"There's something I need to tell you." Reagan opened her brother's door slowly, leaning against it. Steve pulled on a shirt, getting dressed for school. "Yeah?" He asked, looking at her. He could tell by the tone of voice that it was serious. Reagan frowned as she looked at him,"Never mind." She whispered weakly, pushing herself off of the door and walking back towards her room. "Reagan!" Steve called, pushing his door open after she swung it closed.
He went after her,"What's wrong?" Steve questioned, following Reagan into her room. She was suddenly not talking to him and he didn't understand why. She was awfully quiet which only worried him more. "Rea... what's wrong?" Steve asked again, but this time he was more gentle. Reagan sat down at her desk, looking at her books and notebooks. Her eyes studied her textbooks and her lamp.
It was almost like she was seeing it for the first time.
The girl couldn't do anything but think of what had happened the night before. Reagan wanted more than anything to talk to her brother about it but she couldn't find the words to explain what had happened. "I..." She blinked, the words still not coming to her. "Something happened." Her voice was unbearably soft. Steve's eyes grew soft as he looked at his sister. "I don't... I don't know how to say it without– without–" Reagan stopped, unable to say it out loud.
Steve studied her eyes, trying to piece together the look on her face. When he did, he almost wished he hadn't.
"Did someone... did someone hurt you?" He hadn't expected his voice to break when he spoke but it did. Steve frowned, realizing his sister was at the party but he hadn't really talked to her when she was there. The one time he did, he had pushed her away. He was now suddenly remembering what she looked like when he did push her away. She was covered in booze and her eyes were red from crying.
"Oh, God." Steve realized, running both hands through his hair. He shook his head, growing angry. "I'll kill him. I'll kill whoever it was. Jonathan and I will kill him together." Steve decided but Reagan stood up and shook her head quickly. "No, Steve, please– that's not what I want." She told him. "I don't care what you want! Someone hurt you, Reagan!" He shouted.
She shook her head again,"No... he didn't. He almost did but Carol showed up." Reagan explained. Steve furrowed his brows,"Carol? She... she showed up?" He asked, completely confused. "Jonathan was in the bathroom. He didn't know where I was. Carol was mad at me because we were wearing the same costume and she dumped her drink on me. Billy was helping me clean up when he–" "Billy?" Steve stopped her. "It was Billy?" He asked her.
Reagan nodded,"He forced himself on me, Steve, but nothing happened." She promised. Steve looked at her,"But something could've. If Carol hadn't shown up." He said. Reagan nodded her head weakly,"Yeah, I guess... but all he did was kiss me." She said. "Did he do anything else?" He asked. Reagan held her lips together which her brother didn't take as a good sign.
"Did he, Reagan?" Steve questioned. "He took off my shirt." She revealed, tears in her eyes despite the fact her tone was casual. "That's not okay, Reagan." He stated. "It's not." Steve repeated, looking at her. She nodded her head slowly,"Yeah... it isn't." She said.
Steve scratched the back of his neck nervously. "Are you going to tell Mom?" He asked her. He studied with gentle eyes,"Or Dad?" Steve asked. Reagan shook her head at him,"No, they don't need to know." She decided. He frowned,"What about Hopper? Reagan, you work at the station–" "No one, Steve. No one but you, Jonathan, Carol, and Billy needs to know." She said. He frowned,"Are you going to tell Nancy?" Steve questioned, realizing it was the first time he thought of Nancy that morning.
"Eventually." Reagan nodded her head. "I couldn't tell her last night. She was too drunk." She pointed out.
He frowned and nodded his head in agreement. "Yeah." He said. Reagan looked at her brother,"Are you going to pick her up this morning?" She asked him. Steve cursed, forgetting he had to do that. He thought it over for a moment before shaking his head. "No. She's your friend. You and Jonathan go pick her up." Steve decided, moving to leave her room.
"Steve?" Reagan said, stopping him before he left her room. Steve stopped, looking back at his sister. "Yeah?" He asked her. She met his eyes,"I'm glad I told you." She said quietly. Steve wanted to smile at her but he was too upset.
