Basic Instinct [stranger things]

36. Advice

CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX
ADVICE

Hours later and the group of four were in the woods getting ready to hunt down Dart, all putting on gloves as Steve got the buckets of raw meat the group had spent hours gathering.

Aaron forced himself to get a grip, doing his best not to look at the raw meat in the bucket he would have to hold and touch. Hesitantly, he picked up his bucket, recoiling slightly at the smell and sight of it.

"Aaron..." Steve trailed off, pinching his nose with his fingers out of frustration as he watched his little brother. "It's just uncooked food, get a hold of yourself."

Aaron furrowed his brows, deciding to ignore the comment, clenching his jaw tightly as he did his best to refrain himself seeing as Dustin and Kimmy were with the two siblings.

With that, Steve turned away, walking around to the trunk of his car as he went to gather more things he felt the group needed for their venture, Dustin following behind him to make sure his input was heard by the older boy.

"If you don't want to touch the meat you don't have to." Kimmy whispered once the two had walked away so the other two boys wouldn't hear. "Who cares? We still have three buckets, if you don't want to hold it, don't hold it."

Aaron scrunched his face in thought, turning to look behind him at the two boys who were seemingly in an argument.

Aaron seriously considered it, ultimately deciding the comments he would receive about not manning up and to just hold the bucket sent his way from his brother wasn't worth it.

"It's okay," Aaron shrugged with a sigh, still refusing to look at the bucket of meat at his feet. "He's right, I need to get a grip of myself."

Aaron watched the girl in front of him carefully, surprised to see her frowning at him after hearing his response.

Aaron then frowned in return, suddenly worried he'd said something he shouldn't have. "What?"

"It really doesn't matter what Steve thinks of you, Aaron." Kimmy replied in a whisper, pausing as she looked behind her to see if the boy could hear her, continuing when she realised he couldn't. "I know you think it does now, but if he makes you feel like you have to push yourself out of your comfort zone and make yourself uncomfortable, then fuck what he thinks."

Aaron looked to her with a surprised expression, unable to hide the look that came over his face.

The blond began to panic slightly, not wanting to look like he had to always do what Steve said to keep him happy or look like he allowed the boy to walk all over him. But deep down Aaron knew it was true, he didn't handle Steve being angry at him well, but then again he didn't handle feeling like anyone was angry at him well.

"I don't- it doesn't make me feel uncomfortable." Aaron lied, straightening his back to try and make himself look more confident than he felt. "It's a stupid thing to get worked up about anyway-"

"It's not stupid if it matters to you." Kimmy reminded him with a pointed look. "So what, you don't like germs? Guess what, Aaron? There is nothing wrong with that, everyone has stuff they're scared of and don't like. I don't know why they make it out like you're the only one."

Aaron didn't know if Kimmy was referring to Steve or the party but he assumed it could have been a bit of both.

Aaron didn't respond to her, looking to her with a blank expression that did not do his thoughts justice. Aaron's mind was a mess, not really knowing what to say.