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CHAPTER TWO: LEADS AND THEORIES _____________
THE RAIN POURED down so hard that Ophelia assumed it wouldn't let up until morning. She had the living room windows open just a crack, to let the cold breeze in. The day had been hot and she was thankful for the nights change in weather. Valerie was still at work, leaving her sister home alone. The younger girl was seated on the couch writing in her journal. Making note of the day.
After her previous meltdown she found herself confused. She knew why she panicked. But she had never felt the need to turn to Steve like that before. Or had such an intense jealousy filled her body. Seeing him with that girl ripped something inside of her apart. She thought hard about why she cared. They were just friends she thought. Sure, there was a slight touch at times. Or a funny look in his eyes.
But there was also that night in the tunnels. Her arm was bandaged up and he saw the way her teeth gritted in pain. They hadn't spoken since she helped him pick out flowers for Nancy. Roses, she remembered distinctly, The perfect way to say "I'm sorry, I love you' to the woman he loved. He found himself stopping, letting the kids head in front for a minute before catching up to her as she'd been trailing in the back. And he asked her if she was alright. She found it funny. Considering he'd most likely had a concussion from the blows Billy had given him. And then he told her she was one of the most important women in his life. A big shocker. And when the demo dogs came running through the tunnel and they pushed Dustin up through the hole, hearing the urgency and pleading of the kids, knowing they were seconds from death, out of time. He grabbed her to him so tightly, so desperately. And she slowly opened her eyes to see him staring down at her with tears brimming his own. And then he did it, held his forehead to hers. Breathing in and out. It wasn't a kiss. Hell he didn't even say I love you. But he didn't have to. She knew it.
She quickly shut her journal, a hard expression on her face.
"I'm so fucked" she spoke to herself. She cared about him. Maybe after all these years it had formed into love. She felt uneasy.
There was the noise of a car pulling up outside, and a beam of hide lights reflecting into the living room. Ophelia turned her head and squinted her eyes. She stood up and walked over by the tv, peeking through the blinds.
"What the hell?" She muttered to herself. She watched as Nancy Wheeler and Jonathan Byers ran up to Mrs. Driscolls door. They knocked and waited a few seconds before opening the door and walking inside. It wasn't like the older woman to not answer the door, nor let in strangers at the hour. Ophelia ran over to her slippers across the room and bolted out the front door in a panic.
"Mrs. Driscoll...It's Nancy...."
Nancy called out to the woman as Ophelia stepped inside, a floorboard giving her away to the startled couple.
