CHAPTER 4
PRECIOUS MISTAKES

WARNING: SLIGHT SMUT

AS Edward Moreda walked through the patch of dead pumpkins, he felt nothing but confusion. Flies swarmed around the area. The grass looked like it was burned off. Some sort of "slime" littered amongst the trees and dirt. Edward knew something odd was going on here; he just couldn't figure out what.

Night time had engulfed both Edward and Chief Hopper in darkness. They stalked the edge of the woods that was right beside Merrill's farm. Hopper instructed to stick a small yellow flag wherever Edward saw the mucus-like substance. Their flashlights helped them through the dark, but they could still barely see.

Edward shined his light on a specific tree, noticing the slimy tint that came off of it. He walked over, reaching out his hand to feel for the sticky substance, but then his boss exclaimed, "Don't touch it!"

Edward spun around in a panic. He lowered his hand instantly and rested it on his heart. "Jesus, Chief," he sighed. "You trying to scare the shit out of me?"

"No, just ..." Hopper shined his flashlight on the tree his coworker was at. "Just don't touch the stuff. Put a flag there."

Edward did as instructed, pushing one of his bright yellow flags into the dirt before the tree. He then walked forward to catch up with Hopper, who was sticking a flag in front of a patch of grass. Edward swallowed hard before asking, "So what do you think is going on here?"

Hopper glanced around. "Not quite sure."

"Really?" Edward asked in mock surprise. "Seems like you do."

The chief turned slightly to face the other man. "What are you trying to say?"

"I'm just saying that it was a bit weird for you to ask me not to touch the stuff so suddenly," Edward pointed out. "You say you're not sure about this situation, but I know you, Hopper. You're a terrible liar."

"I don't fucking know, Moreda." Hopper said, raising his voice. He got closer to Edward, breathing down his face with narrowed eyes. "And if you try to pin this investigation against me, or tell anyone about this theory of yours, I will personally have you removed from the station."

Edward frowned, but soon held up his hands in surrender.

•••

By the time of midnight, Veronica Moreda and Billy Hargrove were completely, incoherently drunk. So much, in fact, that the two actually managed to stand each other. They laughed and released intoxicated burps. They danced along to the latest Def Leppard jam, maybe even shared a cigarette or two. It was amazing what a little – or a lot, when you think of it – alcohol could do to two individuals who seemed to butt heads over the smallest occurrences. Both wouldn't remember anything of tonight by morning, and maybe that was a good thing.

By twelve thirty AM, they were kissing in Tina's bedroom hallway. Veronica had expected to at least make-out with some boy during this party, just get herself back in action, but she never thought for that person to be Billy. Although, if she were being honest, she could barely tell who she was kissing with her hazy vision, and neither could he.

Both of their breaths stank of nicotine, but neither of them minded. In fact, they quite enjoyed it. The taste made the kiss almost more intoxicated. Veronica ran her hands through his mullet of tousled waves, taking each strand between her fingers and yanking on them to pull him more on her. His lips were soft, an enormous contrast to her cracked ones. Drunk Veronica loved kissing Drunk Billy; they loved it.

By twelve forty-five AM, Veronica Moreda and Billy Hargrove were having sex in Tina's parents' bedroom. She had never planned to have things escalate this far, but she didn't care at all. He had planned on this outcome, just not with Veronica, who currently sat on top of his lap like the control-freak she was. Her long nails dragged down his chest as he pulled her face down to – practically – shove his tongue down her throat. They were walked in on once during their fifteen minutes of moaning, but the door was shut quickly.

Two boys had walked in, one being Tommy Hellos and the other Paul Dirken, who closed the door in shock. "Shit, man," Paul laughed. "Was that Veronica Moreda? The girl who went schizo after her brother died?"

"Yeah, and she was fucking Billy Hargrove." Tommy high-fived Paul, in recognition of their friend's accomplishment. "They looked like dogs in heat!"

Veronica would blame Schlitz for the affair. That beer turned her into someone so much different that night, and she'd never forget having sex with Billy Hargrove ever. She might as well have it on her gravestone, because after tonight, she'd be a dead girl walking.

•••

Veronica woke up in a bed that was unfamiliar to her. She placed her hand on her forehead, groaning at the sudden pain she felt in her temple. She heard a door open and close, as well as a pair of soft footsteps nearing her. Veronica didn't open her eyes, but she did slowly reach her arm out, and felt no one beside her.

"Ronnie?"

Veronica groaned at the familiar voice. She rubbed at her eyelids and felt for any clothes on her body. There were none. She fucked up; she really fucked up, but with who exactly?

Finally, she fluttered her eyes open when she felt a pair of hands begin to lift her. Veronica coughed up some spit as her vision landed on Steve Harrington. Her face muddled with confusion. "S – Steve?" She stuttered out his name as if he was a ghost. She glanced around the room while he sat her up on the edge of the mattress. Sheets and blankets were strewn all over the floor. "Where ... where are my clothes?"

"Uh – uh –" Steve let go of her and searched through the linens that cover the bedroom floor. He picked up each blanket, and eventually found her jacket, jeans, and shirt under a comforter. "I'll – um –" He rang out her shirt in front of her. "I'll help you put them on."

Veronica snatched her Aerosmith tour shirt from his hands. "I can put it on myself." She pulled the shirt over her head, but as she began to slide her arms through, her brain ached once more and her eyes rolled to the back of her head. Veronica fell back on the mattress again.

"Jesus, Ronnie!" Steve whispered loudly, picking her back up and yanking her arms through the shirt. "Just ... just let me do it." Veronica could do nothing but agreed, seeing as she felt incapable of doing anything with the migraine pumping inside her head. It was still nighttime, and yet her hangover was already consuming her. Steve snagged her jeans around her ankles before helping her stand up and buttoned them around her hips.

"You're good at this," Veronica commented as he wrapped her jacket around her shoulders.

Steve sighed, "Don't remind me."

He started to lead her out of Tina's parents' bedroom, taking small steps as she staggered on. "W – Who was I in there with?" She asked, glancing up at Steve. "Was it Billy?"

Steve didn't reply. He continued to guide her down the stairs, but it was difficult. Veronica almost fell down a dozen times. She held her head, complaining about how much it hurt, but Steve could only do so much. His heart hurt from Nancy's words to him – that their love was bullshit, that their relationship was bullshit – but that wasn't going to stop him from helping out a former friend.

And as they exited Tina's lively party, Steve muttered, "I'm taking you home."

•••

A/N: Yes, before y'all ask, this is still a Steve story!!!! But this plot point was pivotal to the story!!!!!!

I hope you guys don't mind the fast pacing of this story, but the show itself is kinda fast paced so I guess that's why it seems this way??? So hopefully, that isn't an annoyance haha

( made by JustSav )