𝘳𝘰𝘰𝘵𝘣𝘦𝘦𝘳 𝘧𝘭𝘰𝘢𝘵𝘴 ~ 𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐯𝐞 𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐭𝐨𝐧

Chapter Six

Chapter Six:
Softie Harrington
.・。.・゜✭・.・✫・゜・。.

R

amona groaned, her feet dragging across the dirt of the train tracks. The bite on her arm throbbed, causing a dull aching pain to spread from the wound to the tips of her fingers. The piece of fabric ripped from both Steve and Ramona's shirts was stained red from the amount of blood seeping from the teeth marks on her upper arm. Ramona had never seen this much blood loss from herself in her life, not even when she completely broke her arm in seventh grade. She was honestly surprised she was still somewhat lucid.

Steve had his arm around her shoulders to keep the drowsy girl upright instead of face down in the dirt.

"Harrington, if this gets infected and I die.. I'm gonna haunt your ass." Ramona's voice was quiet as she focused on walking and keeping her feet straight. "¡No quiero morir, realmente no quiero morir!"

Steve stopped in his tracks, turning Ramona to face him. "Hey, hey, hey. I told you I wasn't gonna let you die, and I'm not, alright? I promise."

Ramona nodded, sluggishly continuing her pace with him. "Hope you know, this'll be the only time you're this close to me, Harrington. Still strongly dislike you."

"And I still strongly dislike you, García." Steve countered, "Hey, Jesus, be careful! Don't trip over that rock."

"Oh, thanks." Ramona mumbled, blinking slowly as she avoided the rock.

Max and Lucas shared a look with each other, having a silent conversation with their eyes. Max did not buy that either of them strongly disliked each other.

Silence fell over the small group, Ramona occassionally muttering curses under her breath if she nearly tripped. Steve kept her close, not wanting to feel the wrath of Nancy if she were to get anymore hurt.

"So, you're positive that was dart?" Lucas broke the silence.

"Yes! He had the same exact yellow pattern on his butt." Dustin descended, shoving his hands in his pockets.

"His butt?" Ramona laughed, "Tope a lagarto."

"He was tiny two days ago." Max huffed.

"Well, he's molted three timed times already."

"Malted?" Steve's voice trailed off, glancing over at Ramona.

"No, molted, stupid head." Ramona mumbled, "Animal shedding."

"Right, molted." Dustin agreed, "Shed his skin to make room for growth like hornworms."

"When's he gonna molt again?"

"It's gonna be soon, and when he does, he'll be fully grown or close to it and so will his friends."

"Yeah, and he's gonna eat a lot more than just cats." Steve said, tightening his grip around Ramona's shoulders.

"And human flesh." Ramona shrugged, wincing as Steve reached over and tightened the tied fabric around her arm.

"Wait, a cat?" Lucas froze in his tracks, turning to look at Dustin. "Dart ate a cat?"

"No, what? No." Dustin shook his head rapidly.

"What are you talking about? He ate Mews." Steve said, stopping in his place but keeping his arm firmly around Ramona so that she wouldn't fall.

"Mews? Who's Mews?" Max asked, confusion flashing across her face.

"Dustin's cat." Steve answered, shrugging. Ramona sighed, shaking her head at him.