A month had passed since the night they burned the tunnels, since they had come face to face with the creatures from the Upside Down. Life, for the most part, had returned to a strange kind of normalcy. The government had swooped in quickly after it was all over, swearing them all to secrecy. Men in dark suits visited their homes, warning them that no one could ever know what really happened. After a tape was realesed confirming the lab's role in the death of Barbara Holland, it was shut down for good.
Barbara's parents were heartbroken, but they finally had answers. The truth, or a version of it, was out there. And for everyone involved, that would have to be enough.
For Dove, things were quieter. Almost too quiet after everything they had been through. Steve had become a constant presence in her life, and it felt like they were finally finding their rhythm. Dustin was over the moon about Steve, and their mom even got a new cat—Tews. Dustin was already training Tews to stay away from any strange creatures that might crawl out of their trashcan.
Dove's bedroom had become their usual hangout. Steve would come over after school or on weekends, leaning against the headboard of her bed, flipping through comic books or talking about everything and nothing. She loved those moments, the peace and normalcy they brought after the chaos of what they had been through together.
One evening, as she lay on her stomach next to him, flipping through a magazine, she watched him out of the corner of her eye. His arm was draped casually around her, his fingers absentmindedly playing with her hair. She smiled softly to herself, feeling a warmth in her chest she hadn't felt in a long time.
School had become more bearable, too. Billy, to everyone's surprise, had apologized. He'd pulled Dove aside one day after gym class, his face stiff with tension as he admitted that he'd lied about her. He'd told everyone he made it up. Dove had been suspicious at first, waiting for the catch, but there hadn't been one. Billy was cold and distant as ever, but at least that weight had been lifted from her shoulders.
At school, Eddie had cornered Dove by her locker, still curious about Dart. His fascination with the strange creature hadn't faded, but Dove brushed it off, telling him it turned out to be just a weird kind of frog. He didn't seem to buy it, but thankfully, he didn't press too hard. They had an unspoken agreement now—he wouldn't pry, and she wouldn't lie too much. It worked for both of them.
Now, it was winter break, and the excitement for the Snow Ball had reached a fever pitch. Dustin had been agonizing over what to wear for weeks, stressing about every little detail, and Dove found it endearing.
One Saturday afternoon, Steve and Dove were at the Henderson house, helping Dustin get ready for the big dance. Steve sat on the edge of Dustin's bed, arms crossed as he watched the younger boy pace nervously around his room.
"Dustin, you look fine," Steve said, rolling his eyes as Dustin inspected his reflection in the mirror for the hundredth time.
"Fine?" Dustin turned, incredulous. "I can't just look fine, Steve. I need to look.. cool."
Dove chuckled from where she was sitting, folding Dustin's extra dress shirt.
"You'll be the coolest guy there, trust me." Steve said.
Dustin frowned, adjusting his bowtie for the tenth time. "Easy for you to say. You've already got a girlfriend."
Steve looked over at Dove and smiled before standing up and crossing the room. "Just relax. Be yourself. And if that doesn't work, there's always my hair routine."
Dustin grinned at that, the tension easing from his face for a moment as he smoothed down his hair.
"Now stop freaking out and go have fun. You've got this."
Dove smiled as she watched them, feeling an odd mix of pride and affection. These boys, this life—after everything they'd been through—it was nice to have moments like these, moments of calm.
The hum of the car engine filled the quiet night as the trio drove toward Hawkins Middle School. The streets were mostly empty, the winter air crisp and biting, fogging up the windows as their breath mixed with the warmth from the car's heater. Steve kept his eyes on the road, his fingers tapping rhythmically on the steering wheel. Dove sat in the passenger seat, glancing back at Dustin in the rearview mirror every few minutes.
Dustin was fidgeting in the back seat, his fingers drumming nervously on his knees. He kept tugging at the collar of his dress shirt, his nerves practically radiating off him in waves. The Snow Ball was supposed to be exciting, a night to remember.
"You all right back there?" Steve asked, his voice breaking through the silence.
"Yeah," Dustin muttered, but it was clear he wasn't. His eyes darted out the window, and Dove could see the anxiety etched in the lines of his face. "Just.. thinking about how stupid this is."
Dove turned around in her seat, giving him a gentle smile. "It's not stupid, Dustin. You're going to have fun. Max is going to be there. All your friends. You'll see—it'll be great."
"What if I screw it up?" Dustin blurted, his voice a little higher than usual. He glanced up at Dove, his eyes wide with worry. "What if I trip, or I say something dumb, or.. what if Max thinks I look ridiculous?"
