Eighteen. The call from inside the house
When Steve stares at Violet his feelings are all too heavy. When Steve stares at Nancy his feelings are all too painful. When Steve stares at Jen his feelings are all too big.
The feelings that come with Jen is like a punch to the jaw. Knife to skin. Nail to a scab. She hurts, but you want the ache. (Fuck, how Steve wants the fucking ache..) He's never felt what he feels with Jen before. I suppose Violet has a big impact on that. Sure, Nancy shows interest for the boy's daughter. But Jen, she adores Violet. She cares for her like a mother cares for a daughter. (God, this is fucked...)
It makes Steve's head fuzzy and his chest pound.
Steve has come to the realization that maybe, just maybe, Nancy isn't what he needs right now. But, he wants her. Nancy is everything Steve used to be. Nancy was the part of Steve that didn't die with Barbra in his fucking pool late at night.
Nancy still makes Steve a teenager.
Jen makes Steve a man.
Steve is staring at Jen.
He's been feeling a sense of abandoning recently. He's felt it with his home. With his sports. With his friends (who probably aren't his friends anymore. He said sinister things about Carol, Tommy wasn't fucking with that. They're assholes. Whatever.). With Nancy. With Violet.
He can't be in more than one place at once. He wishes he could be. He'd make everyone happy.
He knew Jen's eyes were softly singing to him, take it once thing at a time, Steve. He had started with Violet. Taking her away from his parents home and dragging her back to the trailer park. Then he ended up at Jen's door. Her haunted look from the alleyway plaguing his mind. (He hadn't even been thinking of Nancy.)
But he owed her the next apology. Jonathan too. He needed to do it. Apologize.
Steve's knees dug into the carpeted floor of Jen's trailer as he gently picked up her fallen itemsâplacing them back in her bag, carefully. He had picked up her jacket and hung it over the arm of the couch. He'd clean up the first aid kit, thrown out bloody towels, dried fallen water from the sink, and washed Jen's bloody hands.
And now, she walked the length of her trailer holding his daughter like she was a somebody. (She would be.) Jen bounced her a little as she hummed. Jen's eyes trained on the floor before her, never fumbling a step.
Steve watched silently.
Jen caught his eyes as she came out of the hallway. "What is it? Are you okay?" She was still worried about his face and all the injuries under his skin. Steve didn't understand how quickly this girl before him was able to plague his mind? Everything about her was buried deep in him. He'd think about her lips and hands while trying to sleep. When he was overwhelmed and freaked out with having to be a father, he thought of how easy Jen did itâwith a kid who wasn't even her own. Jen was a good person, and Steve knew he shouldn't infect her life.
But the damage had already seem to be done.
He had kissed her. He'd been in her home. He'd felt her. He liked Jen. Violet liked Jen.
"Steve?" She was closer now. He hadn't realized. He could smell her; fruit-like and the lemon soap of her hands.
He blinked. Cleared his throat. "Do you know where Nancy is? I have to apologize." He wasn't sure why he'd said it so quickly, it could've waited. Waited for tomorrow, when she was cooled off. Right? Or was it just the lingering thoughts of not wanting to leave Jen's trailer.
Jen's lips parted and there was something foreign in her eyes. He noticed. She simply nodded. "She should be at the Byers'. With Jonathan." She needed to add that in, for her own sake.
Steve's jaw clicked. "Alright. Do you want to come?"
Jen stared. Her minding running awfully quick. Monster Hunting. "It's late." She spoke soft, careful. "Are you sure you want to do this today? Maybe give her more time to cool off?" She was freaking, and Steve could hear it in her voice.
The boy smiled, small. The movement hurt his lip. Thank god for painkillers. "I just, I have to do this now.. You don't have to come if you don't want to. I'm not, like, trying to make you feel like you have to go.." Monster fucking Hunting!
Jen smiled, small, timid. "Yeah. I'll come. Don't worry."
They'd left Violet at Mandy's across the way of the trailer park. (Abandonment, to Steve.) (Jen, she saw it as a safety net. They were about to walk into death and Steve didn't even know.)
