Chapter Fifteen

First Day of School

Veronica walked down the hallway with the nervous butterflies in her stomach worse than they had been all week. She barely was able to get a bit of sleep as the hours ticked down closer to the first day of school. The first day of high school actually, in her junior year. Every time she thought about it too much, she thought that she was going to bring her food back up.

The closer she walked towards the kitchen she was able to hear everyone else up and about. The smell of bacon and pancakes wafted through the Byers' home. As she stepped into the small archway that lead into their kitchen, her smile became wider when she saw Joyce placing a large stack of pancakes on the table.

"Breakfast is ready!" She walked around the chair she was standing behind and walked towards the girl standing in front of her. "How are you feeling? Do you have everything?"

"I-I...I think so," Veronica spoke with a nervous shake to her voice. "I triple-checked my bag last night and think I got everything for it."

"You're going to do fine," Joyce spoke affectionately "Don't worry about anything, and you're going to have Jonathan there with you."

Veronica's dark eyes moved to look over Joyce's shoulder towards Jonathan who was already sitting at the table. His head peaked up at the sound of his name but only shot you a smile due to his mouth being full of food. Veronica let out a deep and heavy sigh before moving to sit at the table. She quickly filled her plate before looking across the table toward Will, an uneasy look on his face.

"You're also gonna have Nancy there too," Jonathan spoke up, "And I have a feeling you'll make quick friends...hopefully."

"Yes...the girl that was kidnapped nearly thirteen years ago returns with no explanation and into a school year where everyone she knew as a child is not only a class ahead of her but doesn't remember her." Veronica spoke sarcastically, causing Jonathan to flinch back and Joyce to frown from her stance at the stove. "I've seen how people look at me when I am in town, I don't think high school is going to feel any better."

An uncomfortable, heavy silence fell over the kitchen, and Veronica couldn't help but feel guilty. She knew Jonathan was only trying to help and be a little optimistic, but she couldn't help how she felt. Deep down, it was like Veronica knew that the school year wasn't going to go as smoothly as she wished and hoped.

As she sat there and poked at the food on her plate, Veronica couldn't help but feel saddened - wishing that El was with her. Ever since last winter there hadn't been a sign or anything that she was ok. Every time Veronica allowed herself to think about it too much her stomach began to twist at the thought that she was alone somewhere. Or worse, stuck in the Upside Down.

Once everyone was done eating and ready to go, Veronica walked out to the car behind Will and Jonathan to head toward the school. As the music blasted through the speakers, Jonathan driving through the back roads of Hawkins, she looked over her schedule again.

"You're going to do great, I know you're worried about the whole...coming back thing...but honestly...you're gonna do fine. Don't let anyone walk all over you." Jonathan said from beside her. "You've got me, Nance...sorta Steve."

"I know...I know...you're trying to help and I'm being mean about it." She sighed before looking over with a small smile turning up the corner of her lips.

"At lunch why don't we eat out by the bleachers? We might not be able to have classes together, but we can still spend time together."

Veronica's smile widened more, "I would like that."

Jonathan followed the line of cars in the school's parking lot, her eyes turning out toward the window and watching the cluster of students there were together. All of them laughed, smiling with books tightly held in their hands. She suddenly got that feeling of wanting to be one of them, to join in whatever is going on with them.

Jonathan pulled up and parked his car at the far side of the parking lot, the three of them getting out and following the flow of students. Her knuckles were nearly turning white from the tight grip she held onto the strap. The closer she walked to the high school building the more she saw the glances, whispers, and stares.

"Don't let them see you sweat," Jonathan bent down and whispered in her ear, before wrapping an arm around her shoulder and pulling her through the main doorway.

The stares didn't stop after entering the school at first. It happened during her first period, her second, and her third. By the fourth period, Veronica was starting to feel panic creep up her throat and tighten around it. The second the bell rang out to let the students out for lunch, she pushed through the hallway of the crowd, walking through the first double doors she came upon.

The silence of the library was welcoming - especially since it was nearly empty of students. Her breath came out harsher and harder with each step that she took. The lights within the large room began to flicker and buzz as she passed. Veronica dipped between the last aisle of the library, her back slamming against the wall and sliding down.

