❛ 𝔦 𝔡𝔬𝔫'𝔱 𝔴𝔞𝔫𝔱 𝔱𝔬 𝔰𝔴𝔦𝔪 𝔣𝔬𝔯𝔢𝔳𝔢𝔯, 𝔴𝔥𝔢𝔫 𝔦𝔱'𝔰 𝔠𝔬𝔩𝔡 𝔦'𝔡 𝔩𝔦𝔨𝔢 𝔱𝔬 𝔡𝔦𝔢. ❜
→ * . & ━━ a girl by the name
of sar, who can walk through dreams, finds
herself drawn to her hometown and into a
bigger m...
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THE INSIDE OF THE BUS SMELT LIKE RUST AND DAMPNESS. It was too cold for Sara's liking and she'd drawn her knees up to her chest and pulled her sweater down over them. The girl was currently in a ball of yellow curled sitting on the seats, leaning her head on Steve's shoulder. She was tired, and every now and then her head would throb with pain again.
They'd executed the rest of their plan, dousing gasoline right up to the door of the bus like the plan from last year. Night had fallen quickly on them. The bus had been heavily fortified so there were about two layers of junk metal on either side, and Sar had no doubt it could hold out a baby demogorgon. "You really fought one of these things before?" Max asked them. She was sitting across from them by the window, eyes squinted, despite how much Sar had urged Lucas to take her home. Steve nodded, staring at his lighter as he flicked it on and off. Sara raised her head at the question, looking over at the young girl.
"It was bigger. Much bigger. On two legs. Almost got us," Sar told her, nodding dozily. She still seemed to be fatigued after pulling herself into Will's mind. "I hit it with an axe." Max seemed confused at Sar's random final contribution and Sar realised she really did say random stuff when she was exhausted. She just held her own axe in the air for a point.
The red-head shook her head, looking doubtful. "And you're like, totally 100% sure it wasn't a bear?"
"Bear's faces don't open up," Sar supplied helpfully.
Max scrunched her face. "Well, maybe—"
"Shit, don't be an idiot. Okay?" Dustin interrupted. "It wasn't a bear. Why are you even here if you don't believe us? Just go home." Sar's eyebrows shut up at Dustin's outburst, blinking in surprise. Max mirrored the same expression as she stood.
"Yeesh. Someone's cranky. Past your bedtime?" Her lips were flattened in irritation as she climbed the ladder to the roof, where Lucas was keeping an eye out. Sar watched her disappear before turning back to Dustin with her mouth slightly open.
"That's good," Steve said, giving Dustin a grin. "Just show her you don't care." Sar turned to Steve and raised her eyebrows.
Dustin gave him a look. "I don't." Steve gave him a wink and Dustin threw down his arms. "Why are you winking, Steve? Stop." Steve just shook his head and shrugged, returning to flicking the lighter cap.
Dustin moved to pace at the opposite end of the school bus while Sar just observed the interaction curiously. She bumped her shoulder against Steve's. "You give the worst advice, you know that?" Sar whispered, out of hearing of Dustin.
He narrowed his eyes in confusion. "What?"
"'Show her you don't care'." She put up finger quotations. "That's total bull." She saw him wince slightly at the word and she touched his elbow comfortingly. "Sorry. What I mean is, girls care if you care. That 'King Steve' shit may work in driving random girls crazy, but it's not what girls who are really into you want. Think of Nance, yeah? They want boys who will care for them." She shrugged after a moment, turning her eyes away. "I know you know how to do that." She thought about the hour earlier. "Just, stop giving the kid bad advice. Max doesn't want someone who doesn't give a shit about her." She looked back over at where Dustin was slumped grumpily against the bus window. Sara shrugged again and slid back down against the seat. "Just some advice." She closed her eyes, resting her head against his arm. Steve watched her thoughtfully as the girl started to drift off. The girl shifted closer, curling up against his warm side. She really did want to stay in his warmth forever.
