10:47pm Wednesday 31st October

The upstairs bathroom, 6 Magnolia Place, Loch Nora

"Like we're in love?" The words rang in Steve's ears.

"It's bullshit" she slurred. The words possibly the most truth Nancy had spoken in months.

"You don't love me?" His heart felt like it was in his stomach.

She looked him in the eye, "It's bullshit."

Suddenly it was as if Steve was the drunk one. His mind went blurry and his legs wobbly as he made a quick exit out of the bathroom door, slamming it in his wake. He stood for a moment, hoping Nancy would follow once as if a moment of clarity would have her realise her words but, the door stayed closed.

He shook his head, unsure what to do, or feel. He was confused, everything had been fine, what does she mean she didn't love him? She didn't out right say that, and she was drunk – maybe she just got her thoughts mixed up. No, Nance was too smart for that, even in the state she was in. His mind then turned to a rare anger. What could he have done different? He tried his hardest at every turn, but it never seemed enough. He felt stupid. He should've seen this coming; she had been distant – more so in the past couple weeks but yet, for his own comfort he decided to ignore it.

The pull on his chest had Steve boosting it down the stairs and out of the house, mostly to avoid anyone seeing the tears threatening to fall from his eyes. He walked out the side door, sneaking around the house he found himself facing a grouping of trees. Steve was in such a hurry that he almost completely lost his footing while hitting something stepping down the small drop of concrete steps.

Looking back to see what he tripped over, he saw a small figure sitting with its legs completely folded into its chest. The lack of lighting hindered his view for a second, it was only the baby pink jacket with the embroidered words of "Pink ladies" that gave him a clue who this figure was.

Jackie had barely noticed the heavy collision, too focused on not throwing up for the third time to pay any attention to the boy standing in front of her.

"Jackie?" His voice cracked slightly, his emotions still coursing through his body. She looked up, her head moving slowly. It was then he saw her tear-stained face and the miserable expression it wore. "Jesus, what happened? Are you ok?" concern took over, forcing Steve to briefly forget why he was out here in the first place.

She lightly shook her head, before groaning loudly and folding over herself once more.

"Ok um, do you want to go inside? h-how about water? Can I get you some water?", she shook her head again, eyes half shut as her head lolled downwards.

"Your brothers here, right? I'll go get him, hold up-"

"NO." She snapped, finally bringing her head up and pointing a finger towards at Steve's face, "No babysitting." Her second words much softer but more slurred than the first. She went to stand, or at least tried to, her legs completely giving out beneath her causing Steve to instinctively reach forward to stop her toppling over.

Jonathan, starting to feel overwhelmed at the growing party, followed the quiet path around the side of the house to get some much-needed fresh air. What he wasn't expecting to find was the barely standing figure of Jackie Hargrove now completely relying on Steve's outstretched arm to keep her from the ground.

"Hey man, a little help" Steve's words pulled Jonathan out of his thoughts as he was slowing losing grip of the girl beside him. Jonathan sprang into action, quickly catching a falling Jackie and setting her up on the bottom step with Steve's help.

"I just passed her brother inside, I'll see if I can-"

"N-no. I said don't get Billy. G-god don't you ever listen!"

Jonathan was taken back by the bite of her words, the sharpness behind her eyes quickly replaced by a flash of discomfort as she folded over again, another wave of alcohol coming up her body. Steve stepped back just in time to miss it hitting his shoes. He sighed, sharing a look with Jonathan. He'd almost forgot why he was out here in the first place, the crushing reality of his conversation moments ago gripping him as he found a reminder in Jonathan's face. The sudden need to get away from this party seized him again as he felt a flicker of anger. A disgusted groan from the girl on the step gave him an excuse to have something else to focus on.

Jonathan was stumped, "I can take her home, or maybe even to the hospital? Shit, how much has she had?" he turned away as the girl continued to heave.

"No idea, look I got it. Can you just make sure Nancy gets home? She's inside somewhere…" The sting of Steve's words wouldn't be missed on anyone, expect for Jackie.

"You sure? I-I don't mind taking her-"

"I said I got it. Just go enjoy the party or whatever."

Steve didn't give Jonathan a chance to reply as he pulled Jackie back to her feet, securing her arm over his shoulder with one hand and the other safely gripping her waist. "Hey, Jackie?" she responded with a sharp nod of her head, "reckon you could direct us back to yours?" He knew it might take a while for them to get there, but it was better than leaving her folded over on that step. She nodded again, a small hiccup sounding from her as she raised her head and took control of her own feet again with Steve's guidance to the car.

.

