JUNE 1984

Sirens echoed all throughout the city of Michigan, startling the most people on the street; bystanders, most of whom have lived in the city all their lives and have not seen this kind of crime be so blatantly and recklessly displayed for the whole of Michigan, maybe even of Indiana, to witness. And in broad daylight nonetheless.

Ahead of the half dozen police cars was a gray Chevrolet Corvette C4 and a black Toyota MR2, both cars seemed to have been modified since it's going even faster than what it's supposed to be capable of. Aboard the Chevrolet was Steve Harrington and Nancy Wheeler, longtime boyfriend and girlfriend and notorious partners-in-crime, involved in various robberies all across the Midwest. Next to them inside the Toyota was Jonathan Byers, their unlikely companion (more like accidental companion, if we're being honest), a mechanical and technological genius.

"Shit," Steve muttered under his breath as they merged into the highway.

"Steve..." Nancy glanced behind them, the worry evident in her eyes as it felt like the police were getting closer and closer to them. "I don't think we're gonna make it,"

"Yes, we fucking are!" he shouted, jamming his foot harder into the gas.

He haphazardly opened the window on his side of the car. "Hey, Byers!" he screamed, glancing between the other car and the road ahead of them.

Their companion did not look at him right away so Steve honked the car horn loud and long. "Hey, you fucking weirdo!"

Jonathan finally turned, brows furrowed, obviously trying hard not to get caught nor crash into anything.

When Steve was sure Jonathan could hear him, he spoke again, "Take the next left to Clare Lake, I'll hold them off for a while! Take Nancy with you-"

"No, Steve I'm not leaving you."

"How exactly do you plan on getting her into my car?!"

"Just trust me."

"You're fucking insane, Harrington!" Jonathan shook his head, as he prepared to take the next exit. "This better work,"

"Nance," he turned to his girlfriend, one hand reaching to squeeze her hand as if to assure her before he reached for a bag behind their seats. "Take the money alright? My pop had an old house in Clare Lake, tell Jonathan to take Shorewood then Hideaway. The keys to the house are in the pocket inside the bag- the house is made of brick and has a white roof, no fences and when you go inside there's a jersey of Kareen Abdul-Jabbar that you will see right away. You two can probably stay there for a day, a day and a half tops."

"What?"

Steve shook his head, already getting really frantic. "Just- did you remember what I told you?"

"Yeah, Shorewood then Hideaway. Then we'll look for you grandfather's house, keys are in the bag."

He couldn't but feel a bit of pride, his girlfriend really is smart and attentive. And honestly, Steve is not sure him and Jonathan would've survive the past year with out her, which is why it's essential that she escape the police right now.

"Alright, seat-belt's off, get ready to run."

"What, Steve-" she hesitated, but nonetheless took off her seat belt. One hand was gripping the handle above on the roof while the other was clutching at knapsack tightly, keeping it secure. "This is insane!"

"Trust me, okay? I love you, I promise I'll meet you in three days at the Notre Dame Church in Moore Road," he turned to the car speeding next to them. "Hey, unlock your door, Nancy's about to get in, after that get to Clare Lake! Don't stop until you get there. Don't look back! Nancy knows where you two will go after! I'll see you in three days, Notre Dame Church at noon!"

Both cars were now on the left side of the highway, preparing for whatever it is that Steve was actually planning.

Suddenly the Corvette is swerving to its left hitting the tail of the Toyota and they slowly skidding parallel to each other. "Now, Nance!"

It was honestly all a blur for Nancy when she thinks back as to how she got from one car to another, all she knew was that the moment her boyfriend told her to go, she clutched the knapsack, opened the door, and just jumped out. In a miracle, she landed right at the other seat of the other car because Jonathan had the urgency to open the door with one hand while he tried to take control of the car.

After skidding for a few seconds, Steve turned the car around so he was suddenly facing on the horde of police cars, while Jonathan swerved straight and continued forward with Nancy safely sat at the passenger seat of the Toyota (although she was looking a little pale and teary-eyed). "Woohh! Yeah, come and get me shitbirds!" he deliberately nudges the front of his car to the side of a police car coming straight his way, which then led for the police car to bump into another one. Then he continued to drive backwards, blocking and bumping against any police car trying to get past him.

"Your boyfriend might actually have some loose screws in his head," Jonathan laughed in disbelief.

The tactic was actually working, Jonathan's car was pulling ahead from the rest and he was able to go left into the next road with no police cars behind them. The last thing they saw was Steve's car sandwiched between two police cars.

"But he might actually get screwed, too." he shook his head.

"Steve..." was all Nancy could utter, hands still trembling and breathing uneven as the adrenaline in her body subsided.

Jonathan glanced at her with concern in his eyes. "Hey,"

She shook her head, willing away the tears forming in her eyes. "He'll make it through. He said he'll meet us in three days, he promised." she said more to herself than to her companion really.

"Right, well best hope we actually make it in three days, too."

She glared at him. "What?"

"We're not exactly safe either," he shrugged. "Your boyfriend might have bought us some time but those shitty fuckers will eventually catch up to us, most definitely when we get to Harrington's granddad's place- ow, hey what the fuck?"

Nancy just hit him on the arm again. "What is wrong with you?"

"What's wrong with me?" he asked incredulously. "What the fuck is wrong with you, why'd you hit me?"

"Steve sacrificed himself for us," she shouted, her voice breaking, still not quite believing that her boyfriend was not with them, possibly permanently. "S-so we could survive, now you're saying that what he did w-was all for nothing?!"

"He did that for you, not for 'us', let's make that clear. Nobody asked him to make that sacrifice, I could have easily done the same thing-"

"Then why didn't you?"

"Because I'm not crazy! I'm not some fucking idiot who thinks that doing something like that is heroic,"

A huff escaped her, still irate at her companion. "You are an unbelievable ass, Jonathan Byers."

Jonathan snorted. "Oh yeah, that really hurt my feelings, Nancy,"

She crossed her arms and decided to just ignore him. Something that Jonathan was more than okay with - they could use a little peace and quiet for a while. Plus it helped him think of their next tactic in order to avoid getting caught in the next 3 days.

But not even 5 minutes later, Nancy was already berating him again.

"What are you doing? We need to get to Clare Lake, why are we stopping? Steve said-"

"I know what Harrington said, but we have to lay low for a few hours first." he countered as he drove the car off the main road and parked behind what looks to be a bookstore. "We probably can't even drive around with this car,"

"So, what we'll walk-?"

"I'm not saying we dispose of the car right now, Jesus, Nancy, calm down. We can get another car after we get to the house."

When she didn't answer him anymore, Jonathan sighed and shook his head. The next three days will be a pain. And neither of them are exactly sure if being in such a small town like Clare Lake would be a good or bad thing, because they would sure be noticed right away upon arriving.

"Look, we'll get to the house before midnight, but for now we have to hide in plain sight, probably go to restaurant to eat and kill a few hours there. Then you'll see Harrington in three days."

Nancy just nodded but kept quiet for the most part, her mind wandering to Steve. She knows he'll make it through, but she still worries for him; they haven't been apart for longer than a few hours since they started this whole delinquent ordeal about a year ago, they've been through so much hardship together and she could not bare to lose him, just the thought of losing him made her sick to the stomach.