Instead, he walked over to her and kissed her forehead. "I'm always here if you need me, Wonder Twin." He told her. Reagan nodded her head,"Back at you, Wonder Twin." She whispered before he left her room to go back to his.
Jonathan pulled up in front of the Wheeler house before sending Reagan a look. "Is this absolutely necessary?" He questioned her. Reagan looked over at him and frowned,"Jonathan." She scolded. "What? We already took her home last night." He pointed out. "She's our friend." She argued. Jonathan gave her another look,"She threw up on you." He reminded her. Reagan sighed,"She probably doesn't remember that." She pointed out.
The two of them waited as Nancy caught sight of them, walking up to the car. "Hey guys." Nancy was confused as Reagan lowered the window so they could talk. She looked at Reagan,"Where's Steve?" She asked. Reagan frowned up at her,"You really don't remember?" She asked and Nancy shook her head at her. Reagan was afraid of that. "Get in." Reagan nodded to the backseat.
Nancy furrowed her brows but did what her friend said. The brunette opened the door, climbing into the backseat of Jonathan's car. "Did something bad happened?" She questioned. Jonathan looked at her,"You really don't remember anything?" He raised his brows, driving off in the direction of their school. Nancy blinked, looking at the two of them. She frowned,"I threw up on one of you, didn't I?" She asked. Reagan turned back to look at her and Nancy covered her face with one hand, completely embarrassed.
"I'm such an idiot." She realized.
Reagan shook her head,"You were drunk, Nancy. It's fine. And that's exactly what you're going to tell Steve." She instructed. Nancy narrowed her eyes,"What exactly happened between me and Steve? I remember spilling some punch and Steve being mad at me but... didn't he take me home?" She frowned, ashamed that the previous night was so foggy to her. Jonathan shook his head at her,"No, that was us." He explained, looking at Reagan.
She cringed,"I'm so screwed." Nancy said. Reagan studied the girl's expression, thinking about what her brother said about Nancy not loving him.
By the time they got to school, Reagan knew what she had to do.
"I'll see you at lunch." Jonathan said, leaning over to kiss Reagan. She turned her head, however, only accepting a kiss on the cheek. She didn't do this because of what happened last night but she did it so she could see Nancy's expression. Jonathan kissed her cheek, trying not to act hurt by the way she denied a kiss on the lips. He pulled away,"You okay?" He whispered to her. Reagan met his eyes and nodded. "Yeah." She told him.
Jonathan frowned,"It isn't too soon?" He asked, worried about what had happened between her and Billy. She shook her head at him,"It's not. I'll talk to you later." She promised and he nodded his head. Jonathan waved Nancy goodbye before heading to the school before his first class.
Nancy looked at Reagan,"Too soon?" She questioned, not up to date on what had happened. "I'll tell you about it later." Reagan told her but narrowed her eyes at her friend. "Can I ask you something?" Reagan questioned. Nancy furrowed her eyebrows,"We have class." She pointed out. "You're missing first period. We need to talk." Reagan decided and took Nancy's hand before she could head over to the school from the parking lot.
"Reagan–" Nancy began but was cut off when Reagan dragged her.
She decided not to fight Reagan, not only because they were friends and she trusted her, but because Reagan would be too weak to fight her back. Nancy followed Reagan as she was led to the back of Hawkins High School, where people rather hung out early in the morning before class. The bell rang and all of the other remaining students outside headed inside for class. "Reagan, we're both going to miss class–" "I don't care about that right now. Steve told me what your fight was about last night." She cut her friend off, meeting her eyes.
"Reagan..." Nancy said, only vaguely remembering that conversation between her and Steve. "Do you love Steve?" Reagan asked her. Nancy tensed up and averted her gaze. "Reagan, this is silly, you know I do." Nancy argued. "Then at least look at me if that's the truth." Reagan said, a little bit defeated her friend wasn't being honest with her. Nancy frowned and sighed before she finally lifted her eyes. "I'm sorry." She whispered.
"Why didn't you just tell me?" Reagan asked her. Nancy shrugged her shoulders,"I don't know... I guess– I don't really know how I feel. Steve's great but..." Nancy trailed off, shaking her head. She clearly didn't understand it. Or maybe, she just didn't want to. "You like Jonathan?" Reagan guessed. "What? No." Nancy denied.
