FREAK ; steve harrington

1.3

Scrubbing off the dirt and slime was the easy part. The rotting smell was much harder to get rid of. Rose used body wash three times trying to smell like anything but rotting plants, and death.

Rose squeezed her hair trying to get the excess water out before finally stepping out of the shower. Her throat stung as it always did after using her scream. She wrapped the towel around her, going to pick up the clothes Steve brought her.

Out of all the places she could've ended up Steve Harrington's was not on that list.

Unfolding the sweatpants she slid them on. They were much to long for her, so she resulted in folding the waist a couple of time which did help. Rose grabbed the t shirt and pulled it over her. It was a plain black t shirt with bleach spots.

Rose wiped the mirror of steam to see her reflection. Her cheeks were rosy, bags were under her eyes. Her scar was still lightly red. Rose looked away from the mirror grabbing her old clothes.

She walked back down the stairs seeing Steve sitting at the island, his knee bouncing on the stool bar.

"Hey." Her queit voice caught his attention. He jumped to his feet walking over to her.

"Hi." He glanced down seeing the bundle of clothes. He held out his hand.

"Here you can leave those here and I can wash them in the morning." Rose nodded looking over at the ticking clock on the wall. It was close to midnight. Jeans probably having a fit.

"Uh do you have a phone?" Steve looked out from around the corner pointing behind her.

"On that table over there." She spun around walking over to where the white phone sat. She spun Jeans house number, putting it up to her ear listening to the ringing.

"Hello?" Jean answered quickly.

"Hey Jean." Rose felt bad for worrying her. Rose chewed on her lip playing with the spiral cord.

"Rose? Oh my god you had me worried. I called Hopper and Karen and-I was worried about you Rosie." Jean sighed on the other side of gje phone.

"I'm ok, well-ok as I can be. I'm staying at a-friends house." Rose glanced behind her seeing Steve leaning against the counter. He was trying to look like he wasn't listening but he was.

"Ok..are you sure you're ok?"

"Yeah I'm fine. I'll tell you tomorrow when I get home." Jean made a noise on the other side.

"Be good." She fianlly said. Rose smiled softly.

"Bye Jean."

"Bye Rosie." Rose hung up first sighing out. She turned back to Steve, walking over to the stools by the counter. Neither of them spoke. She was surprised Steve wasn't bombarding her with questions as soon as she sat down.

"How did you do it?" Steve had his arms crossed over his chest. His famous hair hanging in front of his forehead. Rose intertwined her fingers together in front of her on the marble counter. Rose made a face blowing out air.

"You won't belive me." Steve leaned onto the counter. The pairs hands inches apart. His brown eyes stared into hers.

"Try me Red."

---

Rose told him everything. Not a single detail left out. She told him she was taken as a child to Hawkins lab. Experimented on, tortured, kept there. Told him about her scar, the story behind it. Her powers was the next thing.

He of course requested her to "prove it." So she lifted the stool next to her which was enough of show and tell for him. He asked about he scream but she couldn't show him that without causing him immense pain.

She went into telling him about the other world. Her year there, how she survived then eventually got out. The theories she had about Will Byers. How his body was a fake and she thinks he was somehow taken there.

He didn't say much. Just nods and looks of disbelief. She didnt tell him about Eleven though. Eleven didn't need to be treated like a lab rat again.

"Wow." Was all he said at the end. Rose scoffed letting out a laugh.

"Wow? That's all you have to say? Not bullshit, or calling me a liar?" He shook his head standing straight back up again. He rubbed his face.

"So this-monster. That was that thing in the woods right?" Rose nodded.

"And you have superpowers and grew up in a lab before you got trapped in this other, dimension." Rose nodded again.

"And the missing boy is actually alive, and trapped in there." Rose once again nodded.

"Shit." Steve breathed out, the weight of it all hitting him.

"Yeah." Rose yawned covering her mouth as she did. Steve glanced over at her seeing the tired look speading across her features.

"Theres a guest bedroom upstairs. You can sleep here tonight." He looed down as soon as she looked up at him. She shot him a tight lipped smile.

"Thanks Harrington." She slid off the stool going to the stairs.

"Do you actually believe me?" She stopped herself turning around. One hand on the railing. Steve looked up not even thinking for a second.

"Why would you lie?" Rose nodded slowly looking back at tje wall.

"Sorry about Nancy." She said quietly but he heard her. She could tell something was off, she just assumed it was about Wheeler.

"Is she with him?" He asked his voice got quiet. Rose shook her head.

"No, she just needed someone tonight, and that just so happened to be him." She shrugged. He nodded looking back down. Rose turned back, walking up the steps leaving the conversation at that.

She walked past a cracked door and couldn't help but look inside.

Posters hung on the wall of bands and movies. Books were on the bookcase in the corner. Rose smiled then pushed it down.

Steve puffed out the breath he was holding in. He looked at the seat where Rose was juts sitting.

He saw her in a whole new light. Maybe it was because she saved his life or maybe it was just because she told him her life's story and he listened. Either way, he wasn't just going to forget about it in the morning.