The gym buzzed with energy, the air thick with anticipation as the basketball team warmed up on the court. Dove stood next to Chrissy on the sidelines, her pom-poms at the ready, cheering along with the rest of the squad. She tried to focus on the game, to lose herself in the excitement like she usually did, but tonight felt different. Her mind was still tangled with thoughts of Chrissy's breakdown in the bathroom and the strange feeling that had settled in her stomach.
Kim leaned over, nudging Dove with a mischievous grin. "Don't look now, but Steve just walked in with Brenda Winters."
Dove's heart skipped a beat, though she kept her face neutral. She resisted the urge to look toward the entrance. Before she could respond, Sarah, sitting nearby, overheard and couldn't help but tease.
"That's one point for Team Danny," Sarah said, smirking.
Dove rolled her eyes, feeling a flush rise to her cheeks. "There are no points," she muttered, forcing a smile. "Because we're just friends."
The other girls exchanged amused glances, but Dove didn't give them the satisfaction of looking bothered. She focused on the court instead, where Jason was leading the team through their warm-ups, the game about to begin.
The cheerleaders settled down on the sidelines as the game started. Jason wasted no time—he immediately scored the first points for Hawkins, sending the crowd into a frenzy. The gym roared with applause, and the cheer squad jumped to their feet, poms shaking as they cheered for their team.
"Let's go Tigers!" Chrissy shouted beside Dove, her voice strained but steady.
Dove joined in the cheers, her pom-poms raised high, but her enthusiasm felt forced. Tonight, the energy didn't reach her the way it usually did. Her mind was elsewhere, the weight of everything she'd been carrying dulling the excitement of the game.
The match was intense, both teams neck and neck as the minutes ticked by. Each shot and pass brought the crowd to the edge of their seats, the stakes rising with every second. Dove kept up the routine—cheering, smiling, encouraging—but her movements felt mechanical. The grin on her face wasn't entirely real.
Then it happened. One of the opposing players collided hard with Andy, sending him crashing to the floor. The gym erupted into a collective gasp as Andy clutched his leg, his face twisted in pain. The cheer squad froze, the rhythm of their chants dying as concern rippled through the crowd.
Dove was on her feet before she realized it, her chest tightening with worry as medics rushed onto the court. The air was thick with tension as everyone waited for the coach's next move.
"Sinclair!" the coach barked, his voice cutting through the low murmurs of the gym.
Dove's breath caught as Lucas stood from the bench, his expression set with determination. She couldn't help the surge of pride that welled up in her chest. This was his moment—the one he'd been waiting for all season. All eyes were on him now.
"Yes!" Dove exclaimed, her hands clapping together in excitement as Lucas jogged onto the court. The rest of the cheerleaders exchanged impressed glances, but none seemed as thrilled as Dove.
The game resumed, and Lucas moved across the court with surprising ease, passing the ball between him and Jason with skill that sent another surge of pride through Dove. He wasn't just holding his own—he was playing like a pro.
With only twenty seconds left on the clock, the tension in the gym hit a fever pitch. Hawkins was down by one point, and every eye was glued to the court as Jason made a desperate attempt to shoot. The ball flew through the air, but missed the basket, bouncing off the rim.
In the chaos that followed, Lucas sprang into action, grabbing the ball in the confusion. The gym seemed to hold its breath as he dribbled quickly, moving around defenders with precision. His eyes locked onto the basket, his focus unwavering.
"Come on, Lucas," Dove whispered under her breath, her hands clenched around her pom-poms.
With just a few seconds left, Lucas took the shot. The ball sailed through the air, spinning in slow motion as it neared the basket. For a brief moment, time seemed to stop, the entire gym holding its collective breath. And then, with a soft swish, the ball went in.
The gym erupted into pure chaos. Cheers exploded from every corner of the room, students jumping up and down, parents clapping, and the cheerleaders shrieking with excitement. The sound was deafening as people rushed the court, surrounding the team. Lucas stood there, wide-eyed and in disbelief, as his teammates slapped him on the back, congratulating him.
Before he could process what was happening, the team hoisted him into the air. Lucas smiled, his expression a mix of pure joy and shock as the gym filled with chants of his name. Dove found herself caught in the excitement, clapping and cheering along with the others, her pom-poms shaking wildly as she celebrated his victory.
"Lucas! Lucas! Lucas!" the crowd roared, their voices echoing through the gym.
Dove's heart swelled with pride for Lucas, watching him bask in the glory of his moment. He had earned this—every second of it. She joined in the celebration, her earlier worries momentarily forgotten in the flood of happiness that swept through the room.
