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HOW VALENTINAENDED UP standing on the doorstep of the Wheeler Family's home, sweating and panting while she tried to explain the process of grief to the incapable brain of Ted Wheeler, she couldn't tell you.
After running behind Dustin's small but fast bike for what felt like a million miles—and tripping over her own feet twice—the boy was out of view, somewhere behind Valentina and grumbling to himself about how unhelpful the father at the door was. Valentina couldn't disagree there, but she was still pissed that she had to chase the boy across Hawkins. And now, she had to apologize to the Wheelers for Dustin's disturbance.
"He lost his cat, and- y'know, he's just... grieving?" she rambled on, throwing her hands in odd gestures that didn't remotely correlate to the nonsense that was spewing out of her mouth. Valentina was grasping for straws. She didn't even know what Dustin needed so desperately from Mike and Nancy. Ted just stared at her with a bored look, and for once she couldn't blame him.
"Okay."
He didn't even nod, and that same expression remained on his face. Valentina sucked a sharp breath through her teeth, taking a step back and averting her eyes from the uncomfortable stare of the man's hollow eyes.
After her foot slid off the concrete step and she stumbled to catch herself on the ground, she finally looked back to the father. "Yeah, okay. Have a nice day then!" she grinned cheerfully. Her cheeks hurt almost as much as her legs did after plastering a fake smile for Ted Wheeler and running multiple miles, now bringing her fall-count to a whopping three.
She was going to kill Dustin after this. If she knew this much running would be involved, she would've just hung out with her mom.
Ted didn't say goodbye and simply closed the door, shutting it in Valentina's face with a harsh wind that blew her frizzy hair over her shoulders. Her mock smile dropped as soon as she was met with the face of the door.
Walking back through the grass to where she hoped Dustin would still be, Valentina released a grateful sigh once she heard his voice. She was glad she wouldn't have to track him down again. That gratitude faded, though, when not only did she hear the sound of Dustin's voice, but also another eerily familiar one.
"Where is she?" the boy asked, and Valentina's feet skidded to a stop.
Coming around the winding path, Valentina was met with the backside of a particular brunette, dressed in blue jeans and a gray jacket. Valentina tried not to stare, but she was caught like a deer in headlights until bright red movement in his hands drew her attention.
"Doesn't matter," Dustin yelled, stomping up to the passenger seat of a burgundy BMW that Valentina wished was hers for several reasons. "We have bigger issues than your love life!"
The older brunette began sputtering for a response, but his voice—along with his entire body—came to a halt when it was interrupted.
"Steve?" Valentina asked against her own will. Her voice sounded weary, but she couldn't stop herself from making her presence known once Dustin's last words dawned upon her.
