Don't Blame Me ➵ Steve Harrington

sixty three

Steve instinctively ran a hand over his bandage, it was wet and seeping blood. "I'll be fine. Someone has to go pick up guns and tactical gear while you enjoy your relaxing bubble bath."

She rolled her eyes. "Quick, hot shower, don't exaggerate."

He smiled and on the tip of his tongue was something dirty and suggestive, but he didn't say it. The suggestive banter came naturally to him but with their current circumstances considered, he thought maybe it was inappropriate.

Dylan hesitated too as if she expected him to say something else. When he didn't, she rejoined her California Crew and stepped out the door.

"Where are they going?" Asked Eddie.

"Dylan's," said Dustin. "Wash up, eat, grab new clothes. They'll join us back here."

"What was wrong with our shower in the RV?"

Everyone gave Eddie a weird look.

"Dude, they've been locked up in a van for days." Dustin shook his head. "I think they needed a moment of fresh air."

Steve was at the wheel and Nancy at his passenger side, the others stayed in the back where they had been all along. Nancy guided him the direction of War Zone; Steve couldn't say he was familiar with the place but it didn't surprise him anymore that Nancy was.

"You're sure?"

"Hmm?" Steve responded, averting his eyes for a moment to Nancy instead of the road. He could see that she was scared, even if she was trying to hide it in her usual stone-faced Nancy way.

"You know, you want to get zapped, hoping it'll shift you back into reality, and not electrocute you to death."

"Everything we do might be to death," he countered, gesturing to the open road that was leading them to an army supply store. "Doesn't something feel wrong?"

Nancy nodded, slowly, staring off into the distance now. "I've seen things, too," she said. "Jonathan and I, at Murray's, I remember coming out of my room and he was already there then... I'm sorry, you don't wanna hear this—"

Steve shrugged. He felt a slight pang to his chest at what he assumed was to come next, but it wasn't something he couldn't handle.

"Well, I remember being so scared, and it felt fated—for him to be there waiting," she contained with Steve's approval. "We kissed, and one thing led to another, and I'm not sure I've ever felt more in love. Not even now, when I can hardly remember it."

"I also found a mixtape he made me in my room but when I went back to play it, it wasn't there."

"You didn't tell us that, when we were there."

Nancy shrugged this time. "I don't know. I thought I was hallucinating, then you found that ring... and then, I wanted to ignore a bigger problem."

"I feel all mixed up," said Steve, letting out an exasperated noise. "When we first started hanging out again, I thought I was falling in love with you again, stupid, I know. Then I saw Dylan and didn't know what to think, I fell out that portal and I saw her standing there and it was almost like she was glowing, I couldn't look away."

"Not stupid," she shook her head. "I felt something, too. But there was something else, something pushing it down."

It was relieving that he wasn't crazy, that something had shifted back between them. But whatever it was, seemed to be gone again.

"I've always wanted to settle down somewhere out West with an RV like this and a gangle of kids, maybe five or six," Steve told her, though he didn't know why or if she'd care. "Pack them all in here, with my wife, travel the country. One big, happy family."