The car ride had been too quiet. The radio was playing, but it was turned down so low, Jen couldn't really hear the music. Her eyes were trained on the window. Hands in her lap, her finger picking at the bandaid around her axe cut finger.
Steve looked over at her every few minutes.
He wondered if she could see him looking through the reflection in the car window, power of the bright moon.
His jaw locked as he drove towards the dead ends of town, off to Jonathan's secluded home. There was an ache in his abdomen, making all his muscles tense. His knuckles were white and red on the steering wheel. He wanted to wince.
Steve's right hand moved. Lodged itself right into both of Jen's hands.
He heard her breath halt. In his peripheral he saw her look down at their hands on her lap. She watched for a moment, before she dragged the pad of one of her fingers over the top side on his hand. He held on tighter. She squeezed gently and looked back out the window.
Steve's chest burned. He turned messily into the grass patches of the Byers home.
He cut his engine off.
Jen's eyes were suddenly on the house. On the covered windows, with small specs of light peaking through. My god, she'd left Nancy and Jonathan to do this alone. Her heart pounded and she almost gasped as she shoved open the passenger door.
Steve's hand fell away. He winced.
He was quick to follow after her, his eyes a little wide at her sudden urgency. He grabbed at her wrist quickly before she made it to the steps. They both paused. Shocked by the sudden grasp. They both looked down at their connect skin. Steve could feel himself hot. "Sorry.." His hand shot away like she'd burned him. Their eyes met.
Steve took a breath, shook his head a little. "Is everything alright?"
Jen barely nodded before she hurried up the steps, her fist pounded on the door quick and heavy. She winced a little before she looked over her shoulder, back at Steve. He could not be here.
"I..I think you should go. Talk to Nancy tomorrow. At her house."
Steve's lips parted, eyes a little wide. He made big steps towards the girl. "Jen, what the hell? I.. I came here to apologize. What's wrong with that?" Her eyes were frantic. "Nothing! Nothing.. You just, you shouldn't be here right now. Steve, go. Please. Go home."
His head was fuzzy again.
"Jen?" She wasn't paying attention, she was banging on the door again. "Jen!" Steve's hands took the girls upper arms into clutch. She was forced to face his face of agony. It made her nauseous to see a boy look like this. "Jen, what the hell is going on?" He looked genuinely concerned, for her.
She stared at him for a moment. His eyes soften. Her lips parted. But no words slipped past her capture.
The door was yanked open. "Jen?"
Jen and Steve's gazes snapped to the voice. Jonathan stood at the door alarmed, Nancy stood behind him. Her eyes locked on Steve's hands on Jen's arms. Her tummy swirled.
"Jonathan.." Jen spit out, wrenching herself from Steve. She saw Nancy. "Nancy.. What happened? Has anything happened?" She was quick to rush into the home, looking around at the chaos they had bought earlier in the day.
Steve's lips were agape and his eyes followed Jen all the way into the home. Jonathan and Nancy continued to stare at him, till Jonathan looked over his shoulderâstaring at Jen. "What is he doing here?"
Jen spun around, stared at the threeâalmost like she forgotten.. forgotten something?
"Jen," Nancy said, a little firmer. "What is he doing here."
Jen could see it in her eyes. The small iceberg of betrayal. "He's just dropping me off. Swear." She had spit the words out so quickly, they sounded horrible coming out of her mouth.
Liar.
Why the hell is he even dropping you off of all people?
(God!)
She could hear Steve scoff. "Jen!" He called out, pushing on the door. Jonathan pushed back, "she's here now. You have to leave. You can't be here." Steve's eyes were wide, "Jen! Jen, c'mon! Tell me what's going on!"
Nancy felt an odd feeling in her chest. Like she'd been left out of something? (Is this how Jen always felt?)
Jen looked around the room once more, her eyes landing on her axe on the cluttered coffee table.
Nancy hurried towards Jonathan, the door, and Steve. "You can't be here right now. Steve, go." His eyes fell on his girlfriend (?), this was the first time he'd acknowledge her. His gaze caught her bandaged hand, the blood. "What the.. are you alright? Did he do this to you? What's going on?"