Jackie sat humming along to the song from her car ride much earlier in the night that was playing on a loop inside her head while Steve, confused as to how he landed himself in this position, sat upright and tensed in the driver seat of the car. He was at a loss of words, unsure what to say while listening out for her directions, the ones she forgot she was meant to be giving, leaving Steve unknowingly driving straight pass Cherry Lane.

"You sure this is the way? What street are you on again?"

"I think I know the way to my freakin house Mr." She looked at him as pointedly as she could,

"I believe you, it's just that this street leads us straight outta Hawkins and that right there" he pointed out the window to the 'Welcome to Hawkins' billboard, "is a sign we've gone too far."

"Oh." She pursed her lips in confusion as Steve sighed and u-turned the car.

"This will be a hell of a lot easier if you just tell me your address?"

"And why would I do that, you're a stranger." She said, with a hiccup.

Steve huffed out a small laugh, "For the third time, I'm Steve, you know me from school, we've met twice already. I don't know how much you drank but Jesus, enough to cause short term memory loss" he looked at her briefly, seeing her eyes glazed over with confusion. "And I'm taking you home but to do that I need an address"

She remained silent for a couple moments, desperately trying to remember her street, "Berry Lane!" She exclaimed, proudly.

"Berry? Berry lane? There isn't a Berry Lane in Hawkins"

"Uh yeah there is, I live on it dumbass."

"Woah, alright no need for that. Berry, oh Cherry? You mean Cherry?"

"It's the same thing."

Steve scoffed, "alright, home to Cherry Lane it is."

The car fell silent again with Jackie returning to her off-beat humming before suddenly gasping, causing Steve to break sharply out of instinct, "What? What is it?"

"I can't go home." She stated, rather dramatically.

"What? I think it's a really good idea ok, you've had a lot to drink and-"

"No. I'm not going home, nah ah Mr."

"Jackie, you need to go home. Party's over tonight alright, let's just get you back and you can sleep it off"

She began shaking her head furiously, her curls falling out of their clips and cascading across her face. "You're not Billy, you can't bring me home. I was stupid and had too much, my dad, h-he'll be so mad. If I go home, I'll get in trouble, and Bill will get in more trouble so I just can't yet…" her words were loud in her mind but were coming out as not much more than a slurred ramble. "You know yo-you're asking a lot of me; I don't even know who you are and you expect me to tell you my address for a town I don't even know. You really got some nerve did you know that? Taking me from the party that I was having a good time at. Billy was wrong, I can have a good time. Why isn't a-anybody here normal, like me I'm normal and I get on just fine. Just plain ol-" Her drunken rant stopped suddenly.

The silence had Steve snap his head towards the passenger seat. The concentrated look on her face had him slamming on the breaks and reaching over to open the door just in time for Jackie to hurl again, luckily outside the car. He gave her a couple of minutes, trying to distract himself looking out the window and not listening to her sounds.

She sat back up in her seat with a heavy sigh, and fresh tears running down her eyes, "sorry" she whispered.

"Hey It's fine, don't worry about it. If I can't take you home what the hell do you want? I'm sorry to say but I am not doing this all night." He was exhausted, and quite frankly just wanted to go to bed and forget tonight even happened.

She hesitated for a moment, her movements completely still as she lowered her head. "I really want a milkshake" Her voice full of hope, another hiccup following her words. Steve almost laughed.

"Alright, I've got 2 strawberry milkshakes, 1 lime milkshake, 2 cheeseburgers with fries, and lastly a slice of apple pie" As the plates were place on the table, Jackie's eyes lit up with gleam. Her tears had stopped flowing but her vision was still blurry, she was unable to stop the spinning of the room.

"Thank you" Steve said to Sally, as Jackie dived straight into her first of two strawberry milkshakes. The older woman smiled towards the boy, her and her husband had known him for years as he visited the diner routinely late on Tuesday nights after swimming practices. Always ordering the same lime milkshake and slice of pie, so much so that Sally would save the last piece for him if the day had been a busy one. She turned and walked away, silently confused at the pair sitting in the booth at front of the diner.

Steve looked at Jackie with amusement on his face as she closed her eyes, sipping intently on the shake in front of her. It was almost half gone by the time she took a break to breathe. They remained quiet for a while; Steve wasn't sure how to start a conversation while his mind was running at a million miles per hour and Jackie couldn't have any thought other than how good her drink was.

"So uh, what happened tonight?" He finally asked, once his mind circled back to where he was currently sat.

"It was a Halloween party, duh." She said, between sips.

"I know that, I mean with you, how come you were so upset?" He had been curious since he saw her on that step.

"I wasn't upset." She said, matter-of-factly.

"oh, right sorry, yeah because the crying really threw me off," he said with a smirk.

She glared at him, though it wasn't as harsh as he expected, "Well why were you upset?"

