𝗨𝗚𝗟𝗬 // 𝗦𝘁𝗲𝘃𝗲 𝗛𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘁𝗼𝗻

013

In order to persuade Erica Sinclair you need three things:
1. Confidence
2. A plan
3. A whole lot of ice cream

So now as we sit at scoops ahoy in their squeaky red booths, Erica is demanding more fudge ice cream from Steve as he takes back the float he just gave her, which apparently wasn't good enough and honestly, I respect the hustle.

He sighs dramatically and gets up from his chair, I smile slightly and thinking it'll be easier, follow him, "you sure you don't need help scooping? After all I am very good at it." Quoting his compliment from earlier I head behind the counter with him, "woww you use my words against me White!" He clutches his chest, "are you saying I haven't even improved?"

I can't help but chuckle, "Steve Harrington, you suck."
There's a silence as he looks at me with amused eyes and my own go wide, a hand flying over my mouth. "Ruby White were you just mean to me?" He sarcastically drawls out and I start comedically waving my hands about as I try to apologise, "oh my god Steve I am so sorry I-"
He cuts me off, "no! No! Damage is done! My heart is broken!"
The anxiety in my chest rests as I realise he's joking about, a hand sliding through his perfect hair as he stares back at me and a relieved breath flies out of my mouth, "I really need to learn how to speak before I think-" a pause, "wait- that's not right.."

Steve is laughing harder now, hand shaking as he tries to scoop fudge ice cream, I try to help but he swats me away "go sit Ruby! I got this."
I walk back over to the booth to hear Erica ranting, "you know what I love most about America? Capitalism."
My eyebrows fly up, "well that's something you don't hear everyday."

She ignores me and rolls her eyes, "do you know what capitalism means?" Me, Robin and Dustin nod a couple 'uh huh," confirmations coming from us.
She ignores us, "it meanssss that this is a free market system, which means people get payed for their services depending on how valuable their contributions are."
Damn. Smart kid.
Robin nodded along, clearly annoyed and I could tell she somehow knew where Erica was going with this, "and it seems to me, that my ability to fit into that little vent is very very valuable to you all."

"So, you want my help? This USS Butterscotch," she pointed to the ice cream on the table, "better be the first of many." She takes the Cherry from her ice cream and before plopping it in her mouth spike once more, "and I'm talking free ice cream. For. Life."

I nod along, completely understanding and to be honest, filled with a little respect for the kid, "you know what, I get it, I'd want free ice cream too."

Robin rolls her eyes and snorts, mumbling to me under her breath, "I'm sure if you asked Steve he'd give you free ice cream," she smirks at me under her mischievous eyes and I feel myself go bright red as the table looks at me and I shuffle in my seat at the sight of Steve on his way back to the table just at that moment. So before I can face any more embarrassment, I shift awkwardly and state matter of factly, "I don't know what you're talking about."

***

Once Erica has crawled through the vents and unlocked the doors we race down to the boxy room, automatically closing the doors again and trying to open the boxes disguised as Chinese food. Steve eventually grabs a knife out of his pocket, "woah Harrington how long have you had that?" Robin comments but he just gives her an annoyed look and slices open the box.

We all look inside to find a safe like object, easy to open with one simple twist which Steve does automatically. There's a hiss as the safe opens and smoke rises from the box, all of our heads fly back down to look inside.
There's another layer to open, but this time, Steve ushers us to stand back.
Robin takes my hand and pulls me backwards, I'm about to grab Dustin's when I see he hasn't moved an inch away from the older boy.
He stands his ground despite Steve's hand blocking him away, trying to usher him back but he keeps repeating "no."

"Stand back-"

"No."

"Seriously-"

"No!" Dustin finally blurts out and the room goes silent as we watch the interaction, "if you die, I die."
Us three girls in the corner share a look, one of respect and surprise. Dustin's care for Steve is admirable, it makes my heart burst and it seems we all realise the extent of the pairs relationship in that moment.

Steve however just stares at him for a bit before dismissing his words with a wave and simple, "okay."
Before I know it, there's another hiss of air as the final layer of the box is opened and Steve pulls out a vial of green liquid.
I feel bile in my throat, whatever that thing is, it doesn't look safe. I was never one to do or be near anything that wasn't safe.. what had I gotten myself into?

A rumbling echoes through the room and the ground shakes as if we were in an earthquake, I lose my balance slightly and hang onto my best friend, who smiles at me before patting my arm and pulling away. Robin is determined at this point, probably from fear, maybe from curiosity, but either way she grabs the vile from Steve's hands and rushes to the middle of the room to stand beside Erica.
Dustin's at the door besides me, pressing the open button a few too many times so I move to try help him, even though there's not much I can do but watch.

"Hey what's up kiddo?" I smile and he just briefly lifts his head up to me in frustration, "it's not opening!"
My eyebrows furrow and I start to press buttons besides him, "which one do we press Erica?" Dustin shouts back to the girl, who simply responds by telling him to press the button.. while also announcing he's a nerd.

The room around me is shouting now and I'm suddenly aware of the situation. We're stuck in a grey, cold room and I was never good at closed spaces, why did I come in here? Why did I follow this stupid plan?
My stomach aches and there's a wave through me that only grows second by second, my hands are pulling at my hair and all I can do is watch as the group around me scream at each other and try to click as many buttons as possible.

There's a clang. Another door has closed, one we never even noticed was there and the possibility that we're being trapped by Russians right now flashes in my brain.
"What is happening?" I breathe out, but before anyone can answer me the room seems to fly down and Robin's echoing screams fill the area.
"What is HAPPENING?!!" My lungs burn as I scream and it seems the group around me are doing the same.

I feel my life flash before my eyes as I think about all the things I haven't done, all the things I needed to do. A needless thought pops into my head but the panic makes it worse, "I have a therapy appointment.." I breathe out under my breathe and
Steve, who's holding onto a box next to me looks over, eyes wide, "Oh my god I- I have to go to that- I can't just not turn up.."

I'm spirally now, words just flowing out without caution, Steve opens his mouth and gives me a sympathetic, yet confused look, "Ruby you-?"

Robin seemed to overhear and saves me slightly, knowing if I was in a non panic state I never would've revealed the fact that I go to therapy to Steve Harrington.
"Steve, not now okay?!" She shouts and before anyone can say anything there's a flash from a gap in the rooms walls, multiple in fact.

The popular boy beside me widens his eyes, as if he understands what's happening, where we are.
"Oh shit."