Steve let out a soft chuckle from the driver's seat. "Dude, you look fine. Better than fine. You look cool, all right? Just be yourself, and everything will be great."
Dove nodded, her voice soft and reassuring. "Exactly. You're the same Dustin who's fought monsters and saved the world. A middle school dance is nothing compared to that."
Dustin hesitated, chewing on the inside of his cheek. "But this is different," he mumbled, his shoulders sagging. "It's.. it's Max."
"Hey," Steve said, glancing at Dustin in the rearview mirror. "You're gonna be just fine. And you know what? Even if you do trip or say something dumb, no ones gonna care. Trust me."
Dove nodded in agreement. "Plus, Steve and I will be right here when you're done. We've got your back."
Dustin met Dove's eyes in the mirror, his lips twitching into a small, unsure smile. "Yeah. Okay. Thanks."
As they pulled up to the middle school, the building was bathed in soft light, the front steps lined with balloons and streamers in white and blue. Snowflakes drifted gently through the air, adding to the wintery ambiance. They could see students milling around the entrance, dressed in their best, chatting and laughing as they entered the gym.
Dustin swallowed hard, looking out the window at the crowd.
"You ready?" Steve asked, pulling the car into park.
Dustin hesitated, his gaze fixed on the students. For a moment, he looked like he might say no, like he might turn around and ask to go home. But then he straightened his shoulders and nodded.
"Yeah. I'm ready," he said, though his voice still wavered slightly.
Dove smiled at him, turning in her seat to look him in the eyes. "You've got this, Dustin. You're gonna have the best night."
Dustin took a deep breath, then opened the door and stepped out into the cold. Steve and Dove watched him for a moment, exchanging a glance.
"He's gonna be fine," Dove said softly.
Steve nodded, a small smile tugging at the corner of his lips. "Yeah. He's gonna be great."
As the school faded from view in the rearview mirror, the silence between Steve and Dove felt warm, comfortable. Steve kept his hands on the wheel, glancing over at her with a small smile playing on his lips. Dove caught his gaze out of the corner of her eye, raising an eyebrow.
"What?" she asked, a playful edge to her voice.
Steve hesitated for a moment, then his grin turned a bit mischievous. "I've got a surprise for you."
Dove's curiosity piqued, and she tilted her head. "What kind of surprise?"
"You'll see," he replied, his eyes fixed on the road ahead. "Trust me."
The car continued down the road, the small town of Hawkins slipping into the distance as Steve took a few unexpected turns. Dove watched the snowflakes falling gently outside, coating the streets and parking lots with a thin layer of white. The world felt still, almost magical in the way the snow transformed everything it touched.
After a few more minutes of driving, Steve pulled into an empty parking lot—completely deserted, the snow undisturbed except for the fresh tire tracks of his car. Dove felt her heart skip a beat for a moment, but she wasn't nervous. Not with him.
Steve shifted the car into park, turning off the engine. He glanced over at Dove, a soft smile on his face as hepulled something out of his jacket pocket.
Dove watched curiously as he pulled out a cassette tape, turning it over in his hands before popping it into the car's stereo. He turned up the volume, and a familiar melody filled the car, soft and sweet.
'Suddenly' by Billy Ocean played through the speakers, filling the empty lot with the tender strains of the song. Dove felt a warmth spread through her chest as Steve turned to her, his hand outstretched.
"Wanna dance?" he asked, his voice gentle.
Dove felt her heart flutter as she looked at him. There was something so simple, so genuine in the way he asked, and she found herself smiling. "Yeah," she said softly. "Yeah, I do."
They both exited the car, the cold air biting at their skin as the snowflakes continued to fall. Steve walked around to her side, taking her hand in his as they moved to the middle of the parking lot. The snow crunched under their feet as they stood together, the empty lot stretching out around them like their own private dance floor.
With a quiet smile, Steve pulled Dove close, one hand on her waist and the other holding her hand as they began to sway to the music. Dove rested her head against his chest, the soft rhythm of the song carrying them both. The world seemed to fade away, leaving just the two of them in this quiet moment, snowflakes catching in their hair, the air cold but the warmth between them undeniable.
As they danced, Steve gently hummed along to the music, his voice soft and low. Dove closed her eyes, letting herself get lost in the feeling of being with him, of the way his arms felt around her. The world outside didn't matter, not right now. All that mattered was this—their slow dance in the snow, under a sky that seemed to belong only to them.