ruby's body ━━ steve harrington

014. 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐟𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐞𝐫

"I can't wait for high school to be over," says Ruby, finally. "I'm... I'm kind-of sick, of wanting nothing but Snowflake Queen, when it means nothing."

"There's something about the culture, I think," says Nancy, agreeing with her. "Everyone worries about these—these bullshit ideas, when they aren't important. Like, there'll be another Snowflake Queen. Another basketball captain, another newspaper editor... No one remembers that stuff, but it feels so important in the moment. It's so weird."

Ruby wishes she hung out with Nancy more, this year.

"I was so jealous of you, you know," says Ruby.

"Why?" says Nancy, surprised. "Because of Steve?"

"Partly," she admits. "But you're so... normal. And I'm never going to be that. And I don't mean that in a back-handed way, I genuinely mean it. I remember you telling me and Jonathan, last year, about your parents and the stereotype of it all, but I wish that was me. I would kill to be normal... I wish I never got these powers."

Nancy frowns at Ruby, and argues, "But they're what make you, you. Last year, so much made sense when I found out about your powers. Like, your opinion of yourself—" Ruby scoffs. "—Not like that!" Nancy starts to smile, embarrassed. "I mean... You have such a high opinion of yourself, because you've got these powers and you know you're important — but then, you're desperate to be normal, so you're fixated on your appearance and how you present yourself to others. And... I don't know. Your recklessness is terrifying, but admirable. You're a superstar, Rubes."

Ruby smiles softly.

"I was jealous of you, too," says Nancy, as she wraps Ruby's arm with the bandage. "When me and Steve first started dating, just before Will went missing... He always talked about you. And I always thought that I'd never compare to you, because who would? You're Ruby Brenner, and when we became friends, I realised why Steve loved you so much. And I think that's why it wouldn't work out with me and him, because I'm not the person he likes, and... and I think that Jonathan was always a better fit for me, I just didn't want to admit it."

"And that's why...?"

"We slept together, yeah," says Nancy, and she starts to blush.

Ruby grins. "Was he... good...?"

"Oh my God, stop, someone's gonna hear," says Nancy, starting to laugh. "But it was nice."

That's, like, the worst way to put it. Nice? It was nice? What does nice mean? Like, amazing, or just... positively average? If Ruby was Jonathan, she'd be punching the wall right now. This is so embarrassing for him.

She wonders what Steve's like...

... Anyways.

"Thank you, for this," says Ruby, gesturing to her bandaged arms.

Ruby's top was dirty from the monster's blood, she was given one of Joyce's jumpers, a black knitted one that's pretty scratchy, but Ruby can't complain. She pulls it over her head, and checks herself in the mirror, making sure she's cleaned all of the blood off of her. Her jeans are still covered, but she'll have to make do for now. Apparently, her dad called her auntie a load whilst he was in the lab, trying to check in on Ruby and not realising that (a) her auntie was out of town, and (b) Ruby was out, which (c) her auntie didn't realise, because her auntie doesn't know about any of the lab stuff. So, (d) if Ruby were to head home for clean clothes, her auntie would most likely not let her leave, thinking Ruby tried to run away. So it's blood-stained jeans or nothing, and it's too cold for the latter.

Nancy shrugs. "Don't even worry about it," she says. "You know, you don't have to hang out with Carol and Tommy if you don't want to."

"I know," says Ruby, sighing.