Undercover - Steve Harrington x Y/N

Chapter 11

      Things were different at Lenora. Much different. El and I started going to school right off the bat. My grades weren't too bad. B's and lower A's.
The people there sucked. They were all assholes, but it was fine. I was okay.
       I got my drivers license.
Steve and I talked everyday. Sometimes it was difficult. Joyce took up a telemarketer job, so she was constantly on the phone.
Christmas time came around, and we went back to Hawkins.
The flight was nerve wrecking. Owen's gave me some sort of relaxer, as I had been having major anxieties.
I purposefully told Steve I was coming a day later than I actually was. A nice little surprise. We had rented a car, so we drove to the Wheeler's first. Everyone got out except me.
       I drove straight to Family Video. The place Steve worked. I pulled in. Steve was doing something with his back turned away from the front. I got out and Robin immediately saw me. She was reorganizing some things.
       I put my finger on my lip to shush her, then walked in.
       "Hi, welcome to Family Video. Just ask if you need anything." Steve said, without turning around. I smiled at Robin.
       "Oh, thank you." I said. He lifted his head up. "You know, I'm actually looking for someone." He turned around.
       "Hey! You're back!" He exclaimed. He walked out from the counter and immediately hugged me. Robin walked over and hugged me after he stopped.
      "Hey." She said.
      "Hi." I replied. Steve hugged me again.
      "I thought you weren't supposed to get in until tomorrow. Christmas Eve." He said.
      "I lied." I replied.
      "I can see that." He said. "Hey, uh, Robin.."
      "I got it. Go have fun." She said. He smiled.
      We walked out to the rented car. "So, where to, Y/N?" He asked.
       "I have to go back to the Wheeler's. Mom want's me to visit them for awhile, but then, wherever you want. Oh, also, I'm meeting with Brian and Sharon on Christmas day. Do you want to come? We're just getting dinner." I rambled. "Oh! Also, I have to study because the day after I get back I have a huge test. Oh, we also have to go to the store today. I forgot that I hadn't actually bought the gift I thought I bought for Nancy.
We can get you something while we're there too. Anything you want. I already have something, of course, but just as an additional-"
"Baby, can we get in the car?" He asked.
"Oh, yeah!" I said. I unlocked it and got in. I turned the car on. "Is there anything you want to do? Maybe we could go to that ice rink! Or just stay home and make hot cocoa. It's really up to you."
I finally shut up. "Are you done?" He asked.
"I think so." I replied.
"That sound's fine, Darling." He said. "All of it."
I backed out of the parking spot. "Hey, so, have you made any new friends?" He asked. It had been a few weeks since we'd spoken last. I had been busy with school, and making the plans to come home. I pulled out of the parking lot and started to drive to the Wheeler's.
"Uh.. yeah." I said. I lied. The truth was, I was being bullied. Like I said, they were all assholes. "But, uh, they aren't important."
"Okay." He said. "So long as you're still happy there, that's fine."
I wasn't happy there. It sucked there. I was still hallucinating Hopper, which sucked, the kid's in my grade sucked, being alone sucked, the therapy sucked, though I think that sucks almost everywhere, and it wasn't helping me.
We went to Lenora for a fresh start, and we got one. But it wasn't worth it. At least not for me.
Things were really bad for awhile. I could barely sleep, I had been having nightmares. Mostly about Billy, but also about what could be happening back at home, and they have little to no protection.
I tapped the steering wheel as I stopped for a stop sign. I looked both ways about 10 times before crossing.
"You're a very cautious driver." He said. "That's a good thing."
We had pulled into the Wheeler's driveway. I parked, then turned the car off. We got out and walked into the Wheeler's.
"Hey!" Mrs. Wheeler said as we walked in. "You're back!" She ran up to me and hugged me.
Nancy walked over and hugged me as well.
I sat next to Joyce, and Steve sat next to me. "Hey, how were the roads? I know Owens said-" She started.
"I'm fine." I said, cutting her off. "Sorry, I'm fine. Really. They weren't too bad." I didn't want Steve to know about any of this. Then he'd just be worried about me.
He grabbed my hand as everyone chatted. Nancy and Jonathan had gone upstairs, and Mike and El went to the basement.
"So, Y/N, your mother says you've been busy up there." Mrs. Wheeler said. "A and B student. That's pretty good."
"Uh, yeah." I said. "Yeah. Really busy."
"That's good, though." Mr. Wheeler said. "Gets your mind off of-" Mrs. Wheeler kicked his calf. "Sorry."
"It's fine.. yeah, it's been really helpful." I said. Steve gripped my hand slightly.
"I'm sure." Mrs. Wheeler said. "How are you liking it there? Have you made any new friends?"
"Oh, uh, yeah. A few.." I said. Joyce looked at me. I gave her a desperate look and looked back toward Steve. She nodded once.
"Oh, really?" Mrs. Wheeler asked. "That's fantastic to hear.
"Yeah." I replied.
After another hour or so, Steve and I left. We went to the store and I bought Nancy something.
Steve fought with me over buying him a second gift, but I bought him a watch anyways.
We ended up going back to his house. We watched a movie. This time, actually watching it. I didn't engage, and neither did he. We were just comfortable cuddling.
I was kind of happy he didn't want to.

