Season 2 – CHAPTER 8
It was the start of a new school year and the kids had semi-recovered from the events that happened at the beginning of Summer. Lacey and Steve had remained together throughout the rest of the summer and things were running smoothly for them until the first day of school started.
They were sitting in Steve's car in the parking lot waiting for first period to start when the sound of a car engine roared through the air. Lacey and Steve got out of his car to look at the car that was making the noise. Nancy arrived at Steve's BMW at this point and the three watched the newbies get of the blue Camaro that had just parked under a nearby tree.
A young man with blonde hair in the style of a mullet, puffing on a cigarette, got out the car. A younger girl with long red hair got out of the passenger seat holding a skateboard. She didn't say anything to the guy before she skated off towards the middle school. The guy looked at his surroundings with a sneering expression on his face before he threw his cigarette to the ground. He slammed the car door and proceeded towards the school.
"Wow, who is that?" Nancy asked Lacey and Steve who looked at Nancy and shrugged. "He doesn't look too inviting does he?" Lacey commented and Nancy agreed.
Lacey and Steve decided it was time to head into the school so they shut the doors of his maroon BMW and walked into the school with Nancy.
Lacey and Nancy's lockers were next to each other but Steve's was further along the corridor so he bid the ladies goodbye before heading to his own.
"So I know we're not allowed to speak about what happened last Summer but I can't help thinking about Barb's parents, I can't get them out of my head. They don't know the real story." Nancy started and Lacey looked around her to see if anyone was listening to them. "Nancy, you know what Hopper said, we can't tell anyone about this. It's government stuff." Lacey ended and Nancy frowned.
"But how do you feel? You don't talk about it that much, Steve, Jonathan and I chat about it all the time but you seem to cut yourself off?" She questioned the brunette who nodded. "I don't like to think about it let alone talk about it." Lacey responded. Nancy shut her locker and frowned again at her friend who was adjusting her navy jacket. "Listen Nance, you guys can talk about it all you want just leave me out of it." She ended before shutting her own locker. The two girls walked towards first period, English with Mrs Kingsley. The new kid they'd seen earlier was waiting at reception. Lacey eyed him out curiously and he seemed to feel her eyes on him because when he turned to find the culprit their eyes locked automatically. Lacey looked away almost immediately and concentrated on entering the class.
Once inside the class Nancy and Lacey sat next to each other as usual and Carol sat behind them with Tina. "Did you guys see that new guy?" Tina questioned the two brunettes who nodded and rolled their eyes. "He's so hot!" Tina exclaimed before blowing her brunette bangs out of her face. "I'm going to get me some of that!" She added with a giggle before turning back to Carol and gossiping some more.
"What is it with this town and new people?" Nancy asked Lacey who shrugged, "I'm guessing it's because Hawkins is pretty boring for people who aren't silenced by the government." Lacey responded in a sarcastic whisper. Nancy chuckled a little but stopped when Mrs Kingsley started talking.
When it was finally lunch time Lacey met up with Steve outside of the cafeteria. He looked like he was in a bad mood.
"Is everything okay?" Lacey asked him and he grunted in annoyance before pulling her into the cafeteria with him.
"Tommy." Steve moaned while pointing to the table they usually sat at after they had gotten their lunch. The new guy, whose name was Billy who was found out by Tina in third period was also with Tommy and Carol, Tina and Nicole were lapping up his every word.
When Lacey found Nancy in the sea of students she also looked a little lost because last year they all occupied the table but since Steve had chucked Tommy and Carol to the curb things were different and clearly the three of them needed to find another table to sit at.
Jonathan who was inside getting his lunch, noticed Nancy looking awkward, pulled her over to him. "Most of us usually just sit out by our cars and eat lunch to avoid cafeteria drama." He advised her with a small smile on his face and she nodded, thankful for his help. Nancy scanned the room for Lacey and Steve and when her eyes fell upon them she jerked her head towards the doors that led outside and continued on with Jonathan.
Lacey nodded to Nancy and her and Steve walked in the direction the other two just exited. Steve held onto Lacey's hand as they made their way out of the cafeteria but just as they passed the table Lacey's eyes locked with Billy's again. This time it was more awkward because he smirked at her and licked his bottom lip seductively before she turned away.
"Ugh, I can't believe this!" Steve complained loudly once they were out in the open.
"Steve, it's not that big a deal." Nancy advised but that just made Steve more annoyed.