"Uh, I ah, don't know what you're talking about."

"Hm not so smart now, I see through you. You left a party to help a stranger-"

"Oh my god, we're not strangers Jackie"

"Do you know my middle name?" She asked, Steve shook his head, thinking it was just a drunk train of thought from her. "No? then see, we're strangers."

"I don't really see your logic, but whatever that's beside the point, I'm not the upset one."

She just looked at him with hazed eyes, before shrugging and returning attention to the tall glass in front of her.

Steve took a moment, looking out the window before sighing, "Ah what the hell, you won't remember anything tomorrow anyway. Well, where the hell do I even start, for one my relationship is over, or at least I think it is; two I have no idea where the hell I'm going in life and three I haven't had a solid's night sleep in about a year so you know, really got it made." His eyes fell to the untouched pie in front of him, "I should've seen it coming. I think deep down I've known for a while now that she didn't love me but I don't know, I wasn't expecting her to say it so soon. I thought there would be time for something, that if I tried hard enough, she might actually fall in love with me again but to be honest, I think she's well past it. Look, I know her and Jonathan are close but she's not dumb, alright she sees the way he looks at her and just can't help but feel pathetic and believe me-"

"Could you pass me a burger?" Jackie interrupted and Steve did so, continuing without pause.

"I wish I didn't but you know, it's just been so hard with everything that's been going on I-I never wanted to bring it up. Maybe I could've done better but I really tried. Honesty some days I would give anything to go back to last year, god knows there is a lot I would change, especially if it meant not having to deal with-"

He suddenly stopped himself. While it felt good to finally get this off his chest, he knew there were somethings he couldn't talk about out loud. Not in a 24/7 diner with a girl he barely knew. He looked up at her now, she was devouring the cheeseburger like it was her first meal in weeks. While he relished in the small relief he felt in speaking this stuff out loud, it would be even better if he had someone to listen.

He picked up his fork and slowly picked at his pie, his shoulders heavy as he slumped into the booth, the voice and guitar strings of B.B King danced through the diner softy.

"She sounds like a bitch" Jackie suddenly responded, her mouth still finishing a bite of food.

"Hey. She's not a bitch" Steve huffed back, defensively.

"Then you must be the bitch", she was there enough to see Steve's confused expression, "oh c'mon it's simple math. I'm telling ya, there must be one and if it's not her then it'll be you. Bam." Jackie wasn't even trying to make sense, but Steve managed to find some. "If you want my opinion, and it sounds like you do. I think what's-his-face might also be the bitch."

Steve was just surprised she'd been paying any attention at all, "Jonathan?"

"Jonathan! Yes that one, maybe he's just the bitch and I, am a genius who has just solved your problems" She said with a broad smile.

Steve couldn't help but let out a small laugh, "no, he's not either. It's just," he sighed again, "complicated."

The girl shrugged, before starting on her second milkshake and losing focus on the conversation.

Steve, even though none of his problems were solved, wanted to change the subject. Partly because this was the most receptive Jackie had been towards him in their few days of knowing each other.

"So, California huh? What like LA? Did you do much surfing in LA?" He asked curiously, bringing his first bite of pie to his mouth.

"Santa Cruz actually." Jackie snapped back, almost defensively as she brought her gaze up to Steve's. "Close enough though, you get a half a point."

"I'll take it" Steve said, a small smile gracing his lips, "question stands, did you surf in Santa Cruz?"

Her next answer was one he hadn't anticipated; she just looked at him with a smile and a giggle. He was confused, unsure why she'd found the question so funny.

She slowly stopped, "no, not me. My brother surfed; stepsister skated. I choose to spend my time on more civilized activities. Sunbathing for one, no danger in that." It was Steve's turn to laugh, unable to figure out if Jackie was joking or not as the smile faded from her face. "I miss it. The sun, the wharf, I don't know, no expectations. I could do nothing all day; laying on the beach, drawing or reading a mag and it wouldn't bother anyone. I mean dad, it would bother him but, I don't know there was more space to get away if needed, more places to go."

Steve didn't know what that meant, but saw the sadness in her eyes, "You could go back though, right? Use it as an excuse to visit friends?" Steve asked curiously.

"Pfft, I don't care about them." Jackie said quietly, "don't think they care about me" she whispered going back to her milkshake in hand, eyes falling to the table. Steve opened his mouth another question at the ready, he wanted to pry but stopped himself as she remained silent opposite from him. He had to admit, he was beyond curious but didn't want to push his luck. His gaze was stuck on her as were his thoughts, successfully distracted from his personal woes as he tried to piece together an understanding of the girl in front of him. Her dark hair that'd fallen loose from the hair clip blocked her eyes from his own, but he could see the colour had returned slightly to her face, and she was sat slightly more upright than before.

