The Stancy Files

Chapter 19: The Party

      Steve and Nancy were having the greatest time when Jonathan and Melissa showed up at Camilla's party. "Okay," Melissa whispered to her boyfriend. "They're together right now, but as soon as one of them walks away, we swoop in. I go to Steve. Distract your girl. Make sure you get as much punch in Nancy Wheeler as you possibly can. We have to break them up." Jonathan nodded, a small smile playing on his lips. "Don't worry, Melissa. I've got the plan down pact. This is going to be a lovely night." 

Melissa started dancing around, first with Jonathan, and then with her other friends. A small crowd began to gather around the popular girl. "Go, Melissa! Show 'em your moves!" One girl shouted. "Mel is going to set the world on fire!" Another squealed. Nancy's eyes flickered to the girl dancing on the tables. Steve's eyes followed hers. He didn't want anyone to ruin the night for the two of them. "Come on, Nance. Let's go outside." She took his hand and wandered outside where some of their other friends were.

Jonathan saw the couple stalk outside together and followed them slyly. While Steve was talking to his friends and Nancy was talking to hers, he decided to make his first move. He quietly walked up to her side and pulled her arm away from the group. "Nancy, hey. What are you doing here? I thought you hated parties. Shouldn't you be inside? With the big group? I mean... drama always circulates in those small little groups. Don't you think?" She shoved her ex-boyfriend away. "Go away, Jonathan. You have no reason to be all up in my business. Go and find your actual girlfriend and talk to her. I'm busy here. If you'll excuse me," Nancy said politely, walking back over to her friends. Camilla walked up to her. "Oh my god! Nancy! Hi! I'm so glad you could make it!" Her voice became lower as she whispered to the girl. "Were you just with Jonathan Byers?! I thought you guys were exes! That's totally crazy, girl! Oh god, how I envy you! I want two boys thirstily chasing after me!" Nancy winced. "No, Camilla. Jonathan was just being... weird. He's dating Melissa Campbell. Besides, I'm not even friends with him anymore." Camilla stuck out her lower lip. "Oh. Well, that's a shame. Also, not that it's any of my business anyways, but he's totally into you, Nancy. It's a little creepy. I think I'm going to go tell Melissa. Her boyfriend is trying to cheat with another girl! You don't want him and after this, nobody will!" Nancy shook her head. "He wasn't trying to do anything with me. Just talk to me and I honestly just don't want to talk to him. Okay? It's nothing more than that." Camilla shrugged and giggled before walking away. "Okay, Nancy! Go have fun with your two boyfriends!" Her high-pitched voice shrilled, letting all around her be aware of what was just said. Just like Camilla had walked over, she walked away in a sassy manner. 

Nancy's anger escalated as her boyfriend walked over to her. "Nance, you okay? What was that all about?" Steve asked, pointing to Camilla. "She's a little bitch is all. She's going to go tell Melissa that Jonathan was trying to cheat with me. He wasn't though, Steve. He was just being his normal self. A meddling jackass." Steve frowned. "He was bothering you?" Nancy looked up at her boyfriend, nodding. "Started saying that I didn't like parties and that I should be in with the big group of girls because little groups cause drama." Steve rolled his eyes. "That's the stupidest thing I've ever heard." His girlfriend nodded in agreement. The tension in the air was obvious. Steve looked at the sky, now growing into what looked like a perfectly painted sunset. "Hey, do you wanna ditch? Just like go anywhere but here? Ya know... until you're needed back at home." Nancy smiled and nodded.

 But of course, just when the couple was having a beautiful moment, something interrupted them. "FUCK YOU, NANCY WHEELER. TRYING TO STEAL MY BOYFRIEND? REALLY, SLUT? YOU WANNA PLAY AT THIS GAME?" Melissa Campbell came screaming and stomping out of the house and into the backyard. 

Nancy was taken aback. "I don't know what you're talking about, Melissa. I don't want anything to do with Jonathan. I hate him." The little bitch firmly stood her ground. "Don't lie to me, slut. You were caught trying to make a move on him." She snarled. Jonathan walked towards the two girls from around the corner. "Whoa, whoa. What's going on?" Nancy glared at him. Steve had had enough of the shit. First Melissa had come for him at Family Video, and now when she was publicly dating someone else, she was trying to blame something incredulous on his innocent girlfriend. He walked up to Nancy and held on to her hand tightly. "Leave us alone, Melissa. You've caused enough wreckage to last a lifetime." The girl lowered her eyes at the popular boy. "Oh Steve, how naive can you be? Jonathan and Nancy were made for each other. They actually love each other." 

Nancy realized what she needed to do. She began to ignore the girl and turned to her boyfriend. She gave him a warm smile. "Steve, just let it be. Ignore her and just kiss me." She whispered softly into his ear. A playful smirk appeared on the boy's face and he dipped his girlfriend back into a long kiss.

Jonathan's jaw dropped. This was the end of his patience. He walked over stubbornly and tore the couple apart. Once Steve was further away from Nancy, Jonathan punched him square in the jaw. Nancy didn't become passive or scared this time. Three years is a long time. She'd grown in more ways than she'd imagined. "DON'T FUCKING TOUCH HIM, JONATHAN!" After hearing Nancy call his name, he turned around. "Stop it, Nancy! He took you away from me! And he has hell to pay for it!" Nancy balled up her anger as it soared into her veins. "No. You fucking took me away from him. HE SHOULD BE BEATING YOU UP. YOU JUST WANTED ME TO FOLLOW YOU TO YOUR FUCKING COLLEGE IN CALIFORNIA! I HAVE DREAMS AND I HAVE PEOPLE WHO ACTUALLY SUPPORT ME IN THOSE DREAMS. IF YOU DID, YOU'D LEAVE ME THE HELL ALONE BECAUSE STEVE IS IN MY DREAMS. Not you, Jonathan! Not you! Steve is in my dreams!" She screamed forcefully at her ex-boyfriend. Melissa attacked her from the back, jumping on top of her. 

The two boys watched in horror as Melissa began to hurt the girl whom they both adored. Scratching, clawing, drawing blood. Nancy fell to the ground, barely maintaining consciousness. Steve ran to her as Jonathan stood in awe, not doing anything. He pulled her up into his arms. "Nancy, stay with me! Just stay with me!"