Reagan looked at her,"I wouldn't be mad if you did." She said. Nancy shook her head,"No, that's ridiculous. You and Jonathan love each other." She pointed out. "We've never actually said it to each other." Reagan frowned. Nancy shook her head again, meeting Reagan's eyes. "But that's the thing... you guys don't need to." Nancy reached out, putting her hand on her friend's shoulder.
"I– Jonathan's... he's cute... and nice... and maybe part of me does... like him. But not really. Not in that way. I know I only feel that way because I know that I want what you and Jonathan have. Steve and me– the problem is I have always said and done what I believe is expected of me. And I thought that wouldn't happen when I was with him but... it did. I care about Steve but... maybe he's not the one I'm meant to be with. I don't know. I guess I don't really know what I want." Nancy confessed. Reagan nodded her head at her, giving her a soft smile. "I understand." She told Nancy.
Nancy smiled at her,"You're not mad at me? For sort of liking your boyfriend?" Nancy asked. Reagan shook her head,"I'm not mad. I get it. Jonathan's amazing." She chuckled. Nancy laughed a little and nodded her head. The smile faded as she looked back at Reagan. "I know you haven't told him that you love him but... don't think for one second he doesn't love you, okay? That boy is crazy about you. He was long before the two of you got together." Nancy told her.
"Really? You think so?" Reagan asked and Nancy chuckled before nodding her head. "I know so." She assured. "I remember the first time I realized it. Jonathan has always walked around like he's caught between hating the world and being afraid of it. Before, I never had really seen him... enjoying something. But when I saw him around you– he lit up completely." Nancy told her, making Reagan smile. She studied Reagan before smiling back. "I think he's been in love with you for a long time, Reagan. I think he's just scared to say it." Nancy said.
"I'm scared too." Reagan confessed, letting a slight chuckle out after she realized it. Nancy chuckled too and nodded her head. "I can tell." She pointed out. Nancy met her eyes,"Don't be." She told her. Reagan nodded her head a little. "I'll try." Reagan promised which only made Nancy laugh. She knew the girl still would be.
Steve sweated as he dribbled the basketball around the court. It was hard to focus, especially considering he was playing against the guy who had felt up his sister against her will. He stared Billy down, trying to get the ball past him but grunting as the boy blocked him.
"Harrington, right? I know your sister." Billy leered. "That's not what she told me." Steve quipped, dribbling the ball. Billy frowned, seeing his talk wasn't getting him the reaction he was hoping for. "I heard you used to run this school. That true?" Billy questioned. "King Steve, they used to call you, huh? Then you turned bitch. Just like your sister."
He wanted to punch the boy but he knew better. "Hey, maybe you should just shut up and just play the game." Steve suggested. He moved, stealing the ball from Steve and sending him back on to the ground. Steve hit the ground, out of breath, helplessly watching as Billy shot the basketball into the hoop. He managed to get up but it was too late.
He wanted nothing more to wipe that smug look off of Billy's face but he was exhausted.
"Steve?" Steve blinked at the sound of Nancy's voice. The boy turned around to see her staring at him next to the bleachers. The coach whistled and Steve frowned, knowing they had a break, giving him no excuse not to talk with Nancy. He frowned, looking over at his coach before looking back at Nancy. "Dammit." The boy said and walked over to her. "Outside." Steve suggested and Nancy nodded her head.
The two exited the gym, finding a quiet place to talk. "What are you doing here?" Steve finally asked when he was sure they were alone. Nancy frowned at him,"What do you think?" She told him. "Where were you this morning? I missed first period." Nancy informed.
Steve simply shrugged his shoulders,"I figured Reagan and Jonathan would take you." He told her. "They did but that's not the point." Nancy said, a little upset that he would just abandon her after a fight. He didn't even call her to tell her he wasn't coming. She might have said some stupid things but Nancy believed that gave him no right to act stupid as well. "Then what's the point then?" Steve asked her.
