Kissing Habits.

16. Refrigerator Dreams

Chapter Sixteen
Refrigerator Dreams

RUNNING THROUGH THE BUNGALOW, THEODORA MET CAMILA IN THE KITCHEN. The latter had her rope in hand, slinging a roll of silver duct tape around the end of her weapon, where she'd nicked one of the Byers' kitchen knives to add to the makeshift blade.

"Oh, my God, Cam, you'll never guess what I've just seen!" Theo squealed, bringing her hands to her friend's sides and squeezing, causing Camila to squeak and drop her things to the counter top.

Chuckling, she spun around, back to the counter. "I seriously don't think I can, considering we've just met a girl who can kill aliens with her mind."

Tucking some matted hair behind her ear, Theodora shook her head. "No, it's not crazy like that. This is real-world crazy."

"Okay, sure. What happened, then?" Camila hummed as she turned back around, ripping the strip of tape she'd been using from its roll, and patting it down against the rope.

With an ever-so-casual shrug, Theodora stood against the counter top, jeaned hip against the wood. "Well, it wasn't my fault the window was open when I was snooping in the kid's bedroom."

Eyebrows furrowing, Camila sent a glance to her friend. "You were filing through a possessed kid's bedroom?"

"Not the point. I was looking for a hairbrush." And she ran a few fingers through the ends of her hair, barely getting them past the knots; maybe she should raid Joyce's bedroom next. "Anyways, the window was open, and I saw Nancy and Steve talking outside," she continued, tone hushed, eyes wide in excitement.

It always seemed to be Steve nowadays. Sure, she'd kissed him, but it wasn't like it had meant to be him. Now everything seemed to be a sign.

At her friend's lack of response, Theodora pushed further, leaning in closer. "I think he's over her!"

When Camila glanced over at her, Theo looked manic, the Steve-Nancy-Camila business seeming to be the only thing keeping her alive at this point.

"And what makes you think that?" She muttered, clenching her teeth together in the back of her jaw, to try to contain the hopeful smile daring to inhabit her lips. "Wasn't he just talking about her earlier, sounding all lovesick and shit?"

"Because he was insisting Nancy go with Jonathan!" Theodora squealed again, bringing a hand up to cover her huge grin. "And Nancy seemed so awkward, but Steve didn't even seem sad; he looked like he's just accepted it. You know what this means, right?"

Yes, but she wasn't going to let Theodora have her win like that, so, instead, she shook her head and gave a shrug. "Not at all."

With a roll of her eyes, Theo scoffed. "It means you can get in there!"

"No way-" Was the first thing Camila's mouth moved to say, only to be cut off by her chatterbox Turkish best friend.

"Yes! You already kissed. I guess you just need to go about this backwards; get to know him now, ask him out, start dating, then kiss some more."

"No, Theo, no," Camila shook her head, finally looking up. Although she didn't want to rain on Theo's parade, this was serious. She placed a firm hand on the counter, putting her weapon down. "He's just gotten out of a year-long relationship, and the girl started hanging out with another guy right after. That isn't right. Maybe for Theo Özdemir it is, but not for me."