Dumpster Fire

CHAPTER 9

Steve slammed his locker open, ignoring the way it reverberated, and bounced back to whack him in the elbow. Angrily jammed his books into the empty space, reached up, and snagged his notebook for science - the last class of the day. Grabbed it so hard he snapped a nail.

"Fuck." The word ground out low, a hiss between grinding teeth and clenched jaw.

He examined the damage. Blood.

He shivered, trying to swallow the images and vomit and memories that threatened to consume him in the school hallway. He could feel the Upside-down slithering around him, could hear a demidog snarl, could feel particles threatening to fill his lungs-

"-eve!"

And reality crashed back in, Nancy's handkerchief pressed to his bleeding finger, large doe eyes looking up at him in concern.

"You've got that thousand-yard stare." Jonathan was leaning against the lockers like he was keeping an eye out.

Steve vaguely felt his heart beating again, his blinking lids felt like sandpaper on his eyes. Gaze found Billy looking away as he passed in the hallway.

Maybe he was. Steve shrugged, consciousness crashing into him all at once, aware of how sweaty and tired and cold he was.

"Sorry." He chuckled, wincing at how hoarse it came out. "I-" Inhaled. That hurt. "I don't know what… happened?" He finished lamely.

Of course he knew what happened. Handing Nancy's handkerchief back, taking Jonathan's offered bandaid with a weak thank you.

The same thing that happened every night. The same thing Nancy and Jonathan and The Party experienced. The Nightmares. So real, so tangible.

So recurrent.

And the warning bell rang.

"Ah, shit." Jonathan glanced at Steve, then gave Nancy a peck on the cheek before running off.

"You're sure you're okay?" Slender hands still clutching the blood-stained fabric to her chest.

Steve wanted to laugh. Instead, he nodded. "Yeah." He cleared his throat, and wiped his forehead. "Gunna freshen up and head straight to class, Mom."

She gave her little crooked smile and shook her head. "Whatever." And that made him feel better. "You keep getting tardies and it's no wonder your grades are tanking." She shoved her hands in her pockets. "See you tomorrow for DnD."

He waved as she took off in a hurry. His hand fell slowly when Nancy vanished. Trudged to the bathroom. Fell against the sink, shaking hands splashed water on his face, and neck, and ran through his hair.

Relief. His eyes closed reluctantly. Upside-down flashed in the dark of his mind, a gasping breath and they snapped back open, hearing a chuckle.

No. Eyes darted around in the mirror. He checked, he always checked.

But not this time.

And there was fucking Billy and Tommy sharing a joint.

Steve felt his blood run cold as his earlier anger slid back in. Anger at the unfairness of the situation, anger at Billy. Anger at his parents. Anger at the school. Anger with himself.

"You look like you saw a ghost." Tommy laughed, taking a hit.

Billy was silent, eyes downcast, dark lashes brilliant against tanned cheeks-

No. Steve's hands clenched tighter on the sink. He was not going to admire Billy right now.

He hated Billy. He hated Billy, he hated Billy, He… Blue flashed for just a moment. Met his gaze for just a second and… Steve couldn't tell if it was worry or disgust on Billy's face before the glance dropped again. Fingers took the offered joint. It didn't move to his lips before he passed it over.