"Steve!" Nancy yelled as her and Jonathan tried to push on the door. It hadn't worked. His gaze was past their heads, on the tip of Jen's dark hair. He pushed in. Jonathan and Nancy stumbled back, the girl into Jonathan's chest.
Steve was quick to race to Jen, a hand on her shoulder. At the touch of her clothing under his palm he finally took in his surroundings. Grounded. His heart pounded and he ripped his hand away from the girl with the axe in her hands. "What the.. What the fuck!"
Jonathan panicked. "Get the hell out, man!" Steve spun around, his back to Jen's back. "What the hell is all of this! What the hell is that smell!" Jonathan shook his head, "you can't be here, man!"
The world fell quiet. A click of a gun.
All eyes snapped to Nancy. The gun aimed at Steve, her skin was red and dewy. Jen gaped. Jonathan froze. Steve's hands shot out, eyes wide, throat dry. Nancy was holding a fucking gun, aimed at him. "Whoa! Nancy, hold on!"
Jen's eyes could not leave the gun, "Nancy.." It wasn't loud enough.
Nancy held tight, her eyes locked on Steve. "You have five seconds to get out of here!" Steve's voice trembled. It felt like his eyes were deceiving him. Nancy was holding a gun. "Okay, is this a joke? Stop. Put the gun down!" He yelled out towards the girl.
Jen held onto the handle of her axe tighter. "Nancy.." She still wasn't heard. It was like her voice had faded away in fear.
"I'm doing this for you," Nancy spit out towards her boyfriend. As the words slipped off her tongue, Jen and Jonathan's eyes snapped towards the lights. They flickered. Jen's gaze snapped to Jonathan, he walked closer to her. A hand of his landed on her shoulder as his gaze slammed back to Nancy. Jen's eyes stayed on the lights. "Nancy..." Jonathan called out.
She wasn't paying attention. Focused on getting Steve out. He wouldn't let up. His voice was loud and cracked. "Wait. Is this a... What is this?"
"Nancy," Jonathan tried again. Nothing. His grip on Jen's shoulder, tighter. She stepped back into him, like the lights would get her and burn her.
"Three. Two." Nancy cried. Steve's eyes blew to saucers, this wasn't real. He cried, heavy. "No, no, no! No, no! Nancy!â"
Jen couldn't hold it in anymore it seemed. A switch in her head flicked, and it had no control by her. She pushed towards Nancy, her hand wrapping around the girls arm and yanking downâhard. The gun's aim left Steve. "Nancy! The lights!"
Nancy snapped back to what mattered: killing a monster.
Her eyes slammed to Jen, before both their eyes slammed back to the lights. Flickering. "It's here." Jen cried.
Steve didn't understand. "Wait, what's here?"
Jonathan ran for the bat decked with nails. Nancy was quick to pull herself towards Jonathan. Jen sunk deeper into the home as she looked around frantically. She could no longer feel the weight of the ax in her hands. "Where is it?" Nancy mumbled.
"Where is what?" Steve cried. He was desperate for understanding.
Nancy, Jen, and Jonathan looked around the room. All their backs against one another as they shuffled around. Jen could hear her heart in her ears. "Where is it!"
"I don't know. I don't see it." Jonathan called out.
Steve's eyes tried to find Jen's, but she was elsewhere. "Where is what? Jen! Hello? Will someone please explain to me what the hell is goingâ" Steve's silence came quick, but it was only because there was the sudden roaring of death. Of a monster. The lights started to flicker too fast and there was a sudden crash.
It was coming from the ceiling.
Jen yelled as Nancy shot at it, it didn't do anything. "No! Go, go, run!" Jonathan yelled as he yanked Nancy back. The creature fell from the ceiling and landed on clutter. "We gotta get out of here!"
And Jonathan ran past with Nancy, Jen yanked on Steve's hand. Pulling him behind them and towards the hall. "Go, run!"
