SOLAR ECLIPSE - stranger things

-014-

Luna was now alone in the scariest place she had ever been. 

A high school party.

She wasn't in danger but she was trapped in such an awkward situation. 

She sat on the couch surrounded by couples, most of them making out with no consideration for her personal space, and stoners. She seemed to be the only person without a red solo cup in hand. 

To make matters worse Billy continually tried to force eye contact from the other side of the room. Slowly he moved from the side of the room to right next to Luna. 

"Did your little boyfriend leave you?" Billy asked smirking down at her. 

She considered just ignoring him, but she knew that James would be so disappointed with her if she did. "Jonathan isn't my boyfriend" she stated not even looking at her. 

"Ok look we've gotten off on the wrong foot, why don't we go to a private spot to talk more" Billy tried to insist. 

"No thank you, Jonathan said I shouldn't be alone with you" 

"I thought you said he wasn't your boyfriend" 

"He isn't he just doesn't want me to be around you" Luna insisted, still trying to avoid eye contact.

"That's cause he sees me as a threat" Suddenly Billy put his finger under her chin and turned her face towards him "which he should". 

Out of the corner of her eyes, Luna could see Jonathan walking down the stairs. She got excited for a second, thinking he might be able to come and save her. 

Instead, as soon as Jonathan saw Billy near Luna he let the jealousy get the better of him and stormed out with Nancy.

"Sorry I have to leave," Luna said moving away from Billy

"Wait, hey come back" Billy tried to keep his cool composure but he really didn't want her to leave. His inner request was not met as Luna ran out of the house, to see Jonathan's car drive off. 

Luna was confused, Jonathan was supposed to be here ride home. She didn't know why he left so soon and why it was without her. 

As Luna tried to work out how she was gonna get home she heard a sound from her left. She turned to see Steve Harrington somewhat hidden in the bushes.

It was quite obvious he was trying to hide his tears, but Luna assumed everyone was too drunk to pay attention to the boy. 

A year ago Luna would have kept walking, but she knew that the two of them had a somewhat friendship. 

Taking a deep breath Luna prepared to do something she never thought she would, approach a crying Steve Harrington

---

"Hey, you alright?" Luna tried her best to put emotion into the way she spoke. 

It wasn't because she didn't care, but she worried that Steve would be offended if she used the same flat tone she would usually use. 

Steve quickly wiped his face trying to hide any tear stains from Luna. "Yeah, yeah I'm fine" he responded enthusiastically. 

Luna felt uncomfortable in this situation, but she wanted to prove to herself that she could help out someone else in need. 

"Let me help you" 

"No" Steve pushed her away slightly 

"I really don't want to have you pity me" "Yeah I don't really want to have that conversation either" Luna stated rather bluntly "But I do know you drunk...... and crying, which isn't great conditions for driving. I can drive you back home". 

Steve never thought once in his life that he would get a ride offer from Luna Fuller, more a less accepted one. But at that moment, she was the only one there for him. So he just slightly nodded and led her to his car.

---

There was silence in the car. 

Neither Steve nor Luna had spoken a word to each other. Usually, Luna was ok with silence, but there was an obvious tension in the air. 

Finally, Steve spoke up. "Nancy told me she didn't love me anymore" 

The bluntness and out-of-context comment seemed like something luna would say. It seemed to just add to the tension in the car. 

"Oh um........ that's not good". 

"Yeah it isn't" Steve responded angrily. There was another moment of silence. "I wish I could just go back and never go to this stupid party?" 

Now Luna was confused. "Why would you want that" 

"Did you not understand that I found out she didn't love me at this party" 

"Yeah I understand that, but if that's truly how she felt, aren't you happy to know sooner rather than later"

"Yeah, I couldn't wait to find out my girlfriend didn't love me." 

"No, I just mean, why would you want to be in a relationship if it wasn't true" 

Steve didn't respond, just thought for a bit. "I'm starting to wonder if she ever loved me," Luna thought 

"You know my brother once told me that it's natural for love to end, but it doesn't make the time it was around any less real. No matter how messy the end, there is no denying it was once there" The two were quiet for a second "He did tell me that right after breaking up with his girlfriend on her birthday though, so it may just be an excuse" 

There was another moment of silence, this was interrupted by steve's slight chuckle "I'm sorry what?" 

"Yeah. He didn't remember it was her birthday, so she was expecting a surprise. I don't think it was what she got" Steve seemed to sit up straighter, more engrossed in the conversation. 

"Holy shit, was she pissed?" 

"She ended up breaking our mailbox a week later" Steve just laughed. Luna knew it was only temporary joy but she was glad she brought it to him. 

"You sure you're ok walking to your house?' Steve asked once they got to his house. 

"Yeah it's fine, it's better than walking from the party" As luna turned to leave she felt steve's hand on her shoulder. "Thanks a lot for tonight," he said with a genuine smile on his face.

 All Luna did was give him a thumbs-up as she headed down the street.

---

By the time Luna reached her house, she was deep in her thoughts. She still just couldn't believe she had driven steve Harrington home. 

This was a boy who used to bully her. Now they were having a heart-to-heart and laughing with each other. 

Yes, Jonathan had told her about how steve had helped them last year with the Demogorgon and she was ready to start forgiving him. She just didn't expect it to happen so fast. 

As she headed to her door she saw Dustin heading to his. 

"How was your night?" Luna asked politely 

"amazing" Dustin responded, basically bouncing on the heel of his toes. Luna could already guess she would spend the rest of the night listening to Dustin recap his night.

"You should see the size of some of the cand-" before Dustin could finish there was a sudden rattle from the Henderson trash can. Dustin took the handle of his blaster, as luna raised her fists into a fighting pose. 

"Mews?" Dustin called out, hoping this scary noise was just his cat. The rattling started again. Luna suddenly jumped forward opening the lid.

She stood there for a second, just looking at what was inside. Dustin joined the spot next to her, looking down "Holy Shit"