𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐦 𝐠𝐢𝐫𝐥

028. Goddamn Theory.

AS IT got dark out, the group ventured through the woods as Val was practically clutching onto Robin the entire time with everyone ahead of them, Dustin leading the way with his compass in hand. When everyone else started running, so did Val, tugging along Robin who just groans before they reached the others nearby the shore of the lake.

Lover's Lake. "Yeah, I thought these woods were familiar." Eddie says as Robin raised her brows slightly. "Lover's Lake." She says. "This is confounding." Dustin said and Valerie couldn't help but agree. "There's a gate in Lover's Lake?" Max looks at the others.

"Whenever the Demogorgon attacked, it always left an opening. Maybe Vecna's the same way." Nancy looks around at them, her eyes landing on Val and Robin. "Yeah, only one way to find out." The Smith girl sighs, glancing at the Buckley by her who's already staring at her. "Oh, I've got just the plan!"

Eddie unveils the boat to them and Val sighs quietly making him snap his head towards her quickly. "Oh, um... Great, Eds." She said and then was about to reach out and help him get it into the water when Steve stops her. "Let me do it." He insisted so Val backs up, raising her hands a bit defensively, joining Robin's side while the two men now get the boat into the water. "Easy, easy." Steve said but Eddie sort of lets it slip from his grasp, landing in the water with a big splash hitting them.

"I said, easy man." Steve said, scolding Eddie as the Munson glanced at him. Val claps her hands quickly and loudly. "Okay! Thank you, big strong boys." She said and then placed a hand on each of their heads, stepping into the boat as Eddie sends her an annoyed look. "Yeah, I'm just gonna do that too..." Robin denies Steve's extended out hand, following her girlfriend's actions to get into the boat.

"Thank you." She says as Val now turns around, smiling at her. Her hand brushes Robin's waist as the girl goes past her to sit at the front. "Nance," she now held out her hand to the Wheeler who gets on next, the girl smiling timidly before sitting by Robin then Eddie got in, sitting in the backrow so when Dustin is about to get in, Val stops him. "This thing looks like it only carries four people." She says, holding up her hand as he steps back, disappointedly frowning at her since he did just wave at Max and Lucas.

"It's better this way, okay?" Nancy says and Valerie nods, crossing her arms. "Stay with Max. Keep an eye out for trouble." She says and Dustin furrows his brows. "You keep an eye out!" He exclaims and Val is taken back, her arms falling to her sides as her eyebrows raise which he mocks. "It's my goddamn theory, Val." He says and she tries not to take it personally as she frowns. "You heard Val." Robin says. "Who put her in charge?" Dustin exclaims now, gesturing towards Val who sighs, crossing her arms again.

"I'm just trying to keep you safe. We all are." She said then extended out her hand. "Compass." She demands and he sighs, handing it over. "Thank you." She says, smiling before going to sit between Robin and Nancy as Steve tossed the Henderson his backpack then pushed out the boat before hopping in. "You said four!" Dustin yells.

"Sorry!" Steve says over his shoulder before turning back around, "bedtime at nine, kiddos!" Robin said before standing up. "Miss you already!" She shouts as she exaggeratedly waved her whole arm and Val giggles, glancing up at her girlfriend before looking back down at the compass in her hands as Eddie and Steve row the boat and the two girls on either of her sides are leaning closer to her.

The whole time Steve and Eddie were rowing the boat, Val, Robin and Nancy kept watching the compass but the girl in the middle kept glancing up at her two friends sitting together. They're quiet and awkward, but kept stealing glances at one another, when the other wasn't looking or make eye contact.

"Woah, okay, slow down, guys. I think this is it." Nancy said quickly so Val's eyes dart back down quickly to the compass in her hand and the two men stopped the boat. "Woah." Steve says, leaning closer as they all examined the compass in the middle of the group.

"Guys, what's going on?" Dustin says through the supercomm now which Robin quickly opens up to reply to the younger teen. "Come on, talk to me." Dustin says as the Buckley now raises the radio to her mouth. "Uh, Dustin, your compass has gone from wonky to wonky with a capital ahh!" She says into the radio as Steve starts undressing, first taking off his shoe then sock, then his other shoe and sock. "Steve, what are you doing?" Valerie glanced up then noticed Eddie staring at Steve.

"Somebody's gotta go down there and check this thing out." Steve explains, looking up to find both Val and Rob staring with concern. "Unless one of you four can top being a Hawkins High swim co-captain and a certified lifeguard, then," he gestured to the water.

"I--I can swim." Val argues quickly and Robin nudged her, looking worried. "It's gotta be me. No complaints, okay, V?" Steve said before he got up. "Hey, I'm not complaining. I do not wanna go down there." Eddie spoke, taking out a bag from his pocket and was evidently glancing up and down at Steve which made both Robin and Val glance at one another, smirking at one another before looking back at the two after Steve took off his sweater and Eddie was fumbling to get the flashlight into the plastic bag he now holds up to Steve.

"Good luck." He says as the Harrington grabs the other hand. "Thanks." Steve says breathlessly and Eddie glanced at Val who's pointedly nodding her head to Steve. "Wait, Harrington," Eddie looks up and Steve quickly looks back at him. "Be careful." He said a bit too fast and the taller nodded before smiling and then turning around, jumping into the water as Val is grinning widely at Eddie.

The moment Steve went under water, Nancy started timing him on her wrist watch as she went to sit by Eddie and the other two girls stayed across from her. Eddie sighed, putting a cigarette between his lips all of the sudden and about to light it up when Robin grabs it from him. "Gross!" She said and tossed it into the lake as Eddie looks at the two alarmed.

"Sorry, but she is right. Smoking is gross."

authors note i've finally been writing for this fic again after like... idk nearly a month 😟 so here's a new chapter :))