As they ran into the hall, Jen watched Nancy and Jonathan take a leap. Her eyes widened at the bear traps from earlier. "Jump!" Jonathan yelled. Nancy ran into Jonathan's room. As Jen jumped over the trap, Jonathan caught her and they flung into his room. Steve came in last, Nancy quick to slam the door after him.
Steve gaped at the three. "Oh, my God! Oh, my God! Jesus! Jesus! What the hell was that?" Jonathan and Jen's eyes were on the door with fast moving chest. Nancy spun around and glared at Steve. "Shut up!" She yelled.
Steve fell silent as Nancy fell into step next to the other two. Jen's axe was ready to swing, Jonathan had his bat and lighter ready, and Nancy had the gun aimed at the door.
The creature cried.
"What's it doing?" Nancy whispered. They were all panting. "I don't know," Jonathan answered.
Then the lights stopped flickering and the noise behind the closed door fell silent.
Nancy looked to Jen. "Do you hear anything?" She shook her head, throat to dry to speak. Jonathan spoke up, "No."
His lighter fell closed.
He shared a look with the two girls as he moved to the door, pulling it open carefully. They followed out into the hall. Steve in pure silence, right on Jen's heels. Neither had realized.
The hall was dead silent.
They moved slowly, back into the living room. Silence. No monster. There was very much a hole in the ceiling.
Jen gasped at the sudden hand on the crook of her elbow. She was spun around, her axe nearly taking off Steve's nose. Their wide eyes were peering into one another's. "This is crazy. This is crazy. This is crazy. This is crazy! This is crazy! This is crazy!"
Jen's lips parted, his brain melting. "Steve.. Steve!"
He pulled away from her, racing for the house phone. "Steve, what are you doing!" Jen cried, hands tight on the axe down by her knees. She winced a little as Nancy stalked past her, her shoulder pushing hers along the way.
The Wheeler girl snatched the phone from Steve and threw it past them. It nearly hit Jen's ankles. She jumped a little.
Steve gaped at Nancy. "What are you doâ What are you doing? Are you insane?" Nancy glared at the boy, pushing towards him. "It's going to come back! So you need to leave. Right now."
Steve's terrified eyes looked at all three teens, who were handling this way better than he was. He didn't understand why.
Jen didn't reach his eyes, she was staring down at Jonathan's shoes.
Steve's jaw clenched as he pushed past Nancy and raced for the door. He need to go home. Violet. Violet. Violet. He was out the door.
It was almost like Jen could breathe again. Steve was gone. Safe from here.
Though, she flinched. "What the hell was he doing with you, Jen!" Her eyes slammed to Nancy's. "It isn't safe for him here. You know that!" Jen's lips parted, eyes wide. "He was coming to apologize! I tried to make him stay home, but he wouldn't! Look, I don't know what you want from me, Nancy! He's your fucking boyfriend!"
Nancy's eyes widened at Jen's heavy words and tone. Jen even seemed shocked by herself.
Jonathan looked between the two, worriedly. This was not the time for this. Then, the lights started to flicker again. "Guys!"
"Where is it!" Nancy yelled, frustrated.
Jen aimed up her axe, her eyes spinning in their sockets. "Come on, you son of a bitch!" Jonathan yelled. "You guys see it?"
"No!" Nancy and Jen cried together.
Their breaths were heavy, chest moving rapidly as all their eyes scanned the ruined home. "Where is it!"
The lights fell.
Then there was a low growl. Nancy and Jen spun around, "Jonathan!" The creature fell onto the boy, bat slipping from the teens grasp. "Jonathan!" The creatures face opened up.
Jen jumped back as Nancy aimed, and shot. It didn't seem to do much. "Go to hell, you son of a bitch!" The creatures head snapped towards the girls. Nancy stumbling back into Jen. The both gasped and stared with wide eyes as it stood to its full height. It came closer and Nancy continued to shot but it wasn't fucking working. Then the gun clicked; empty. "Nancy!" Jen cried.
