you are not alone → stranger things

x. all the right moves

Saturday evening, January 6, 1984
Nancy's POV

Saturday passed in a blur of secrets and hiding Eleven. One time Mom almost caught us when she started unlocking my door, but I had quickly pressed myself to the door so she couldn't open it. "I'm changing, Mom!"

Eleven woke up around noon, panicked, and tried to throw herself out the window. Mike came in just in time to calm her down. The poor girl was shaking uncontrollably. I pretended not to notice when Mike took her in his arms and laid on the floor with her, but a smile still slipped through. Young love was adorable.

Mike's friends came over too. They could barely believe their eyes when they saw Eleven. What idiots.

That night, we convinced El to move down to the basement so I could sleep. Mike said he would stay down there with her, but I thought that would be suspicious since he was "better" now. Whatever.

I was in my room reading after dinner when there was a tap on my window. Steve. I opened the window and hissed, "What are you doing?"

"What, I'm supposed to sit at home with my parents all day?" He grinned. "Come on. We can see All The Right Moves again."

I hesitated, then nodded. "Let me change first."

He cocked an eyebrow. "Can I watch?"

I rolled my eyes playfully. "You're an idiot, Steve Harrington. Get out." I quickly threw on jeans and a striped sweater and ran downstairs. "Mom, I'm going out!" I called, shrugging on a jacket.

"To where?" Mom appeared quickly, crossing her arms.

"The movies," I said, hoping she wouldn't ask-

"With who?"

Shit. "Steve," I mumbled, throwing the door open.

Mom was silent for a moment. "Be back by ten."

I nodded quickly and ran out the door.

Steve was waiting in his car, the headlights piercing the darkening air. He leaned over from the driver's side and opened the passenger door for me. "All The Right Moves?" he asked as a greeting.

"Yep," I replied, getting in and buckling the seat belt.

After a few minutes, Steve spoke. "I've missed you, babe. We haven't been spending as much time together lately."

I smiled and looked over at him. "I missed you too."

Then we were at the movie theater, a little place by the furniture store. Traces of red spray paint were still visible on the marquee, making me cringe slightly, remembering. But Steve had changed since then.

We had settled in to our seats a few minutes later with a big bucket of popcorn when it happened.

"Didn't expect to see you here, Harrington!"

Tommy and Carol sauntered in to the mostly empty theater, both smirking. "What a coincidence!" Carol mocked in a high-pitched voice, turning to Tommy. "Almost as if we saw them come in and just had to join them!"

"Go away," I spat at them.

Carol turned her sickly sweet grin to me. "Oh, hey, it's the slut again! Have you seen that loser lately? The Byers one?"

"Shut up, Carol," Steve growled.

Tommy snickered. "What, are you in it too, Stevie boy? Having orgies, are you?"

"Shut up!" Steve stood, popcorn bucket flying, and ran at him. But he was no match for Tommy, who quickly threw him in an aisle and ran away with Carol, laughing loudly.

I ran over to Steve. "Are you okay?" His lip was busted.

He slowly got up and sneered at me. "Thanks for the help."

I was taken aback. "What?"

"You could have helped me take that idiot, and maybe it would have turned out better for us!"

"Steve, I..."

Pain shot through my cheek, and at first I didn't know what happened. Then Steve stormed out, and I realized.

He had slapped me.

I stood there for a moment before realizing that the few people in the theater were all staring at me. I felt tears rising to my eyes and ran out after Steve, but he had already left, leaving me stranded in town. I sat down against a wall and began to sob in my hands. My cheek still hurt. He hit me. Steve Harrington had hit me.

"Are you okay?"

A deep voice. I looked up and saw that new boy. I didn't know his name, but there had been rumors that he killed someone at his last school. I flinched away.

He held his hands up like he was surrendering. "I was just wondering."

"I- I'm- I'm fine," I stammered tearily, wiping my nose with my sleeve.

He looked down at me. "Are you sure? Do you need a ride?"

Before I could comprehend what was happening, he had helped me up and was leading me to a nearby black Camaro. I didn't pull away.

I looked at him from the corner of my eye. He was cute- muscular, nice hair, with a slight stubble. He had an edgy air about him.

He caught my eye, and I quickly looked away. He had caught me staring, dammit.

"I'm Billy, by the way," he said a few minutes later as he started the car.

"Nancy." I stared out the window.

"Where should I go?"

I told him, and about ten silent minutes later we were at my house. "Thanks," I said quietly, getting out.

"Wait." He retrieved a pen and a piece of paper from the console and scribbled something down. "Call me if you ever need anything, okay?"

I nodded and numbly took the paper. He drove away, and I watched him go before going inside again. Billy made me feel strange, but in a good way.

I suddenly remembered Eleven and dashed down to the basement, not bothering to tell Mom hello. She and Mike were down there, with Mike reading some book to her. So cute.

I went to my room and touched my cheek gingerly. There was going to be a bruise.