Nancy narrowed her eyes,"We're a couple, Steve, we have to talk to each other–" She argued but he cut her off. "Talk to each other? Like we did last night? Because I remember you were doing most of the talking. Like apparently, uh... we killed Barb and I don't care, 'cause I'm bullshit... and our whole... our whole relationship is bullshit, and I mean, pretty much everything is just bullshit, bullshit, bullshit." He told her, clearly angry with her.
"Oh, yeah, also, you don't love me." Steve said both casually and bitterly. "I was drunk, Steve." She pointed out. "I don't remember any of that." Nancy added. "So that makes everything you said... it's what? Just bullshit too?" He inquired. "Yes." Nancy said but she was unsure, especially after talking with Reagan. "Well, then tell me." He asked.
"Tell you what?" She questioned.
"You love me." He sounded like he was begging.
"Really?" She asked him. Nancy could understand doubt from Reagan because the girl didn't know every detail about their relationship. But this was Steve. Nancy might not feel exactly what she was supposed to feel about him but that didn't mean she didn't love him. She cared about him a lot.
"Harrington!" Before they could continue their conversation, they were interrupted by one of the players. "Dude, we need you, man. That douchebag's killing us. Let's go!" He urged Steve. "Alright!" Steve yelled back. "Come on!" The player yelled.
He looked back at Nancy, seeing the expression on her face. He noticed that she had probably realized she couldn't say the words 'I love you' to him anymore and have him believe her. It was probably because Nancy didn't believe herself anymore now that they talked.
Steve nodded his head, walking away from her. "I think that you're bullshit." It was a petty thing for him to say but he was mad at her. He had spent so much of his time with her and now for him, all of it just seemed wasted.
"This is my future, Jonathan!" Reagan protested as the boy took the textbook away from her. Jonathan eyed the textbook,"I didn't know your future was Calculus." The boy joked as he set it down out of her reach. She pouted,"I have test." She pointed out. He shook his head,"Don't try that with me. I know it's in three weeks." he surprised her.
Reagan narrowed her eyes at him,"Who told you?" She asked. "Your brother." Jonathan smirked as he unwrapped his sandwich. "That traitor." Reagan cursed playfully, earning a chuckle from her boyfriend. "Eat your lunch." Jonathan instructed, gesturing to her bag. Reagan rolled her eyes as she reached into her backpack and brought out her Thermos.
The pair were soon joined by Nancy. "Can I sit with you guys?" The girl wondered. Jonathan nodded,"Hop on." He told her, his mouth full. Nancy smiled weakly as she joined the two of them on the hood of Jonathan's car. "How did it go with Steve?" Reagan asked her, opening her Thermos to reveal the leftover chicken and rice she had packed that morning.
She shook her head and let out a sigh. Jonathan noticed the look on Nancy's face,"Hey..." He said, putting down his sandwich. "You need to cut yourself some slack, okay? People say stupid things when they're wasted. Things they don't mean." He reminded her. Nancy looked over at him with a frown. "Yeah, but that's the thing..." She said, turning to Reagan. The girls shared a look before Nancy continued. "What if I did mean it? All this time, I've been trying so hard to pretend like everything's fine but it's not."
Nancy looked off into the distance at their school and the people in it. "I... I feel like there's this... I don't know, like this..." "Like there's this weight you're carrying around with you all the time?" Reagan guessed. Nancy looked back at her and nodded. "I get it. I feel that way." She assured her. "I feel it too." Jonathan nodded.
"Yeah, but it's different for you guys. Will came home." Nancy reminded them. Jonathan looked at her and nodded, not denying it. "Yeah." He agreed. "Yeah, he did–" "But he's not the same." Reagan spoke up, finally saying something both her and Jonathan knew but never wanted to say out loud.
Jonathan looked down at his hands,"We both try to be there for him, you know, to help him, but... I don't know." He frowned. "I mean, maybe... maybe things can't go back to the way they were."
"Doesn't that make you mad?" Nancy questioned, looking at the both of them. "Mad?" Jonathan asked. "Yeah, that those... those people who did this, who ruined so many lives, they just get away with it." She huffed out. "The people responsible for this... they're dead." Reagan pointed out. "Do you really believe that?" Nancy asked her.
