Curious [Nancy Wheeler X Oc]

-3-

She sat on her bed, legs crossed with her arms behind her. She wasn't sure how she was supposed to be sitting to get it completely right, but this whole experiment was a trial or error.

She closed her eyes slowly, and pictured the first person to come to her mind- Nancy Wheeler.

She imagined her smile, the way she tucked the stray strands of hair behind her ears, her perfectly arched lips. Her image popped into her head and she took a deep breath in, readying herself and willing her pounding heart to slow its pace.

She focused hard and didn't notice anything at first. Then she felt it. The tingling in the back of her skull. It spread down to her neck and arms, raising goosebumps as it went. She rubbed at them subconsciously. The voices came almost instantly, pounding so loudly she gasped out, but didn't allow herself to pull away.

...Where were you this morning? I missed first period.
...figured your good pal Lydia would take you.
...don't remember anything...night

The voices began to fade despite Lydia's desperate attempts to cling to them. Steve had been with her. She heard his voice. But why was her name mentioned? She hardly had time to question before she heard a knock on the door.

***

Having Nancy in her room was the last thing Lydia had wanted. She had to urge the girl to be quiet and sneak her past her dad carefully, and then lock the door behind the two.

"What the hell are you doing here, Drew?"

"I just...I needed to know about last night. About everything that happened. And I didn't see you at school and didn't know what else to do."

"So you decide to just show up at my damn house?"

Nancy looked taken aback and a little hurt. Lydia took a deep breath and motioned for her to sit on the bed.

"So what do you need to know?"

"Everything. What happened with...with us?"

"Nothing happened. You were drunk. I was going to take you home but Jonathon said he was leaving anyways."

Nancy looked doubtful.

"I can remember bits and pieces, Lydia."

"Good for you. Do you remember trying to fuck me on the bathroom counter then? Because I sure as hell do."

"Shut up."

"You can't keep just...running from all this, Nancy. You can't keep lying to all the people who love you."

"You don't know shit about my life Lydia." She had a finger pointed in Lydia's direction and it shook violently.

Lydia collapsed on the ground in mock exasperation.

"Oh forgive me, her heiress so high and mighty."

Nancy grabbed the Walkman on Lydia's bed and threw it at her, missing completely. It hit the ground with a crunch and Lydia gasped.

"What is your damage, Wheeler! If that broke you are buying me a new one."

Lydia fiddled with the buttons, desperately trying to check if it was broken. She didn't notice the gears turning in Nancy's head, the thoughts she was forming slowly.

Nancy suddenly jumped up, shrugging her jacket back on. Lydia looked up in confusion.

"Where are you going?"

"I'll buy you a new Walkman, okay? I just...I gotta go. I'll explain it later."

She didn't bother hearing Lydia's shouts of protests as she ran from the door, quietly sneaking through the living room. She left the house unnoticed with Lydia staring after the empty hallway in confusion.

***
She had never tried something like this before. She was searching for someone, but not an ordinary someone.

She was searching for Eleven.

Eleven had powers like this- she knew how to react and how to handle it. That's what Lydia needed now. She needed answers, but more importantly she needed to talk to someone who would just understand.

She was worried when she didn't hear anything but outside noises coming from Eleven's end. It took her a few seconds to remember the girl had been practically mute, only knowing yes or no words as far as Lydia had heard.

Lydia tried to dig deeper, dig into the head of Eleven, the mind that spoke when the mouth could not.

Mama.
Girl on swing.
Pump your legs
...lost, sweetie?

It faded as quickly as it had come. Lydia sat motionless.

Mama?

Where the hell was Eleven?

And what the hell was she doing?