head on his shoulder with a small giggle.

I don’t remember when it happened, but we both fall asleep on the couch. I wake up to the blue screen on the tv, the mostly empty popcorn bowl on the floor, and Gareth on his back while I lay across him using his chest as a pillow. I’m about to pull the blanket hire over us when knocking at the door gets me up. That must’ve been what woke me in the first place. I grab a second blanket and wrap it around me before going to the door. “Hello?” I ask as I open it tired from my unplanned nap.

“What the hell are you wearing?” Jason says and my blood runs cold.

“I didn’t have any other clothes, so Gareth let me borrow some to wear until my clothes dried. What time is it?” I ask it’s dark outside and the rain has stopped and clouds have cleared a bit so I can see parts of the night sky.

“It’s 2am, we need to go. Get your things and we’ll come back for the car tomorrow,” he replies.

“Ok,” I say going to close the door, but Jason stops it with his foot, “Go wait in the car Jason.”

“Not when I’m not sure you’re safe in there by yourself,” he says pushing the door open again, “I’ll stay in the entryway, just go get your things.” He steps inside and I quickly run upstairs. I slide on my still damp jeans, socks, and shoes before running back downstairs. I quickly walk through the living room and wake Gareth up in the process.

“Why the rush Princess?” Gareth asks tiredly, and I walk over to him.

“Jason’s here to pick me up. I have to go, do you still have band practice tomorrow?” I ask quietly.

“Ash, let’s go!” I hear Jason call, and I jump a bit at it.

“Yeah,” Gareth replies.

“Alright, I’ll stop by tomorrow,” I say with a smile. I give him a quick peck on the cheek, “Thanks again for everything.” His face breaks into a goofy grin as I collect my things and stand up.

“See you then, Princess,” he says as I walk back into the entryway.

“Alright, let’s go,” I say, and we walk out of the door. I throw my clothes in the back of Jason’s car, “I have to get my backpack out of my car,” I say running over to it and grabbing my backpack out.

I hop into Jason’s car and buckle up. Jason starts the car and we start back to our house, “Why were you at that freaks house?” he asks glaring at the road ahead.

“It was the closest place, and I knew it would be safe. I didn’t know anyone else that lives around here. I was lucky too, because I had to wait for 9 hours before anyone had the time to come and get me,” I reply rolling my eyes at the end.

“Everyone was busy, you’re lucky I had the time to come pick you up. And I told you to stay away from him. Being around him will ruin the family reputation, and we have to keep up appearances. What if one of dad’s business partners finds out his daughter is a delinquent? How would that look huh?” Jason asks as he stops the car in front of our house.

“He isn’t a delinquent! Just because he doesn’t follow the rules of society doesn’t mean he isn’t good and kind!” I reply getting out of the car and grabbing my things, “I’m sorry you have your head so far up your own ass that you can’t see that.” I flip him off and walk upstairs to my room. “God, he’s such a dick,” I say locking my door and throwing myself under the covers before melting into the mattress excited for tomorrow.

#eddie munson #season 4 #stranger things #gareth emerson #jason carver #stranger things imagine #gareth emerson imagine #gareth emerson x fem!OC

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