An idea clicked in Nancy's head the minute she looked off again back into the distance. "Your mom's boyfriend." She realized, looking at Jonathan. "He works at RadioShack, right?" She asked. Jonathan nodded, a little confused at what that had to do with anything they were talking about. "Yeah." Jonathan said. "Why?"
"What are you thinking?" Reagan asked, studying Nancy's expression.
"Do you guys want to skip fourth period?" Nancy suddenly asked them.
"Jonathan? Reagan?" While they were hoping to sneak past the woman, Karen noticed the couple immediately. Karen was so used to seeing only Reagan because of her friendship to Nancy, it was good to see her other half, especially considering his little brother was friends with her son, Michael.
"Uh..." "Mrs. Wheeler!" Reagan cut her boyfriend off, smiling at the woman so she wouldn't detect anything out of the ordinary. "What a pleasant surprise." Karen greeted, looking at the two of them. "Yeah..." Jonathan said, looking at Nancy. "Uh, we have a test tomorrow. Reagan took the class last year so she's... helping." He was mumbling through his words but at least it was a convincing lie.
Karen nodded, looking at her daughter. "Oh, did you go shopping?" She asked Nancy. "Oh, uh, yeah. My Walkman broke." Nancy explained, looking to Reagan and Jonathan. "Anyway, we should go. It's a really big test." Nancy said. "Yeah." Reagan agreed.
"Stressful." Jonathan said. "Very." Nancy added, hating how awkward this interaction with her mother was. "Bye, Mrs. Wheeler." Reagan said as Nancy was quick to push her towards the stairs. "Bye! It's good to see you!" Karen called after the teenagers as they headed upstairs.
Nancy rushed to open the door of her room. "Ugh." She cringed, shaking her head. She looked at Reagan,"What am I going to tell her about Steve?" Nancy worried and Reagan reached her hand over. She squeezed her shoulder,"Don't worry about that now." She told her. Jonathan took off his coat and the other two followed.
"Everybody clear about the plan?" He asked, looking at the girls. They both nodded their heads. Nancy moved towards her bed and took a seat. "Okay, are you sure about this?" Reagan asked her. "No." Nancy admitted. She moved the phone closer to her bed before dialing the number.
She waited for the woman to pick up. When she did, Nancy panicked a little. She looked at Reagan however and regained some of her composure. "Mrs. Holland. Hi, it's, um... it's Nancy." She said. "I, uh... I need to tell you something. Something about Barb. About that night. I, uh... I haven't been honest with you." She said and Jonathan nodded her head, assuring Nancy she sounded believable.
"But I can't tell you here on the phone. Meet me tomorrow, Forrest Hills Park, 9:00 a.m. Don't tell anyone. And don't call me back here. It's dangerous." She instructed. "I just need you to trust me. Please." Nancy was quick to hang up the phone after that.
"I lied and told my mom I was staying over at your place."
"I lied and told my mom I was staying over at your place!"
Jonathan blinked at them, not understanding how the two girls were so content over telling a similar lie. He presumed it must be a girl thing but that seemed like a kind of sexist thought, so he classified it as a Reagan and Nancy thing.
He looked over at Nancy as she moved open up the door to the backseat. "Do you need any help?" He asked, referring to her bag. She shook her head,"I'm good." She said, throwing her bag into the backseat before climbing in herself. "Did you see your mom?" Nancy asked Jonathan, closing the door.
The boy shook his head,"No, she was sleeping. But I left a note. I lied and told her I was staying over at Reagan's place as well." He said jokingly and Nancy rolled her eyes while Reagan chuckled a little. Nancy looked at the two of them and then frowned, realizing what she was asking of both of them. "You guys don't have to do this, you know." She told them.
"Stop saying that." Reagan said sincerely, looking back at her.
Steve turned on the shower, letting the water hit his face. He was already exhausted after yesterday's practice but now it felt like he was running on fumes. It didn't help that Billy was constantly showing him up. As much as he hated to admit it, Steve was a little worried about his position on the team. He would hate if it changed because of Billy.
