ℕ𝕆𝕀𝕊𝔼

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• 𝙷𝚘𝚕𝚍 𝙾𝚗 𝙻𝚘𝚘𝚜𝚎𝚕𝚢 - 𝟹𝟾 𝚂𝚙𝚎𝚌𝚒𝚊𝚕 •

The six of them stood from the wooden picnic table and began to walk back to the cars. Nancy turned to hers while Bea went to her mothers and the other four followed Steve.

"Whoa, whoa, Nance. Nance!" Steve jogged to her, "Where are you going?" Michelle finally got out of the car and watched along with Bea.

She whispered to the girl, "Are they—?"

Bea shook her head. "Ex's. She has a boyfriend. My boyfriend's older brother."

"Oh, there's just something I wanna check on first," Nancy excused.

"Something you wanna share with the rest of us?" Dustin perked up.

"I don't wanna waste your time. It's a real shot in the dark."

"Yeah, okay. Are you out of your mind? Flying solo with the Vecna creep on the loose?"

The dirty-blondes eyebrows furrowed. "Vecna?"

Bea turned to her friend. "Don't worry, I'll tell you in the car. I'll tell you everything to be up to date."

Steve wouldn't let her go, "No, it's too dangerous. You need... You need someone to..." He tossed his keys to Robin. "I'll stick with Nance. You guys take the car, check out the shrink."

"I don't think you want me driving your car. I don't have a license," Robin explained.

"I can drive," Max came up with the suggestion.

He pointed at her sternly, "No, never again. Please. Anybody but you. No."

Dustin pushed his lips out and shrugged, asking if he could drive. "No chance," Steve shut that down quickly.

He turned to Bea as she stood in front of her moms car. "I would say yes, but you're already driving." The girl smiled smugly, raising her brow at the rest of them. Even after months of not talking, Steve was still like a big brother to her.

Robin walked forward, taking Dustin's walkie-talkie and handing Steve his keys back. "Us ladies will stick together. Unless you think we need you to protect us." She chuckled before turning in the direction of Nancy's car.

"Be careful," he instructed like a worried parent.

Bea smiled from behind him, "Don't worry, mom — I mean, Steve — they'll be fine!" The kids laughed while he rolled his eyes at the old nickname. He was always the one in charge.

"You just gonna stand there and gawk, Harrington?"

"Shut up," he mumbled to Dustin before stomping to the drivers side of his car. Max went in the back as Dustin took the passenger seat.

As Steve turned on the ignition, he complained, "Always the babysitter. Always the goddamn babysitter!"

Bea and Mick found their way in their seats as they awaited to follow the groups notorious babysitter. The girls sighed before Bea turned the car on. "Okay, now it's time to tell you everything. Can I trust you?"