The girls collided back into a wall as the creature started to pounce. Though, it's side was caved in as the nail bat diced at it. Nancy and Jen yelled, "Steve!" The boy pushed at the creature, aiming for its abdomen. The creature was being pushed back into the hall.
Nancy ran towards Jonathan, helping him up. Jen's eyes stayed locked on Steve as him and the creature moved past her. Steve spun the bat in his hand as he swung again. The creature cried at the blows.
The creature fell back into the trap. "He's in! He's in the trap!" Jen yelled as Nancy and Jonathan came to her side. Steve standing before them, bat ready. "Jonathan, now!" Nancy yelled for the boy.
The creature tried to pull away, but it didn't cut loose. (Thank god..) Jonathan flicked open the lighter and threw it. The carpet caught flame and engulfed the faceless creature. It wailed.
The fire was bright and the teens pushed back. Jonathan ran for the fire extinguisher, "get back!" The fire faded and it was gone. The home was dark again.
Nancy and Jen shared a look. "Where'd it go?"
Jonathan coughed. "It's dead. It has to be."
There was sizzling on the closed trap.
The teens didn't move, ready for more. There was a faded voice before them. Then the lights above then flickered, gentle. They followed.
Jonathan moved forward, eyes on the lights. "Mom? Is that you?"
Jen and Nancy shared a look before looking back at the lights. "No way.."
'Jonathan?' It was faint.
The three moved outside. Their eyes caught onto the street lamp, it flickered. "Where's it going?" Nancy mumbled.
Jonathan shook his head. "I don't think that's the monster.."
There'd been a call from inside the house. Will was okay. Alive. He was at the hospital.
Steve had driven the four.
Jonathan and Nancy were quick to the front desk as they arrived. Then they slipped down the hall, running towards Will's room. Jim Hopper was standing outside the door.
Jen's chest ached and for the first time in a while, she felt like she could breathe. Her breaths suddenly came out quick and Steve's eyes snapped down to hers.
They were in the waiting room.
"Jen.." His voice was soft and a hand of his slipped over the back of her neck. He was quick to move in front of her line of view. Her eyes were wide and watery. Her lips were parted and air was quick. "Hey," he whispered, his hands taking ahold of her face. "It's alright. Things are okay now. I swear. Jen, everything's okay."
He wasn't sure of that, but he wanted her to be okay.
The tears struck down her cheeks and before he could whisper something else she pushed herself into his chest. Her hands clawing at the green jumper on his back. Her dark eyes were hidden and pushed into his chest, she cried. He didn't waste a second. His arms struck around her, pulling her all too close. His chin rested on the crown of her head. "It's alright. I got you. I promise." He didn't let go until she pulled away.
They waited in chairs awhile after that, just to hear some updates.
Jen sat between Steve and Hopper. The older man had squeezed the girls shoulder before he'd taken a seat next to her. He'd asked about Alex, and it seem to struck Jenâshe didn't know where she was at. She had lied, said she was fine, and at home.
Nancy eventually came back out into the hall, her eyes finding Jen's in an instant. Jen stood before Steve could question her. Nancy just moved down further into the hospital, and Jen was quick to follow. A light jog. She felt like she needed to explain herself. "Nancy?"
They were standing in an empty hall.
Nancy's back was to Jen, she turned slowlyâtears in her eyes. "Barb's dead, Jen."
The color from her tan skin faded. "Nancy.." She pulled the girl into a hug, she didn't waste a second, she didn't thinkâshe just did. Nancy squeezed her tightly as she cried. "There.. There was this girl, she's from the place where the thing came from. She could see Will, like on the other side.. She couldn't find Barb. She said she was gone. Barbra's dead. My.. My best friend is dead."
Jen squeezed the girl tighter, her face pushing into Nancy's hair tucked back into a ponytail. "I'm.. Im so sorry, Nance.. I'm sorry." She didn't know what to say. How to help the crying girl.
And in between the tears, they both knew they needed to bring up Steve.
And they would, Nancy would, but now wasn't the time.
They were teenage girls grieving who they use to be. They were no longer teenage girls.
They were monster killers.