"I'm trying to be a good person but I get treated like this and some new guy tries to take my place?" Steve whined. Lacey put her hands on Steve's shoulders to stop him from freaking out and he stared at her, "Steve, you're being the best person." He smiled at her warmly and pulled her into a hug. "I love you, you know that right?" She told him and he nodded again and kissed her. "Don't worry about Tommy or Carol or the new guy, you're way better than all of them." Nancy added and Lacey nodded in agreement. Jonathan scoffed and the three turned to look at him. "Sorry…" He muttered before getting off the hood of his car and placing his camera into the vehicle. "Thank guys, I'm sorry I just don't know how to do High School without being King!" He stated honestly and Jonathan patted Steve on the shoulder, "Don't worry man, you'll get lessons from the best." He added pointing to himself and the girls chuckled. At that moment the bell rang which meant they needed to get to fifth period.
Steve and Lacey shared this class together and it turned out they now shared it with the new guy - Billy. He seemed to have made fast friends with Tommy H and Carol because he was sitting with them at the back of the class. Steve used to sit with them too but now he sat in the middle row with Lacey and Billy outwardly took Steve's old seat like he owned it which Lacey noticed, made Steve seethe with anger.
Billy was telling a story which Tommy was listening to with utter interest. Tommy had always needed a leader, Lacey realized. Steve had been his leader before and now he was quickly making Billy his new one.
It felt like the lesson dragged on for much longer than it needed to be with Billy's snarky comments and Tommy and Carol's snickers towards Steve. Lacey felt her blood boil and wanted to slap all of them like she'd slapped Tommy at Tammy's party.
After the class Tommy cornered Steve on the way out, "We missed you at lunch Stevie boy." He mocked and Lacey had stopped walking ahead and turned to see how the confrontation would ensue. Steve chose to ignore Tommy who continued and as Lacey was about to interject Billy interrupted her, "Hey there." He said, the same smirk plastered on his face as before. "I don't believe we've met, I'm Billy Hargrove." He held out his hand for her to shake but Lacey ignored it. "You're in my way." Lacey informed Billy point blank. "Come on boys enough now" Mr Phillips bellowed from the front of the class before Lacey could intervene. Tommy shoved past Steve who looked at Lacey apologetically. "I'll see you around." Billy purred in Lacey's ear before exiting the classroom with the others. Steve sighed and Lacey walked out the room with him silently.
The rest of the day went by and once the bell rang for the end of the day Lacey couldn't wait to get out of there.
Lacey didn't wait for Steve like she normally would because he had basketball practice that afternoon so she sped out of the school as if her life depended on it.
Once she was home she walked in on Dustin speaking with their mom Claudia about the party's choice of Halloween's outfits this year. "We want to go as the ghostbusters but Mike and Lucas are arguing about who should be Venkman and who should be Winston." Dustin complained to their mother who listened intently. The middle schoolers usually wore their costumes to school.
Lacey smiled as she watched her brother talk animatedly about Lucas and Mike's argument and wished that those were the only worries she had in her life.
"How was school darling?" Claudia turned to her oldest and smiled.
"Ugh, you know." Lacey said with a shrug and Claudia nodded, "And Steve?" She added and Lacey nodded, "He's going through some things right now, I'm just going to try and be there for him the most I can." She responded and Claudia nodded. Claudia knew the tough transition her daughter and her friends were going through as teenagers because she was her age once and went through the same thing but she knew better than to pry further.
The next day's events at school were minor compared to the day before. Lacey had one run in with Billy where he cornered her by her locker making her feel uncomfortable. He eyed her out like a piece of meat and spoke dirty nothings in her ear. She pushed him away as soon as he started knowing he was only doing it to get a rise out of Steve even though Steve wasn't there at the time but spying eyes known as Tina and Carol were and Lacey knew they would run to Steve and exaggerate a story which would only infuriate Steve even more.
Just before lunch Lacey met up with Nancy at their lockers and while Lacey was shoving her books in it Nancy waved a flier in her face. "Come and get sheet-faced." Lacey read out loud and Nancy nodded, "We're going!" Nancy confirmed and Lacey groaned, "Where?" Lacey grabbed the flier and saw that it was Tina's party. "We need to have a little fun, you know, act like normal teenagers." Nancy added and Lacey frowned a little before seeing Steve walking towards them. "Try and convince him." She said and Nancy looked up at Steve when he joined, Jonathan joining shortly after. "We're going to this and I don't care what you guys say." She stated shoving the flier into Steve's chest dramatically. The boys read the flier together, Steve agreeing almost immediately to Lacey's surprise but Jonathan shook his head vigorously "I don't do parties and besides I'm spending Halloween with my Will." He responded and Nancy frowned, "What do you mean, you'll go trick or treating with him which will end at about 8pm then you'll spend the rest of the night listening to the clash or whatever." Lacey watched the two exchange words but then her gaze turned to Steve's. "Was Hargrove bothering you again today?" He whispered and Lacey sighed. Word had got out. "I'm fine Steve, don't worry about it." Lacey reassured him and he looked at her wearily before zoning back to Nancy and Jonathan's conversation where they both heard Jonathan say "Fine, Maybe." Nancy grinned at him and the four of them headed to lunch.
