PANDEMONIUM [ 2 ] ↠ STRANGER THINGS

2. HEAT OF THE MOMENT

PANDEMONIUM
CHAPTER TWO

➝ HEAT OF THE MOMENT

COLLEEN WAS SPRAWLED OUT ACROSS THE BACKSEAT OF STEVE'S BMW, HER BROWN COMBAT BOOTS PROPPED OUT THE WINDOW. She was wearing a pair of dark sunglasses, nursing her hangover. She was taking a long drag of her cigarette while Nancy was reading over Steve's most recent essay for his college applications. Though, she had to admit, it certainly wasn't the best paper she'd ever read. Steve wasn't the best writer. He had a big heart and was a great athlete, but writing was definitely not his strong suit.

"Do you think I should start from scratch?"

"No," Nancy shook her head, "No. It's okay. It just needs a little re-organizing. Do you mind if a work on it a little? When's the deadline?"

Steve deeply exhaled and his eyes were wide, "It's tomorrow, for early applications. Can— can you help me tonight?" Puppy eyes.

"We have dinner tonight, but we can work on it sometime during the day." Steve let out a groan and her mouth snapped shut when she realized that he had forgotten. She knew this was her idea, but she just wanted a little support from him. She shook her head, "You forgot. We already cancelled last week, we can't cancel—"

He swallowed hard, "It's fine. It's okay."

Nancy let out a breath, "You don't have to go. It's okay. I can just go by myself."

"No, I mean, if I'm being honest... What— what's the point of all this? I'm just gonna end up working for my dad anyway." He crumpled up the piece of paper and threw it behind him into the backseat, smacking Colleen on top of the head. She let out a groan before kicking the back of his seat with the bottom of her boot as hard as she could. He sent her a glare through the rear view mirror, "I mean, would that be such a bad thing? It has insurance, and benefits, and all that adult stuff."

Colleen started reading the paper and let out a snort, Steve turned his head around and rolled his eyes when he found her reading the paper and holding back another laugh. He turned around and reached into the backseat, "Alright, okay. You don't have to be an ass. Give it back."

"Sometimes I wonder why I was the one who got held back a year?" She chuckled loudly but then she swallowed hard, her entire demeanor changing. Her voice growing cold. "Oh yeah, that's right. That's what happens when your mom d—"

Nancy fake coughed to clear the awkwardness and Steve let out a sigh, "Colleen."

"Oh, sorry. Am I being too morbid?"

Colleen pushed the car door open to get out when an engine revved loudly as it pulled into the school parking lot. She looked over to find a blue Camaro pulling into a spot, wearing a California license plate on the back of it. She climbed out of Steve's car and shut the door behind her, taking another drag of her cigarette and shifting the bag on her shoulder. She pressed her back against the car as she watched the door open. A pair of black boots and blue jeans appeared, followed by a long haired blond boy climbing out of the car.