Chapter Text
May feels stupid. Stupid for pinning over Jonathan Byers for the last years since they've broken up. She should just let go, it was a high school fling nothing more. But when she thinks about who she wants to spend the rest of her life with, she can only think of Jonathan. She's tired, and robin and steve are tired. "You know, i don't think nancy would care that much about you getting back with him" robin notes a few days after defeating , thinking of that feels surreal for her: that this is actually over. Anyways, may sighs her eyes darkening "I know but like does Jonathan even like me anymore. If I tell him and he doesn't feel that way it's like total embarrassment." May rambles, her fear of humiliation is getting to her and she knows it. In the back of her mind are memories: kids running around the playground, grass on their knees from falling down and getting back up, the mind flowing heavily and the sun shining bright. It was the perfect day, she walked up to the boy whose name she doesn't even remember anymore. And she spilled her secret, all of it. Smiling like the idiotic girl she was. Only to get laughed at, her heart stopped then and it felt like her whole world was falling apart. Everything she had dreamed for to this moment; gone.
"It's just... it'll go away, Robin" But it didn't, and it tortured her for days until: "Hey, Steve ditched me for some date. So, would you go see a movie with me?" The request was simple: go see a movie with Jonathan Byers. But it felt fake and overwhelming and confusing. May's cheeks warmed at the thought. Jonathan seemed kinda nervous when asking her. Fidgeting with his blue jean jacket from all those years ago, she remembers kissing him in the forest in that jacket. Giggling while holding onto it like nothing else mattered. “Yeah, yeah. That great actually- i mean, not that steve ditched you. I mean like you invited me to hang out with you.” May fake smiles, why the hell did you say that. Jonathan just smiles, “it starts tomorrow at six, I'll see you there.”
Those last words stuck with her all the way till dinner: “You alright, sweetie?” Her mom, Mrs. Sinclair, asked. “Oh, yeah. Great actually. Lucas and Erica look at her weirdly to which she rolled her eyes. After dinner, Erica talked to her. “What the hell's up with you?” Erica asked as she broke in without knocking. “Excuse me?” May stuttered back. Erica sighs, her arms crossed. “You were totally out of it and acting all weird.” May looked at her with dull eyes, her mind still elsewhere. “It's a grown people business, Erica.” she said. Erica went up to her and sat on her bed, closing the old wooden door on the way there. “I'm almost grown, I deserve to know.” God, how fast they grew up. Erica was almost in high-school already and it's only been a few years for May.” You know how I used to date Jonathan?” “Will's brother?” May sighs, “yeah, I've been crushing on him and now he and Nancy broke up. And guess what?” Erica thought for a second, wondering what could be the final blow in this drama. “He invited you on a date?” May laid down dramatically, her arm over her head while the other laid on her stomach. “Kinda, Steve had a date on the same day they were gonna hang out so Jonathan invited ME to go to the movies with him.” Erica gasped, her hand flying to her mouth. May looked away, embrassed.” Look at me, May. Pay attention to the seating if it's in the back then he definitely wants to kiss you, if it's in the middle or front definitely not.” May blushes, “Uh thanks Erica.”
The day arrived and she felt like she was going to die, she frantically looked through clothes before deciding on a red short-sleeved turtleneck and black jeans. She thought she looked terrible but didn't have the same to actually change so she just rolled with it. She quickly got out of the house and into her car, not hearing her mother, which she'll regret later. She was thinking about all the things that could go wrong but she saw Jonathan standing outside the theater. It all just went away: erased from her mind. May smiles, waving before parking right in front. She slowly got out of the car, Jonathan's eyes were glued to her with a weird look of adoration? She couldn't quite name it. “Hey, Jonathan.” Jonathan just smirked and waved back, god was he cute. “Hi may, how's it been?” they hugged, it lasted longer than it should've for two friends. “Good, stressed a little.” Jonathan nodded, wrapping an arm above her waist and leading her inside. May's face heated up, but nobody could exactly see it. “Aren't we all stressed?” Jonathan jokes, but may didn't really laugh. “so, what's the movie called?” May asks, Jonathan perks up. “Oh, it's called Lost Boys, some vampire movie.” The girl listened to him as he talked awkwardly to the person handing them their tickets but she was really thinking about his arm wrapped around her. They headed toward the showing, her opening the door for him. He led toward their seats in the back. May thought what Erica said about seats and kissing but they're no way Jonathan moving on that fast.
Half way through the movie Jonathan whispered something: “Nancy cheated on me…” “what?” “She cheated on me with robin.” May took a few minutes to process what he said and what that meant, “I mean, I'm not mad.” Jonathan told her quietly.
After the movie ended Jonathan asked her if they could hang out more, which she agreed to. They ramble on about the movie, Jonathan talking about how stunning the movie was and the story and May talking about how the guys were kinda cute (which Jonathan agreed with) later, sitting on Hopper's couch he asked her: “what college are you going to?” May looked nervous at the question, she was excited but New York was so far away from robin, steve, nancy, and her family. “Hunter, it's in New York,” Jonathan smiled brightly, “really? I got an acceptance letter from NYU.” May gasped, she thought about late nights when Jonathan would tell her about wanting to go to NYU. She was happy Jonathan got to go to his dream school, and that she wouldn't be lonely in New York. “No way! Your dream school!” She giggles, hugging him. “I'm so happy for you!” The two look at each other, soft gleaming. May pause, getting lost in his eyes. The room suddenly went quiet, only noise being soft breathing. “So, um..” then, suddenly, it felt so random, Jonathan leaned in. Giving her a small kiss on the lips, May's eyes widened. She felt a tightening in her chest, a good one. Like her emotions were bubbling up just to get ready to leave. It was soft, tender, and hesitant. Jonathan quickly pulls back, “Sorry! It got awkward and you were looking at me so pretty and you just-” Jonathan stammered until May shushed back to a kiss that was longer and more desperate. Their hands grabbing onto each other tightly, May closed her eyes and smiled. They let go closer after, “so, uh, this is a thing now?” May nodded. And from that Jonathan and may decided they would live together in New York. It's a lot funnier having someone to explore the big city with…