𝐄𝐍𝐈𝐆𝐌𝐀, 𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐯𝐞 𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐭𝐨𝐧 | 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐨𝐧𝐞

chapter fifteen; silent night

꒰꒰・┄┄・𓆩♡𓆪・┄┄・꒱꒱

A MONTH LATER. It had been a month since Will was saved, a month since Eleven had disappeared, and a month since Summer had almost died in Steve's arms. It had only been a month, but so much can change in a month, and for Summer... it did.

It was Christmas night, and as the first of the snow fell to the ground, Summer and Jonathan sat in his car. The radio was playing carols, but the two preferred the silence as they pulled up to the Wheeler household. They had been dreading this moment all night, knowing that picking up Will would also mean having to bump into Nancy, and possibly Steve.

Ever since the two of them had officially got back together, it was as if everything they had been through didn't happen. All of the unresolved feelings that had been brought to the surface, the kindled and rekindled friendships, even fighting off a monster from another dimension. It was all just obsolete. 

The worst part was that even after everything Steve had told Summer that night, whether she pretended not to remember it or not, he went against his word anyway. He told her that he loved her and promised that he wasn't going anywhere, but the second that Nancy needed him, Summer didn't exist anymore.

He had stopped showing up at her window, even when the nightmares started to get worse and she desperately needed him. She'd wake every night from the same dream of the Demogorgon eating away at the flesh of her loved ones before hunting her down. No one knew about the nightmares other than Steve, so when he stopped being there for her, she slowly started to give up on everything altogether.

Sure, Jonathan could tell that something was wrong, as could the boys, but they didn't know how to help. She had lost her spark, her charisma, everything that made her... Summer.

"Shit..." Summer mumbles under her breath when they see Steve's red BMW parked behind Mr Wheeler's car, and she can't help but feel a pang in the pit of her stomach. It had been a week since she had even heard from him, and already she felt so out of touch.

"We'll be quick," Jonathan nods, pursing his lips into a forceful smile for her. "In and out. I promise."

Letting out a deep breath, the two make their way up the footpath, their arms intertwined. Jonathan rings the doorbell, and although they really shouldn't have been, they were surprised to see Nancy open the door with Steve by her side.

Summer's eyes settle on him for a moment, taking in his Christmas sweater and well-kempt hair, and then down to his arm wrapped firmly around Nancy's waist to which she tears her gaze away almost immediately.

"Hey, we're here to get Will." Jonathan gestures inside.

"Oh, yes, of course!" Nancy lets them inside and then gives Steve a knowing look before running upstairs.

"Hey, Sum?" Steve speaks quiet enough for only her to hear him as Jonathan staggers down the hallway. "I just, uh, I just wanted to say..." He trails off as if he had forgotten what he was going to say, or purposely decided to stop himself. "...Merry Christmas!"