CONFUSION| steve harrington x oc| BOOK 1

chapter 12- the attack

Everything was silent. Nobody even dared to breathe. The four teenagers stood facing each other, all holding weapons except for Phoebe. Nancy gripped a shotgun, Jonathan had a steak knife in one with a lighter in the other. Steve had picked up a bat with nails driven through it as soon as the lights had gone out. Phoebe swallowed and then let out a ragged breath, but froze as she heard a deep chittering sound behind her. A large drop of warm liquid hit her shoulder and she slowly turned her head. She was met with a tall creature whose face opened as it roared. She saw everything happen in slow motion; it's face opening like a flower, revealing several rows of teeth. One of it's hands raised as she let out a blood curdling scream. Just as she thought about backing up it's hand swatted down, it's long, razor-like fingers slicing her left thigh open in three places. She instantly feel to the ground, screaming in anguish. She looked at her leg, her jeans quickly turning a dark color from her blood, but quickly looked up at the monster. She was certain the monster would attack her again, but she watched it's head turn away as she heard gunshots from behind her. Before she could look back Steve wrapped his hand around her arm and yanked her back against a wall. She watched in horror as he swung the nailed bat, it landing on the monster's shoulder, ripping it's flesh as the nails unstuck from it's thick skin. Nancy fired a couple more shots as Jonathan ran down the hall, yelling for the others to hurry. Steve instantly scooped Phoebe up as if she weighed nothing and took off down the hall. Phoebe's head was beginning to hurt and she was losing sense of reality.

"Jump!" she heard Jonathan instruct Steve, though it was muffled and distorted as it hit her ear drum. Her body jolted up as Steve jumped over the trap set in the middle of the hallway. She looked over Steve's shoulder, seeing Nancy do the same. Steve ran into the room at the end of the hall and practically dropped her, everything still feeling like slow motion to Phoebe. She kept herself propped on her elbows to see the commotion. The door was shut for a second, but Jonathan quickly opened it and stepped into the hallway, flicking the lighter out of his hand. The house was filled with a high pitched shriek, making Phoebe's small headache now a full migraine. She watched the orange glow on Jonathan and Nancy's bodies as they watched the monster in the trap burn. Steve soon joined them, a fire extinguisher in hand. She watched the white smoke leave the tube, but as soon as it stopped Steve was back at her side.

"Oh my God," Steve gasped as he brought her head into his hands. Her arms gave out in weakness, but Steve supported her head with his leg.

"I-I'm okay, it's just a scratch," Phoebe tried to lie as she saw Steve's eyes fill with sorrow. He chuckled at her weak lie as a tear fell down his cheek.

"Yeah, you're okay. At least you'll have a cool scar," he said as optimistic as he could manage.

"3 actually," Phoebe corrected, but started coughing. Steve shushed her, his free hand smoothing her hair. The two held each others' gaze for a moment before Phoebe lifted her head a little. Steve looked at her puzzled.

"Steve," she whispered as she lifted her head more. He understood and slowly lowered his head to meet hers. They shared a soft kiss and as they broke away Steve rested his forehead against Phoebe's.

"If I don't see you again," Steve started, but Phoebe shook her head in denial.

"No, don't talk like that. I'm gonna make it out of this," she whispered, her voice weak.

"No, I know, but I need you to know...I was telling the truth the other night. I've loved you since I can remember knowing what that meant. I was stupid for not doing anything before we kissed, and then you left, and it broke my heart," he whimpered, causing a tear to leave Phoebe's eyes. "Have I ever told you how much you mean to me? Because you literally mean everything, I would probably be dead right now if it weren't for you. I love you...so much. I don't think I've ever said it, but I do, I love you." He was fully crying as he spoke, Phoebe too. "It was probably because I thought it would make me seem weak, or because someone would've laughed at me, but I should've been saying it the whole time. I love you," he sobbed as he pulled her into a hug. Phoebe weakly wrapped an arm around Steve, hugging him as tight as she could. Her arm didn't stay up very long, but Steve released the hug as it fell and reconnected their gaze.