The Stancy Files

Chapter 20: The Drink

      Nancy wasn't fully unconscious but was getting there. Steve began to panic. He was going to do anything to keep her awake. The crowd that had previously been surrounding Melissa was now surrounding Steve and Nancy. Jonathan was there too, standing, watching in silence. 

Angry tears flowed down Melissa's cheeks as she turned to her boyfriend. "Why did you do this, Jonathan? Why?" She lied. Jonathan frowned, walking over to her, trying to comfort her before it all blew up in both of their faces. "Mel, you know we didn't do anything. You know we didn't. I didn't even see Nancy inside... besides, she has Steve now." He muttered. The girl huffed out a shaky breath. "I'm going to get a ride home. You stay here and... do whatever you have to. I'll see you tomorrow at school, Jon." Melissa smiled sadly. She kissed him on the cheek and began to stumble towards the inside door. Jonathan watched as his girlfriend walked away. This night had become a disaster.

Steve handed Nancy off to one of his trusted friends to hold her where she had fallen while he scrambled around, looking for anything to keep her awake. While he was inside rummaging around the kitchen, the boy glanced over at Jonathan. "You take her." The boy insisted, placing Nancy in Jonathan's arms. As soon as Nancy realized who was holding her, she began to shriek. "NO! Jonathan, let me go! LET ME GO! NO!" He wouldn't budge. "Nancy, stop! You're hurt! It's okay! It's okay, Nancy!" Steve heard his girlfriend's shouts from inside the house. He came running onto the back patio and saw what was happening. With narrowed eyes, he slowly walked over to his girlfriend and her ex. Camilla came trampling behind him, apologizing over and over again for the entire situation. She was willing to do anything to help. Steve handed her a cup of punch he had brought out for Nancy. "Here, hold this." 

He turned his attention back to Nancy and the oldest Byers brother. "Jonathan, just let her go. Jonathan! Come on, man! This isn't the time for games!" The two boys made stern eye contact and Jonathan resisted. Even though it was hard, Nancy managed to kick the boy in the ribs. Jonathan was forced to let her go, and Steve caught her. She wrapped an arm around his neck as he helped her to her two feet. They halfway turned towards Camilla. She handed Steve the bright red punch, who then gave it to Nancy. The hurting girl frowned, mumbling, "I can't drink this again. Bad memories." Her boyfriend shook his head. "You have to, Nance. It's the only thing that will keep you awake." Another frown. They locked eyes as he wrapped both arms around her waist. "Please, Nance. Please." She nodded reluctantly and downed it rather quickly. "Whoa, whoa. Take it easy. Take  it easy." Steve repeated to her. 

The drowsiness and deliriousness kicked in almost immediately. Steve kept his arms around her. "Come on, Nance. Let me take you home." She pulled away a little. "No," Her words slurred. "My mom doesn't doessssn't know that thatttt I'm here. With youuuu." Steve pulled Nancy into his arms completely, carrying her to his car. "That's fine, Nancy. We'll just go back to my place. I'll call Robin to make sure she can come over. Your mom won't know my number so she can just call from my house. You're not gonna get in trouble." He drove slowly to his house with her in the back seats, still not feeling the greatest. 

Robin was just about to finish her shift when Steve called her at Family Video. "Robin, hello? Robin! Robin! Pick up the damn phone!" A voice shouted through the store's phone. She rolled her eyes. "Steve, what are you doing? You're supposed to be at that party with Nancy." He wasn't slow to impatience. "Yeah, I was, Robin. But we're at my house now, okay? She got hurt and I need you to come over as soon as you can." Her facial expression went from blank to worry in less than a second. "God! Steve, I can't! I don't have a car! Can you put Nance on the phone?!" A short pause went through the line. "No, I can't. She's a little... fuddled right now." Robin's anxiety escalated. Keith came running into the front after hearing Nancy's nickname and small bits of Robin and Steve's conversation while in the back. "Robin! We're closing now! I will drive you wherever you have to go!" Robin gave him an uncomfortable but grateful smile. "Thanks, Keith." She told the boy. She put the phone back up to her ear. "I'll be there as soon as I can. Make sure she stays awake... and away from your parents." A humorless laugh came from the other side of the line. "My parents aren't home, Robin. You know they hardly are." 

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Robin came rushing through the Harrington's front door. "Oh god! Oh god! Where is she?" She asked Steve, who was sitting daintily in the living room. "Oh, Nance? She's grabbing crackers from the kitchen." Robin was confused. "What? Steve, she's only been to your house like what... one time? Do you really think she knows where the crackers are? If she's fuddled, you can't trust what she's going to do! Go find her!" He stood up immediately, defending himself while Robin followed. "She's been to my house more than once! We dated for almost two years! And it was only one drink!" 

They walked into the kitchen to find Nancy standing there, casually eating crackers. She dropped the box of Club crackers, and turned around to her boyfriend and close friend, choosing to embrace Robin. "Oh! Robin! HI! Did you know that when you get hit on the head by your ex-boyfriend's new fake girlfriend that it hurts really bad? Worse than being hit in the head with a bowling ball?! I wonder if I did that to Vecna he'd just die... that asshole really needs to die." 

Steve pulled Nancy away and ushered her back into the living room. He sat her down right next to him on the couch to keep an eye on her. "We're calling your mom so you gotta keep it together. Okay, Nance? You gotta try your best to sound sober." The girl sat straight up in her sinking seat. "Sober. Okay. Sober. I can do that." Steve kissed her forehead and then turned to Robin. "Good luck." 

Robin dialed the Wheeler's number and waited for Karen or Ted to pick up the phone. To the trio's surprise, Mike did instead. "Hello? Who is this? El? Will?" Robin didn't know what to say for a moment. "Uhh no, sorry... this is Robin. Can I talk to your mom?" Mike was a little confused but said yes. Karen spoke through the line. "Hello? Nancy, is that you? Are you alright, honey? Do you need me to come pick you up?" Robin's facial expression became blank. "No, this is Robin. Nancy's right here actually, and she was wondering if she could spend the night. It's getting pretty late and she's too tired to go home right now. Is really close to falling asleep. Mrs. Wheeler?? Is that okay?" A line creased between the woman's eyebrows. "Can I speak with Nancy please?" Robin responded immediately. "Yes! Of course! I'm handing the phone to her now." Mrs. Wheeler had little patience. "Nancy, do you need me to come pick you up? I don't like the idea of you spending so much time with this Robin girl. She seems different." The girl breathed out a heavy breath. "I'll be fine here, mom! Promise!" The woman sighed. "Tonight only. You can ride with Robin to school. Take the bus home. Understood?" Nancy smiled to herself. "Yes!"