As the celebration died down and the crowd slowly trickled out of the gym, Dove's excitement began to fade, replaced by a familiar unease. She glanced around, searching for Chrissy in the sea of faces, but she was nowhere to be found.
Dove frowned, scanning the room again, her eyes darting from one group to the next. Chrissy had been with her just moments ago, cheering on Lucas. Where had she gone? The nagging feeling in Dove's chest returned, stronger this time.
She hurried outside into the parking lot, the cool night air hitting her face as she weaved through the clusters of students and parents heading to their cars. She spotted Jason standing near his car, chatting with a few teammates.
"Jason!" she called, jogging over.
He turned to face her, still grinning from the win. "Hey, Dove! Crazy game, huh?"
"Yeah, it was amazing." Dove nodded quickly, cutting straight to the point. "Have you seen Chrissy? I can't find her anywhere."
Jason's grin faltered slightly, his brows knitting together. "Yeah, she went home already. Said she wasn't feeling well." He shrugged, glancing around the parking lot. "Is everything okay?"
Dove forced a smile, trying to mask her concern. "Yeah, everything's fine. We were supposed to have a sleepover tonight, but I guess she forgot."
Jason seemed to accept this explanation, nodding. "Yeah, she's probably just tired. It's been a long week for her."
Dove thanked him, but the knot of worry in her chest tightened. Chrissy wouldn't have just forgotten about their plans, not after what happened in the bathroom.Something felt wrong, even if she couldn't quite put her finger on it. She offered Jason a quick goodbye and continued searching the parking lot, hoping to spot Chrissy somewhere in the crowd.
But as Dove made her way around, her eyes darting from car to car, there was no sign of Chrissy. She asked every Hawkins student she could find if they had seen her, but she had no such luck. The uneasy feeling settled deeper in her gut, and despite her best efforts, she couldn't shake the worry gnawing at her.
Something was wrong—she just didn't know what.
Dove's eyes scanned the parking lot one last time, the uneasy feeling in her chest only growing stronger. As she turned to head back to the gym, she spotted a familiar figure across the lot—Steve. He was leaning casually against the open driver's door of Brenda's car, his stance tight with something Dove couldn't quite place.
Curiosity flickered through her as she watched from a distance. As she started to approach them, Steve shut the car door, and Brenda drove off. He let out a deep breath, his shoulders slumping slightly as if relieved. But as he turned around, his eyes caught sight of Dove rushing toward him, and his expression quickly shifted—from relief to confusion.
"Dove?" Steve called out, his brows furrowed in concern. "What's going on?"
Dove reached him, her breath coming in short, quick bursts as the anxiety bubbled up inside her. "I need a ride," she blurted, her voice edged with urgency.
Steve didn't hesitate. His confusion melted away, replaced with a look of determination. "Of course," he said immediately, already moving to unlock his car. "Where do you need to go?"
Dove didn't know what to say. She just knew she had to find Chrissy. Something was terribly wrong, and she couldn't shake the feeling gnawing at her insides.
"Just start driving," Dove said, her voice quiet but firm as she slid into the passenger seat. "I'll explain on the way."
Dove's stomach churned with dread as she directed Steve to Chrissy's house. Her mind raced, the pieces of the puzzle refusing to fit together, but her gut told her something was wrong.
Steve pulled up to Chrissy's house, the headlights casting long shadows across the yard. The house was quiet, the lights dimmed except for a faint glow from a window upstairs. Dove's heart pounded as she turned to Steve, her hand already on the door handle.
"Wait here," she said quickly, not waiting for his response before slipping out of the car.
Steve watched her, concern clear on his face, but he didn't argue. Dove made her way up the driveway, her shoes crunching softly against the gravel as she approached the front door. Her hand hovered for a moment before she knocked.
A few tense seconds passed before the door creaked open, revealing Chrissy's mom standing in the dim hallway. She blinked in surprise at seeing Dove there.
"Dove?" Mrs. Cunningham asked, her brow furrowing in confusion. "Is everything okay? I thought Chrissy was staying with you tonight."
Dove's stomach dropped. The words hit her like a punch, and for a moment, she couldn't find her voice. "Uh, yeah, she is," she stammered, forcing a smile as panic fluttered in her chest. "She, uh, just came home to grab some things. I thought she'd be back at my place by now."
Mrs. Cunningham raised an eyebrow, her confusion deepening. "She hasn't been home," she said slowly. "She left for the game with Jason, and I haven't seen her since."
Dove swallowed hard, the lie barely holding together. "Right, of course. She must've just headed back already. Sorry to bother you."
