people are strange ♔ steve harrington x oc

• 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟏𝟔 •

~ 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐌𝐈𝐍𝐃 𝐅𝐋𝐀𝐘𝐄𝐑 ~
𝐒𝐔𝐍𝐃𝐀𝐘, 𝟒𝐓𝐇 𝐎𝐅 𝐍𝐎𝐕𝐄𝐌𝐁𝐄𝐑 𝟏𝟗𝟖𝟒

It was a terrifying sprint from the junkyard, back into the woods, with Jenny and her bat in front, and Steve and his bat in the back, showing no signs of slowing down until they were absolutely sure they were in the clear.

They couldn't realistically keep that pace up forever though, and eventually, they slowed to a walking pace when everyone agreed they'd take the risk to save their lungs.

"Are you okay, after yknow, chucking up your guts and then running?" Steve asked, coming up to the front to walk with Jenny. She let out a shaky breath.

"I haven't really thought about how I should feel," She said. "We're not out of the woods yet."

He nodded and they returned to silence for a while, but Jenny could tell Steve kept wanting to say something.

"What is it?" She asked, shouldering him gently as they walked.

He hesitated for a moment, "Are you and Tim...?"

"Dating?!" Jenny finished, and Steve looked away. "Oh God no. No, he's just a friend."

"A friend?" Steve repeated, clearly not buying it.

"A special friend," Jenny said, rolling her eyes. "It was casual. He gave me a discount on weed so... and he's a pretty chill guy."

Steve looked deep in thought for a few paces. He went to say something else when the children's conversation behind them switched back to the Demogorgans.

"You're positive that was Dart?" Lucas asked for what seemed the umpteenth time that evening.

"Yes," Dustin repeated with a sigh. "He had the same exact yellow pattern on his butt."

"He was tiny two days ago," Max pointed out.

"Yeah, well, he's moulted three times already."

"Malted?" Steve asked.

"Moulted. Shed his skin to make room for growth like hornworms."

"Ah yes, hornworms! We all know 'em," Steve muttered sarcastically, throwing his arms up.

"Well when's he gonna moult again?" Jenny asked frantically.

"It's gotta be soon. When he does, he'll be fully grown, or close to it. And so will his friends."

"Yeah, and he's gonna eat a lot more than just cats," Steve quipped with a snort.

"Wait, a cat? Dart ate a cat?" Lucas said, stepping in front of Dustin and shoving him backwards. Everyone stopped.

"No, what? No..."

"What are you talking about? You dragged me out of bed because he ate Mews," Jenny pointed out. Dutin looked frantically between Steve, Jenny and a fuming Lucas.

"Mews?"

"It's Dustin's cat–"

"Steve!"

"I knew it! You kept him!" Lucas cried, shoving Dustin again and stamping his feet in annoyance.

"No!" Dustin tried to deny it. "No. No, I... No, I... Okay yes, yes I did. He missed me okay!? He wanted to come home!"

"Bullshit!"

"I didn't know he was a Demogorgon!"

"Oh, so now you admit it?"

"Guys, who cares? We have to go," Max tried futility to interject.