𝐈𝐒𝐍'𝐓 𝐒𝐇𝐄 𝐋𝐎𝐕𝐄𝐋𝐘 | stranger things
Marleen thought that maybe after fighting an interdimensional monster everything would've come back to normal. And it did, at least for a year.
Then another monster decided to take a liking...
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chapter nine, eleven.
THE CHIEFBEGAN emptying the shed behind the Byers' house, throwing everything on the lawn, while Steve and Nancy tried to make it unrecognizable for the Mind Flayer.
The two worked in silence for most of the time, awkwardness seeping in. Steve couldn't help but notice how close Nancy and Jonathan had been back at the Lab, and given how they left things, Steve supposed he wasn't going to get her back. Oddly, he was okay with it. Nancy sighed, breaking him from his reprieve.
"Hey," Nancy blurted out, turning her body to face Steve. "What you did, um, helping the kids..." Nancy trailed off awkwardly. "That was... Really cool." she smiled at him.
"Yeah," Steve murmured. "Those little shits are real trouble, you know? Plus, Marleen helped," He said as he continued working.
Nancy laughed and nodded. "Believe me, I know." She turned to watch him again, wondering if she should bring Marleen up or not. She, on the other hand, had seen how close Steve and Marleen had been; the Steve from last year wouldn't have helped Marleen like that, and the Marleen from last year would've never let him help her like that. There was something there, Nancy realized. Maybe she wasn't the one for Steve, but perhaps Marleen...
She decided not to bring it up.
━
Marleen and Dean we're sitting on the steps of the porch. Marleen wanted to help the others but Joyce and Dean made her sit down with Dean watching her. They were next to each other with Marleen's head leaning against Dean's shoulder.
"How are you?" Marleen asked him, eyes not leaving the moon.
Dean snorted. "I should be asking that," He stayed quiet for a moment. "I'm okay." He said truthfully.
"Good."
The siblings sat there in silence for some time, watching the moon. Marleen's leg felt better, she could move now and it didn't hurt, thanks to the painkiller.
"What's up with that boy?" Dean asked suddenly. "Steve?"
Marleen felt the air leave her lungs. "What? Nothing!" She shrieked, making Dean laugh. "He just helped me." She defended herself.
"Sure."
Marleen sighed. When she saw Dean outside the Lab, she knew he didn't happen to be there by accident, she knew he went with Joan. And maybe Joan was an amazing, strong woman but the simple fact that she left Dean (and her) made Marleen hostile towards her.
"Are you and Joan together again?" She asked, twirling her thumbs in anticipation.
She heard Dean sigh deeply. "No," He whispered. A moment passed. "We talked about it. She wants to leave Hawkins again; I don't." Dean explained.
