Complicated • Stranger Things

17 - The Gate Part 2

"Okay, okay, slow down. There's a corner coming up." I told Max. Steve's body was leaning against mine as I was leaning forward so I could direct Max.

"I know, I know." She said. I'm sure she could drive fine without my help, but it still made me anxious. Sure, I could just drive, but for some reason, I wanted to be back here with Steve.

"Nancy." I heard Steve mumble. I looked back to see him looking over at Mike. Steve then groaned and went to touch his nose.

"No, don't touch it," I said as I lightly grabbed his hand and pulled it away from his face. He looked up at me and then over at Dustin.

"Hey, buddy." Dustin greeted before shushing Steve. "It's okay, you put up a good fight. He kicked your ass, but you put up a good fight."

"Dustin!" I looked over at him with a glare. Way to rub salt in the wound. Steve then began groaning again and tried to move. "You're okay."

I saw Steve looking at Lucas in the front seat, who was giving Max directions, and then I saw his eyes trail over to Max in the driver seat. I could feel Steve start to panic as he realized what was happening.

"What's going on?" Steve asked and Max looked back at him. "Oh my god!"

"Max, eyes on the road," I told her before turning back to Steve. "Hey, relax. You're okay."

"Yeah, she's driven before," Dustin added.

"Yeah, in a parking lot," Mike spoke up and I glared at him. That part could have been left out.

"That counts," Lucas said.

"They were gonna leave you behind." Dustin started as Steve continued repeating 'oh my god' and started to become more panicked. "I promised that you'd be cool, okay?"

"Woah, woah, woah, woah. What's going on?" Steve shouted as Max stepped on the gas. "Oh my god. No! Woah, stop the car. Slow down."

"I told you he'd freak out," Mike stated.

"Everybody, shut up! I'm trying to focus!" Max yelled.

"Max, you need to slow down," I told her as I tried to keep calm, which wasn't easy considering everyone was yelling. "Steve, calm down. Everything's fine."

"What about this is fine?" He shouted. Just then Max made a sharp turn, hitting a mailbox in the process, and all of us screamed. "Why the hell aren't you driving?"

Finally, Max stopped the car. I sighed in relief as everyone got out. I tried to help Steve out, but he still ended up falling to the ground. I helped him stand up and lean against the open car door. Everyone else was getting the supplies from the trunk.

"Hey, where do you think you're going?" Steve asked as Mike made his way to the front of the car. "What are you deaf? Hello?"

"Steve–" I tried to calm him down, but he was too worked up. I just rested my head in my hands as I waited for him to stop shouting.

"We are not going down there right now. I made myself clear." Everyone still ignored him. "Hey, there's no chance we're going to that hole, alright? This ends right now!" He walked over to Dustin and grabbed whatever he was holding and slammed it back into the trunk.

"Steve!" Dustin yelled, getting his attention. "You're upset, I get it. But the bottom line is, a party member requires assistance, and it is our duty to provide that assistance. Now, I know you promised Nance that you would keep us safe. So keep us safe." Dustin grabbed Steve's baseball bat and backpack and handed it to him.

Steve reluctantly grabbed it and the two of us tied a handkerchief around our faces and put on goggles and gloves.

"Look, I let them come here and I let Max drive, so if you're gonna be mad at someone, be mad at me," I told Steve. As we made our way towards the hole.