She pulled her knees to her chest tightly and placed her forehead on her knees as she tried to take deep and steady breaths. Veronica squeezed her eyes tightly as she rocked herself gently.

But when her eyes popped up, everything around her was different.

The room was cast in a dark and smoky grey air with small flecks of debris that looked almost snow-like. Dark veins covered every surface and object around her with an almost pulsing nature to it. From outside she could hear something that resembled a thunderstorm and a shrieking click noise.

"No, no...no, no..." Veronica panicked more as her frantic eyes looked around, the noise growing closer and closer. "Not again...not again...please..."

Veronica could feel the tears running down her cheeks as she buried her face into her knees once again. Her heart felt like it was ready to burst out of her chest. A scream left her lips that moment she felt something touch her shoulder. But when her brown eyes opened again, she looked around and saw that she was once again in the library. Veronica looked around still scared but now also confused.

"Hey, hey...you're ok...you're good." a voice spoke drawing her attention toward them.

The person she was expecting to see, was Steve. He knelt beside her with a worried look in his eyes as he stared down at her. His hand gently reached out and caressed her cheek as she stared up at him with wild eyes.

"You're ok...you're ok..." Steve continued to whisper with a gentle tone, watching as Veronica slowly calmed down.

"I-I...I..." Veronica tried to speak, but her throat was still feeling tight around her throat.

Steve moved a little closer to kneel in front of her, "It's just a panic attack,"

Veronica groaned and nodded her head as she rested her head against the wall behind her. The two of them fell into a silence for a moment, before she spoke again.

"N-No one else saw...did they?" Veronica asked, her voice soft and timid.

Steve shook his head quickly, "No. Everyone is pretty much at lunch."

Her thick brows pulled together in confusion, "How come you aren't?"

"Have a paper I need to work on for this early college admissions application. I was looking for some research when I heard your crying." Steve paused for a moment. "A-Are you ok?"

Veronica whimpered and nodded her head, "Just...first day not going to so well."

She chose to keep to herself the episode she had before, not even sure herself was she saw. Or if it was her mind playing tricks on her.

"People aren't being nice?" Steve asked, worried about the girl sitting in front of him.

Steve couldn't explain it, but ever since last winter, he wasn't able to keep her off his mind. But it was hard to forget everything that had happened before. Along with setting a creature on fire, Veronica takes its place once the smoke and fire clear.

"They haven't been the welcoming committee if that's what you mean," Veronica laughed with false hope. "Deep down I knew this was going to happen...don't know why I got so upset."

"Teenagers can be dicks," Steve spoke "And you're only human...sorta, so it's natural for you to get upset."

Veronica sighed "I just...want things to be as normal as possible for me. And I thought starting at school was going to be that thing. Like how it is in the shows and movies I watched with Joyce."

Steve couldn't stop the smile and soft laugh he let out. But he wasn't doing it to make fun or tease. He thought it was adorable.

"Give it a little more time, and then hopefully it'll change and people will forget about everything. This town and small and boring, there is something else that is going to capture their attention soon enough."

Veronica nodded her head, "I hope you're right. Thanks...y-you didn't have to come and be nice...check on me."

"Are you kidding me? Of course, I do. We're friends."

"Friends? We are?" Veronica questions

"Ouch, Hopper...that fucking hurts" Steve fiend hurt and placed a hand over his chest. "Of course we're friends. After everything last winter."

"Cool, I could use all the friends I can get right now," Veronica spoke, before gnawing on her lower lip. "And sadly, it's Grey. My dad doesn't want me taking his last name...till we're sure we're cleared from everything last year."

Steve frowned, "That's...horrible..."

Veronica shrugged and stretched her legs out in front of her more. "I know he's my dad and that's all that matters. It sucks I have to take the last name of the man that murdered my mother but...Jim is doing it to keep me safe. I know he wouldn't have me do it, just to do it."

"Well...you're a Hopper to me." Steve stood and reached a hand down towards her. "Now come on, we still have some time left from

lunch."

Veronica looked up at him for a moment before grabbing his hand. That warm feeling she had the first time she met him moved up her arm again and settled into her chest. The safe feeling let her know that she could trust Steve Harrington.