He was suddenly made aware he wasn't alone in the shower. He blinked and wiped some of the water in his eyes, trying not to look at Tommy or Billy. But unfortunately, they wouldn't leave him alone. "Don't sweat it, Harrington." Billy said, practically reading Steve's thoughts. "Today's just not your day, man." He added.
"Yeah. Not your week." Tommy agreed mockingly. "You and the princess break up for one day and she's already running off with the freaks."
That didn't make any sense but now that he thought of it, he hadn't seen Nancy, Reagan, or Jonathan all day. He overheard his sister making plans to sleepover at Nancy's that night but had no idea she bailed on classes.
"Oh, shit. You don't know. I'm surprised considering one of the freaks is your twin sister." Tommy commented. "They skipped yesterday. Still haven't shown. But that just must be a coincidence, right?" Tommy laughed and Steve frowned at what the boy was suggested. He knew his sister and he had gotten to know her boyfriend as well. Not to mention, Steve knew Nancy.
Billy looked over at Steve as the other boy was shampooing his hair. "Don't take it too hard, man. A pretty boy like you has got nothing to worry about. Plenty of bitches in the sea." He smirked as he turned off Steve's shower when the boy was finished. "Am I right?" Billy asked, grabbing his towel before slapping Steve's back.
"I'll be sure to leave you some." Billy said as he left.
Steve kept his cool before turning his shower back on. He washed his hair, taking a long time on purpose. Steve tried to forget what Billy had said but he kept picturing what must have happened between him and Reagan. He blinked, water dripping down his face as he took a shower.
Many minutes had passed, enough time for Steve to presume everyone had left. "God, will he ever... SHUT UP?!" He finally let out a scream, letting all of his built up anger out.
He grabbed his towel, turning off the shower before walking out, wrapping the towel around his waist. "Oh, God!" Carol shrieked and turned around immediately. Steve blinked in surprise,"Carol, what the fuck are you doing in the boy's locker room?!" He yelled at her.
Carol quickly covered her eyes. "I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I was looking for Tommy." She explained in a rush. Steve frowned, looking around the locker room that had since cleared out. He was the only one on the team left. Steve adjusted the towel wrapped around his waist,"He must've left already." Steve shrugged.
She frowned,"But I made him promise to wait for me..." She trailed off, lowering her hands from her face. "Can I turn around or–" "Just, look away, for now. Please." Steve told her. "It's not like we're exactly on the best terms." He reminded.
"Did... did Reagan–" "She did." He nodded his head, looking at her. "Thank you for stopping him." Steve said gently. Carol smiled small,"I'm stronger than I look." She chuckled a little but her smile washed away quickly. "Me and Reagan... we're never going to be friends again, are we?" She wondered out loud.
Steve almost felt pity for her, despite the way she had always treated his sister. "Yeah. You're never going to be friends again." He told her the truth. Carol had tears in her eyes and was thankful she wasn't facing the boy. She didn't want him to tell Reagan about that.
"It only makes sense, I guess." Carol spoke, sounding like a bit of a snob, but she didn't mean it that way. "Will you at least tell her that I'm glad she's okay?" Carol asked him. Steve nodded his head,"I will." He agreed.
Carol nodded her head, letting out a shaky breath. She had let herself get rather emotional there for a second. "I'll leave so you can get changed. Uh... see you." Carol didn't know what to say so she just made her way out of the locker room. The redhead stopped before she left, however. "Steve?" She said. "Yeah?" He asked.
"She really was... a good friend. And I know I wasn't always to her but– if I did anything right... I did that right... right?" She asked. Steve knew the answer she wanted to hear but wasn't sure if he wanted to give it to her. "I know you don't like me... but–" "Right." He said, saying the thing she needed to hear. Carol nodded her head, smiling. "Thanks, Steve. I know we're not friends but... you're a good one." She let out a weak chuckle before walking away again.
Steve frowned, knowing that Carol was one person he disliked a lot. But he couldn't let her leave just like that. "Carol, wait!" He called, stopping the redhead before she left completely. "Yeah?" She called back. Steve let out a sigh, not believing he was actually going to say this to her. "Thank you! For what you did... I mean it. Thank you." He called back, ensuring the girl would be smiling when she left the locker room.