Words: 4.7 k
Warnings: language and drugs use
A/N: a bit of a longer chapter this time! I hope you all enjoy it. There are quite a few different scenes in here so I hope it's not too all over the place.
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"Jesus," Steve said and ran a hand through his hair. "All of this just doesn't make any sense."
Nancy had just told them the whole story about her and Fred going to the trailer park to interview people. When all of the sudden Fred was gone and was found a few hours later on the middle of the road that led between the woods. Killed in the same cruel way as Chrissy.
Steve had also told her a brief summary about what happened with Eddie. With Vecna. Where he was hiding. Where he was now.
"It has to be Vecna's doing, but why him?" Steve said confused, referring to Fred.
"But who is Vecna?" Nancy asked.
"He's like this crazy monster from the Upside Down. Look, I don't really know who he is either, but he's much worse than the Mind Flayer."
"But I thought we closed the gate." Nancy replied.
"So did I... so did we all... " He sighed. "Hey, it's late. Why don't I give you ride back home and we talk about this tomorrow? You should come to Eddie with us tomorrow morning. Got a lot to fill you in on."
"My car is still parked at the trailer park-"
"No problem, I can drop you off there too. But no way in hell I'm letting you walk back to your car with this Vecna creep on the loose." Steve said.
"I can take care of my self very well." Nancy answered with a little grin.
"I don't doubt that, but I insist. Get into the car." He demanded.
Nancy laughed a little and shook her head as she opened the door to the passenger seats.
"So, you know all about this too?" She hesitantly asked of Stacey as they all got into the car.
"Well, I didn't until a few hours ago. He just told me everything." Stacey replied.
"He just told you?" Nancy frowned.
"I had no choice. She had to be filled in on everything," Steve said as he looked at Nancy through his rear view mirror. "Eddie knows too, she would find out sooner or later."
Nancy just gave a little nod and looked out of the window.
It wasn't long until they reached the trailer park. There was a lot of police there still, letting no one but residents enter the park.
"I can just walk from here. My car is parked over there." She said and pointed at the blue Mercury Colony Park.
"Okay, be careful alright?" Steve said concerned.
"Yes Steve, it's only a few feet. I don't think Vecna is just going to jump out of those bushes." She sighed.
"You'll come with us tomorrow, right? I'll pick you up around 9?"
"Why don't I pick up the kids and then we meet at the cabin? My car is a lot bigger. We never will be able to fit everyone in yours." Nancy said.
"Okay," Steve nodded. "Yeah, okay. I'll just pick up Stacey then and we meet at the cabin."
"Sounds like plan. See you tomorrow." She gave Steve and Stacey a small smile before opening the door and getting out of the car.
Steve watched her as she walked back to her car, got in, started it and drove away.
"You still like her, don't you?" Stacey asked as she watched Steve, his eyes trained on the car driving away.
"Well I don't dislike her." He simply replied and started the car.
"I don't mean it like that, smart ass. I mean you still have a crush on her." Stacey said.
"No, I don't. No, Nancy and I are over. That's been long gone." He replied as they started driving back to Stacey's house. It was almost midnight at this point.
"Of course it is." Stacey grinned and looked at him.
"I just don't want her to get murdered by Vecna, alright? Just leave it." Steve snapped back.
"Okay, okay." The blonde girl said and held up her hands in defence.
They didn't talk much as they drove back to Stacey's house. Both of them were tired and trying to process everything that had happened today.
"Here we are." Steve said as he pulled up in front of her house again.
"Thank you. For everything today..." Stacey said and looked at him.
"Of course, no problem." He shook his head and gave her a small, comforting smile.
"I mean it, I never really talked about this stuff to anyone... apart from Eddie." She felt a stab in her chest as she mentioned his name. "I trusted you with my secret and you trusted me with yours..."
"I really appreciate the fact that you trust me. That means a lot, really." He replied.
"Do you want to come inside for a bit still?" She asked.
"It's really late," Steve started with an apologising look on his face. "You should sleep."
"Right, yeah, of course." She nodded but her voice was a little flat. Steve noticed her disappointment.
"Hey, there's no need to be scared, alright?" He said, hoping to comfort her.
"It's not that... I guess." Stacey sighed and shook her head. "Never mind." She gave him a tight lipped smile and opened the door. "See you tomorrow?"
"Yes, I'll pick you up at 8:30?" He said as he watched her get out of the car.
"That's fine. See you tomorrow then."
"Hey," Steve said as she was about to close the door. "Everything is going to be alright. Everything. Eddie, your mom." He tried to reassure her.
"You don't know that." She shook her head and bit her lip, she could feel her throat closing up.
"I do know that." Steve said.
"Oh don't be so ridiculous!" She cried and closed the door loudly, making Steve jump. She quickly turned around, hiding her face from him as she rushed over to the front door.
