Chapter Eleven: Another Addition


Climbing into the front seat of Steve's car, Clara rolled her eyes when Robin tried to argue.
"Older," Clara claimed.
"It's not fair," Robin whined. "Steve, tell her it's not fair."
"I happen to like Clara being up front…" Dustin faked a gasp.
"Oh no, he's playing favorites."

Steve gave Dustin a glare through the rear-view mirror and pulled out of Reefer Rick's driveway. He pulled onto the street and followed after the emergency vehicles.
"What do you think it is?" Robin asked.
"Another body," Clara answered quietly.
"Whose?"

Clara knew that Robin was merely asking the question from fear and that it was totally normal for Robin to be asking questions that she knew the answer too, but for some reason, that question irked Clara. She didn't know, didn't Robin know that?

Of course, she knew that the other teen knew that Clara didn't know. But Clara had played this game too many times. She was sick and tired of it. She leaned against the window, the glass cold to her touch.

They pulled into the trailer park and almost everyone jumped out of the car immediately. She looked through the front window, shoulders drooping when she saw Nancy talking to an officer. Now it was official, everyone who was currently stuck in Hawkins was a part of the mess that had occurred. Thank god will was on the other side of the country.

Although… she was forgetting about Lucas. Then again, he was probably on Jason's side since he joined the basketball team and all that stuff.

Steve poked his head inside the car, smiling grimly at Clara.
"Guess we oughta let Nance in on it too." She shrugged, climbing out of his car. She followed him and the others to a picnic table, trying to ignore all the yellow tape and the cops mingling about.

She let the others fill in Nancy, only saying a bit here or there. She only knew what she knew, and the others had already discussed this stuff without her. Her eyes were mostly locked on the white sheet that covered another body.

At least Nancy had gone to the cops. Maybe this could have all been avoided if Eddie had gone to the station. She squeezed her eyes shut for a moment. There was no use thing that. No use dwelling in the what ifs. She leaned her head on Steve's shoulder, suddenly exhausted. She didn't know how much total sleep she got the night before, but it wasn't enough to deal with all this.

When they were done filling in Nancy, she stared at them, mind uncomprehending.
"You're saying that this thing that killed Fred and Chrissy… It's from the Upside Down?"
"If the shoe fits," Steve nodded.
"Our working theory is that he attacks with a spell or a curse," Dustin told Nancy. "Now, whether or not he's doing the biding of the Mind Flayer or just loves killing teens, we don't know."
"All we know is this is something different," Max said. "Something new."
"Doesn't make sense," Nancy said, shaking her head.
"It's only a theory," Dustin said quickly.
"No, Fred and Chrissy don't make sense. I mean, why them?"
"Maybe they were just in the wrong place?" Dustin offered. "They were both at the game."
"And near the trailer park," Max realized.

Steve squirmed uncomfortably.
"We're at the trailer park. Uh, should we maybe not be here?" Clara agreed with Steve, her head had started pounding the moment they passed the "Welcome In" sign.
"There's something about this place," she said quietly. Nancy nodded quickly.
"Fred started acting weird the second we got here."
"Acting weird as in…?" Robin questioned. Nancy's shoulders rose and fell.
"Scared, on edge, upset."
"Max said Chrissy was upset too," Dustin said.
"Yeah, but not here."

Max glanced at Clara.
"She was crying in the bathroom at school."
"Serial killers stalk their prey before they strike, right?" Robin asked. "So maybe, Fred and Chrissy saw this Vecman—"
"Vecna," Dustin corrected.
"Dunno about you guys," Steve said. "But if I saw some freaky wizard monster, I would mention it to someone."
"I think they did," Clara said.

Everyone looked to her, and she startled at their rapid attention.
"I mean, Chrissy had been having nightmares and had been going to see Ms. Kelly. If you saw a monster, you… you wouldn't go to the police. They'd never believe you. But you might go to your—"
"Your shrink," Robin finished for her.

Of course, that was what Ms. Kelly was for. However, with all the shit Clara had been through, she didn't tell the woman anything. Her nightmares were real, and Ms. Kelly would never understand.
"We should talk to Ms. Kelly," Max said.
"She's not gonna tell you anything," Clara reminded her.
"It's patient confidentiality."
"That's why you'll distract her."

Clara scoffed at that.
"Like Ms. Kelly would believe that I'm finally willing to talk. That's insane." Robin perked up.
"But maybe not that far-fetched. After all, your sister did just die." Clara sighed, shaking her head..
"Do it for Eddie," Dustin pleaded."You know he didn't kill Chrissy."
"I know, I know… Fine, but Max, the moment I get uncomfortable, we're out of there."
"Deal."
"We'd better get going then," Steve said.

They all stood, heading to Steve's car… well, Nancy headed away from them. Much to Steve's displeasure.
"Whoa, whoa, Nance. Nance! Where are you going?"
"Oh, there's just something I wanna check on first."
"Something you wanna share with the rest of us?" Dustin asked.
"I don't wanna waste your time. It's a real shot in the dark."
"Yeah, okay… Are you out of your mind?" Steve demanded. "Flying solo with Vecna on the loose? Not it's too dangerous. You need… you need someone to…" He spun towards Robin, tossing her the keys to his car. "Here. I'll stick with Nance. Take the car, check out the shrink."

Robin quickly shook her head.
"Don't think you want me driving your car."
"Why?"
"I don't have a license."
"Why don't you have a license?"
"I'm poor," she shrugged.
Max grinned, "I can drive."
"NO!" Clara and Steve cried at the same time.
"Never again," Steve said. "Anybody but you. No." Dustin pursed his lips and Steve shook his head.
"Not a chance."
"Come on!"
"No. Clara?"
"I don't drive. Apparently, I'm mentally unstable."
"But you used to drive..."
"Only because Hopper thought it was stupid that I couldn't get a license. If I get pulled other by one of these other cops, I'm definitely going to jail."

Rolling her eyes, Robin grabbed a walkie-talkie from Dustin's bag and tossed the keys back to Steve.
"All right, okay. This is stupid. Us ladies will stick together." She stood by Nancy and then looked back at Steve with a raised eyebrow. "Unless you think we need you to protect us." He scowled and she smirked at him, turning to walk to Nancy's car. Nancy met Clara's eyes and gave her a little shrug before following after Robin.
"Be careful!" Steve called.

Clara giggled quietly, bumping her shoulder against Dustin as Robin spun around, flashing him a peace sign. It was kinda enduring, listening to Steve worry like a mother hem.
"You gonna stand there and gawk?" she called as he watched Nancy and Robin get into the car.
"Shut up."
"Why don't we go? Okay?" Dustin offered.
"Shut up and get in the car. Wipe your feet."

Looking into the backseat, Steve rolled his eyes at Dustin as the boy rubbed his feet on the interior.
"On the outside, not the inside!" He looked to Clara. "Always the babysitter. Always the goddam babysitter!"
"Well, at least you have a partner." He glowered at her, and her smile brightened just a bit more.