This story takes place in season 2 episode 2 right after Nancy calls her and Steve's relationship bullshit and Steve leaves her in the bathroom.

Happy Freaking Halloween

Steve slammed the bathroom door and tried his damnedest not to cry in front of all these people. He made it outside to his car without anyone noticing him and he just sat in the drivers seat and stared at the wheel.

He was an idiot. Of course Nancy didn't love him. He was stupid to per-sue a relationship with her after last year. They were never going to be able to move past the fact that her best friend died in his backyard because of him, or that he let Tommy call her a slut for the whole town to see.

"IDIOT!" Steve yelled at himself slamming his fists onto the steering wheel.

He couldn't help himself though. He had been smitten with Nancy Wheeler from the start. He was desperate for a second chance with Nance. He begged her practically everyday for a month to take him back. Promised her he would never let her down again. He had every intention of keeping that promise but he just didn't know how to help her get over Barb.

He wished he was smarter. A smarter person would know what to say to help her get over her guilt. He should have done… something, anything except what he actually did which was pretend everything was okay. If Nancy is anything she's stubborn. Too stubborn to ask for help and he was too stupid to figure out what she needed. He knew she was close with Jonathan. Maybe he could be the one to help her. At least he wouldn't remind her of Barb's death. This is probably some kind of karma that he definitely deserves for being such a prick for so long. He has had so many girlfriends whose hearts he's broken and now his heart is in so many pieces he's pretty sure it's never going to recover.

He wipes his sleeve across his face and is mortified to find tears running down his cheeks. He quickly wipes the rest away and takes a few deep breaths.

"Get it together Harrington. You can't just leave her here." Steve gave himself a pep talk in his rear view mirror.

Once his eyes cleared and didn't look so red anymore he took one more deep breath. "Happy freaking Halloween." Steve said to himself as he got out of the car prepared to find Nance.

There were way too many drunken idiots here to leave her alone, no matter how much seeing her again would hurt him.

He walked into the house and began to climb the very crowded stairs to the bathroom. He doubted she had left the bathroom since she could barley walk. She was probably still stubbornly trying to get the punch stain out of her shirt.

He got to top of the stairs and down the hallway he saw Jonathan with his arm around a very drunk Nancy, trying to keep her upright. Standing in front of them were Tommy H. and the new guy Billy.

"Hey Nance where's your pussy whipped boyfriend or is this your new pussy whipped boyfriend?" He asked pointing at Jonathan. "Or are you getting double-teamed?" Tommy laughed at his own remark and Billy joined in behind him.

"Why don't you go bother someone else." Jonathan said with disgust as he went to move passed the two drunk guys.

Tommy held his arm out and grabbed Jonathan.

"I think you should have stood home tonight Byers."

Nancy didn't seem to understand what was going on. She looked like she was just trying not to fall over.

"I guess she's giving everyone a turn. Billy you want to try your luck with her?" Tommy shoved Jonathan against the wall and made to grab Nancy. He never reached her because Steve spun Tommy around and hit him square in the face.

"What the fuck?" Tommy said confused holding his right eye. He looked around and noticed Steve for the first time.

"Harrington! You're still here. You're girl is about to show Billy a good time." Tommy laughed obviously drunk.

"You touch her and I'll kill you." Steve said in a menacing voice he himself didn't even recognize.

"Oooo Steve looks a little upset doesn't he Billy?" Tommy elbowed Billy.

Billy didn't seem like he cared much about what was going on. He just seemed to be enjoying all the drama.

"He does look upset. Why don't we leave him to clean up his mess." Billy said with a smirk on his face as he pointed to Jonathan and Nancy. Nancy threw out her arm and grabbed the closest thing to her for stability and that happened to be Steve's arm.

"Bye Mr. Pussy whipped." Tommy laughed as Billy dragged him away from Steve, Jonathan and Nancy.

If Nancy didn't desperately need to go home he would have followed them and punched Tommy in his stupid face again and maybe Billy too while he was at it, but he kept himself rooted to his spot on the floor with Nancy heavily leaning on him to stay upright. He was pretty sure she didn't even know it was him she was leaning on.

"Thanks Steve." Jonathan said in his quiet Jonathan way.

Steve shrugged. "Thanks for looking out for her."

Jonathan nodded. "I saw Tommy go up to her when she stumbled out of the bathroom and when I didn't see you around anywhere I figured he was up to something stupid so I stepped in."

Steve looked guilty for leaving Nancy alone. "Thanks man." He whispered.

Nancy was still hanging off Steve but seemed to recognize Jonathan's voice because she looked up and straight at Jonathan.

"Jonathan." Nancy slurred as she let go of Steve and grabbed a hold of Jonathan. She clumsily wrapped an arm around him in what could only be described as an awkward drunk hug. She nuzzled into his chest and he awkwardly patted her back never losing eye contact with Steve.

"I want to go home." Nancy mumbled into Jonathan's chest. "Please." She slurred.

Steve felt an uncomfortable lump in his throat and knew he had to get out of there before he started crying in front of Jonathan Byers. He wanted to hate Jonathan but he seemed like a good enough guy and he knew Nancy was safe with him. Nancy obviously liked him too and Steve was done hurting people Nancy cared about so no, he couldn't hate him. He wanted to hate Nancy too but that was not possible.

Jonathan looked at him like a deer in headlights. An apologetic look on his face.

"Do you think you can take her home?" Steve asked his voice cracking.

Jonathan looked confused but nodded and Steve nodded back. Steve didn't know what else to say so before he could make a bigger joke out of himself than he already was he bolted out of the house.