"Can I get you kids anything else?" Sally's hoarse voice ripped through Steve's thoughts,

"No thanks, I think we're good-"

"Another strawberry shake, please?" Jackie looked up hopefully.

"Sure thing sweets." Sally said with a laugh, as she gave Steve an amused look before returning to the counter.

"What?" Jackie bit out as she saw Steve laughing quietly and shaking his head. "What's funny?"

"No-nothing, sorry." He caught her unimpressed look, "it's just, strawberry? Out of all the flavours to drink your body weight in milkshake you chose strawberry?"

"It's the best." She returned pointedly.

"Have you even tried the others?"

"Yes."

"You're lying, if you had then you'd know that Sally's lime milkshakes are the best, hands down"

Jackie scoffed, "I think I know what a lime milkshake tastes like, and I know that strawberry is better."

"Alright, alright!" Steve threw his hands up in surrender, "Keep telling yourself that Marty. Just I hope you know, you're wrong and always will be."

Jackie gasped, an extra beat in her heart again at the nickname. She ignored it, too focused on standing her ground to acknowledge it. The milkshake debate continued well after Sally brought over Jackie's third drink, and right through until it was finished.

The rattling of the back door just past 1:00am peaked Max's ears up from her spot on the floor by the coffee table. She looked towards Neil on the couch, his attention unbroken from 'the Deer Hunter' blasting from the T.V. Max turned back to the door, seeing an unfamiliar figure guiding her sister through the doorway. It didn't take long for Max to see the sleepy haze in her sister's eyes, and the concern in the boy's that half carried her. The sobering effects of the diner food had coaxed Jackie into a deep sleep during their drive back to the house. Steve, who'd spent a troubling 15minutes waking her to get her in the house, was now struggling to keep her upright as sleep was fighting to shut her eyes again.

Max made eye contact with the boy and he froze, like a dear caught in headlights. He was lucky that he was just out of view of Neil, who was too engrossed in his film to notice anything wrong. Max nodded her head to the door that stood a couple steps away from them, he nodded thankfully, trying to remain calm as the panic of being inside an unknown house in a rather compromised position began to kick in. He did his best to keep their movements quiet, Jackie however did not as she went to kick the bedroom door shut once they walked through it. Max, intently watching their every move with a held breath, saw the door shutting and quickly pushed the flower vase from the coffee table, the smashing sound was enough to cover the noise down the hall.

"What the hell Maxine? What are you doing?" Neil snapped out, his voice echoing down the hall causing Steve to freeze again. Jackie paid no mind, carelessly flopping onto the bed and letting out an exaggerated sigh.

"Sorry. Had a twitch…" Max cringed at her own excuse, as she swiftly headed for the kitchen "I'll go get the dustpan."

Neil sighed angrily, more annoyed that she'd disturbed his viewing, roughly picking up a new can of beer from the box that had replaced Susan's spot on the couch once she turned in for the night after picking up Maxine from trick or treating.

Back inside the girl's room, Jackie was struggling to keep her eyes open as the comfort of her bed wrapped around her. Steve, thankful to be hidden behind a closed door slowly looked around the small room, taking in the clustered surroundings and the fact there was an extra bed. His moment of stillness shattered as the door opened, his heart dropped just as he did, with a rather embarrassing attempt to hide beside Jackie's bed. He quickly regained his composure seeing it was just the young redhead girl from the other room.

"Who the hell are you?" She whisper-yelled, her tone instantly reminding Steve of Jackie's.

"I-I ah, I'm Steve" He whispered, slowly rising from the floor.

"You need to leave. Now."

"Yeah, wow, thank you for that" His sarcasm dripping from words as slowly took a step towards the door,

"What the hell are you doing?" Her whisper getting louder. "Are you an idiot? He'll kill you." She sharply pointed towards the window, "that way, and be quiet"

Steve didn't hesitate, he clambered for the window and made a not so graceful exit, the drop slightly higher than he anticipated. In a ducked run he boosted it for his car where he sat for a few still moments, waiting for his heart rate to slow down. He shook his head, unsure how to process the unexpected events of the night. How'd he even end up here? He thought, slowly reminding himself of party, and of Nancy, and of the crushing truth of their conversation. You're bullshit. His mood plumped again, these brief hours with Jackie was nothing but a small distraction. He ran his hair through his hair as exhaustion settled over his body.

As his body turned to put his seatbelt in place, his eyes caught on the bright pink jacket that sat abandoned and crumpled in the passenger seat. A small smile fell upon his face, as he allowed himself to be distracted once more.