𝐇𝐈𝐓𝐒 𝐃𝐈𝐅𝐅𝐄𝐑𝐄𝐍𝐓 - 𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐯𝐞 𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐭𝐨𝐧

26. landslide

THREE MONTHS LATER

Aubrey was at The Cabin, not fixing it up, but collecting what was left of her belongings. She wasn't alone, Steve, Beatrice, Ruth, Nick, Robin, Nancy, Jonathan, and Joyce were there as well. Joyce was gathering Hopper's items, Nancy and Jonathan taking care of El's. The others just helping wherever they could.

"You can take this out to the car." Steve handed Ruth another box of Aubrey's stuff. She nodded and carried it out.

It was just Aubrey and Steve in the almost empty room now. Her bed, desk, and dresser remained. She already had all of those at her mom's house. Aubrey sat down on the bare mattress, fiddling with her hands.

"I can come over and help you unpack all of it." Steve offered, sitting next to her.

The last three months had been brutal, but he was trying his best. There isn't really a "how-to" book on helping your girlfriend grieve her dead father.

"I'll probably just keep it in the boxes." she said quietly.

"What?" Steve asked, "Why would you do that?"

She looked up at him, "My mom sold the house."

"Oh, that's right." he remembered seeing the FOR SALE sign in their yard, "Did she find a new place?" she nodded, remaining quiet. "Uh, where's it at?" he asked her then, wondering why all of the sudden she was being weird about this.

Aubrey broke down in tears, "Hey, hey, what's wrong?" he rubbed her back, fully worrying now about what she was about to say.

"California." she got out.

Steve faltered, "Wait, what?" he asked.

"She got a job, found a house, we're moving to California." she cried.

He placed his hand over his mouth, trying to rack his brain around this, "When?"

She sniffled, "In a week."

"Oh my god." he stood up, now pacing the room.

"I wanted to tell you sooner, Steve, I swear."

"So you tell me a week beforehand?" he laughed dryly, "Oh my god, I- I can't even comprehend this."

"Steve, please don't be mad."

He shook his head, "I'm not mad, I... I'm terrified." he looked at her, "Aubrey, I can't lose you."

She shook her head, "Steve..."

"You can't- you can't leave. I mean, do you even want to go?!"

"No, not at all." she confessed, "I wanted to leave more than anything not even a year ago. But everything I've ever loved is here in Hawkins," her voice broke, "My dad is here. How am I supposed to just leave him?" she cried, "I don't have another choice though."

Steve thought for a moment, "Yes, you do." he kneeled down in front of her, grabbing her hands, "You can stay with me."

Aubrey laughed in his face, wiping her tears, "I'm serious, Aubrey. My parents are gone, they're gonna be on that cruise until like... December!"

"You really think my mom is gonna leave her teenage daughter to live with her boyfriend?"

"I'll convince her, I can convince her right now. I'm not letting you leave us."