𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗲, steve harrington

25. DAZED AND CONFUSED

Instead, she would try and get home early and find out then, before Dustin got back and managed to lock her out again. Sadie picked up her bag, and stepped away from the door with one last glance directed towards it, and made her way into the kitchen.

"You're rushing off too, Sadie?" Claudia asked when her eldest emerged, watching as Sadie nodded, before faltering and sitting down on the couch across from her mother's favourite chair, where Mews was perched on her lap. "Dusty went to see his new friend... but you look worried, darling, is everything okay?"

"I stayed at Steve's on Halloween night," Sadie admitted. This piqued Claudia's interest; Sadie had informed her that she had stayed at a friend's as opposed to coming home drunk, but she wasn't aware that it was a boy.

"He's the one dating Nancy, right? A lovely boy, I know his mother." Claudia hummed, decided not to pass judgement on what her daughter was trying to tell her until she was finished.

"Yeah, she mentioned that." Sadie pulled at a loose thread before her fingers found the chain of her compass necklace and twisted below it. "Can I ask for some advice?"

"I can't say that happens often, or that I'll be able to help... but of course." Mrs Henderson was more than used to finding that her daughter knew far more she did and anything she offered would be unable to help her. But when the opportunity arose that Sadie actually didn't know something, Claudia would always be ready to help.

The young girl nodded slowly. "Steve and Nancy broke up." She began. At the party. I was talking to Billy when he came over... and we were both drunk... and we kissed. He took me to his and made sure I didn't die or something, but we've talked about it yesterday and we're supposed to be forgetting about it but-"

"You can't." Claudia finished. She inhaled sharply. "I see. Why did Nancy and Steve break up?"

"Nancy got drunk. Announced that their relationship was bullshit, that Steve was bullshit... that she didn't love him." Sadie's gaze was on her knees, completely avoiding the eyes of her mother, so, so afraid of judgement. "I talked to her as well... she doesn't know whether she loves him or not - she thought she did but... I don't know. And I feel awful."

"Do you love Steve?"

"What? No, I don't love him." Sadie frowned. "I don't even think I like him like that. He's my friend, and I'm helping him with his essay later. We agreed to forget about it."

"If you don't think you like him then I believe you." Claudia smiled. "No offence, darling, but you don't have as much experience in these sort of things and they're bound to be confusing. The most I can say to you is to listen to yourself. Be honest, and don't worry." Sadie's gaze flickered up. Claudia's hand left Mews' fur and reached upwards. "Come here."

The Henderson got to her feet and moved to join her mom, dipping down into her grasp and feeling an arm secure around her shoulders, the smell of flowery citrus and hairspray surrounding her. "Thanks." She mumbled, a hand reaching down to scratch Mews behind the ears. "You can't tell anyone though."

"Now that takes me back," Claudia said, more to herself than her daughter. There was no hiding the reminiscence that appeared in her eyes. "I won't, sweetie. If you want to talk to me more about it then I'll be here." She promised.

Sadie could only thank her, excusing herself with the goal of needing to refill her tank before school and leaving the house. The reality was, Sadie liked to pretend the knowledge that filled her mind would help her in the real world. But the reality was, facts and a photographic memory that ensured the entirety of her education was recorded could only get her so far - there were experiences and feelings that textbooks and learning couldn't get her. And although she hated to admit it, the complexities of relationships and feelings weren't things that she understood.