word count: 545

prompt: "What? You think you're the only one suffering?"

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When you turned off the engine to your car, everything became eerily silent outside the Byers residence. This had been a daily activity for you lately. You'd drive up to Jonathan's house, you'd knock on the door and his mom would open saying, "Sorry honey, he just needs some time". You figured today would be like every other day, but when you knocked it wasn't Joyce that answered. This time Jonathan stood on the other side of the door. You hadn't seen him in weeks, he looked worn down and tired. Your mood flipped between being angry with him and wanting desperately to take care of him. 

Even though you had been pining to see him for so long, now that you were suddenly faced with him you couldn't think of a single thing to say. 

"Hey, y/n." He broke the silence after a while. His voice was low and raspy, as if he'd been crying. 

"Jonathan." You whispered. "Why?" Was all you could muster, but really it was all you had to ask. Why hadn't you heard from him? Why didn't he want to see you? Why had he been treating you like garbage?

"Do you want to come in?" He asked softly, opening the door up more and stepping aside. But you didn't move.

"I want to know why you've been ignoring me." You promptly found your voice. 

Jonathan sighed, most likely more out of being tired than annoyed. He stepped outside on the porch with you and closed the door behind him. "I haven't been ignoring you."

"You haven't? I've been trying to get ahold of you for weeks, and I haven't heard a single word from you." You withstood your ground. You were standing at a notable distance from each other, and you wanted nothing more than to hug him and shower him in kisses to make up for lost time, but at the same time he felt like a stranger.

"I've just-" He began. "We've just been needing a break from the world." He corrected himself, referring to what his little brother Will had been through. "I thought you'd understand." He turned his head away from you, avoiding eye contact. You could notice a hint of hurt in his voice that broke your heart.

"I get that, I do. It's just... you could've talked to me. I'm your girlfriend." You lightly scolded him. You were hurt too and you wanted him to know that.

"Yeah, but we just needed to be alone. I'm sorry, but it's been really hard and-"

"And what? You think you're the only one suffering?" You snapped at him. You didn't mean to say it, it just sort of slipped out. Jonathan looked visibly taken aback that you had lashed out like that.

"N-no, I don't-" He stuttered. "I'm sorry, y/n, okay? I should've talked to you." He apologised sincerely, which made you feel even worse for snarling at him.

"No," You sighed. "I'm sorry. It's just, we can suffer together, right? I want to be there for you."

Jonathan smiled. "I want to be there for you too." 

You eagerly stepped closer and embraced him. He was warm and smelled nice, and you made a mental note to never take his hugs for granted again.