PANDEMONIUM [ 2 ] ↠ STRANGER THINGS

8. COME TOGETHER

PANDEMONIUM
CHAPTER EIGHT

➝ COME TOGETHER

  COLLEEN STARED UP AT THE FAMILIAR FACE THAT WAS STANDING IN FRONT OF HER, WITH WIDE AND TIRED EYES. She had hoped that she would just be able to sleep there unnoticed, before sneaking back into her house at dawn to get ready for school then take off again. But Steve must have heard the commotion, and the car driving away loudly. Steve moved closer to her, sitting down on one of the chairs beside her. Still keeping his distance, not wanting to scare her off again so soon. "Hey, Col. What are you doing out here? You know I hate it when you're out here alone. After everything that happened last year... with Barb."

Colleen rested her chin between the crease of her folded arm, "You don't have to stay out here with me, Steve. I'll be okay."

Steve shook his head and pulled his sweatshirt over his head, leaving him in one of his plain tees as he handed the sweatshirt over to her. She took it from him with a small and thankful smile, "Here, take this. You must be freezing your ass off out here."

"Thank you," She pulled the sweatshirt over her head and she could instantly smell his cologne — which she had always loved. She offered him a weak smile, as the two sat there in a slightly uncomfortable silence, "I just couldn't go home. I didn't know where else to go. And I know I fucked up the other night. I'm— I'm so so sorry, Steve."

He quickly moved from his seat and joined her on her chair, his arms instinctively wrapping around her and his hand found the back of her neck in his hand. He shook his head, "No, I'm sorry. I should have never said those things. I was wrong."

"You weren't wrong, Steve. You were spot on, about everything that I was doing." She pulled away from him, but kept her hand placed gently on his cheek. "But I'm coming to terms with everything that I've done. And I want to make things better. I want to make things right. Because last year was... Hands down, the worst year of my life, so I'm just trying to turn it back around, by fixing all my past mistakes... and that's starting with you."

Steve placed his hand over hers that was still cupping his cheek, and gave it a gentle squeeze. He gave her a smile, "You didn't do anything wrong, Colleen. You were grieving, and I told you I would to be there for you... through everything. No matter what happened or what you were getting yourself into. That was my choice."

"I took advantage of you. You were always so nice, and so patient with me. And you were always there for me, whenever I needed you. Whatever time it was when I needed you. Even when I treated you like shit. And I did. I treated you horribly, time and time again, but you didn't let that effect you."

Steve returned a smile and pulled her hand away from his face so he was clasping the between his hands, "That's what friends are for, right?" Colleen gave him a small laugh, and he looked back over to his house. "Why don't we, uh— go inside. You can sleep over."