The Girl With The Flamethrower

II.III.II

Steve sunk into his seat next to Kimberly in study hall.

"How'd it go?" She closed her notebook, pausing her research on pollywogs.

Steve sighed again, "She said she didn't remember much. Just that she was super drunk, and punch got spilled, and then that I got mad at her for being drunk, and then I took her home. But Jonathan took her home, not me."

"Ok, ok." Kimberly gave him her full attention, "So that means it may have seemed like she was angry at you last night, but in reality, she was just angry in general, and that when she was drunk she was just letting all her anger out and that there's a very good chance she's not actually mad at you."

"What could she be angry at though?"

Kimberly whispered, "Well it's almost been a year since Barbara, and she has to continuously lie to those who loved her most. It's gotta be eating Nancy up."

"She did sort of mention something similar the last time we had dinner with the Hollands."

"See there ya go. That's what she's angry at."

Steve fiddled with Kimberly's sleeve, "She still didn't say it back though."

Kimberly placed her hand over his, "Talk to her. Tell her how you are feeling, and hear her side. Actually, listen to her. And then go from there."

"I'm scared. I'm scared she's fallen out of love with me."

Kimberly sighed, "If that's the case, then the cookie offer will go into full effect and I will be right by your side, through the whole thing. I'm here for you Steve."

Steve sighed and stayed looking down, still fiddling with her sleeve.

"I will always be here for you Cap."

A small grin grew on his face, "You haven't called me Cap in forever."

"I know. Figured it was time to bring it back."

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Kimberly sighed and waited for Dustin in her car, she figured he was at AV club so she waited since she was his only way home.

After a little while, she walked inside the school, knowing where AV club usually met she just went to go check on them.

"Max? What are you doing?"

"They won't let me in. Said party members only. It's stupid," she crossed her arms.

"Oh, who said that? Was it Mike? I bet it was Mike, sounds like him. Here you know how to pick a lock?"

Max shook her head, "Do you?"

"Of course I do, I'll show you."

She pulled out two paper clips and showed Max how to bend them just right, and unlocked the door. "Volia!"

"Cool!"

Max turned the knob and opened the door, but something darted out of the room, making Max fall back, "What the..."

"Oh, shit!" Dustin shouted.

Lucas followed him out of the room, "Where'd he go?"

"What was that?" Max asked.

Dustin shouted out, "Dart!"

"You brought him to school?!" Kimberly looked at her brother.

Max asked, again, "What?"

"You let him escape! Why did you attack him?" Dustin looked at Mike.

Mike sighed, and left to go look for it, "Come on."

"Don't hurt him. Don't you hurt him!" Dustin shouted after them.

Kimberly pulled Dustin off to the side before he could follow after them. "What the shit is going on?"

"Ok so Will coughed up something similar to Dart and he's been having these flashes and we think maybe he's got True Sight, and-"

"Wait wait wait, Dart is from the Upside Down?"

"We think so. But that doesn't make him bad! And they want to kill him! And we have to find him."

"Shit. Dustin, it might be dangerous."

"Kimmy! We have a bond! Please help me find him!"

She groaned, "Fine. But if the second that thing bites you or bites anyone for that matter it's gone ya?"

"Deal."

Kimberly went off with Dustin to search for Dart. They stayed silent as he frantically searched the school, Kimberly took the slower more observant approach.

"Guys..." Will says into the radio, "I found him."

Dustin quickly answers, "Where?"

"In the bathroom by Mr. Salerno's."

Dustin and Kimberly take off running.

"Copy that," Mike answers.

Dustin gets there first and goes into the bathroom.

Kimberly stays outside with Will, "Hey you ok?"

"No, do you ever feel like you are being watched?" Will answered.

"I didn't use to. But now every time I go into the woods, ya. I think another one of those things is going to come out of a tree and take another person I love. So yes, I know what you mean."

Will just turned and started walking, muttering to himself.

"Uh Will? Will?" Kimberly followed after him. "Will what's going on? What do you see?"

Will kept walking, "Him. I'm standing my ground."

"Oookay, well I am right here beside you. If you need me."

Kimberly just followed Will out into the field.

Will stopped and glared at the sky, "Go away! Go away! Go away! Go away! Go away! Go away!"

Kimberly had no idea what to do, she just stayed by Will's side and stayed silent. She felt her nose start to bleed and she quickly wiped the blood away but stayed focused on Will. Her hand was on his shoulder trying to shake him awake. 

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