𝐖𝐄 𝐀𝐑𝐄 𝐏𝐈𝐑𝐀𝐓𝐄𝐒! [𝐫𝐨𝐛𝐢𝐧 𝐛𝐮𝐜𝐤𝐥𝐞𝐲]

𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐰𝐨

𝐕𝐄𝐂𝐍𝐀'𝐒 𝐂𝐔𝐑𝐒𝐄

When Margo walked into Family Video the next morning, Robin and Steve were leaning against the back wall, looking absolutely miserable. Margo set her bag down under the counter and gave the two a lopsided grin. "What's wrong with you guys?" 

"We're hopeless," Steve said matter-of-factly. 

Margo raised her eyebrows. "Oh yeah?" 

"Yeah, we totally suck," said Robin. "But we found our morning movie." She held up a VHS tape. "Doctor Zhivago." 

Margo groaned. "A double VHS?" 

"That's what I said," said Steve, vaulting over the counter. "But according to Robin, it's relatable." 

"You can say that again," Margo muttered, and caught Robin's eye for a split second before hurrying to straighten up the adventure movie's shelf. 

Robin grabbed the TV remote and turned it on to start the movie, but a news broadcast played first. "We're in the Forest Hills trailer park in east Roane County," the reporter was saying. "We don't have a lot of details now, but we can confirm that the body of a Hawkins High student was discovered early this morning. Police have not released the name..." 

Steve and Margo crowded around Robin to watch the broadcast. "Holy shit..." said Steve. 

"Who do you think it is?" asked Margo. 

Robin took in a sharp breath. "Think something happened after the game?" 

"We were the last ones at the school," Margo said slowly. 

"That doesn't mean anything," said Robin. "Everyone goes somewhere after the games." 

"Wait-" said Steve, "Why were you two the last ones at the school?" 

Margo shrugged. "I got sick." 

"Is that why you disappeared?" 

She nodded. "Probably just ate something-" 

"No," Robin cut her off. "She's having some weird side-effect from all the Starcourt stuff, she needs to see someone." 

"I don't," Margo argued. "I told Conor last night and he said he's sure I'm fine-" 

"Is he a doctor?" Robin challenged. 

Steve held up a hand. "Hey, hey, look- it's probably nothing to worry about. If it is a side-effect, it'll go away, and if it keeps up, go see someone." 

"Ah, yes, thank you for mediating," said Margo, her voice dripping with sarcasm. 

"Because that's all we need," said Robin, "A guy to help us ladies sort out our differences. My mother would be so proud." 

Margo laughed and Steve threw his hands up in exasperation. "And this is what I get when I try to help. Impossible." 

Robin turned to Margo with a look of false amazement. "And he calls us impossible." 

"Us? Never." 

The doors flew open and they all turned to see Max and Dustin fly into the shop. "Hey, Steve," said Dustin. 

"You guys see this?" said Steve, pointing at the TV. 

"How many phones do you have?" asked Dustin, ignoring Steve's question. 

Steve stared at him. "Someone was murdered." 

"How many phones do you have?" Dustin repeated, and Margo knew as soon as he raised his voice that this was serious.