Mrs. Cunningham gave her a polite nod, still looking puzzled, but didn't press further. "Okay, dear. Have a good night."
Dove thanked her and quickly turned back down the driveway, her pulse racing as she made her way to Steve's car. Her mind was a blur, every possibility rushing through her head, none of them good. Dove suddenly remembered something Chrissy had said earlier, something that now felt like it had been sitting there the whole time, just waiting for her to connect the dots.
She slid into the passenger seat, her hands shaking slightly as she gripped the door handle. "Take me home," she said abruptly, her voice sharp.
Steve looked at her, his eyes wide with confusion. "What's going on, Dove?"
Dove's jaw clenched, her hands trembling as frustration bubbled up inside her. "I need to call Eddie," she said, her voice rising. "Just take me home, Steve. Now!"
He stared at her for a second, taken aback by her sudden aggression. "Okay, okay," he said, holding up his hands in surrender. "I'll take you home."
The ride was tense and silent, Steve glancing at Dove every few moments as if he wanted to ask a hundred questions but knew now wasn't the time. Dove, on the other hand, sat stiffly in the passenger seat, her mind racing as she replayed Chrissy's words over and over again in her head. Nightmares. Drugs. Eddie.
As soon as they pulled into the driveway, Dove didn't even wait for the car to come to a complete stop. She bolted out of the passenger seat and ran toward the front door, her heart pounding with every step.
Steve watched her, his brow furrowed in confusion as she disappeared inside. He sat there for a moment, staring after her, wondering what the hell was going on and why Eddie was suddenly involved. But before he could figure it out, he sighed, put the car into reverse, and backed out of the driveway.
Inside, Dove bolted straight to the phone in the kitchen, barely registering her mom's concerned voice asking, "What's wrong, honey?" Her focus was razor-sharp, and she ignored the question, fumbling to dial Eddie's number. Her fingers shook as she punched in the digits, her breath catching as she pressed the receiver to her ear, listening to the dial tone.
The phone rang once.. twice.. three times. Each ring ratcheted her anxiety higher, until finally, she heard the click of the receiver.
"Hello?" Eddie's voice came through.
"Hey Eddie, it's Dove." She said quickly.
"Dove?" Eddie's voice was filled with confusion. "Why are you calling me?"
Dove didn't waste a second. "Eddie, do you know where Chrissy is?"
There was a moment of silence on the other end, followed by a low chuckle. "Uh, yeah, she's standing right next to me."
Dove's whole body sagged with relief, the tension flooding out of her in an instant. She hadn't even realized how tightly wound she'd been until that moment. But then her relief morphed into a mix of frustration and concern.
"Put her on the phone," Dove demanded, her voice firm.
There was some rustling, and then a soft, familiar voice came through the line. "Dove, I'm so sorry," Chrissy said, her voice full of apology.
Dove exhaled, all the frustration she had felt earlier dissolving into pure worry. "Chrissy.. what's going on? Why didn't you tell me you were leaving with Eddie?"
"I just.." Chrissy's voice wavered slightly, guilt threading through it. "I didn't want to drag you into it. I thought I could handle it on my own. I didn't mean to scare you."
Dove shook her head, her heart heavy with concern. "Chrissy, you don't have to handle this by yourself. I was worried sick. You should've told me where you were."
"I know. I'm sorry," Chrissy whispered. "I'll come over as soon as I leave Eddie's, okay? We'll talk then."
"Okay," Dove said softly, her worry still gnawing at her, but there was a sense of calm returning now that she knew Chrissy was safe. "Just.. come over soon. Please."
"I will, I promise."
Dove hung up the phone, her hands still trembling slightly. She sat down on the couch, her mind racing with a million thoughts.
Dove's mom appeared in the doorway, concern etched on her face. "Everything okay?" she asked, her tone gentle but probing.
"Yeah," Dove replied quickly, trying to steady her voice. She ran a hand through her hair and forced a small smile. "Chrissy's gonna stay here tonight. She'll be here soon."
Her mom studied her for a moment longer, as if deciding whether to push the matter. Finally, she nodded. "Alright, honey. I'll head to bed then." She bent down to scoop up Tews, who had been lounging on the rug. The cat meowed in protest but nestled into her arms as she turned back to Dove. "Try to get some rest, okay?"
"I will," Dove said, though she wasn't sure if she meant it. She watched as her mom disappeared down the hallway, Tews' tail flicking lazily over her arm.
The house grew quieter, leaving Dove alone with her thoughts once more. Every small sound made her glance toward the door, hoping Chrissy would show up soon, desperate for answers but more than anything just relieved that her friend was okay.