Christmas Eve, he gave me his gift to me, and I gave him mine. I had bought him a nice bomber jacket.
I opened the box and it was a purse. It was cute, but looked expensive. "Steve-" I started.
"No 'Steve, you shouldn't have blah blah blah.' bullshit. Do you like it or not?" He asked.
"Yes." I said. "It's just-"
"No. It's fine. I like spending money on you." He said.
"Are you sure?" I asked. He nodded.
The next two days went by quickly, and then it was time to go back to Lenora.
I hugged him tightly, knowing it would be awhile before I saw him again.
Then, we went home.
That brings us to spring break. Well, almost.
The day before, actually. The day went on as normal. Snide comments about me. My family.
Nothing I couldn't handle. Plus, I was going back to Hawkins the next day. I was in a better mood. They weren't going to ruin it.
       I got out of school earlier than usual. I decided to just go finish packing.
       I did a little bit of schoolwork, then I took a shower and went to sleep much earlier than normal.
       The next morning, El ran into my room with excitement. Mike was coming to California.
       She dragged me out of bed. "El! I can't make him come faster." I said. I got dressed, as I listened to her explain everything that they were going to do. I smiled.
       "I was thinking I'd take him to the roller rink where Mom had that party, remember?" She asked. I nodded. "What will you and the others back home do?"
        "I haven't really thought of it." I said. That was of course a lie. Steve and I were going to have a date night, I'd spend time with Dustin and Lucas, and avoid Max at all costs.
        Robin and I made plans to do a few things as well. It was going to be perfect.
      "Okay." She replied. She was practically jumping as I did a little bit of makeup, then fixed my hair. My flight was a little bit later than when Mike got in, so Jonathan and Argyle, his friend, were going to drop me off when we got him.
      I grabbed my bags and put by the door, then grabbed something to eat.
      Soon enough, Argyle showed up and we all loaded up.
      I checked in my baggage, went through security, and said goodbye, then I walked to my gate.
      I waited by the gate, when two men approached me. They showed me badges. I recognized them.
      "Owens needs to speak with you. In private, right now." One of them said. "Come with us, One."
      I stood up and willingly went with them. Owens stopped reaching out a month ago. If he was making contact now, something big must have happened.
      They put me in a car and drove. We drove for hours. We ended up in the middle of no where. There was only a cement building with a door. We walked to it, and they opened it with some sort of code.
      We walked down a flight of stairs. I immediately saw Owens.
      "Y/N! There you are. How are you?" He asked.
      "Fine.." I said. "What's so important you dragged me so far from home?"
      "Straight to the point.. well, I have some bad news." He said. I stood straighter. "Your friends are in grave danger."
       "Why? What happened?" I asked.
      "Henry Creel. Your cousin." A voice said. I knew that voice from anywhere. "My dear, let me tell you a story." Brenner walked down the hallway. "Many, many years ago, there was a man named Victor Creel. Your real father's brother.
      "He move to Hawkins after the war. He bought a house for his family. A beautiful wife, and two children. A boy and a girl.
      "Not long after they moved in, the wife, Virginia, started to notice.. weird things happening around her house. She suspected it was her son. Henry was his name. She came to me to help him.
      "Not long before he was brought to me, Victor murdered his family. Or, that's what was said. You see, my dear One, Henry was the original you. He killed his family. His father was.. unfortunate enough to survive.
      "Henry was so drained from the murders. We announced him dead to the world, then took him in. I attempted to tame the boy, but he was too far gone.
      "We kept him around, though. He became too.. important. You might remember him. A troubled young man, indeed. He tried to help you escape once. He told you the truth. You have since forgotten, I'm sure.
      "He was banished by Eleven. Banished to the Upside-Down. That is why you searched it. This is why this is happening. Why all of this has happened." He explained. "All of it."
      "What do you mean?" I asked.
      "We believe he became the monsters. He's controlling them somehow. We aren't sure, though.
      What we are sure of, is that he's back. Last night, a girl was killed in the same manner as the Creel's slaughter. Her bones snapped in the same way. Her eyes gone." He continued. "Henry is back. And he has something big planned. We aren't sure what, but he's coming for Hawkins."
       "Why am I here then? I should be in Hawkins trying to kill him." I said.
       "You must be prepared. You aren't fully ready. To go up against him alone now is a suicide mission." He said. "You must know what you're up against, and how to defeat him. You must find your limits, and you must learn how to push them."
       I stared at him. "By how much?" I asked.
      "As much as needed." He replied. I looked at the ground. "I understand your hesitation. You should know this is not an option. You must save us all. Who knows what Creel is planning? We must stop him."
       "Okay." I said.