04. DRINK TO FORGET

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"I want you to drunk text me."

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"This is a catastrophically bad idea," Emma says from the backseat of the car, poking her head in between the driver and passenger seat where Barb and Nancy sat.

The ride to Steve's house had been awkward as all hell and, to be honest, the most interesting thing Emma had watched. For starters, Nancy never gossiped about boys, like ever- and now. Hell, it was like Nancy had been bitten by the love bug.

And god, did Emma love having a best friend to gossip to. Nancy shot a look back at the girl as she took her jumper, wearing a much more revealing top.

"Emma, if you are just gonna be a buzz kill, why did you come?" Nancy glared at the girl in the backseat of the car, it turns out Nancy had picked up an attitude, too.

"Well, I came because my little brothers are missing, and Steve will most definitely have alcohol." Emma chucked before climbing out of the car and started the walk to the large Harrington home. Nancy and Barb are half running to catch up to the headstrong girl.

Normally, Nancy and Barb would try to stop the girl from drinking herself blind, but they knew that lately, the girl had been different, almost like she was only half there.

Nancy knocked on Steve's front door, and within a matter of moments, Steve appeared, and god did Emma love him. But then he kissed Nancy, and those feelings of bliss left as fast as they came.

Nancy walked through the door, the Barb, then as Emma went to walk through the door, Steve stopped her, "Hey Byers, I uh just wanted to let you know that we're sorry about what's going on with your brother."

And the very thing she was here to forget had found its way back into Emma's mind. Her brother's disappearance was like a scar, one that, no matter how hard you try. It doesn't go away. Ever.

"I don't wanna talk about it, Harrington." Emma smiled before pushing past to avoid the conversation about her missing brother. She didn't want to think about him, her worry for her mother, or anything else tonight, so she walked towards the pool with one objective. Drink to Forget.

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1 HOUR LATER

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Emma was drunk. And not just a little. She was also soaking wet. The last 30 minutes had been a drunken blur. But the last thing she could remember was that Barb needed to go clean up a cut.

She was sitting on the Harringtons countertop, drinking the glass of water Nancy had forced into her hand before going upstairs to do something she did NOT wanna think about with Steve.

All of a sudden, there was a knock at the door, and she heard Barb answer it from the other side of the house. The conversation was muddled and messy in Emma's brain; the other voice was familiar, and Barbs was tinged with worry and thankfulness.

Then the door closed, and the footsteps got closer and closer until in front of her stood Barb and Jonathan. The girl's twin frowned down at her, a look of utter disapproval on his face as he rolled his eyes and strode closer to Emma.

"Shit, You're a mess, Ems." Jonathan frowned, moving a strand of hair out of the girl's face. It wasn't like Jonathan didn't know this would happen. He had always been the more emotionally open of the twins, Emma had always shown pain through unhealthy ways.

Emma muttered something incoherently before Jonathan mouthed a 'Goodbye' at Barb before carefully helping his sister down off the bench. He shut the front door gently behind them and helped Emma to his car.

"Just wait here, Emma, I just.. have to check something," Jonathan said, closing the door as he walked off towards the woods, pulling his camera out of his bag. He went and did.. something, but Emma had no clue what it was.

He came back 10 minutes later, zipping up his bag before hopping in the driver's seat, starting the ignition, and beginning the drive back home. Emma pressed her head up against the cool window glass as they drove through late-night Hawkins. Emma didn't quite know what, but something didn't feel quite right.

LILLY SPEAKS-

Hey Guys!

The Verdict last time was that you guys liked longer chapters, so I'm trying to write longer. (I think this is the best chapter I've written!)

Also, I don't know why, but the Jonathan and Emma scene I find so fricking cute!!

I hope you liked this chapter, and also, shout out to tiishas for the gorgeous new cover.