Gold Dust Woman - Steve Harrington*

chapter three.

trick or treat, freak

october 31st 1984.

"Oh, Jesus!"

Dallas sits up quickly, almost falling off of the sofa as she turns towards the kitchen, she chuckles to herself when she sees El standing under a white sheet just in front of Jim, "Ghost."

"Yeah, I see that." He nods, shaking his head as she looks over at Dallas. The older girl smiles, raising a thumb with an encouraging nod.

When the girl turns away to address Jim again Dallas drops down onto her back rubbing a hand across her face with a groan.

Since there's only two rooms she'd been shoved onto the sofa for the night, she can't really complain, she'll take that over staying an extra night over her father's and over another argument with her mother.

"Halloween."

"Sure is, but now it's breakfast, okay? Come on, let's eat."

Dallas yawns as she stretches and walks over to the table, taking Jim's seat and giving him a tight lipped smile when he glares at her.

She's in his old flannel, the tank she wore yesterday and some old swim team shorts back from her freshman year.

"They wouldn't see me." El continues on as Jim moves around her to set her plate down.

"Who wouldn't see you?"

"The bad men."

Jim sighs as he sits down on the old wobbly stool, "What are you talking about?"

He lifts his cup of coffee to is lips and she stands right beside him, staring through the two self cut holes made for her eyes, "Trick or treat."

"You want to go trick or treating?"

She nods slowly and he looks across the bale to Dallas who lifts both shoulders in a shrug and picks at her waffle- she doesn't like waffles-Jim stands guiding her from the table, "You know the rules."

"Yes, but-"

"Then you know the answer."

"No, but they wouldn't see me."

"No, hey, I don't care-"

"They wouldn't see me."

"I don't care alright," He stops, crouching down to be eye level with his hands on her shoulders, "You go out there, ghost or not, it's a risk. We don't take risks, alright? They're stupid, and-?"

"We're not stupid."

"Now, you take that off, sit down and eat. Your food is getting cold."

El rips the sheet off sitting down beside Dallas with her arms crossed as she looks away from Hopper, he pours out some syrup onto ther waffles and sighs when she glances at him briefly, "Alright, look. How about I get off early tonight, and I buy us a bunch of candy, and we can sit around and get fat and we watch a scary movie together? How's that for compromise?"

"Com-Compromise?"

"I'm going to get ready for school and let you guys sort this out."

"You haven't eaten your waffle."

She shrugs her shoulders pilign the food onto El's plate, "I'm not hungry."

"Don't start this again."

"I don't like waffles."

"You like pancakes, they're the same."

"They're not the same."

"They're practically the same."

"They're different textures. I don't like the texture."

He grumbles something about picky eaters under his breath and she rolls her eyes turning her back on him.

Dallas rinses her plate, ignoring the little back and forth bicker going on as she changes into some fresh clothes and ties her hair up, when she comes back outside, El has eaten her food and is sitting watching Cartoons on the old TV, Jim's dressed in his sheriff's uniform and leaning against the counter.

"Ready?"

She nods and El looks up, "Dallas?"

She turns to face the young girl giving a little smile to her, "Yeah?"

"Will you watch movie, with us?"

"Sorry, kiddo, I can't tonight, I've got a party."

"Hold on," Jim stands to his full height and raises a brow, "You, Dallas Jamie Hopper, are going to a party?"

"Is it so surprising?"

"Yes." He nods and chuckles, "Very actually."

"Well, I got invited."

Jim crosses his arms, "Is that Steven going to be there?"

She rolls her eyes, saying goodbye to El, who mumbles a reply from the sofa, her eyes on the Tv watching some cartoon from years ago, she climbs into his truck and he raises a brow at her as he pulls out onto the road.

"The guy I tutored last year? It's Steve."

"I mean the only person I've ever seen you like."

She rolls her eyes, "Well, I don't like him, he's an asshole. And I like you, and Dustin. Sometimes."

"Is that why you've been wearing his jacket the past year?"

She blushes slightly looking down at the dark coloured jacket she wears, "It's warm. And I tried giving it back to him, he said he was going to throw it away."

Jim scoffs shaking his head, "You're naive, he wants to have sex with you."

"Jim!" She turns away and looks out the window, "He has a girlfriend."

"Ah yes, the Wheeler's oldest, Nancy right?"

She hums, wrapping a loose string around her finger and letting it unravel, "Maybe I should stay at your place," She says, "That poor kid is going to by herself all day. I can call and cancel, I mean Kevin will understand."

"She'll be fine. And Kevin? Old man Jordan's grandson, are you kidding? You really know how to pick 'em, Dallas."

She ignores his comment while shaking her head, "Where'd she even come from anyway, have you called social services? She might have family."

"She doesn't."

"Isn't she lonely? Bored?"

"She's fine, look, I'll explain everything to you in time okay? Just be patient, I don't- I don't exactly have all the answers right now."

She sighs, leaning her head back, "I'll bring Mac by later, she can keep her company when I'm at work and school. And I'll start coming in more often, maybe I can bring Dus-"

"No." Jim stops the car and they both slam forward, letting out a soft 'oomph' as their backs hit the seat again, "Don't tell Dustin, or the Byers, or Steve-"

"The asshole."

"-Do not tell anyone. Got it?"

"Why, is she-?"

"Got it!"

She nods rolling her eyes, "Jesus, yes, I got it, now can we go?"

He starts driving again, pulling off slowly as he turns into the school, "Need me to pick you up later?"

"I'll walk."

"Walk?"

"It's proven to be good for your mental health."

She gives off a sarcastic smile as she slams the door and walks into the school building, Jim sighs, taking his hat form his head as he runs his hands through his hair before pulling off.